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Full text of "The history of Henry and St. Clair counties, Missouri, containing a history of these counties, their cities, towns, etc. etc., biograhical sketches of their citizens, general and local statistics, history of Missouri .."

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THE 


HISTORY 


OF 


Henry ^St  Clair  Counties, 


MISSOURI 


CONTAINING 


A  HISTORY  OF  THESE  COUNTIES,  THEIR  CITIES,  TOWNS,  ETC.,  ETC., 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES  OF    THEIR  CITIZENS,  GENERAL  AND  LOCAL  STATISTICS,  HIS- 
TORY OF  MISSOURI,  MAP  OF  HENRY  AND  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTIES,  ETC. 


ILLUSTRATED. 


ST.   JOSEPH,  MO.: 

NATIONAL   HISTORICAL  COMPANY, 

1883. 


:HbH£ 


Kitered  accorJiag  to  Act  of  Congress,  ia  the  year  1S83,  by 

O.  P.  WILLIAMS  &  CO., 

in  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington,  D.  C^ 


ST    JOSEPH,   MO.: 
St.  Joseph  Steam  Printing  Company,  Printers,  Binders,  Etc. 

1883. 


PREFACE. 


The  History  of  Henry  and  St.  Clair  Counties  has  been  written  in 
many  respects  under  trying  circumstances.  There  has  not  been  a  lack 
of  material,  but  the  work  of  collecting  and  compiling  the  same  into  one 
homogeneous  record,  has  been  attended  by  many  obstacles  and  per- 
plexities. 

In  presenting  to  the  citizens  of  Henry  and  St.  Clair  Counties  this 
history,  it  is  with  the  full  knowledge  that  there  must  necessarily  be  some 
errors  found  within  its  pages;  otherwise  it  would  be  different  from  any 
work  yet  compiled  by  human  hands,  absolute  perfection  having  never 
been  reached  either  in  the  historical  or  any  other  field  of  earthly  labor. 
Nevertheless  the  publishers  hope  to  have  attained  a  very  large  measure 
of  exactness  in  the  compilation  and  arrangement  of  the  almost  innu- 
merable incidents  which  are  herein  treated.  These  incidents  have  been 
gleaned  from  the  memory  and  notes  of  the  old  settlers;  and  though  an 
error  here  and  there  may  seemingly  occur,  the  reader  must  not  hastily 
conclude  that  the  history  is  in  fault,  but  rather  test  his  opinion  with  that 
of  others  familiar  with  the  facts. 

It  has  been  a  work  of  arduous  labor  and  delicate  responsibility  to 
give  a  careful  perusal  to  many  old  volumes  and  newspaper  files,  those 
daily  records  of  bygone  years.  The  old  pioneer  who  has  cheerfully 
narrated  with  clearness  many.importent  events,  has  been  utterly  unable 
to  give  the  date  which  is  so  essential  in  a  historical  work.  The  county 
records  and  the  files  of  the  oldest  newspapers  have  furnished  much  mat- 
ter of  inestimable  value.  How  well  the  task  of  writing  this  volume  has 
been  performed  the  intelligent  reader  must  judge. 


IV 


PREFACE. 


To  name  all  persons  to  whom  the  publishers  are  indebted  for  the 
facts  herein  contained,  would  be  an  undertaking  of  too  great  a  magni- 
tude; for  there  is  scarely  a  citizen  of  any  prominence  in  the  two  coun- 
ties who  has  not  in  some  way  contributed  to  the  compilation  of  this 
work.  The  editors  and  attaches  of  all  the  papers,  the  county  officials 
besides  hosts  of  business  men  and  private  citizens  have  done  all  in  their 
power  to  advance  the  interests  of  this  enterprise  and  contribute  to  the 
fullness  and  exactness  of  this  History.  It  only  remains  for  us  to  tender 
the  people  of  Henry  and  St.  Clair  Counties  our  obligations  for  the  cour- 
tesy extended  to  us  and  our  representatives  during  the  preparation  of 
these  annals.  In  the  belief  that  our  book  will  meet  with  a  generous 
appreciation  it  is  submitted  to  the  public. 

THE  PUBLISHERS. 


«»4CONTENTS.r^<-<-=^ 


HISTORY  OF  MISSOURI. 


CHAPTER   I. 

LOUISIANA  PURCHASE- 
Brief  Historical   Sketch . 


Page. 


CHAPTER  II. 

DESCRIPTIVE  AND  GEOGRAPHICAL— 
Name —  Extent —  Surface —  Rivers — 
Timber —  Climate — Prairies  — Soils — 
Population  by  Counties 14 

CHAPTER  HI. 

GEOLOGY   OF  MISSOURI- 

Classification  of  Rocks— Quarternary 
Formation  —  Tertiary  — Cretaceous — 
Carboniferous  —  Devonian —  Silurian 
— Azoic — Economic  Geology  —  Coal 
— Iron — Lead — Copper- Zinc— Build- 
ing Stone — Marble — Gypsum — Lime 
Paints — Springs — Water  Power    .    .       20 

CHAPTER   IV. 

TITLE  AND  EARLY  SETTLEMENTS— 
Title  to  Missouri  Lands — Right  of 
Discovery — Title  of  France  and  Spain 
— Cession  to  the  United  States — Ter- 
ritorial Changes — Treaties  with  In- 
dians— First  Settlement — Ste.  Gene- 
vieve and  New  Bourbon — St.  Louis — 
When  Incorporated  —  Potosi  —  St. 
Charles — Portage  Des  Sioux  —  New 
Madrid — St.  Francois  County — Perry 
—  Mississippi  —  Loutre  Island  — 
'*Boone's  Lick" — Cote  Sans  Dessein 
— Howard  County--Some  First  Things 
— Counties — When  Organized  ...       26 

CHAPTER  V. 

TERRITORIAL  ORGANIZATION— 

Organization  1812 — Council — House 
of  Representatives — Wm.  Clark  First 
Territorial  Governor — Edward  Hemp- 
stead First  Delegate — Spanish  Grants 
— First  General  Assembly — Proceed- 
ings— Secon  d  Assembly —  Proceedings 
— Population  of  Territory — Vote  of 
Territory  —  Rufus  Easton  —  Absent 
members — Third  Assembly-  Proceed-  32 
ings — Application  for  Admission  .    . 


CHAPTER  VI. 


Page. 


MISSOURI  ADMITTED  INTO  THEUNION— 
Application  of  Missouri  to  be  Admit- 
ted Into  the  Union — Agitation  of  the 
Slavery  Question-*'Missouri  Compro- 
mise"— Constitutional  Convention  of 
1820 — Constitution  Presented  to  Con- 
gress— Further  Resistance  to  Admis- 
sion— Mr.  Clay  and  his  Committee 
Make  Report — Second  Compromise — 
Missouri  Admitted 35 

CHAPTER   VII. 

MISSOURI  AS  A  STATE— 

First  Election  for  Governor  and  Other 
State  Officers — Senators  and  Repre- 
sentatives to  General  Assembly-Sher- 
iffs and  Coroners — United  States  Sena- 
tors— Representatives  in  Congress-Su- 
preme Court  Judges— Counties  Organ- 
ized— Capital  Moved  to  St.  Charles — 
Official  Record  of  Territorial  and 
State  Officers 40 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

EARLY  MILITARY  RECORD— 

Black  Hawk  War — Mormon  Difficul- 
ties—  Florida  War — Mexican   War. . 


46 


CHAPTER  IX. 

CIVIL  WAR  IN  MISSOURI— 

Fort  Sumpter  Fired  Upon — Call  for 
75,000  Men — Gov.  Jackson  Refuses  to 
Furnish  a  Man — U.S.  Arsenal  at  Lib- 
erty Seized — Proclamation  of  Gov. 
Jackson — General  Order  No.  7 — Leg- 
islature Convenes  —  Camp  Jackson 
Organized — Sterling  Price  Appointed 
Major  General  —  Frost's  Letter  to 
Lyon — Lyon's  Letter  to  Frost — Sur- 
render of  Camp  Jackson — Proclama- 
tion of  Gen.  Harney —  Conference 
Between  Price  and  Plarney — Harney 
Superceded  by  Lyon — Second  Confer- 
ence—  Governor  Jackson  Burns  the 
Bridges  Behind  Him — Proclamation 
of  Gov.  Jackson — Gen.  Blair  Takes 
Possession  of  Jefferson  City — Procla- 
mation of  Lyon — Lyon  at  Springfield 


VI 


CONTENTS. 


Page. 
..State  Offices  Declared  Vacant.. 
Gen.  Fremont  Assumes  Command . . 
I'roclamation  of  Lieut.  Gov.  Rey- 
nolds. .Proclamation  of  Jeff.  Thomp- 
son and  Gov.  Jackson.  .Death  of  Gen. 
Lyon.  .Succeeded  by  Slurgis.. Procla- 
mation of  McCuUough  and  Gamble 
..Martial  Law  Declared  ..  Second 
Proclamation  of  Jeff.  Thompson.. 
President  Modifies  Fremont's  Order. . 
Fremont  Relieved  by  Hunter.  .Proc- 
lamation of  Price.  .Hunter's  Order 
of  Assessment  . .  Hunter  Declares 
Martial  Law  . .  Order  Relating  to 
Newspapers.  .Halleck  Succeeds  Hun- 
ter. .Halleck's  Order  Si .  .Similar  Or- 
der by  Halleck  . .  Boone  County 
Standard  Confiscated. .  Execution  of 
Prisoners  at  Macon  and  Palmyra., 
Gen.  Ewing's  Order  No.  li..Gen. 
Rosecrans  Takes  Command.  .Massa- 
cre at  Centralia.  .Death  of  Bill  An- 
derson. .Gen.  Dodge  Succeeds  Gen. 
Rosecrans — List   of  Battles  ....      51 

CHAPTER  X. 
AGRICULTURE  AND  MATERIAL  WEALTH— 
Missouri  as  an  Agricultural  State.. 
The  Different  Crops  ..  Live  Stock., 
Horses  and  Mules.. Milch  Cows.. 
Oxen  and  Other  Cattle. .Sheep.. Hogs 
.  .Comparisons.  .Missouri  Adapted  to 
Live  Stock  . .  Cotton  . .  Broom  Corn 
and  Other  Products.  .Fruits.  .Berries  1 


Page. 

.  .Grapes.  .Railroads.  .First  Neigh  of 
the  "Iron  Horse"  in  Missouri.. 
Names  of  Railroads.  .Manufactures. . 
Great  Bridge  ac  St.  Louis 60 

CHAPTER  XL 

EDUCATION— 

Public  School  System.  .Public  School 
System  of  Missouri.  .Lincoln  Insti- 
tute. .Officers  of  Public  School  Sys- 
tem . .  Certificates  of  Teachers . .  Uni- 
versity of  Missouri  ..  Schools.  .Col- 
leges. .Institutions  of  Learning.  .Lo- 
cation.. Libraries.  .Newspapers  and 
Periodicals  . .  Number  of  School 
Children.  .Amount  Expended.  .Value 
of  Grounds  and  Buildings. ."  The 
Press  " 66 

CHAPTER  XH. 

RELIGIOUS  DENOMINATIONS- 

Baptist  Church.  .Its  History.  .Congre- 
gational. .When  Founded.. Its  His- 
tory. .Christian  Church.. Its  History 
.  .Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. . 
Its  History  . .  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  ..Its  History  ..  Presbyterian 
Church  . .  Its  History  . .  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  . .  Its  History . . 
United  Presbyterian  Church  . .  Its 
History.  .Unitarian  Church.  .Its  His- 
tory.. Roman  Catholic  Church..  Its 
History 73 


HISTORY  OF  HENRY  COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE     VALLEYS     OF     THE    OSAGE     AND 
GRAND  RIVERS  — 

Geological  Formation.  .Two  Ancient 
Misses.. Home  of  the  Indians.. The 
Pioneer.  .Soil.  .From  1S20  to  1830.. 
Lillard.  .Lafayette  County..  Its  Set- 
tlement and  County  Site., Davis  and 
Tebo  Townships.  .Jackson  and  Clay 
.  .The  First  Cabin. .  1 831 .  .The  First 
Plowing. .  1832.  .Born  Then  .    ...      79 

CHAPTER  II. 

WHEN  THEY  CAME   AND    FROM    WHERE 
THEY  CAME— 

The  Pioneers.  .The  First  Marriage. . 
Wolves  and  Caution.  .1833  and  1834 
..Springfield  Township.  .First  Clerk 
and  Constable. .  1S35  to  1840.. Slight 
Retrospect.  .Trials  and  Tribulations 
..Cabins  and  Comforts.  .Going  to 
Mill.. Market  Prices.  .Pioneer  Wo- 
men. .I'ioneer  Life  . .  Wages  . .  The 
Nest  Egg  of  a  Farm.. Fifty  Cents  a 
Day  and  Found.  .Rail  Splitting.  .    .      90 

CHAPTER  HI. 

EARLY    ELECTION     AND     EVENTS-PIO- 
NEERS AND  POETRY- 
Elections. ."  Eighteen  Forty  ".  .Presi- 


dential Campaign.  .Songs  and  "A  Lit- 
tle More  Cider,  Too".  .Democratic 
Defeat..  A  Change,.  The  Quiet  of 
Early  Days,  Covering  Little  More 
Than  a  Decade.  .Women  Pioneers.. 
Privations,  Labor  and  Heroic  Forti- 
tude.. Names  of  the  Early  Settlers.. 
From  the  Cradle  to  the  Grave.. Pio- 
neer Life  in  Verse 103 

CHAPTER  IV. 

MEXICAN  WAR  AND  THE  LAND  OF 
GOLD- DEATH  AND  LUCRE- 
Mexico  . .  War  . .  Volunteers  . .  Their 
Return.. The  Land  of  Gold.  The 
Rush  for  the  Promised  Land.  .Suffer- 
ings and  Death., Fever  in  Henry 
County.  .Some  Got  Wealth  and  Many 
Poverty.  .Those  who  Went  and  Those 
who  Died.  .The  Names  of  Those  who 
Returned,  .Items  of  General  Interest 
..Legal  Documents  ..  Marriages  .. 
Wills  . .  Deeds  . ,  Slaves  . .  Widow's 
Dower 121 

CHAPTER  V. 

OFFICIAL   HISTORY  — CULLINGS    FROM 
THE  COUNTY  COURT  RECORDS— 
When   Rives  Became  a  County.. Act 


CONTENTS. 


Vll 


Page. 
•of  Organization.  .Date  December  13, 
1834.  .County  Seat  Commissions.. 
Rives  County  Boundary  . .  County 
Court  and  County  Judges.  .Municipal 
Divisions.  .St.  Clair  Township.  .First 
Sheriff,  Treasurer,  etc... County  Seat 
Commissioner,  .New  Court  House.. 
Sale  of  Town  Lots  in  Clinton.  .Valu- 
ation and  Assessment.  .First  School 
District  ..  1837  ..  Several  Items  of 
laterest . . Sale  of  School  Lands.  .    .     131 

CHAPTER  VI. 

RIVES        DISGRACED        AND  HENRY 

CROWNED— LET  US  HAVE  A  LAW 
SUIT— 

Failed  to  Materialize — County  Fair.. 
What  it  Cost.. Cedar  Township.. 
More  Townships  . .  Deepwater  . .  St. 
Clair  and  Henry.. Rives  to  Henry.. 
Some  Reflections.  .Dram  Shop..  Pro- 
posing a  Suit.  .Valuation  and  Elec- 
tion, .Half  Sheet  of  Foolscap — The 
First  Bridge.  .Osage  River  Associa- 
tion . .  $626.95  . .  To  Repair  Court 
House,  §1,500.  .No  Probate  Court. . 
Progress 143 

CHAPTER  VII. 

JAILS— ELECTION  —  FINANCES  —  TOWN- 
SHIPS— 

A  Needed  Institution.  .Financial  and 
Otherwise.  .Resolution  of  Thanks.. 
Patent  Office  and  Agricultural  Re- 
ports. .Election  of  1858,  the  First  of 
Record . .  P^eceipts  and  Expenditures 
..Nine  Voting  Precincts  in  i860.. 
Township  Boundaries,  August,  i860. . 
The  Great  Change.  .Financial  De- 
pression . .  Exhibit  . ,  Delinquents  of 
1861  to  I S64.  .Taxation. .  Levy,  Col- 
lections and  Delinquencies,  from  1865 
to   1S.70.. Items 153 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

ENVESTIGATION  AND  EXONERATION— 
AND  MORE  TAXATION— 
Wanted  an  Investigation.  .Result,  Ex- 
oneration. .Everything  Lovely. .  Reg- 
istration and  Registrars.  .The  County 
Court.  .The  Four  Districts  and  Their 
Boundaries  .  Taxation  and  Collec- 
tions . .  County  Expenditures  . .  The 
Repeal.  .Districts  i  and  2.  .Judge 
Gantt,  County  Agent.  .Sale  of  S400,- 
000  Railroad  Stock.  .Sinking  Fund. . 
Assessment  and  Levy.  .A  Donation. . 
Swamp  Land  Claims.  .Some  Items..   164 

CHAPTER  IX. 

FINANCIAL     AFFAIRS  —  RAILROAD     AS- 
SESSMENT—COUNTY VALUATION— 

Ihe  Tax  Levy.  .Collections  of  1879 
..Same  in  1880.  .New  County  Jail. . 
Its  Cost  .The  Year  1882,. Railroad 
Assessment  and  Rejection.  .Material 
Wealth . .  Assessed     Valuation     from 


Page. 

1870  to  1SS3  of  Henry  County.  .Jan- 
uary I,  1S82,  55,392,270.  .January  i, 
1883,  171 

CHAPTER  X. 

SOIL— CLIMATE  —  AGRICULTURAL  AND 
MINERAL  RESOURCES  OF  HENRY 
COUNTY— 

Introductuctory  . .  Location  . .  Capital 
and  Labor.  .Water  and  Timber.  .Ag- 
riculture. .Cereals  and  Grapes.  .Field 
of  Corn  and  Oats.  .Sheep.  .1865. . 
Stock.  .Remarks  of  L.  C.  Marvin.. 
Better  Horses..  1867  to  1880.. Ship- 
ments of  1877.. The  Census  Crop.. 
Returnsof  1881-2.  .Of  Horses,  Sheep, 
Cattle,  Hogs  and  Mules,  and  Grand 
Total ■ 176 

CHAPTER  XI. 

FRUITS  AND  BERRIES  —  GRAPES  AND 
WINES-COAL  AND  STONE— 

Fruit  all  Grown  Here.  .Berries  Every- 
where. .Grapes.  .The  Best  Varieties. . 
Coal,  Stone  and  Iron,  Agricultural 
Society.  .When  Organized  . .  1839  .  . 
1858  . .  1869  .  .  A  Premium  List  . . 
Death,  but  No  Resurrection  . .  Far- 
mer's Club.. Henry  County  Medical 
Society  . .  When  it  Died  .  .  List  of 
Members.  .Veterinary  Club.  .Elected 
Officers..  Dead 187 

CHAPTER  Xn. 

SCHOOLS-THEIR  GROWTH  AND  FINAN- 
CIAL EXHIBIT— 

The  First  School.. Sale  of  School 
Land  in  1836  to  183S..N0  Prairie 
Lands  Wanted  . .  The  First  State 
School  Fund  Apportionment.  .Appor- 
tionment of  1850-4.  .Numbering  the 
School  Distrscts.  .Township  Funds  of 
1858  and  i860  From  1S66  to  1S70. . 
State  School  Money..  1880,  and  the 
Total  County  Fund.  .Receipts  and 
Expenditures  for  1881 .  .Report  of  the 
Clinton  Graded  School  for  1S81.. 
Amount  Apportioned  for  May,  1882. . 
The  State 197 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

MURDERS,  ASSASINATIONS  AND  ROB- 
BERIES- 

The  Bludgeon  for  King,  the  Knife 
for  Harper,  the  Pistol  for  Williamson 
and  Robin,  the  Shot  Gun  for  Miller 
and  Edmondson,  the  Hammer  or 
Hatchet  for  Clark,  and  a  Shot  in  the 
Dark  for  Ezell.  .Stand  Still  and  Hold 
Up  Your  Hands  were  the  Cheering 
Words  which  met  D.  B.  Lambert  and 
Arrested  a  Game  of  Croquet.  .Crimes 
in  Henry  County  and  their  Punish- 
ment. .The  Gallows,  the  Penitentiary 
and  the  Reaper,   "  Death." 208 


vni 


CONTENTS. 


Page. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


"  SATAN  FINDS  WORK  FOR  IDLE  HANDS 
TO  DO  "— 

The  Work  of  Fiends.. Self  Defense 
is  not  Murder.. It  was  the  Game  of 
"Dead  Open  and  Shut".  .And  they 
Lost  Every  Time.  .Pistols  vs.  Croquet 
Mallets.  .Pistols  the  Winner.  .A Crazy 
Woman's  Crime.  .Killing  Ezell,  not 
for  a  Crime,  but  Because  He  Wouldn't 
Stay  Arrested. ."  Tell  my  Sister  that 
I  Leave  Her  all  My  Property,  I  am 
Dying ".  .Verdict,  Jury  Could  Not 
Agree.. The  End 221 

CHAPTER  XV. 

THE   COUNTY'S  SERVANTS— ELECTIONS 
OF  1880  AND  18S2— 

The  County  Officers,  from  Alpha  to 
Omega.  .The  Year  and  the  Day.  .Rep- 
resentatives, State  Senators  and  Con- 
gressmen. Election  of  iSSo.. Elec- 
tion of  1882.  .Congressional  Districts 
..Senatorial  District  Memoranda.. 
Political.  .Henry  County  Democratic 
..What  Difference  Does  it  Make.. 
Circuit  Court  Items.  .Slander,  Divorce 
and  Perjury.  .The  First  Grand  Jury  .     234 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

POPULATION,  DEVASTATION  AND  EX- 
ULTATION— 

Population  of  Henry  County.  .Popu- 
lation of  Towns.  .The  United  States 
and  the  State  of  Missouri.  .The  Grass- 
hopper Plague.  .Destruction  of  Crops 
.  .Relief.  .Meadow  County  Scheme. . 
The  Bantam  Crowed,  but  Crowed  in 
Vain..  The  Clinton  Scare..  Swamp 
Land  History.  .From  A  to  Izzard  and 
a  Postscript.  .Sales  from  $7.00  to  25 
Cents  Per  Acre.  .Receipts  and  Losses 
. ,  Poor  Farm . ,  When  Purchased . .  Its 
Cost . .  Where  Located . .  Descriptions, 
Etc  . 252 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

RAILROAD  HISTORY- 

Its  First  Inception.  .Pacific  Railroad 
Subscription  $50,000.. How  ^5,000 
was  Paid.  .Stopping  Further  Payment 
..;? 1 50,000  T.  &  N.  Railroad.. The 
Subscription  . .  ;^250,ooo  Bonds. . 
Some  More  Stock.  .Getting  to  the 
Meat.  .Clinton  &  Memphis  Railroad 
.  .A  Protest.  .And  Still  Another  Pro- 
test. .What  Became  of  the  ^50,000  if 
Practicable.  .It  Wasn't  Practicable.. 
"  A  D d  Barren  Ideality"  ....     262 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

ONE  MILLION  DOLLARS  SQUANDERED— 
$400,000  OF  STOCK  SOLD  FOR 
$86,585.71- 

The  Railroad  Bull  Goring  the  County 
Ox.  .Law  Suits,  Judgments  and  Man- 
damus , .  Judge      Gantt      Appointed 


Page. 
County  Agent.. H.  W.  Salmon  Ver- 
bally Appointed.  .The  Sale.  .The  Pur- 
chase of  Bonds,  Judgments  and  Cou- 
pons.. And  Yet  After  all  a  million 
Dollars  and  over  Squandered.  .Tax 
Levy  . .  Compromise  . .  Exchange  of 
Bonds.  .Reduction  of  Debt,. Final 
Cost 273 

CHAPTER   XIX. 

INVESTIGATION— A  REPORT— A  CONFES- 
SION- 

A  Record  of  Crime,  Bri'oery,  Midnight 
Delivery  of  Bonds . .  H  ow  it  was  Done 
. .  Accounts  Rendered . .  Investigation 
..The  Report.  .Where  the  Money 
Went  to.  .Excepting  $180,000.  .The 
Engineer's  Confession 287 

CHAPTER  XX. 

THE  CIVIL  WAR— 

The  Storm  Cloud,  a  Good  Deal  of 
Sorrow,  etc. .  1861  Historic,  .Meeting 
at  Clinton, ,  What  was  Sent  to  the 
Governor  . .  Democratic  Meeting  . . 
Resolutions  Passed.  .Newspaper Com- 
ments. .Union  Meetings,  .The  Result 
..The  Gospel  of  Hate.  .Federal 
Forces.  .The  Gray  Predominates.. 
Some  Local  Matters.  .The  Bridging 
of  the  Bloody  Chasm.  .All  is  Peace. . 
The  Blue  and  the  Gray.  .The  Heroes 
who  Died 307 

CHAPTER   XXI. 

CLINTON  TOWNSHIP— 

Township  and  City.  .Its  Early  Boun- 
daries. .Where  it  Lies.. The  Metes 
and  Bounds  of  1873.. Area  ^""^  Pop- 
ulation. .Its  Streams  and  Fountains. . 
Timber  and  Prairies.  .Pioneers  and 
Who  Came  Later.  .Schools  and  Pio- 
neer Preaching.  .New  Arrivals.  .Its 
First  Physician .. Progress  and  Trans- 
portation , ,  Township  Officers  . .  The 
Next  Chapter,  "  The  Model  City."  .  .   31S 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

THE  "MODEL  CITY"  OF  THE  PRAIRIES— 
Something  of  the  Model  Town.  .The 
Beauty  of  its  Surroundings.  .When 
and  Where  Located.  .Streets,  etc.. 
Date  of  Entry  of  the  Town  Site,  1837 
..Post  Office  and  Postmaster.  .Deed 
.  .Hotel  and  Saloon.  .When  Incorpo- 
rated, 185S.  .Its  Growth  in  Twentv- 
one  Years.  .The  New  Boundary,  1866 
..The  Iron  Horse  .Population  of 
Clinton  by  Decades,  .While  a  Town 
.  .Then  a  City  of  the  Fourth  Class.  . 
A  Financial  Exhibit.  .Election  nf 
18S0  and  I SS2.  .Another  Financial 
Showing.. The  Small  Pox  Scare.. 
Something  Authentic.  .Its  Future  .    .     322 


CONTENTS. 


IX 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 


Page. 


SCHOOLS— CHURCHES-LODGES— DEATH 
OF  GARFIELD— 

Clinton  Public  Schools.  .Retrospect. . 
Lincoln  School. .  Academy .  .Cost  of 
Buildings  ..  Number  of  Pupils.. 
Churches  and  their  Organizations.. 
Number  of  Members.  .Cost  of  Church 
Buildings.  .Societies.  .A.  F.  and  A.  M. 
..I.  O.  O.  F.. Knights  Templar.. 
Royal  Arch  Chapter.  .A.  O.  U.  W. , 
Death  of  President  Garfield  ....    335 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

THE  BAR,  PRESS, BANKS  AND  BUSINESS— 
The  Early  Bar.. Clinton  Bar.. The 
Press.. Who  Owned  Them.. Banks 
and  Banking..  The  Business  Inter- 
ests of  Clinton,. The  Directory  of 
iS74..The  Directory  of  1883.. Man- 
ufactures. .Flour, Carriage  and  Wagon 
and  Cigar.. Items  of  Interest  which 
call  to  Mind  Several  Things,  .An  In- 
teresting Chapter  of  Biographies  and 
Business.. A  Combination  of  Brains 
and  Artistic  Skill, ,  Incidents  and  Ac- 
cidents  347 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

WINDSOR  TOWNSHIP— 

Within  the  Realms  of  Civilization.. 
Its  Area.. First  Settlers.  .Death  by 
Lightning,.  Progress,  .Darkness  to 
Light.  .Organization,  .Worth  Remem- 
bering, .Coal  Fields,  .Big  Coal  Banks 
.  .Stone  Quarries, , Healing  Waters. . 
Transportation.  .An  Old  Landmark 
Gone.  .Tennessee  Baker., The  First 
Brick  Residence  in  Henry  County , . 
Its  destruction  by  Fire 374 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

CITY  OF  WINDSOR— 

When  It  was  Founded.  ,By  Whom. . 
Naming  the  Town  and  Postofifice. .  A 
Few  Years  Later.  In  1870,, The  In- 
corporation of  Windsor  Town., Elec- 
tion in  1873.. Town  Officials  from 
1873  to  1878.. City  of  Windsor., 
Fourth  Class, , Election  of  Mayor  and 
Aldermen,  October  15,  1878.. City 
Officers  from  1878  to  1883.  .Financial 
.  .Churches.  .Laurel  Oak  Cemetery  . 
Lodges  and  Societies,  .Postmaster?  of 
Windsor.  Old  Settlers  Reunion  and 
Picnic , .  Newspapers . .  Public  School 
.  .Business  Interests  .  Savings  Bank, , 
Manufactories,  .Items,  .General  Notes 
..Bird's  Eye  View 383 

CHAPTER    XXVII. 

DEEPWATER  TOWNSHIP— 

When  Settled,. Its  Early  Pioneers.. 
Its  Territory.  .Deepwater  Organized, , 
Arrivals  . .  Postoffice,  .Germantown, , 
When  Settled  ,.  How  it  Grew,, Its 
Population,  .Its  Rank,, Its  Boundary 


Page. 

Under  the  New  Law.  .Its  First  Elec- 
tionof  Officers.  .Who  They  Were,  .The 
City  of  Montrose.  .Its  First  Incorpora- 
tion as  a  Town.. The  Fires  of  1872 
and  1875.. After  the  Fire.  .Financial 
..Some  Town  Officers  ..  How  the 
Marshal  Got  Rich.. City  of  Montrose 
..First  Mayor  ..  Churches  ,.  School 
and  Lodges  ,.  Business.  .Shipping. , 
William  Tyree,  the  Old  Pioneer  .    .    405 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

TEBO,   SHAWNEE  AND    FIELDS'    CREEK 
TOWNSHIPS- 

Tebo. .  Historic.  .Pioneers  of  1830  to 
1835.  .The  North  Carolina  Colony. . 
Population  and  Boundary.  .The  Old 
Settlers  of  Tebo.  .Calhoun.  .Bounded 
in  1836.  .Ambitious.  .Its  First  Set- 
tlers, Stores,  Etc.  .Incorporation  of 
Calhoun..  The  Great  Fire,.  Hand- 
some Location..  Postmasters  ,.  Busi- 
ness ..  Professions  .,  Shawnee.  .The 
Garden  Spot  of  Henry  County. .  About 
1831 — The  Name.  .Shawnee  Mound 
..Churches,  School  and  Business.. 
Huntingdale.  .When  Founded.  .Pres- 
ent Business.  .The  Churches*  of  the 
Township.  .Lodges.  .Its  Boundary. , 
Field's  Creek.  .Its  Metes  and  Bounds 
,,Area  in  Acres.  .Its  Streams,  Prai- 
ries and  Wood  Lands.  .Early  Pioneers 
..The  First  Store.... One  of  the 
North  Carolina  Colony .  Other  Settlers 
..Churches,  Schools  and  Societies,, 
Its  Population  in  1880 420 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 

BOGARD,  BIG  CREEK,  HONEY  CREEK 
AND  WHITE  OAK  TOWNSHIPS— 
Bogard  . ,  The  Northwest  . ,  Organ- 
ized 1857  and  1873,, It  Has  30,155 
95-100  Acres  of  Land.. Asa  Hen- 
dricks Its  First  Settler.  .Mrs.  Mary 
Taylor,  First  Child  Born  in  the  Town- 
ship . .  Lakes  . .  Urich  . .  Location. , 
Settlement  and  Business  , .  Schools 
and  Churches. .  Political . .  Population 
.  .Big  Creek.  .Townships  44 and  43, 
range  27 — 26,880  Acres.  .Its  Streams 
and  Woodlands.  .Its  Original  Bound- 
ary.. Early  Settlers,  183 1.. A  Grand 
Old  Township  ..  Norris  Forks.. 
Churches,  Schools  and  Lodges.. 
Honey  Creek.  .Boundary.  .Small  Set- 
tlement . .  Population . ,  Slow  of  Growth 
..Its  Pioneers.  .Schools.  .Want  of 
Progress.  .White  Oak.. The  Smallest 
Township, , Good  Land  and  Water 
Plenty  . .  Settled  in  1838  . .  Coal. . 
Cyclone.  .Schools,  .Population  .    .    .    439 

CHARTER  XXX. 

WALKER,   DAVIS    AND    PRES.     BLEVINS 
TOWNSHIPS— 

Walker . .  When  Born . .  Its  Area . . 
When   Settled.. Dr.  Amasa    Jones. 


CONTENTS. 


Page, 
Some  Family  History.  .First  School 
and  Church  ..  Items.  .Churches.  .In 
Memoriam.  .Rev.  A.  Spiague.  .Davis 
..When  Located  .Area  and  Popula- 
tion. .Streams,  Prairies  and  Wood- 
land. .Schools  and  Societies.  .LaDue 
..Its  Birth.  .Business  in  1872.. 
Church.  .School.  .Business  of  1883.. 
Davis  Township  First  Settlers.  .Her 
Growth  aud  Prosperity  . .  "  Pres. 
Elevens".  .A  Discovery.  .New  Town- 
ship. .It  Will  Ndw  Be  Known.  .Gov. 
Blevins.  .His  Powers,    Etc 450 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 

OSAGE,  FAIRVIEW    AND     BEAR     CREEK 
TOWNSHIPS— 

Osage..  The  Great  Southeast.  .Who 
Settled  It.  .Osage  Township  in  1858 
.  .Consville.  .Its  Twin  Sister.  .Metes 
and  Bounds  in  1858  and  1873.. Corn 
and  Stock  . .  Population  . .  Fire  at 
Brownington  . .  Churches  . .  School. . 
Business.. Fairview.  .Central  Location 
..Its  Streams.  .Woodland  ..  Famous 
Ten  Mile  Prairie  ..  Originally.  .The 
Organization  of  1873.  .Old  Settlers. . 
Its  Coal  Fields.  .Railroad  Facilities. . 
Schools  and  Churches.  .Bear  Creek.  . 
Metes,  Bounds  and  Area.  .Water  and 


Page. 
Timber.  .Game.  .When    Organized.. 
School . .  Old    Settlers . .  Progress . .  Its 
Future 462 

CHAPIER    XXXII. 

LEESVILLE,  SPRINGFIELD,  DEER  CREEK 
AND  BETHLEHEM  TOWNSHIPS— 

Leesville.  .A  Township  of  1873.. Its 
Bounds.  .Pioneers  of  1835  to  1840.. 
Coal  and  Stone.  .Centennial  1876.. 
Pioneer  History.  .Old  Time  Imple- 
ments.. The  First  Church.  .Schools, 
Etc  . .  Town  of  Leesville  . .  When 
Founded  and  by  Whom.  .Centennial 
Address.  .1876  to  1883.  .Lodges. . 
Colesburg.  .Items  . .  Springfield.  .Be- 
fore It  Was  a  County.  .The  Metes 
and  Bounds  of  i860  and  1873.. Its 
Early  Settlers.  .Mt.  Olivet  Church.. 
Schools . .  Population . .  Coal . .  Stone .  . 
Deer  Creek.. First  Settled.  .The 
New  County  Seat.  .Goff's.  .Stores. . 
Postoffice.  .The  Field  of  Coal.  .Popu- 
lation,  School  and  Churches.  .Lewis 
Station.  .First  Building.  .Business. . 
Shipping.  .Postmasters.  .Bethlehem. . 
Organization  . .  Area.  .Fine  Farms. . 
Early  Settlers.  .Its  Churches.  .Their 
Progress.  .Items  of  Interest.  .Onward 
.  .Schools.  .Its    Boundary 471 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 


Clinton  Township 490 

Windsor  Township 553 

Deep  Water  Township 605 

Tebo  Township 626 

Shawnee  Township 660 

Fields'  Creek  Township 675 

Bogard  Township 690 

Big  Creek  Township 698 

Honey  Creek  Township 712 


White  Oak  Township 714 

Davis  Township .  728 

Osage  Township 74^ 

Fairview  Township 755 

Bear  Creek  Township 764 

Leesville  Township 773 

Bethlehem  Township 783 

Deer  Creek  Township 794 

Springfield  Township 808 


HISTORY  OF  ST.  CLAIR    COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  VALLEY  OF  THE  OSAGE— THE  DAWN  OF 
CIVILIZATION. 

Southwest  Missouri.  .The  Vanguard  of 
Progress.  .From  1830  to  1840.  .House 
and  Home  Comforts.  .The  Days  Given 
to  Celebration.  .Farming  Tools.  .The 
Bull  Plows.  .Mills and  Trading  Points 
. .  Hunting  and  Trapping  . .  The 
Honey  Bee  and  the  Bee  Tree.  .Indian 
Sign  of  the  coming  of  the  Palefaces.   821 

CHAPTER  II. 

PIONEERS  AND  PROGRESS. 

The  Pioneers.  .The  First  Settler  .  Ja- 
cob Cooncc.His  Neighbors .. Large 
Animals.  .The  Applegates.  .The  First 


Senator.  .Joseph  Montgomery.  .Taber 
and  Her  Settlers  The  Land  of  the 
Forest  King. .  Monegaw  Springs.. 
Early  Political  History .  .From  1835 
to  J841 . .  Weaubleau  and  Monegaw. . 
Roads.  ..Indian  Raid.. All  Other 
Points.  ..Various  Things.  .Items  ot 
Interest 831 

CHAPTER  III. 

AN  OLD  SETTLEMENT— WILD  BEAST  OF  THE 

MOUNTAINS. 

A  Pioneer  Colony.  .Old  Settler's  Story 
.  .A  Rocky  Mountain  Lion  and  Griz- 
zley  Bear  Combined  on  the  Rampage 
.  .The  Hunt .  .Where  Miss  Mat  Was. . 
Facing  Danger.  .Rock  House  Cave. . 
The   Monster    Coming.. He    Came.. 


CONTENTS. 


XI 


Page. 
The  Sad  and  Mournful  March  Home 
Pioneers  from  1S32  to  1S40.  .  Pioneers 
Now  Living  .  Petition.  .Pioneer  Wo- 
men. .Conclusion  842 

CHAPTER  IV. 

THE   BIRTH   OF  ST.   CLAIR   COUNTY--CULL- 
INGS  FROM  THE  COURT  RECORDS. 

Independence.  .Act  of  Organization, 
February  15,  iS4i..The  Boundary  of 
1845.  .County  Seat  Fight.  .Two  Sides 
to  a  Story.  .Deeds  of  the  Lands  Do- 
nated for  the  Location  of  a  County 
Seat , .  Circuit  Court . .  Survey . .  Roads 
and  Bridges.  .Assessed  Valuation, 
1845  to  1 854.. A  Yearly  Estimate.. 
Taxation  and  Cash  on  Hand  ....    855 

CHAPTER  V. 

A    COMBINATION    OF  SOLID   FACTS    MAKES 
CONTINUOUS  HISTORY. 

Election  Arrangements  . .  Statistical 
and  Otherwise.  .Swamp  Land  Re 
marks . .  Brain  Wages . .  Montgomery's 
Great  Effort.  .Osceola.  .Jim  Lane.. 
Township.  .The  Boundaries  of  1867 
.  .Names.  .Once  More  Divided,  .As 
It  Was  to  1872 868 

CHAPTER  VI. 

A  CHAPTER  WHICH  REFERS  TO  THE 
POCKET,  AND  EXHIBITS  SOME 
FIGURES - 

Taxation. .  1861 . .  1871.  .Voting  Pop- 
ulation .  Hickory  County's  Failure. . 
Poor  Farm . .  Money  Matters . .  Changes 
..New  County  Warrants .. About  a 
new  Township.  .Land  Valuation  in 
1875  •  County  Revenue  . .  Agricul- 
tural and  Mechanical  Association.. 
Stealing  of  the  Back  Tax  Book.. 
County  Seat  Removal  . .  Delinquent 
List 879 

CHAPTER  VII. 

ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY  —  ITS  PHYSICAL 
FEATURES  AND  RESOURCES— 
Boundary  and  Wealth.  .Area  and 
Water  Supply.  .Physical  Features.. 
The  Indians'  Elysium.  .Sac  River. . 
Farm  and  Stock.  .A  Retrospect.  .Min- 
eral Wealth.  .Silver.  .Some  Reflec- 
tions on  the  Silver  Excitement  .  Pure 
Galena.. Iron  and  Coal  Fields  Im- 
mense . .  Gold,  Silver,  Copper  and 
Nickel 888 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

AGRICULTURAL  AND  STOCK  STATIS- 
TICS- 

Agriculture  and  Stock.  .Grazing Lands 
..Its  Yield.  .Fruits.  .Progress  in  all 
Things . .  Comparison  Made . .  Census 
of  1876.  .Population.  .Stock  ..  Pro- 
ducts .  The  Yield  of  1 880..  Stock 
Returns  of  1880-82.  .Assessment  and 
Assessed  Valuation 8q8 


CHAPTER  IX. 


Page. 


RAILROADS  VS.  NO  RAILROADS. 

The  Clinton  &  Memphis  Branch.. 
Subscription,  $250,000.  .The  Order 
in  Full.  .Satisfied  and  Bonds  Deliv- 
ered. .Returning  Reason..  An  Ac- 
count Rendered  by  no  Vouchers  Pro- 
duced. .Taxation  and  Railroad  Fund 
. .  Investigation . .  The  Report . .  Steal- 
ing in  Bulk.  .Stealing  in  Detail.. 
The  LaDue  Swindle  on  Contracts. . 
No  Levy  but  Plenty  of  Suits.  .$90,- 
000  and   the  Attorneys  in  the  Cases  .    903 

CHAPTER  X. 

EVIDENCES  OF  FRAUD  AND  THE  LEGAL 
FIGHT— 

The  Charge  and  the  Evidence.. 
Johnson  and  Mead  Exonerated.  .Who 
is  Responsible.  .Some  Letters.  .A  few 
Resolutions  . .  The  People  Express 
their  Views.  .The  Bondholders  Pro- 
pose and  the  People  Dispose.  .Man- 
damus vs.  Reason.  .The  Vote  on  the 
20  cent  Compromise.  .Some  Bonds 
Purchased.  .The  Last  Call 914 

CHAPTER  XI. 

MEN'S  PASSIONS  HAVING  FULL  SWAY- 
CRIMES  AND  CASUALTIES— 
The  Pistol.  .Shot  Down  in  Cold  Blood 
.  .The  Murder  of  his  Victim.  .Death 
of  Hughes.  .The  Killing  of  John  D. 
Baucom..John  Berry  Declared  Not 
Guilty.  .Murder  and  Suicide.  .Colonel 
Charles  Sims  and  Wife.  .Jealousy 
and  Insanity.  .The  Noted  Train  Rob- 
bers and  Outlaws  .  .  The  Younger 
Brothers.  .The  Great  Battle  and  Death 
of  John  Younger. .  Local  Detectives 
a  Failure.  .The  Vigilants  .  Fate  of  F. 
J.  France 925 

CHAPTER  XII. 

COUNTY  OFFICIALS  AND  COUNTY  POL- 
ITICS— 

County  Seat  Commissioners.  .Justices 
of  the  Peace  1840  and  184 1.  .County 
OflScials  from  County  Justices  to  Cir- 
cuit Judges.  .Resolutions  of  Respect 
. .  Political .  .The  Vote  from  1870  to 
1876,  and  Compared.  .Senatorial. . 
The  Election  of  1882.. The  Status  of 
Parties 939 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
ODDS  AND  ENDS— 

The  Gold  Fever.  .Captain  Waldo's 
Company.  .What  Became  of  Them., 
Patrons  of  Husbandry.  .Rise  and 
Decline  . .  Number  of  Granges.  .A 
few  Remarks.. The  Milling  Interest 
Mills,  When  and  Where  Built . .  Some 
Suggestions.  .The  Grasshopper.  .The 
Loss  and  the  Relief. .  Roscoe  Ex- 
presses Thanks.  .First  Deed  of  Rec- 
ord. .Swamp  Lands.  .Population  .    .    953 


XI 1 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


Page. 


WAR  RECORD— PRESS-EARLY  BAR— 

964 

CHAPTER  XV. 


OSCEOLA  TOWNSHIP— SOME  ASTOUND- 
ING  FACTS  PLAINLY  STATED- 
Population  . .  Stock  . .  Vineyards  . . 
Metes  and  Bounds.  .The  Pioneer,  and 
When  he  Came.  .Town  of  Osceola, , 
Its  Rise,  Progress  and  Destruction.. 
The  new  City  of  Osceola.  .What  she 
was,  and  is,  and  will  be  ....    . 


975 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


APPLETON  TOWNSHIP— 

Its  Bounds.  .Water,  Timber  and  Area 
.  .Population.  .Production  ..  Pioneers 
and  Progress . .  Appleton  City . ,  Arling- 
ton. .Incorporated.  .Its  First  Settlers 
..Appleton  City  on  January  i,  1883 
.  .Manufacturers.  .Its  Railroad  Ship- 
ments, .District  Fair 1000 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

MONEGAW  AND  CHALK    LEVEL   TOWN- 
SHIPS- 

Monegaw.  .Metes  and  Bounds.  .Topo- 
graphical . .  Pioneer  Days . .  Settled  and 
by  Whom.  .Johnson  City.  .Churches 
.  .Ohio  Postoffice.  .Schools  and  Pop- 
ulation. .Chalk  Level  ..  Boundary., 
Population  and  Production ..  Church 
..Chalk  Level  Village.,  Monegaw 
Springs,  .Osage  Bluff  and  Caves  .    .1019 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

BUTLER,  JACKSON    AND    POLK    TOWN- 
SHIPS— 

Butler  Township.  .The  First  Break. . 
One  of  Seven.  .Topography  and  Area 
.  Production  and  Population.  .Water 
and  Timber.  .Settled  and  by  Whom. . 
George  W.  Penn  ..  Lowry  City.. 
Churches,  Schools,  Lodges  and  Busi- 
ness.. Jiackson  Township  ..  Minefal 
not  Agricultural.  .Metes  and   Bounds 


Page. 

.  .White  Sulphur  Springs.  .Churches, 
Postoffices  and  Schools.  .Polk  Town- 
ship. .  Border  Township . .  Bounds . .  A 
Singular  Spring  . .  Pioneer.  Water, 
Timber  and  Some  Rock.  .Population 
.  .Production.  .Churches  and  Schools 
..Its    General  Features 1031 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

DALLAS,   COLLINS,    DOYAL    AND   WASHING- 
TON  TOWNSHIPS. 

Dallas  Township.  .When,  Where,  and 
How  Much.. They  Came.  .Settled. . 
Among  Other  Things.  .The  Old  Log 
Church.  .King's  Prairie.  .Political  and 
Otherwise.  .Collins  Township,  and  a 
Volume  of  Facts.. The  Name..  1830 
to  1 840..  The  Loom..  The  Good 
Word..Doyal  Township.  .Was  the 
Creation  of  1872.. The  Advance 
Guard.. Coon  Creek.  .Its  Early  Arri- 
vals. .Population  and  Area.  .Doyai's 
Bounds . .  Her  Churches  and  Schools . . 
Election  of  1874.  .Washington  Town- 
ship, One  of  the  Original  Six.  .Metes 
and  Bounds.. The  Sac  River  and 
Brush  Creek.  .The  Advent  of  Jacob 
Coonce..Game  and  Other  Settlers. 
Its  Schools,  etc.,  in  Memorial.  .    .    .  1045 

CHAPTER  XX. 


ROSCOE,    TABER  AND 
SHIPS. 


SPEEDWELL  TOWN- 


Roscoe  Township.  .What  it  Was  in 
1872..  When  Settled.  .Religion  and 
Education.  .The  Village  of  Roscoe. . 
When  Incorpoiated. .  1870  to  18S0. . 
Gazette.  .Business.  .Speedwell  Town- 
ship. .Population,  Area  and  Bounds. . 
Pioneers  and  Hunters.  .Water,  Tim- 
ber, Stock  and  Cereals.  .Famous  Hun- 
ters. .Tiffin.  .Its  Settlement,  Schools 
etc.  .Taber  Township.  .When  Settled 
and  by  Whom.  .Village  of  Taberville 
..Its  Destruction.  Alter  the  War.. 
Head  of  Navigation.  .Churches  and 
School..  Addition  and  Park.    .    .    .  1059 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 


Osceola  Township 1076 

Appleton  Township 1 103 

Monegaw  Township 1126 

Chalk  Level  Township 1142 

Jackson  Townsjiip 1151 

Polk  Township 1158 

Dallas  Township 1166 


Collins  Township 1171 

Butler  Township II79 

Doyal   Township 1189 

Washington  Township 1 196 

Roscoe  Township 1198 

Speedwell  Township 1206 

Taber  Township 121 1 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Clinton  Public  School  Buildirg 336 

Residence  of  C,  C.  Morse 404 

Portrait  of  A.  C.  Legg 647 


History  of  Missouri. 


CHAPTER  I. 
LOUISIANA  PURCHASE. 

BRIEF    HISTORICAL    SKETCH, 

The  purchase  of  the  vast  territory  west  of  the  Mississippi  River,  by 
the  United  States,  extending  through  Oregon  to  the  Pacific  coast  and 
south  to  the  dominions  of  Mexico,  constitutes  the  most  important  event 
that  ever  occurred  in  the  history  of  this  nation. 

It  gave  to  our  republic  additional  room  for  that  expansion  and  stu- 
pendous growth,  to  which  it  has  since  attained,  in  all  that  makes  it 
strong  and  enduring,  and  forms  the  seat  of  an  empire,  from  which  will 
radiate  an  influence  for  good  unequaled  in  the  annals  of  time.  In  1763, 
one  hundred  and  eighteen  years  ago,  the  immense  region  of  country, 
known  at  that  time  as  Louisiana,  was  ceded  to  Spain  by  France.  By  a 
secret  article,  in  the  treaty  of  St.  Ildefonso,  concluded  in  1800,  Spain 
ceded  it  back  to  France.  Napoleon,  at  that  time,  coveted  the  island  ot 
St.  Dom.ingo,  not  only  because  of  the  value  of  its  products,  but  more 
especially  because  its  location  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  would,  in  a  military 
point  of  view,  afford  him  a  fine  field,  whence  he  could  the  more  effect- 
ively guard  his  newly  acquired  possessions.  Hence  he  desired  this 
cession  by  Spain  should  be  kept  a  profound  secret  until  he  succeeded  in 
reducing  St.  Domingo  to  submission.  In  this  undertaking,  however, 
his  hopes  were  blasted,  and  so  great  was  his  disappointment  that  he 
apparently  became  indifferent  to  the  advantages  to  be  derived  to  France 
from  his  purchase  of  Louisiana. 

In  1803  he  sent  out  Laussat  as  prefect  of  the  colony,  Af'ho  gave  the 
people  of  Louisiana  the  first  intimation  that  they  had  had,  that  they  had 
once  more  become  the  subjects  of  France.  This  was  the  occasion  of 
great  rejoicing  among  the  inhabitants,  who  were  Frenchmen  in  their 
origin,  habits,  manners  and  customs. 


10  HISTORY  OF  ]MISSOURI. 

Mr.  Jefferson,  then  President  of  the  United  States,  on  being  informed 
of  the  retrocession,  immediately  dispatched  instructions  to  Robert  Liv- 
ingston, the  American  Minister  at  Paris,  to  make  known  to  Napoleon 
that  the  occupancy  of  New  Orleans,  by  his  government,  would  not  only 
endanger  the  friendly  relations  existing  between  the  two  nations,  but, 
perhaps,  oblige  the  United  States  to  make  common  cause  with  England, 
his  bitterest  and  most  dreaded  enemy,  as  the  possession  of  the  city  by 
France  would  give  her  command  of  the  Mississippi,  which  was  the  only 
outlet  for  the  produce  of  the  Western  States,  and  give  her  also  control 
of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  so  necessary  to  the  protection  of  American  com- 
merce. Mr.  Jefferson  was  so  fully  impressed  with  the  idea  that  the 
occupancy  of  New  Orleans  by  PVance,  would  bring  about  a  conflict  of 
interests  between  the  two  nations,  wbkh  would  finally  culminate  in  an 
open  rupture,  that  he  urged  Mr.  Livingston  to  not  only  insist  upon  the 
free  navigation  of  the  Mississippi,  but  to  negotiate  for  the  purchase  of 
the  city  and  the  surrounding  country. 

The  question  of  this  negotiation  was  of  so  grave  a  character  to  the 
United  States  that  the  President  appointed  Mr.  Monroe,  with  full  power, 
to  act  in  conjunction  with  Mr.  Livingston.  Ever  equal  to  all  emergencies, 
and  prompt  in  the  cabinet,  as  well  as  in  the  field.  Napoleon  came  to  the 
conclusion  that,  as  he  could  not  well  defend  his  occupancy  of  New 
Orleans,  he  would  dispose  of  it,  on  the  best  terms  possible.  Before, 
however,  taking  final  action  in  the  matter,  he  summoned  two  of  his  min- 
isters, and  addressed  them  as  follows : 

"I  am  fully  sensible  of  the  value  of  Louisiana,  and  it  was  my  wish 
to  repair  the  error  of  the  French  diplomatists  who  abandoned  it  in  1763. 
I  have  scarcely  recovered  it  before  I  run  the  risk  of  losing  it ;  but  if  I 
am  obliged  to  give  it  up,  it  shall  hereafter  cost  more  to  those  who  force 
me  to  part  with  it,  than  to  those  to  whom  I  shall  yield  it.  The  English 
have  despoiled  France  of  all  her  northern  possessions  in  America,  and 
now  they  covet  those  of  the  south.  I  am  determined  that  they  shall  not 
have  the  Mississippi.  Although  Louisiana  is  but  a  trifle  compared  to 
their  vast  possessions  in  other  parts  of  the  globe,  yet,  judging  from  the 
vexation  they  have  manifested  on  seeing  it  return  to  the  power  of 
France,  I  am  certain  that  their  first  object  will  be  to  gain  possession  of 
it.  They  will  probably  commence  the  war  in  that  quarter.  They  have 
twenty  vessels  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  our  affairs  in  St.  Domingo  are 
daily  getting  worse  since  the  death  of  LeClerc.  The  conquest  of  Lou- 
isiana might  be  easily  made,  and  I  have  not  a  moment  to  lose  in  getting 
it  out  of  their  reach.  I  am  not  sure  but  that  they  have  already  begun  an 
attack  upon  it.  Such  a  measure  would  be  in  accordance  with  their 
habits;  and  in  their  place  I  should  not  wait.  I  am  inclined,  in  order  to 
deprive  them  of  all  prospect  of  ever  possessing  it,  to  cede  it  to  the 
United  States.     Indeed,  I  can  hardly  say  that  I  cede  it,  for  I  do  not  yet 


HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI.  U 

possess  it ;  and  if  I  wait  but  a  short  time  my  enemies  may  leave  me 
nothing-  but  an  empty  title  to  grant  to  the  republic  I  wish  to  conciliate. 
I  consider  the  whole  colony  as  lost,  and  I  believe  that  in  the  hands  of 
this  rising  power  it  will  be  more  useful  to  the  political  and  even  com- 
mercial interests  of  France  than  if  I  should  attempt  to  retain  it.  Let 
me  have  both  your  opinions  on  the  subject." 

One  of  his  ministers  approved  of  the  contemplated  cession,  but  the 
other  opposed  it.  The  matter  was  long  and  earnestly  discussed  by  them, 
before  the  conference  was  ended.  The  next  day  Napoleon  sent  for  the 
minister  who  had  agreed  with  him,  and  said  to  him ;  "The  season  for 
deliberation  is  over.  I  have  determined  to  renounce  Louisiana.  I  shall 
give  up  not  only  New  Orleans,  but  the  whole  colony,  without  reserva- 
tion. That  I  do  not  undervalue  Louisiana,  I  have  sufficientl}^  proved,  as 
the  object  of  my  first  treaty  with  Spain  was  to  recover  it.  But  though  I 
regret  parting  with  it,  I  am  convinced  it  would  be  folly  to  persist  in  try 
ing  to  keep  it.  I  commission  you,  therefore,  to  negotiate  this  affair  with 
the  envoys  of  the  United  States.  Do  not  wait  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Monroe, 
but  go  this  very  day  and  confer  with  Mr.  Livingston.  Remember,  how- 
ever, that  I  need  ample  funds  for  carrying  on  the  war,  and  I  do  not  wish 
to  commence  it  by  levying  new  taxes.  For  the  last  century  France  and 
Spain  have  incurred  g^reat  expense  in  the  improvement  of  Louisiana,  for 
which  her  trade  has  never  indemnified  them.  Large  sums  have  been 
advanced  to  different  companies,  which  have  never  been  returned  to  the 
treasury.  It  is  fair  that  I  should  require  repayment  for  these.  Were  T 
to  regulate  my  demands  by  the  importance  of  this  territory  to  the  United 
States,  they  would  be  unbounded  ;  but,  being  obliged  to  part  with  it,  I 
shall  be  moderate  in  my  terms.  Still,  remember,  I  must  have  fifty  mil  ■ 
lions  of  francs,  and  I  will  not  consent  to  take  less.  I  would  rather  make 
some  desperate  effort  to  preserve  this  fine  country." 

That  day  the  negotiations  commenced.  Mr.  Monroe  reached  Paris 
on  the  I2th  of  April,  and  the  two  representatives  of  the  United  States 
after  holding  a  private  interview,  announced  that  they  were  ready  to 
treat  for  the  entire  territory.  On  the  30th  of  April,  1803,  eighteen  days 
afterward,  the  treaty  was  signed,  and  on  the  21st  of  October,  of  the  same 
year,  Congress  ratified  the  treaty.  The  United  States  were  to  pay 
$11,250,000,  and  her  citizens  to  be  compensated  for  some  illegal  captures 
to  the  amount  ot  $3,750,000,  making  in  the  aggregate  the  sum  of 
$15,000,000,  while  it  was  agreed  that  the  vessels  and  merchandise  of 
France  and  Spain  should  be  admitted  into  all  the  ports  of  Louisiana  free 
6f  duty  for  twelve  years.  Bonaparte  stipulated  in  favor  of  Louisiana, 
that  it  should  be,  as  soon  as  possible,  incorporated  into  the  Union,  and 
that  its  inhabitants  should  enjoy  the  same  rights,  privileges  and  immuni- 
ties as  other  citizens  of  the  United  States,  and  the  clause  giving  to  them 


12  HISTORY  OF  MISSOURI. 

these  benefits,  was  drawn  up  by  Bonaparte,  who  presented  it  to  the 
plenipotentiaries  with  these  words :  "Make  it  known  to  the  people  of 
Louisiana,  that  we  regret  to  part  with  them  ;  that  we  have  stipulated  for 
all  the  advantages  they  could  desire  ;  and  that  France,  in  giving'  them 
up,  has  insured  to  them  the  greatest  of  all.  They  could  never  have 
prospered  under  any  European  government  as  they  will  when  they 
become  independent.  But  while  they  enjoy  the  privileges  of  liberty  let 
them  remember  that  they  are  French,  and  preserve  for  their  mother 
country  that  affection  which  a  common  origin  inspires." 

Complete  satisfaction  was  given  to  both  parties  in  the  terms  of  the 
treaty.  Mr.  Livingston  said  :  "  I  consider  that  from  this  day  the  United 
States  takes  rank  with  the  first  powers  of  Europe,  and  now  she  has 
entirely  escaped  from  the  power  of  England,"  and  Bonaparte  expressed 
a  similar  sentiment  when  he  said  :  "  By  this  cession  of  territory  I  have 
secured  the  power  of  the  United  States,  and  given  to  England  a  maritime 
rival,  who,  at  some  future  time,  will  humble  her  pride."  These  were 
prophetic  words,  for  within  a  few  years  afterward  the  British  met  with  a 
signal  defeat,  on  the  plains  of  the  very  territory  of  which  the  great  Cor- 
sican  had  been  speaking. 

From  1800,  the  date  of  the  cession  made  by  Spain,  to  1803,  when  it 
was  purchased  by  the  United  States,  no  change  had  been  made  by  the 
French  authorities  in  the  jurisprudence  of  the  Upper  and  Low  r  Louis- 
iana, and  during  this  period  the  Spanish  laws  remained  in  full  force  as 
the  laws  of  the  entire  province  ;  a  fact  which  is  of  interest  to  those  who 
would  understand  the  legal  history  and  some  of  the  present  laws  of 
Missouri. 

On  December  20,  1803,  Generals  Wilkinson  and  Claiborne,  who  were 
jointly  commissioned  to  take  possession  of  the  territory  for  the  United 
States,  arrived  in  the  city  of  New  Orleans  at  the  head  of  the  American 
forces.  Laussat,  who  had  taken  possession  but  tv/enty  days  previously 
as  prefect  of  the  colony,  gave  up  his  command,  and  the  star-spangled 
banner  supplanted  the  tri-colored  flag  of  France.  The  agent  of  France, 
to  take  possession  of  Upper  Louisiana  from  the  Spanish  authorities,  was 
Amos  Stoddard,  captain  of  artillery  in  the  United  States  service.  He 
was  placed  in  possession  of  St.  Louis  on  the  9th  of  March,  1804,  by 
Charles  Dehault  Delassus,  the  Spanish  commandant,  and  on  the  follow- 
ing day  he  transferred  it  to  the  United  States.  The  authority  of  the 
United  States  in  Missouri  dates  from  this  day. 

From  that  moment  the  interests  of  the  people  of  the  Mississippi 
Valley  became  identified.  They  were  troubled  no  more  with  the  uncer- 
tainties of  free  navigation.  The  great  river,  along  whose  banks  they 
had  planted  their  towns  and  villages,  now  afforded  them  a  safe  and  easy 
outlet  to  the  markets  of  the  world.  Under  the  protecting  aegis  of  a 
government,  republican  in  form,  and  having  free  access  to  an  almost 


HISTORY   OF  MISSOURI.  13 

boundless  domain,  embracing  in  its  broad  area  the  diversified  climates  of 
the  globe,  and  possessing  a  soil  unsurpassed  for  fertility,  beauty  of 
scenery  and  wealth  of  minerals,  they  had  every  incentive  to  push  on 
their  enterprises  and  build  up  the  land  wherein  their  lot  had  been  cast. 
In  the  purchase  of  Louisiana,  it  was  known  that  a  great  empire  had 
been  secured  as  a  heritage  to  the  people  of  our  country,  for  all  time  to 
come,  but  of  its  grandeur,  its  possibilities,  its  inexhaustible  resources 
and  the  important  relations  it  would  sustain  to  the  nation  and  the  world, 
were  never  dreamed  of  by  even  Mr.  Jefferson  and  his  adroit  and  accom- 
plished diplomatists. 

The  most  ardent  imagination  never  conceived  of  the  progress, 
which  would  mark  the  history  of  the  "Great  West."  '  The  adventurous 
pioneer,  who  fifty  years  ago  pitched  his  tent  upon  its  broad  prairies,  or 
threaded  the  dark  labyrinths  of  its  lonely  forests,  little  thought  that  a 
mighty  tide  of  physical  and  intellectual  strength  would  so  rapidly  flow 
on  in  his  footsteps,  to  populate,  build  up  and  enrich  the  domain  which 
he  had  conquered. 

Year  after  year,  civilization  has  advanced  further  and  further,  until 
at  length  the  mountains,  the  plains,  the  hills  and  the  valleys,  and  even 
the  rocks  and  the  caverns,  resound  with  the  noise  and  din  of  busy 
millions. 

'•  I  beheld  the  westward  marches 

Of  the  unknown  crowded  nations. 

All  the  land  was  full  of  people. 

Restless,  struggling,  toiling,  striving, 

Spea4cing  many  tongues,  yet  feeling 

But  one  heart-beat  in  their  bosoms. 

In  the  woodland  rang  their  axes, 

Smoked  their  towns  in  all  the  valleys ; 

Over  all  the  lakes  and  rivers 

Rushed  their  great  canoes  of  thunder." 

In  1804  Congress,  by  an  act,  passed  in  April  of  the  same  year, 
divided  Louisiana  into  two  parts,  the  "  Territory  of  Orleans,"  and  the 
"  District  of  Louisiana,"  known  as  "  Upper  Louisiana."  This  district 
included  all  that  portion  of  the  old  province,  north  of"  Hope  Encamp- 
ment," on  the  Lower  Mississippi,  and  embraced  the  present  State  of 
Missouri,  and  all  the  western  region  of  country  to  the  Pacific  Ocean,  and 
all  below  the  forty-ninth  degree  of  north  latitude  not  claimed  by  Spain. 

As  a  matter  of  convenience,  on  March  26,  1804,  Missouri  was  placed 
within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  government  of  the  Territory  of  Indiana, 
and  its  government  put  in  motion  by  General  William  H.  Harrison, 
then  governor  of  Indiana.  In  this  he  was  assisted  by  Judges  Griffin 
Vanderberg  and  Davis,  who  established  in  St.  Louis  what  were  called 
Courts  of  Common  Pleas.  The  Dist~ict  of  Louisiana  was  regularly 
organized  into  the  Territory  of  Louisiana  by  Congress,  March  3,  1805, 


14  HISTORY  OF  MISSOURI. 

and  President  Jefferson  appointed  General  James  Wilkinson  governor, 
and  Frederick  Bates  secretary.  The  Legislature  of  the  Territory  was 
formed  by  Governor  Wilkinson  and  Judges  R.  J.  Meigs  and  John  B.  C. 
Lucas.  In  1807,  Governor  Wilkinson  was  succeeded  by  Captain  Meri- 
wether Lewis,  who  had  become  famous  by  reason  of  his  having  made 
the  expedition  with  Clark.  Governor  Lewis  committed  suicide  in  1809, 
and  President  Madison  appointed  General  Benjamin  Howard,  of  Lex- 
ington, Kentucky,  to  fill  his  place.  General  Howard  resigned  October 
25,  1810,  to  enter  the  war  of  1812,  and  died  in  St.  Louis,  in  1814.  Cap- 
tain William  Clark,  of  Lewis  and  Clark's  expedition,  was  appointed 
governor  in  1810,  to  succeed  General  Howard,  and  remained  in  office 
until  the  admission  of  the  state  into  the  Union. 

The  portions  of  Missouri  which  were  settled,  for  the  purpose  of  local 
government,  were  divided  into  four  districts.  Cape  Girardeau  was  the 
first,  and  embraced  the  territory  between  Tywappity  Bottom  and  Apple 
Creek.  St.  Genevieve,  the  second,  embraced  the  territory  from  Apple 
Creek  to  the  Meramec  River.  St.  Louis,  the  third,  embraced  the  terri- 
tory between  the  Meramec  and  Missouri  Rivers.  St.  Charles,  the  fourth, 
included  the  settled  territory  between  the  Missouri  and  Mississippi 
Rivers.  The  total  population  of  these  districts  at  that  time  was  8,670, 
including  slaves.  The  population  of  the  district  of  Louisiana,  when 
ceded  to  the  United  States,  was  10,120. 


CHAPTER  II. 
DESCRIPTIVE  AND  GEOGRAPHICAL. 

NAME— FXTENT— •SURFACE— RIVERS— TIMBER— CLIMATE— PRAIRIES— SOILS-POPULATION 
BY  CUUiNTlES. 

NAME. 

The  name  Missouri,  is  derived  from  the  Indian  tongue,  and  signifies 
muddy. 

EXTENT. 

Missouri  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Iowa  (from  which  it  is  separated 
for  about  thirty  miles  on  the  northeast  by  the  DesMoines  River)  and  ois 
the  east  by  the  Mississippi  River,  which  divides  it  from  Illinois,  Ken- 
tucky and  Tennessee,  and  on  the  west  by  the  Indian  territory,  and  by 
the  states  of  Kansas  and  Nebraska.  The  state  lies  (with  the  exception 
of  a  small  projection  between  the  St.  Franci"s  and  the  Mississippi  Rivers, 
which  extends  to  36°),  between  36°  30'  and  40°  36'  north  latitude,  and 
betweeH  12°  2'  and  18°  51'  west  longitude  from  Washington 


HISTORY  OF  MISSOURI.  J  5 

The  extreme  width  of  the  state  east  and  west  is  about  348  miles ; 
its  width  on  its  northern  boundary,  measured  from  its  northwest  corner 
along  the  Iowa  line  to  its  intersection  with  the  DesMoines  River,  is  about 
210  miles;  its  width  on  its  southern  boundary  is  about  288  miles.  Its 
average  width  is  about  235  miles. 

The  length  of  the  state  north  and  south,  not  including  the  narrow 
strip  between  the  St.  Francis  and  Mississippi  Rivers,  is  about  282  miles. 
It  is  about  450  miles  from  its  extreme  northwest  corner  to  its  southeast 
corner,  and  from  the  northeast  corner  to  the  southwest  corner  it  is  about 
230  miles.  These  limits  embrace  an  area  of  65.350  square  miles,  or 
41,824,000  acres,  being  nearly  as  large  as  England,  and  the  states  of 
Vermont  and  New  Hampshire. 

SURFACE. 

North  of  the  Missouri  the  state  is  level  or  undulating,  while  the  por- 
tion south  of  that  river  (the  larger  portion  of  the  state)  exhibits  a  greater 
variety  of  surface.  In  the  southeastern  part  is  an  extensive  marsh, 
reaching  beyond  the  state  into  Arkansas.  The  remainder  of  this  portion 
between  the  Mississippi  and  Osage  Rivers,  is  rolling  and  gradually  rising 
into  a  hilly  and  mountainous  district,  forming  the  outski'rts  of  the  Ozark 
Mountains. 

Beyond  the  Osage  River,  at  some  distance,  commences  a  vast 
expanse  of  prairie  land,  which  stretches  away  towards  the  Rocky  Mount- 
ains. The  ridges  forming  the  Ozark  chain  extend  in  a  northeast  and 
southwest  direction,  separating  the  waters  that  flow  northeast  into  the 
Missouri  from  those  that  flow  southeast  into  the  Mississippi  River. 

RIVERS. 

No  state  in  the  Union  enjoys  better  facilities  for  navigation  than 
IMissouri.  By  means  of  the  Mississippi  River,  which  stretches  along  her 
entire  eastern  boundary,  she  can  hold  commercial  intercourse  with  the 
most  northern  territory^nd  state  in  the  Union  ;  with  the  whole  valley  of 
the  Ohio  ;  with  many  of  the  Atlantic  States,  and  with  the  Gulf  of  Mexico, 

"Ay,  gather  Europe's  royal  rivers  all — 
The  snow  swelled  Neva,  with  an  empire's  weight 
On  her  broad  breast,  she  yet  may  overwhelm } 
Dark  Danube,  harrying,  as  by  foe  pursued, 
Through  shaggy  forests  and  by  palase  walls, 
To  hide  its  terrors  in  a  sea  of  gloom ; 
The  castled  Rhine,  whose  vine  crowned  waters  flow. 
The  fount  of  fable  and  the  source  of  song ; 
The  rushing  Rhone,  in  whose  cerulean  depths 
The  loving  sky  seems  wedded  with  the  wave; 
The  yellow  Tiber,  chok'd  with  Roman  spoils, 
A  dying  miser  shrinking  'neath  his  gold; 
The  Seine,  where  fashion  glasses  the  fairest  forms; 
And  Thames  that  bears  the  riches  of  the  v/or!d ; 


l6  HISTORY  OF   MISSOURI. 

Gather  their  waters  in  one  ocean  mass, 
Our  Mississippi  rolling  proudly  on, 
Would  sweep  them  from  its  path,  or  swallow  up, 
'  Like  Aaron's  rod,  these  streams  of  fame  and  song." 

By  the  Missouri  River  she  can  extend  her  commerce  to  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  and  receive  in  return  the  products  which  will  come  in  the 
course  of  time,  by  its  multitude  of  tributaries. 

The  Missouri  River  coasts  the  northwest  line  of  the  state  for  about 
250  miles,  following  its  windings,  and  then  flows  through  the  state,  a 
little  south  of  east,  to  its  junction  with  the  Mississippi.  The  Missouri 
River  receives  a  number  of  tributaries  within  the  limits  of  the  state,  the 
principal  of  which  are  the  Nodaway,  Platte,  Loutre  and  Chariton  from 
the  north,  and  the  Blue,  Sniabar,  Grand,  Osage  and  Gasconade  from  the 
south.  The  principal  tributaries  of  the  Mississippi  within  the  state  are 
the  Salt  River,  north,  and  the  Meramec  River,  south,  of  the  Missouri. 

The  St.  Francis  and  White  Rivers,  with  their  branches,  drain  the 
southeastern  part  of  the  state  and  pass  into  Arkansas.  The  Osage  is 
navigable  for  steamboats  for  more  than  275  miles.  There  are  a  vast 
number  of  smaller  streams,  such  as  creeks,  branches  and  rivers,  which 
water  the  state  in  all  directions. 

TIMBER. 

Not  more  towering  in  their  sublimity  were  the  cedars  of  ancient 
Lebanon,  nor  more  precious  in  their  utility  were  the  almug  trees  of 
Ophir,  than  the  native  forests  of  Missouri.  The  river  bottoms  are  cov- 
ered with  a  luxuriant  growth  of  oak,  ash,  elm,  hickory,  Cottonwood,  linn, 
white  and  black  walnut,  and  in  fact  all  the  varieties  found  in  the  Atlantic 
and  Eastern  States.  In  the  more  barren  districts  may  be  seen  the  white 
and  pin  oak,  and  in  many  places  a  dense  growth  of  pine.  The  crab 
apple,  pawpaw  and  persimmon  are  abundant,  as  also  the  hazel  and  pecan. 

CLIMATE. 

The  climate  of  Missouri  is,  in  general,  pleasant  and  salubrious. 
Like  that  of  North  America,  it  is  changeable  and  subject  to  sudden  and 
sometimes  extreme  changes  of  heat  and  cold  ;  but  it  is  decidedly  milder, 
taking  the  whole  year  through,  than  that  of  the  same  latitudes. east  of 
the  mountains.  While  the  summers  are  not  more  oppressive  than  they 
are  in  the  corresponding  latitudes  on  and  near  the  Atlantic  Coast,  the 
winters  are  shorter,  and  very  much  milder,  except  during  the  month  of 
February,  and  it  has  many  days  of  pleasant  sunshine. 

PRAIRIES. 

Missouri  is  a  prairie  state,  especially  that  portion  of  it  north  and 
northwest  of  the  Missouri  River.  These  prairies,  along  the  water 
courses,  abound  with  the  thickest  and  most  luxurious  belts  of  timber, 


HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI.  1/ 

while  the  "  rolling  "  prairies  occupy  the  higher  portions  of  the  country, 
the  desci.  it  generally  to  the  forest  or  bottom  lands  being  over  stony 
declivities.  Many  of  these  prairies,  however,  exhibit  a  graceful,  waving 
surface,  swelling  and  sinking  with  an  easy  slope  and  a  full,  rounded  out- 
line, equally  avoiding  the  unmeaning,  horizontal  surface  and  the  inter- 
ruption of  abrupt  or  angular  elevations. 

These  prairies  often  embrace  extensive  tracts  of  land,  and  m  one  or 
two  instances  they  cover  an  area  of  fifty  thousand  acres.  During  the 
spring  and  summer  they  are  carpeted  with  a  velvet  of  green  and  gaily 
bedecked  with  flowers  of  various  forms  and  hues,  making  a  most  fasci- 
nating panorama  of  ever  changing  color  and  loveliness.  To  fully  appre- 
ciate their  great  beauty  and  magnitude  they  must  be  seen. 

SOIL. 

The  soil  of  Missouri  is  good,  and  of  great  agricultural  capabili<"^es, 
but  the  most  fertile  portions  of  the  state  are  the  river  bottoms,  which 
are  a  rich  alluvium,  mixed  in  many  cases  with  sand,  the  producing  qual- 
ities of  which  are  not  excelled  by  the  prolific  valley  of  the  famous  Nile. 

South  of  the  Missouri  River  there  is  a  greater  variety  of  soil,  but 
much  of  it  is  fertile,  and  even  in  the  mountains  and  mineral  districts 
there  are  rich  valleys,  and  about  the  sources  of  the  White,  Eleven 
Points,  Current  and  Big  Black  Rivers  the  soil,  though  unproductive, 
furnishes  a  valuable  growth  of  yellow  pine. 

The  marshy  lands  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  state  will,  by  a 
system  of  drainage,  be  one  of  the  most  fertile  districts  in  the  state. 

POPULATION  BY  COUNTIES  IN   187O,    18/6,    1880. 

Adair .,     , 

Andrew , 

Atchison 

Audrain , 

Barry 

Barton 

Bates 

Benton 

Bollinger , 

Boone ,    - 

Buchanan ..._j 

Butler 

Caldwell 

Callaway 

Camden j.... 

Cape  Girardeau , 

Carroll 

Carter 

Cass 


IS70. 

1S76. 

18S0. 

11,449 

13774 

15,190 

15.137 

14,992 

16,318 

8,440 

10,925 

14.565 

12,307 

15,157 

19.739 

10,373 

11,146 

14,424 

5.0S7 

6,900 

10332 

15.960 

17,484 

25,382 

11,322 

11,027 

12,398 

8,162 

8,884 

11,132 

20,765 

31.923 

25,424 

35,109 

38,165 

49,824 

4,298 

4,363 

6,011 

11,390 

12  200 

13.654 

19,202 

25,257 

23,670 

6,ioS 

7,027 

7,269 

17.558 

17,891 

20998 

17:445 

21,518 

23.300 

1,455 

1,549 

2,168 

19,296 

18,069 

22,431 

HISTORY  OF  MISSOURI. 


Cedar .   .  .   . 
Charfton   .   . 

Christian    .   . 
Clark  .... 
Clinton   .   .   . 
Cole  .... 
Cooper  .   .   . 
Cralwford  .    . 
Dade  .   .   .   . 
Dallas  .   .   . 
Daviiss  .    ,    . 
DeKalb  .   .   . 
Dent  .... 
Douglas  .    .    . 
Dunkin  .    .    . 
Franklin    .    , 
Gas'conade  .   . 
Gentry  .    .   . 
Greene  .    ... 
Grundy   .    .    . 
Harrison  .    . 
Henry  .    .    . 
Hickory  .    .    . 
Holt  .... 
Howard  .    .    . 

Howell  .    .    . 

T    ''- 

Iron   ,    .    „    . 

Jackson  .    .    . 
Jasper    .    .    . 
Jefferson  .    . 
Johnson  .    .    . 
Knox    .    .    . 
Laclede  .    .    , 
Lafayette  .    . 
Lawrence  .   . 
Lewis  ... 
Lincoln   .    .    , 
Linn  .    .    .    . 
Livingston  . 
McDonald  .   , 
Macon  .    .   . 
Madison  .    . 
Maries    .    .    , 
Marion  .    .    . 
Mercer  .    .    . 
Miller  .    .    . 
Mississippi   . 
Moniteau   .    . 
Monroe  .    . 
Montgomeiy 
Morgan  .    .    . 
New  Madrid 
Newton  .    . 


9.474 

9,912 

10,747 

19,136 

23,294 

25,224 

6.707 

7,936 

9,632 

13,667 

14,549 

15,631 

14,063 

13,698 

16,073 

10,292 

14,122 

15.519 

20,692 

21,356 

21,622 

7,982 

9,391 

10,763 

8,683 

11,089 

12,557 

8,383 

8,073 

9,272 

14,410 

16,557 

19,174 

9.858 

11,159 

13,343 

6,357 

7,401       . 

10,647 

3,91s 

6,461 

7,753 

5,982 

6,255 

9,604 

30,098 

26,924 

26,536 

10,093 

11,160 

11.153 

11,607 

12,673 

17,188 

21,549 

24,693 

28,817 

10,567 

13.071 

15,201 

14,63s 

18,530 

20,318 

17,401 

18,465 

23,914 

6452 

5,870 

7,388 

11,652 

13.245 

15,510 

17,233 

17,815 

18,428 

4,218 

6.756 

8,814 

6,278 

6,623 

8,183 

5S-04I 

54,045 

82,328 

14,928 

29,384 

32,021 

15.380 

16,186 

i«,736 

24,648 

23,646 

28,177 

10,974 

12,67s 

13,047 

9.380 

9,84s 

11,524 

22,624 

22,204 

25,761 

13,067 

13,054 

17.585 

I5,"4 

16,360 

15.925 

15,960 

16,858 

17,443 

15  906 

18,110 

20,016 

16,730 

18,074 

20,205 

5,226 

6,072 

7,816 

23,230 

25,028 

26,223 

5.849 

8,750 

8,866 

5,916 

6,481 

7,304 

23,780 

22,794 

24,837 

",557 

13.393 

14,674 

6,616 

8.529 

9,807 

4,982 

7,498 

i),270 

13.375 

13,084 

14,349 

17,149 

17,751 

19,075 

10,405 

14,418 

16,250 

8,434 

9.529 

10,134 

6,357 

6,673 

7,694 

I»2,82I 

16,875 

18,948 

Hl'SrORY  OF  MISSOURI.  ig 


Nodaway  .   .   ,   , 

Oregon  

Osage  .    4   .    .   . 

Ozark 

Pemiscot  .... 

Perry 

Pettis 

Phelps 

Pike 

Platte  ..... 

Polk 

Pulaski 

Putnam  .    .    .    .    . 

Ralls 

Randolph  .    .    . 

Ray 

Reynolds  .   .    .    . 

Ripley 

St.  Charles  .    .   . 
St.  Clair  .... 
St.   Francois  .    . 
Ste.  Genevieve  . 
St.  Louis*  .   .   .    . 

Saline 

Schuyler    .    .    .    . 
Scotland  .... 

Scott 

Shannon  .    .    .    . 

Shelby 

Stoddard  .... 

Stone  

Sullivan  .... 

Taney   

Texas  

Vern.on  .    .    .    .    . 

Warren 

Washington  .    .    . 

Wayne 

Webster  .... 

Worth 

Wright    .... 
City  of  St.  Louis 


14.751 

23,196 

29,560- 

3,287 

4,469 

5  79^ 

10,793 

11,200 

11,824. 

3,363 

4,579 

5,618. 

2,059 

2,573 

4,299- 

9,877 

11,189 

11,895 

18,706 

23,167 

27,285 

10,506 

9,919 

12,565 

23,076 

22,828 

26,716- 

17,352 

15,948 

17372 

14,445 

13.467 

15,745 

4,714 

6,157 

7,250 

11,217 

12,641 

13.556 

10,510 

9,997 

11,838 

15,908 

19,173 

22,75E 

iSjoo 

18,394 

20,196 

3,756 

4,716 

5.722 

3.175 

3.913 

5.377 

21,304 

21,821 

23,060 

6,742 

11,242 

14,126 

9,742 

11,621 

13,822 

8,384 

9,409 

10309 

351.189 

.   .   . 

31.888 

21,672 

27,087 

29,912 

8,820     •' 

9,881 

10,470 

10,670 

12,030 

12,507 

7,3»7 

7,312 

.  8,587 

2,339 

3236 

3441 

10,119 

13,243 

14,024 

8,535 

10,888 

13,432 

3,253 

3,544 

4,405 

11,907 

14,039 

16,569 

4,407 

6,124 

5,605 

9,618 

10,287 

12,207 

11,247 

14,413 

19,370 

9,673 

10,321 

10,806 

II  719 

13,100 

12,895 

6,o6S 

7,006 

9,097 

10,434 

10,684 

12,175 

5,004 

7,164 

8,208 

5,684 

6,124 

9,733 

.   .   . 

.   .    . 

350,522 

1,721,295       1,547,030       2,i68,{ 

Males 1,127,424 

Females ^ 1,041,380 

Native J,957,'564 

Foreign * 211,240 

White 2,023,568 

Color^df 145.236 


*St.  Louis  City  and  county* separated  in  1877.     Population  for  1876  not  given, 
f  Including  9.2  Chinese,  2  half  Chinese,  smd  96  Indians  and  half-breeds. 


2a  HISTORY  OF  MISSOURI. 

CHAPTER  III. 
GEOLOGY  OF  MISSOURI. 

CLASSIFICATION  OF  ROCKS-QUATERNARY  FORMATION-TERTIARV-CRETACEOUS-CAR- 
BONIFEROUS-UEVONIAN— SILURIAN— AZOIC— ECONOMIC  GEOLOGY— COAL-IRON- 
LEAD— COPPER  —  ZINC  —  BUILDING  STONE  —  MARBLE  —  GYPSUM  —  LIME— PAINTS- 
SPRINGS— WATER  POWER. 

The  stratified  rocks  of  Missouri,  as  classified  and  treated  of  by  Pro- 
fessor G.  C.  Swallow,  belong  to  the  following  divisions ;  I.  Ouatenary ; 
11.  Tertiary;  III.  Cretaceous;  IV.  Carboniferous;  V.  Devonian;  VI. 
Silurian;  VII.  Azoic. 

The  Quaternary  formations  are  the  most  recent  and  the  most  val- 
uable to  man  ;  valuable,  because  they  can  be  more  readily  utilized. 

The  Quaternary  formation  in  Missouri,  embraces  the  Alluvium,  30 
feet  thick  ;  Bottom  Prairie,  30  feet  thick  ;  Bluff,  200  feet  thick  ;  and  Drift, 
155  feet  thick.  The  latest  deposits  are  those  which  constitute  the  Allu- 
vium, and  includes  the  soils,  pebbles  and  sand,  clays,  vegetable  mold, 
bog,  iron  ore,  marls,  etc. 

The  Alluvium  deposits  cover  an  area,  within  the  limits  of  Missouri, 
of  more  than  four  million  acres  of  land,  which  are  not  surpassed  for  fer- 
tility by  any  region  of  country  on  the  globe. 

The  Bluff  Prairie  formation  is  confined  to  the  lowlands,  which  are 
washed  by  the  two  great  rivers  which  course  our  eastern  and  western 
boundaries,  and  while  it  is  only  about  half  as  extensive  as  the  Alluvial, 
it  is  equally  as  rich  and  productive. 

"The  Bluff  formation,"  says  Professor  Swallow,  "rests  upon  the 
ridges  and  river  bluffs,  and  descends  along  their  slopes  to  the  lowest 
valleys,  the  formation  capping  all  the  bluffs  of  the  Missouri  from  Fort 
Union  to  its  mouth,  and  those  of  the  Mississippi  from  Dubuque  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Ohio.  It  forms  the  upper  stratum  beneath  the  soil  of  all 
the  high  lands,  both  timber  and  prairies,  of  all  the  counties  north  of  the 
Osage  and  Missouri,  and  also  St.  Louis,  and  the  Mississippi  counties  on 
the  south. 

Its  greatest  developmmt  is  in  the  counties  on  the  Missouri  River, 
from  the  Iowa  line  to  Boonville.  In  some  localities  it  is  200  feet  thick. 
At  St.  Joseph  it  is  140;  at  Boonville  100;  and  at  St.  Louis,  in  St. 
George's  quarry,  and  the  Big  Mound,  it  is  about  50  feet;  while  its  great- 
est observed  thickness  in  Marion  County  was  only  30  feet." 

The  Drift  formation  is  that  which  lies  beneath  the  Bluff  formation, 
having,  as  Professor  Swallow  informs  us,  three  distinct  deposits,  to  wit: 
"Altered  Drift,  which  are  strata  of  sand  and  pebbles,  seen  in  the  banks 
of  the  Missouri,  in  the  northwestern  portion  of  the  state. 


HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI.  21 

The  Boulder  formation  is  a  heterogeneous  stratum  of  sand,  gravel 
and  boulder,  and  water-worn  fragments  of  the  older  rocks. 

Boulder  Clay  is  a  bed  of  bluish  or  brown  sandy  clay,  through  which 
pebbles  are  scattered  in  greater  or  less  abundance.  In  some  localities  in 
northern  Missouri,  this  formation  assumes  a  pure  white,  pipe-clay  color." 

The  Tertiary  formation  is  made  up  of  clays,  shales,  iron  ores,  sand- 
stone, and  sands,  scattered  along  the  bluffs,  and  edges  of  the  bottoms, 
reaching  from  Commerce,  Scott  County,  to  Stoddard,  and  south  to  the 
Chalk  Bluffs  in  Arkansas. 

The  Cretaceous  formation  lies  beneath  the  Tertiary,  and  is  composed 
of  variegated  sandstone,  bluish-brown  sandy  slate,  whitish-brown  im- 
pure sandstone,  fine  white  clay,  mingled  with  spotted  flint,  purple,  red 
and  blue  clays,  all  being  in  the  aggregate,  158  feet  in  thickness.  There 
are  no  fossils  in  these  rocks,  and  nothing  by  which  their  age  may  be 
told. 

The  Carboniferous  system  includes  the  Upper  Carboniferous  or  coal 
measures,  and  the  Lower  Carboniferous  or  Mountain  Limestone.  The 
coal  measures  are  made  up  of  numerous  strata  of  sandstones,  limestones, 
shales,  clays,  marls,  spathic  iron  ores  and  coals. 

The  Carboniferous  formation,  including  coal  measures  and  the  beds 
of  iron,  embrace  an  area  in  Missouri  of  27,000  square  miles.  The  varie- 
ties of  coal  found  in  the  state  are  the  common  bituminous  and  cannel 
coals,  and  they  exist  in  quantities  inexhaustible.  The  fact  that  these 
coal  measures  are  full  of  fossils,  which  are  always  confined  to  the  coal 
measures,  enables  the  geologist  to  point  them  out,  and  the  coal  beds 
contained  in  them. 

The  rocks  of  the  Lower  Carboniferous  formation  are  varied  in  color, 
and  are  quarried  in  many  different  parts  of  the  state,  being  extensively 
utilized  for  building  and  other  purposes. 

Among  the  Lower  Carboniferous  rocks  is  found  the  Upper  Archi- 
medes Limestone,  200  feet  ;  Ferruginous  Sandstone,  105  feet ;  Middle 
Archimedes.  50  feet ;  St.  Louis  Limestone,  250  feet;  Oolitic  Limestone, 
25  feet;  Lower  Archimedes  Limestone,  350  feet;  and  Encrinital  Lime- 
stone, 500  feet.     These  limestones  generally  contain  fossils. 

The  Ferruginous  Limestone  is  soft  when  quarried,  but  becomes  hard 
and  durable  after  exposure.  It  contains  large  quantities  of  iron,  and  is 
found  skirting  the  eastern  coal  measures  from  the  mouth  of  the  Des 
Moines  to  McDonald  County. 

The  St.  Louis  Limestone  is  of  various  hues  and  tints,  and  very  hard. 
It  is  found  in  Clark,  Lewis  and  St.  Louis  Counties. 

The  Lower  Archimedes  Limestone  includes  partly  the  lead-bearing 
rocks  of  Southwest  Missouri. 

The  Encrinital  Limestone  is  the  most  extensive  of  the  divisions  of 
Carboniferous  Limestone,  and  is  made  up  of  brown,  buff,  gray  and  white. 


22  HISTORY  OF  MISSOURI. 

In  these  strata  are  found  the  remains  of  corals  and  mollusks.  This 
formation  extends  from  Marion  County  to  Greene  County.  The  Devo- 
nian system  contains:  Chemung  Group,  Hamilton  Group,  Onondaga 
Limestone  and  Ori^kany  Sandstone.  The  rocks  of  the  Devonian  system 
are  found  in  Marion,  Ralls,  Pike,  Callaway,  Saline  and  Ste.  Genevieve 
Counties. 

The  Chemung  Group  has  three  formations,  Chouteau  Limestone,  85 
feet ;  Vermicular  Sandstone  and  shales,  75  feet;  Lithographic  Limestone, 
125  feet. 

The  Chouteau  Limestone  is  in  two  divisions,  when  fully  developed, 
and  when  first  quarried  is  soft.  It  is  not  only  good  for  building  purposes 
but  makes  an  excellent  cement. 

The  Vermicular  Sandstone  and  shales  are  usually  buff  or  yellowish 
brown,  perforated  with  pores. 

The  Lithographic  Limestone  is  a  pure,  fine,  compact,  evenly  textured 
limestone.  Its  color  varies  from  light  drab  to  buff  and  blue.  It  is  called 
"pot-metal,"  because  under  the  hammer  it  gives  a  sharp,  ringing  sound 
It  has  but  few  fossils. 

The  Hamilton  Group  is  made  up  of  some  forty  feet  of  blue  shales, 
and  170  feet  of  Crystaline  Limestone. 

Onondaga  Limestone  is  usually  a  coarse,  gray  or  buff  crystaline, 
thick-bedded  and  cherry  limestone.  No  formation  in  Missouri  presents 
such  variable  and  widely  different  lithological  characters  as  the  Onondaga. 

The  Oriskany  Sandstone  is  a  light  gray  limestone. 

Of  the  Upper  Silurian  series  there  are  the  following  formations  : 
Lower  Helderburg,  350  feet;  Niagara  Group,  200  feet;  Cape  Girardeau 
Limestone,  60  feet. 

The  Lower  Helderburg  is  made  up  of  buff,  gray  and  reddish  cherry 
and  argillaceous  limestone. 

Niagara  Group.  The  upper  part  of  this  group  consists  of  red,  yel- 
low and  ash-colored  shales,  with  compact  limestones,  variegated  with 
bands  and  nodules  of  chert. 

The  Cape  Girardeau  Limestone,  on  the  Mississispi  River,  near  Cape 
Girardeau,  is  a  compact,  bluish-gray,  brittle  limestone,  with  smooth  frac- 
tures in  layers  from  two  to  six  inches  in  thickness,  with  argillaceous 
partings.     These  strata  contain  a  great  many  fossils. 

The  Lower  Silurian  has  the  following  ten  formations,  to  wit:  Hud- 
son River  Group,  220  feet  ;  Trenton  Limestone,  360  feet;  Black  River 
and  Bird's  Eye  Limestone,  175  feet ;  first  Magnesian  Limestone,  200  feet  ; 
Saccharoidal  Sandstone,  125  feet  ;  second  Magnesian  Limestone,  250 
feet  ;  second  Sandstone,  115  feet;  third  Magnesian  Limestone,  350  feet  ; 
third  Sandstone,  60  feet ;  fourth  Magnesian  Limestone,  350  feet. 

Hudson  River  Group.  There  are  three  formations  which  Professor 
Swallow  refers  to  in  this  group.     These  formations  are  found  in  the  bluff 


HISTORY  OF  MISSOURI.  23 

above  and  below  Louisiana,  on  the  Grassy,  a  few  miles  northwest  of 
Louisiana,  and  in  Ralls,  Pike,  Cape  Girardeau  and  Ste.  Genevieve 
Counties. 

Trenton  Limestone.  The  upper  part  of  this  formation  is  made  up  of 
thick  beds  of  hard,  compact,  bluish-gray  and  drab  limestone,  variegated 
with  irregular  cavities,  filled  with  greenish  materials. 

The  beds  are  exposed  between  Hannibal  and  New  London,  north  of 
Salt  River,  and  near  Glencoe,  St.  Louis  County,  and  are  75  feet  thick. 

Black  River  and  Bird's  Eye  Limestone  is  the  same  color  as  the  Tren- 
ton Limestone. 

The  First  Magnesian  Limestone  cap  the  picturesque  bluffs  of  the 
Osage  in  Benton  and  neighboring  counties. 

The  Saccharoidal  Sandstone  has  a  wide  range  in  the  state.  In  a 
bluff  about  two  miles  from  Warsaw,  is  a  very  striking  change  of  thickness 
of  this  formation. 

Second  Magnesian  Limestone,  in  lithological  character,  is  like  the  first. 

The  Second  Sandstone,  usually  of  yellowish  brown,-  sometimes 
becomes  ^  pure  white,  fine-grained,  solt  sandstone,  as  on  Cedar  Creek, 
in  Washington  and  Franklin  Counties. 

The  Third  Magnesian  Limestone  is  exposed  in  the  high  and  pictur- 
esque bluffs  of  the  Niangua,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Bry's  Spring. 

The  Third  Sandstone  is  white  and  has  a  formation  in  moving  water. 

The  Fourth  Magnesian  Limestone  is  seen  on  the  Niangua  and  Osage 
Rivers. 

The  Azoic  rocks  lie  below  the  Silurian  and  form  a  series  of  silicious 
and  other  slates,  which  contain  no  remains  of  organic  life. 

ECONOMIC  GEOLOGY. 

Coal. — Missouri  is  particularly  rich  in  minerals.  Indeed,  no  state  in 
the  Union  surpasses  her  in  this  respect.  In  some  unknown  age  of  the 
past — long  before  the  existence  of  man,  nature,  by  a  wise  process,  made 
a  bountiful  provision  for  the  time,  when  in  the  order  of  things  it  should 
be  necessary  for  civilized  man  to  take  possession  of  these  broad,  rich 
prairies.  As  an  equivalent  for  lack  of  forests  she  quietly  stored  away 
beneath  the  soil  those  wonderful  carboniferous  treasures  for  the  use  of 
man. 

Geological  surveys  have  developed  the  fact  that  the  coal  deposits  in 
the  state  are  almost  unnumbered,  embracing  all  varieties  of  the  best  bit- 
uminous coal.  The  southeast  boundary  of  the  state  has  been  ascertained 
to  be  one  continuous  coal  field,  stretching  from  the  mouth  of  the  Des 
Moines  River,  through  Clark,  Lewis,  Scotland,  Adair,  Macon,  Shelby, 
Monroe,  Audrain,  Callaway,  Boone,  Cooper,  Pettis,  Benton,  Henry,  St. 
Clair,  Bates,  Vernon,  Cedar,  Dade,  Barton  and  Jasper,  into  the  Indian 
Territory,  and  the  counties  on  the  northwest  of  this  line  contain  more  or 


24  HISTORY  OF  MISSOURI. 

less  coal.  Coal  rocks  exist  in  Ralls,  Montgomery,  Warren,  St.  Charles, 
Moniteau,  Cole,  Morgan,  Crawford  and  Lincoln,  and  during  the  past  few 
years  all  along  the  lines  of  all  the  railroads  in  North  Missouri,  and  along 
the  western  end  of  the  Missouri  Pacific,  and  on  the  Missouri  River 
between  Kansas  City  and  Sioux  City,  has  systematic  mining  opened  up 
hundreds  of  mines  in  different  localities.  The  area  of  our  coal  beds  on 
the  line  of  the  southwestern  boundary  of  the  state  alone  embrace  more 
than  26,000  square  miles  of  regular  coal  measures.  This  will  give  of 
workable  coal,  if  the  average  be  one  foot,  26,800,000,000  tons.  The  esti- 
mates from  the  developments  already  made  in  the  different  portions  of 
the  state  will  give  134,000,000,000  tons. 

The  economical  value  of  this  coal  to  the  state,  its  influence  in 
domestic  life,  in  navigation,  commerce  and  manufactures,  is  beyond  the 
imagination  of  man  to  conceive.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that  in  the  possession 
of  her  developed  and  undeveloped  coal  mines,  Missouri  has  a  motive 
power  which  in  its  influence  for  good  in  the  civilization  of  man  is  more 
than  the  gold  of  California. 

Iron. — Prominent  among  the  minerals  which  increase  the  power  and 
prosperity  of  a  nation  is  iron.  Of  this  ore  Missouri  has  an  inexhaustible 
quantity,  and,  like  her  coal  fields,  it  has  been  developed  in  many  portions 
of  the  state,  and  of  the  best  and  pur^^t  quality.  It  is  found  in  great 
abundance  in  the  counties  of  Cooper,  St.  Clair,  Green,  Henry,  Franklin, 
Benton,  Dallas,  Camden,  Stone,  Madison,  Iron,  Washington,  Perry,  St. 
Francois,  Reynolds,  Stoddard,  Scott,  Dent,  and  others.  The  greatest 
deposit  of  iron  is  found  in  the  Iron  Mountain,  which  is  two  hundred  feet 
high,  and  covers  an  area  of  five  hundred  acres,  and  produces  a  metal 
which  is  shown  by  analysis  to  contain  from  65  to  69  per  cent,  of  metallic 
iron. 

The  ore  of  Shepherd  Mountain  contains  from  64  to  ^y  per  cent,  of 
metallic  iron.     The  ore  of  Pilot  Knob  contains  from  53  to  60  per  cent. 

Rich  beds  of  iron  are  also  found  at  the  Big  Bogy  Mountain,  and  at 
Russell  Mountain.  This  ore  has  iu  its  nude  state  a  variety  of  colors, 
from  the  red,  dark  red,  black,  brown,  to  a  light  bluish  gray.  The  red 
ores  are  found  in  21  or  more  counties  of  the  state,  and  are  of  great  com- 
mercial value.  The  brown  hematite  iron  ores  extend  over  a  greater 
range  of  country  than  all  the  others  combined  ;  embracing  about  100 
counties,  and  have  been  ascertained  to  exist  in  these  in  large  quantities. 

Lead. — Long  before  any  permanent  settlements  Vere  made  in  Mis- 
souri by  the  whites,  lead  was  mined  within  the  limits  of  the  state,  at 
two  or  three  points  on  the  Mississippi.  At  this  time  more  than  five  hun- 
dred mines  are  opened,  and  many  of  them  are  being  successfully  worked. 
These  deposits  of  lead  cover  an  area,  so  far  as  developed,  of  more  than 
7,000  square  miles.  Mines  have  been  opened  in  Jefferson,  Washington, 
St.  Francois,  Madison,  Wayne,  Carter,  Reynolds,  Crawford,  Ste.  Gene- 


HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI.  2$ 

vieve.  Perry,  Cole,  Cape  Girardeau,  Camden,  Morgan  land  some  other 
counties. 

Copper  and  Zinc. — Several  varieties  of  copper  ore  are  found  in  Mis- 
souri. The  copper  mines  ot  Shannon,  Madison  and  Franklin  Counties,, 
have  been  known  for  years,  and  some  of  these  have  been  successfully 
worked,  and  are  now  yielding  good  results. 

Deposits  of  copper  have  been  discovered  in  Dent,  Crawford,  Benton, 
Maries,  Green,  Lawrence,  Dade,  Taney,  Dallas,  Phelps,  Reynolds  and 
Wright  Counties. 

Zinc  is  abundant  in  nearly  all  the  lead  mines  in  the  southwestern 
part  of  the  state,  and  since  the  completion  of  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific 
Railroad,  a  market  has  been  furnished  for  this  ore,  which  will  be  con- 
verted into  valuable  merchandise. 

Building  Stone  and  Marble. — There  is  no  scarcity  of  good  building 
stone  in  Missouri.  Limestone,  sandstone  and  granite  exist  in  all  shades 
of  buff,  blue,  red  and  brown,  and  are  of  great  beauty  as  building  material. 

There  are  many  marble  beds  in  the  state,  some  of  which  furnish 
very  beautiful  and  excellent  marble.  It  is  found  in  Marion,  Cooper,  St. 
Louis  and  other  counties. 

One  of  the  most  desirable  of  the  Missouri  marbles  is  in  the  third 
Magnesian  Limestone,  on  the  Niangua.  It  is  fine  grained,  crystalline, 
silico-magnesian  limestone,  light  drab,  slightly  tinged  with  peach  blos- 
som, and  clouded  by  deep  flesh-colored  shades.  In  ornamental  archi- 
tecture it  is  rarely  surpassed. 

Gypsum  and  Lime. — Though  no  extensive  beds  of  gypsum  have  been 
discovered  in  Missouri,  there  are  vast  beds  of  the  pure  white  crystalline 
variety  on  the  line  of  the  Kansas  Pacific  Railroad,  on  Kansas  River,  and 
on  Gypsum  Creek.  It  exists  also  in  several  other  localities  accessible 
by  both  rail  and  boat. 

All  of  the  limestone  formations  in  the  state,  from  the  coal  measures 
to  the  Fourth  Magnesian,  have  more  or  less  strata  of  very  nearly  pure 
carbonate  of  pure  lime. 

Clays  and  Paints. — t^lays  are  found  in  nearly  all  parts  of  the  state 
suitable  for  making  bricks.  Potters'  clay  and  fire  clay  are  worked  in 
many  localities. 

There  are  several  beds  of  purple  shales  in  the  coal  measures  which 
possess  the  properties  requisite  for  paints  used  in  outside  work.  Yellow 
and  red  ochres  are  found  in  considerable  quantities  on  the  Missouri 
River.  Some  of  these  paints  have  been  thoroughly  tested  and  found 
fire-proof  and  durable. 

SPRINGS  AND  WATER  POWER. 

No  state  is,  perhaps,  better  supplied  with  cold  springs  of  pure  water 
than  Missouri.     Out  of  the  bottoms  there  is  scarcely  a  section  of  land 


26  HISTORY  OF  MISSOURI. 

but  has  one  or  more  perennial  springs  of  good  water.  Even  where  there 
are  no  springs,  good  water  can  be  obtained  by  digging  from  twenty  to 
forty  feet.  Salt  springs  are  abundant  in  the  central  part  of  the  state, 
and  discharge  their  brine  in  Cooper,  Saline,  Howard  and  adjoining  coun- 
ties. Considerable  salt  was  made  in  Cooper  and  Howard  counties  at  an 
early  day. 

Sulphur  springs  are  also  numerous  throughout  the  state.  The  Cho- 
teau  Springs  in  Cooper,  the  Monagaw  Springs  in  St.  Clair,  the  Elk 
Springs  in  Pike,  and  the  Cheltenham  Springs  in  St.  Louis  County,  have 
acquired  considerable  reputation  as  salubrious  waters,  and  have  become 
popular  places  of  resort.  Many  other  counties  have  good  sulphur 
springs. 

Among  the  Chalybeate  springs  the  Sweet  Springs  on  the  Black- 
water,  and  the  Chalybeate  Spring  in  the  University  campus  are,  perhaps, 
the  most  popular  of  the  kind  in  the  state.  There  are,  however,  other 
springs  impregnated  with  some  of  the  salts  of  iron. 

Petroleum  springs  are  found  in  Carroll,  Ray,  Randolph,  Cass,  Lafay- 
ette, Bates,  Vernon  and  other  counties.  The  variety  called  lubricating 
oil  is  the  more  common. 

The  water  power  of  the  state  is  excellent.  Large  springs  are  par- 
ticularly abundant  on  the  Meramec,  Gasconade,  Bourbeuse,  Osage,  Nian- 
gua.  Spring,  White,  Sugar  and  other  streams.  Besides  these,  there  are 
hundreds  of  springs  sufficiently  large  to  drive  mills  and  factories,  and  the 
day  is  not  far  distant  when  these  crystal  fountains  will  be  utilized,  and  a 
thousand  saws  will  buzz  to  their  dashing  music. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

TITLE  AND  EARLY  SETTLEMENTS- 


TITLE  TO  MISSOURI  LANDS-RIGHT  OF  DISCOVERY-TITLE  OF  FRANCE  AND  SPAIN- 
CESSION  TO  THE  UNITED  STATES— TERRITORIAL  CHANGES -TREATIES  WITH 
INDIANS— FIRST  SETTLEMENT— STE.  GENEVIEVE  AND  NEW  BOURBON— ST.  LOUIS- 
WHEN  INCORPORATED— POTOSI— ST.  CHARLES— PORTAGE  DES  SIOUX-NEW  MADRID 
—ST.  FRANCOIS  COUNTY— PERRY— MISSISSIPPI— LOUTRE  ISLANDS— "  BOONE'S  LICK  " 
—COTE  SANS  DESSEIN— HOWARD  COUNTY-SOME  FIRST  THINGS— COUNTIES-WHEN 
ORGANIZED. 

The  title  to  the  soil  of  Missouri  was,  of  course,  primarily  vested  in 
the  original  occupants  who  inhabited  the  country  prior  to  its  discovery 
by  the  whites.     But  the  Indians,  being  savages,  possessed  but  few  rights 


HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI.  2/ 

that  civilized  nations  considered  themselves  bound  to  respect,  so  when 
they  found  this  country  in  the  possession  of  such  a  people,  they  claimed 
it  in  the  name  of  the  King  of  France  by  the  right  of  discovery.  It 
Remained  under  the  jurisdiction  of  France  until  1763. 

Prior  to  the  year  1763,  the  entire  continent  of  North  America  was 
divided  between  France,  England,  Spain  and  Russia.  France  held  all 
that  portion  that  now  constitutes  our  national  domain  west  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi River,  except  Texas  and  the  territory  which  we  have  obtained 
from  Mexico  and  Russia.  The  vast  region,  while  under  the  jurisdiction 
of  France,  was  known  as  the  "  Province  of  Louisiana,"  and  embraced  the 
present  State  of  Missouri.  At  the  close  of  the  "  Old  French  War,"  in 
1763,  France  gave  up  her  share  of  the  continent,  and  Spain  came  into 
the  possession  of  the  territory  west  of  the  Mississippi  River,  while  Great 
Britain  retained  Canada  and  the  regions  northward,  having  obtained 
that  territory  by  conquest  in  the  war  with  France.  For  thirty-seven 
years  the  territory  now  embraced  within  the  limits  of  Missouri,  remained 
as  a  part  of  the  possession  of  Spain,  and  then  went  back  to  France  by 
the  treaty  of  St.  Ildefonso,  October  1st,  1800.  On  the  30th  of  April, 
1803,  France  ceded  it  to  the  United  States  in  consideration  of  receiving 
$11,250,000  and  the  liquidation  of  certain  claims  held  by  citizens  of  the 
United  States  against  France,  which  amounted  to  the  further  sum  of 
$3,750,000,  making  a  total  of  $15,000,000.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  France 
has  twice,  and  Spain  once,  held  sovereignty  over  the  territory  embracing 
Missouri,  but  the  financial  needs  of  Napoleon  afforded  our  government 
an  opportunity  to  add  another  empire  to  its  domain. 

On  the  31st  of  October,  1803,  an  act  of  Congress  was  approved, 
authorizing  the  President  to  take  possession  of  the  newly  acquired  ter- 
ritory, and  provided  for  it  a  temporary  government,  and  another  act, 
approved  March  26,  1804,  authorized  the  division  of  the  "Louisiana  Pur- 
chase," as  it  was  then  called,  into  two  separate  territories.  All  that 
portion  south  of  the  33d  parallel  of  north  latitude  was  called  the  "Terri- 
tory of  Orleans,"  and  that  north  of  the  said  parallel  was  known  as  the 
"District  of  Louisiana,"  and  was  placed  under  the  jurisdiction  of  what 
was  then  known  as  "  Indiana  Territory." 

By  virtue  of  an  act  of  Congress,  approved  March  3,  1805,  the  "Dis- 
trict of  Louisiana"  was  organized  as  the  "Territory  of  Louisiana,"  with 
a  territorial  government  of  its  own,  which  went  into  operation  July  4th, 
of  the  same  year,  and  it  so  remained  until  1812.  In  this  year  the  "  Ter- 
ritory of  Orleans"  became  the  State  of  Louisiana,  and  the  "Territory  of 
Louisiana"  was  organized  as  the  "Territory  of  Missouri." 

This  change  took  place  under  an  act  of  Congress,  approved  June  4, 
1812.  In  1819,  a  portion  of  this  territory  was  organized  as  "Arkansas 
Territory,"  and  in  1812,  the  State  ot  Missouri  was  admitted,  being  a  part 
of  the  former  "  Territory  of  Missouri." 


28  HISTORY  OF  MISSOURI. 

In  1836,  the  "Platte  Purchase,"  then  being  a  part  of  the  Indian  Ter- 
ritory, and  now  composing  the  counties  of  Atchison,  Andrew,  Buchanan, 
Holt,  Nodaway  and  Platte,  was  made  by  treaty  with  the  Indians,  and 
added  to  the  state.  It  will  be  seen  then  that  the  soil  of  Missouri 
belonged 

First — To  France  with  other  territory. 

Second — In  176S,  with  other  territory  it  was  ceded  to  Spain. 

Third — October  i,  1800,  it  was  ceded  with  other  territory  from  Spain 
back  to  France. 

Fourth — April  30,  1803,  it  was  ceded  with  other  territory  by  France 
to  the  United  States. 

Fifth — October  31,  1803,  a  temporary  government  was  authorized  by 
Congress  for  the  newly  acquired  territory. 

Sixth — October  i,  1804,  it  was  included  in  the  "District  of  Louisi- 
ana," and  placed  under  the  territorial  government  of  Indiana. 

Seventh — July  4,  1805,  it  was  included  as  a  part  of  the  "Territory 
of  Louisiana,"  then  organized  with  a  separate  territorial  government. 

Eighth — June  4,  18 12,  it  was  embraced  in  what  was  then  made  the 
"  Territory  of  Missouri." 

Ninth — August  10,  1821,  it  was  admitted  into  the  Union  as  a  state. 

Tenth — In  1836,  the  "  Platte  Purchase"  was  made,  adding  more  ter- 
rii-  .  .  to  the  state. 

The  cession  by  France,  April  30,  1803,  vested  the  title  in  the  United 
States,  subject  to  the  claims  of  the  Indians,  which  it  was  very  justly  the 
policy  of  the  government  to  recognize.  Before  the  government  of  the 
United  States  could  vest  clear  title  to  the  soil  in  the  grantee  it  was 
necessary  to  extinguish  the  Indian  title  by  purchase.  This  was  done 
accordingly  by  treaties  made  with  the  Indians  at  different  times. 

EARLY    SETTLEMENTS. 

The  name  of  the  first  white  man  who  set  foot  on  the  territory  now 
embraced  in  the  State  of  Missouri  is  not  known,  nor  is  it  known  at  what 
precise  period  the  first  settlements  were  made.  It  is,  however,  gener- 
ally agreed  that  they  were  made  at  Ste.  Genevieve  and  New  Bourbon, 
tradition  fixing  the  date  of  these  settlements  in  the  autumn  of  1735. 
These  towns  were  settled  by  the  French  from  Kaskaskia  and  St.  Philip, 
in  Illinois. 

St.  Louis  was  founded  by  Pierre  Laclede  Liguest,  on  the  15th  of 
February,  1764.  He  was  a  native  of  France,  and  was  one  of  the  members 
of  the  company  of  Laclede  Liguest,  Antonio  Maxant  &  Co.,  to  whom  a 
royal  charter  had  been  granted,  confirming  the  privilege  of  an  exclu- 
sive trade  with  the  Indians  of  the  Missouri  as  far  north  as  St.  Peter's 
River. 


HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI.  29 

While  in  search  of  a  trading-  post  he  ascended  the  Mississippi  as  far 
as  the  mouth  of  the  Missouri,  and  finally  returned  to  the  present  town 
site  of  St.  Louis.  After  the  village  had  been  laid  off  he  named  it  St. 
Louis,  in  honor  of  Louis  XV,  of  France. 

The  colony  thrived  rapidly  by  accessions  from  Kaskaskia  and  other 
towns  on  the  east  side  of  the  Mississippi,  and  its  trade  was  largely 
increased  by  many  of  the  Indian  tribes,  who  removed  a  portion  of  their 
peltry  trade  from  the  same  towns  to  St.  Louis.  It  was  incorporated  as 
a  town  on  the  Qth^  day  of  November,  1809,  by  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  of  the  District  of  St.  Louis,  the  town  trustees  being  Auguste  Chou- 
teau, Edward  Hempstead,  Jean  F.  Cabanne,  William  C.  Carr  and  William 
Christy,  and  incorporated  as  a  city,  December  9,  1822.  The  selection 
of  the  town  site  on  which  St.  Louis  stands  was  highly  judicious,  the  spot 
not  only  being  healthful  and  having  the  advantages  of  water  transpor- 
tation unsurpassed,  but  surrounded  by  a  beautiful  region  of  country,  rich 
in  soil  and  mineral  resources.  St.  Louis  has  grown  to  be  the  fifth  city 
in  population  in  the  Union,  and  is  to-day,  the  great  center  of  internal 
commerce  of  the  Missouri,  the  Mississippi,  and  their  tributaries,  and, 
with  its  railroad  facilities,  it  is  destined  to  be  the  greatest  inland  city  of 
the  American  continent. 

The  next  settlement  was  made  at  Potosi,  in  Washington  County,  in 
1765,  by  Francis  Breton,  who,  while  chasing  a  bear,  discovered  the  mine 
near  the  present  town  of  Potosi,  where  he  afterward  located. 

One  of  the  most  prominent  pioneers  who  settled  at  Potosi,  was  Moses 
Austin,  of  Virginia,  who,  in  1773,  received  by  grant  from  the  Spanish 
government,  a  league  of  land  now  known  as  the  "Austin  Survey."  The 
grant  was  made  on  the  condition  that  Mr.  Austin  would  establish  a  lead 
mine  at  Potosi  and  work  it.  He  built  a  palatial  residence,  for  that  day, 
on  the  brow  of  the  hill  in  the  little  village,  which  was,  for  many  5'ears, 
known  as  "Durharn  Hall."  At  this  point  the  first  shot-tower  and  sheet- 
lead  manufactory  were  erected. 

Five  year5  after  the  founding  of  St.  Louis,  the  first  settlement  made 
in  Northern"  Missouri  was  made  at  or  near  St.  Charles,  in  St.  Charles 
County,  in  1769.  The  name  given  to  it,  and  which  it  retained  till  1784, 
was  Les  Petites  Cotes,  signifying  Little  Hills.  The  town  site  was  located 
by  Blanchette,  a  Frenchman,  surnamed  LeChasseur,  who  built  the  first 
tort  in  the  town  and  established  there  a  military  post. 

Soon  after  the  establishment  of  the  military  post  at  St.  Charles,  the 
old  French  village  of  Portage  des  Sionx  was  located  on  the  Mississippi, 
just  below  the  mouth  of  the  Illinois  River,  and  at  about  the  same  time  a 
Kickapod  village  was  commenced  at  Clear  Weather  Lake.  The  present 
town  site  of  New  Madrid,  in  New  Madrid  County,  was  settled  in  1781, 
by  French  Canadians,  it  then  being  occupied  by  Delaware  Indians.  The 
place  now  known  as  Big  River  Mills,  St.  Francois  County,  was  settled  in 


30  HISTORY  OF   MISSOURI. 

1796,  Andrew  Baker,  John  Alley,  Francis  Starater  and  John  Andrews  each 
locating  claims.  The  following  year  a  settlement  was  made  in  the  same 
county,  just  below  the  present  town  of  Farmington,  by  the  Rev.  William 
Murphy,  a  Baptist  minister  from  East  Tennessee.  In  1796,  settlements 
were  made  in  Perry  County  by  emigrants  from  Kentucky  and  Pennsyl- 
vania ;  the  latter  locating  in  the  rich  bottom  lands  of  Bois  Brule,  the 
former  generally  settling  in  the  "  Barrens,"  and  along  the  waters  of 
Saline  Creek. 

Bird's  Point,  in  Mississippi  County,  opposite  Cairo,  Illinois,  was  set- 
tled August  6,  1800,  by  John  Johnson,  by  virtue  of  a  land  grant  from  the 
commandant  under  the  Spanish  Government.  Norfolk  and  Charleston, 
in  the  same  county,  were  settled  respectively  in  1800  and  1801.  Warren 
County  was  settled  in  1801.  Loutre  Island,  below  the  present  town  of 
Herman,  in  the  Missouri  River,  was  settled  by  a  few  American  families 
in  1807.  This  little  company  of  pioneers  suffered  graatlyfrom  the  floods, 
as  well  as  from  the  incursions  of  thieving  and  blood-thirsty  Indians,  and 
many  incidents  of  a  thrilling  character  could  be  related  of  trials  and 
struggles  had  we  the  time  and  space. 

In  1807,  Nathan  and  Daniel  Boone,  sons  of  the  great  hunter  and  pio- 
neer, in  company  with  three  others,  went  from  St.  Louis  to  "  Boone's 
Lick,"  in  Howard  County,  where  they  manufactured  salt,  and  formed  the 
nucleus  of  a  small  settlement. 

Cote  Sans  Desseiji,  now  called  Bakersville,  on  the  Missouri  River,  in 
Callaway  County,  was  settled  by  the  French  in  1801.  This  little  town 
was  considered  at  that  time  as  the  "  Far  West"  of  the  new  world.  Dur- 
ing the  war  of  18 12,  at  this  place  many  hard-fought  battles  occurred 
between  the  whites  and  Indians,  wherein  woman's  fortitude  and  courage 
greatly  assisted  in  the  defense  of  the  settlement. 

In  18 10,  a  colony  of  Kentuckians,  numbering  one  hundred  and  fifty 
families,  immigrated  to  Howard  County,  and  settled  in  the  Missouri 
River  bottom,  near  the  present  town  of  Franklin. 

Such,  in  brief,  is  the  history  of  some  of  the  early  settlements  of  Mis- 
souri, covering  a  period  of  more  than  half  a  century. 

These  settlements  were  made  on  the  water  courses  ;  usually  along 
the  banks  of  the  two  great  streams,  whose  navigation  afforded  them 
transportation  for  their  marketable  commodities  and  communication 
with  the  civilized  portion  of  the  country. 

They  npt  only  encountered  the  gloomy  forests,  settling  as  they  did, 
by  the  river's  brink,  but  the  hostile  incursion  of  savage  Indians,  by  whom 
they  were  for  many  years  surrounded. 

The  expedients  of  these  brave  men  who  first  broke  ground  in  the 
territory  have  been  succeeded  by  the  permanent  and  tasteful  improve- 
ments of  their  descendants.  Upon  the  spots  where  they  toiled,  dared 
and  died,  are  seen  the  comfortable  farm,  the  beautiful  village  and  thrifty 


HISTORY  OF  MISSOURI.  31 

city.  Churches  and  school  houses  greet  the  eye  on  every  hand  ;  rail- 
roads diverge  in  very  direction,  and  indeed,  all  the  appliances  of  a  higher 
civilization  are  profusely  strewn  over  the  smiling  surface  of  the  state. 

Culture's  hand 
Has  scattered  verdure  o'er  the  land  ; 
And  smiles  and  fragrance  rule  serene. 
Where  barren  wild  usurped  the  scene. 

SOME  FIRST  THINGS. 

The  first  marriage  that  took  place  in  Missouri  was  April  20, 1766,  in 
St.  Louis. 

The  first  baptism  was  performed  in  May,  1776,  in  St.  Louis. 

The  first  house  of  worship  (Catholic)  was  erected  in  1775,  at  St. 
Louis. 

The  first  ferry  established  in  1805,  on  the  Mississippi  River,  at  St. 
Louis. 

The  first  newspaper  established  in  St.  Louis  (Missouri  Gazette)  in 
1808. 

The  first  post  office  was  established  in  1804,  in  St.  Louis — Rufus 
Easton,  postmaster. 

The  first  Protestant  church  erected  at  Ste.  Genevieve,  in  1806 — 
Baptist. 

The  first  bank  established '(Bank  of  St.  Louis)  in  1814. 

The  first  market  house  opened  in  1811,  in  St.  Louis. 

The  first  steamboat  on  the  Upper  Mississippi  was  the  General  Pike, 
Captain  Jacob  Reid  ;  landed  at  St.  Louis,  18 17. 

The  first  board  of  trustees  for  public  schools  appointed  in  18 17,  St. 
Louis. 

The  first  college  built  (St.  Louis  College)  in  18 17. 

The  first  steamboat  that  came  up  the  Missouri  River  as  high  as 
Franklin  was  the  Independence,  in  1819;  Cap^tain  Nelson,  master. 

The  first  cou^-t  house  erected  in  1823,  in  St.  Louis. 

The  first  cholera  appeared  in  St.  Louis  in  1832. 

The  first  railroad  convention^held  in  St.  Louis,  April  20,  1836. 

The  first  telegraph  lines  reached  East  St.  Louis,  December  20,  1847. 

The  first  great  fir-e  occurred  in  St.  Louis,  1849. 


32  HISTORY  OF  MISSOURI. 

CHAPTER  V. 
TERRITORIAL  ORGANIZATION. 

ORGANIZATION,  1812-COUNCIL— HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES— WILLIAM  CLAUK-FIRST 
TERRITORIAL  GOVERNOR  —  EDWARD  HEMPSTEAD,  FIRST  DELEGA  IE-SPANISH 
GRANTS— FIRST  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY-PROCEEDINGS— SECOND  ASSEMBLY— PRO- 
CEEDINGS-POPULATION OF  TERRITORX-VOTE  OF  TERRITORY-RUFUS  EASTON— 
ABSENT  MEMBERS-THIRD  ASSEMBLY-PROCEEDINGS-APPLICATION  FOR  ADMIS- 
SION. 

Congress  organized  Missouri  as  a  territory,  July  4,  1812,  with  a  Gov- 
ernor and  General  Assembly.  The  Governor,  Legislative  Council  and 
House  of  Representatives  exercised  the  legislative  power  of  the  territory, 
the  Governor's  vetoing  power  being  absolute. 

The  Legislative  Council  was  composed  of  nine  members,  whose 
tenure  of  office  lasted  five  years.  Eighteen  citizens  were  nominated  by 
the  House  of  Representatives  to  the  President  of  the  United  States,  from 
whom  he  selected,  with  the  approval  of  the  Senate,  nine  Councillors  to 
compose  the  Legislative  Council. 

The  House  of  Representatives  consisted  of  members  chosen  every 
two  years  by  the  people,  the  basis  of  representation  being  one  member 
for  every  five  hundred  white  males.  The  first  House  of  Representatives 
consisted  of  thirteen  members,  and,  by  act  of  Congress,  the  whole  num- 
ber of  Representatives  could  not  exceed  twenty-five. 

The  judicial  power  of  the  territory  was  vested  in  the  Superior  and 
Inferior  Courts,  and  in  the  Justices  of  the  Peace  ;  the  Superior  Court 
having  three  judges,  whose  term  of  office  continued  four  years,  having 
original  and  appellate  jurisdiction  in  civil  and  criminal  cases. 

The  territory  could  send  one  delegat-e  to  Congress,  Governor  Clark 
issued  a  proclamation,  October  l,  18 12,  required  by  Congress,  reorgan- 
izing the  districts  of  St,  Charles,  St,  Louis,  Ste.  Genevieve,  Cape  Girar- 
deau and  New  Madrid  into  five  counties,  and  fixed  the  second  Monday 
in  November  following  for  the  election  of  a  delegate  to  Congress,  and 
the  members  of  the  Territorial  House  of  Representatives, 

William  Clark,  of  the  expedition  of  Lewis  and  Clark,  was  the  first 
Territorial  Governor,  appointed  by  the  President,  who  began  his  duties 
in  1813. 

Edward  Hempstead,  RufusEaston,  Samuel  Hammond  and  Matthew 
L}'on  were  candidates  in  November  for  delegates  to  Congress. 

Edward  Hempstead  was  elected,  being  the  first  Territorial  Delegate 
to  Congress  from  Missouri.  He  served  one  term,  declining  a  second, 
and  was  instrumental  in  having  Congress  to  pass  the  act  of  June  13, 1812, 
which  he  introduced,  confirming  the  title  to  lands  which  were  claimed 


HISTORY  OF   MISSOURI.  33 

by  the  people  by  virtue  of  Spanish  grants.  The  same  act  confirmed  to 
the  people  "  for  the  support  of  schools,"  the  title  to  village  lots,  out-lots 
or  common  field-lots,  which  were  held  and  enjoyed  by  them  at  the  time 
of  the  cession  of  1803. 

Under  the  act  of  June  4,  1812,  the  first  General  Assembly  held  its 
session  in  the  house  of  Joseph  Robidoux,  on  the  7th  of  December,  1812. 
The  names  of  the  members  of  the  House  were  : 

St.  Charles. — John  Pitman  and  Robert  Spencer. 

St.  Louis. — David  Music,  Bernard  G.  Farrar,  William  C.  Carr  and 
Richard  Clark. 

Ste.  Genevieve. — George  Bullet,  Richard  S.  Thomas  and  Isaac  Mc- 
Gready. 

Cape  Girardeau. — George  F.  Bollinger  and  Spencer  Byrd. 

New  Madrid. — John  Shrader  and  Samuel  Phillips. 

John  B.  C.  Lucas,  one  of  the  Territorial  Judges,  administered  the  oath 
of  office,  William  C.  Carr  was  elected  Speaker  and  Andrew  Scott,  Clerk. 

The  House  of  Representatives  proceeded  to  nominate  eighteen  per- 
sons from  whom  the  President  of  the  United  States,  with  the  Senate,  was 
to  select  nine  for  the  Council.  From  this  number  the  President  chose 
the  following : 

St.  Charles. — James  Flaugherty  ahd  Benjamin  Emmons. 

St.  Louis. — August  Choteau,  Sr.,  and  Samuel  Hammond. 

Ste.  Genevieve. — John  Scott  and  James  Maxwell. 

Cape  Girardeau. — William  Neely  and  Joseph  Cavenor, 

New  Madrid. — Joseph  Hunter. 

The  Legislative  Council,  thus  chosen  by  the  President  and  Senate, 
was  announced  by  Frederick  Bates,  Secretary  and  Acting  Governor  of 
the  Territory,  by  proclamation,  June  3,  1813,  and  fixing  the  first  Monday 
in  July  following  as  the  time  for  the  meeting  of  the  Legislature. 

In  the  meantime  the  duties  of  the  executive  office  were  assumed  by 
William  Clark.  The  Legislature  accordingly  met  as  required  by  the 
Acting  Governor's  proclamation,  in  July,  but  its  proceedings  were  never 
officially  published.  Consequently  but  little  is  known  in  reference  to 
the  workings  of  the  first  Territorial  Legislature  of  Missouri. 

From  the  imperfect  account  published  in  the  Missouri  Gazette,  of 
that  day,  a  paper  which  had  been  in  existence  since  1808,  it  is  found 
that  laws  were  passed  regulating  and  establishing  weights  and  measures  ; 
creating  the  office  of  sheriff;  providing  the  manner  for  taking  the  census  ; 
permanently  fixing  the  seats  of  justice,  and  an  act  to  compensate  its 
own  members.  At  this  session  laws  were  also  passed  defining  crimes 
and  penalties;  laws  in  reference  to  forcible  entry  and  detainer;  estab- 
lishing Courts  of  Common  Pleas ;  incorporating  the  Bank  of  St.  Louis, 
and  organizing  a  part  of  Ste.  Genevieve  County  into  the  county  of 
Washington. 


34  HISTORY  OF  MISSOURI. 

The  next  session  of  the  Legislature  convened  in  St.  Louis,  Decem- 
ber 6,  1813.  George  Bullet,  of  Ste.  Genevieve  County,  was  speaker  elect, 
Andrew  Scott,  clerk,  and  William  Sullivan,  doorkeeper.  Since  the 
adjournment  of  the  former  Legislature  several  vacancies  had  occurred, 
and  new  members  had  been  elected  to  fill  their  places.  Among  these 
was  Israel  McGready,  from  the  county  of  Washington. 

The  president  of  the  Legislative  Council  was  Samuel  Hammond. 
No  journal  of  the  Council  was  officially  published,  but  the  proceedings  of 
the  House  are  found  in  the  Gazette. 

At  this  session  of  the  Legislature  many  wise  and  useful  laws  were 
passed,  having  reference  to  the  temporal  as  well  as  the  moral  and  spirit- 
ual welfare  of  the  people.  Laws  were  enacted  for  the  suppression  of 
vice  and  immorality  on  the  Sabbath  day  ;  for  the  improvement  of  public 
roads  and  highways  ;  creating  the  offices  of  auditor,  treasurer  and  county 
surveyor  ;  regulating  the  fiscal  affairs  of  the  Territory,  and  fixing  the 
boundary  lines  of  New  Madrid,  Cape  Girardeau,  Washington  and  St. 
Charles  Counties.  The  Legislature  adjourned  on  the  19th  of  January, 
18 14,  sine  die. 

The  population  of  the  Territory,  as  shown  by  the  United  States 
census  in  iSio.was  20,845.  The  census  taken  by  the  Legislature  in  1814 
gave  the  Territory  a  population  of  25,000.  This  enumeration  shows  the 
county  of  St.  Louis  contained  the  greatest  number  of  inhabitants,  and 
the  new  county  of  Arkansas  the  least — the  latter  having  827,  and  the 
former,  3,149. 

The  candidates  for  delegate  to  Congress  were  Rufus  Easton,  Samuel 
Hammond,  Alexander  McNair  and  Thomas  F.  Riddick.  Rufus  Easton 
and  Samuel  Hammond  had  been  candidates  at  the  preceding  election. 
In  all  the  counties,  excepting  Arkansas,  the  votes  aggregated  2,599,  o^ 
which  number  Mr.  Easton  received  965,  Mr.  Hammond  746,  Mr.  McNair 
853,  and  Mr.  Riddick  (who  had  withdrawn  previous  to  the  election)  35. 
Mr.  Easton  was  elected. 

The  census  of  1814,  showing  a  large  increase  in  the  population  of  the 
Territory,  an  apportionment  was  made  increasing  the  number  of  Repre- 
sentatives in  the  Territorial  Legislature  to  twenty-two.  The  General 
Assembly  began  its  session  in  St.  Louis,  December  5,  18 14.  There  were 
present  on  the  first  day  twenty  representatives.  James  Caldwell,  of  Ste. 
Genevieve  County,  was  elected  speaker,  and  Andrew  Scott,  who  had  been 
clerk  of  the  preceding  assembly,  was  chosen  clerk.  The  president  of 
the  Council  was  William  Neely,  of  Cape  Girardeau  County. 

It  appears  that  James  Maxwell,  the  absent  member  of  the  Council, 
and  Seth  Emmons,  member  elect  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  were 
dead.  The  county  of  Lawrence  was  organized  at  this  session,  from  the 
western  part  of  New  Madrid  County,  and  the  corporate  powers  of  St. 
Louis  were  enlarged.    In  1815,  the  Territorial  Legislature  again  began  its 


HISTORY  OF  MISSOURI.  35 

session.  Only  a  partial  report  of  its  proceedings  are  given  in  the 
Gazette.  The  county  of  Howard  was  then  organized  from  St.  Louis  and 
St.  Charles  Counties,  and  included  all  that  part  of  the  state  lying  north 
of  the  Osage  and  south  of  the  di-viding  ridge  between  the  Mississippi  and 
Missouri  Rivers. 

The  next  session  of  the  Territorial  Legislature  commenced  its  ses- 
sion in  December,  1816.  During  the  sitting  of  this  Legislature  many 
important  acts  were  passed.  It  was  then  that  the  "  Bank  of  Missouri  " 
was  chartered  and  went  into  operation.  In  the  fall  of  1817,  the  "  Bank  of 
St.  Louis  "  and  the  "  Bank  of  Missouri  "  were  issuing  bills.  An  act  was 
passed  chartering  lottery  companies,  chartering  the  academy  at  Potosi, 
and  incorporating  a  board  of  trustees  for  superintending  the  schools  in 
the  town  of  St.  Louis.  Laws  were  also  passed  to  encourage  the  "killing 
of  wolves,  panthers  and  wild-cats." 

The  Territorial  Legislature  met  again  in  December,  18 18,  and  among 
other  things,  organized  the  counties  of  Pike,  Cooper,  Jefferson,  Franklin, 
Wayne,  Lincoln,  Madison,  Montgomery,  and  three  counties  in  the  south- 
ern part  of  Arkansas.  In  18 19,  the  Territory  of  Arkansas  was  formed 
into  a  separate  government  of  its  own. 

The  people  of  the  Territory  of  Missouri  had  been,  for  some  time, 
anxious  that  their  territory  should  assume  the  duties  and  responsibilities 
of  a  sovereign  state.  Since  1812,  the  date  of  the  organization  of  the 
territory,  the  population  had  rapidly  increased,  many  counties  had  been 
established,  its  commerce  had  grown  into  importance,  its  agricultural 
and  mineral  resources  were  being  developed,  and  believing  that  its 
admission  into  the  Union  as  a  state  would  give  fresh  impetus  to  all  these 
interests  and  hasten  its  settlement,  the  Territoral  Legislature  of  1818-19, 
accordingly  made  application  to  Congress  for  the  passage  of  an  act 
authorizing  the  people  of  Missouri  to  organize  a  state  government. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

APPLICATION  OF  MISSOURI  TO  BE  ADMITTED  INTO  THE  UNION-AGITATION  OF  THE 
SLAVERY  QUESTION— "MISSOURI  COMPROMISE  "-CONSTITUTIONAL  CONVENTION 
OF  1820— CONSTITUTION  PRESENTED  TO  CONGRESS— FURTHER  RESISTANCE  TO 
ADMISSION— MR,  CLAY  AND  HIS  COMMITTEE  MAKE  REPORT— SECOND  COMPROMISE 
-MISSOURI  ADMITTED. 

With  the  application  of  the  Territorial  Legislature  of  Missouri  for 
her  admission  into  the  Union  commenced  the  real  agitation  of  the 
slavery  question  in  the  United  States. 


36  HISTORY  OF   MISSOURI. 

Not  only  was  our  National  Legislature  the  theater  of  angry  discus- 
sion, but  everywhere  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  Republic 
the  "Missouri  Question  "  was  the  all-absorbing  theme.  The  political 
skies  threatened, 

"  In  forked  flashes,  a  commnnding  tempest," 

which  was  liable  to  burst  upon  the  nation  at  any  moment.  Through 
such  a  crisis  our  country  seemed  destined  to  pass.  The  question  as  to 
the  admission  of  Missouri  was  to  be  the  beginning  of  this  crisis,  which 
distracted  the  public  counsels  of  the  nation  for  more  than  forty  years 
afterward, 

Missouri  asked  to  be  admitted  into  the  great  family  of  states. 
"  Lower  Louisiana,"  her  twin  sister  territory,  had  knocked  at  the  door  of 
the  Union  eight  years  previously,  and  was  admitted,  as  stipulated  by 
Napoleon,  to  all  the  rights,  privileges  and  immunities  of  a  state,  and  in 
accordance  with  the  stipulations  of  the  same  treaty,  Missouri  now  sought 
to  be  clothed  with  the  same  rights,  privileges  and  immunities. 

As  what  is  known  in  the  history  of  the  United  States  as  the  "  Mis- 
souri Compromise,"  of  1820,  takes  rank  among  the  most  prominent 
measures  that  had  up  to  that  day  engaged  the  attention  of  our  National 
Legislature,  we  shall  enter  somewhat  into  its  details,  being  connected  as 
they  are  with  the  annals  of  the  state. 

February  75,  i8ig. — After  the  House  had  resolved  itself  into  a  com- 
mittee of  the  whole  on  the  bill  to  authorize  the  admission  of  Missouri 
into  the  Union,  and  after  the  question  of  her  admission  had  been  dis- 
cussed for  some  time,  Mr.  Tallmadge,  of  New  York,  moved  to  amend 
the  bill  by  adding  to  it  the  following  proviso  : 

*'  And  Provided,  That  the  further  introduction  of  slaverj'  or  involun- 
tary servitude  be  prohibited,  except  for  the  punishment  of  crime,  whereof 
the  party  shall  have  been  duly  convicted,  and  that  all  children  born 
within  the  said  state,  after  the  admission  thereof  into  the  Union,  shall 
be  free  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  years." 

As  might  have  been  expected,  this  proviso  precipitated  the  angry 
discussion  which  lasted  for  nearly  three  years,  finally  culminating  in  the 
Missouri  Compromise.  All  phases  of  the  slavery  question  were  presented, 
not  only  in  its  moral  and  social  aspects,  but  as  a  great  constitutional 
question,  affecting  Missouri  and  the  admission  of  future  states.  The  pro- 
viso, when  submitted  to  a  vote,  was  adopted — 79  to  6y,  and  so  reported 
to  the  House. 

Hon.  John  Scott,  who  was  at  that  time  a  delegate  from  the  Territory 
of  Missouri,  was  not  permitted  to  vote,  but  as  such  delegate,  he  had  the 
privilege  of  participating  in  the  debates  which  followed.  On  the  i6th 
day  of  February  the  proviso  was  taken  up  and  discussed.  After  several 
speeches  had  been  made,  among  them  one  by  Mr.  Scott  and  one  by  the 


HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI.  "  37 

author  of  the  proviso,  Mr.  Tallmadge,  the  amendment  or  proviso  was 
divided  into  two  parts,  and  voted  upon.  The  first  part  of  it,  which 
included  all  to  the  word  "  convicted,"  was  adopted — 87  to  ']^.  The 
remaining  part  was  then  voted  upon,  and  also  adopted,  by  82  to  78.  By 
a  vote  of  97  to  56  the  bill  was  ordered  to  be  engrossed  for  a  third  reading. 

The  Senate  Committee,  to  whom  the  bill  was  referred,  reported  the 
same  to  the  Senate  on  the  loth  of  February,  when  that  body  voted  first 
upon  a  motion  to  strike  out  of  the  proviso  all  after  the  word  "  convicted," 
which  was  carried  by  a  vote  of  32  to  7.  It  then  voted  to  strike  out  the 
first  entire  clause,  which  prevailed — 22  to  16,  thereby  defeating  the 
proviso.  , 

The  House  declined  to  concur  in  the  action  of  the  Senate,  and  the 
bill  was  again  returned  to  that  body,  which  in  turn  refused  to  recede  from 
its  position.  The  bill  was  lost,  and  Congress  adjourned.  This  was  most 
unfortunate  for  the  country.  The  people  having  been  wrought  up  to 
fever  heat  over  the  agitation  of  the  question  in  the  national  councils, 
now  became  intensely  excited.  The  press  added  fuel  to  the  flame,  and 
the  progress  of  events  seemed  rapidly  tending  to  the  downfall  of  our 
nationality. 

A  long  interval  of  nine  months  was  to  ensue  before  the  meeting  ol 
Congress.  That  body  indicated  by  its  vote  upon  the  "  Missouri  ques- 
tion "  that  the  two  great  sections  of  the  country  were  politically  divided 
upon  the  subject  of  slavery.  The  restrictive  clause,  which  it  was  sought 
to  impose  upon  Missouri  as  a  condition  of  her  admission,  would  in  all 
probability  be  one  of  the  conditions  of  the  admission  of  the  Territory  of 
Arkansas.  The  public  mind  was  in  a  state  of  great  doubt  and  uncer- 
tainty up  to  the  meeting  of  Congress,  which  took  place  on  the  6th  of 
December,  18 19.  The  memorial  of  the  Legislative  Council  and  House 
of  Representatives  of  the  Missouri  Territory,  ^Draying  for  admission  into 
the  Union,  was  presented  to  the  Senate  by  Mr.  Smith,  of  South  Carolina. 
It  was  referred  to  the  Judiciary  Committee. 

Some  three  weeks  having  passed  without  any  action  thereon  by  the 
Senate,  the  bill  was  taken  up  and  discussed  by  the  House  until  the  19th 
of  February,  when  the  bill  from  the  Senate  for  the  admission  of  Maine 
was  considered.  The  bill  for  the  admission  of  Maine  included  the  "  Mis- 
souri question"  by  an  amendment,  which  reads  as  follows: 

''And  be  it  further  enacted.  That  in  all  territory  ceded  by  France  to 
the  United  States,  under  the  name  of  Louisiana,  which  lies  north  of 
thirty-six  degrees  and  thirty  minutes,  north  latitude,  (excepting  such 
part  thereof  as  is)  included  within  the  limits  of  the  state,  contemplated 
by  this  act,  slavery  and  involuntary  servitude,  otherwise  than  in  the 
punishment  of  crimes,  whereof  the  party  shall  have  been  convicted,  shall 
be  and  is  hereby  forever  prohibited  :  Provided  always,  That  any  person 
escaping  into  the  same,  from  whom  labor  or  service  is  lawfully  claimed^ 


3S  HISTORY  OV   MISSOURI. 

in  any  state  or  territory  of  the  United  States,  such  fugitive  may  be  law- 
fully reclaimed  and  conveyed  to  the  person  claiming  his  or  her  labor  or 
service  as  aforesaid." 

The  Senate  adopted  this  amendment,  which  formed  the  basis  of  the 
"Missouri  Compromise,"  modified  afterward  by  striking  out  the  words, 
"  excepting  ojily  such  part  thereof." 

The  bill  passed  the  Senate  by  a  vote  of  24  to  20.  On  the  2d  day  of 
March,  the  House  took  up  the  bill  and  amendments  for  consideration, 
and  by  a  vote  of  134  to  42,  concurred  in  the  Senate  amendment,  and  the 
bill,  being  passed  by  the  two  Houses,  constituted  section  8,  of  "An  Act 
to  authorize  the  people  of  the  Missouri  Territory  to  form  a  Constitution 
and  State  Government,  and  for  the  admission  of  such  state  into  the 
Union  on  an  equal  footing  with  the  original  states,  and  to  prohibit 
slavery  in  certain  territory." 

This  act  was  approved  March  6,  1820.  Missouri  then  contained 
fifteen  organized  counties.  By  act  of  Congress  the  people  of  said  state 
were  authorized  to  hold  an  election  on  the  first  Monday,  and  two  suc- 
ceeding days  thereafter  in  May,  1820,  to  select  representatives  to  a  state 
convention.  This  convention  met  in  St.  Louis  on  the  I2th  of  June,  fol- 
lowing the  election  in  May,  and  concluded  its  labors  on  the  19th  of  July, 
1820.  David  Barton  was  its  president,  and  William  G.  Pettis,  secretary. 
There  were  forty-one  members  of  this  convention,  men  of  ability  and 
statesmanship,  as  the  admirable  constitution  which  they  framed  amply 
testifies.  Their  names  and  the  counties  represented  by  them  are  as 
follows  : 

Cape  Girardcaii. — Stephen  Byrd,  James  Evans,  Richard  S.  Thomas, 
Alexander  Buckner  and  Joseph  McFerron. 

Cooper.— ^oh^xt  P.  Clark,  Robert  Wallace,  William  Lillard. 

Frankli7t. — John  G.  Heath. 

Howard. — Nicholas  S.  Burkhart,  Duff  Green,  John  Ray,  Jonathan 
S.  Findley,  Benjamin  H.  Reeves. 

Jeffersoji. — Daniel  Hammond. 

Lincoln. — Malcolm  Henry. 

Montgomery. — Jonathan  Ramsey,  James  Talbott. 

Madison. — Nathaniel  Cook. 

Nezv  Madrid. — Robert  S.  Dawson,  Christopher  G.  Houts. 

Pike. — Stephen  Cleaver, 

St.  Charles. — Benjamin  Emmons,  Nathan  Boone,  Hiram  H.  Baber. 

Ste. Genevieve. — John  D.  Cook,  Henry  Dodge,  John  Scott,  R.  T.  Brown. 

St.  Louis. — David  Barton,  Edward  Bates,  Alexander  McNair,  Wil- 
liam Rector,  John  C.  Sullivan,  Pierre  Chouteau,  Jr.,  Bernard  Pratte, 
Thomas  F.  Riddick. 

Washington. — John  Rice  Jones,  Samuel  Perry,  John  Hutchings. 

Wayne. — Elijah  Bettis. 


HISTORY  OF  MISSOURI.  39 

On  the  13th  of  November,  1820,  Congress  met  again,  and  on  the  i6th 
of  the  same  month  Mr.  Scott,  the  delegate  from  Missouri,  presented  to 
the  House  the  constitution  as  framed  by  the  convention.  The  same  was 
referred  to  a  select  committee,  who  made  thereon  a  favorable  report. 

The  admission  of  the  state,  however,  was  resisted,  because  it  was 
claimed  that  its  constitution  sanctioned  slavery,  and  authorized  the 
Legislature  to  pass  laws  preventing  free  negroes  and  mulatoes  from  set- 
tling in  the  state.  The  report  of  the  committee  to  whom  was  referred 
the  Constitution  of  Missouri,  was  accompanied  by  a  preamble  and  reso- 
lutions, offered  by  Mr.  Lowndes,  of  South  Carolina.  The  preamble  and 
resolutions  were  stricken  out. 

The  application  of  the  state  for  admission  shared  the  same  fate  in 
the  Senate.  The  question  was  referred  to  a  select  committee,  who,  on 
the  29th  of  November,  reported  in  favor  of  admitting  the  state.  The 
debate  which  followed  continued  for  two  weeks,  and  finally  Mr.  Eaton, 
of  Tennessee,  offered  an  amendment  to  the  resolution,  as  follows  : 

'^Provided,  That  nothing  herein  contained  shall  be  so  construed  as 
to  give  the  assent  of  Congress  to  any  provision  in  the  Constitution  of 
Missouri,  if  any  such  there  be,  which  contravenes  that  clause  in  the  Con- 
stitution of  the  United  States,  which  declares  that  the  citizens  of  each 
state  shall  be  entitled  to  all  the  privileges  and  immunities  of  citizens  in 
the  several  states." 

The  resolution,  as  amended  was  adopted.  The  resolution  and  pro- 
viso were  again  taken  up  and  discussed  at  great  length,  when  the  com- 
mittee agreed  to  report  the  resolution  to  the  House. 

The  question  on  agreeing  to  the  amendment,  as  reported  from  the 
committee  of  the  whole,  was  lost  in  the  House.  A  similar  resolution 
afterward  passed  the  Senate,  but  was  again  rejected  in  the  House.  Then 
it  was  that  the  great  statesman  and  pure  patriot,  Henry  Clay,  of  Ken- 
tucky, feeling  that  the  hour  had  come  when  angry  discussion  should 
cease; 

"  With  grave 
A'^pect  he  rose,  and  in  his  rising  seem'd 
A  pillar  of  state  ;  deep  on  his  front  engraven 
Deliberation  sat  and  public  care  ; 
And  princely  counsel  in  his  face  yet  shone 
Majestic  "***** 

proposed  that  the  question  of  Missouri's  admission  be  referred  to  a  com- 
mittee consisting  of  twenty-three  persons  (a  number  equal  to  the  number 
of  states  then  composing  the  L^nion)  to  be  appointed  to  act  in  conjunc- 
tion with  a  committee  of  the  Senate  to  consider  and  report  whether  Mis- 
souri should  be  admitted,  etc. 

The  motion  prevailed,  the  committee  was  appointed  and  Mr.  Clay 
made  its  chairman.     The  Senate  selected  seven  Qi  its  members  to  act 


40  HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI. 

with  the  committee  of  twenty-three,  and  the  26th  of  February  the  fol- 
lowing report  was  made  by  that  committee  : 

Resolved,  By  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  United 
States  of  America  in  Congress  assembled  :  That  Missouri  shall  be 
admitted  into  the  Union,  on  an  equal  footing  with  the  original  states,  in 
all  respects  whatever,  upon  the  fundamental  condition  that  the  fourth 
clause  of  the  twenty-sixth  section  of  the  third  article  of  the  Constitution 
submitted  on  the  part  of  said  state  to  Congress,  shall  never  be  construed 
to  authorize  the  passage  of  any  law,  and  that  no  law  shall  be  passed  in 
conformity  thereto,  6y  which  any  citizen  of  either  of  the  states  in  this 
Union  shall  be  excluded  from  the  enjoyment  of  any  of  the  privileges  and 
immunities  to  which  such  citizen  is  entitled  under  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States  ;  Provided,  That  the  Legislature  of  said  state,  by  a  solemn 
public  act,  shall  declare  the  assent  of  the  said  state  to  the  said  funda- 
mental condition,  and  shall  transmit  to  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  on  or  before  the  fourth  Monday  in  November  next,  an  authentic 
copy  of  the  said  act ;  upon  the  receipt  whereof,  the  President,  by  procla- 
mation, shall  announce  the  fact;  whereupon,  and  without  any  further 
proceeding  on  the  part  of  Congress,  the  admission  of  the  said  state  into 
the  Union  shall  be  considered  complete." 

This  resolution,  after  a  brief  debate,  was  adopted  in  the  House,  and 
passed  the  Senate  on  the  28th  of  February,  1821. 

At  a  special  session  of  the  Legislature  held  in  St.  Charles,  in  June 
following,  a  solemn  public  act  was  adopted,  giving  its  assent  to  the  con- 
ditions of  admission,  as  expressed  in  the  resolution  of  Mr.  Clay.  August 
10,  1821,  President  Monroe  announced  by  proclamation  the  admission  of 
Missouri  into  the  Union  to  be  complete. 


CHAPTER   VII. 
MISSOURI  AS  A  STATE. 

FIRST  ELECTION  FOR  GOVERNOR  AND  OTHER  STATE  OFFICERS— SENATORS  AND  REP- 
RESENTATIVES TO  THE  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY— SHERIFFS  AND  CORONERS— UNITED 
STATES  SENATORS— REPRESENTATIVES  IN  CONGRESS-SUPREME  COURT  JUDGES- 
COUNTIES  ORGANIZED— CAPITAL  MOVED  TO  ST.  CHARLES-OFFICIAL  RECORD  OF 
TERRITORIAL  AND  STATE  OFFICERS. 

By  the  Constitution  adopted  by  the  Convention  on  the  rgth  of  July, 
1820,  the  General  Assembly  was  required  to  meet  in  St.  Louis  on  the 
third  Monday  in  September  of  that  year,  and  an  election  was  ordered  to 


HISTORY  OF  MISSOURI.  4^ 

be  held  on  the  28th  of  August  for  the  election  of  a  Governor  and  other 
state  offices,  Senators  and  Representatives  to  the  General  Assembly, 
Sheriffs  and  Coroners,  United  States  Senators  and  Representatives  in 
Congress. 

It  will  be  seen  that  Missouri  had  not  as  yet  been  admitted  as  a 
state,  but  in  anticipation  of  that  event  and  according  to  the  provisions 
of  the  constitution  the  election  was  held,  and  the  General  Assembly 
convened, 

William  Clark  (who  had  been  Governor  of  the  territory)  and  Alex- 
ander McNair  were  candidates  for  Governor.  McNair  received  6,576 
votes,  Clark  2,556,  total  vote  of  the  state  9,132.  There  were  three  can- 
didates for  Lieutenant  Governor,  to  wit :  William  H.  Ashley,  Nathaniel 
Cook  and  Henry  Elliot.  Ashley  received  3,907  votes,  Cook  3,212,  Elliot 
931.  A  Representative  was  to  be  elected  for  the  residue  of  the  Six- 
teenth Congress  and  one  for  the  Seventeenth.  John  Scott,  who  was  at 
the  time  territorial  delegate,  was  elected  to  both  Congresses  without 
opposition. 

The  General  Assembly  elected  in  August  met  on  the  19th  Septem- 
ber, 1820,  and  organized  by  electing  James  Caldwell,  of  Ste.  Genevieve, 
Speaker,  and  John  McArthur,  Clerk  ;  William  A.Ashley,  Lieutenant 
Governor,  President  of  the  Senate  ;  Silas  Bent,  President  pro  tern. 

Matthias  McKirk,  John  D.  Cook  and  John  R.  Jones  were  appointed 
Supreme  Judges,  each  to  hold  office  until  sixty-five  years  of  age. 

Joshua  Barton  was  appointed  Secretary  of  State  ;  Peter  Didier,  State 
Treasurer ;  Edward  Bates,  Atorney  General,  and  William  Christie, 
Auditor  of  Public  Accounts. 

David  Barton  and  Thomas  H.  Benton  were  elected  by  the  General 
Assembly  to  the  United  States  Senate. 

At  this  session  of  the  Legislature  the  counties  of  Boone,  Callaway, 
Chariton,  Cole,  Gasconade,  Lillard,  Percy,  Ralls,  Ray  and  Saline  were 
organized. 

We  should  like  to  give  in  detail  the  meetings  and  proceedings  of 
the  different  Legislatures  which  followed,  the  elections  for  Governors 
and  other  state  officers,  the  elections  for  Congressmen  and  United  States 
Senators,  but  for  want  of  space  we  can  only  present  in  a  condensed  form 
the  official  record  of  the  territorial  and  state  officers. 

OFFICIAL  RECORD — TERRITORIAL  OFFICERS. 

Goveryiors. — Frederick  Bates,  Secretary  and  Acting  Governor, 
1812-13;  William  Clark,  1813-20. 

OFFICERS  OF   STATE   GOVERNMENT. 

Governors. — Alexander  McNair,  1820-24  ;  Frederick  Bates,  1824-21; ; 
Abraham  J.  Williams  vice  Bates,  1825  ;  John  Miller  vice  Bates,  1826-28; 


42 


HISTORY    OF    MISSOURI. 


John  Miller,  1828-32;  Daniel  Dunklin,  1832-36,  resigned,  appointed  Sur- 
veyor General  United  States;  Lilburn  W.  Boggs  vice  Dunklin,  1836; 
Lilburn  W.  Boggs,  1836-40;  Thomas  Reynolds,  1840,  died  1844;  M.  M. 
Marmaduke  vice  Reynolds — John  C.  Edwards,  1844-48  ;  Austin  A.  King, 
1848-52;  Sterling  Price,  1852-56;  Trusten  Polk,  1856-57,  resigned ; 
Hancock  Jackson  vice  Polk,  1857;  Robert  M.  Stewart  vice  Polk,  1857-60; 
C.  F.  Jackson,  i860,  office  vacated  by  ordinance;  Hamilton  R.  Gamble 
vice  Jackson,  Governor  Gamble  died  1864;  Williard  P.  Hall,  1864,  vice 
Gamble;    Thomas  C.  Fletcher,  1864-68;    Joseph  W.  McClurg,  1868-70; 

B.  Gratz  Brown,  1870-72;  Silas  Woodson,  1872-74;  Charles  H  Hardin, 
[874-76;  John  S.  Phelps,  1876-80;  Thomas  T.  Crittenden,  1880,  and  is 
now  Governor. 

Lieutenant-Governors. — William  H.  Ashley,  1820-24;  Benjamin  A 
Reeves,  1824-28  ;  Daniel  Dunklin,  1828-32;  Lilburn  W.  Boggs,  1832-36; 
Franklin  Cannon,  1836-40;  M.  M.  Marmaduke,  1 840-44  ;  James  Young, 
1844-48-60;  Thomas  C.  Reynolds,  1860-61 ;  Williard  P.  Hall,  1861-64; 
George  Smith,  1864-68  ;  Edward  O.  Stannard,  1868-70 ;  Joseph  J.  Gravely, 
1870-72;  Charles  P.  Johnson,  1872-74;  Norman  J.Coleman,  1874-76; 
Henry  C.  Brockmeyer,  1876-80;  Robert  Campbell,  1880,  and  is  the  pres- 
ent incumbent. 

Secretaries  of  State. — Joshua  Barton,  1820-21  ;  William  G.  Pettis, 
1821-24;  Hamilton  R.  Gamble,  1824-26;  Spencer  Pettis,  1826-28;  P.  H. 
McBride,  1829-30;  John  C.  Edwards,  1830,  term  expired  1835,  re-ap- 
pointed 1837,  resigned  1837;  Peter  G.  Glover,  1837-39;  James  L.  Miner, 
1839-45;  F.  H.  Martin,  1845-49;  Ephraim  B.  Ewing,  1849-52;  John  M. 
Richardson,  1852-56;  Benjamin  F.  Massey,  1856-60,  re-elected  i860,  for 
four  years;  Mordecai  Oliver,  1861-64;  Francis  Rodman,  1864-68,  re- 
elected 1868,  for  two  years  ;  Eugene  F.  Weigel,  1870-72,  re-elected  1872, 
for  two  years ;  Michael  K.  McGrath,  1874,  and  is  the  present  incumbent 

State  Treasurers. — Peter  Didier,  1820-21  ;  Nathaniel  Simonds,  1821- 
28  ;  James  Earickson,  1829-33;  John  Walker,  1833-38  ;  Abraham  McClel- 
lan,  1838-43  ;  Peter  G.  Glover,  1843-51 ;  A.  W.  Morrison,  1851-60;  George 

C.  Bingham,  1862-64;  William  Bishop,  1864-68;  William  Q.  Dallmeyer. 
1868-70;  Samuel  Hays,  1872;  Harvey  W.  Salmon,  1872-74;  Joseph  W. 
Mercer,  1874-76;  Elijah  Gates,  1876-80;  Phillip  E.  Chappel,  1880,  and 
present  incumbent. 

Attorneys  General. — Edward  Bates,  1820-21  ;  Rufus  Easton,  1821-26  ; 
Robert  W.Wells,  1826-36;  William  B.  Napton,  1836-39;  S.  M.Bay, 
1839-45;  B.  F.  Stringfellow,  1845-49;  William  A.  Roberts,  1849-51; 
James  B.  Gardenhire,  1851-56;  Ephraim  W.  Ewing,  1856-59;  James  P. 
Knott,  1859-61  ;  Aikman  Welsh,  1861-64;  Thomas  T.  Crittenden,  1864; 
Robert  F.  Wingate,  1864-68  ;  Horace  P.  Johnson,  1868-70;  A.  J.  Baker, 
1870-72;  Henry  Clay  Ewing,  1872-74;  John  A.  Hockaday,  1874-76; 
Jackson  L.  Smith,  1876-80  ;  Mclntire,  1S80,  and  present  incumbent. 


HISTORY  OF  MISSOURI.  43 

Auditors  of  Public  Accounts. — William  Christie,  1820-21  ;  William 
V.  Rector,  1821-23  I  Elias  Barcroft,  1823-33  ;  Henry  Shurlds,  1833-35  \ 
Peter  G.  Glover,  1835-37  ;  Hiram  H.  Baber,  1837-45  ;  William  Monroe, 
1845  ;  J.  R.  McDermon,  1845-48  ;  George  W.  Miller,  1848-49;  Wilson 
Brown,  1849-52  :  William  H.  Buffington,  1852-60  ;  William  S.  Moseley, 
1860-64  ;  Alonzo  Thompson,  1864-68  ;  Daniel  M.  Draper,  1868-72  ;  George 
B.  Clark,  1872-74  ;  Thomas  Holladay,  1874-80 ;  John  Walker,  1880,  and 
present  incumbent. 

Judges  of  Supreme  Court. — Matthias  McKirk,  1822-41  ;  John  D. 
Cooke,  1822-23  ;  John  R.  Jones,  1822-24  ;  Rufus  Pettibone,  1823-25  ; 
George  Tompkins,  1824-45  ;  Robert  Walsh,  1825-37  ;  John  C.  Edwards, 
1837-39;  William  Scott,  appointed  1841,  till  meeting  of  General  Assem- 
bly, in  place  of  M.  McKirk,  resigned,  re-appointed  1843  ;  P.  H.  McBride, 
1845  ;  William  B.  Napton,  1849-52  ;  John  F.  Ryland,  1849-51  ;  John  H. 
Birch,  1849-51  ;  William  Scott,  John  F.  Ryland  and  Hamilton  R,  Gamble 
elected  by  the  people  185 1,  for  six  years  ;  Gamble  resigned  1854  ;  Abiel 
Leonard  elected  to  fill  vacancy  of  Gamble  ;  William  B.  Napton  (vacated 
by  failure  to  file  oath),  William  Scott  and  John  C.  Richardson  (resigned) 
elected  August,  1857,  for  six  years  ;  E.  B.  Ewing,  1859,  to  fill  Richard- 
son's resignation  ;  Barton  Bates  appointed  1862  ;  W.  V.  N.  Bay  appointed 
1862  ;  John  D.  S.  Dryden,  appointed  1862  ;  Barton  Bates,  1863-65  ;  W. 
V.  N.  Bay,  elected  1863  ;  John  D.  S.  Dryden,  elected  1863  ;  David  Wag- 
ner, appointed  1865  ;  Wallace  L.  Lovelace,  appointed  1865  ;  Nathaniel 
Holmes,  appointed  1865  ;  Thomas  J.  C.  Flagg,  appointed  1866;  James 
Baker,  appointed  1868;  David  Wagner,  elected  1868-70;  Philemon 
Bliss,  1868-70  ;  Warren  Currier,  1868-71  ;  Washington  Adams,  appointed 
1871  to  fill  Currier's  place,  who  resigned  ;  Ephraim  B.  Ewing,  elected 
1872;  Thomas  A.  Sherwood,  elected  1872;  W.  B.  Napton,  appointed 
1873,  in  place  of  Ewing,  deceased  ;  Edward  A.  Seins.  appointed  1874,  in 
place  of  Adams,  resigned  ;  Warwick  Hough,  elected  1874;  William  B. 
Napton,  elected  1874-80:  John  E.  Henry,  1876-86  ;  Robert  Ray  suc- 
ceeded William  B.  Napton  in  i88o-;  Elijah  H.  Norton,  appointed  in  1876 
— elected  in  1878. 

United  States  Senators. — T.  H.  Benton,  1820-50;  D.  Barton,  1820- 
30  ;  Alexander  Buckner,  1830-33  ;  L.  F.  Linn,  1833-43  ;  D.  R.  Atchison, 
1843-55  ;  H.  S.  Gey6r,  1851-57  ;  James  M.  Green,  1857-61  ;  T.  Polk,  1857- 
63  ;  Waldo  P.  Johnson,  1861  ;  Robert  Wilson,  1861  ;  B.  Gratz  Brown, 
1863,  for  unexpired  term  of  Johnson  ;  J.  B.  Henderson,  1863-69  ;  Charles 
D.  Drake,  1867-70;  Carl  Schurz,  1869-75  ;  D.  F.  Jewett,  1870,  in  place  of 
Drake,  resigned  ;  F.  P.  Blair,  1871-77  ;  L.  V.  Bogy,  1873  ;  F.  M.  Cock- 
rell,  1875-81,  re-elected  1881  ;  George  C.  Vest,  1879. 

Representatives  to  Congress — John  Scott,  1820-26;  Ed.  Bates,  1826- 
^8  ;  Spencer  Pettis,  1828-31  ;  William  H.  Ashley,  1831-36  ;  John  Bull, 
1832-34;  Albert  G.  Harrison,  1834-39;  John  Miller,  1836-43;  John  Jameson, 


44  HISTORY  OF   MISSOURI. 

1839-44,  re-elected  1846  for  two  years  ;  John  C.  Edwards,  1840-42  ;  James 
M.  Hughes,  1842-44  ;  James  H.  Relfe,  1842-46  ;  James  B,  BowHn,  1842- 
50;  Gustavus  M.  Boner,  1842-44;  Sterling  Price,  1844-46;  William  Mc- 
Daniel,  1846  ;  Leonard  H.  Sims,  1844-46  ;  John  S.  Phelps,  1844-60  ;  James 
S.  Green,  1846-50,  re-elected  1856,  resigned  ;  Willard  P.  Hall,  1846-53; 
William  V.  N.  Bay,  1848-61  ;  John  F.  Darby,  1850-53  ;  Gilchrist  Porter, 
1850-57  ;  John  G.  Miller,  1850-56;  Alfred  W.Lamb,  1852-54  ;  Thomas 
H.  Benton,  1852-54  ;  Mordecai  Oliver,  1852-57  ;  James  J.  Lindley,  1852- 
56;  Samuel  Caruthers,  1852-58  ;  Thomas  P.  Akers,  1855,  to  fill  unexpired 
term  of  J,  G.  Miller  ;  Francis  P.  Blair,  Jr.,  1856,  re-elected  i860,  resigned  ; 
Thomas  L.  Anderson,  1856-1866;  James  Craig,  1856-60;  Samuel  H. 
Woodson,  1856-60  ;  John  B.  Clark,  Sr.,  1857-61  ;  J.  Richard  Barrett,  i860  ; 
John  W.  Noel,  1858-63  ;  James  S.  Rollins,  1860-64;  Elijah  H.  Norton, 
1860-63  ;  John  W.  Reid,  1860-61 ;  William  A.  Hall,  1862-64  ;  Thomas  L. 
Price,  1862,  in  place  of  Reid,  expelled  ;  Henry  T.  Blow,  1862-66  ;  Sem- 
pronius  T.  Boyd,  elected  in  1862,  and  again  in  1868,  for  two  years  ;  Joseph 
W.  McClurg,  1862-66  ;  Austin  A.  King,  1862-64  ;  Benjamin  F.  Loan, 
1862-69  ;  John  G.  Scott,  1863,  in  place  of  Noel,  deceased:  John  Hogan, 
1864-66  ;  Thomas  F.  Noel,  1864-67  ;  John  R.  Kelsoe,  1864-66  ;  Robert  T. 
Van  Horn,  1864-71  ;  John  F.  Benjamin,  1864-71  ;  George  W.  Anderson, 
1864-69  ;  William  A.  Pile,  1866-68  ;  C.  A.  Newcomb,  1866-68  ;  Joseph  E. 
Gravely,  1866-68  ;  James  R.  McCormack,  1866-73  ;  John  H,  Stover,  1867, 
in  place  of  McClurg,  resigned  ;  Erastus  Wells,  1868-82  ;  G.  A.  Finklin- 
burg,  1868-71;  Samuel  S.  Burdett,  1868-71;  Joel  F.  Asper,  1868-70; 
David  P.  Dyer,  1868-70 ;  Harrison  E.  Havens,  1870-75  ;  Isaac  C.  Parker, 
1870-75  ;  James  G.  Blair,  1870-72  :  Andrew  King,  1870-72  ;  Edwin  O. 
Stannard,  1872-74;  William  H.  Stone,  1872-78;  Robert  A.  Hatcher, 
elected  1872;  Richard  P.  Bland,  1872;  Thomas  Crittenden,  1872-74;  Ira 
B.  Hyde,  1872-74  ;  John  B.  Clark,  1872-78  ;  John  M.  Glover,  1872  ;  Aylett 
H.  Buckner,  1872  ;  Edward  C.  Kerr,  1874-78  ;  Charles  H.  Morgan,  1874; 
John  S.  Phelps,  1874  ;  B.  J.  Franklin,  1874  ;  David  Rea,  1874  ;  Rezin  A. 
DeBoet,  1874;  Anthony  Ittner,  1876;  Nathaniel  Cole,  1876;  Robert  A. 
Hatcher,  1876-78  ;  R.  P.  Bland,  1876-78  ;  A.  H.  Buckner,  1876-78  ;  J.  B. 
Clark,  Jr.,  1876-78  ;  T.  T.  Crittenden,  1876-78  ;  B.  J.  Franklin,  1876-78  ; 
John  M.  Glover,  1876-78  ;  Robert  A.  Hatcher,  1876-78  ;  Charles  H.  Mor- 
gan, 1876-78  ;  L.  S.  Metcalfe.  1876-78  ;  H.  M.  Pollard,  1876-78  ;  David 
Rea,  1876-78  ;  S.  L.  Sawyer,  1878-80;  N.  Ford,  1878-82  ;  G.  E.  Rothwell, 
1878-82;  John  B.  Clark,  Jr.,  1878-82;  W.  H.  Hatch,  1878-82;  A.  H. 
Buckner,  1878-82  ;  M.  L.  Clardy,  1878-82;  R.  G.  Frost,  1878-82  ;  L.  H. 
Davis.  1878-82  ;  R.  P.  Bland,  1878-82  ;  J.  R.  Waddill,  1878-80  ;  T.  Allen, 
1880-82  ;  R.  Hazeltine,  1880-82  ;  T.  M.  Rice,  1880-82  ;  R.  T.  Van  Horn, 
1880-82. 


HISTORY  OF   MISSOURI. 


45 


COUNTIES — WHEN    ORGANIZED. 


Adair .  January  29,  1841 

Andrew January  29,  1841 

Atchison January  14,  1845 

Audrain December  17,  1836 

Barry January    5,  1835 

Barton December  12,  1835 

Bates January  29,  1841 

Benton January    3,  1835 

Bollinger March    i,  1851 

Boone November  16,  1820 

Buchanan  ........  February  10,  1839 

Butler February  27,  1849 

Caldwell December  26,  1836 

Callaway November  25,  1820 

Camden January  29,  1841 

Cape  Girardeau October    i,  1812 

Carroll January    3,  1833 

Carter March  10,  1859 

Cass September  14,  1835 

Cedar February  14,  1845 

Chariton November  16,  1820 

Christian March    8,  i860 

Clark December  15,  1818 

Clay January    2,  1822 

Clinton January  15,  1833 

Cole November  16,  1820 

Cooper December  17,  1818 

Crawford  ........  January  23,  1829 

Dade January  29,  1 84 1 

Dallas December  10,  1844 

Daviess December  29,  1836 

DeKalb February  25,  1845 

Dent February  10,  185 1 

Douglas October  19,  1857 

Dunklin February  14,  1845 

Franklin December  11,  1818 

Gasconade November  25,  1820 

Gentry February  12,  1841 

Greene January    2,  1833 

Grundy January    2,  1843 

Harrison February  14,  1845 

Henry December  13,  1834 

Hickory February  14,  1845 

Holt February  15,  1841 

Howard January  23,  1816 

Howell March    2,  1857 

Iron February  17,  1857 

Jackson December  15,  1826 

Jasper January  29,  1 84 1 

Jefferson   .......  December    8,  181 8 

Johnson December  13,  1834 


Knox February  14, 

Laclede February  24, 

Lafayette November  16, 

Lawrence February  25, 

Lewis January    2, 

Lincoln December  14, 

Linn January    7, 

Livingston  ........  January    6, 

McDonald March    3, 

Macon January    6, 

Madison December  14, 

Maries March    2, 

Marion December  23, 

Mercer February  14, 

Miller February    6, 

Mississippi February  14, 

Moniteau February  14, 

Monroe  .    .  , January    6, 

Montgomery December  14, 

Morgan January    5, 

New  Madrid October    I, 

Newton December  31, 

Nodaway February  14, 

Oregon February  14, 

Osage January  29, 

Ozark January  29, 

Pemiscot February  19, 

Perry November  16, 

Pettis January  26, 

Phelps November  13, 

Pike December  14, 

Platte December  3 1 , 

Polk March  13, 

Pulaski December  15, 

Putnam February  28, 

Ralls November  16, 

Randolph January  22, 

Ray November  16, 

Reynolds February  25, 

Ripley January    5, 

St.  Charles October    i , 

St,  Clair January  29, 

St.  Francois December  19, 

Ste.  Genevieve October    i, 

St.  Louis October    I, 

Saline November  25, 

Schuyler February  14, 

Scotland January  29, 

Scott December  28, 

Shannon January  29, 

Shelby January    2, 


84s 
849 
820 

845 
833 
818 

837 
837 
849 
837 
818 

855 
826 

845 
837 
845 
845 
831 
818 

833 
812 

838 
84s 
845 
841 
841 
861 
820 
833 
857 
818 
838 

835 
818 

845 
820 
829 
820 
845 
833 
812 

841 
821 
812 
812 
820 

845 
841 
821 
841 
835 


46 


HISTORY  OF   MISSOURI. 
COUNTIES — WHEN  ORGANIZED. — Continued. 


Stoddard January    2,  1835 

Stone February  10,  185 1 

Sullivan February  16,  1845 

Taney January  16,  1837 

Texas February  14,  1835 

Vernon February  17,  1851 


Warren January    5,  1833 

Washington August  21,  1813 

Wayne December  il,  1818 

Webster March    3,  1855 

Worth February    8,  1861 

Wright January  29,  184  ^ 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


EARLY  MILITARY  RECORD. 


BLACK  HAWK  WAR-MORMON  DIFFICULTIES-FLORIDA  WAR-MEXICAN  WAR. 

On  the  14th  day  of  May,  1832,  a  bloody  engagement  took  place 
between  the  regular  forces  of  the  United  States  and  a  part  of  the  Sacs, 
Foxes  and  Winnebago  Indians,  commanded  by  Black  Hawk  and  Keo- 
kuk, near  Dixon's  Ferry,  in  Illinois. 

The  Governor  (John  Miller)  of  Missouri,  fearing  these  savages  would 
invade  the  soil  of  his  state,  ordered  Major  General  Richard  Gentry  to 
raise  one  thousand  volunteers  for  the  defense  of  the  frontier.  Five  com- 
panies were  at  once  raised  in  Boone  County,  and  in  Callaway,  Montgom- 
ery, St.  Charles,  Lincoln,  Pike,  Marion,  Ralls,  Clay  and  Monroe  other 
companies  were  raised. 

Two  of  these  companies,  commanded  respectively  by  Captain  John 
Jaimison,  of  Callaway,  and  Captain  David  M.  Hickman,  of  Boone  County, 
were  mustered  into  service  in  July  for  thirty  days,  and  put  under  com- 
mand of  Major  Thomas  W.  Conyers. 

This  detachment,  accompanied  by  General  Gentry,  arrived  at  Fort 
Pike  on  the  15th  of  July,  1832.  Finding  that  the  Indians  had  not  crossed 
the  Mississippi  into  Missouri,  General  Gentry  returned  to  Columbia,  leav- 
ing the  fort  in  charge  of  Major  Conyers,  Thirty  days  having  expired, 
the  command  under  Major  Conyers  was  relieved  by  two  other  compa- 
nies under  Captain  Sinclair  Kirtley,  of  Boone,  and  Patrick  Ewing,  of 
Callaway.  This  detachment  was  marched  to  Fort  Pike  by  Colonel  Aus- 
tin A.  King,  who  conducted  the  two  companies  under  Major  Conyers 
home.  Major  Conyers  was  left  in  charge  of  the  fort,  where  he  remained 
until  September  following,  at  which  time  the  Indian  troubles,  so  far  as 
Missouri  was  concerned,  having  all  subsided,  the  frontier  forces  were 
mustered  out  of  service. 

Black  Hawk  continued  the  war  in  Iowa  and  Illinois,  and  was  finally 
defeated  and  captured  in  1833. 


HISTORY  OF   MISSOURI.  47 

MORMON  DIFFICULTIES, 

•  In  1832,  Joseph  Smith,  the  leader  of  the  Mormons,  and  the  chosen 
prophet  and  apostle,  as  he  claimed,  of  the  Most  High,  came  with  many- 
followers  to  Jackson  County,  Missouri,  where  they  located  and  entered 
several  thousand  acres  of  land. 

The  object  of  his  coming  so  far  west — upon  the  very  outskirts  of 
civilization  at  that  time — was  to  more  securely  establish  his  church,  and 
the  more  effectively  to  instruct  his  followers  in  its  peculiar  tenets  and 
practices. 

Upon  the  present  town  site  of  Independence  the  Mormons  located 
their  "  Zion,"  and  gave  it  the  name  of  "  The  New  Jerusalem."  They  pub- 
lished here  the  Evening  Star,  and  made  themselves  generally  obnoxious 
to  the  Gentiles,  who  were  then  in  the  minority,  by  their  denunciatory 
articles  through  their  paper,  their  clannishness  and  their  polygamous 
practices. 

Dreading  the  demoralizing  influence  of  a  paper  which  seemed  to  be 
inspired  only  with  hatred  and  malice  toward  them,  the  Gentiles  threw 
the  press  and  type  into  the  Missouri  River,  tarred  and  feathered  one  of 
their  bishops,  and  otherwise  gave  the  Mormons  and  their  leaders  to 
understand  that  they  must  conduct  themselves  in  an  entirely  different 
manner  if  they  wished  to  let  alone. 

After  the  destruction  of  their  paper  and  press,  they  became  furiously 
incensed,  and  sought  many  opportunities  for  retaliation.  Matters  con- 
tinued in  an  uncertain  condition  until  the  31st  of  October,  1833,  when  a 
deadly  conflict  occurred  near  Westport,  in  which  two  Gentiles  and  one 
Mormon  were  killed. 

On  the  2d  of  November  following  the  Mormons  were  overpowered, 
and  compelled  to  lay  down  their  arms  and  agree  to  leave  the  country 
with  their  families  by  January  ist,  on  the  condition  that  the  owner  would 
be  paid  for  his  printing  press. 

Leaving  Jackson  County,  they  crossed  the  Missouri  and  located  in 
Clay,  Carroll,  Caldwell  and  other  counties,  and  selected  in  Caldwell 
County  a  town  site,  which  they  called  "  Far  West,"  and  where  they 
entered  more  land  for  their  future  homes. 

Through  the  influence  of  their  missionaries,  who  were  exerting 
themselves  in  the  east  and  in  different  portions  of  Europe,  converts  had 
constantly  flocked  to  their  standard,  and  "Far  West,"  and  other  Mormon 
settlements  rapidly  prospered. 

In  1837,  they  commenced  the  erection  of  a  magnificent  temple,  but 
never  finished  it.  As  their  settlements  increased  in  numbers  they 
became  bolder  in  their  practices  and  deeds  of  lawlessness. 

During  the  summer  of  1838,  two  of  their  leaders  settled  in  the  town 
of  DeWitt,  on  the  Missouri  River,  having  purchased  the  land  from  an. 


48  HISTORY  OF  Missoura. 

Illinois  merchant.  DeWitt  was  in  Carroll  County,  and  a  good  point 
from  which  to  forward  goods  and  immigrants  to  their  town— Far  West. 

Upon  its  being  ascertained  that  these  parties  were  Mormon  leaders, 
the  Gentiles  called  a  public  meeting,  which  was  addressed  by  some  of 
the  prominent  citizens  of  the  county.  Nothing,  however,  was  done  at 
this  meeting,  but  at  a  subsequent  meeting,  which  was  held  a  few  days 
afterward,  a  committee  of  citizens  was  appointed  to  notify  Colonel 
Hinkle  (one  of  the  Mormon  leaders  at  DeWitt)  what  they  intended  to  do. 

Colonel  Hinkle.  upon  being  notified  by  this  committee,  became 
indignant,  and  threatened  extermination  to  all  who  should  attempt  to 
molest  him  or  the  Saints. 

In  anticipation  of  trouble,  and  believing  that  the  Gentiles  would 
attempt  to  force  them  from  DeWitt,  Mormon  recruits  flocked  to  the  town 
from  every  direction,  and  pitched  their  tents  in  and  around  the  town  in 
great  numbers. 

The  Gentiles,  nothing  daunted,  planned  an  attack  upon  this  encamp- 
ment, to  take  place  on  the  2ist  day  of  September,  1838,  and,  accordingly, 
one  hundred  and  fifty  men  bivouacked  near  the  town  on  that  day.  A 
conflict  ensued,  but  nothing  serious  occurred. 

The  Mormons  evacuated  their  works  and  fled  to  some  log  houses, 
where  they  could  the  more  successfully  resist  the  Gentiles,  who  had  in 
the  meantime  returned  to  their  camp  to  await  reinforcements.  Troops 
from  Howard,  Ray  and  other  counties  came  to  their  assistance,  and 
increased  their  number  to  five  hundred  men. 

Congreve  Jackson  was  chosen  Brigadier  General  ;  Ebenezer  Price, 
Colonel ;  Singleton  Vaughn,  Lieutenant  Colonel,  and  Sarchel  Woods, 
Major.  After  some  days  of  discipHne,  this  brigade  prepared  for  an 
assault,  but  before  the  attack  was  commenced,  Judge  James  Earickson 
and  William  F.  Dunnica,  influential  citizens  of  Howard  County,  asked 
permission  of  General  Jackson  to  let  them  try  and  adjust  the  difficulties 
without  any  bloodshed. 

It  was  finally  agreed  that  Judge  Earickson  should  propose  to  the 
Mormons  that,  if  they  would  pay  for  all  the  cattle  they  had  killed  belong- 
inc  to  the  citizens,  and  load  their  wagons  during  the  night  and  be  ready 
to  move  by  ten  o'clock  next  morning,  and  make  no  further  attempt  to 
settle  in  Howard  County,  the  citizens  would  purchase  at  first  cost  their 
lots  in  DeWitt  and  one  or  two  adjoining  tracts  of  land. 

Colonel  Hinkle,the  leader  of  the  Mormons,  at  first  refused  all  attempts 
to  settle  the  difficulties  in  this  way,  but  finally  agreed  to  the  proposition. 

In  accordance  therewith,  the  Mormons,  without  further  delay,  loaded 
up  their  wagons  for  the  town  of  Far  West,  in  Caldwell  County.  Whether 
the  terms  of  the  agreement  were  ever  carried  out  on  the  part  of  the  cit- 
izens, is  not  known. 


HISTORY  OF  MISSOURI.  49 

The  Mormons  had  doubtless  suffered  much  and  in  many  ways — the 
result  of  their  own  acts — but  their  trials  and  sufferings  were  not  at  an 
end. 

In  1838,  the  discord  between  the  citizens  and  Mormons  became  so 
great  that  Governor  Boggs  issued  a  proclamation  ordering  Major  General 
David  R.  Atchison  to  call  the  militia  of  his  division  to  enforce  the  laws. 
He  called  out  a  part  of  the  First  Brigade  of  the  Missouri  State  Militia, 
under  command  of  General  A.  W.  Doniphan,  who  proceeded  to  the  seat 
of  war.  General  John  B.  Clark,  of  Howard  County,  was  placed  in  com- 
mand of  the  militia. 

The  Mormon  forces  numbered  about  1,000  men,  and  were  led  by  G. 
W.  Hinkle.  The  first  engagement  occurred  at  Crooked  River,  where 
one  Mormon  was  killed.  The  principal  fight  took  place  at  Haughn's 
Mills,  where  eighteen  Mormons  were  killed  and  the  balance  captured, 
some  of  them  being  killed  after  they  had  surrendered.  Only  one  militia- 
man was  wounded. 

In  the  month  of  October,  1838,  Joe  Smith  surrendered  the  town  of 
Far  West  to  General  Doniphan,  agreeing  to  his  conditions,  viz  :  That 
they  should  deliver  up  their  arms,  surrender  their  prominent  leaders  for 
trial,  and  the  remainder  of  the  Mormons  should,  with  their  families, 
leave  the  state.  Indictments  were  found  against  a  number  of  these 
leaders,  including  Joe  Smith,  who,  while  being  taken  to  Boone  County 
for  trial,  made  his  escape,  and  was  afterward,  in  1844,  killed  at  Carthage, 
Illinois,  with  his  brother  Hyrum. 

FLORIDA    WAR 

In  September,  1837,  the  Secretary  of  War  issued  a  requisition  on 
Governor  Boggs,  of  Missouri,  for  six  hundred  volunteers,  for  service  in 
Florida  against  the  Seminole  Indians,  with  whom  the  Creek  Nation  had 
made  common  cause  under  Osceola. 

The  first  regiment  was  chiefly  raised  in  Boone  County  by  Colonel 
Richard  Gentry,  of  which  he  was  elected  colonel ;  John  W.  Price,  of 
Howard  County,  lieutenant  colonel ;  Harrison  H.  Hughes,  also  of  How- 
ard, major.  Four  companies  of  the  second  regiment  were  raised  and 
attached  to  the  first.  Two  of  these  companies  were  composed  of  Dela- 
ware and  Osage  Indians. 

October  6,  1837,  Colonel  Gentry's  regiment  left  Columbia  for  the 
seat  of  war,  stopping  on  the  way  at  Jefferson  barracks,  where  they  were 
mustered  into  service. 

Arriving  at  Jackson  barracks.  New  Orleans,  they  were  from  thence 
transported  in  brigs  across  the  Gulf  to  Tampa  Bay,  Florida.  General 
Zachary  Taylor,  who  then  commanded  in  Florida,  ordered  Colonel  Gen- 
try to  march  to  Okee-cho-bee  Lake,  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  miles 
inland  by  the  route  traveled.     Having  reached  the  Kissimmee  River, 


50  HISTORY  OF  MISSOURI. 

seventy  miles  distant,  a  bloody  battle  ensued  in  which  Colonel  Gentry 
was  killed.  The  Missourians,  though  losing  their  gallant  leader,  con- 
tinued the  fight  until  the  Indians  were  totally  routed,  leaving  many  of 
their  dead  and  wounded  on  the  field.  There  being  no  further  service 
required  of  the  Missourians,  they  returned  to  their  homes  in  1838. 

MEXICAN   WAR. 

Soon  after  Mexico  declared  war  against  the  United  States,  on  the 
8th  and  9th  of  May,  1846,  the  battles  of  Palo  Alto  and  Resaca  de  la 
Palma  were  fought.  Great  excitement  prevailed  throughout  the  country. 
In  none  of  her  sister  states,  however,  did  the  fires  of  patriotism  burn 
more  intensely  than  in  Missouri.  Not  waiting  for  the  call  for  volunteers, 
the  "St.  Louis  Legion"  hastened  to  the  field  of  conflict.  The  Legion 
was  commanded  by  Colonel  A.  R.  Easton.  During  the  month  of  May, 
1846,  Governor  Edwards,  of  Missouri,  called  for  volunteers  to  join  the 
"Army  of  the  West,"  an  expedition  to  the  Santa  Fe,  under  command  of 
General  Stephen  W.  Kearny. 

Fort  Leavenworth  was  the  appointed  rendezvous  for  the  volunteers. 
By  the  i8th  of  June,  the  full  complement  of  companies  to  compose  the 
First  regiment  had  arrived  from  Jackson,  Lafayette,  Clay,  Saline,  Frank- 
lin, Cole,  Howard  and  Callaway  Counties.  Of  this  regiment,  A.  W.  Don- 
iphan was  made  colonel;  C.  F.  Ruff,  lieutenant  colonel,  and  William 
Gilpin,  major.  The  battalion  of  light  artillery  from  St.  Louis,  was  com- 
manded by  Captains  R.  A.  Weightman  and  A.  W.  Fischer,  with  Major 
M,  L.  Clark  as  field  of^cer  ;  battalions  of  infantry  from  Platte  and  Cole 
Counties,  commanded  by  Captains  Murphy  and  W.  Z.  Augney,  respect- 
ively, and  the  "  Laclede  Rangers,"  from  St.  Louis,  by  Captain  Thomas  B. 
Hudson,  aggregating,  all  told,  from  Missouri,  1,658  men.  In  the  summer 
of  1846,  Hon.  Sterling  Price  resigned  his  seat  in  Congress,  and  raised  one 
mounted  regiment,  one  mounted  extra  battalion,  and  one  extra  battalion 
of  Mormon  infantry  to  reinforce  the  "Army  of  the  West."  Mr.  Price  was 
made  colonel,  and  D.  D.  Mitchell,  lieutenant  colonel. 

In  Auguet,  1847,  Governor  Edwards  made  another  requisition  for  one 
thousand  men,  to  consist  of  infantry.  The  regiment  was  raised  at  once. 
John  Dougherty,  of  Clay  County,  was  chosen  colonel,  but  before  the 
regiment  marched  the  President  countermanded  the  order. 

A  company  of  mounted  volunteers  was  raised  in  Ralls  County,  com- 
manded by  Captain  William  T.  Lalfland.  Conspicuous  among  the 
engagements  in  which  the  Missouri  volunteers  participated  in  Mexico 
were  the  battles  of  Brazito.  Sacramento,  Canada,  El  Embudo.  Taos,  and 
Santa  Cruz  de  Rosales.  The  forces  from  Missouri  were  mustered  out  in 
1848,  and  will  ever  be  remembered  in  the  history  of  the  Mexican  war,  for 

"A  thousand  glorious  actions  that  might  claim 
Triumphant  laurels,  and  immortal  fame." 


HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI.  $^ 


CHAPTER  IX.. 

CIVIL  WAR  IN  MISSOURI. 

% 

SUMTER  FIRED  UPON-CALL  FOR  75,000  MEN— GOVERNOR  JACKSON  REFUSES  TO 
FURNISH  A  MAN-UNITED  STATES  ARSENAL  AT  LIBERTY,  MISSOURI,  SEIZED  - 
PROCLAMATION  OF  GOVERNOR  JACKSON— GENERAL  ORDER  NO.  7-LEGISLATURE 
CONVENES-CAMP  JACKSON  ORGANIZED— STERLING  PRICE  APPOINTED  MAJOR 
GENERAL— FROST'S  LETTER  TO  LYON— LYON'S  LETTER  TO  FROST— SURRENDER 
OF  CAMP  JACKSON  —  PROCLAMATION  OF  GENERAL  HARNEY  —  CONFERENCE 
BETWEEN  PRICE  AND  HARNEY— HARNEY  SUPERSEDED  BY  LYON— SECOND  CON- 
FERENCE—GOVERNOR JACKSON  BURNS  THE  BRIDGES  BEHIND  HIM— PROCLAMA- 
TION OF  GOVERNOR  JACKSON-GENERAL  BLAIR  TAKES  POSSESSION  OF  JEFFERSON 
CITY— PROCLAMATION  OF  LYON— LYON  AT  SPRINGFIELD-STATE  OFFICES  DECLARED 
VACANT— GENERAL  FREMONT  ASSUMES  COMMAND— PROCLAMATION  OF  LIEUTEN- 
ANT GOVERNOR  REYNOLDS— PROCLAMATION  OF  JEFF.  THOMPSON  AND  GOVERNOR 
JACKSON— DEATH  OF  GENERAL  LYON— SUCCEEDED  BY  STURGIS -PROCLAMATION 
OF  M'CULLOCH  AND  GAMBLE— MARTIAL  LAW  DECLARED— SECOND  PROCLAMATION 
OF  JEFF.  THOMPSON  —  PRESIDENT  MODIFIES  FREMONT'S  ORDER  —  FREMONT 
RELIEVED  BY  HUNTER-PROCLAMATION  OF  PRICE— HUNTER'S  ORDER  OF  ASSESS- 
MENT-HUNTER DECLARES  MARTIAL  LAW-ORDER  RELATING  TO  NEWSPAPERS— 
HALLECK  SUCCEEDS  HUNTER— HALLECK'S  ORDER  81— SIMILAR  ORDER  BY  HAL- 
LECK-BOONE  COUNTY  STANDARD  CONFISCATED— EXECUTION  OF  PRISONERS  AT 
MACON  AND  PALMYRA-GENERAL  EWING'S  ORDER  NO.  ii-GENERAL  ROSECRANS 
TAKES  COMMAND— MASSACRE  AT  CENTRALIA— DEATH  OF  BILL  ANDERSON— GEN- 
ERAL DODGE  SUCCEEDS  GENERAL  ROSECRANS— LIST  OF  BATTLES. 

•'  Lastly  stood  war — 
With  visage  grim,  stern  looks,  and  blackly  hued, 
****** 

Ah  !  why  will  kings  forget  that  they  are  men  ? 
And  men  that  they  are  brethren  ?     Why  delight 
In  human  sacrifice  ?     Why  burst  the  ties 
Of  nature,  that  should  knit  their  souls  together 
In  one  bond  of  amity  and  love?  " 

Fort  Sumter  was  fired  upon  April  12,  1861.  On  April  15th,  President 
Lincoln  issued  a  proclamation,  calling  for  75,000  men,  from  the  militia 
of  the  several  states,  to  suppress  combinations  in  the  Southern  States 
therein  named.  Simultaneously  therewith  the  secretary  of  war  sent  a 
telegram  to  all  the  governors  of  the  states,  excepting  those  mentioned 
in  the  proclamation,  requesting  them  to  detail  a  certain  number  ot 
militia  to  serve  for  three  months,  Missouri's  quota  being  four  regiments. 

In  response  to  this  telegram  Governor  Jackson  sent  the  following 
answer: 

Executive  Department  of  Missouri, 
Jefferson  City,  April  17,  1861. 
To  the  Hon.  Simon  Cameron, 

Secretary  of  War,  Washington,  D.  C. : 

Sir:  Your  dispatch  of  the  15th  inst.,  making  a  call  on  Missouri 
for  four  regiments  of  men  for  immediate  service,  has  been  received. 
There  can  be,  I  apprehend,  no  doubt  but  these  men  are  intended  to  form 
a  part  of  the  President's  army  to  make  war  upon  the  people  of  the 


52  HISTORY  OF  MISSOURI- 

seceded  states.  Your  requisition,  in  my  judgment,  is  illegal,  unconsti- 
tutional, and  cannot  be  complied  with.  Not  one  man  will  the  State  of 
Missouri  furnish  to  carry  on  such  an  unholy  war. 

C.  F.  JACKSON, 

Governor  of  Missouri. 

April  21,  1861.  United  States  Arsenal  at  Liberty  was  seized  by 
order  of  Governor  Jackson. 

April  22,  1861.  Governor  Jackson  issued  a  proclamation  convening 
the  Legislature  of  Missouri  in  May  following,  in  extra  session,  to  take 
into  consideration  the  momentuous  issues  which  were  presented,  and  the 
attitude  to  be  assumed  by  the  state  in  the  impending  struggle. 

On  the  22d  of  April,  1861,  the  Adjutant  General  of  Missouri  issued 
the  following  military  order: 

Headquarters  Adjutant  General's  Office,  Mo., 
Jefferson  City,  April  22,  1861. 
{Ge7ieral  Order  No.  7.) 

L  To  attain  a  greater  degree  of  efficiency  and  perfection  in  organi- 
sation and  discipline,  the  commanding  officers  of  the  several  military 
.districts  in  this  state,  having  four  or  more  legally  organized  companies 
therein,  whose  armories  are  within  fifteen  miles  of  each  other,  will  assem- 
ble their  respective  commands  at  some  place  to  be  by  them  severally 
designated,  on  the  3d  of  May,  and  to  go  into  an  encampment  for  a  period 
of  six  days  as  provided  by  law.  Captains  of  companies  not  organized 
into  battalions,  will  report  the  strength  of  their  companies  immediately 
to  these  headquarters,  and  await  further  orders. 

IL  The  quartermaster  general  will  procure  and  issue  to  quarter- 
masters of  districts,  for  these  commands  not  now  provided  for,  all  neces- 
sary tents  and  camp  equipage,  to  enable  the  commanding  officers  thereof 
to  carry  the  foregoing  orders  into  effect. 

in.  The  Light  Battery  now  attached  to  the  Southwest  Battalion, 
and  one  company  of  mounted  riflemen,  including  all  officers  and  soldiers 
belonging  to  the  First  District,  will  proceed  forthwith  to  St.  Louis  and 
report  to  General  D.  M.  Frost  for  duty.  The  remaining  companies  of 
said  battalion  will  be  disbanded  for  the  purpose  of  assisting  in  the  organ- 
ization of  companies,  upon  that  frontier.  The  details  of  the  execution  of 
•the  foregoing  are  intrusted  to  Lieutenant  Colonel  John  S.  Bowen,  com- 
manding the  battalion. 

IV.     The  strength,  organization  and  equipment  of  the  several  com- 
panies in  the  districts  will  be  reported  at  once  to  these  headquarters, 
.and  district  inspectors  will  furnish  all  information  which  may  be  service- 
able in  ascertaining  the  condition  of  state  forces. 
By  order  of  the  Governor. 

WARWICK  HOUGH, 

Adjutant  General  of  Missouri. 

May  2,  1861.  The  legislature,  convened  in  extra  session.  Many 
acts  were  passed  among  which  was  one  to  authorize  the  governor  to 
purchase  or  lease  David  Ballentine's  foundry,  at  Boonville,  for  the  man- 
ufacture of  arms  and  munitions  of  war ;    to  authorize  the  governor  to 


HISTORY   OF   illSSOURI.  53 

appoint  one  major  general ;  to  authorize  the  governor,  when  in  his  opin- 
ion the  security  and  welfare  of  the  state  required  it,  to  take  possession 
of  the  railroad  and  telegraph  lines  of  the  state  ;  to  provide  for  the  organ- 
ization, government  and  support  of  the  military  forces  ;  to  borrow  one 
million  of  dollars  to  arm  and  equip  the  militia  of  the  state  to  repel  inva- 
sion and  protect  the  lives  and  property  of  the  people.  An  act  was  also 
passed  creating  a  "  Military  Fund,"  to  consist  of  all  the  money  then  in 
the  treasury  or  that  might  thereafter  be  received  from  the  one-tenth  of 
one  per  cent,  on  the  hundred  dollars,  levied  by  act  of  November,  1857, 
to  complete  certain  railroads  ;  also  the  proceeds  of  a  tax  of  fifteen  cents 
on  the  hundred  dollars  of  the  assessed  value  of  the  taxable  property  of 
the  several  counties  in  the  state,  and  the  proceeds  of  the  two  mill  tax, 
which  had  been  theretofore  appropriated  for  educational  purposes. 

May  3,  1861.     "Camp  Jackson"  was  organized. 

May  10,  1861.  Sterling  Price  appointed  major  general  of  state 
guard. 

May  10,  1861.  General  Frost,  commanding  "Camp  Jackson,'' 
addressed  General  N.  Lyon,  as  follows  : 

Headquarters  Camp  Jackson,  Missouri  Militia, 

May  10,  1861. 

Captain  N.  Lyon,  Comrnanding  United  States   Troops  in  and  about  St. 

Louis  Arsenal. 

Sir  :  I  am  constantly  in  receipt  of  information  that  you  contem- 
plate an  attack  upon  my  camp,  whilst  I  understand  that  you  are  impressed 
with  the  idea  that  an  attack  upon  the  arsenal  and  United  States  troops 
is  intended  on  the  part  of  the  militia  of  Missouri.  I  am  greatly  at  a  loss 
to  know  what  could  justify  you  in  attacking  citizens  of  the  United  States, 
who  are  in  lawful  performance  of  their  duties,  devolving  upon  them  under 
the  constitution  in  organizing  and  instructing  the  militia  of  the  state  in 
obedience  to  her  laws,  and,  therefore,  have  been  disposed  to  doubt  the 
correctness  of  the  information  I  have  received. 

I  would  be  glad  to  know  from  you  personally  whether  there  is  any 
truth  in  the  statements  that  are  constantly  pouring  into  my  ears.  So 
far  as  regards  any  hostility  being  intended  toward  the  United  States,  or 
its  property  or  representatives  by  any  portion  of  my  command,  or,  as  far 
as  I  can  learn  (and  I  think  I  am  fully  informed)  of  any  other  part  of  the 
state  forces,  I  can  positively  say  that  the  idea  has  never  been  enter- 
tained. On  the  contrary,  prior  to  your  taking  command  of  the  arsenal, 
I  proffered  to  Mayor  Bell,  then  in  command  of  the  very  few  troops  con- 
stituting its  guard,  the  services  of  myself  and  all  my  command,  and,  if 
necessary,  the  whole  power  of  the  state,  to  protect  the  United  States  in 
the  full  possession  of  all  her  property.  Upon  General  Harney  taking 
command  of  this  department,  I  made  the  same  proffer  of  services  to  him, 
and  authorized  his  Adjutant  General,  Captain  Williams,  to  communicate 
the  fact  that  such  had  been  done  to  the  War  Department.  I  have  had 
no  occasion  since  to  change  any  of  the  views  I  entertained  at  the  time, 
neither  of  my  own  volition  nor  through  the  orders  of  my  constitutional 
commander. 


54  HISTORY  OF  MISSOURI. 

I  trust  that  after  this  explicit  statement  that  we  may  be  able,  by 
fully  understanding  each  other,  to  keep  far  from  our  borders  the  misfor- 
tunes which  so  unhappily  affect  our  common  country. 

This  communication  will  be  handed  you  by  Colonel  Bowen,  my 
chief  of  staff,  who  will  be  able  to  explain  anything  not  fully  set  forth  in 
the  foregoing. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  vour  obedient  servant, 

BRIGADIER 'GENERAL  D.  M.  FROST, 

Cojnmanding  Camp  Jackson,  M.    V.  M. 

May  10,  1861.     General  Lyon  sent  the  following  to  General  Frost: 

Headquarters  United  States  Troops, 
St.  Louis,  Mo.,  May  10,  1861. 

General  D.  M.  Frost,  Commanding  Camp  Jackson: 

Sir  :  Your  command  is  regarded  as  evidently  hostile  toward  the 
Government  of  the  United  States. 

It  is,  for  the  most  part,  made  up  of  those  secessionists  who  have 
openly  avowed  their  hostility  to  the  general  government,  and  have  been 
plotting  at  the  seizure  of  its  property  and  the  overthrow  of  its  authority. 
You  are  openly  in  communication  with  the  so-called  Southern  Confed- 
eracy, which  is  now  at  war  with  the  United  States,  and  you  are  receiving 
at  your  camp,  from  the  said  Confederacy  and  under  its  flag,  large  sup- 
plies of  the  material  of  war,  most  of  which  is  known  to  be  the  property 
of  the  United  States.  These  extraordinary  preparations  plainly  indicate 
none  other  than  the  well-known  purpose  of  the  governor  of  this  state, 
under  whose  orders  you  are  acting,  and  whose  communication  to  the 
legislature  has  just  been  responded  to  by  that  body  in  the  most  unpar- 
alleled legislation,  having  in  direct  view  hostilities  to  the  general  gov- 
ernment and  co-operation  with  its  enemies. 

In  view  of  these  considerations,  and  of  your  failure  to  disperse  in 
obedience  to  the  proclamation  of  the  President,  and  of  the  imminent 
necessities  of  state  policy  and  warfare,  and  the  obligations  imposed  upon 
me  by  instructions  from  Washington,  it  is  my  duty  to  demand,  and  I  do 
hereby  demand  of  you  an  immediate  surrender  of  your  command,  with 
no  other  conditions  than  that  all  persons  surrendering  under  this  com- 
mand shall  be  humanely  and  kindly  treated.  Believing  myself  prepared 
to  enforce  this  demand,  one-half  hour's  time  before  doing  so  will  be 
allowed  for  your  compliance  therewith. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

N.  LYON, 
Captain  Second  Infantry,  Commanding  Troops. 

May  10,  1861.  Camp  Jackson  surrendered  and  prisoners  all  released 
excepting  Captain  Emmet  McDonald,  who  refused  to  subscribe  the  parole. 

May  12,  1861.  Brigadier  General  William  S.  Harney  issued  a  proc- 
lamation to  the  people  of  Missouri,  saying,  "he  would  carefully  abstain 
from  the  exercise  of  any  unnecessary  powers,"  and  only  use  "  the  military 
force  stationed  in  this  district  in  the  last  resort  to  preserve  peace." 

May  14,  1861.     General  Harney  issued  a  second  proclamation. 


HISTORY  OF  MISSOURI.  55 

May  21,  1861.  General  Harney  held  a  conference  with  General 
Sterling  Price,  of  the  Missouri  State  Guards. 

May  31,  1861.     General  Harney  superseded  by  General  Lyon. 

June  II,  1861.  A  second  conference  was  held  between  the  national 
and  state  authorities  in  St.  Louis,  which  resulted  in  nothing. 

June  II,  1861.  Governor  Jackson  left  St.  Louis  for  Jefferson  City, 
burning  the  railroad  bridges  behind  him,  and  cutting  telegraph  wires. 

June  12,  1861.  Governor  Jackson  issued  a  proclamation  calling 
into  active  service  50,000  militia,  "  to  repel  invasion,  protect  life,  prop- 
erty, etc." 

June  15,  1861.  Colonel  F.  P.  Blair  took  possession  of  the  state  capi- 
tal. Governor  Jackson,  General  Price  and  other  officers  having  left  on  the 
13th  of  June  for  Boonville. 

June  17,  1861.  Battle  of  Boonville  took  place  between  the  forces  of 
General  Lyon  and  Colonel  John  S.  Marmaduke. 

June  18,  1861.  General  Lyon  issued  a  proclamation  to  the  people 
of  Missouri. 

July  5,  1 86 1.  Battle  at  Carthage  between  the  forces  of  General  Sigel 
and  Governor  Jackson. 

July  6,  1861.     General  Lyon  reached  Springfield. 

July  22,  i86i.  State  convention  met  and  declared  the  offices  of 
Governor,  Lieutenant  Governor  and  Secretary  of  State  vacated. 

July  26,  1861.  General  John  C.  Fremont  assumed  command  of  the 
Western  Department,  with  headquarters  in  St.  Louis. 

July  31,  1861.  Lieutenant  Governor  Thomas  C.  Reynolds  issued  a 
proclamation  at  New  Madrid. 

August  I,  1861.  General  Jeff.  Thompson  issued  a  proclamation  at 
Bloomfield. 

August  2,  1861.     Battle  of  Dug  Springs,  between  Captain  Steele's 

forces  and  General  Rains. 

August  5,  1861.  Governor  Jackson  issued  a  proclamation  at  New 
Madrid. 

August  5,  1861.     Battle  of  Athens. 

August  10,  1861.  Battle  of  Wilson's  Creek,  between  the  forces 
under  General  Lyon  and  General  McCulloch.  In  this  engagement  Gen- 
eral Lyon  was  killed.     General  Sturgis  succeeded  General  Lyon. 

August  12,  1861.  McCulloch  issued  a  proclamation,  and  soon  left 
Missouri. 

August  20,  1861.     General  Price  issued  a  proclamation. 

August  24,  1861.  Governor  Gamble  issued  a  proclamation  calling 
for  32,000  men  for  six  months,  to  protect  the  property  and  lives  of  the 
citizens  of  the  state. 

August  30,  1861.  General  Fremont  declared  martial  law,  and 
declared  that  the  slaves  of  all  persons  who  should  thereafter  take  an 
active  part  with  the  enemies  ot  the  government  should  be  free. 


56  HISTORY  OF  MISSOURI. 

September  2,  1861.  General  Jeff.  Thompson  issued  a  proclamation 
in  response  to  Fremont's  proclamation. 

September  7,  1861.     Battle  at  Drywood  Creek. 

September  11,  1861.  President  Lincoln  modified  the  clause  in  Gen- 
eral Fremont's  declaration  of  martial  law,  in  reference  to  the  confiscation 
of  property  and  liberation  of  slaves. 

September  12,  1861.  General  Price  begins  the  attack  at  Springfield 
on  Colonel  Mulligan's  forces. 

September  20,  1861.    Colonel  Mulligan  with  2,640  men  surrendered. 

October  25,  1861.     Second  battle  at  Springfield. 

November  2,  1861.  General  Fremont  succeeded  by  General  David 
Hunter, 

November  7,  1861.     General  Grant  attacked  Belmont. 

November  9,  1861.  General  Hunter  succeeded  by  General  Halleck, 
who  took  command  on  the  19th  of  the  same  month,  with  headquarters 
in  St.  Louis. 

November  27,  1861.  General  Price  issued  proclamation  calling  for 
50,000  men,  at  Neosho,  Missouri. 

December  12,  1861.  General  Hunter  issued  his  order  of  assessment 
upon  certain  wealthy  citizens  in  St.  Louis,  for  feeding  and  clothing  Union 
refugees. 

December  23-25,  1861.  Declared  martial  law  in  St.  Louis  and  the 
country  adjacent,  and  covering  all  the  railroad  lines. 

March  6,  1862.  Battle  at  Pea  Ridge  between  the  forces  under  Gen- 
eral Curtis  and  Van  Dorn. 

January  8,  1862.  Provost  Marshal  Farrar,  of  St.  Louis,  issued  the 
following  order  in  reference  to  newspapers  : 

Office  of  the  Provost  Marshal, 
General  Department  of  Missouri, 
St.  Louis,  January  8,   1862. 
{General  Order  No.  10.) 

It  is  hereby  ordered  that  from  and  after  this  date  the  publishers  of 
newspapers  in  the  State  of  Missouri  (St.  Louis  city  papers  excepted) 
furnish  to  this  office,  immediately  upon  publication,  one  copy  of  each 
issue,  for  inspection.  A  failure  to  comply  with  this  order  will  render  the 
newspaper  liable  to  suppression. 

Local  Provost  Marshals  will  furnish  the  proprietors  with  copies  of 
this  order,  and  attend  to  its  immediate  enforcement. 

BERNARD  G.  FARRAR, 
Provost  Marshal  Ge?isral. 

January  26,  1862.  General  Halleck  issued  order  (No.  18)  which  for- 
bade, among  other  things,  the  display  of  secession  flags  in  the  hands  of 
women  or  on  carriages,  in  the  vicinitj^  of  the  military  prison  in  McDow- 
ell's College,  the  carriages  to  be  confiscated  and  the  offending  women  to 
be  arrested. 


HISTORY  OF  MISSOURI.  5» 

February  4,  1S62.  General  Halleck  issued  another  order  similar  to 
Order  No.  18,  to  railway  companies,  and  to  the  professors  and  directors 
of  the  State  University  at  Columbia,  forbidding  the  funds  of  the  institu- 
tion to  be  used  "to  teach  treason  or  to  instruct  traitors." 

February  20,  1862.  Special  Order  No.  120,  convened  a  military  com- 
mission, which  sat  in  Columbia,  March  following,  and  tried  Edmund  J. 
Ellis,  of  Columbia,  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Boone  County  Standard, 
for  the  publication  of  information  for  the  benefit  of  the  enemy,  and 
encouraging  resistance  to  the  United  States  Government.  Ellis  was 
found  guilty,  was  banished  during  the  war  from  Missouri,  and  his  print- 
ing materials  confiscated  and  sold. 

April,  1862.  General  Halleck  left  for  Corinth,  Mississippi,  leaving 
General  Schofield  in  command. 

June,  1862.  Battle  at  Cherry  Grove  between  the  forces  under  Col- 
onel Joseph  C.  Porter  and  Colonel  H.  S.  Lipscomb. 

June,  1862.  Battle  at  Pierce's  Mill  between  the  forces  under  Major 
John  Y.  Clopper  and  Colonel  Porter. 

July  22,  1862.     Battle  at  Florida, 

July  28,  1862.     Battle  at  Moore's  Mill. 

August  6,  1862.     Battle  near  Kirksville. 

August  ir,  1862.     Battle  at  Independence.  ^ 

August  16,  1862.     Battle  at  Lone  Jack. 

September  13,  1862.     Battle  at  Newtonia. 

September  25,  1862.  Ten  Confederate  prisoners  were  executed  at 
Macon  by  order  of  General  Merrill. 

October  18,  1862.  Ten  Confederate  prisoners  executed  at  Palmyra 
by  order  of  General  McNeill. 

January  8,  1863.  Battle  at  Springfield  between  the  forces  of  General 
Marmaduke  and  General  E.  B.  Brown. 

April  26,  1863.     Battle  at  Cape  Girardeau. 

August  — ,  1863.  General  Jeff.  Thompson  captured  at  Pocahontas, 
Arkansas,  with  his  staff. 

August  25,  1863.  General  Thomas  Ewing  issued  his  celebrated 
Order  No.  11,  at  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  which  is  as  follows  : 

Headquarters  District  of  the  Border, 
Kansas  City,  Mo.,  August  25,  1863. 

{General  Order  No.  11.) 

First. — All  persons  living  in  Cass,  Jackson  and  Bates  Counties,  Mis- 
souri, and  in  that  part  of  Vernon  included  in  this  district,  except  those 
living  within  one  mile  of  the  limits  of  Independence,  Hickman's  Mills, 
Pleasant  Hill  and  Harrisonville,  and  except  those  in  that  part  of  Kaw 
Township,  Jackson  County,  north  of  Brush  Creek  and  west  of  the  Big 
Blue,  embracing  Kansas  City  and  Westport,  are  hereby  ordered  to  remove 
from  their  present  places  of  residence  within  fifteen  days  from  the  date 
hereof. 


mam 


S8 


HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI. 


Those  who.  within  that  time,  establish  their  loyalty  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  the  commanding  officer  of  the  militar>'  station  nearest  their 
present  places  of  residence,  will  receive  from  him  certificates  stating  the 
fact  of  their  loyalty,  and  the  names  of  the  witnesses  by  whom  it  can  be 
shown.  All  who  receive  such  certificate  will  be  permitted  to  remove  to 
any  military  station  in  this  district,  or  to  any  part  of  the  State  of  Kansas. 
except  the  counties  on  the  eastern  borders  of  the  state.  All  others  shall 
remove  out  of  this  district.  Officers  commanding  companies  and  detach- 
ments serving  in  the  counties  named,  will  see  that  this  paragraph  is 
promptly  obeyed. 

5fiV«</. — All  grain  and  hay  in  the  field,  or  under  shelter,  in  the  dis- 
trict from  which  the  inhabitants  are  required  to  remove,  within  reach  of 
military  stations,  after  the  oth  day  of  September  next,  will  be  taken  to 
such  stations  and  turned  over  to  the  proper  officer  there,  and  report  of 
the  amount  so  turned  over  made  to  district  headquarters,  specifying  the 
names  of  all  loyal  owners  and  the  amount  of  such  produce  taken  from 
them.  All  grain  and  hay  found  in  such  district  after  the  gth  day  of  Sep- 
tember next,  not  convenient  to  such  stations,  will  be  destroyed. 

TkirJ. — The  provisions  of  General  Order  No.  lO.  from  these  head- 
quarters, will  at  once  be  vigorously  executed  by  officers  commanding  in 
the  parts  of  the  district,  and  at  stations  not  subject  to  the  operations  o\ 
paragraph  First  of  this  Order — and  especially  in  the  towns  of  Independ- 
ence. Westport  and  Kansas  City. 

Fc!*r:h. — Paragraph  5.  General  Order  Xo.  10.  is  revoked  as  to  all  who 
have  borne  amis  against  the  government  in  the  district  since  August 

Bv  order  of  Brigadier  General  Ewing. 

H.  HANNAHS.  .-:'.;■•...'.:'.•.••. 

October  12-15,  1S65.     Battle  of  Arrow  Creek. 

January,  1S64.  General  Rosecrans  takes  command  of  the  depart- 
ment. 

September,  1S64.  Battle  at  Pilot  Knob.  Harrison  and  Little  Mor- 
ceau  River. 

September  27.  1S64.  Massacre  at  Centralia.  by  Captain  William 
Anderson. 

October  5.  1S64.     Battle  at  Prince's  Ford  and  James  Gordon's  farm. 

October  15,  1SCV4.     Battle  at  Glasgow. 

October  20,  1S64.     Battle  at  Little  Blue  Creek. 

October  2j,  1864.     Captain  Anderson  killed. 

December  — ,  1 804-  General  Rosecrans  relieved,  and  General  Dodge 
appointed  to  succeed  him. 

Nothing  occurred  specially,  of  a  military  character,  in  the  state, 
atter  December.  1S64.  We  have  in  the  main,  given  the  facts  as  they 
occurred,  without  comment  or  entering  into  details.  Many  of  the  minor 
incidents  and  skirmishes  of  the  war  have  been  omitted  because  of  our 
limited  space. 

It  is  utterly  impossible,  at  this  date,  to  give  the  names  and  dates  of 
all  the  battles  fought  in  Missouri  during  the  civil  war.     It  will  be  found. 


HISTORY  OF   MISSOURI.  59 

however,  that  the  list  given  below,  whicn  has  been  arranged  for  conven- 
ience, contains  the  prominent  battles  and  skirmishes  which  took  place 
within  the  state  : 

Potosi,  May  14,  1 86 1. 
Boonville,  June  17,  iS6r. 
Carthage,  July  5,  i86r. 
Monroe  Station,  July  10,  1861. 
Overton's  Run,  July  17,  1861. 
Dug  Spring,  August  2,  1861. 
Wilson's  Creek,  August  9,  1861. 
Athens,  August  5,  1861. 
Moreton,  August  20,  i86r. 
Bennett's  Mills,  September  — ,  1861. 
Drywood  Creek,  September  7,  1861. 
Norfolk,  September  10,  1861. 
Lexington,  September  12-20,  1861. 
Blue  Mills  Landing,  September  17,  1861. 
Glasgow  Mistake,  September  20,  1861. 
Osceola,  September  25,  1861. 
Shanghai,  October  13,  1861. 
Lebanon,  October  13,  1861. 
Linn  Creek,  October  15,  i86r. 
Big  River  Bridge,  October  15,  1861. 
Fredericktown,  October  21,  1861. 
Springfield,  October  25,  1861. 
Belmont,  November  7,  1861. 
Piketon,  November  8,  1861. 
Little  Blue,  November  10,  i86r. 
Clark's  Station,  November  11,  1861. 
Zion  Church,  December  28,  1861. 
Silver  Creek,  January  15,  1862. 
New  Madrid,  February  28,  1862. 
Pea  Ridge,  March  6,  1862. 
Neosho,  April  22,  1862, 
Rose  Hill,  July  10,  1862. 
Chariton  River,  July  30,  1862. 
Cherry  Grove,  June  — ,  1862. 
Pierce's  Mill,  June  — ,  1862. 
Florida,  July  22,  1862. 
Moore's  Mill,  July  28,  1862. 
Kirksville,  August  6,  1862. 
Compton's  Ferry,  August  8,  1862 
Yellow  Creek,  August  13,  1862. 


60  HISTORY  OF  MISSOURI. 

Independence,  August  ii,  1862. 
Lone  Jack,  August  16,  1862. 
Newtonia,  September  13,  1862. 
Springfield^  January  8,  1863. 
Cape  Girardeau,  April  29,  1863. 
Arrow  Rock,  October  12  and  13,  1863. 
Pilot  Knob,  September  — ,  1864. 
Harrison,  September  — ,  1864. 
Moreau  River,  October  7,  1864. 
Prince's  Ford,  October  5,  1864. 
Glasgow,  October  15,  1864. 
Little  Blue  Creek,  October  20,  1864. 
Albany,  October  27,  1864. 
Near  Rocheport,  September  23,  1864 
Centralia,  September  27,  1864. 


CHAPTER  X. 
AGRICULTURE  AND  MATERIAL  WEALTH. 

MISSOURI  AS  AN  AGRICULTURAL  STATE— THE  DIFFERENT  CROPS— LIVE  STOCK— HORSES 
—MULES— MILCH  COWS— OXEN  AND  OTHER  CATTLE— SHEEP— HOGS— COMPARISONS 
—MISSOURI  ADAPTED  TO  LIVE  STOCK— COTTON— BROOM  CORN  AND  OTHER  PRO- 
DUCTS—FRUITS— BERRIES— GRAPES— RAILROADS— FIRST  NEIGH  OF  THE  "IRON 
HORSE"  IN  MISSOURI— NAMES  OF  RAILROADS— MANUFACTURES— GREAT  BRIDGE 
AT  ST.  LOUIS. 

Agriculture  is  the  greatest  among  all  the  arts  of  man,  as  it  is  the 
first  in  supplying  his  necessities.  It  favors  and  strenthens  population  ; 
it  creates  and  maintains  manufactures  ;  gives  employment  to  navigation, 
and  furnishes  materials  to  commerce.  It  animates  every  species  of  indus- 
try, and  opens  to  nations  the  safest  channels  of  wealth.  It  is  the  strongest 
bond  of  well  regulated  society,  the  surest  basis  of  internal  peace,  and  the 
natural  associate  of  correct  morals.  Among  all  the  occupations  and 
professions  of  life  there  is  none  more  honorable,  none  more  independent 
and  none  more  conducive  to  health  and  happiness. 

*'  In  ancient  times  the  sacred  plow  employ'd 
The  kings,  and  awful  fathers  of  mankind  ; 
And  some,  with  whom  compared,  your  insect  tribes 
Are  but  the  beings  of  a  summer's  day, 
Have  held  the  scale  of  empire,  ruled  the  stor 
Of  mighty  war  with  unwearied  hand, 
Disdaining  little  delicacies,  seized 
The  plow  and  greatly  independent  lived." 


HISTORY   OF  MISSOURI.  6l 

As  an  agricultural  region,  Missouri  is  not  surpassed  by  any  state 
in  the  Union.  It  is  indeed  the  farmer's  kingdom,  where  he  always  reaps 
an  abundant  harvest.  The  soil,  in  many  portions  of  the  state,  has  an 
open,  flexible  structure,  quickly  absorbs  the  most  excessive  rains,  and 
retains  moisture  with  great  tenacity.  This  being  the  case  it  is  not  so 
easily  affected  by  drouth.  The  prairies  are  covered  with  sweet,  luxuri- 
ant grass,  equally  good  tor  grazing  and  hay  ;  grass  not  surpassed  by  the 
Kentucky  blue  grass — the  best  of  clover  and  timothy  in  growing  and 
fattening  cattle.  This  grass  is  now  as  full  of  life-giving  nutriment  as  it 
was  when  cropped  by  the  buffalo,  the  elk,  the  antelope  and  the  deer,  and 
costs  the  herdsman  nothing. 

No  state  or  territory  has  a  more  complete  or  rapid  system  of  natural 
drainage,  or  a  more  abundant  supply  of  pure,  fresh  water,  than  Missouri. 
Both  man  and  beast  may  slake  their  thirst  from  a  thousand  perennial 
fountains,  which  gush  in  limpid  streams  from  the  hillsides  and  wend 
their  way  through  verdant  valleys  and  along  smiling  prairies,  varying 
in  size  as  they  onward  flow,  from  the  diminutive  brooklet  to  the  giant 
river. 

Here  nature  has  generously  bestowed  her  attractions  of  climate,  soil 
and  scenery  to  please  and  gratify  man  while  earning  his  bread  in  the 
sweat  of  his  brow.  Being  thus  munificently  endowed,  Missouri  offers 
superior  inducements  to  the  farmer,  and  bids  him  enter  her  broad  domain 
and  avail  himself  of  her  varied  resources. 

We  present  here  a  table  showing  the  product  of  each  principal  crop 
in  Missouri  for  1878  : 

Indian  Corn 93,062,000  bushels. 

Wheat 20,196,000 

Rye .   .   .    , 732,000 

Oats 19,584,000 

Buckwheat 46,400 

Potatoes 5,415,000 

Tobacco 23,023,000  pounds. 

Hay 1,620,000  tons. 

There  were  3,522,000  acres  in  corn  ;  wheat,  1,836,000;  rye,  48,800; 
oats,  640,000  ;  buckwheat,  2,900  ;  potatoes,  72,200  ;  tobacco,  29,900  ;  hay, 
850,000.  Value  of  each  crop:  corn,  $24,196,224;  wheat,  $i3,53i»32o; 
rye,  $300,120;  oats,  $3,325,120;  buckwheat,  $24,128;  potatoes,  $2,057,- 
700;  tobacco,  $1,151,150;  hay,  $10,416,600. 

Average  cash  value  of  crops  per  acre,  $7.69  ;  average  yield  of  corn 
per  acre,  26  bushels;  wheat,  11  bushels. 

Next  in  importance  to  the  corn  crop  in  value  is  the  live  stock.  The 
following  table  shows  the  number  of  horses,  mules  and  milch  cows  in 
the  different  states  for  1879  : 


62 


HISTORY  OF  MISSOURI. 


STATES.  HORSES 

Maine 81,700 

New  Hampshire 57, 100 

Vermont 77>400 

Massachusetts 131,000 

Rhode  Island 16,200 

Connecticut 53.5°° 

New  York 898,000 

New  Jersey 11450° 

Pennsylvania '. 614,500 

Delaware I9,90" 

Maryland 108,600 

Virginia  . 208,700 

North  Carolina 144.200 

South  Carolina 59-6oo 

Georgia 119,200 

Florida 22,400 

Alabama 112,800 

Mississippi 97,200 

Louisiana 79  3°° 

Texas 618,000 

Arkansas 180,500 

Tennessee 329,7°° 

West  Virginia 122,200 

Kentucky 386,900 

Ohio 772,700 

Michigan 333  800 

Indiana 688,800 

Illinois 1,100,000 

Wisconsin 3^4  4°° 

Minnesota 247,300 

Iowa 77°,70o 

Missouri 627,300 

Kansas 265,000 

Nebraska 157,200 

California 173,0°° 

Oregon 109  700 

Nevada,  Colorado  and  Territories 250  000 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  above  table  that  Missouri  is  the  Ji/^/i  state 
in  the  number  of  horses  ;  Ji/i/i  in  number  of  milch  cows,  and  the  leading 
state  in  number  of  mules,  having  11,700  more  than  Texas,  which  pro- 
duces the  next  largest  number.  Of  oxen  and  cattle  Missouri  produced 
in  1879,  1,632,000,  which  was  more  than  any  other  state  produced  except- 
ing Texas,  which  had  4,800,000.  In  1879,  Missouri  raised  2,8 17,600  hogs, 
which  was  more  than  any  other  state  produced  excepting  Iowa.  The 
number  of  sheep  was  1,296,400.  The  number  of  hogs  packed  in  1879  t>y 
the  different  states  is  as  follows  : 


MULES. 

MILCH  COWS, 

.  .  . 

169,100 

.  .  • 

98,100 

.  .  • 

217,800 

.  .  . 

160,700 

.  .  . 

22,000 

.  .  . 

116,500 

7.1,800 

1,446,200 

14,400 

152,200 

24,900 

828,400 

4,000 

23,200 

11,300 

100,500 

30,600 

236,200 

74000 

232,300 

51,500 

»3i,300 

97,200 

273,100 

11,900 

70,000 

111,700 

215,200 

100  000 

1 88  000 

80,700 

110,900 

180,200 

544.500 

89. 300 

187,700 

99700 

245,700 

2,400 

130,500 

117,800 

237,200 

26,700 

714,100 

4300 

416,900 

61,200 

439,200 

138  000 

702,40c 

8,700 

477,30° 

7,000 

278,900 

43,40° 

676,200 

191,900 

516,200 

50,000 

321,900 

13,600 

127,600 

25,700 

459,600 

3.5°° 

112,400 

25,700 

423,600 

STATES.  NO. 

Ohio 932,878 

Indiana 622,321 

Illinois 3,214,896 

Iowa 569,763 


STATKS.  NO. 

Missouri 965,839 

Wisconsin 472,108 

Kentucky 212,412 


HISTORY   OF  MISSOURI.  63 

Average  weight  per  head  for  each  state : 

STATES.  POUNDS.  STATES.  POUNDS. 

Ohio 210.47  Missouri , 213  32 

Indiana 193  So  Wisconsin 220  81 

Illinois 225.71  Kentucky 210  11 

Iowa 211.98 

From  the  above,  it  will  be  seen  that  Missouri  annually  packs  more 
hogs  than  any  other  state,  except  Illinois,  and  that  she  ranks  third  in 
the  average  weight. 

We  see  no  reason  why  Missouri  should  not  be  the  foremost  stock- 
raising  state  in  the  Union.  In  addition  to  the  enormous  yield  of  oorn 
and  oats  upon  which  the  stock  is  largely  dependent,  the  climate  is  well 
adapted  to  their  growth  and  health.  Water  is  not  only  inexhaustible, 
but  everywhere  convenient.  The  ranges  for  stock  are  boundless,  afford- 
ing for  nine  months  of  the  year  excellent  pasturage  of  nutritious  wild 
grasses,  which  grow  in  great  luxuriance  upon  her  thousand  prairies. 

Cotton  is  grown  successfully  in  many  counties  of  the  southeastern 
portions  of  the  state,  especially  in  Stoddard,  Scott,  Pemiscott,  Butler, 
New  Madrid,  Lawrence  and  Mississippi. 

Sweet  potatoes  are  produced  in  abundance  and  are  not  only  sure 
but  profitable. 

Broom  corn,  sorghum,  castor  beans,  white  beane,  peas  and  hops, 
thrive  well,  and  all  kinds  of  garden  vegetables  are  produced  in  great 
abundance  and  are  found  in  the  markets  during  all  seasons  of  the  year. 
Fruits  of  every  variety,  including  the  apple,  pear,  peach,  cherries,  apricots 
and  nectarines  are  cultivated  with  great  success,  as  are  also  the  straw- 
berry, gooseberry,  currant,  raspberry  and  blackberry. 

The  grape  has  not  been  produced  with  that  success  that  was  at  first 
anticipated,  yet  the  yield  of  wine  for  the  year  1879,  "^^'^s  nearly  half  a 
million  gallons.  Grapes  do  well  in  Kansas,  and  we  see  no  reason  why 
they  should  not  be  as  surely  and  profitably  grown  in  a  similar  climate 
and  soil  in  Missouri,  and  particularly  in  many  of  the  counties  north  and 
east  of  the  Missouri  River. 

RAILROADS. 

Twenty-nine  years  ago  the  neigh  of  the  "iron  horse"  was  heard  for 
the  first  time  within  the  broad  domain  of  Missouri.  His  coming  pre- 
saged the  dawn  of  a  brighter  and  grander  era  in  the  history  of  the  state. 
Her  fertile  prairies  and  more  prolific  valleys  would  soon  be  of  easy  access 
to  the  oncoming  tide  of  immigration,  and  the  ores  and  minerals  of  her 
hills  and  mountains  would  be  developed  and  utilized  in  her  manufactur- 
ing and  industrial  enterprises. 

Additional  facilities  would  be  opened  to  the  marts  of  trade  and 
commerce  ;  transportation  from  the  interior  of  the  state  would  be  secured; 


64  HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI. 

a  fresh  impetus  would  be  given  to  the  growth  of  her  towns  and  cities, 
and  new  hopes  and  inspirations  would  be  imparted  to  all  her  people. 

Since  1852,  the  initial  period  of  railroad  building  in  Missouri,  between 
four  and  five  thousand  miles  of  track  have  been  laid  ;  additional  roads 
are  liow  being  constructed  and  many  others  in  contemplation.  The 
state  is  already  supplied  with  railroads  which  thread  her  surface  in  all 
directions,  bringing  her  remotest  districts  into  close  connection  with  St. 
Louis,  that  great  center  of  western  railroads  and  inland  commerce. 
These  roads  have  a  capital  stock  aggregating  more  than  one  hundred 
millions  of  dollars,  and  a  funded  debt  of  about  the  same  amount. 

The  lines  of  railroads  which  are  operated  in  this  state  are  the  fol- 
lowing : 

Missouri  Pacific,  chartered  May  10,  1850  ;  the  St.  Louis,  Iron  Mount- 
ain &  Southern  Railroad,  which  is  a  consolidation  of  the  Arkansas 
Branch ;  the  Cairo,  Arkansas  &  Texas  Railroad  ;  the  Cairo  &  Fulton 
Railroad  ;  the  St.  Louis,  Kansas  City  and  Northern  Railway  ;  the  St. 
Louis  &  San  Francisco  Railway ;  the  Chicago,  Alton  &  St.  Louis  Rail- 
road ;  the  Hannibal  &  St.  Joseph  Railroad  ;  the  Missouri,  Kansas  & 
Texas  Railroad  ;  the  Illinois,  Missouri  &  Texas  Railroad  ;  the  Kansas 
City,  St.  Joseph  &  Council  Bluffs  Railroad  ;  the  Keokuk  &  Kansas  City 
Railway  Company  ;  the  St.  Louis,  Salem  &  Little  Rock  Railroad  Com- 
pany ;  the  Missouri  &  Western  ;  the  St.  Louis,  Keokuk  &  Northwestern  ; 
the  St.  Louis,  Hannibal  &  Keokuk  Railroad  ;  the  Missouri,  Iowa  & 
Nebraska  Railway  ;  the  Quincy,  Missouri  &  Pacific  Railroad  ;  the  Chi- 
cago, Rock  Island  Pacific  Railway  ;  the  Burlington  &  Southwestern 
Railroad  ;  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad  and  the  St.  Joseph 
&  DesMoines. 

MANUFACTURES. 

The  natural  resources  of  Missouri  especially  fit  her  for  a  great  man- 
ufacturing state.  She  is  rich  in  soil ;  rich  in  all  the  elements  which  sup- 
ply the  furnace,  the  machine  shop  and  the  planing  mill  ;  rich  in  the 
multitude  and  variety  of  her  gigantic  forests  ;  rich  in  her  marble,  stone 
and  granite  quarries  ;  rich  in  her  mines  of  iron,  coal,  lead  and  zinc;  rich 
in  strong  arms  and  willing  hands  to  apply  the  force  ;  rich  in  water  power 
and  river  navigation  ;  and  rich  in  her  numerous  and  well  built  railroads, 
whose  numberless  engines  thunder  along  their  multiplied  trackways. 

Missouri  contains  over  fourteen  thousand  manufacturing  establish- 
ments, 1,965  of  which  are  using  steam  and  give  employment  to  80,000 
hands.  The  capital  employed  is  about  $100,000,000,  the  material  annu- 
ally used  and  worked  up  amounts  to  over  $150,000,000,  and  the  value  of 
the  products  put  upon  the  markets  $250,000,000,  while  the  wages  paid 
are  more  than  $40,000,000. 


HISTORY  OF  MISSOURI.  6$ 

The  leading  manufacturing  counties  of  the  state  are  St.  Louis,  Jack- 
son, Buchanan,  St.  Charles,  Marion,  Franklin,  Green,  Lafayette,  Platte, 
Cape  Girardeau  and  Boone.  Three-fourths,  however,  of  the  manufactur- 
ing is  done  in  St.  Louis,  which  is  now  about  the  second  manufacturing 
city  in  the  Union.  Flouring  mills  produce  annually  about  $38,194,000; 
carpentering,  $18,763,000;  meatpacking,  $16,769,000;  tobacco,  $12,496,- 
000;  iron  and  castings,  $12,000,000;  liquors,  $11,245,000;  clothing, 
$10,022,000;  lumber,  $8,652,000;  bagging  and  bags,  $6,914,000,  and 
many  other  smaller  industries  in  proportion. 

GREAT  BRIDGE   AT  ST.   LOUIS. 

Of  the  many  public  improvements  which  do  honor  to  the  state  and 
reflect  great  credit  upon  the  genius  of  their  projectors,  we  have  space 
only  to  mention  the  great  bridge  at  St.  Louis. 

This  truly  wonderful  structure  is  built  of  tubular  steel,  the  total 
length  of  which,  with  its  approaches,  is  6,277  feet,  at  a  cost  of  nearly 
$8,000,000.  The.  bridge  spans  the  Mississippi  from  the  Illinois  to  the 
Missouri  shore,  and  has  separate  railroad  tracks,  roadways  and  foot 
paths.  In  durability,  architectural  beauty  and  practical  utility,  there  is, 
perhaps,  no  similar  piece  of  workmanship  that  approximates  it. 

The  structure  of  Darius  upon  the  Bosphorus ;  of  Xerxes  upon  the 
Hellespont ;  of  Caesar  upon  the  Rhine,  and  Trajan  upon  the  Danube, 
famous  in  ancient  history,  were  built  for  military  purposes,  that  over 
them  might  pass  invading  armies  with  their  munitions  of  war,  to  destroy 
commerce,  to  lay  in  waste  the  provinces,  and  to  slaughter  the  people. 

But  the  erection  of  this  was  for  a  higher  and  nobler  purpose.  Over 
it  are  coming  the  trade  and  merchandise  of  the  opulent  East,  and  thence 
are  passing  the  untold  riches  of  the  West.  Over  it  are  crowding  legions 
of  men,  armed  not  with  the  weapons  of  war,  but  the  implements  of  peace 
and  industry  ;  men  who  are  skilled  in  all  the  arts  of  agriculture,  of  man- 
ufacture and  of  mining ;  men  who  will  hasten  the  day  when  St.  Louis 
shall  rank  in  population  and  importance  second  to  no  city  on  the  conti- 
nent, and  when  Missouri  shall  proudly  fill  the  measure  of  greatness  to 
which  she  is  naturally  so  justly  entitled. 


66  HISTORY  OF  MISSOURI. 

CHAPTER  XI. 
EDUCATION. 


PUBLIC  SCHOOL  SYSTEM-PUBLIC  SCHOOL  SYSTEM  OF  MISSOURI-LINCOLN  INSTITUTE— 
OFFICERS  OF  PUBLIC  SCHOOL  SYSTEM— CERTIFICATES  OF  TEACHERS-UNIVERSITY 
OF  MISSOURI— SCHOOLS  — COLLEGES  — INSTITUTIONS  OF  LEARNING- LOCATION— 
LIBRARIES— NEWSPAPERS  AND  PERIODICALS-NUMBER  OF  SCHOOL  CHILDREN- 
AMOUNT  EXPENDED— VALUE  OF  GROUNDS  AND  BUILDINGS—"  THE  PRESS." 


The  first  constitution  of  Missouri  provided  that  "one  school  or  more 
shall  be  established  in  each  township,  as  soon  as  practicable  and  neces- 
sary, where  the  poor  shall  be  taught  gratis." 

It  will  be  seen  that  even  at  that  early  day  (1820)  the  framers  of  the 
constitution  made  provision  for  at  least  a  primary  education  for  the 
poorest  and  the  humblest,  taking  it  for  granted  that  those  who  were 
able  would  avail  themselves  of  educational  advantages  which  v/ere  not 
gratuitous. 

The  establishment  of  the  public  school  system  in  its  essential  feat- 
ures was  not  periected  until  1839,  during  the  administration  of  Governor 
Boggs,  and  since  that  period  the  system  has  slowly  grown  into  favor, 
not  only  in  Missouri,  but  throughout  the  United  States.  The  idea  of  a 
free  or  public  school  for  all  classes  was  not  at  first  a  popular  one,  espe- 
cially among  those  who  had  the  means  to  patronize  private  institutions 
of  learning.  In  upholdi-ng  and  maintaining  public  schools,  the  oppo- 
nents of  the  system  felt  that  they  were  not  only  compromising  their 
own  standing  among  their  more  wealthy  neighbors,  but  that  they  were 
to  some  extent  bringing  opprobrium  upon  their  children.  Entertaining 
such  prejudices  they  naturally  thought  that  the  training  received  in 
public  schools  could  not  be  otherwise  than  defective,  hence  many  years 
of  probation  passed  before  the  popular  mind  was  prepared  to  appreciate 
the  benefits  and  blessings  which  spring  from  these  institutions. 

Every  year  only  adds  to  their  popularity,  and  commends  them  the 
more  earnestly  to  the  fostering  care  of  our  state  and  national  legislatures, 
and  to  the  esteem  and  favor  of  all  classes  of  our  people. 

We  can  hardly  conceive  of  two  grander  and  more  potent  promoters 
of  civilization  than  the  free  school  and  the  free  press.  They  would 
indeed  seem  to  constitute  all  that  was  necessary  to  the  attainment  of 
the  happiness  and  intellectual  growth  of  the  republic,  and  all  that  was 
necessary  to  broaden,  to  liberalize  and  to  instruct. 


HISTORY  OF  MISSOURI.  67 

"'Tis  education  forms  the  common  mind ; 

For  noble  youth  there  is  nothing  so  meet 
As  learning  is,  to  know  the  good  from  ill ; 
To  know  the  tongues,  and  perfectly  indite, 
And  of  the  laws  to  have  a  perfect  skill, 
Things  to  reform  as  right  and  justice  will, 
For  honor  is  ordained  for  no  cause 
But  to  see  right  maintained  by  the  laws." 

All  the  States  of  the  Union  have  in  practical  operation  the  public 
school  system,  governed  in  the  main  by  similar  laws,  and  not  differing 
materially  in  the  manner  and  methods  by  which  they  are  taught,  but 
none  have  a  wiser,  a  more  liberal  and  comprehensive  machinery  of 
instruction  than  Missouri.  Her  school  laws  since  1839,  have  undergone 
many  changes,  and  always  for  the  better,  keeping  pace  with  the  most 
enlightened  and  advanced  theories  of  the  most  experienced  educators  of 
the  land.  But  not  until  1875,  when  the  new  constitution  was  adopted, 
did  the  present  admirable  system  of  public  instruction  go  into  effect. 

Provisions  were  made  not  only  for  white,  but  for  children  of  African 
descent,  and  are  a  part  of  the  organic  law,  not  subject  to  the  caprices  of 
unfriendly  legislatures,  or  the  whims  of  political  parties.  The  Lincoln 
Institute,  located  at  Jefferson  City,  for  the  education  of  colored  teachers, 
receives  an  annual  appropriation  from  the  General  Assembly. 

For  the  support  of  the  public  schools,  in  addition  to  the  annual 
income  derived  from  the  public  school  fund,  which  is  set  apart  by  law, 
not  less  than  twenty-five  per  cent,  of  the  state  revenue,  exclusive  of  the 
interest  and  sinking  fund,  is  annually  applied  to  this  purpose. 

The  officers  having  in  charge  the  public  school  interests  are  the 
State  Board  of  Education,  the  State  Superintendent,  County  Superin- 
tendent, County  Clerk  and  Treasarer,  Board  of  Directors,  City  and 
Town  School  Board  and  teacher.  The  State  Board  of  Education  is  com- 
posed of  the  State  Superintendent,  the  Governor,  Secretary  of  State  and 
the  Attorney  General,  the  executive  officer  of  this  board  being  the  State 
Superintendent,  who  is  chosen  by  the  people  every  four  years.  His  duties 
are  numerous.  He  renders  decisions  concerning  the  local  application 
of  school  law;  keeps  a  record  of  all  the  school  funds,  and  annually  dis- 
tributes the  same  to  the  counties  ;  supervises  the  work  of  county  school 
officers  ;  delivers  lectures  ;  visits  schools  ;  distributes  educational  inform- 
ation ;  grants  certificates  of  higher  qualifications,  and  makes  an  annual 
report  to  the  General  Assembly  of  the  condition  of  the  schools. 

The  County  Superintendents  are  also  elected  by  the  people  for  two 
years.  Their  work  is  to  examine  teachers,  to  distribute  blanks  and 
make  reports.  County  clerks  receive  estimates  from  the  local  directors 
and  extend  them  upon  the  tax  books.  In  addition  to  this  they  keep  the 
general  records  of  the  county  and  township  school  funds,  and  return  an 


68  HISTORY  OF  MISSOURI. 

annual  report  of  the  financial  condition  of  the  schools  of  their  county  to 
the  State  Superintendent.  School  taxes  are  gathered  with  other  taxes 
by  the  county  collector.  The  custodian  of  the  school  funds  belonging 
to  the  schools  of  the  counties  is  the  county  treasurer,  except  in  counties 
adopting  the  township  organization,  in  which  case  the  township  trustee 
discharges  these  duties. 

Districts  organized  under  the  special  law  for  cities  and  towns  are 
governed  by  a  board  of  six  directors,  two  of  whom  are  selected  annually 
on  the  second  Saturday  in  September,  and  hold  their  office  for  three 
years. 

One  director  is  elected  to  serve  for  three  years  in  each  school  dis- 
trict at  the  annual  meeting.  These  directors  may  levy  a  tax  not  exceed- 
ing forty  per  cent,  on  the  one  hundred  dollars  valuation,  provided  such 
annual  rates  for  school  purposes  may  be  increased  in  districts  formed  of 
cities  and  towns,  to  an  amount  not  to  exceed  one  dollar  on  the  hundred 
dollars  valuation ;  and  in  other  districts  to  an  amount  not  to  exceed 
sixty-five  cents  on  the  one  hundred  dollars  valuation,  on  the  condition 
that  a  majority  of  the  voters  who  are  tax  payers,  voting  at  an  election 
held  to  decide  the  question,  vote  for  said  increase.  For  the  purpose  of 
erecting  public  buildings  in  school  districts,  the  rates  of  taxation  thus 
limited,  may  be  increased  when  the  rate  of  such  increase  and  the  pur- 
pose for  which  it  is  intended  shall  have  been  submitted  to  a  vote  of  the 
people,  and  two-thirds  of  the  qualified  voters  of  such  school  district  vot- 
ing at  such  election  shall  vote  therefor. 

Local  directors  may  direct  the  management  of  the  school  in  respect 
to  the  choice  of  teachers  and  other  details,  but  in  the  discharge  of  all 
important  business,  such  as  the  erection  of  a  school  house  or  the  exten- 
sion of  a  term  of  school  beyond  the  constitutional  period,  they  simply 
execute  the  will  of  the  people.  The  clerk  of  this  board  may  be  a  director. 
He  keeps  a  record  of  the  names  of  all  the  children  and  youth  in  the  dis- 
trict between  the  ages  of  five  and  twenty-one  ;  records  all  business  pro- 
ceedings of  the  district,  and  reports  to  the  annual  meeting,  to  the  County 
Clerk  and  County  Superintendents. 

Teachers  must  hold  a  certificate  from  the  State  Superintendent  or 
County  Commissioner  of  the  county  where  they  teach.  State  certificates 
are  granted  upon  personal  written  examinations  in  the  common  branches, 
together  with  the  natural  sciences  and  higher  mathematics.  The  holder 
of  such  certificate  may  teach  in  any  of  the  public  schools  of  the  state 
without  further  examination.  Certificates  granted  by  County  Commis- 
siorers  are  of  two  classes,  with  two  grades  in  each  class.  Those  issued 
for  a  longer  term  than  one  year  belong  to  the  first  class,  and  are  suscep- 
tible of  two  grades,  differing  both  as  to  length  of  time  and  attainments. 
Those  issued  for  one  year  may  represent  two  grades,  marked  by  qualifi- 
cation alone.     The  township  school  fund  arises  Irom  a  grant  of  land  by 


HISTORY  OF  MISSOURI.  69 

the  general  government,  consisting  of  section  sixteen  in  each  Congress- 
ional township.  The  annual  income  of  the  township  fund  is  appropriated 
to  the-,-  'ious  townships,  according  to  their  respective  proprietary  claims. 
The  support  from  the  permanent  funds  is  supplemented  by  direct  taxa- 
tion laid  upon  the  taxable  property  of  each  district.  The  greatest  limit 
of  taxation  for  the  current  expenses  is  one  per  cent.;  the  tax  permitted 
for  school  house  building  cannot  exceed  the  same  amount. 

Among  the  institutions  of  learning,  and  ranking,  perhaps,  the  first 
In  importance,  is  the  State  University,  located  at  Columbia,  Boone 
County.  When  the  state  was  admitted  into  the  Union,  Congress  granted 
to  it  one  entire  township  of  land  (46,080  acres)  for  the  support  of  a 
"Seminary  of  Learning."  The  lands  secured  for  this  purpose  are  among 
the  best  and  most  valuable  in  the  state.  These  lands  were  put  upon  the 
market  in  1832,  and  brought  $75,000,  which  amount  was  invested  in  the 
stock  of  the  old  Bank  of  the  State  of  Missouri,  where  it  remained  and 
increased  by  accumulation  to  the  sum  of  $100,000.  In  1839,  by  an  act 
of  the  General  Assmbly,  five  commissioners  were  appointed  to  select  a 
site  for  the  State  University,  the  site  to  contain  at  least  fifty  acres  of 
land  in  a  compact  form,  within  two  miles  of  the  county  seat  of  Cole, 
Cooper,  Howard,  Boone,  Callaway  or  Saline.  Bids  were  let  among  the 
counties  named,  and  the  county  of  Boone  having  subscribed  the  sum  of 
$117,921,  some  $18,000  more  than  any  other  county,  the  State  University 
was  located  in  that  county,  and  on  the  4th  of  July,  1840,  the  corner  stone 
was  laid  with  imposing  ceremonies. 

The  present  annual  income  of  the  university  is  nearly  $^|5jOOO. 
There  are  still  unsold  about  200,000  acres  of  land  from  the  grant  of 
1862.  The  donations  to  the  institutions  connected  therewith  amount  to 
nearly  $400,000.  This  university,  with  its  different  departments,  is 
opened  to  both  male  and  female,  and  both  sexes  enjoy  alike  its  rights 
and  privileges.  Among  the  professional  schools,  which  form  a  part  of 
:he  university,  are  the  Normal,  or  College  of  Instruction  in  Teaching  ; 
the  Agricultural  and  Mechanical  College  ;  the  School  of  Mines  and  Met- 
allurgy ;  the  College  of  Law  ;  the  Medical  College,  and  Department  of 
Analytical  and  Applied  Chemistry.  Other  departments  are  contem- 
plated and  will  be  added  as  necessity  requires. 

The  following  will  show  the  names  and  locations  of  the  s^'  ^ols  and 
institutions  of  the  state  as  reoorted  by  the  Commissioner  of  -education 
in  1865  : 

UNIVERSITIES  AND   COLLEGES. 

Christian  University Canton. 

St.  Vincent's  College Cape  Girardeau. 

University  of  Missouri Columbia 

Central  College Fayette. 


70  HISTORY  CF  MISSOURI. 

Westminster  College Fulton. 

Lewis  College Glasgow. 

Pritchett  School  Institute Glasgow. 

Lincoln  College Greenwood 

Hannibal  College Hannibal 

Woodland  College Independence. 

Thayer  College Kidder. 

Lagrange  College LaGrange. 

William  Jewell  College Liberty. 

Baptist  College Louisiana. 

St.  Joseph  College St.  Joseph. 

College  of  Christian  Brothers St.  Louis. 

St.  Louis  University St.  Louis. 

Washington  University St.  Louis. 

Drury  College Springfield. 

Central  Wesleyan  College Warrenton. 

FOR  SUPERIOR  INSTRUCTION  OF  WOMEN. 

Young  Ladies'  Institute St.  Joseph. 

Christian  College Columbia. 

Stephens'  College Columbia. 

Howard  College Fayette. 

Independence  Female  College Independence. 

Central  Female  College Lexington, 

Clay  Seminary Liberty. 

Ingleside  Female  College Palmyra. 

Linden  Wood  College  for  Young  Ladies St.  Charles. 

Mary  Institute  (Washington  University) St.  Louis. 

St.  Louis  Seminary St.  Louis. 

Ursuline  Academy St.  Louis. 

Convent  of  the  Sacred  Heart St.  Joseph. 

FOR  SECONDARY   INSTRUCTION. 

Arcadia  College Arcadia. 

St.  Vincent's  Academy Cape  Girardeau. 

Chillicothe  Academy Chillicothe. 

Grand  River  College Edinburgh. 

Marionville  College  Institute Marionville. 

Palmyra  Seminary Palmyra. 

St.  Paul's  College Palmyra. 

Van  Rensselaer  Academy Rensselaer. 

Shelby  High  School Shelbyville. 

Stewartsville  Male  and  Female  Seminary Stewartsville. 

SCHOOLS  OF  SCIENCE. 

Mo.  Agricultural  and  Mechanical  College  (University  of  Mo.)  .Columbia. 

Schools  of  Mines  and  Metallurgy  (University  of  Missouri) Rolla. 

Polytechnic  Institute  (Washington  University) St.  Louis. 


HISTORY  OF   MISSOURI.  7I 

SCHOOLS  OF  THEOLOGY. 

St.  Vincent's  College  (Theological  Department) Cape  Girardeau. 

Westminster  College  (Theological  School) Fulton. 

Vardeman  School  of  Theology  (William  Jewell  College) Liberty. 

Concordia  College St.  Louis. 

SCHOOLS   OF   LAW. 

Law  School  of  the  University  of  Missouri Columbia. 

Law  School  of  the  Washington  University St.  Louis. 

SCHOOLS   OF    MEDICINE. 

Medical  College,  University  of  Missouri Columbia. 

Kansas  City  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons Kansas  City. 

St.  Joseph  Medical  College St.  Joseph. 

Missouri  Medical  College St.  Louis, 

Northwestern  Medical  College St.  Joseph. 

St.  Louis  Medical  College St.  Louis. 

Homeopathic  Medical  College  of  Missouri St.  Louis. 

Mo.  School  of  Midwifery  and  Diseases  of  Women  and  Children .  St.  Louis. 

Missouri  Central  College St.  Louis. 

St.  Louis  College  of  Pharmacy St.  Louis. 

LARGEST  PUBLIC  LIBRARIES. 

NAME.  LOCATION.       VOLUMES. 

St.  Vincent's  College Cape  Girardeau.  . . .    5'500 

Southeast  Missouri  State  Normal  Scool Cape  Girardeau. . . .    1,225 

University  of  Missouri Columbia 10,000 

Athenian  Society Columbia i ,200 

Union  Literary  Society Columbia  ,  -. i ,200 

Law  College Columbia i  ,000 

Westminster  College Fulton 5,000 

Lewis  College Glasgow 3,000 

Mercantile  Library Hannibal 2,219 

Library  Association Independence 1,100 

Fruitland  Normal  Institute Jackson 1,000 

State  Library Jefferson  City 13,000 

Fetterman's  Circulating  Library   Kansas  City 1,300 

Law  Library Kansas  City 3,000 

Whittemore's  Circulating  Library .Kansas  City 1,000 

North  Missouri  State  Normal  School Kirksville 1,050 

William  Jewell  College Liberty 4,000 

St.  Paul's  College Palmyra 2,000 

Missouri  Schools  of  Mines  and  Metallurgy ....  Rolla 2,478 

St.  Charles  Catholic  Library St.  Charles 1,716 

Carl  Fuelling's  Library St.  Joseph 6,000 

Law  Library St.  Joseph .  . : 2,000 

Public  School  Library St.  Joseph 2,500 


^2  HISTORY  OF  MlSSUUKl. 

Woolworth  &  Colt's  Circulating  Library St.  Joseph 4,000 

Academy  of  Science St.  Louis 2,744 

Academy  of  Visitation St.  Louis 4,000 

College  of  the  Christian  Brothers St.  Louis 22,000 

Deutsche  Institute St.  Louis i  ,000 

German  Evang.  Lutheran,  Concordia  College .  St.  Louis 4,800 

Law  Library  Association   St.  Louis 8,000 

Missouri  Medical  College St.  Louis 1,000 

Mrs.  Cuthbert's  Seminary  (Young  Ladies) ....  St.  Louis i  ,500 

Odd  Fellows'  Library St.  Louis 4,000 

Public  School  Library St.  Louis 40.097 

St.  Louis  Medical  College St.  Louis 1,100 

St.  Louis  Mercantile  Library St.  Louis 45,000 

St.  Louis  Seminary St.  Louis 2,000 

St.  Louis  Turn  Verein  , St.  Louis 2,000 

St.  Louis  University St.  Louis 17,000 

St.  Louis  University  Libraries St.  Louis 8,000 

Ursuline  Academy St.  Louis 2,000 

Washington  University St.  Louis 4,500 

St.  Louis  Law  School St.  Louis 3,000 

Young  Men's  Sodality St.  Louis 1.327 

Library  Association Sedalia 1,500 

Public  School  Library Sedalia i ,01 5 

Drury  College Springfield 2,000 

IN    1880. 

Newspapers  and  periodicals 481 

CHARITIES. 

State  Asylum  for  Deaf  and  Dumb Fulton. 

St.  Bridget's  Institution  for  Deaf  and  Dumb St.  Louis. 

Institurion  for  the  Education  of  the  Blind St.  Louis. 

State  Asylum  for  Insane Fulton. 

State  Asylum  for  Insane St.  Joseph. 

NORMAL  SCHOOLS. 

Normal  Institute Bolivar. 

Southeast  Missouri  State  Normal  School Cape  Girardeau. 

Normal  School  (University  of  Missouri) Columbia. 

Fruitland  Normal  Institute Jackson. 

Lincoln  Institute  (for  colored) Jefferson  City. 

City  Normal  School St.  Louis. 

Missouri  State  Normal  School Warrensburg. 

State  Normal  School Oregon. 

IN    1 87 8. 

Estimated  value  of  school  p:opcrty $1,321,399 

Total  receipts  for  public  schools 4,207,617 

Total  expenditures 2,406,139 


HISTORY   OF   MISSOURI.  73 

NUMBER   OF    TEACHERS. 

Male  teachers,      6,239  ;  average  monthly  pay $36.36 

Female  teachers,  5,060 ;  average  monthly  pay 21 .09 

NEWSPAPERS  AND    PERIODICALS. 

The  fact  that  Missouri  supports  and  maintains  four  hundred  and 
seventy-one  newspapers  and  periodicals  shows  that  her  inhabitants  are 
not  only  a  reading  and  reflecting  people,  but  that  they  appreciate  "The 
Press,"  and  its  wonderful  influence  as  an  educator.  The  poet  has  well 
said  : 

But  mightiest  of  the  mighty  means. 
On  which  the  arm  of  progress  leans, 
Man's  noblest  mission  to  advance, 
His  woes  assuage,  his  weal  enhance. 
His  rights  enforce,  his  wrongs  redress— 
Mightiest  of  mighty  is  the  Press. 


CHAPTER  XII. 
RELIGIOUS  DENOMINATIONS. 

BAPTIST  CHURCH— ITS  HISTORY-CONGREGATIONAL-WHEN  FOUNDED-ITS  HISTORY- 
CHRISTIAN  CHURCH— ITS  HISTORY-CUMBERLAND  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH— ITS 
HISTORY  — METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  —  ITS  HISTORY —PRESBYTERIAN 
CHURCH— ITS  HISTORY— PROTESTANT  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH— ITS  HISTORY— UNITED 
PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH  —  ITS  HISTORY-UNITARIAN  CHURCH-ITS  HISTORY- 
ROMAN  CATHOLIC  CHURCH— ITS  HISTORY. 

The  first  representatives  of  religious  thought  and  training  who  pene- 
trated the  Missouri  and  Mississippi  Valleys  were  Pere  Marquette,  La  Salle 
and  others  of  Catholic  persuasion,  who  performed  missionary  labor  among 
the  Indians.  A  century  afterward  came  the  Protestants.  At  that  early 
period 

••A  thurch  in  every  grove  that  spread 
Its  living  roof  above  their  heads," 

constituted  for  a  time,  their  only  house  of  worship,  and  yet  to  them 

*'  No  temple  built  with  hands  could  vie 
In  glory  with  its  majesty." 

In  the  course  of  time  the  seeds  of  Protestantism  were  scattered  along 
the  shores  of  the  two  great  rivers  which  form  the  eastern  and  western 
boundaries  ot  the  state,  and  still  a  little  later  they  were  sown  upon  hef 
hillsides  and  broad  prairies,  where  they  have  since  bloomed  and  bios* 
somed  as  the  rose. 


74  HISTORY  OF  MISSOURI. 

BAPTIST   CHURCH. 

The  earliest  anti-Catholic  religious  denomination  of  which  there  is 
any  record,  was  organized  in  Cape  Girardeau  County  in  1806,  through 
the  efforts  of  Rev.  David  Green,  a  Baptist,  and  a  native  of  Virginia.  In 
18 16,  the  first  association  of  Missouri  Baptists  was  formed,  which  was 
composed  of  seven  churches,  all  of  which  were  located  in  the  southeast- 
ern part  of  the  state.  In  18 17,  a  second  association  of  churches  was 
formed,  called  the  Missouri  Association,  the  name  being  afterwards 
changed  to  St.  Louis  Association.  In  1834,  a  general  convention  of  all 
the  churches  ol  this  denomination  was  held  in  Howard  County,  for  the 
purpose  of  effecting  a  central  organization,  at  which  time  was  commenced 
what  is  now  known  as  the  "  General  Association  of  Missouri  Baptists." 

To  this  body  is  committed  the  state  mission  work,  denominational 
education,  foreign  missions  and  the  circulation  of  religious  literature. 
The  Baptist  Church  has  under  its  control  a  number  of  schools  and  col- 
leges, the  most  important  of  which  is  William  Jewell  College,  located  at 
Liberty,  Clay  County.  As  shown  by  the  annual  report  for  1875,  there 
were  in  Missouri  at  that  date,  sixty-one  associations,  one  thousand  four 
hundred  churches,  eight  hundred  and  twenty-four  ministers  and  eighty- 
nine  thousand  six  hundred  and  fifty  church  members. 

CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH. 

The  Congregationalists  inaugurated  their  missionary  labors  in  the 
state  in  18 14.  Rev.  Samuel  J.  Mills,  of  Torringford,  Connecticut,  and 
Rev.  Daniel  Smith,  of  Bennington,  Vermont,  were  sent  west  by  the  Mas- 
sachusetts Congregational  Home  Missionary  Society  during  that  year 
and  in  November,  18 14,  they  preached  the  first  regular  Protestant  ser- 
mons in  St.  Louis.  Rev.  Salmon  Giddings,  sent  out  under  the  auspices 
of  the  Connecticut  Congre'gational  Missionary  Society,  organized  the 
first  Protestant  Church  in  the  city,  consisting  of  ten  members,  consti- 
tuted Presbyterian.  The  churches  organized  by  Mr.  Giddings  were  all 
Presbyterian  in  their  order. 

No  exclusively  Congregational  Church  was  founded  until  1852,  when 
the  First  Trinitarian  Congregational  Church  of  St.  Louis  was  organized. 
The  next  church  of  this  denomination  was  organized  at  Hannibal  in 
1859.  Then  followed  a  Welsh  church,  in  New  Cambria,  in  1864,  and 
after  the  close  of  the  war  fifteen  churches  of  the  same  order  were  formed 
in  different  parts  of  the  state.  In  1866,  Pilgrim  Church,  St.  Louis,  was 
organized.  The  General  Conference  of  Churches  of  Missouri  was  formed 
in  1865,  which  was  changed  in  1868,  to  General  Association.  In  1866, 
Hannibal,  Kidder  and  St.  Louis  District  Associations  were  formed,  and 
following  these  were  the  Kansas  City  and  Springfield  District  Associa- 


HISTORY  OF   MISSOURI.  75 

tions.  This  denomination  in  1875  had  70  churches,  41  ministers,  3,363 
church  members,  and  had  also  several  schools  and  colleges  and  one 
monthly  newspaper. 

CHRISTIAN  CHURCH. 

The  earliest  churches  of  this  denomination  were  organized  in  Cal- 
laway, Boone  and  Howard  Counties,  some  time  previous  to  1829.  The 
first  church  was  formed  in  St.  Louis  in  1836,  by  Elder  R.  B.  Fife.  The 
first  state  Sunday  School  convention  of  the  Christian  Church  was  held 
in  Mexico,  in  1876.  Besides  a  number  of  private  institutions  this 
denomination  has  three  state  institutions,  all  of  which  have  an  able  corps 
of  professors,  and  have  a  good  attendance  of  pupils.  It  has  one  religious 
paper,  published  in  St.  Louis,  The  Christian,  which  is  a  weekly  publica- 
tion and  well  patronized.  The  membership  of  this  church  now  numbers 
nearly  one  hundred  thousand  in  the  state  and  is  increasing  rapidly.  It 
has  more  than  five  hundred  organized  churches,  the  greater  portion  of 
which  are  north  of  the  Missouri  River. 

CUMBERLAND   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

In  the  spring  of  1820,  the  first  Presbytery  of  this  denomination  west 
of  the  Mississippi,  was  organized  in  Pike  County.  This  Presbytery 
included  all  the  territory  of  Missouri,  Western  Illinois  and  Arkansas, 
and  numbered  only  four  ministers,  two  of  whom  resided  at  the  time  in 
Missouri.  There  are  now  in  the  state  twelve  Presbyteries,  three  Synods, 
nearly  three  hundred  ministers  and  over  twenty  thousand  members. 
The  Board  of  Missions  is  located  at  St.  Louis.  They  have  a  number  of 
High  Schools  and  two  monthly  papers  published  at  St.  Louis 

METHODIST   EPISCOPAL  CHURCH; 

In  1806,  Rev.  John  Travis,  a  young  Methodist  minister,  was  sent  out 
to  the  Western  Conference,  which  then  embraced  the  Mississippi  Valley, 
from  Green  County,  Tennessee.  During  that  year  Mr,  Travis  organized 
a  number  of  small  churches.  At  the  close  of  his  conference  year  he 
reported  the  result  of  his  labors  to  the  Western  Conference,  which  was 
held  at  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  in  1807,  and  showed  an  aggregate  of  one  hun- 
dred and  six  members  and  two  circuits,  one  called  Missouri  and  the 
other  Meramec.  In  1808,  two  circuits  had  been  formed,  and  at  each  suc- 
ceeding year  the  number  of  circuits  and  members  constantly  increased, 
until  18 12,  when  what  was  called  the  Western  Conference  was  divided 
into  the  Ohio  and  Tennessee  Conferences,  Missouri  falling  into  the  Ten- 
nessee Conference.  In  18 16,  there  was  another  division  when  the  Mis- 
souri Annual  Conference  was  formed.     In  18 10,  there  were  four  traveling 


76  HISTORY  OF  MISSOURI. 

preachers,  and  in  1820,  fifteen  traveling  preachers,  with  over  two  thousand 
members.  In  1836,  the  territory  of  the  Missouri  Conference  was  again 
divided  when  the  Missouri  Conference  included  only  the  state.  In  1840, 
there  were  seventy-two  traveling  preachers,  177  local  ministers  and  13,992 
church  members.  Between  1840  and  1850,  the  church  was  divided  by  the 
organization  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  South.  In  1850,  the 
membership  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  over  25,000,  and 
during  the  succeeding  ten  years  the  church  prospered  rapidly.  In  1875, 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  reported  274  church  edifices  and  34,156 
members  ;  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  South  reported  443  church 
edifices  and  49,588  members.  This  denomination  has  under  its  control 
several  schools  and  colleges  and  two  weekly  newspapers. 

PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 

The  Presbyterian  church  dates  the  beginning  of  their  missionary 
efforts  in  the  state  as  far  back  as  18 14,  but  the  first  Presbyterian  Church 
was  not  organized  until  1816,  at  Bellevue  settlement,  eight  miles  from 
St.  Louis.  The  next  churches  were  formed  in  1816  and  1817,  at  Bon- 
homme,  Pike  County.  The  first  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  in 
St.  Louis  in  18 17,  by  Rev.  Sa.mon  Gidding.  The  first  Presbytery  was 
organized  in  18 17,  by  the  Synod  of  Tennessee,  with  four  ministers  and 
four  churches.  The  first  Presbyterian  house  of  worship  (which  was  the 
first  Protestant)  was  commenced  in  1819,  and  completed  in  1826.  In 
1820,  a  mission  was  formed  among  the  Osage  Indians.  In  1831,  the 
Presbytery  was  divided  into  three:  Missouri,  St.  Louis  and  St.  Charles. 
These  were  erected  with  a  synod,  comprising  eighteen  ministers  and 
twenty-three  churches. 

The  church  was  divided  in  1838,  throughout  the  United  States.  In 
i860,  the  rolls  of  the  Old  and  New  School  Synods  together  showed  109 
ministers  and  146  churches.  In  1866,  the  Old  School  Synod  was  divided 
on  political  questions  springing  out  of  the  war — a  part  forming  the  Old 
School  or  Independent  Synod  of  Missouri,  who  are  connected  with  the 
General  Assembly  South.  In  1870,  the  Old  and  New  School  Presbyte- 
rians united,  since  which  time  this  Synod  has  steadily  increased  until  it 
now  numbers  more  than  12,000  members,  with  more  than  220  churches 
and  150  ministers. 

This  Synod  is  composed  of  six  Presbyteries,  and  has  under  its  con- 
trol one  or  two  institutions  of  learning  and  one  or  two  newspapers. 
That  part  of  the  original  Synod  which  withdrew  from  the  General 
Assembly  remained  an  independent  body  until  1874,  when  it  united  with 
the  Southern  Presbyterian  Church.  The  Synod  in  1875,  numbered  80 
ministers,  140  churches  and  9,000  members.  It  has  under  its  control 
everal  male  and  female  institutions  of  a  high  order.  The  St.  Louis 
Vesbyterian,  a  weekly  paper,  is  the  recognized  organ  of  the  Synod. 


HISTORY  OF   MISSOURI.  "JJ 

PROTESTANT  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH. 

The  missionary  enterprises  of  this  church  began  in  the  state  in 
1818,  when  a  parish  was  organized  in  the  city  of  St.  Louis.  In  1828,  an 
agent  of  the  Domestic  and  Foreign  Missionary  Society  visited  the  city, 
who  reported  the  condition  of  things  so  favorably  that  Rev.  Thomas 
Horrell  was  sent  out  as  a  missionary,  and  in  1825,  he  began  his  labors  in 
St.  Louis.  A  church  edifice  was  completed  in  1830.  In  1S36,  there  were 
five  clergymen  of  this  denomination  in  Missouri,  who  had  organized 
congregations  in  Boonville,  Fayette,  St.  Charles,  Hannibal  and  other 
places.  In  1840,  the  clergy  and  laity  met  in  convention,  a  diocese  was 
formed,  a  constitution  and  canons  adopted,  and  in  1844,  a  Bishop  was 
chosen,  he  being  the  Rev.  Cicero  S.  Hawks. 

Through  the  efforts  of  Bishop  Kemper,  Kemper  College  was  founded 
near  St.  Louis,  but  was  afterward  given  up  on  account  of  pecuniary 
troubles.  In  1847,  the  Clark  Mission  began,  and  in  1849,  the  Orphans' 
Home,  a  charitable  institution,  was  founded.  In  1865,  St.  Luke's  Hos- 
pital was  established.  In  1875,  there  were  in  the  city  of  St.  Louis,  twelve 
parishes  and  missions  and  twelve  clergymen.  This  denomination  has 
several  schools  and  colleges  and  one  newspaper. 

UNITED   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

This  denomination  is  made  up  of  the  members  of  the  Associate  and 
Associate  Reformed  Churches  of  the  Northern  States,  which  two  bodies 
united  in  1858,  taking  the  name  of  United  Presbyterian  Church  of  North 
America.  Its  members  were  generally  bitterly  opposed  to  the  institu- 
tion of  slavery.  The  first  congregation  was  organized  at  Warrensburg, 
Johnson  County,  in  1867.  It  rapidly  increased  in  numbers  and  had,  in 
1875,  ten  ministers  and  five  hundred  members. 
« 

UNITARIAN   CHURCH. 

This  church  was  formed  in  1834,  by  Rev.  W.  G.  Eliot,  in  St.  Louis^, 
The  churches  are  few  in  number  throughout  the  state,  the  membership 
being  probably  less  than  three  hundred,  all  told.  It  has  a  mission  house 
and  free  school,  for  poor  children,  supported  by  donations. 

ROMAN  CATHOLIC  CHURCH. 

The  earliest  written  record  of  the  Catholic  Church  in  Missouri  shows 
that  Father  Watrin  performed  ministerial  services  in  St.  Genevieve  in 
1760,  and  in  St.  Louis  in  1766.  In  1770,  Father  Meurin  erected  a  small 
log  church  in  St.  Louis.  In  18 18,  there  were  in  the  state  four  chapels, 
and  for  Upper  Louisiana,  seven  priests.     A  college  and  seminary  were 


78  HISTORY  OF   MISSOURI. 

Opened  in  Perry  County  about  this  period  for  the  education  of  the  young, 
being  the  first  college  west  of  the  Mississippi  River.  In  1824,  a  college 
was  opened  in  St.  Louis,  which  is  now  known  as  the  St.  Louis  Univer- 
sity. In  1826,  Father  Rosatti  was  appointed  Bishop  of  St.  Louis,  and, 
through  his  instrumentality,  the  Sisters  of  Charity,  Sisters  of  St.  Joseph 
and  of  the  Visitation  were  founded,  besides  other  benevolent  and  char- 
itable institutions.  In  1834,  he  completed  the  present  Cathedral  Church. 
Churches  were  built  in  different  portions  of  the  state.  In  1847,  St.  Louis 
was  created  an  arch-diocese,  with  Bishop  Kendrick,  arch-bishop. 

In  Kansas  City  there  are  five  parish  churches,  a  hospital,  a  convent 
and  several  parish  schools.  In  1868,  the  northwestern  portion  of  the 
state  was  erected  into  a  separate  diocese,  with  its  seat  at  St.  Joseph,  and 
Right  Reverend  John  J.  Hogan  appointed  bishop.  There  were,  in  1875, 
in  the  city  of  St.  Louis,  34  churches,  27  schools,  5  hospitals,  3  colleges, 
7  orphan  asylums  and  3  female  protectorates.  There  were  also  105 
priests,  7  male  and  13  female  orders,  and  20  conferences  of  St.  Vincent 
de  Paul,  numbering  1,100  members.  In  the  diocese,  outside  of  St.  Louis, 
there  is  a  college,  a  male  protectorate,  9  convents,  about  120  priests,  150 
churches  and  30  stations.  In  the  diocese  of  St.  Joseph  there  were,  in 
1875,  21  priests,  29  churches,  24  stations,  l  college,  i  monastery,  5  con- 
vents and  14  parish  schools. 

THEOLOGICAL    SCHOOLS. 

Instruction  preparatory  to  ministerial  work  is  given  in  connection 
with  collegiate  study,  or  in  special  theological  courses,  at : 

Central  College  (M.  E.  Church) Fayette. 

Central  Wesleyan  College  (M.  E.  Church) Warrenton. 

Christian  University  (Christian) Canton. 

Concordia  College  Seminary  (Evangelical  Lutheran) St.  Louis. 

Lewis  College  (M.  E.  Church) .^ Glasgow. 

St.  Vincent's  College  (Roman  Catholic) Cape  Girardeau. 

Vardeman  School  of  Theology  (Baptist) Liberty. 

The  last  is  connected  with  William  Jewell  College. 


History  of  Henry  County, 


'5^.0 §»    {<— 


CHAPTER  1. 

THE  VALLEYS  OF  THE  OSAGE  AND  GRAND  RIVERS. 


GEOLOGICAL  FORMATION— TWO  ANCIENT  MISSES— HOME  OF  THE  INDIANS— THE  PIONEER 
—SOIL— FROM  1820  TO  1830— LILLARD— LAFAYETTE  COUNTY— ITS  SETTLEMENT  ANI> 
COUNTY  SITE— DAVIS  AND  TEBO  TOWNSHIPS— JACKSON  AND  CLAY— THE  FIRST 
CABIN-1331-THE  FIRST  PLOWING-1832-BORN  THEN. 

"  Lift  we  the  twilight  curtains  of  the  past 

And  turning  from  familiar  sights  and  sounds, 

Sad  and  full  of  reverence  let  us  cast 

A  glance  upon  Tradition's  shadowy  ground, 

Led  by  the  few  pale  lights,  which,  glimmering  round 

That  dim,  strange  land  of  Eld,  seen  dying  fast." 

GEOLOGICAL   FORMATION. 

There  is,  perhaps,  no  portion  of  the  temperate  zone  showing  a  more 
desirable  climate  than  that  which  is  found  within  the  limits  of  Missouri, 
or  one  wherein  the  demands  of  an  advanced  and  progressive  civilization 
are  so  well  met.  While  all  portions  of  the  state  have  their  separate 
local  advantages,  in  such  comparison  Henry  and  St.  Clair  Counties  and 
Southwestern  Missouri  hold  their  full  share.  The  geology  of  the  state 
shows  that  the  carboniferous  period  gave  to  Missouri  much  of  that  magic 
element  of  which  the  soil  is  composed,  and  at  the  age  of  man,  or  the 
quartenary  age,  developed  her  most  valuable  resources.  The  coal  of  the 
former  period,  and  the  soil,  sand,  marl,  peat,  clay  and  gravel  of  the  lat- 
ter formed  the  groundwork  of  the  state  of  Missouri  for  the  habitation  of 
man.  Much  might  be  given  from  the  geological  history  of  the  state  that 
would  interest  the  reader,  but  in  this  work  would  be  of  little  practical 
value. 


8o  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COTNTY. 

When  this  continent  rose  from  its  waste  of  waters  it  left  its  rugged 
surface  to  be  worn  by  the  elements  for  ages  before  it  became  habitable 
for  man;  but  with  that  we  have  little  to  do. 

The  two  leading  factors  in  the  problem  of  municipal  growth  are, 
location  and  character  of  first  settlers.  The  location  of  Henry  and  St. 
Clair  Counties  was  most  favorable,  and  what  is  true  of  these  two  coun- 
ties is  true  of  the  whole  state.  More  than  half  of  the  state  is  surrounded 
by  two  of  the  most  renowned  water  courses  of  the  world,  and  one  will 
readily  see  that  it  possesses  advantages  enjoyed  by  no  other  state  in 
the  Union.  These  conditions,  so  favorable  to  the  past  and  future  devel- 
opment of  the  country,  are  beautifully  illustrated  by  an  ingenious  little 
poem,  entitled  "  Two  Ancient  Misses,"  written  by  a  gentleman  who  has 
won  a  widespread  reputation  at  the  bar.  It  is  here  quoted,  as  it  well 
illustrates  this  point,  and  is  of  sufficient  merit  to  be  preserved  : 

TWO   ANCIENT   MISSES. 


I  know  two  ancient  misses 

Who  ever  onward  go, 
From  a  cold  and  rigid  northern  clime, 
Through  a  land  of  wheat,  and  corn,  and  wine. 
To  the  southern  sea,  where  the  fig  and  the  lime, 

And  the  golden  orange  grow. 

In  graceful  curves  they  wind  about, 
Upon  their  long  and  lonely  route, 

Among  the  beauteous  hills; 
They  never  cease  their  onward  step, 
Though  day  and  night  they're  drippling  wet. 
And  oft  with  sleet  and  snow  beset, 

And  sometimes  with  the  chills. 


The  one  is  a  romping,  dark  brunette. 
As  fickle  and  gay  as  any  coquette  ; 
She  glides  along  by  the  western  plains, 
And  changes  her  bed  each  time  it  rains  : 
Witching  as  any  dark-eyed  houri, 
This  romping  wild  brunette,  Missouri. 

The  other  is  placid,  mild  and  fair. 
With  a  gentle,  sylph-like,  quiet  air, 
And  voice  as  sweet  as  soft  guitar, 
She  moves  along  the  \»>es  and  parks, 
Where  naiads  play  ^olian  harps — 
Nor  ever  go  by  fits  and  starts — 
No  fickle  coquette  of  the  city, 
But  gentle,  constant  Mississippi. 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  8l 

I  love  the  wild  and  dark  brunette, 
Beaause  she  is  a  gay  coquette  ; 
Her,  too,  I  love  of  quiet  air, 
Because  she's  gentle,  true  and  fair  ; 
Land  of  my  birth !  the  east  and  west 
Embraced  by  these  is  doubly  blest — 
'Tis  hard  to  tell  which  I  love  best. 

The  compiler  of  a  county  history  has  somewhat  of  a  task  to  per- 
form, and  though  some  of  the  facts  which  are  recorded  may  seem  at  first 
commonplace  when  compared  with  national  events,  yet  the  narration  of 
the  peaceful  events  attending  the  conquests  of  industry  and  the  work  of 
progress  as 

"  Westward  the  course  of  the  empire  takes  its  way," 

While  they  may  seem  tame,  uninteresting  and  unexciting  to  those  who 
have  indulged  in  the  reading  of  the  more  exciting  works  of  early  con- 
quests, of  battles  and  sieges,  are  still  not  devoid  of  all  interest.  The 
faithful  gathering  and  truthful  narration  of  facts  bearing  upon  the  early 
settlement  of  this  county,  and  the  dangers  and  privations  passed  through 
by  the  early  pioneers  engaged  in  advancing  the  standard  of  civilization 
is  a  work  of  no  small  magnitude,  and  as  such  challenges  the  admiration 
and  arouses  the  sympathy  of  the  reader,  though  it  has  nothing  to  do 
with  feats  of  arms  or  of  conquests. 

HOME   OF   THE   INDIANS. 

Missouri  in  her  magnificent  proportions  and  unlimited  productive 
wealth,  her  mild  and  salubrious  climate,  and  that  part  of  her  municipal 
corporation  bounded  by  the  lines  forming  Henry  and  St.  Clair  Counties 
is  what  for  the  present  has  to  be  recorded. 

The  present  boundary  of  Henry  County  was  first  made  the  home  of 
the  paleface  in  the  year  1830.  That  year  the  first  white  man  gave  to 
civilization  a  habitation  and  a  name  within  its  border.  At  that  time  it 
was  a  part  of  Lafayette,  then  called  "  Lillard  "  County,  but  it  was  still 
the  home  of  the  red  men — a  home  with  which  they  were  loth  to  part, 
and  which  for  a  few  years  after  they  continued  to  visit  as  a  hunting 
ground.  God  had  given  them  the  beautiful  valleys  of  the  Osage  and 
the  Grand  River  as  their  home.  It  was  a  migratory  field  for  the  restless 
elk;  the  bear  roamed  its  wooded  hills;  the  deer  and  the  wild  turkey  made 
it  their  home;  the  valleys,  the  upland  and  the  rich  and  rolling  prairies 
were  filled  with  smaller  game;  fish  sported  in  the  cool  and  pellucid  waters 
of  h'er  rivers  and  creeks,  and  in  shadowy  nooks,  near  bubbling  springs 
and  crystal  fountains  the  aborigines  built  their  wigwams.  It  was  a 
paradise  for  the  hunter,  and  the  Indians  had  roamed  lord  of  all.  But 
when  the  white  man  came  the   red  man  had   been  dispossessed  of  his 

6 


82  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

domain,  and  naught  but  friendly  greetings  passed  between  the  whites 
and  the  Indians  when  this  county  assumed  a  place  upon  the  pages  of 
history.  Then  the  valleys  of  the  Osage  and  of  Grand  River,  with  their 
wealth  of  forest  and  streams,  with  their  high  and  rolling  prairies,  their 
bold  bluffs  and  nestling  valleys,  became  the  property  of  the  pale  faces, 
and  that  which  had  stood  for  centuries  in  its  wild  and  rugged  grandeur 
was,  ere  long,  to  assume  a  prominent  place  in  the  future  of  our  state. 


THE    PIONEER. 

The  early  settlers  are  entitled  to  a  high  and  honored  place  in  th  ? 
pages  of  history.  Many,  many  days  of  toil  have  been  devoted  to  gath- 
ering the  facts  which  shall  embalm  the  memory  of  this  band  of  civil 
heroes  who  gave  to  Henry  County  its  first  step  in  the  progress  of  civili- 
zation, and  who,  in  all  the  phases  of  life,  have  proven  themselves  not 
only  true  sons  of  toil,  but  noble  men  and  respected  citizens.  If  the 
time  spent  in  trying  to  secure  facts  and  reliable  information  necessary 
to  make  this  history  complete  has  been  one  of  incessant  toil  to  the 
author,  it  has  also  been  no  less  a  work  of  love  on  his  part,  for  in  the 
record  of  the  past,  and  when  the  light  of  the  coming  dawn  first  shed 
its  rays  upon  this  section  of  our  common  country,  and  in  the  early 
reminiscence  which  have  been  secured,  he  has  found  much  which  brought 
to  mind  many  bright  and  glowing  incidents  of  early  days,  and  of  those 
who  taught  him  what  life  was  and  is,  and  what  might  be  in  the  vista  of 
the  far  off  future,  but  who  have  now  gone  to  the  home  beyond. 

Memory  is  oft  times  treacherous,  and  a  confusion  of  dates  has  not 
been  the  least  of  the  troubles  which  has  fallen  in  the  pathway  of  the 
author.  Reliable  dates  of  the  early  settlement  of  the  county  are  all- 
important  to  those  who  take  an  interest  in  the  progress  of  events,  and 
who  desire,  of  its  early  days,  a  correct  and  succinct  history. 

Many  of  the  old  settlers  have  removed  to  other  states  and  climes  ; 
very  many  have  crossed  the  "  dark  river  "  to  the  impenetrable  and  mys- 
terious beyond,  while  those  who  are  left  are  weak  in  body,  with  memory 
sadly  at  fault  on  many  facts  of  deep  interest  ;  nevertheless  they  have 
b  en  willing,  so  far  as  health  and  memory  would  permit,  to  impart  all 
the  incidents  and  trials  of  early  years,  and  with  a  spirit  of  cheerfulness 
that  has  made  it  a  pleasure  to  record  them.  They  are  to-day,  as  in 
olden  times,  the  same  self-sacrificing  people.  It  is  well  that  in  the  sor- 
did, grasping  avariciousness  which  characterizes  so  many  of  the  present 
generation,  that  they  should  have  yet  within  them,  by  consanguinity, 
the  leaven  which  made  the  grand  old  pioneer  stand  out  so  prominently 
in  unselfish  and  heroic  sacrifices  as  "  God's  noblest  work." 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY.  83 

SURFACE. 

The  land  in  the  county,  away  from  the  streams,  is  undulating  prairie. 
Rising  to  the  higher  points  of  ground,  the  eye  commands  views  of  exqui- 
site loveliness,  embracing  the  silvery  course  of  the  stream,  the  waving 
foliage  of  trees,  the  changing  outlines  of  gentle  elevations,  and  the  undu- 
lating surface  of  flower-decked  prairie,  with  cultivated  farms,  farm  houses, 
including  the  log-hut  of  the  first  settler  and  the  brick  or  painted  houses 
and  barns  of  the  more  advanced  cultivator  of  the  soil. 

Along  the  water  courses  there  are  hills  and  gentle  slopes,  as  well  as 
bottom  lands.  On  Grand  River  the  table  lands  are  elevated  in  some 
localities  from  thirty  to  fifty  feet  above  the  water,  and  the  country  is 
somewhat  hilly. 

The  county  has  less  land  unfitted  for  cultivation  than  many  of  its 
neighbors,  while  there  is  not  a  section  of  country  of  equal  extent  in  the 
state  that  possesses  a  better  distributed  drainage  system  than  Henry 
County. 

1830 — 1831. 

It  was  in  the  fall  of  1830  that  the  first  white  settlers  trod  the  soil  of 
Henry  County.  Hunters  and  trappers  had  plied  their  vocations  through 
this,  Osage  and  Grand  River  country  as  early  as  1826,  but  no  log  cabin 
reared  its  front  until  the  fall  of  the  year  above  mentioned.  It  was  a  grand 
country  for  game.  Upon  the  banks  of  the  wooded  creek  was  found  wild 
honey,  and  venturesome  spirits  passed  to  and  fro  ere  the  Indians  had 
ceased  to  be  jealous  of  the  encroachments  of  the  white  man.  The 
Osages  and  Shawnee  Indians  occupied  all  this  country  as  far  east  and 
along  the  river  to  the  headwaters  of  Buffalo  and  Gravois  Creeks,  and  the 
old  missionary  trail,  leading  from  Jefferson  City  to  Harmony  Mission, 
on  the  Osage  River,  passed  through  this  county,  which  was  a  recognized 
line  of  travel  before  Henry  County  was  organized.  Upon  these  high, 
rolling  and  beautiful  prairies,  skirted  by  woodland,  many  Indian  battles 
had  been  fought,  and  the  wild  war-whoop  of  the  savages  had  rang  out 
with  shouts  of  defiance,  mingled  with  the  whiz  of  the  arrow  or  the  dull 
thud  of  the  tomahawk  in  doing  its  murderous  work.  It  was  not  to  be, 
however,  that  the  bounteous  gifts  nature  had  lavished  upoa  this  vast 
domain,  in  the  richness  of  its  soil  and  the  wealth  of  minerals  hidden  in 
its  bosom  should  remain  forever  undeveloped. 

FROM    1820   TO    1830— LILLARD,   OR   LAFA\  ETTE   COUNTY. 

When  this  part  of  Missouri  was  organized  into  a  county  it  was,  the 
greater  part,  a  dense  wilderness,  and  in  Henry  and  St.  Clair  Counties  no 
white  man,  except  an  occasional  hunter  and  trapper,  had  ever  trod  its 
soil.     The   present  Henry  County,  when  first  placed   under  municipal 


/" 


84  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

government,  was  a  part  of  Lillard  County,  whose  boundary  lines  \tere, 
on  the  north  the  Missouri  River,  on  the  east  range  line  between  ranges 
24  and  23,  south  to  the  Osage  River,  its  southern  line  the  Osage  River; 
from  the  above  range  line  on  the  east  to  the  Kansas  state  line,  following 
the  middle  of  the  channel  of  Osage  River,  and  the  west  line  the  state 
line  to  the  middle  of  the  channel  of  the  Missouri  River,  where  the  state 
line  crosses  the  river.  Thus  Lillard  County  included  the  present  coun- 
ties of  Lafayette,  Johnson,  Henry,  half  of  St.  Clair,  about  four-fifths  of 
Bates,  and  all  of  Cass  and  Jackson. 

It  was  organized  as  Lillard  County,  November  16,  1820,  and  its  first 
county  court  was  held  at  Mt.  Vernon,  on  the  Missouri  River,  about  ten 
miles  below  Lexington,  on  the  8th  day  of  December,  1820.  The  county 
judges  were  James  Lillard,  Sr.,  John  Whitsitt  and  John  Stapp.  They 
received  their  commissions  from  Governor  Alex.  McNair,  the  first  gov- 
ernor of  Missouri.  The  first  clerk,  and  he  was  fifteen  or  sixteen  years 
in  office,  was  Young  Ewing.  This  was  the  first  organization  of  Henry 
County,  the  first  time  she  was  reclaimed  from  the  wilderness.  Civiliza- 
tion and  progress  from  that  day  has  marked  her  footsteps.  In  1823  the 
county  seat  of  Lillard  was  removed  from  Mt.  Vernon  to  Lexington,  and 
that  ancient,  but  somewhat  dilapidated,  town  was  platted  the  same  year. 
The  old  county  seat  of  Henry  County,  as  it  may  be  called,  still  stands 
on  the  banks  of  the  "  Big  Muddy,"  somewhat  decayed  in  spots,  but  with 
an  eminently  respectable,  though  somewhat  seedy  appearance. 

DAVIS   AND    BLACKWATER. 

The  first  municipal  division  of  which  Henry,  or  Rives,  became  a 
part  was  called  Lexington  Township,  which  boundary  line  was  the  Osage 
River  on  the  south.  This  was  in  May,  1824.  The  first  township,  how- 
ever, to  boast  of  a  constituency,  or  settlers  as  far  south  as  this  county, 
was  Davis  Township,  and  it  was  organized  in  May,  1830.  At  the  same 
session  of  the  county  court  of  Lillard,  then  changed  to  Lafayette  County, 
was  the  township  of  Blackwater.  The  dividing  line  between  these  two 
townships  was  the  range  line  between  ranges  26  and  25,  running  south 
to  the  Osage  River.  Thus  Davis  Township  took  in  Shawnee,  Field's 
Creek,  Clinton,  Fair  View  and  all  west,  while  Blackwater  took  in  the 
seven  townships  lying  east  of  said  range  line.  As  some  of  the  officers 
of  these  townships  lived  in  Henry  County,  their  boundary  lines  are  here 
given. 

DAVIS   TOWNSHIP. 

Beginning  at  the  county  line  between  Saline  and  Lafayette  Coun- 
ties, section  corner  between  2  and  3,  township  50  of  range  24;  thence 
west  to  the  middle  of  range  26  in  township  50;  thence  south  to  the  sec- 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  85 

tion  corner  of  sections  12  and  13,  township  48;  thence  east  to  the  range 
line  between  26  and  25;  thence  south  to  the  southern  boundary  of  Lafa- 
yette County,  which  is  the  middle  of  the  main  channel  of  the  Osage 
River;  thence  down  the  middle  of  said  river  to  the  range  line  between 
23  and  24;  thence  north  to  the  place  of  beginning.  Estimated  there  were 
forty-eight  taxable  inhabitants  in  said  township. 

The  voting  precinct  was  at  the  house  of  Benj.  Johnson,  and  the 
judges  were  all  but  one  residents  of  Johnson  County,  both  in  the  years 
1830  and  183 1,  and  the  judges  of  election  in  1832.  But  Thomas  Collins, 
his  daughter  was  Sarah  Collins,  born  August  12,  1824  (afterward  became 
Mrs.  Young),  was  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  Davis  Township  in  183 1  and 
the  first  in  the  county.  Nathan  Toms  was  appointed  constable,  but  his 
residence  was  probably  Johnson  County,  as  he  can  not  be  found  among 
the  early  settlers  of  Henry. 

Blackwater  Township  took  in  a  part  of  Johnson  and  Henry  Coun- 
ties, as  well  as  that  portion  of  St.  Clair  north  of  the  Osage  River,  but  its 
dimensions  were  soon  reduced  to  the  limits  of  Johnson  County. 

TEBO   TOWNSHIP. 

This  is  the  township  more  clearly  identified  in  the  memory  of  the 
early  pioneers  of  Henry  County  than  any  other.  All,  nearly,  remember 
Tebo  Township.  There  are  but  few  who  ever  heard  of  Davis  Township. 
This,  or  Tebo  Township,  was  organized  May  21,  1832,  with  the  following 
metes  and  bounds: 

"  Ordered,  that  the  following  shall  be  the  line  and  boundaries  of 
Tebo  Township,  in  Lafayette  County,  Missouri :  Beginning  where  the 
main  Blackwater  crosses  the  eastern  line  of  this  county,  it  being  the 
line  between  ranges  23  and  24;  thence  up  the  said  creek  opposite  to 
Uriel  Murray's;  thence  due  west  to  the  line  between  Lafayette  and  Jack- 
son Counties;  thence  south  with  said  line  to  the  middle  of  Osage  River; 
thence  down  the  same  to  the  line  between  ranges  23  and  24;  thence 
north  on  said  line  to  place  of  beginning;  and  the  number  of  taxable 
inhabitants  residing  in  said  township  are  about  35  polls,  which  is  ordered 
to  be  certified." 

Tebo,  it  will  be  seen,  was  something  of  a  township.  It  really  included 
all  of  Johnson  and  Henry  Counties,  and  St.  Clair  north  of  the  Osage 
River.  In  the  meantime  Jackson  County  had  been  divided  into  two 
townships  and  Cass  one,  the  largest  settlements  being  on  Sni-E-Barre 
Creeks. 

At  the  same  term  of  court,  and  following  the  township  organization 
act,  was  the  following  order: 

"  Upon  the  petition  of  twenty  and  more  petitioners,  it  is  ordered  by 
the  court,    that  Henry  Avery  be    recommended    to   the    governor  of 


86  HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 

this  state  as  a  proper  person  to  be  appointed  a  justice  of  the  peace  for 
Tebo  Township,  Lafayette  County."  ' 

The  Rev.  Henry  Avery  received  his  commission,  being  the  first 
justice,  his  appointment  dating  from  May  21,  1832. 

Following  this,  the  judges  of  the  first  election  of  the  township  were 
appointed,  and  an  election  ordered.     They  read: 

"Ordered,  that  the  election  in  Tebo  Township  be  held  at  the  house 
of  John  Brummet. 

"  Ordered,  that  James  Warren,  Chesley  Jones  and  Francis  Nixon  be 
appointed  judges  of  the  election  in  Tebo  Township  for  two  years." 

The  two  former  named  judges  were  living  in  Henry  County  and  the 
last  in  Johnson.  John  Brummet's  house  was  in  Johnson  County,  about 
one-half  mile  north  of  the   Henry  County  line. 

James  McWilliams  was  the  first  constable  appointed  within  the 
limits  of  Henry  County.  He  lived  in  what  is  now  Windsor  Township. 
He  received  his  appointment  in  November,  1832,  and  he  handed  over  to 
the  county  court  one  dollar  for  a  fine  he  had  collected  of  Drury  Palmer. 
Drury  unfortunately  had  a  horse  who  committed  a  trespass,  and  he  was 
assessed  one  dollar  for  damages.  This  was  probably  Henry  Avery's  first 
case,  as  he  was  the  only  justice  at  that  time  in  those  "  neck  of  woods." 
Anyway,  here  is  the  record  of  Lafayette  County  Court.  They  got  the 
dollar: 

"James  McWilliams,  constable  of  Tebo  Township,  made  report  of  a 
fine  of  $1.00  collected  of  Drury  Palmer,  which  he  paid  to  Young  Ewing, 
clerk,  in  open  court,  which  is  ordered  to  be  applied  to  county  purposes." 

Mr.  Robert  L.  Avery  reports  that  Mr.  Palmer  cut  up  a  twenty-five- 
cent  deer  skin  to  make  a  rope  to  tie  that  horse.  At  all  events  there  is 
no  record  that  he  was  assessed  any  more  for  trespass. 

It  was  such  little  items  as  the  above,  showing  where  the  people's 
money  was  going  to — supporting  the  aristocrats  on  the  banks  of  the 
"Big  Muddy,"  that  convinced  them  that  they  had  better  organize  a 
county  of  their  own  and  keep  their  money  for  home  use. 

JACKSON    AND    CLAY. 

There  was  only  one  election  at  John  Brummet's  house,  and  that  was 
of  a  local  or  township  affair.  The  election  for  president  in  the  fall  of 
1832  was  held  at  the  house  of  Alfred  Askins,  on  section  18,  the  farm 
being  now  owned  by  Price  Askins.  This  was  a  memorable  election. 
Jackson  and  Clay  were  the  opposing  candidates.  Jackson  received 
twenty-four  votes  and  Henry  Clay  six  votes,  which  would  go  to  show 
that  Henry  County  was  born  in  the  Democratic  fold,  and  its  godfather 
was  Andrew  Jackson.  The  late  election  giving  a  Democratic  majority 
of  nearly  1,200,  also  shows  that  the  leaven  of  the  Jackson  vote  of  1832, 
just  a  half  century  later,  had  born  rich  fruit. 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  8/ 

Quite  a  number  of  the  incidents  here  given  were  received  from 
Mr.  R.  L.  Avery,  who  gave  many  pleasant  stories  of  pioneer  life. 

The  table  upon  which  the  votes  of  that  election  were  counted  was 
made  by  Henry  Avery,  cut  out  with  a  whipsaw,  and  the  legs  of  good 
old  hickory.  This  table  is  now  in  possession  of  R.  L.  Avery,  son  of 
Henry  Avery.  Drury  Palmer  and  Henry  Avery  were  the  clerks  of  this 
election.  On  the  way  to  the  polls  Mr.  Avery  lost  his  quill  pen,  and  the 
matter  was  remedied  by  Drury  Palmer's  toothpick,  with  a  stick  exten- 
sion for  a  handle.  Francis  Parazette,  Thomas  Arbuckle  and  Chesley 
Jones  were  the  judges  at  this  election. 

THE   FIRST   CABIN. 

Thomas  Arbuckle  has  been  credited  with  putting  up  the  first  cabin 
within  the  limits  of  Henry  County.  He  settled  on  section  5  of  what  is 
now  Windsor  Township,  in  the  year  and  spring  of  1830.  John  Brum- 
met  and  Benjamin  Kimsey  came  in  1828,  and  they  both  settled  within 
a  mile  of  each  other,  and  not  over  a  half  mile  from  the  Henry  County 
line.  Thomas  Kimsey,  the  son  of  Old  Ben.  Kimsey,  as  he  was  called, 
left  the  old  man  and  staked  a  claim  some  two  miles  south,  also  in  the 
spring  of  1830,  and  some  claim  in  the  winter  of  1829-30.  To  these  two 
pioneers  may  be  given  the  honor  of  being  the  advanced  guard  of  civili- 
zatioR,  who  blazed  the  way  for  future  generations  to  follow.  Matthew 
Arbuckle  and  James  Arbuckle  came  with  him  and  settled  south  of 
Thomas.  Isom  Burnett  also  came  in  1830,  during  the  summer,  and  set- 
tled on  section  5,  Windsor  Township.  Cyrus  P.  Arbuckle  settled  on 
section  32,  township  44,  range  24.  Thomas  Collins  was  one  of  those 
who  came  either  in  1829  or  1830.  He  was  a  justice  of  the  peace  in  183 1 
of  Davis  Township,  and  lived  in  Big  Creek.  P.  D.  Wade  came  Octo- 
ber, 1830;  and  this  list  comprises  nearly  all,  if  not  absoluteJy  all,  who 
lived  in  this  county  at  that  date.  The  records  of  Lafayette  County  were 
searched  from  1825  to  1836,  as  well  as  the  record  of  Henry  County  from 
the  date  of  its  organization,  old  settlers  have  been  interviewed,  and  the 
above  is  the  result. 

1831. 

This  year  marked  a  decided  advance;  the  county  actually  more  than 
doubled  its  population.  Thomas  Anderson,  the  first  blacksmith  in  the 
county,  settled  on  section  2,  Windsor  Township;  Henry  Avery,  on  sec- 
tion 10,  now  Tebo;  William  Ogan  settled  on  section  i,  Windsor;  P.  W. 
Sissel,  on  section  4,  Windsor;  Drury  Palmer  and  his  wife,  Mary  A.,  set- 
tled on  section  7,  Tebo — the  latter  still  living  on  the  old  place;  William 
Gladden  and  William  Crowley,  section  4;  Mr.  Mesic,  section  5,  Tebo, 
and  Alfred  Askin  on  section  18,  on  the  banks  of  Tebo   Creek.     James 


88  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

and  Jesse  McWilliams,  and  their  father,  David  McWilliams,  and  Jesse 
Hill,  settled — the  McW.'s  on  section  9,  Windsor  Township,  and  Hill  on 
section  16.  William  Simpson  and  Fielding  A.  Pinnell,  county  and  cir- 
cuit clerk  for  seventeen  years,  all  came  in  1831  and  settled  in  Windsor 
Township.  So,  also,  did  Mason  Fewell,  who  settled  on  section  8;  James 
Warren,  on  the  same  section.  Then  Chesley  Jones  located  on  section 
12,  and  Valentine  Bell  on  section  21,  Tebo  Township;  George  W.  Lake 
in  Fields  Creek,  and  Zekiel  Blevins  on  section  16,  Shawnee,  and  in  1833 
removed  to  Honey  Creek.  This  comprises  most  of  the  settlers  who 
made  this  county  their  home  in  1831. 

The  conveniences  in  those  days  were  few  and  far  between.  Going 
to  mills  was  a  job  that  took  days  to  perform,  and  even  then  it  was  accom- 
panied at  times  by  serious  danger.  Wolves  would  gather  around  the 
benighted  traveler,  and  only  by  keeping  up  a  bright  fire  all  night  and 
around  them  would  keep  the  ravenous  beasts  away.  Then  high  water 
would  stop  them,  and  a  few  days  would  be  lost  waiting  for  the  water  to 
subside.  There  was  very  little  fun  in  all  this.  The  family  at  home 
might  suffer,  while  delay  thus  hampered  them  on  every  side.  A  post 
office  twenty  to  forty  miles  away  was  another  luxury  of  the  early  pio- 
neer, and  twenty-five  cents  was  the  postage  rate.  When  you  got  a  let- 
ter it  was  as  likely  to  be  a  month  or  two  old  as  one  is  now  a  day  old. 
With  the  exception  of  a  little  silver  in  circulation,  wild  game,  honey, 
beeswax,  skins  of  all  kinds,  secured  by  the  unerring  skill  of  the  hunter, 
was  the  currency  of  the  country.  Yet  with  this  there  was  little  credit 
given,  cash  or  barter  being  the  standard  of  trade.  This,  however,  lasted 
but  a  few  years.  The  demon  of  credit  took  possession  of  the  people, 
and  the  merchants  who  taught  the  people  this  manner  of  doing  business 
became  in  the  end  the  greatest  sufferers.  Not  but  what  many  farmers 
succumb  to  the  evil,  but  the  merchant  also  practiced  what  he  preached, 
and  he  too  failed  when  the  day  of  payment  came.  But  in  the  early 
thirties  cash  and  barter  was  the  rule,  credit  the  exception.  It  was  not 
until  the  wild  cat  banks  of  1835-6  and  the  memorable  crash  of  the  year 
1837  that  tell  the  deplorable  story  of  the  credit  system. 

This  year  the  Rev.  Henry  Avery  built  his  cabin  on  section  10,  and 
his  house  was  the  first  one  known  to  have  had  window  glass  in  it.  He 
put  in  two  sash  with  four  lights  each.  Before  this  magnificent  residence 
was  finished,  a  wagon  box  served  as  a  sleeping  place  for  the  children, 
but  it  was  in  July,  and  it  was  not  cold.  There  was  not  any  first-class 
chimneys  in  those  days,  the  first  brick  chimney  not  appearing  until  the 
year  1837.  Good  sticks,  with  a  pure  article  of  Henry  County  mud 
mixed  to  the  required  thickness,  was  the  general  rule.  That  old  cabin, 
which  served  as  the  first  court  house  in  Henry  County,  is  still  standing, 
a  monument  of  honest  work  and  of  the  primitive  style  of  the  old  pio- 
neer. 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  89- 

THE    FIRST   PLOWING. 

One  of  the  curious  incidents  of  those  days  was  the  fact  that  in  1830 
a  plow  could  not  be  found  in  St.  Louis,  but  Henry  Avery  went  nine 
miles  below  that  point  to  purchase  one  in  the  year  1830.  He  took  it  to 
Morgan  County,  and  there  broke  twenty  acres  of  prairie  land,  to  see  if 
that  kind  of  land  would  raise  corn.  That  plow  and  the  wagon  which 
brought  them  to  Henry  County  was  the  first  plow  and  four-wheel  wagon 
brought  to  the  county,  and  the  breaking  of  the  prairie  in  the  spring  of 
1832  with  that  plow  and  four  yoke  of  cattle  was  the  first  attempt  to 
work  that  kind  of  land  in  the  county.  The  pioneers  all  settled  on  the 
streams  and  in  the  timber,  and  would  go  to  work  and  clear*  patch  for 
corn,  cutting  the  trees  and  clearing  the  underbrush,  when  right  before 
them  was  the  land  ready  for  the  plow,  with  a  soil  of  surprising  richness. 
A  few  years,  however,  dispelled  this  illusion,  and  the  prairies  were  sought 
for,  not  shunned,  although  it  was  not  much  before  a  decade  had  passed. 

1832. 

The  growth  of  the  county  in  population  was  very  gratifying  for  the 
year  1832,  and  it  brought  many  persons  who  afterwards  became  promi- 
nent in  the  affairs  of  the  county  in  its  official  life  and  material  progress. 
This  year  brought  John  Nave,  who  settled  on  section  4,  Clinton  Town- 
ship. William  Swife,  from  Kentucky,  settled  on  section  33,  what  is  now 
Fields'  Creek  Township,  as  did  also  his  brother  Isaac.  Samuel  Cox  set- 
tled on  section  34,  Shawnee  Township.  George  W.  and  Pleasant  Walker,, 
at  that  time  believed  to  be  the  richest  men  in  the  county,  settled  on  sec- 
tion 16,  Fields'  Creek  Township.  George  and  his  brother  prospected 
through  the  country  in  183 1,  but  located  as  above.  They,  however,  took 
a  decided  fancy  to  old  man  Ezekiel  Blevin's  place,  five  miles  north,  also 
on  section  16,  but  in  Shawnee  Township,  the  result  of  which  was  that 
they  purchased  Ezekiel's  claim  and  improvement  for  $150,  paying  in 
stock  and  things,  or  paying  in  trade,  no  money  being  used,  and  they 
took  possession  of  the  place  late  in  the  fall  of  1833. 

HE   WAS   BORN   THERE. 

And  right  there,  on  section  16,  in  the  old  log  cabin,  was  born  the 
first  white  male  child  in  Henry  County,  and  the  well  known  and  honored 
citizen  of  this  county  to-day,  iPreston  Blevins,  was  that  child.  His  lungs 
were  sound,  and  his  father  says  he  made  the  old  cabin  ring  with  his 
music  at  times,  and  that  the  sharp  ears  of  his  neighbors  would  recognize- 
the  family  voice  when  young  Blevins  sought  to  reach  the  upper  notes. 
But  as  the  nearest  neighbor  was  between  three  and  four  miles  away,  a 
little  allowance  can  be  made  for  the  old  man,  who  may  have  thought  from 
the  racket  in  the  cabin  that  the  neighbors  could  hear  him  five  miles  away. 


■       CHAPTER  II. 

WHEN  THEY  CAME  AND  FROM  WHERE  THEY  CAME. 


THE  PIONEERS-THE  FIRST  MARRIAGE- WOLVES  AND  CAUTION --1833  AN  D  .834-SPRlNG- 
KIELD  TOWNSHIP— FIRST  CLERK  AND  CONSTA  BLE— 1835  TO  1840— SLIGHT  RETRO- 
SPECT—TRIALS AMD  IRIBULATIONS-CABINS  AND  COMFORT  S-GOING  TO  MIL^- 
MARKET  PRICES  — PIONEER  WOMEN-PIONEER  LIFE- WAGES--THE  NLST  EGG  OF  A 
FARM— HFTY  CENTS  A  DAY  AND  FOUND-RAlL  SPLITTING 

FROM   1830   TO  1840. 

There  are  some  who  have  placed  the  arrival  of  John  Nave,  William 
and  Isaac  Swiftes,  Sears  and  Owens  in  the  year  1831,  but  it  has  been 
impossible  to  ascertain  this  as  a  positive  fact.  They  undoubtedly  came^ 
at  least  Sears,  Nave  and  Owens,  in  the  winter  of  183 1-2,  or  very  early 
in  the  spring  of  the  latter  year.  Joseph  Fields  settled  on  section  lO- 
John  F.  Sharp,  section  23;  Peter  Huntsmen,  section  19,  and  Joel  Milton 
■on  section  17.  This  was  what  was  called  the  Fields'  Settlement  and  all 
in  Fields'  Creek  Township,  the  township  being  named  after  Mr.  Joseph 
Fields,  the  first  sheriff  of  Henry  County.  Jonathan  T.  Berry  settled  on 
section  8,  Windsor  Township,  this  year.  Esau  Prewitt,  of  Kentucky, 
settled  on  section  5,  Clinton  Township,  and  Daniel  Chittwood,  a  son-in- 
law  of  Prewitt,  settled  near  by  the  same  year.  All  the  settlers  of  this 
year  and  the  years  preceding,  and  it  might  be  said  the  year  following, 
still  found  Boonville  their  nearest  and  best  trading  point.  Among  the 
troubles  of  those  early  days  which  the  traveler  found  generally  the  most 
annoying  was  high  water  in  the  streams  they  had  to  cross  whenever  a 
heavy  rain  was  experienced.  When  George  W.  and  Pleasant  Walker 
came  to  Henry  County  they  were  eleven  days  coming  from  Lexington, 
on  the  Missouri  River,  to  section  16  in  Fields'  Creek  Township.  For 
four  days  they  lay  on  the  banks  of  Davis  Creek  before  they  could  cross 
at  the  ford,  and  when  they  reached  Blackwater  Creek,  in  Johnson 
County,  they  had  to  swim  their  cattle  across.  They  had  five  teams,  and 
felt  somewhat  anxious  as  to  the  result,  but  they  crossed  in  safety. 

The  first  two  log  cabins  put  up  with  glass  windows  were  built  by 
Avery  and  Nixon,  the  latter  a  resident  of  Johnson  County,  just  over  the 
Henry  County  line,  and  this  same  Francis  Nixon  helped  Henry  Avery 
lin   the   early   fall  of  183 1,  split   the   first   ten-feet   rails   ever   laid  in  the 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY.  9 1 

county.  There  were  then,  in  1832,  three  settlements,  known  as  such,  in 
Henry  County,  then  called  Lafayette  County.  They  were  the  Fields 
Settlement,  the  Avery  Settlement,  and  the  settlement  in  and  around 
where  Windsor  now  stands..  This  latter  was  spread  over  a  good  deal  of 
country,  and  represented  the  Arbuckles,  Kimsey,  Palmer,  the  Prices  and 
McWilliams.  Here  and  there  were  scattered  many  other  settlers. 
Honey  Creek  and  Big  Creek  each  had  a  few  settlers.  What  is  now 
Leesville  Township  is  said  to  have  had  one  or  two  families  within  its 
border  as  early  as  1832,  but  there  is  nothing  reliable  before  1834,  although 
the  compiler  of  this  work  wiil  make  another  effort  to  ascertain  its  cor- 
rectness, and  if  so,  it  will  be  given  in  the  township  history  of  Leesville. 
William  Hatfield  and  David  Ross  settled  on  section  21,  Tebo  Township, 
Barber  Price,  or  William  B.  Price,  who  was  appointed  constable  of  Tebo 
Township  in  May,  1834,  settled  on  section  24,  Valentine  Bell  on  section 
21,  John  Buchanan,  and  Lemuel  and  Alfred  Compton  on  section  15. 
These  were  all  in  Tebo  Township.  John  Hail  settled  on  section  9, 
Windsor  Township. 

THE   FIRST   MARRIAGE. 

Undoubtedly  the  first  marriage  in  Henry  County  was  that  of  a 
couple  whose  names  are  unknown.  They  were  married  by  'Squire  Henry 
Avery,  on  the  night  of  the  15th  of  May,  1832.  They  came  from  some 
place  away  down  near  Springfield,  and  had  ridden  their  ponies  four  days 
in  search  of  a  justice  or  minister  who.  could  marry  them.  They  had 
come  across  some  friendly  Indians,  who  directed  them  to  'Squire  Avery's, 
describing  him  as  a  "  heap  big  white  man,  plenty  law."  After  four  days' 
travel  they  at  last  reached  Mr.  Avery's  place  just  after  night,  were  mar- 
ried and  left  at  once,  uncommonly  happy.  What  the  'Squire  charged 
for  the  price  ot  such  happiness  was  not  stated. 

WOLVES. 

As  has  been  before  stated,  wolves  were  plenty  in  those  days,  and 
Drury  Palmer  met  them  once  on  his  way  to  the  mill  that  he  did  not  soon 
forget.  He  was  not  hurt  nor  did  he  lose  anything  except  his  sleep,  but 
for  two  nights  he  lost  all  that,  and  as  he  had  to  keep  traveling  he  thought 
it  was  pretty  tough.  With  his  horse  loaded  with  corn  and  he  leading  it 
on  foot,  when  night  came  he  heard  their  howling  all  about  him.  He 
camped  and  gathered  his  big  pile  of  brush  around  him  and  a  supply 
inside  the  circle,  and  instead  of  going  to  sleep  he  had  to  play  fireman 
all  night  and  work  lively  at  that.  He  pushed  on  in  the  morning  in  hope 
of  getting  out  of  their  reach  the  next  night,  but  he  did  not.  He  was 
mad  enough  to  kill  the  pack,  but  he  was  too  prudent  to  give  them  a 
taste  of  blood,  even  if  it  was  a  half  dozen   of  their  own   number.     At 


92  HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 

Boonville  he  just  slept  about  eighteen  hours  to  average  up  and  prepare 
for  another  seige,  but  he  got  through  his  return  trip  without  trouble.  He 
said,  on  his  return,  that  he  never  did  want  to  shoot  so  bad  in  all  his  life, 
and  if  he  had  not  the  horse  with  him  he  would  have  climbed  a  tree  and 
shot  all  night.  He  always  did  hate  a  wolf  after  that,  he  said,  but  it  is 
rather  doubtful  if  he  had  any  love  for  them  before.  Several  of  the 
neighbors  or  settlers  in  Windsor  and  Tebo  lost  hogs  and  pigs  from  these 
animals,  aud  Mr.  Robert  Avery  reports  that  his  father  lost  a  three-year- 
old  steer,  not  a  mile  from  their  house,  in  the  winter  of  1831-2.  But  if 
the  wolves  troubled  them  occasionally  the  settlers  generally  got  even, 
for  a  good  many  wolves  succumbed  to  the  unerring  aim  of  their  rifles, 
and  their  skins  made  everything  even  in  the  long  run.  In  fact,  the 
wolves  soon  found  out  they  were  getting  the  worst  of  it  and  concluded 
to  leave  for  a,  to  them,  healthier  clime. 

1833. 

The  settlements  in  1833  improved  slowly.  There  were  fewer  immi- 
grants arrived  apparently  than  in  the  preceding  year.  There  were  no 
colonies,  but  several  families  arrived,  forming  new  settlements  in  other 
parts  of  the  county. 

In  the  arrivals  of  1832  should  have  been  mentioned  Abner  Martin 
and  his  two  sons,  George  W.  and  Baker  Martin,  George  Bounds  and 
Littlebery  Kimsey,  who  all  came  that  year  and  settled  in  Big  Creek 
Township.  To  the  same  township  came  Thomas  Swipe  and  the  Haines 
family.  The  latter  came  in  1 83 1 ,  George  W.  Lake  being  appointed  guar- 
dian of  Christopher  M.  Haines  in  1831.  Robert  Allen,  the  first  elected 
sheriff  of  the  county,  came  early  in  this  year.  William  Goff,  one  of  the 
first  county  judges,  came  in  1833,  and  at  his  house  the  first  circuit  court 
was  held,  and  the  second  or  August  term  of  the  county  court,  in  the 
year  1835.  He  settled  on  fractional  section  i.  Mr.  John  and  E.  Goff, 
and  other  members  of  the  family,  now  live  on  the  old  place,  and  near 
by.  Mr.  John  Goff  has  a  very  retentive  memory,  and  gave  the  writer 
much  of  the  early  history  of  the  county  and  section  where  he  lives. 
They  live  in  Deer  Creek  Township,  on  section  7.  John  Legg  came  in 
1833,  as  did  Colby  S.  Stevenson,  who  settled  in  Tebo  Township.  James 
Fields  came  the  same  year,  and  he  opened  a  store  at  GofT's  in  the  spring 
of  1835.     William  Reynolds  was  among  the  arrivals  of  1833. 

The  Parks  settlement  was  started  in  1833,  being  known  as  such  from 
the  fact  that  a  large  family  of  them  came,  nearly  all  from  Lincoln  County, 
Kentucky,  and  they  all  had  families.  Mr.  John  Parks,  the  father  of 
William  Parks,  and  others,  settled  on  section  5,  in  township  40,  range  24, 
or  what  is  now  Leesville  Township,  and  his  cabin  was  not  far  from  the 
banks  of  Grand  River.     The  family  were  scattered  over  the  surrounding 


HISTORY   OF    HENR\    COUNTY.  93 

sections,  being  found  on  sections  5,  4,  3.  35,  34.  33,  27.  and  the  Park  fam- 
ily still  owns  from  a  half  to  three-quarters  of  all  these  sections,  and 
others  of  the  family  are  yet  to  be  found  in  adjoininpf  lots.  Peyton 
Parks  who  platted  the  town  of  Clinton,  and  was  its  first  commissioner, 
settled  on  section  23,  Tebo  Township,  and  this  was  the  home  of  Judge 
James  Parks,  probate  judge.  B.  D.  Parks  settled  in  Leesville  Town- 
ship, on  section  33. 

1834. 

When  Tebo  Township  was  made  by  the  county  court  of  Lafayette 
County  in  1832  it  entirely  disposed  of  Davis  Township,  organized  in 
1830,  so  far  as  related  to  Johnson,  Henry  and  St.  Clair  Counties.  Tebo 
Township,  as  before  stated,  from  May,  1832,  included  the  counties  of 
Johnson,  Henry  and  St.  Clair  north  of  the  Osage  River.  At  the  May 
term,  1834,  John  Brummet,  Cyrus  P.  Arbuckle  and  Joseph  Dixon  were 
appointed  judges  of  the  August  election  of  that  year.  The  two  last 
named  were  residents  of  this  county,  the  former  of  Johnson.  At  the 
same  session  of  the  Lafayette  County  Court  a  new  township  called 
Springfield  Township  was  organized.     The  order  reads  as  follows: 

"Ordered,  That  the  following  bounds  shall  include  a  new  township, 
to  be  called  Springfield: 

"Beginning  where  the  new  base  line  crosses  the  Lafayette  and 
Saline  County  line;  thence  west  along  and  with  said  line  to  the  range 
line  between  ranges  26  and  27;  thence  south  to  the  southern  line  of  Lafa- 
yette County  (the  Osage  River);  thence  east  with  said  line  to  Saline 
County  line;  thence  north  to  the  place  of  beginning" 

"  Ordered,  That  Joseph  Montgomery,  Philip  Cecil  and  James  Ander- 
son be  appointed  judges  of  election  in  Springfield  Township  for  two 
years,  the  election  to  be  held  at  the  house  of  James  Anderson." 

According  to  this  boundary  all  east  of  the  range  line  between  ranges 
26  and  27  was  Springfield  Township,  and  west  was  Tebo.  This  was  the 
division  of  the  county  when  it  was  organized.  Shawnee,  Field  Creek, 
Clinton  and  Fairview  and  the  townships  east  all  being  Springfield.  The 
election  was  held  at  Anderson's  house,  and  Fielding  A.  Pinnell  was  the 
clerk  of  the  election.  He  made  or  rather  carried  the  returns  to  Lexing- 
ton, and  received  $6.20  for  the  job.  James  McWilliams  got  $4.00  for 
taking  the  returns  from  Tebo  Township. 

It  was  at  the  August  term  of  the  Lafayette  County  Court,  1834, 
that  William  B.  Price  was  appointed  constable  of  Tebo  Township.  James 
McWilliams,  then  constable,  and  William  Simpson  went  on  his  bond  as 
sureties.     The  bond  was  for  $800. 

This  was  the  last  act  of  the  Lafayette  County  Court  in  reference  to 
this  county.  The  following  winter,  on  December  13,  1834.  this  territory, 
now  Henry  County,  was  declared  an  independent    munic  pal  division  of 


94  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

the  State,  under  the  name  of  Rives  County.  The  organization  of  the 
county  was  the  commencement  of  something  more  definite  in  regard  to 
her  future. 

1835  TO   1840. 

It  was  the  opening  of  an  era  which  was  to  bring  her  prosperity  and 
progress,  and  to  place  her  well  toward  the  front  among  the  municipal 
divisions  or  counties  of  the  state,  and  the  year  1834  brought  her  quite 
an  influx  of  population  to  meet  her  new  position  as  an  independent 
division.  The  Cecils  settled  on  section  35,  in  Springfield  Township,  as 
now  bounded.  They  came  in  the  spring  of  1834.  James  Gladden  and 
Henry  D.  Lewis  on  section  36,  Tebo  Township,  in  1834.  Benjamin  L. 
Dunn  came  in  1834.  William  Brickley  came  the  same  year  and  located 
on  section  29,  Windsor  Township,  John  Woodward  on  section  i,  and 
William  Perry  on  section  2,  Windsor  Township.  Thomas  B.  Wallace 
and  Benjamin  F.  Wallace  came  in  1835,  in  the  fall,  and  opened  a  general 
store  one  mile  north  of  Clinton,  on  section  35,  Fields'  Creek  Township. 
Asaph  W.  Bates  came  a  year  later.  James  Anderson,  Thomas  Keeney^ 
and  Whit  MulhoUand  settled  in  Bethlehem  Township  in  1836,  and  Maj. 
S.  M.  Peeler  in  1837.  John  W.  Jones,  Bird  D.  Parks,  Irwin  Sisk,  Andrew 
Sisk,  Laban  Pigg,  section  32.  Logan  Palmer  and  John  A.  Pigg  made 
Leesville  Township  their  home  in  1835  and  1836.  M.  Beedy  on  section  i, 
and  Wheedon  Majors,  on  section  12,  Windsor  Township,  came  also  in 
1836.  W.  R.  Taylor  and  John  Taylor  located  on  sections  15  and  16, 
same  township,  in  1838.  Asa  Hendricks,  John  Scroggs  and  Rev.  Joshua 
Page,  of  the  Christian  Church,  made  the  choice  of  Bogard  Township  as 
their  homes  in  1837.  Howell  Lewis,  in  1836,  settled  on  section  9,  Deer 
Creek  Township.  G.  W.  Squires  and  Nathan  Arbuckle  in  1836,  and  D. 
H.  Pigg  and  James  A.  Tutt  in  1838,  the  latter  in  Springfield  Township 
and  the  former  in  Tebo.  Richard  Wall,  of  North  Carolina,  settled  in 
Big  Creek  in  1839,  ^"d  Mason  C.  Fewell  on  section  7,  Tebo  Township, 
from  the  same  state,  A.  Potts  in  Walker  Township,  the  same  year,  while 
John  C.  Stone  located  his  ranch  on  the  sparkling  surface  of  Deepwater 
.before  the  year  1840, 

"  The  year  of  promised  relief  " 
A   SLIGHT   RETROSPECT. 

The  first  county  court  was  held  at  Henry  Avery's,  on  section  10, 
Tebo  Township,  on  the  4th  and  5th  days  of  May,  1835.  The  next  term 
of  the  county  court  was  held  at  the  cabin  of  William  Goff,  on  fractional 
section  i,  in  the  northeast  corner  of  Deer  Creek  Township.  The  first 
circuit  court  was  held  at  William  Goff's  in  September,  1835,  and  Charles 
H.  Allen,  judge,  was  present,  on  the  23d  day  of  September.     Both  of  the 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  95. 

cabins  in  which  the  county  and  circuit  courts  were  held,  the  Avery  and 
Goff  cabins,  are  still  standing,  and  the  present  court  house  is  not  a  stand- 
ing monument  of  either  beauty  or  enterprise  in  comparison  with  the 
above  relics  of  a  more  primitive  age. 

Thomas  and  Charles  Waters  opened  the  first  store  in  Henry  County, 
about  200  yards  from  Mr.  Avery's  house,  in  1835.  Steve  Clark,  so  called, 
a  wide-awake  merchant  of  Boonville,  came  down,  and  with  a  Mr.  Bogg 
started  another  store,  and  these  two  were  the  pioneers.  Not  long,  how- 
ever, the  first  court  house  having  been  forsaken  and  another  established 
at  Goff,  James  Field  opened  out  at  the  latter  place,  and  soon  after  Hall 
&  Ketcham  started  at  the  crossing  or  ford  of  Tebo  Creek.  This  store 
was  known  as  "  the  store  down  on  the  creek."  The  Wallaces  coming  in 
the  fall  of  1835,  did  not  open  their  store  until. 1836,  and  while  in  1840 
nine  stores  were  to  be  found  in  Henry  County,  in  January,  1842,  there 
was  but  one  left,  solitary  and  alone,  in  the  whole  county,  and  that  was 
at  Clinton  and  owned  by  the  Wallace  Bros.  Hard  times  and  the  credit 
system  broke  them  all  up. 

The  county  up  to  the  year  1840  and  later  was  about  350  Democratic 
majority,  but  the  Whigs  always  managed  to  secure  one  or  two  of  the 
county  offices,  and  it  is  stated  they  held  sheriffs  for  ten  years  in  suc- 
cession. The  county  seat  was  located  at  Clinton  in  the  fall  of  1836,  an'3 
soon  after  became,  in  fact  as  well  as  in  name,  the  seat  of  justice  for 
Rives  County.  Calhoun  had  made  a  desperate  effort  to  secure  the 
much-coveted  prize.  A  square  had  been  donated,  etc.,  but  it  availed 
nothing.     The  struggle  ended  with  the  location. 

TRIALS   AND   TRIBULATIONS,  CABINS   AND   COMFORTS,  PIONEER   LIFE. 

The  life  of  the  settler  from  1830  to  1840,  which  might  be  said  to 
cover  the  period  of  pioneer  life,  in  a  great  measure,  was  not  a  bed  of 
roses,  but  seasons  of  privations  and  hardships;  yet  all  was  borne  uncom- 
plainingly and  with  unflinching  courage.  Up  to  1835  it  had  been  a 
part  of  the  territory  of  Lafayette  County,  and  while  a  part  of  and  under 
its  civil  jurisdiction  many  settlers  had  pre-empted  and  staked  their 
claims,  but  the  land  was  not  surveyed  until  the  winters  of  1836-7-8  and 
and  was  not  open  to  entry  until  1839  Therefore,  in  the  exchange  of 
property,  the  pioneer  could  only  sell  his  claim,  and  this  was  often  done, 
for  many  were  of  a  roving  disposition  or  would  become  dissatisfied,  and 
were  ready  either  to  go  to  other  untried  fields  or  return  to  their  eastern 
homes. 

THEIR   HOMES   AND   CLOTHING. 

The  settlers  were  united  together  like  a  band  of  brothers.  Danger 
and  privation  had  drawn  them  to  each  other,  and  there  was  little  need 


•96  HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 

of  law  or  lawyers  in  those  days.     They  were  neighbors  in  every  sense  of 
the  word,  and  a  spirit  of  justice  and  right  ruled  them. 

The  pioneer  would  erect  his  cabin  upon  his  claim,  and  the  neighbors 
would  come  for  miles  around  to  help  him  anu  give  him  a  fair  start  in  the 
■world.  They  gave  him  a  warm  welcome,  the  right  hand  of  fellowship 
was  extended  anM  the  new  settler  felt  at  he  "s  at  once.  The  latch  string 
hung  on  the  outside,  and  what  the  cabin  held  was  at  the  command  of 
the  traveler  or  neighbor.  Corn  was  their  principal  article  of  food  and 
the  wild  game  furnished  the  meat  for  their  families.  A  cow  was  gen- 
erally secured,  and  the  pioneer  was  then  happy  as  well  as  rich.  Store 
goods  were  not  often  seen  or  worn.  Dressed  deer  skins  served  for  men's 
clothing  and  moccasins  for  their  feet.  The  pioneer's  wife,  without  whom 
a  pioneer's  life  would  have  been  a  wretched  failure,  done  the  making  and 
spun  and  wove  the  home-made  cotton  for  herself  and  daughters.  Eight 
yards  were  sufficient  and  a  dress  would  last  a  year  or  two.  Sometimes 
ginghams  and  calico  were  purchased,  but  it  was  only  the  rich  that  could 
indulge  in  such  costly  goods  in  which  to  array  their  wives  and  daugh- 
ters. An  extra  quality  and  a  brighter  color  of  homespun  was  the  gen- 
eral Sunday  meeting  dress  of  the  women  of  that  day,  and  when  the  men 
wanted  to  put  on  style  they  purchased  an  article  of  cloth  called  Ken- 
tucky jeans.  But  durability  and  not  style  was  the  forte  of  the  old  pio- 
neer, and  the  dress  of  deer  skin  and  the  coon  skin  cap  was  really  the 
rage  for  solid  wear.  The  cabin,  with  either  a  puncheon  or  earthen  floor, 
and  wooden  chairs  and  a  table,  was  regulation  style.  The  fireplace  took 
up  nearly  one  end  of  the  cabin,  and  the  chimneys  were  made  of  sticks 
and  the  very  best  of  Henry  County  mud.  Now  and  then  a  cup  of  coffee, 
•sweetened  with  honey,  the  product  of  a  lucky  find  in  the  shape  of  a  bee 
tree,  a  juicy  venison  steak  or  a  piece  of  turkey,  and  corn  bread  made  of 
mashed  corn  pounded  in  a  mortar  or  ground  in  a  hand  mill,  composed 
the  steady  week  day  and  Sunday  diet  of  the  old  pioneer. 

From  this  section,  and  from  the  north  and  east  part  of  the  county. 
Muddy  Mills  was  the  leading  post  office  for  the  people,  and  they  had  to 
travel  from  thirty  to  forty-five  miles  to  reach  there,  and  Boonville,  some 
sixty  to  seventy-five  miles  distant,  was  their  principal  trading  point  up 
to  1836.  At  this  time  there  were  only  four  stores  in  the  county — one 
owned  by  Water  Bros,  and  one  by  Clark  &  Boggs,  both  in  section  10, 
Tebo  Township,  established  in  the  spring  of  1835;  and  the  others  in  the 
fall  of  the  same  year,  and  were  owned  by  Hall  &  Ketcham  and  James 
Fields.  These  stores  soon  became  quite  important  business  houses. 
The  people  had  depended  up  to  this  time  on  the  Missouri  River  towns, 
but  these  stores  filled  what  might  be  termed  many  an  aching  void.  They 
could  show  up  pretty  lively  for  variety,  but  did  not  carry  heavy  stocks, 
for  it  was  not  necessary.  They  seldom  invested  a  thousand  in  silks  or 
broadcloths,  but  confined  themselves  to  staple  articles  which  met  the 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY.  9/ 

demand  of  the  early  settlers.  Their  stocks  consisted  of  salt,  tea,  tobacco, 
cotton,  yarns,  iron  for  horseshoes,  nails,  etc.,  powder,  lead,  shot,  and 
steel  points,  for  plows.  Added  to  these  and  considered  staple  articles, 
there  was  kept  a  moderate  supply  of  calico,  ginghams,  domestic  cot- 
ton, Kentucky  jeans,  boots  and  shoes,  etc.,  with  a  fair  article  ot  corn 
whisky.  This  latter  was  ai  o  considered  a  staple  article,  and  was  of  a 
kind  not  too  weak  to  be  insipid,  or  so  strong  as  to  make  you  fighting 
drunk,  but  of  that  mild,  exhilarating  quality  that  made  a  man  feel  just 
comfortable  on  taking  "  a  good  square  drink."  There  was  nothing  in 
these  lines  of  goods  to  make  people  extravagant. 

These  country  stores  were  strongly  built,  and  the  logs  of  which  they 
were  composed  hewed  flat  on  the  inside.  The  goods  were  placed  in  the 
most  convenient  places  to  get  at.  Boxes  were  utilized  as  counters,  and 
while  there  was  but  little  display  in  those  good  old  times,  little,  was 
desired.  If  the  goods  they  wanted  were  there,  it  didn't  make  much  dif- 
ference to  the  people  whether  they  were  on  shelves,  or  even  had  shelves. 
The  ladies  in  those  days  went  a  good  deal  more  on  sense  than  style, 
and  did  not  go  shopping  to  show  off  a  "gift-edge  make-up,"  or  chat  with 
a  perfumed  clerk,  with  an  oreide  watch  and  a  plated  chain.  Just  imag- 
ine Tom  Wallace  behind  Cock  &  Breneison's  counter,  or  practicing  a 
dancing  step  down  one  of  the  side  aisles,  or  in  Allison's  dry  goods 
emporium  with  a  bevy  of  Henry  County  beauties  ! 

The  Indians  also  did  a  good  deal  of  trading.  They  still  hunted 
through  the  country,  were  peaceable,  drew  a  government  annuity,  and 
received  powder  and  lead  from  the  government  as  a  part  of  their  annual 
payment.  Before  stores  had  become  a  part  of  the  progressive  civiliza- 
tion of  Henry  County  many  of  the  old  pioneers  procured  powder  and 
lead  of  the  Indians.  They  had  become  quite  expert  traders  and  would 
take  the  settlers'  supply  of  skins  and  pay  in  many  other  necessaries  they 
had  received  from  the  government.  The  red  man  would  carry  these 
skins  and  furs  to  the  river  towns  and  there  sell  them.  It  was  thus  that 
many  settlers  who  could  not  go  away  from  home,  or  had  not  a  load  to 
take  sufficient  to  warrant  such  a  long  trip,  were  supplied  by  trading  with 
the  friendly  Indians.  These  Indians  were  peaceable  enough,  but  they 
needed  watching,  for  they  had  no  scruples  whatever  in  appropriating  to 
their  own  use  any  little  thing  that  might  be  lying  around  loose.  The 
settlers  were,  however,  aware  of  this  slight  eccentricity  of  the  character 
of  their  dusky  neighbors  or  visitors,  and  were  careful  to  keep  articles 
needing  only  light  transportation  out  of  their  way. 

This  powder  and  lead  business  was  a  necessity,  for  upon  his  trusty 
rifle  the  old  pioneer  depended  entirely  for  his  meat  and  to  a  large  extent 
for  his  clothing  and  that  of  his  boys;  therefore,  when  he  could  not  go 
after  his  supply,  he  was  glad  to  get  it  of  the  friendly  Indians. 


98  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

As  there  was  no  horse  mill  in  the  county  until  that  year,  it  was 
something  of  a  job  to  go  to  a  mill.  The  trip  was  made  and  it  generally 
counted  two  ways.  Not  only  did  he  go  to  mill,  but  he  managed  to  lay 
in  some  supplies — a  little  tea,  perhaps,  coffee,  a  little  flour  to  make  bis- 
cuits for  company,  a  little  saleratus,  for  baking  powder  was  not  known, 
an  iron  wedge,  a  chain,  and  last,  though  not  least,  a  jug  to  meet  the 
spirit  of  any  joyful  occasion  that  might  arise  or  as  a  medicinal  dose  to 
benefit  a  deranged  system.  To  effect  these  purchases  the  old  pioneer 
loaded  his  ox  wagon,  and  vvith  a  little  honey,  a  few  venison  hams,  some 
deer,  mink  and  coon  skins,  and  "  sich  kind  of  truck,"  started  in  the  fall 
for  his  winter  supplies.  Boonville,  and  sometimes  even  Glasgow,  was 
their  point  of  destination.  His  purchases  were  soon  made  and  the  jug 
was  sure  to  be  filled.  The  historian,  however,  will  mention  right  here 
that  the  latter  article  was  not  used  for  intoxicating  purposes.  The  old 
pioneer  was  the  advance  guard  of  civilization,  but  he  left  it  to  a  later, 
and  by  some  called  a  more  cultured  era,  to  introduce  whisky  as  a  bever- 
age and  to  furnish  to  this  higher  type  of  civilization  the  "common 
drunkard."  A  few  years  later  these  trips  paid  a  little  something  beside 
expenses.  The  merchants  made  their  wholesale  purchases  at  these 
towns,  or  if  at  St.  Louis,  they  were  shipped  by  river  to  these  points 
before  starting  on  land  navigation,  and  the  settler  would  haul  these 
goods  back  at  the  rate  of  sixty  to  seventy-five  cents  per  hundred  pounds, 
thus  loading  both  ways  and  paying  them  something  for  the  trip. 

Settlers  flowed  in,  and  the  year  1834  found  many  newcomers.  Those 
who  first  staked  their  claims  in  183 1  and  1832  felt  as  though  they  lived 
in  a  populous  country.  The  miles  which  had  been  between  cabins  had 
become  reduced,  so  that  once  in  awhile  neighbors  would  be  within  a 
mile,  or  even  a  half  a  mile  of  each  other,  and  "raising  bees"  became 
common,  and  were  greatly  enjoyed.  A  new  comer  would  cut  the  logs 
for  his  cabin,  haul  them  to  the  ground  ready  to  put  up,  and  then 
announce  a  "raising  bee."  The  neighbors  came  from  miles  around,  and 
the  way  that  cabin  went  up  into  a  square  shape,  capped  with  weight- 
poles,  was  a  "caution  to  slow  coaches."     And  they  sang  at  their  work: 

"  Our  cabins  are  made  of  logs  of  wood, 
The  floors  are  made  of  puncheon, 
The  roof  is  held  by  weighted  poles. 

And  then  we  '  hang  off'  for  luncheon  " 

This  would  be  followed  by  a  swig  from  the  little  brown  jug,  kept  espe- 
cially for  the  occasion,  and  then  with  a  hearty  shake  of  the  hand  and  a 
"  wish  you  well,"  the  neighbors  left  the  new  comer  to  put  the  finishing 
touches  to  his  cabin.  And  this  was  a  "  raising  bee  "  of  ye  olden  times. 
The  early  settlers  of  Henry  County  were  mostly  from  Kentucky 
and  Tennessee,  and  not  a  few  came  from    North  Carolina  and  Virginia. 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  99 

These  old  pioneers  knew  literally  nothing  of  the  value  of  the  beautiful 
and  rich,  rolling  prairies  which  lay  at  their  feet,  but  one  and  all  "took  to 
the  woods,"  and  the  first  settlements  of  Henry  County  were  made  near 
or  on  the  banks  of  the  streams.  Wood  and  water  were  a  necessity,  and 
they  built  their  cabins  near  to  these  useful  articles;  still  the  timbered 
land  was  their  choice,  and  the  prairies  were  little  used  except  for  graz- 
ing purposes.  Of  course  this  did  not  last  long.  It  began  to  get  into 
the  heads  of  the  old  pioneer  that  if  grass  could  grow  as  luxuriant  as  it 
did,  why  not  corn  ?  There  was  another  impression,  also,  that  gave  the 
prairies  a  drawback,  and  that  was,  the  settler,  not  knowing  the  nature  of 
the  soil,  had  an  impression  that  the  sod  was  so  stiff  that  the  prairies 
could  not  be  broken.  However,  a  trial  and  a  corn  crop  on  a  small  piece 
of  prairie  land  soon  opened  the  eyes  of  the  settlers,  and  that  which  they 
thought  to  be  a  barren  waste  was  a  veritable  garden  of  Eden,  under  the 
inspiring  efforts  of  the  plow  and  hoe.  There  were  no  less  than  three 
sixteenth  sections  which  were  prairies,  that  the  settlers  asked  to  have 
changed  for  other  school  lands,  giving  as  their  reasons  that  they  were  all 
prairie,  and  no  account,  and  the  county  court  consented  to  have  the 
change  made,  and  it  was  made.  They  wanted  school  lands  that  were  of 
some  value.  But  the  experiment  was  tried,  as  above  stated,  with  small 
patches  of  corn,  and  it  was  not  long  before  the  worthless  and  despised 
prairie,  with  its  rich  and  productive  soil,  stood  upon  an  equal  footing 
with  its  timbered  neighbor,  and  then  took  another  start  and  led.  The 
prairies  are  now  the  cultivated  fields;  the  timbered  are  held  for  wood 
lands.  But  the  clearing  of  the  wood  land  or  the  breaking  of  the  prai- 
ries were  no  idle  pastimes.  Years  of  toil,  of  hardship  and  privations 
was  the  lot  of  the  early  pioneer;  but  for  the  toil  of  the  then  present  he 
expected,  and  did  reap,  in  almost  all  cases,  an  abundant  future.  Still 
the  old  pioneer  believed  in  labor.  It  was  not  only  necessary  to  provide 
for  the  present  and  future,  but  it  gave  strength  to  the  muscles  and 
health  to  the  entire  system.  Labor  to  them,  therefore,  was  not  only  a 
necessity,  but  really  a  pleasure,  for 

"  There  is  not  a  man,  from  the  sceptered  king, 
To  the  peasant  that  delves  the  soil, 
That  knows  half  the  joys  existence  can  bring 
That  does  not  partake  of  its  toil." 

MARKET   PRICES. 

In  one  respect  the  early  settler  had  a  few  advantages  not  possessed 
by  the  poor  mortals  of  to-day,  or  even  by  those  of  a  generation  back. 
While  they  endured  the  privations  with  which  they  were  encompassed 
with  heroic  fortitude  and  a  patience  which  exalted  them,  these  old-time 
heroes  and  heroines  could  eet  the  necessaries  of  life  at  a  good  deal  less 


lOO  HISTORY    OF    HEXRV   COUNTY. 

cost  than  their  favored  children  and  grandchildren  of  this  day:  and  not 
only  that,  but  there  was  any  quantity  of  land  lying  around  loose  at  gov- 
ernment price,  $1.25  per  acre,  and  excellent  swamp  land,  all  but  the 
swamp,  at  twenty-five  cents  per  acre — twelve  months'  time  and  county 
warrants  taken  at  par — anxious  to  be  tickled  with  a  hoe,  that  it  might 
laugh  with  a  harvest.  The  financial  crash  of  1837  had  completely  demor- 
alized values,  property  shrank  to  such  amazing  srhallness  that  many, 
people  were  in  doubt  as  to  whether  they  possessed  anything  except  their 
lives  and  their  families.  The  wildcat  banks  rapidly  climbed  the  golden 
stairs,  and  their  assets  went  glimmering.  The  necessaries  of  life  were 
cheap,  and  those  who  suffered  most  in  those  days  were  of  the  class  called 
wealthy,  excepting  perhaps  the  managers  of  the  wildcat  banks  above 
spoken  of  The  farmer  and  mechanic  here  in  the  West  had  little  to  com- 
plain of  Their  wants  were  few  and  supplies  cheap;  if  corn  was  at  a 
low  figure,  tea,  coffee,  sugar  and  whisky  were  also  cheap.  The  business 
depression  brought  on  by  the  financial  collapse  referred  to  continued  for 
several  years,  and  still  hovered  over  the  land  as  late  as  1842.  In  1839 
and  1840  prices  of  goods  still  ruled  very  low,  and  the  prospect  of  an 
early  rise  seemed  far  from  encouraging. 

Cows  sold  from  $5  to  $10,  and  payable,  perhaps,  in  trade  at  that. 
Horses  brought  for  the  best  about  $40,  but  could  be  bought  from  about 
$25  up  for  a  fair  animal.  Working  oxen  were  from  $25  to  $30  per  yoke, 
and  considered  down  to  almost  nothing.  Hogs,  dressed,  sold  from  $1.2=; 
to  $1.50  each,  and  were  not  mixed  with  trichina;  either.  Garnered 
wheat  brought  from  35  to  40  cents  a  bushel,  corn,  50  cents  per  barrel, 
delivered,  and  a  good  veal  calf  75  cents.  You  could  go  to  the  woods 
and  cut  down  a  bee  tree,  gather  the  honey,  bring  it  to  market  and  you 
got  25  cents  a  gallon  for  it;  it  was  thought  that'  the  bees  were  well  paid 
for  their  honey.  And  such  honey,  so  clear  and  transparent  that  even 
the  bee  keeper  of  to-day  with  his  patent  hive  and  Italian  swarms  would 
have  had  a  look  of  envy  covering  his  face  on  beholding  it.  The  wild 
deer  came  forward  and  gave  up  his  hams  at  25  cents  each,  and  the  set- 
tler generally  clinched  the  bargain  by  taking  the  skin  also,  and  when  not 
cut  up  into  strings  or  used  for  patches  brought  another  quarter,  cash  or 
trade  as  demanded.  It  was  a  habit  in  those  days  for  farmers  to  help 
each  other,  and  their  sons  to  work  in  the  harvest  field  or  help  do  the 
logging  to  prepare  for  the  seeding  of  new  land.  This  was  a  source  of 
wealth  to  the  sons  of  the  early  settlers  and  to  those  farmers  who  were 
unable  to  purchase  a  home.  They  received  from  25  to  50  cents  per  day 
and  their  board.  That  was  wealth,  the  foundation  of  their  future  pros- 
perity. It  was  the  first  egg  laid  to  hatch  them  a  farm  and  it  was  guarded 
with  scrupulous  care.  Economy  was  often  whittled  down  to  a  verj-  fine 
point  before  they  could  be  induced  to  touch  that  nest  egg,  the  incipient 
acre   of  the   first   farm.     Then,  again,   a  da\-'s   work    meant   something 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  10 1 

besides  getting  on  the  shady  side  of  a  tree  and  two  hours  for  nooning. 
It  meant  labor  in  all  its  length  and  breadth  and  thickness  from  holding 
a  breaking  plow  behind  three  yoke  of  oxen  to  mauling  rails.  Right  here 
it  may  be  mentioned  that  rails  were  made  at  from  25  to  40  cents  per 
hundred.  Just  think  of  splitting  rails  at  25  cents  per  hundred  !  It  is 
enough  to  take  the  breath  away  from  every  effeminate  counter  jumper 
in  the  state. 

This  covers  a  good  deal  of  what  the  old  pioneer  had  or  received  for 
labor  and  farm  produce. 

SLIGHTLY    PROGRESSIVE. 

The  citizens  soon  began  to  take  an  interest  in  home  affairs,  and 
going  to  Boonville  or  other  distant  places  to  have  their  corn  ground,  or 
to  put  it  in  a  hole  burned  into  a  log  and  pound  it,  was  rather  slow  work. 
Consequently,  when  Richard  Wade  erected  the  first  horse  mill  in  the 
county,  which  he  did  in  1835,  he  could  not  complain  of  a  want  of  patron- 
age. The  mill  was  situated  on  section  7,  in  township  43,  of  range  25, 
now  called  Tebo,  and  about  three  miles  west  of  the  Avery  settlement, 
and  there  would  be,  perhaps,  a  dozen  farmers  there  at  a  time  waiting  to 
take  their  turn,  and  many  times,  for  the  purpose  of  expediting  the  grind- 
ing, would  hitch  their  own  animal  on  the  mill  and  give  the  owner's  ani- 
mal a  rest. 

Nearly  at  the  same  time,  at  all  events  in  the  same  year,  William 
Collins  put  up  another  horse  mill  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  22, 
township  42,  of  range  24.  This  mill  received  all  the  custom  from  the 
southern  and  southeastern  parts  of  the  county,  and  some  came  over  from 
Benton  County,  being  nearer  to  many  of  the  western  and  southern  set- 
tlers. When  the  crowd  got  so  great  as  to  compel  many  of  them  to 
spend  a  day  and  a  night  before  their  turn  would  come,  fun  would  flow  in 
great  rivulets.  The  rifle  was  the  daily  companion  of  the  farmer,  no 
matter  whether  he  went  out  to  cut  wood,  to  go  to  mill,  or  go  to  the  store. 
So  if  a  delay  occurred  at  the  mill,  there  would  be  a  shooting  match  at 
once;  then,  perhaps,  after  night  a  game  of  poker  by  a  log  fire,  and,  if 
time  permitted,  a  short  hunt  was  taken,  and  the  farmer  often  returned 
from  mill  with  a  few  turkeys  hung  from  his  saddle-bow,  or  the  carcass 
of  a  deer  swung  across  the  back  of  his  horse,  thus  bringing  both  bread 
and  meat  for  his  family  on  the  same  trip. 

There  was  a  grist  mill  put  up  on  Honey  Creek  in  1838,  and  was 
owned  by  John  Dixon.  It  was  located  on  that  stream,  on  section  10,  in 
Honey  Creek  Township.  This  was  said  to  be  the  first  water  mill  in  the 
county,  but  Kimsey's  mill  was  erected  before.  Another  mill,  called  the 
Huntley  Mill,  was  erected  in  1845,  on  Grand  River,  and  on  section  23,  and 
what  is  now  Clinton  Township.     This  was  considered  a  good  mill  at  the 


I02 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 


time,  and  doubtless  was  fully  up  to  the  mills  of  that  day.     It  had  a  run 
of  burrs  for  both  wheat  and  corn. 

The  horse  mill  soon  became  an  institution.  The  country  stores 
multiplied,  and  even  the  county  seat  began  to  take  upon  itself  a  habita- 
tion and  a  name.  Many  went  to  Wallace's  store,  others  went  to  town,  a 
few  to  the  court  house,  and  now  and  then  a  man  would  announce  he  was 
going  to  Clinton.  And  the  women,  too,  went  and  shopped  at  these 
stores,  for  there  were  pioneer  women  in  those  days  as  well  as  pioneer 
men,  and  they  knew  something  of  pioneer  life  from  actual  experience. 


CHAPTER  111. 

EARLY  ELECTION  AND  EVENTS— PIONEERS  AND  POETRY. 

ELECTIONS— "EIGHTEEN  FORTY  "—PRESIDENTIAL  CAMPAIGN— SONGS  AND  "A  LITTLE 
MORE  CIDER,  TOO  "—DEMOCRATIC  DEFEAT— A  CHANGE— THE  QUIET  OF  EARLY 
DAYS,  COVERING  LITTLE  MORE  THAN  A  DECADE— WOMEN  "PIONEERS— PRIVA- 
TIONS, LABOR  AND  HEROIC  FORTITUDE— NAMES  OF  THE  EARLY  SETTLERS— FROM 
THE  CRADLE  TO  THE  GRAVE— PIONEER  LIFE  IN  VERSE. 

ELECTION — "  EIGHTEEN   FORTY." 

In  the  early  times  election  days  were  a  sort  of  holiday.  The  voters 
went  early,  took  their  guns  along  and  proposed  to  have  a  good  time, 
shooting  at  a  mark  being  one  of  their  festive  pastimes.  County  elec- 
tions did  not  produce  much  excitement.  A  few  men  got  on  the  right 
side  of  the  people,  and  they  managed  to  secure  the  loaves  and  fishes 
pertaining  to  the  local  offices  of  the  county.  And,  singular  as  it  may 
seem  to  those  unacquainted  with  the  wealth  that  comes  to  a  man  by 
being  a  public  officer,  most  all  the  men  who  held  the  offices  and  received 
the  official  pap  are  to  this  day  pretty  well  off  in  this  world's  goods.  Still 
it  was  the  state  elections,  or  the  presidential  years  which  called  forth  the 
true  patriotic  fever  in  those  pioneer  days  of  song  and  story,  with  here 
and  there  a  well  filled  jug,  which  would  raise  the  patriotic  feeling  to  an 
enthusiastic  pitch.  It  was  genuine  enthusiasm,  too.  There  was  noth- 
ing sordid  about  it.  but  they  went  into  win  on  their  side,  and  until  the 
polls  closed  at  sundown  they  kept  the  ball  rolling  lively.  When  the 
battle  of  the  ballot  ended  the  victors  were  cheered  and  the  slain  decently 
interred,  to  be  resurrected,  perhaps,  at  some  future  day. 

THE   PRESIDENTIAL   CAMPAIGN. 

There  have  been  many  exciting  presidential  campaigns  in  this  coun- 
try, but  to  the  old  pioneer  there  has  never  been  an  election  that  could 
at  all  compare  with  that  of  1840.  And  we  must  give  the  palm  of  fun, 
frolic  and  intense  patriotism  to  the  men  of  other  days.  It  was  a  cam- 
paign of  barbecues,  picnics  and  processions,  of  merry  songs  and  patri- 
otic utterances.  Money,  indeed,  was  used  in  the  times  of  long  ago,  but 
instead  of  a  bribe  to  the  individual  voter  to  corrupt  and  degrade  him,  as 


I04  HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNIY. 

now,  no  such  thought  entered  the  minds  of  the  leaders  in  those  good 
old  days.  The  money  went  for  music  by  the  band,  a  roast  ox  and  a 
"  little  more  cider,  too."  There  was  a  feast  of  reason,  a  flow  of  soul,  and 
principles  were  fought  for  and  not  spoils. 

The  year  1840  will  ever  be  memorable  in  the  political  history  of  our 
country.  Jackson  had  carried  out  his  plans  to  destroy  the  power  of  the 
United  States  Bank,  which  was  using  its  vast  resources  to  corrupt  the 
people's  representatives,  to  secure  a  renewal  of  its  charter,  and  become 
a  power  potent  for  evil  in  the  future  of  the  country.  Having  accom- 
plished this  he  retired,  and  Martin  Van  Buren  became  his  successor. 
Finances,  however,  had  become  deranged,  and  every  effort  of  those  who 
had  felt  the  power  of  Jackson's  policy  was  willingly  put  forth  to  effect 
the  downfall  of  Van  Buren's  administration,  by  fair  means  or  foul.  The 
financial  panic  of  1837  was  the  golden  opportunity  of  the  Whig  party, 
and  they  availed  themselves  of  it.  The  cry  of  hard  times  was  echoed 
and  re-echoed  throughout  the  land,  and  it  was  no  false  cry.  Wildcat 
banks  had  come  into  being  in  place  of  the  old  United  States  Bank,  and 
when  the  pressure  came  they  were  unable  to  stem  the  tide  of  bankruptcy 
and  ruin,  which  indeed  they  were  the  most  potent  cause,  and  which 
then  swept  over  the  country  with  the  force  and  destructive  power  of  a 
cyclone,  carrying  desolation  in  its  path.  The  banks'  circulation  being 
principally  secured  by  bonds  and  mortgages,  and  real  estate  rapidly 
depreciating,  these  banks  went  down  before  the  financial  storm  like 
leaves  in  an  autumnal  gale.  The  financial  crash  of,i837  told  fearfully  and 
with  terrible  effect  in  the  East,  where  the  bulk  of  the  voting  population 
was  then  found;  but  while  west  of  the  Mississippi  the  vote  was  light, 
and  the  country  sparsely  settled,  yet  the  West  was  as  enthusiastic  as 
any  other  portion  of  the  country  and  went  into  the  campaign  with  the 
greatest  fervor  and  delight.  The  distress  all  over  the  country  was  great 
and  a  presidential  campaign  came  to  hand  before  the  people  could 
recover.  Not  only  were  the  friends  of  the  United  States  Bank  and  the 
old  Whig  party  solid,  but  the  story  was  added  that  Van  Buren's  admin- 
istration was  one  of  wild  prodigality,  and  that  the  cabinet  was  an  aris- 
tocratic court  that  vied  in  follies  and  extravagance  the  worst  courts  of 
Europe.  This  was  a  harp  of  a  thousand  strings,  and  every  string  seemed 
to  send  forth  a  wail  of  horror  over  the  reckless  waste  of  this  Democratic 
administration.  From  this  came  the  grand  campaign  of  "  Log  cabin 
and  hard  cider,"  that  of  1840.  The  old  pioneer  dotes  on  that  campaign 
and  memory  brightens  as  its  vivid  scenes  are  recalled  tc  mind. 

In  1840,  as  before  remarked,  the  people  still  suffered  from  the  hard 
times  brought  on  by  the  financial  disaster  of  1837;  hard  work  had  not 
yet  drawn  them  out  of  the  slough  of  bankruptcy,  and  the  promised  relief 
from  congressional  action  had  also  failed.  So  the  story  of  trials  and 
sufferings  was  told  in  song  and  carried  everything  before  it. 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  IO5 

The  log  cabin  feature  touched  the  hearts  of  the  people,  for  of  such 
were  their  homes,  and  the  songs  had  the  effect  of  clinching  reason  and 
fancy  and  securing  their  votes.  "  For  Tippecanoe  and  Tyler,  too,  for 
Van,  Van,  is  a  used  up  man,"  and  the  chorus  rang  out  with  a  heartiness 
that  boded  no  good  to  the  Democracy.  In  touching  up  the  extrava- 
gances of  the  administration  and  the  promises  of  relief  which  had  been 
circulated,  but  never  realized,  one  verse  of  a  song  is  still  in  the  memory 
of  the  writer.     It  ran: 

"  In  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  forty, 
The  times  of  promised  relief, 
Which  was  sung  to  the  poor  by  the  haughty, 
Two  dollars  a  day  and  roast  beef." 

Well,  they  had  not  realized  the  above,  and  every  time  that  song 
went  floating  through  the  air  it  somehow  seemed  to  carry  votes  and  to 
cause  the  Democracy  to  look  blue  when  the  sound  reached  them. 

It  was  claimed  that  the  destruction  of  the  old  United  States  Bank 
and  the  extravagance  of  Van  Buren's  administration  had  brought  on 
the  panic  of  1837  and  all  the  evils  which  followed,  and  that  "  Old  Tippe- 
canoe," William  Henry  Harrison,  who  was  not  only  a  soldier  boy,  but  a 
•farmer,  would  give  the  country  a  farmer's  administration,  which  meant 
economy  and  good  times. 

The  Whigs  had  decidedly  the  best  of  the  fight,  and  the  campaign 
was  simply  "immense"  with  its  grand  barbecues,  speeches,  processions 
and  songs.  The  charge  of  lavish  expenditures  of  Van  Buren  was  harped 
upon  with  wonderful  effect,  and  many  songs  were  composed  and  sung  of 
of  the  way  he  got  away  with  the  people's  money  in  aristrocratic  living. 
One  verse  of  a  song  which  was  sung  with  a  wild  enthusiasm  in  the  cam- 
paign was  as  follows,  speaking  as  coming  from  President  Van  Buren; 

"  Bring  forth,  he  cries,  the  glittering  plate, 
We'll  dine  to  day  in  royal  state; 
He  speaks,  and  on  the  table  soon 
They  place  the  golden  fork  and  spoon. 
Around  him  bends  a  servile  host, 
And  loud  they  shout  the  welcome  toast, 
Down  with  Old  Tippecanoe  ! 
Down  with  Old  Tippecanoe  ! !  " 

This  generally  brought  down  the  house  when  an  indoor  meeting 
was  held,  and  out  of  doors  the  shouts  were  fairly  terrific.  The  Demo- 
crats, however,  were  not  idle;  they  saw  the  storm  and  prepared  to  meet 
it  with  counter  charges,  and  of  the  same  kind  of  ammunition,  but  the 
disaffection  of  Van  Buren  and  his  traitor  host  caused  their  banner  to 
trail  in  the  dust. 


I06  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

Henry  Clay,  of  Kentucky,  was  the  leader  of  the  Whig  party,  and 
he  was  made  the  target  of  a  good  deal  of  Democratic  thunder.  The 
songs  were  not  all  on  one  side,  not  by  any  means;  but  the  charge  of 
royalty  was  the  winning  card  of  the  Whigs.  However,  the  Democrats 
got  off  a  good  many  songs  against  Clay  and  his  party,  and  a  verse  is 
here  given  to  show  the  tactics  of  the  Democracy.     Here  it  is: 

"There's  Harry  Clay,  a  man  of  doul)t, 
Who  wires  in  and  wires  out; 
And  you  cannot  tell,  when  he's  on  the  track, 
Whether  he's  going  on  or  coming  back." 

Or,  in  other  words,  like  the  Irishman's  flea,  when  you  had  him,  he 
wasn't  there. 

The  election  came  off,  and  the  songs,  "Log  Cabins"  and  "A  Little 
More  Cider,  too,"  did  the  business.  "  Old  Tip  "  was  elected,  and  "  Tyler, 
too,"  and  the  people  once  more  settled  down  to  quiet  life. 

But  if  you  want  to  put  life  and  snap  in  the  voice  and  limbs  of  the 
old  pioneer  on  an  election  theme,  strike  the  keynote,  the  year  1840. 
His  eyes  will  brighten,  his  limbs  will  straighten  and  his  voice  will  ring 
out  with  a  bell-like  clearness,  as  he  tells  you  of  that  greatest  and  best 
of  political  campaigns  ever  held  in  this  country.  The  contrast  to  the 
bright  glow  and  honesty  of  the  one  party,  all  working  together  for  suc- 
cess, and  the  dark  and  damning  treachery  which  haunted  and  followed 
the  other  with  a  black  and  frowning  brow,  was  significant  of  the  result. 
Treachery  had  done  its  evil  work,  and  done  it  well.  He  who  had 
received  honors  and  emoluments  at  the  hands  of  his  party  and  the  peo- 
ple became  a  traitor  and  a  renegade,  and  so  Van  Buren  sank  out  of 
sight,  the  dark  pall  of  oblivion  covering  him  with  a  mantle  of  shame. 
"Salt  River"  became  household  words,  and  many  people  actually  believed 
that  a  vessel  had  taken  the  Democratic  candidates  on  a  voyage 
up  that  beautiful  (.'')  and  historic  stream.  Harrison  was  deserving  of  his 
country's  honor,  and  though  General  Cass  may  have  been  better  versed 
in  statecraft,  yet  if  Harrison  had  lived,  the  country  would  never  have 
suffered. 

Such  a  campaign  as  that  of  1840  at  this  day  would  be  a  farce.  There 
is  too  much  bargain  and  sale.  It  would  not  chime  in  with  an  innocent 
song,  for  there  is  very  little  innocence  in  the  elections  of  late  years. 
Principles  have  had  little  to  do  with  elections.  High-sounding  words, 
plenty  of  promises— to  be  broken,  capital  to  the  front,  labor  to  the  rear, 
monopolies  triumphant  and  rolling  in  wealth,  the  people  to  live  a  pauper 
life  with  the  heritage  of  unceasing  work  fastened  upon  their  limbs.  This 
is  the  present  outlook  of  the  people,  taken  from  a  party  standpoint,  who 
loves  them  so  dearly  and  well.  So  the  old  pioneer  revels  in  the  times 
of  long  ago,  and  he  is  not  far  out  of  the   way.     Those  days  were  as  full 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  10/ 

of  wrangling  and  bitterness  as  those  of  the  present,  but  it  was  a  square 
fight  for  principles  only.  Money  was  not  the  mighty  power,  which  has 
controlled  the  past  elections  for  more  than  a  decade.  It  did  not  rule 
congress,  buy  legislatures  or  elect  presidents.  It  had  the  will  to  do  it, 
but  its  representative,  the  United  States  Bank,  lay  bleeding  at  the  feet 
of  the  people,  where  it  had  been  laid  by  the  iron  will  and  mailed  hand 
of  their  lion-hearted  president. 

Henry  County  had  her  part  in  this  election  and  polled  her  usual 
party  vote. 

A   CHANGE. 

The  tide  of  immigration,  which  had  slackened  during  the  previous 
years,  began  to  assume  greater  proportions  and  Henry  County  received 
her  share.  Henry  and  St.  Clair  Counties  had  a  population  of  4,726  in 
1840.  according  to  the  census  of  that  year,  St.  Clair  at  that  time  being 
a  part  of  Rives  or  Henry  County.  In  1850  the  two  counties  boasted  of 
a  population  of  7,608,  or  a  gain  of  about  65  per  cent  during  the  decade 
ending  1850.  Of  this  Henry  County  had  a  population  of  4,052  and  St. 
Clair  of  3,556.  In  the  same  ratio  of  division  in  1840  Henry  County 
would  have  had  2,521  and  St.  Clair  2,205. 

A   QUIET   LIFE. 

Henry  County  had  few  stirring  incidents  to  record  in  her  early  days. 
There  was  little  to  arouse  the  old  pioneer  from  the  even  tenor  of  his 
way.  Indians  were  not  troublesome,  game  was  plenty,  honey  could 
easily  be  found.  The  distance  to  mill  and  post  office  was  their  greatest 
trouble,  and  though  wolves  sometimes  were  found  troublesome  on  the 
way,  there  were  no  thrilling  horrors  enacted,  and  so  the  settlers  through 
all  those  trying  years,  trying  because  of  the  privations  endured,  if  not 
from  danger.  They  had  worked  to  improve  their  homes  that  they  and 
their  children  might  have  a  competency  in  their  old  age.  To  be  sure, 
there  were  many  incidents  of  these  privations  and  cares  that  would  be 
interesting  to  the  readers,  of  hunting  excursions  that  sometimes  cost 
more  than  they  came  to.  of  the  simple  implements  of  industry  which 
are  now  obsolete,  and  yet  was  the  only  help  in  all  those  early  years  ol 
the  hardy  pioneers,  and  of  the  forests  and  the  prairies. 

This  and  much  more  could  be  written,  yet  it  is  more  or  less  familiar 
to  all.  The  old  pioneer,  in  many  cases,  has  departed  to  his  long  home, 
but  the  children  of  those  days  have  not  all  passed  their  three  score  years 
and  ten,  and  with  memories  tenacious  they  have  told  of  their  childhood 
days  until  it  has  become  an  open  book  to  all.  Yet  these  pages  are  gath- 
ered together  that  with  the  future  onward  march  of  time,  when  memory 
has  ceased   and  the   last    link   broken   that   unites  the  present  with  the 


I08  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

early  days,  then  this  work  will  be  treasured  as  the  missing  link  that 
should  forever  unite  the  pioneer  of  early  history  with  the  men  and 
women  of  to-day. 

The  country  grew  and  prospered  under  the  strength  of  the  brawny 
arm  and  endurance  of  her  noble  old  pioneers.  Civilization  advanced, 
and  material  progress  could  be  seen  on  every  hand.  School  houses 
were  built,  education  took  a  step  forward;  Christianity  went  hand  in 
hand,  for  the  school  house  was  also  the  church,  and  thus  the  pioneer 
sought  enlightenment,  and  bowed  before  his  Maker. 

Such  has  been,  in  a  measure,  the  history  of  the  early  pioneers  of  this 
beautiful  country,  and  those  who  are  living  can  look  back  with  unabated 
interest  to  the  days  which  tried  the  nerve,  the  muscle  and  the  indomi- 
table will  of  the  fathers  and  mothers  who  had  the  infancy  of  Henry 
Country  in  their  keeping. 

In  closing  this  part  of  our  history,  covering  but  a  little  over  a 
decade  of  time,  there  has  been  something  written  founded  upon  tradi- 
tion, but  little  of  it  in  comparison  with  the  vast  array  of  facts  gathered 
and  compiled  within  its  pages.  The  early  pioneer  made  history,  but 
knew  little  how  to  preserve  it.  This  is  a  sad  loss  to  the  county.  Those 
years,  and  the  lives  and  actions  of  the  heroes  and  patriots  then  living, 
were  of  the  greatest  importance.  Then  it  was  that  the  foundation  was 
laid  upon  which  a  noble  and  enduring  superstructure  was  to  be  reared, 
and  upon  which  the  moral,  physical  and  political  future  of  the  country 
was  to  rest. 

There  were  no  great  stirring  events  or  remarkable  happenings,  but 
it  was  a  time  of  self-reliance,  of  persevering  toil,  of  privations  and  of 
suffering  that  were  endured  with  heroic  fortitude.  They  believed  in  a 
future  reward  of  successful  labor  and  of  the  good  time  coming  when  the 
wooded  hills  and  open  prairies  should  resolve  themselves  into  well  cul- 
tivated farms,  their  humble  cabins  into  residences  that  would  be  fitting 
their  improved  financial  condition  and  the  advanced  era  in  which  they 
would  live.  They  had  come  into  the  boundless  wilderness  poor  in  purse, 
but  rich  in  faith,  powerful  in  endurance,  and  their  future  was  before 
them. 

WOMEN   PIONEERS— HER   TRIALS — HER    FORTITUDE. 

Thus  far  the  pioneer  has  been  referred  to  as  of  the  sterner  sex;  but 
were  they  the  only  pioneers  in  these  western  wilds  ?  Was  man  the  only 
one  who  suffered  privations  and  want,  who  worked  that  a  generation 
then  verging  on  manhood  might  find  the  way  "  blazed  "  to  the  light  of  a 
higher  civilization,  and  that  a  generation  yet  unborn  might  find  the 
fruits  of  struggle  in  well  tilled  fields,  a  full  granary,  and  a  new  home 
blessed  with  all  the  arts  and  progress  that  a  new  era  gave  them  .''  Was 
it  in  the  culture  and   refinement   of  a  people   of  a   later   day,  who  had 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  *  IO9 

received  not  only  wealth  descended  from  their  forefathers,  but  those 
benefits  which  science  had  discovered  hidden  in"  the  deep  and  dark  mys- 
teries of  nature,  and  were  they  to  thank  men  alone  for  these  blessings 
around  them  ? 

No;  but  high  on  the  scroll  of  fame  should  the  pioneer  women  of  our 
land  have  their  names  emblazoned  that  generations  yet  to  come,  and  for 
all  time  may  honor  and  bless  the  heroic  women  who  gave  their  lives  to 
the  duties  of  a  pioneer's  life,,  and  who  proudly  and  uncomplainingly  did 
the  work  which  came  before  them  as  only  women  could  do  it,  smoothing 
their  lives  with  the  light  of  an  undying  love,  and  proving  in  every  way 
the  equal  of  man  in  carrying  forward  the  work  of  making  a  wilderness 
take  upon  itself  the  garb  of  civilization  and  barren  plains  the  wealth  of 
fruitful  fields  and  abundant  harvests.  Thus  have  the  pioneer  women 
worked  and  struggled,  and  the  rude  cabin  was  to  them  a  home  of  love 
and  happiness.  Rude  and  primitive  as  that  cabin  might  be,  with  a  floor 
of  mother  earth,  simple  and  unadorned,  there  was  found  within  its  walls 
many  a  heroine  of  early  days.  Not  in  the  palaces  of  the  rich  of  what 
is  called  this  enlightened  era  was  more  true  lifelike  happiness  found  than 
in  those  lowly  cabins.  There  was  no  waiting  in  those  days  for  a  home 
of  splendor  before  man  found  his  mate,  but  the  heroes  and  heroines  of 
those  days  joined  hearts  and  hands  and  helped  each  other  down  the 
rugged  pathway  of  life.  He  went  into  the  field  to  work  that  he  might 
supply  the  food  necessary  for  life,  while  she  worked  on  in  her  own 
sphere,  furnishing  her  husband's  cabin  with  the  smiles  of  a  lo-ving  heart, 
greeting  her  partner  with  the  evident  work  of  willing  hands,  keeping 
her  true  and  womanly  talents  in  full  play,  not  only  in  preparing  her  food 
for  the  family  meal,  but  in  weaving  and  spinning,  cutting  and  making, 
the  garments  for  herself  and  those,  of  her  household  under  her  loving 
care. 

Much  has  been  written  of  the  "'Old  Pioneer,"  and  his  struggles  in 
the  early  years  of  his  life;  his  heavy  trials,  misfortunes,  and  his  ulti- 
mate success;  but  little  has  been  recorded  of  his  companion,  the  light 
of  his  cabin,  who  cheered  him  in  his  misfortunes,  nursed  him  in  sickness, 
and  in  health  gave  her  whole  strength  to  labor  for  their  future  welfare 
and  happiness.  There  was  little  luxury  or  ease  for  the  pioneer's  wife; 
but  whatever  her  destiny  might  be,  it  was  met  with  a  firm  faith  and  a 
willingness  to  do  her  whole  duty,  living  in  the  love  of  her  husband  and 
children,  and  trusting  in  Providence  to  receive  her  final  reward  for  the 
unceasing  labor  of  years,  well  and  nobly  performed. 

Yes,  there  was  something  decidedly  primitive  in  the  building  and 
furniture  of  those  cabins  of  old.  They  were  in  many  cases  built  one 
and  a  half  stories  high,  that  they  might  have  a  "  loft  "  to  store  away 
things,  and  sometimes  to  sleep.  The  windows  were  covered  with  a  light 
quilt,  or  paper,  to  keep  the  wind  and  rain    out,  the   puncheon  was  laid, 


no  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

the  Stick  and  mud  chimney  set  up,  a  table  and  a  chair  or  two,  or  stools 
made  of  a  split  log,  the  flat  side  up,  and  holes  bored  to  put  in  the  legs, 
which  were  generally  three.  Shelves  would  be  made  of  the  same  mate- 
rial, holes  bored  and  pins  put  in,  to  hang  up  their  clothes  or  other  things, 
and  that  pioneer  heroine  was  ready  to  meet  her  friends  and  neighbors, 
or  the  world  at  large,  in  a  roomy  and  comfortable  home.  A  housekeep- 
ing outfit  of  that  style  in  these  days  would  send  a  young  woman  into 
hysterics,  make  her  declare  that  she  would  "  go  right  home  to  her  pa" — 
and  probably  for  herself  and  that  young  man  it  would  be  the  best  place 
for  her. 

TI' en  the  wife  generally  milked  the  cow,  if  they  had  one,  cooked 
and  sewed,  wove  and  spun,  and  went  to  mill,  thus  doing  her  part  and 
keeping  her  end  of  the  line  taut.  They  made  their  bread  literally  by 
the  sweat  of  their  brows,  and  led  happy  and  contented  lives. 

A  calico  or  a  gingham  dress  was  good  enough  to  go  to  church  in, 
but  oftener  a  bright  homespun  dress  did  duty  on  the  same  occasion; 
then  the  calico  or  gingham  would  last  a  year  or  two,  and  then  could  be 
turned  and  made  up  for  the  children.  It  only  took  eight  yards  for  a 
dress,  hoop  skirts  having  not  yet  put  in  an  appearance,  and  pinbacks 
were  of  another  day  and  generation.  So  with  a  multiplicity  of  duties, 
the  young  wife  kept  on  her  way.  By  and  by,  when  a  young  family  had 
grown  up  around  them,  cares  began  to  increase,  the  wife  and  mother 
was  often  compelled  to  sit  up,  night  after  night,  that  the  husband  and 
children's  clothes  might  be  mended,  their  stockings  darned,  and  the 
preparations  for  the  coming  morning's  work  made  ready.  Then  it  was 
discovered  that  a  woman's  work  was  never  done.  The  household  was 
asleep.  The  tired  husband  and  father  was  resting  his  weary  limbs  in 
dream-land;  the  restless  children  were  tossing  here  and  there  on  their 
beds  as  children  always  do;  nature  itself  had  gone  to  rest,  and  the  outer 
world  was  wrapped  in  darkness  and  gloom,  but  the  nearly  exhausted 
wife  and  mother  sewed  on  and  on,  and  the  midnight  candle  was  often 
still  shedding  its  pale  light  over  the  work  or  the  vigils  of  the  loved  and 
loving  mother.  And  this  is  the  record  of  thousands  of  noble  women, 
the  female  pioneers  whose  daily  presence,  loving  hearts,  earnest  work 
and  intuitive  judgment  made  the  work  of  civilization  and  progress  one 
of  success.  And  the  question  has  oftentimes  been  asked,  "  What  would 
the  men  of  the  olden  times  have  done  if  the  women  of  the  olden  times 
had  not  been  there  with  them.?  And  the  question  comes  back,  "Ah!  yes, 
what  would  they  have  done.'" 

These  were  the  kind  of  women  that  made  civilization  a  success,  and 
brightened  the  pathway  of  material  progress  with  the  promise  of  a  glo- 
rious future.  There  are  a  few  yet  living  of  that  glorious  band  of  pioneer 
women  who  gave  their  lives  to  the  hard  fate  of  a  pioneer's  wife.  They 
bore  their  share  of  the  troubles,  trials  and  labor  of  the  times.     They  are 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  Ill 

deserving  of  the  love  and  veneration  of  all,  and  may  their  pathway 
to  the  unknown  river  be  brightened  by  kind  words  and  loving  hearts. 
Let  them  glide  softly  and  pleasantly  down  the  river  of  time,  and  let  no 
regret  come  from  them  for  neglect  and  coldness.  Their  young  days 
were  days  of  hardship;  let  the  evening  of  their  life  be  bereft  of  care, 
peaceful  and  joyous.  Of  those  who  are  now  sleeping  their  last  sleep,, 
they  did  their  duty  nobly  and  well,  and  while  their  allotted  time  on 
earth  has  passed,  they  have  gone  to  a  better  world — a  reward  to  all 
those  whose  life's  pilgrimage  has  been  worthily  performed.  And  thus 
the  pioneer  women  passes  away.  May  they  ever  be  blessed  while  liv- 
ing. One  and  all,  living  or  dead,  deserve  a  high  and  honored  place  in 
the  history  of  our  country;  and  the  author  of  Henry  County's  history 
gives  this  short  tribute  to  their  memory.  Not  that  it  is  much,  but  that 
those  who  have  done  so  much  to  bring  these  western  wilds  to  a  land  of 
civilization  and  Christianity  has  the  veneration  of  the  writer,  and  of 
those  he  has  met  and  those  who  have  gone  before  will  he  hold  in  cher- 
ished memory  until  he,  too,  joins  the  throng  on  the  golden  shore,  where 
time  ceases  and  eternity  begins  its  endless  round. 

• 

NAMES   OF   THE    EARLY   PIONEERS. 

In  bringing  this  portion  of  our  history  to  a  close  the  names  of  those 
who  first  trod  the  wilderness  or  that  part  of  it  which  is  now  Henry 
County  may  be  of  interest,  not  only  to  those  who  are  living,  but  to 
future  generations.  Not  all  who  figured  in  the  early  history  are  here 
recorded;  many  familiar  names  may  be  missing — all  could  not  be 
secured.  The  list,  however,  numbers  nearly  three  hundred  who  settled 
in  Henry  County  previous  to  the  year  1840,  and  other  names  not  here 
recorded  will  be  found  in  some  of  the  township  histories.  It  is,  there- 
fore likely  that  there  are  but  few  omitted.  The  record,  with  former 
home  when  known,  is  as  follows: 

FROM  1830   TO   1840. 

Arbuckle,  Thomas,  1830,  Christian  Avery,  A.  C,  1836,  Henry  County, 

County,  Kentucky.  Missouri. 

Arbuckle,  James  H.,  1830,  Christian  Avery,  Jas.  M.,  1838,  Henry  County,. 

County,  Kentucky.  Missouri. 

Arbuckle,  Matthew,  1830,  Christian  Allen,  George  J, 

County,' Kentucky.  Allen,  James. 

Adair,  William,  1831,  Kentucky.  Allen,  Robert.-^ 
Anderson,  Thomas,  1832,  Kentucky.  Austin,  John  H. 

Austin,  Obediah,  1832,  Kentucky.  Akers,  William. 

Avery,  Henry,  1831,  Tennessee.  Aull,  A. 


112 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY 


Aull,  Robert. 

Anderson,  George,  1833. 

Anderson,  James,  1833. 

Anderson,  Isaac,  1833. 

Anderson,  Claiborne,  1833. 

Anderson,  William  H.,  1832. 

Avery,  V.  January,  1833,  Virginia. 

Berry,  Jonathan  T.,  1832,  Kentucky. 

Barker,  James  T.,  1832,  Cooper 
County,  Missouri. 

Burnett,  Isom,  1830,  Kentucky. 

Blevins,  Ezekiel,  1831,  Kentucky. 

Blevins,  Preston,  1832,  Henry  Coun- 
ty, Missouri. 

Bogarth,  Joseph,  183 1. 

Bricker,  William,  1834. 

Bronaugh,  H.,  1838,  Virginia. 

Byser,  Peter  J.,  1839,  North  Caro- 
lina. 

Byser,  Mrs.  L.,  1840,  Kentucky. 

Buchanan,  John,  1832. 

Barker,  Richard  B. 

Bates,  Asaph  W. 

Banta,  Abraham. 

Banta,  Peter. 

Barker,  John,  1832. 

Bridges,  John  A. 

Beatty,  Joseph  R. 

Berkley,  John. 

Baker,  Hiram. 

Berry,  John  W. 

Boles,  Alexander  M. 

Brown,  Preston. 

Brown,  John  S. 

Brown,  Jesse. 

Brelsford,  Majorum. 

Bentz,  William. 

Bledsoe,  William. 

Bell,  Valentine. 

Britton,  Thomas. 

Benson,  Zachariah. 

Brown,  A.  M.,  1835,  Virginia. 

Bounds,  George,  1832. 

Briggs,  D..  1838,  North   Carolina. 


Brown,  Samuel. 

Bunch,  George  H. 

Buster,  Phillip  J. 

Cecil,  Phillip,  1834,  Virginia. 

Cecil,  Polly,  1834,  Virginia. 

Cock,  Chastian,  1837,  Christian  Co., 

Kentucky. 
Cock,  Thomas  G.,  1837,  Virginia. 
Cock,  Mrs.  H.  S..  1836,  Kentucky. 
Chitwood,  Daniel,    1833,  Campbell 

County,  Tennessee. 
Cox,  Samuel. 
Cargile,  William. 
Castleman,  John  G. 
Collins,  William  J. 
Cooper,  Benjamin. 
Cleveland,  George. 
Crowley,  William. 
Callaway,  James. 
Catron,  John. 
Clark,  Marshall  P. 
Cecil,  Sebastian. 
Collins,  Thos.  1831,  Howard  County, 

Missouri. 
Collins,  David,  1837. 
Deford,John  M. 
Drake,  James  P. 
Davis,  Matthew. 
Davis,  James. 
Derritt,  B.  L. 
Davis,  Jubal. 
Davis,  William  H. 
Dunnaway,  Isaac. 
Davis,  C,  1838,  Ohio. 
Davis,  Solomon,  1838,  Ohio. 
Douglas.  Henry   T.,  1835,  Howard 

Count}',  Missouri. 
Douglas,  Mrs.  C.  P.,  1835,  Lincoln 

County,  Kentucky. 
Dunning,  Mrs.  S.  J.  1837,  Kentucky, 
Elbert,  Henry. 

East,  Mrs.  M.  T.,  1833,  Tennessee. 
Fewell,  H.  P.,  1833,  Henry  County, 

Missouri. 


HISTORY    OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 


113 


Fewell,  J.  M.,  1839,  Christian  Coun- 
ty, Kentucky. 

Fink,  Mark  J.,  1835.  Madison  Coun- 
ty, Virginia, 

Fink,  Elias  J.,  1840,  Howard  County, 
Missouri. 

Fink,  W.  C,  1840,  Howard  County, 
Missouri. 

Fink,  Abner,  1835,  Madison  County, 
Virginia. 

Fields,  Joseph,  1832,  Virginia. 

Fields,  Nathan  F.,  1834,  Virginia. 

Fields,  James  W.,  1833,  Virginia. 

Fewell,  B.  C,  1838,  Williamson  Co., 
Tennessee. 

Fand,  B. 

Trolinger,  Henry,  1833. 

Goff,  William,  1832. 

Goff,  Andrew,  1832. 

Goff,  L.  J.,  1839,  Missouri. 

Goff,  James  M.,  1836. 

Goff,  Mrs.  S.  A.,  1835,  Missouri. 

Garth,  Samuel  D.,  1834,  Kentucky. 

Garth,  Mrs.  Ermie,  1834,  Kentucky. 

George,  William  Chandler,  1835, 
Caroline  County,  Virginia. 

Gray,  William  A.,  1836,  Christian 
County,  Kentucky. 

Gray,  Dr.  J.  W.,  1840,  Henr}'  County, 
Missouri. 

Gladden,  William,  1832. 

Gladden,  Robert,  1832. 

Goodin,  Benjamin,  1832. 

Gragg,  Malcom. 

Gragg,  Alexander, 

Gordan,  Jonathan. 

Gillet,  George  S. 

Greenup,  John,  1835. 

Gray,  Thomas. 

Gooch,  John. 

Gordon,  Russell  M.,  1836. 

Gordon,  Pattison,  1837. 

Goodin,  Amos  H.,  1832. 

Gladden,  James,  1832. 


Ham,  Wm.  H.,  1833,  Howard  Coun- 
ty, Missouri. 

Hughes,  I.  N.,  1832,  Christian  Coun- 
ty, Kentucky. 

Hughes,  J.  A.,  1832,  Christian  Coun- 
ty, Kentucky. 

Hastain,  J.  N.,  1835,  Missouri. 

Holland,  F.  C,  1838,  Kentucky. 

Howerton,  J.  S.,  1839,  North  Caro- 
lina. 

Hogan,  William  H. 

Hogan,  Dr.  James. 

Hogan,  David. 

Hindley,  Joseph  B. 

Howard,  Avery  B. 

HoUey,  Bartholomew. 

Hargreaves,  James. 

Hargreaves,  William. 

Hargreaves,  Frederick. 

Howard,  Seth. 

Hall,  B.  P. 

Hart,  William. 

Holland,  Whitniel. 

Irvin,  James. 

Irason,  Thomas,  1836. 

Jones,  S.  S.,  1836,  Woodson  County, 
Tennessee. 

Jones,  R.,  Jr.,  1836,  North  Carolina. 

Jones,  Richard,  1837,  Virginia. 

Journey,  A.,  1839,  Kentucky, 

Jones,  Chesley. 

Jones,  John. 

Jones,  R.,  December,  1837,  Virginia. 

Kimsey,  Thomas,  1830. 

Kimsey,  Alfred,  1830. 

Kimsey,  Littleberry,  1830. 

Kimsey,  John,  1830. 

Keeney,  Rev.  Thomas,  183 1. 

Knox,  Thomas. 

Knox,  Joseph  A. 

Lewis,  Howell,  1836,  Virginia. 

Lotspeich,  Henry,  1837,  Tennessee. 

Littlepage,  John   D.,  1839,   Green- 
brier County,  Virginia. 


114 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 


Lake,  George  W.,  1831,  Virginia. 

Legg,  Archibald  C,  1833. 

Means,  Robert,  Sr.,  1832,  Christian 
County,  Kentucky. 

Means,  Robert  D.,  1832,  Howard 
County,. Missouri. 

Means,  Mrs.  R.  B.;  1834,  Christian 
County,  Kentucky. 

Means,  Joseph,  1832,  Christian 
County,  Kentucky. 

McWilliams,  James,  183 1,  Ken- 
tucky. 

Merritt,  M.  B.,  1840,  Kentucky. 

Merritt,  Mrs.  S.  A.,  1839,  Tennes- 
see. 

Means,  Mrs.  Marion  W.,  1839,  Ken- 
tucky. 

Morgan,  Russel  M. 

Manship,  George. 

Melton,  Joel. 

Myrtle,  Reuben. 

McDaniel,  William. 

McPherson,  Mark. 

Mockbee,  H.  C. 

Mockbee,  Thomas. 

Mockbee,  Cuthbert. 

Mockbee,  John. 

Mulky,  John. 

Martin,  Abner,  1832. 

Martin,  George  W.,  1832. 

Martin,  Baker,  1832. 

Nash,  James,   1832,  Tennesse. 

Nave,  John,  183 1. 

Nance,  Benjamin  S. 

Ogan,  William  D.,  1834. 

Ogan,  Mrs.  J.  G.,  1833,  Knox 
County,  Kentucky. 

Owens,  William,  R.,  1831. 

Owsley,  John  N.,  1832. 

Oldham,  John. 

Parazette,  Francis,  1832,  Ken- 
tucky. 

Palmer,  Drury,  1831,  Christian 
County,  Kentucky. 


Palmer,  Mrs.  Mary  A.,  1831. 

Palmer,  Daniel,  1840,  Garret  Coun- 
ty, Kentucky. 

Price,  William  B.,  1831. 

Prinnell,  Fielding  A.,  1831. 

Pigg,  John  A.,  1836,  Kentucky. 

Peeler,  M.  S.,    1837,  Orange   Coun- 
ty, North  Carolina. 

Peeler,  S.  D.,  1837,  Illinois. 

Peeler,  H.  F.,  1839,  Missouri. 

Parks,  Peyton. 

Parks,  James. 

Parks,  Bird  D.,  1840,  Kentucky, 

Prewitt,  Esau. 

Pemberton,  Thomas. 

Payne,  James  A. 

Perry,  William  T. 

Parks,  William,  1835,  Missouri. 

Pigg,  Labon,  1836,  Kentucky. 

Poor,  Solomon. 

Poor,  William. 

Parker,  Benjamin  G. 

Reid,  Alfred,  1832,  Kentucky. 

Read,  Amanda,  1840,  Clay  County, 
Kentucky. 

Reed,  John  M. 

Reeder,  Samuel. 

Rank,  John. 

Ross,  David. 

Reynolds,  Wi  liam. 

Robertson,  Cyrus  B. 

Radford,  William  P. 

Rains,  James  L. 

Swift,  William,  1831. 

Swift,  Isaac,  183 1. 

Sears,  James  B.,  1831. 

Stone,   Mrs.  E.    A.,     1836,    Henry 
County,  Missouri. 

Simpson,  William,  1831,  Kentucky. 

Stevenson,  Colby  S.,  1832,  Christian 
County,  Kentucky. 

Sissel,  P.  W.,   1831,  Virginia. 

Sharp,  John  F.,  1832,  Virginia. 

Sharp,  C.  C,  1832,  Virginia. 


HISTORY    OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  U| 

harp,  p.  B.,  1832,  Missouri.  Woodward,  James,  1832. 

Sproul,  Robert.  Woodward,  John,  1832. 

Surface,  Joel.  Wallace,  Thomas  B.,  1835. 

Surface,  Jacob.  Wallace,  Benjamin  F.,  1835. 

Squires,  George  W.  Wade,  Richard,  1833,  Kentucky. 

Shivers,  Stephen.  Warren,  James. 

Striker,  Peter.  Wall,  William  M. 

Sweeny,  Jonathan.  Walker,  John. 

Shannon,  John.  West,  Mark. 

Swift,  Thomas.  White,  David. 

Seaton,  Edward.  Wilson,  John,  1833,  Kentucky, 

Servis,  Howard.  Williams,  John  W. 

Stone,  John  C.  Wright,  William, 

Taylor,  William  B.,  1837,   Jefferson  Watson, ,  1837. 

County,  Kentucky.  Woodson,  George  B. 

Taylor,  Rickard    F.,    1837,    Louis-  Woodson,  William  G. 

ville,  Kentucky.  Wiley,  James. 

Taylor,    Mrs.    A.  M.,     1839,   Ken-  Wiley,  Abraham,  December,  1832, 
tucky.  Tennessee. 

Thurston,  Dr.  Richard,  1835.  Wiley,  William. 

Trotter,  George.  Waters,  F. 

Turner,  George  W.  Waters,  C. 

Thornton,  J.  T.,  1839,  Virginia.  Woodson,  Walter. 

Thompson,  David.  Westerfield,  Dr.  William  J. 

Tuttle,  Elias.  Wolff,  William. 

Walker,  George  W.,  1832,  Tennes-  Young,  Sarah  Collins,   183 1,  How- 
see,  ard  County,  Missouri. 

Walker,  Pleasant,  1832,  Tennessee.  Young,  D.  R.,  1837,  Lincoln  Coun- 

Wade,  P.  D.,  1830,  Kentucky.  ty,  Kentucky. 

Williamson,  B.  F.,  1840,  Tennessee. 

OLD   settler's   poem. 

'Tis  almost  half  a  hundred  years, 
Since  you  and  I,  old  pioneer, 

With  aspirations  free, 
A  home  within  this  re^^ion  sought ; 
But  who  of  us  then  dreamed  or  thought 
To  see  the  many  changes  wrought 

That  we  have  lived  to  see  ? 

From  different  counties  then  we  came, 
Our  object  and  our  end  the  same — 

A  home  in  this  far  west. 
A  cabin  here  and  there  was  found, 
Perhaps  a  little  spot  of  ground 
Inclosed  and  cleared,  while  all  around 

In  nature's  garb  was  dressed. 


Il6  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

Here  then  we  saw  the  groves  of  green, 
Where  woodman's  axe  had  never  been — 

The  spreading  prairies,  too. 
Within  these  groves  so  dense  and  dark 
Was  heard  the  squirrel's  saucy  bark  ; 
The  bounding  stag  was  but  the  mark 

To  prove  the  rifle  true. 

But  all  is  changed,  the  cabins  gone, 

The  clapboard  roof  with  weight  poles  on. 

The  rough-hewn  puncheon  floor, 
The  chimneys  made  of  stick  and  clay, 
Are  seen  no  more — gone  to  decay — 
The  men  who  built  them,  where  are  they  ? 

I  need  not  ask  you  more. 

They're  gone,  but  they're  remembered  yet, 
Those  cabin  homes  we  can't  forget, 

Although  we're  growing  old  ; 
Fond  memory  still  the  spot  reveres 
The  cabin  homes  of  youthful  years. 
Where,  with  compatriot  pioneers, 

We  pleasures  had  untold. 

The  dense  and  tangled  woodland,  too. 
The  groves  we  often  wandered  through. 

No  longer  now  are  there ; 
The  praiiie  with  its  sward  of  green, 
With  flowrets  wild  no  more  are  seen, 
But  farms  with  dusty  lanes  between 

Are  seen  where  once  they  were. 

Large  towns  and  villages  arise, 
And  steeples  point  toward  the  skies. 

Where  all  was  desert  then; 
And  nature's  scenes  have  given  place 
To  those  of  art ;  the  hunter's  chase 
Has  yielded  to  the  exciting  race 

Of  speculative  men. 

Ah  !  what  a  change  the  pioneer 
In  forty  years  has  witnessed  here; 

The  country's  changing  still ; 
How  many  changes  it's  passed  through — 
And  we,  old  friends,  are  changing,  too — 
There's  been  a  change  in  me  and  you, 

And  still  that  change  goes  on. 

And  when  we  think  upon  the  past. 
Those  friends  whose  lot  with  us  was  cast 

On  this  once  wild  frontier, 
And  pass  them  all  in  our  review. 
As  often  times  in  thought  we  do — 
Alas  !  how  very  few 

Are  there  remaining  here. 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  II7 

A  few  years  will  come  and  go 

As  other  years  have  done,  you  know; 

And  then  ?     Ah  !  yes,  what  then  ? 
The  world  will  still  be  moving  on ; 
But  we,  whose  cheeks  are  growing  wan, 
Will  not  be  here  !     We'll  all  be  gone 

From  out  the  ranks  of  men. 

Our  places  will  be  vacant  here, 
And  of  the  last  old  pioneer 

The  land  will  be  bereft; 
The  places  which  we  here  have  filled, 
The  fields  which  we  have  cleared  and  tilled, 
Our  barns,  though  empty  or  though  filled, 

To  others  will  be  left. 

Let  us  go  back — in  memory,  go — 
Back  to  the  scenes  of  long  ago. 

When  we  were  blithe  and  young, 
When  hope  and  expectations  bright 
Were  buoyant,  and  our  hearts  were  light ; 
And  fancy,  that  delusive  spright. 

Her  siren  sonnets  sung. 

'Tis  natural  that  we  should  think, 
While  standing  on  the  river  brink. 

How  wide  the  stream  has  grown. 
We  saw  it  when  'twas  but  a  rill 
Just  bursting  from  the  sloping  hill. 
And  now  its  surging  waters  fill 

A  channel  broad,  unknown. 

*Tis  natural  and  proper,  too. 

That  we  compare  the  old  and  new, 

The  present  and  the  past. 
And  speak  of  those  old  fogy  ways 
In  which  we  passed  our  younger  days; 
Then  of  the  many  new  displays 

That  crowd  upon  us  fast. 

We  little  knew  of  railroads  then, 

Or  dreamed  of  that  near  period  when 

We'd  drive  the  iron  horse  ; 
And  'twould  have  made  the  gravest  laugh 
Had  he  been  told  only  one  half 
The  wonders  ot  the  the  telegraph — 

Then  in  the  brain  of  Morse. 

We  did  not  have  machinery  then 

To  sow  and  reap  and  thresh  the  grain. 

But  all  was  done  by  hand ; 
And  those  old-fashioned  implements 
Have  long  ago  been  banished  hence, 
Or  rusting,  lie  inside  the  fence — 

No  longer  in  demand. 


51 8  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

Yes,  there  are  grown-up  men,  I  know. 
Who  never  saw  a  bull-tongue  plow, 

A  flail  or  reaping  hook  ; 
And  who  could  not  describe,  you  know, 
A  swingling  board  or  knife,  although 
Their  grandmas  used  them  long  ago, 

And  lessons  on  them  took. 

The  young  man  now  would  be  amused 
To  see  some  things  his  grandsire  used, 

Some  things  he  ne'er  had  seen  ; 
The  way  in  which  we  cleaned  our  wheat, 
When  two  strong  men  with  blanket  sheet 
Would  winnow  out  the  chaff  and  cheat, 
And  twice  or  thrice  the  thing  repeat, 
Until  the  grain  was  clean. 

The  single  shovel  plow  and  hoe, 

To  clean  out  weeds  was  all  the  show — 

We  knew  no  better  way; 
And  now  our  sons  would  laugh  to  scorn 
Such  poky  ways  of  making  corn, 
And  bless  their  stars  that  they  were  born 

In  more  enlightened  days. 

They  say  the  world  has  wiser  grown, 
They've  got  the  speaking  telephone — 

Talks  hundred  miles  or  more  ; 
And  preachers  may  preach  and  pray 
To  congregations  miles  away; 
And  thousand  other  things  they  say, 

We  never  had  before. 

And  yet  I  do  not  know  but  what 
The  pioneer  enjoyed  his  lot, 

And  lived  as  much  at  ease, 
As  men  in  these  enlightened  days, 
With  all  the  strange,  new  fangled  ways 
The  world  of  fashion  now  displays, 

The  mind  of  man  to  please. 

'Tis  true,  we  did  not  live  so  fast, 
But  socially  our  time  was  passed. 

Although  our  homes  were  mean  ; 
Our  neighbors  then  were  neighbors  true. 
And  every  man  his  neighbor  knew, 
Although  those  neighbors  might  be  few. 

And  sometimes  far  between. 

Ah !  yes,  old  pioneers,  I  trow 

The  world  was  brighter  then  than  now 

To  us  gray-headed  ones  ; 
Hope  pointed  us  beyond  the  vale, 
And  whispered  us  a  fairy  tale, 
Of  coming  pleasures  ne'er  to  fail 

Through  all  the  shining  suns. 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  1 19 

Ambition,  too,  with  smiles  so  soft, 
Was  pointing  us  to  seats  aloft, 

Where  fame  and  honor  last. 
We  had  not  learned  what  now  we  know — 
The  higher  up  the  mount  we  go 
The  storms  of  life  still  fiercer  blow, 

And  colder  is  the  blast. 

That  though  we  reach  the  mountain  top, 
Fruition  find  of  every  hope, 

Or  wear  the  victor's  crown  ; 
Though  far  above  the  clouds  we  tread, 
Other  clouds  are  still  o'erhead, 
And  on  the  mind  there  is  the  dread, 

The  dread  of  coming  down. 

Ah  !  yes.  Old  Settlers,  one  and  all. 
Whatever  may  us  yet  befall, 

We  will  not,  can't  forget, 
The  simple  and  old-fashioned  plans, 
The  ruts  in  which  our  fathers  ran 
Before  the  age  of  steam  began 

To  run  the  world  in  debt. 

But  ere,  my  friends,  we  hence  embark, 
We  fain  would  place  some  leading  mark 

Upon  this  mountain  shore; 
A  mark  the  traveler  may  see 
In  coming  years,  and  know  that  we 
Have  lived  and  passed  the  road  that  he 

May  then  be  passing  o'er. 

When  death's  dark  curtain  shall  be  drawn, 
And  we  old  pioneers  are  gone. 

Let  truthful  history  tell 
To  far  off  posterity  the  tale. 
As  down  the  stream  of  time  they  sail, 
Bow  we,  with  motto  "  Never  fail," 

Came  here,  and  what  befel. 

Let  history,  then  impartial  state 
The  incidents  of  every  date, 

And  that  it  so  may  do, 
Let  pioneers  of  every  age 
In  this  important  work  engage, 
And  each  of  them  produce  his  page, 

His  page  of  history  true. 

The  incidents  of  early  years, 
Known  only  to  the  pioneer, 

With  them  will  soon  be  lost, 
Unless,  before  they  hither  go. 
Those  incidents  are  stated  so 
Posterity  the  facts  may  know. 

When  they  the  stream  have  crossed. 


120  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

And  while  we  talk  upon  the  past, 
Of  friends  who  seem  to  go  so  fast, 

And  those  already  gone, 
It  may  not  be,  my  friends,  amiss 
For  each  of  us  to  thir.k  of  this — 
The  curtain  of  forgetfulness 

Will  soon  be  o'er  us  drawn. 

The  mind  goes  back  through  all  the  years — 
We  call  to  mind  the  pioneers, 

Those  bold  and  hardy  men  ; 
We  pass  them  in  the  mind's  review, 
The  many  dead,  the  living  few; 
Those  unpretending  settlers,  who 

Were  our  compatriots  then. 

Men,  who  of  toil  were  not  afraid, 
Men  who  the  early  history  made 

Of  this  now  famous  land  ; 
The  men  who,  ere  the  spoiler  came, 
This  heritage  so  fair  to  claim. 
Were  here  prepared,  through  flood  and  flame, 

Those  claimants  to  withstand. 

But  time  would  fail  to  speak  of  all 
Those  changes  that  our  mind  recalls ; 

The  world  is  strangely  wise; 
And  soon  its  passing  scenes  will  bear 
The  last  old  pioneer  to  where 
His  lost  and  loved  companions  are. 

In  lands  beyond  the  skies. 

The  poem  closes,  more  particularly,  the  career  of  the  old  settlers 
and  their  work.  It  gives  in  verse  a  better  description  of  the  old  pioneer 
and  his  life-long  labors  than  many  pages  of  prose  could  have  done,  and 
was  written  by  one  who  had  been  a  prominent  actor  in  pioneer  life,  hav- 
ing settled  in  Jackson  County  in  1826.  Not  all  has  been  given  which 
the  compiler  of  this  history  would  like  to  record,  and  doubtless  many 
omissions  may  be  discovered  that  should  have  had  a  place  in  the  forego- 
ing pages,  but  what  is  here  given  is  a  record  of  facts,  and  a  pretty  full 
account  of  the  early  settlement  of  the  county. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


MEXICAN  WAR  AND  THE  LAND  OF  GOLD— DEATH  AND 

LUCRE. 

MEXICO-WAR-VOLUNTEERS— THEIR  RETURN -THE  LAND  OF  GOLD— THE  RUSH  FOR 
THE  PROMISED  LAND  -  SUFFERINGS  AND  DEATH— FEVER  IN  HENRY  COUNTY- 
SOME  GOT  WEALTH  AND  MANY  POVERTY-THOSE  WHO  WENT  AND  THOSE  WHO 
DIED-THE  NAMES  OF  THOSE  WHO  RETURNED-ITEMS  OF  GENERAL  INTEREST- 
LEGAL  DOCUMENTS— MARRIAGES— WILLS— DEEDS— SLAVES-WIDOWS  DOWER. 

MEXICAN   WAR. 

The  next  few  years  were  uneventful  ones  so  far  as  local  affairs  were 
concerned.  The  Mexican  war,  which  began  in  1846,  sent  a  thrill  of 
excitement  through  the  hearts  of  the  people.  The  regular  army  was 
not  able  to  cope  with  the  Mexican  forces  on  account  of  superiority  of 
number  of  the  latter,  and  a  call  for  volunteers  was  made.  The  southern 
states,  being  nearest  the  scene  of  conflict,  rushed  their  volunteers  to  the 
front,  but  it  was  not  long  before  it  was  shown  by  the  people  of  the  coun- 
try that  the  treasonable  and  cold-blooded  utterance  of  an  Ohio  member 
in  the  halls  of  congress  had  no  resting  place  in  the  hearts  of  the  peo- 
ple: "That  Mexico  should  welcome  our  soldiers  with  bloody  hands  to 
hospitable  graves."  General  Taylor  opened  the  fight  at  Palo  Alto, 
Resaca  de  la  Palma  and  Monterey,  but  it  was  done  at  the  loss  of  the 
brave  and  gallant  Ringgold,  who  met  his  fate  at  Palo  Alto,  and  a  host  of 
others,  who  gave  their  lives  to  their  country's  glory.  And  it  will  do  no 
harm  to  mention  here  the  initial  steps  in  the  science  of  war  taken  by  a 
number  of  gallant  officers,  who  proved  themselves  heroes  upon  more 
than  one  battle  field  of  the  Mexican  war,  who  on  broader  and  more 
extended  fields  attracted  by  their  skill  and  daring  the  attention  of  the 
world.  These  young  heroes  of  the  Mexican  war  were  Grant,  McClellan, 
Lee,  Beauregard,  Hill,  Jackson,  Sherman,  Hooker,  Longstreet,  Buell, 
Johnston,  Lyon,  Anderson,  Kearney,  Thomas,  Ewell  and  Davis.  And 
of  thirty  officers  mentioned  by  General  Scott  for  their  skill  and  daring 
sixteen  were  generals  in  the  Union  Army  and  fourteen  were  generals  in 
that  of  the  Confederacy.  It  was  not  until  1847,  when  a  second  call  for 
troops  was  made,  that  two  companies  were  formed — one  commanded  by 
Captain  Nathaniel  B.  Holden,  of  Warrensburg,  and  the  other  by  Cap- 


122  HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 

tain  John  Hollovvay,  of  Warsaw.  Into  these  two  commands  something 
like  a  hundred  volunteers  came  from  Henry  County,  some  joining  the 
former  and  some  the  latter  company.  Captain  Holden's  company 
belonged  to  the  Twelfth  United  States  Infantry,  while  Captain  Hollo- 
way's  was  Company  C  of  the  First  Regiment  of  Missouri  Mounted  Vol- 
unteers under  Colonel  Sterling  Price.  Colonel  Price  and  his  command, 
and  the  triumphant  march  and  famous  battles  of  General  A.  W.  Doni- 
phan and  his  heroic  men,  have  won  a  glowing  page  in  the  history  of  our 
country.  Some  of  that  band  of  gallant  men  who  lived  to  return,  wear- 
ing bright  garlands  of  victory,  were  from  Henry  County. 

"  A  thousand  glorious  actions  that  might  claim 
Triumphant  laurels  and  immortal  fame." 

Among  those  who  did  not  return,  but  whose  bones  now  lie  on  Mex- 
ican soil,  was  Cyrus  D.  Fletcher.  He  died  at  Camp  Calhoun,  March  29, 
1847.  He  was  under  Holloway  and  in  General  Price's  command.  Ben- 
jamin W.  Coats  joined  Capt.  John  N.  Conant's  company  of  Texas 
mounted  volunteers,  and  also  died.  Then  there  were  E.  Preston  Davis, 
Isaac  N.  Shooks,  John  B.  East,  James  J.  East,  and  Joseph  Burks,  who 
were  in  Captain  Holden's  command,  who  left  their  bones  to  bleach  upon 
the  soil  of  our  foe,  and  joined  on  the  golden  shore  the  brave  Ringgold, 
the  gallant  Clay,  the  intrepid  Yell,  and  the  noble  Hardin,  who  wreathed 
their  brows  with  the  garland  of  death.  And  these  names  of  the  gallant 
dead,  with  those  of  Taylor,  Scott,  Price,  and  Doniphan,  will  go  down  in 
history,  their  fame  growing  broader  and  deeper  as  time  rolls  on. 

THEn<   RETURN. 

Others  returned  to  their  homes  to  receive  a  joyous  greeting.  Thomas 
E.  Owens,  now  in  Colorado,  joined  the  Texas  Rangers,  and  in  Holden's 
company  was  Dr.  J.  J.  Grinstead,  B.  Q.  Mitchenor,  Paris  Pinkston,  James 
Davis,  Hezekiah  Major,  William  Bull,  Dr.  B.  F.  Smith,  John  W.  Hall, 
and  many  others  whose  names  it  has  been  impossible  to  obtain.  In 
Captain's  Holloway's  company  was  James  W.  Williams,  Richard  Taylor, 
Jesse  Priggins,  and  many  others.  These  all  returned.  Captain  Holloway 
passed  through  this  county  on  his  way  to  Warsaw  with  his  men,  drop- 
ping them  along  as  they  reached  their  homes.  He  and  his  men  took 
dinner  at  George  W.  and  Preston  Walker's,  in  Shawnee  Township,  on 
their  return.  He  had  about  thirty  men.  The  next  morning  they  took 
breakfast  at  Thomas  W.  Jones',  about  half  way  between  Clinton  and 
Warsaw,  and  the  same  night  were  received  with  open  arms  by  the  patri- 
otic citizens  of  that  town,  who  gave  them  a  big  supper  and  showed 
unmistakable  joy  at  their  return.     Captain  Holloway,  in    1849,  left  for 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  1 23 

California,  and  he  who  had  stood  in  the  van  of  battle  and  escaped,  died 
on  his  way  to  California  and  was  buried  on  the  banks  of  Green  River. 

The  war  shed  a  lustre  upon  American  arms,  and  they  who  lived  and 
returned  to  their  country  received  the  plaudits  of  the  people.  Those 
who  died  in  defense  of  their  homes  can  have  no  higher  tribute  paid  to 
their  heroic  deeds  than  the  cherished  memory  that  is  ever  in  the  hearts 
of  the  American  people. 

"And  they  who  for  their  country  die 
Shall  fill  an  honored  grave, 
For  glory  lights  the  soldier's  tomb 
And  beauty  weeps  for  the  brave." 

THE    LAND   OF   GOLD. 

The  war  with  Mexico  had  scarcely  closed  when  astounding  news 
came  in  fitful  gusts  from  the  Pacific  Coast.  The  report  was  that  gold 
had  been  found  in  that  western  land;  that  the  waters  of  the  Pacific 
Ocean  actually  washed  a  golden  shore,  and  that  among  the  mountains 
and  on  the  plains,  on  Iiill  tops  and  in  gulches,  the  golden  ore  was  found. 
All  this  carne  to  the  ears  of  the  people,  and  when  corroborated  created 
the  wildest  excitement.  Talk  of  frenzy,  the  madness  of  the  hour,  the 
surging  of  the  wild  sea  waves  when  the  storm  king  lashes  them  to  fury, 
listen  to  the  clamor  of  contending  hosts  when  the  god  of  battle  urges 
on  the  serried  ranks  to  slaughter  and  to  death  !  Think  of  all  these 
combined  into  one  terrible  onset,  and  you  can  then  have  only  a  faint 
conception  of  that  mighty  throng  who  truly  proved  the  madness  of  the 
hour,  and  whose  pathway  became  a  charnel  house  of  sorrow  and  death, 
while  the  road  became  whitened  with  the  bones  of  the  victims  who  had 
failed  to  realize  their  hopes  and  dreams  and  never  reached  the  golden 
shore.  In  that  far  distant  land,  where  the  white-capped  waves  kissed 
the  pebbly  beach  on  the  Pacific's  sunlit  coast  and  sang  the  soft  lullaby 
of  a  murmuring  sea,  or  where  the  storm  king  in  his  wrath  goaded  the 
grand  old  ocean  to  fury,  there  gold,  bright,  yellow  gold,  had  been  found. 
The  rush  for  the  wonderful  land  was  as  the  charge  of  a  mighty  host.  In 
wagon,  on  foot,  on  horseback,  everywhere  the  tide  to  the  western  bor- 
der of  our  state,  and  there  the  vast  throng  "  Crossed  the  Rubicon,"  until 
the  plains  were  white  with  their  covered  wagons  and  tents,  and  they 
entered  the  portals  of  an  unknown  beyond,  some  to  pass  the  arid  waste, 
others  to  leave  their  bones  to  mark  the  pathway  for  those  who  followed. 
It  was  many  days,  days  of  terrible  suffering,  before  those  prisoners  of  a 
trackless  plain  saw  the  light  breaking  and  the  golden  land  appear  in 
view,  for  which  they  had  longed  with  yearning  hearts  and  looked  for 
with  eyes  dimmed  by  expiring  hope,  but  seen  at  last.  Despair  gave 
way  to  joy  too  great  for  utterance.  The  El  Dorado  had  been  reached; 
would  their  hopes  be  realized  .-' 


124  HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 

THEY   CROSSED   THE   "  DARK    RIYER." 

That  hegira  has  left  terrible  foot-prints  upon  the  pages  of  time. 
History  has  recorded  in  words  of  burning  intensity  and  vivid  brightness 
the  hardship  and  sufferings  of  thousands  who  sought  fame  and  fortune 
on  the  shore  of  that  distant  land.  How  many  succeeded,  or  how  many^ 
after  suffering  and  enduring  all  in  the  hope  of  a  brighter  day,  failed,  will 
never  be  recorded.  The  stream  of  surging  humanity  kept  on  for  years^ 
for  many  had  gained  a  fortune,  and  California,  the  land  of  precious  met- 
als, became  to  the  poor  man  a  veritable  land  of  promise,  but  in  reaching 
it  many  weary  days  and  nights  were  passed,  and  many  dropped  by  the 
wayside — crossing  not  the  plains  which  bordered  the  land  of  their  hopes 
and  desires,  but  over  the  "  dark  river,"  with  their  fate  unknown,  until 
Gabriel's  trump  shall  sound. 

GOLD    FEVER   IN    HENRY. 

Henry  County  did  not  escape  the  intense  excitement  which  ruled 
the  hour,  and  many  of  her  citizens  caught  the  fever  in  a  violent  form, 
and  probably  over  a  hundred  of  her  hardy  and  most  enterprising  sons 
left  for  the  wonderful  land.  Many  of  those  who  started  had  been  pio- 
neers of  the  county^ — men  who  had  blazed  a  pathway  for  the  car  of  pro- 
gress and  endured  the  privation  and  sufferings  of  all  those  who  lead  the 
van  of  civilization,  and  what  they  had  seen  and  endured  here,  they  were 
ready  to  endure  again  when  the  prospects  seemed  so  bright,  for  the 
reports  came  thick  and  fast  that  it  was  indeed  a  wonderful  land,  and 
gold  could  be  had  for  the  picking.  Still  other  reports  came  to  hand,  of 
hardships  untold,  of  suffering  and  death,  yet  it  abated  not  one  jot  or 
tittle  of  the  eager  desire  and  determination  of  all  to  seek  wealth  in  the 
land  of  sunset.  They  had  endured,  and  could  endure  again,  and  they 
proposed  to  work  as  man  never  worked  before,  and  believing  they  would 
realize  great  results,  left  for  the  promised  Elysium.  Just  how  many  left 
Henry  County  is  not  of  record.  That  over  one  hundred,  as  before 
stated,  left,  is  very  certain.  Some  returned  to  their  homes  happy,  with 
a  competency,  others  sank  by  the  wayside,  while  others  became  residents 
of  the  country,  making  it  their  choice  for  a  future  home. 

Those  who  returned  well  supplied  with  the  "root  of  all  evil"  were 
very  willing  to  make  it  known  that  they  had  "  made  their  pile,"  but  the 
size  of  said  pile  was  one  of  those  things  "  no  feller"  ever  could  find  out. 
Those  who  returned  to  Henry  County  and  their  homes  were  not  all 
wealthy  by  any  means;  still,  just  what  they  did  have  was  not  known. 
Some  spent  money,  bought  farms  and  stock,  improved  the  old  place  and 
gave  evidence  of  being  well  to  do,  and  things  did  brighten  up  consider- 
ably on  their  return,  and  Henry  County  seemed  to  grow  and  expand  as 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY.  1 25 

money  circulated  and  energy  took  possession  of  the  helm.  Henry 
County  undoubtedly  secured  her  share  of  the  wealth  found  and  gathered 
in  the  Golden  West,  and  she  also  had  her  sufferings  and  her  losses  of 
that  wonderful  period. 

Of  those  who  left  for  the  land  of  gold  only  a  partial  list  can  be 
given,  and  is  as  follows: 

John  W.  Williams.  Samuel  K.  Williams. 

Major  S.  M.  Peeler.  John  Peeler. 

Samuel  Garth.  John  Garth. 

John  Sweeney,  died  on  the  way.        Charles  Sweeney,  died  on  the  way. 

James  P.  Pinnell,  died  in  California.  Wash.  Ashby,  died  in  California. 

Richard  Taylor,  Benjamin  Barker. 

John  Slavens.  George  Slavens. 

H.  B.  Witherspoon.  Porter  Bone. 

Samuel  Burnside.  John  R.  Tennison. 

Bird  D.  Parks.  ^  Monroe  Duncan. 

Israel  Putnam.  Rufus  Putnam. 

John  R.  Gilmore.  Aaron  Cunningham. 

Isaac  Cunningham.  Captain  Gillette. 

George  East.  Nathan  East. 

John  William  Thornton.  James  Kimsey. 

George  W.  Squires.  John  Wilson. 

Ward  Drake,  died  in  California.        Charles  Drake,  died  in  California. 

Walker  Wallace,  died  in  California.  David  Ross,  died  on  Green  River, 

Benjamin  McDaniel.  going  out. 

Samuel  McDaniel.  James  Davis. 

T.  C.  Davis.  Free  Nichols.  * 

James  Witherspoon.  John  Henry  Royston. 

Dr.  Edward  Royston.  Michael  Gillette. 

Samuel  January.  Peter  January. 

Not  much  can  be  gathered  of  those  who  returned,  only  that  those 
who  went  overland,  unless  well  prepared,  suffered  terribly.  Those  who 
went  around  the  "  Horn  "  fared  but  little  better.  Not  many  incidents 
happened  to  mar  the  monotony  of  their  existence.  Major  Peeler  and 
Dr.  Ed.  Royster,  being  together  one  day,  succeeded  in  killing  a  buffalo. 
The  Major  shot,  and  the  Doctor  came  gallantly  to  his  aid  with  his  scal- 
pel, and  this  is  about  all  that  can  be  gathered  of  interest.  In  fact  many 
days  had  not  passed  before  the  constant  tramp,  tramp,  began  to  tell,  and 
but  little  energy  was  expended  outside  of  their  daily  travel. 

SOME   FACTS. 

The  first  white  child  born  in  Henry  County  was  Susan  I.  Avery, 
October  6,  1832,  on  section  10,  Tebo  Township,  now  Mrs.  Roberts. 


126  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

The  first  male  child  born  in  Henry  County  was  R.  P.  Blevins,  Octo- 
ber 20,  1833,  on  section  16,  Shawnee  Township. 

The  first  child  born  in  Clinton  was  Ermie  Nave,  now  Mrs.  Hall, 
born  on  section  3,  Clinton  Town  and  Township,  February  12,  1836. 

The  first  child  born  in  Henry  County  was  Julia  Ann  Sherman,  a 
colored  child,  born  June  14,  1832.  The  mother  belonged  to  Robert 
Means,  Sr.  The  father  of  this  child  lived  to  the  age  of  105  years.  The 
child  lives  in  Windsor  City,  at  the  age  of  fifty  years. 

The  first  death  was  a  colored  boy  belonging  to  John  Barker,  who 
lived  on  fractional  section  6,  Springfield  Township.  He  died  August  15, 
1832,  soon  after  th- ir  arrival  in  the  county. 

The  first  white  child  that  died  was  that  of  John  Buchanan,  about  one 
year  old.     It  died  in  October,  1832. 

The  first  preacher  was  Rev.  Addison  Young,  Cumberland  Presbyte- 
rian, who  preached  to  the  first  settlers  in  1830.  He  was  soon  joined  by 
the  Rev.  Abraham  Millice,  Methodist,  a  circuit  rider,  and  Rev.  Thomas 
Keeney,  a  Baptist.  The  former  preached  as  early  as  183 1,  and  the  latter 
came  in  1832.  The  first  resident  minister  was  Henry  Avery,  July  10, 
1831. 

The  first  school  taught  was  in  1833,  but  whether  the  claim  can  be 
given  to  Windsor  Township,  or  Fields'  Creek,  is  hard  to  tell.  An  Irish- 
man by  the  name  of  Johnson  taught  school  at  John  Nave's,  at  William 
Swift's,  and  at  Sears',  but  Rev.  Colby  S.  Stevenson  taught  a  school  in 
Windsor  Township  in  the  fall  of  1833,  in  an  old  log  cabin,  down  on 
Tebo  Branch,  about  two  and  a  half  miles  south  of  Windsor. 

In  1835  there  were  three  log  school  houses  erected  in  Henry  County, 
built  by  the  neighbors,  and  they  were  subscription  schools. 

The  first  resident  physician  in  the  county  was  Dr.  Richard  Wade, 
from  Kentucky.     He  settled  on  section  4,  Tebo  Township,  in  1833. 

The  first  horse  mill  in  the  county  was  put  up  by  Dr.  Wade  in  the 
fall  of  1833,  on  section  4,  on  one  of  the  branches  of  West  Tebo  Creek. 

The  first  county  court  was  at  Henry  Avery's,  section  10,  Tebo  Town- 
ship, May  4  and  5,  1835. 

The  first  circuit  court  was  at  William  Goff's,  fractional  section  i, 
September  21,  1835. 

The  first  postoffice  in  the  county  was  established  1835,  and  William 
Goff  was  postmaster. 

The  first  water  mill  erected  in  the  county  was  put  up  by  Littleberry 
Kimsey  on  Henry  Creek,  on  section  4,  in  the  year  1837.  The  mill  stood 
on  the  property  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Benjamin  Barker. 

The  first  hanging  in  Henry  County  was  on  July  31,  1846.  James 
Lester  was  hung  for  the  murder  of  Scott  D.  King.  The  gallows  was 
erected  near  or  upon  the  site  of  the  present  Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas 
Railroad  depot,  south  of  the  town. 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  12/ 

The  first  reward  ever  paid  by  Henry  County,  was  the  sum  of  $ioo 
paid  to  E.  S.  Pike,  May,  1881,  for  the  arrest  of  John  W.  Patterson  for 
the  murder  James  G.  Clark. 

The  present  president  of  the  "Old  Settlers'  Reunion,"  is  George  W. 
Walker,  since  October  i,  1879. 

The  oldest  chair  in  the  county  is  240  years  old,  was  made  in  Mary- 
land of  oak  with  a  drawing  knife,  and  has  a  splint  bottom.  It  is  the 
property  of  Mrs.  James  M.  Lindsay.  The  Wall  family  first  took  it  in  to 
North  Carolina  and  was  brought  by  Mrs.  Lindsay  from  that  state  with 
the  North  Carolina  Colony,  which  settled  in  Henry  County  in  1839. 

The  first  loss  sustained  by  the  county  was  in  1866.  Something  like 
$10,000  in  Henry  County  property,  which  was  sent  to  St.  Louis  and 
deposited  with  Miller  &  Kaist  for  safe  keeping,  during  the  the  troubles 
of  the  civil  war.     The  firm  busted.  , 

The  second  loss  amounted,  January  i,  1883,  to  over  $900,000,  but  as 
the  loss  is  still  going  on  and  will  continue  so  for  from  five  to  ten  years 
to  come,  a  future  historian  will  have  to  make  the  footing  and  present  a 
balance  sheet  to  the  people. 

.    legal  documents — marriage  certificates. 

.Commonwealth  of  Missouri, 
Rives  County. 

I  do  hereby  certify  that  on  the  I2th  day  of  November,  1835,  I  joined 
together  in  the  rights  of  matrimony  as  husband  and  wife,  Mr.  Thomas 
A.  Knox  and  Miss  Nancy  Allen. 

Given  under  my  hand  this  3d  day  of  December,  1835. 

ABRAHAM  MILLICE, 
Ordained  Minister  of  the  Gospel. 

The  above  seems  to  have  been  the  earliest  marriage  after  the  county 
was  organized.  There  was  another  certificate  of  a  marriage  on  the  9th 
of  December,  and  one  on  the  24th  of  the  same  month. 

Two  more  certificates  are  given,  first,  because  of  their  brevity,  and 
for  the  reason  that  turn  about  was  fair  play,  it  looks  as  if  the  sisters  had 
swapped  brothers;  undoubtedly  these  young  ladies  met,  and  one  said  to 
the  other,  I  will  give  you  my  brother  for  yours,  and  it  looks  as  if  the 
bargain  was  closed  at  once.     Here  are  the  models: 

CERTIFICATES. 

Solemnized  marriage  between  John  Sears  and  Dorcas  Prigmore,  the 
3d  day  of  December,  1835. 

C.  T.  STEVENSON,  E.  C.  C. 

Solemnized  marriage  between  Daniel  Prigmore  and  Mary  Sears,  on 
the  17th  day  of  January,  1836.  C.  T.  STEVENSON,  E.  C.  C. 


128  HISTORY   OF    HENR\    COUNTY. 

The  last  three  letters  are  supposed  to  stand  for  "  Elder  of  the  Christ- 
ian Church." 

FIRST    WILL. 

The  first  will  of  record  is  given  below.  Mr.  Cecil  came  to  this 
county  in  1834,  and  settled  on  section  35,  of  township  42,  range  24,  in 
what  is  now  known  as  Springfield  Township.     The  will  reads  as  follows: 

I,  Philip  Cecil,  of  the  county  of  Rives,  and  state  of  Missouri,  do 
make  and  ordain  this  my  last  will  and  testament,  in  manner  and  form 
as  follows:  I  bequeath  to  my  wife  Polly,  one-third  part  of  all  my  estate, 
both  real  and  personal,  during  her  natural  life.  I  bequeath  to  my  four 
daughters,  viz:  Allelia  Trollinger,  Penelope  Cecil,  Almira  Surface  and 
Anna  Legg,  two  hundred  dollars  each,  to  be  paid  them  as  soon  as  the 
money  can  be  collected  out  of  the  money  owing  and  now  due  to  me. 
The  balance  of  my  money  I  leave  and  bequeath  to  my  four  sons,  viz: 
William  W.,  John  F.,  Sebastian  J.  and  Philip  W.  Cecil.  I  will  and  devise 
that  the  best  half  of  my  stock,  and  of  the  produce  of  my  farm  be  kept 
on  my  farm  for  the  use  of  my  family,  and  that  the  balance  be  sold,  and 
the  money  arising  therefrom  be  equally  divided  between  my  four  daugh- 
ters, aforesaid.  T  further  devise  that  out  of  the  money  above  devised  to 
my  four  sons,  that  so  much  be  reserved  as  may  be  necessary  to  purchase 
the  quarter  section  of  land  to  which  I  now  hold  the  right  of  pre-emption, 
for  the  use  and  benefit  of  my  wife  during  her  natural  life,  and  at  her 
decease  to  descend  to  my  son  Philip  W.  I  also  will  and  bequeath  to  my 
wife  my  negro  boy,  Huland,  for  ten  years  from  this  date,  and  then  and 
thereafter  to  my  son,  William  W.  I  devise  that  my  farming  utensils 
and  tools  of  all  kinds  be  kept  for  the  use  of  the  farm.  I  also  devise  and 
bequeath  the  money  arising  from  the  sale  of  my  land  in  Virginia,  to  my 
four  sons,  to  be  divided  equally  among  them,  and  likewise  my  share  of 
the  money  coming  to  me  out  of  my  mother's  estate. 

I  do  hereby  appoint  my  wife,  Polly  Cecil,  my  executrix  of  this,  my 
last  will  and  testament,  revoking  all  others.  In  witness  whereof  I  have 
hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal  this  23d  day  of  July,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord,  1836.  his 

PHILIP  X  CECIL.         [SEAL.] 
mark. 

Signed  and  sealed  in  presence  of  Joseph  Montgomery  and  Cyrus  V. 
Robinson. 

TRUST   DEED. 

The  first  deed  of  record  proved  to  have  been  a  trust  deed  to  secure 
what  in  those  times  was  called  a  store  debt.  There  are  quite  a  number 
of  these  deeds  of  record  for  the  years  1836-7.  Deeds  of  real  estate  were 
few,  for  not  many  of  the  early  settlers  had  secured  their  patents, 
and  therefore  when  they  squatted  on  the  land  their  ability  to  sell  was 
only  their  improvements  and  the  desirability  of  their  location.  More 
or  less  of  claims  changed  hands  from  year  to  year,  for  man  is  inclined  to 
be  a  roving  animal,  and  it  at  times  requires  a  strong  incentive  to  make 
him  contented  in  one  place  for  any  length  of  time.     However,  this  was 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  1 29 

supposed  in  those  days  to  have  been  "  God's  own  country,"  and  not  many 
at  this  day  will  deny  that  it  is  one  of  the  fairest  spots  to  be  found  on 
this  green  earth,  and  very  few  who  chanced  to  find  a  home  upon  the 
bountiful  soil  of  Henry  County  ever  cared  to  leave  it.  And  this  is  found 
in  the  lives  of  so  many  old  settlers  living  to-day,  and  the  graves  and 
names  of  all  those  who  pioneered  the  advance  guard  of  Henry  County's 
stalwart  sons  and  graceful  and  handsome  daughters. 

Deeds  of  record  for  patents  received  began  to  come  in  more  often 
in  the  year  1837.  As  above  stated,  the  first  deed  of  record  was  a  trust 
deed  upon  personal  property,  and  the  following  is  a  true  copy: 

Know  all  men  by  these  presents  that  I,  John  Anderson,  for  and  in 
'consideration  of  the  sum  of  one  dollar  in  hand,  paid,  the  receipt  whereof 
is  hereby  acknowledged,  hath  bargained,  sold  and  conveyed,  and  by 
these  presents  doth  bargain,  sell  and  convey  unto  George  B.  Woodson 
the  following  property,  to  wit:  Three  yoke  of  oxen,  the  lead  oxen  of 
the  two  yoke  being  red  steers  with  white  faces,  and  the  third  yoke  being 
one  a  dark  red  and  the  other  a  black.  The  right  and  title  to  said  prop- 
erty to  the  said  Woodson  I  hereby  warrant  and  forever  defend. 

The  condition  of  the  above  conveyance  is  such  that,  whereas,  the 
above  named  John  Anderson  is  justly  indebted  to  Hall  &  Fletcher  in 
the  sum  of  fifty-one  dollars  and  sixt}'-two  cents,  by  bond  bearing  date 
August  24,  1836,  and  payable  twelve  months  after  date,  and  the  said 
Anderson  being  desirous  to  secure  the  above  named  Hall  &  Fletcher  in 
the  aforesaid  sum,  hereby  conveys  and  transfers  to  the  said  Woodson 
the  above  mentioned  property,  in  trust,  nevertheless.  The  said  Wood- 
son, in  case  of  the  default  on  the  part  of  the  said  Anderson,  when 
required  by  said  Hall  &  Fletcher,  after  said  note  becomes  due,  shall, 
after  advertising  the  time  and  place  of  sale  for  thirty  days  previous,  at 
three  of  the  most  public  places  in  the  County  of  Rives,  proceed  to  sell 
to  the  highest  bidder,  for  cash,  the  above  property,  or  so  much  thereof 
as  will  be  necessary  to  satisfy  the  debt  aforesaid  with  interest,  and  pay 
over  any  balance,  should  any  remain  in  the  hands  of  the  trustee,  after 
satisfying  the  same,  to  the  said  Anderson.  Now  if  the  above  named 
John  Anderson  shall  well  and  truly  pay  and  satisfy  the  above  named 
Hall  &  Fletcher  in  the  above  mentioned  debt  as  foresaid,  then  the  above 
conveyance  to  be  void,  else,  remain  in  full  force  and  virtue. 

Test  :  his 

BENJAMIN  X    REYNOLDS. 

mark.  JOHN  ANDERSON.         [seal.] 

GEO.  B.  WOODSON.        [seal.] 

widow's  dower  and  distribution  of  slaves. 

As  years  hence  there  may  be  a  curiosity  to  know  something  of 
slaves  and  slave  times,  there  is  given  below  the  distribution  of  the  slaves 
of  the  estate  of  Reuben  Parks,  deceased,  as  an  illustration  of  how  slaves 
were  generally  held  at  the  South.  When  the  estate  was  unable  to  keep 
them  the  slaves  generally  were  allowed  to  choose  their  master  among 

'  9 


130  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

those  wishing  to  purchase.  In  the  case  above  the  slaves,  thirteen  in 
number,  were  divided  among  the  family,  the  widow  having  first  choice, 
the  children  following  according  to  their  ages,  or  if  they  preferred,  to 
settle  it  without.  These  slaves  were  valued  as  follows  :  Big  Jim,  $450; 
Little  Jim,  $600;  Kesiah,  $5CX);  Grey,  $425;  Henry,  $325;  Harriet,  $400; 
Ben,  $300;  Tabitha  $200;  Laban  $175;  Jack,  $100;  Fanny  $450;  Judy 
(old),  000. 

The  widow,  Mrs.  Nancy  Parks,  had  as  her  dower  right  one-third 
interest.  She  chose  Grey,  $425;  Fanny  $450,  and  Jack  (the  toddler) 
$100,  She  also  took  Judy  and  agreed  to  take  care  of  her  without 
charge.  She  was  too  old  to  work  but  she  was  given  a  good  home  the 
remainder  of  her  life.  The  children  selected,  or  divided  the  others 
among  themselves,  leaving  just  one  for  each  of  the  children  as  his. 

It  was  all  settled  satisfactory  and  the  returns  made  to  the  court. 
When  one  got  the  best  he  paid  the  other  heirs  the  difference.  P'or 
instance,  the  amount  each  was  to  have  at  the  slave's  valuation  after  the 
mother  took  her  share  was  $368.75.  Now  Byrd  Parks  drew  Little  Jim, 
$600,  and  he  paid  the  difference  over  ($368.75)  to  the  other  heirs,  who 
took,  say  Henry  at  $325,  or  Laban  valued  at  $175.  The  commissioners 
who  had  charge  returned  the  report  as  above  and  it  was  approved. 

AN   ORPHAN   CARED    FOR. 

The  following  order  appears  of  record  at  the  August  term,  1846, 
and  shows  how  they  took  care  of  the  orphans  in  those  early  days.  It 
reads: 

"  Ordered  that  Elijah  E.  Gates,  a  poor  child,  without  parents, 
guardian  or  estate,  aged  thirteen  years  on  the  i6th  day  of  July,  1846,  be 
bound  to  Asaph  W.  Bates  until  he  shall  arrive  at  the  age  of  twenty-one 
years,  and  thereupon  the  said  Bates  came  into  court  and  entered  into  an 
indenture  tha'  he  would  instruct  and  teach  the  said  Gates  in  the  mys- 
teries of  the  trade  of  a  blacksmith  and  such  other  employment  as  he 
may  lawfully  require  of  him,  and  that  he  will  cause  the  said  Gates  to  be 
taught  to  write  and  read  and  the  ground  rules  of  arithmetic,  and  at  the 
expiration  of  the  time  of  service  will  give  him  a  new  Bible,  two  new 
suits  of  clothes,  to  be  worth  $40,  and  $10  in  the  current  money  of  the 
United  States." 


CHAPTER  V. 


OFFICIAL  HISTORY— CULLINGS  FROM  THE  COUNTY  COURT 

RECORDS. 


WHEN  RIVES  BECAME  A  COUNTY— ACT  OF  ORGANIZATION- DATE  DECEMBER  13,  1834- 
COUNTY  SEAT  COMMISSIONS— RIVES  COUNTY  BOUNDARY— COUNTY  COURT  AND 
COUNTY  JUDGES— MUNICIPAL  DIVISIONS- ST.  CLAIR  TOWNSHIP— FIRST  SHERIFF, 
TREASURER,  ETC.— COUNTY  SEAT  COMMISSIONER-NEW  COURT  HOUSE-SALE  OF 
TOWN  LOTS  IN  CLINTON-VALUATION  AN  D  ASSESSMENT— FIRST  SCHOOL  DISTRICT 
—1837— SEVERAL  ITEMS  OF  INTEREST— SALE  OF  SCHOOL  LANDS. 

WHEN   RIVES   BECAME   A   COUNTY. 

The  official  history  of  Henry  County  may  be  said  to  date  from  the 
organization  act  of  the  legislature,  December  13,  1834,  yet  in  reality  its 
actual  date  should  commence  on  May  4,  1835,  for  it  was  on  that  day  that 
the  first  official  recognition  of  its  existence  was  made.  A  county  court 
convened,  consisting  of  two  members,  and  their  acts  on  the  two  days  of 
their  session  was  the  first  official  recognition. 

The  act,  however,  of  the  general  assembly  of  the  State  of  Missouri 
gave  to  the  people  a  corporate  existence  under  the  name  of  "Rives 
County,"  and  the  official  life  thus  ordained  has  been  worn  with  honor, 
and  to  the  people  has  come  prosperity  and  wealth.  It  is  a  magnificent 
domain,  rich  in  an  exhaustless  soil.  Wealth  lies  hidden  beneath  its  sur- 
face to  the  extent  of  hundreds  of  square  miles  of  coal  fields,  and  with  a 
climate  unsurpassed,  Henry  County  stands  in  the  front  of  the  muni- 
cipal division,  which  composes  our  great  and  glorious  commonwealth. 

The  act  of  organization: 

COUNTY   OF   RIVES. 

"An  Act  to  organize  the  counties  of  Johnson  and  Rives,  and  to  fix  the 
southern  boundary  of  Lafayette  County."  Of  this  act  sections  7,  8 
and  9  refer  to  the  organization  of  Rives  County,  as  follows: 

ORGANIZATION. 

All  that  portion  of  territory  included  in  the  following  limits,  is 
hereby  erected  into  a  separate  and  distinct  county,  to  be  called  the 
County  of  Rives,  in  honor  of  Hon.  William  C.  Rives,  of  Virginia,. 
to  wit: 


132  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

Beginnings  at  the  southwest  corner  of  section  30,  township  44,  range 
28,  thence  south  along  the  line  of  Van  Buren  and  Bates  Counties  to 
the  northwest  corner  of  St.  Clair  County;  thence  east  along  the  north- 
ern line  of  St.  Clair  County  to  the  range  line  between  23  and  24; 
thence  north  to  the  southeast  corner  of  Johnson  County;  thence  west  to 
the  place  of  beginning. 

Sec.  8.  The  said  county  of  Rives  shall  be  added  to  and  compose 
a  part  of  the  Fifth  Judicial  Circuit,  and  that  the  circuit  court  for  said 
county  shall  be  held  on  the  first  Mondays  of  April,  August  and  Decem- 
ber, until  otherwise  provided  by  law,  and  that  the  courts  to  be  holden  in 
said  county  shall  be  held  at  the  house  of  llenry  Avery,  until  the  tribu- 
nal transacting  county  business  shall  fix  upon  a  temporary  seat  of  justice 
for  said  county;  the  county  court  of  said  county  shall  be  holden  on  the 
first  Mondays  in  February,  May,  August  and  November. 

Sec.  9.  The  commissioners  appointed  by  the  sixth  section  of  this 
act,  viz:  Henderson  Young  and  Daniel  McDowell,  of  Lafayette  County, 
and  Daniel  M.  Boone,  of  the  county  of  Jackson,  for  the  purpose  of 
selecting  a  seat  of  justice  for  the  county  of  Johnson,  are  also  authorized 
and  appointed  to  make  the  selection  for  the  seat  of  justice  for  the  county 
of  Rives,  and  are  hereby  invested  with  full  powers  agreeably  to  the  pro- 
visions of  the  existing  laws  in  relation  to  that  subject. 

Approved  December  13,  1834. 

At  the  same  session  of  the  general  assembly,  the  boundary  lines  of 
St.  Clair  County  were  defined,  but  as  the  county  was  not  then  populous 
enough  to  warrant  its  organization  as  a  distinct  municipality,  it  was 
attached  by  special  act  of  the  legislature  to  the  county  of  Rives,  for 
civil  and  military  purposes,  until  such  time  as  it  might  of  itself  become 
an  independent  county.  The  act  which  made  it  a  part  of  Rives  County 
was  passed  February,  1835.     This  act  reads  as  follows  : 

''  Be  it  Enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Missouri  : 

"  All  that  portion  of  the  territory  lying  south  of  Rives  County,  west 
of  Benton,  now  known  by  the  name  of  St.  Clair  County,  shall  be  attached 
to  the  county  of  Rives  for  all  civil  and  military  purposes,  until  otherwise 
provided  by  law." 

"Passed  February  ii,  1835." 

The  following  act  defining  the  limits  of  the  several  counties  of  the 
state  was  passed  by  the  general  assembly  at  the  session  held  in  the  win- 
ter of  1834-5,  and  was  approved  March  20,  1835.  Section  38  of  the  act 
refers  to  Rives  County,  and  gives  the  following  boundary  : 

.     RIVES   COUNTY. 

"  Beginning  at  the  southwest  corner  of  section  30,  township  44, 
range  28  ;  thence  south  to  the  line  between  the  townships  39  and  40  ; 
thence  east  to  the  line  between  ranges  23  and  and  24;  thence  north  to 
the  southeast  corner  of  Johnson  County  ;  thence  west  to  the  beginning." 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  1 33 

As  will  be  seen  by  the  act  of  organization,  the  county  court  was  to 
meet  on  the  first  Mondays  of  February,  May,  August  and  November, 
but  for  some  reason  not  explained,  the  first  session  of  the  county  court 
was  held  in  May,  1835,  commencing  on  Monday  the  4th,  and  met  as 
directed  in  the  organization  act  at  the  house  of  Henry  Avery, 

At  this  session  of  the  county  court  but  two  judges  appeared  instead 
of  three,  and  no  sheriff.  The  county  judges  were  Thomas  Arbuckle  and 
William  Goff.  The  clerk,  Jonathan  T.  Berry,  was  appointed  by  the 
judges  present.  While  under,  of  and  a  part  of  the  civil  jurisdiction  of 
Lafayette  County,  Henry  Avery  was  a  justice  of  the  peace  of  Tebo 
Township  (spelled  in  those  days  Teabo)  and  William  B.  Price  was  con- 
stable. The  above  township  comprised  as  far  as  we  can  learn  the  pres- 
ent Henry  County.  At  least  no  other  township  is  mentioned,  and  these 
gentlemen  and  early  pioneers  made  their  appearance  at  the  first  session 
of  the  county  court,  and  then  and  there  offered  their  resignations,  which 
were  accepted.  The  court  then  appointed  George  B.  Woodson  assessor 
and  John  G.  Castleman  constable,  and  this  closed  the  first  day's  proceed- 
ings of  the  county  court. 

On  Tuesday  morning,  May  5,  1835,  the  county  court  proceeded  to 
lay  off  the  county  of  Rives  into  municipal  townships.  They  divided  the 
same  into  four  and  named  them  respectively  Big  Creek,  Tebo,  Spring- 
field and  Grand  River.     {See  map  on  Jiext  pa^e.) 

At  the  same  time  the  county  of  St.  Clair  was  called  the  township  of 
St.  Clair,  taking  in  the  entire  county.  On  the  second  day.  May  5th, 
the  first  justice  of  the  peace  was  appointed  in  place  of  Mr.  Avery, 
resigned,  and  Mr.  Colby  T.  Stevenson  received  the  appointment.  Not 
having  any  further  business  the  court  adjourned  to  court  in  course,  and 
both  signed  the  minutes,  as  also  the  clerk. 

THOMAS  ARBUCKLE, 
WILLIAM  GOFF, 

Jonathan  T.  Berry,  Clerk.  County  Judges. 

These  judges  had  received  their  commissions  from  Governor  Daniel 
Dunklin. 

At  the  second  meeting  of  the  county  court,  three  judges  appeared, 
Joseph  Montgomery  having  received  his  commission  from  the  governor. 
At  this  session,  also,  Joseph  Fields  presented  his  commission  as  sheriff 
of  Rives  County.  Neither  of  the  county  justices  commissions  are  of 
record  but  that  of  the  sheriff  was  duly  recorded  as  was  also  his  bond, 
approved  by  Charles  H.  Allen,  circuit  judgeof  the  Sixth  Judicial  Circuit. 
This  second  session  of  the  county  court,  as  also  the  first  session  of  the 
circuit  court,  was  held  at  the  house  of  William  Goff,  nearly  six  miles  from 
Mr.  Henry  Avery's.  Just  when  the  circuit  court  opened  is  hard  to  tell,  the 
records  of  the  first  three  years  having  been  lost.     But  Judge  Allen  was 


'134 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 


RIVES   COUNTY, 


Range 

Lines. 

44 

28 

27 

2 

6 

25 

24 

43  i 

BIG  CREEK 

TOWNSHIP. 

TEBO 

TOWNSHIP. 

IS 

c 

o 

42^ 

41 

GRAND 
TOWN 

RIVER 
SHIP. 

SPRING 
TOWN 

FIELD 
SHIP. 

40 

39 

ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY 
Under  the  Civil  and  Military 

38 

Jurisdiction  of  Rives  County. 

37 

Named  by  Rives  County  Court 
ST.  CLAIR  TOWNSHIP. 

36 

The  double  lines  divide  townships. 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  I35 

• 
at  Goff's,  September  21,  1835,  and  it  is  to  be  presumed  that  he  held  court 
while  there.  The  act  of  organization  says  that  Henry  County  shall  be 
attached  to  the  Fifth  Judicial  Circuit.  Whether  it  was  an  error  or  the 
number  changed  is  not  down,  but  Judge  Allen  signed  his  name  as  judge 
of  the  Sixth  Judicial  Circuit.  There  was  also  an  adjourned  meeting  of 
the  county  court  on  the  23d  of  September,  1835,  and  the  rate  of  taxation 
decided  upon.  The  levy  was  ten  cents  on  the  $100,  valuation.  Twelve 
dollars  for  merchants  license  for  six  months,  and  ten  cents  on  the  $100 
valuation  of  stock,  peddlers  to  pay  a  license  of  $20  and  taverns  $18  per 
year.  Each  poll,  or  as  they  called  it,  tethable,  thirty-one  and  a  quarter 
cents.  The  county  seat  at  GofTs  was  located  on  fractional  section  i, 
in  township  42,  of  range  25.  The  assessment  was  reported  by  George  B. 
Woodson  and  the  levy  made  as  above.  Mr.  Woodson  received  for  his 
services  as  assessor  that  year,  1835,  $54.50. 

ELECTION   OF   TOWNSHIP  OFFICERS. 

The  organization  of  the  township  required  the  election  of  officers, 
and  the  election  took  place  in  August,  1835.  Those  elected  were  Abra- 
ham Banta,  constable,  of  Springfield  Township  ;  Chesley  Jones,  in  Tebo 
Township  ;  Philip  Cecil,  justice  of  the  peace  for  Springfield  Township. 
These  were  the  only  ones  reported,  but  Colby  T,  Stevenson,  still  held 
the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  for  Tebo. 

The  September  term  of  the  county  court,  elected  Joseph  Mont- 
gomery as  its  presiding  officer.  Judge  Montgomery  came  from  St.  Clair 
County,  or  Township,  as  it  was  then  called,  and  after  the  organization  of 
St.  Clair  County  in  1841,  became  prominent  in  local  affairs  of  the  new 
county.  They  held  a  special  election  in  St.  Clair  Township,  October 
24,  1835,  for  a  justice  of  the  peace  and  constable,  and  that  was  the  first 
election  ever  held  within  that  county.  The  County  Court  of  Rives 
County,  however,  found  that  the  one  township  composing  the  county 
covered  too  much  space,  concluded  to  make  two  townships  out  of  it, 
and  did  so  November  4,  1835.  They  were  named  respectively:  Wau- 
bleau  and  Monegaw. 

The  first  was  spelled  Wablaw  and  afterwards  Waeubleau,  but  we 
believe  it  is  now  spelled  as  first  used  above,  "  Waubleau."  Range  line  25 
divided  the  two  townships,  the  east  being  called  Waubleau  and  the  west 
Monegaw. 

November  28,  1835,  Joseph  Fields  ajfpointed  Nathan  A.  Fields  his 
deputy,  and  the  appointment  received  the  approval  of  Judge  Charles  H. 
Allen,  judge  of  the  Sixth  Judicial  Circuit. 

The  judge  had  also  approved  the  appointment  of  Fielding  A.  Pin- 
nell  as  circuit  clerk  pro  tempore.  This  latter  was  of  record  September 
21,  1835. 


136  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

There  was  no  general  election,  it  seems,  held  in  August,  1835. 

Joseph  Fields'  commission  of  sheriff  was  dated  August  4  of  that 
year,  and  the  county  court  appointed  some  of  the  justices  and  consta- 
bles. 

The  sixteenth  section  of  township  42  of  range  26  was  the  first  school 
lands  sold  in  Rives  County.  They  were  ordered  sold  at  the  April  term 
of  the  circuit  court,  and  the  order  of  sale  dated  February  i,  1836.  Sec- 
tion 16,  township  40  of  range  25  was  sold  in  November.  At  this  term 
of  the  court  (February)  William  Goff  resigned  as  one  of  the  county  jus- 
tices and  was  appointed  by  the  court  county  treasurer,  which  he  held 
until  August,  1837,  when  he  resigned.  Joseph  Montgomery  was  appointed 
county  surveyor,  which  he  held  until  St.  Clair  County  was  organized. 
He  did  not,  however,  resign  his  county  judgeship. 

In  May,  1836,  a  slight  change  was  made  in  the  line  between  town- 
ships Grand  River  and  Springfield.  The  first  road  laid  out  in  the  county 
was  in  the  same  month,  and  started  at  the  Johnson  County  line,  "near,  or 
at  the  high  point  of  Postoaks,  and  then  to  a  point  designed  as  the 
county  seat  of  Rives  County,  thence  south  through  the  county  of  St. 
Clair,  crossing  the  Osage  Mission  at  or  near  Crow  &  Crutchfield's  store, 
to  the  county  line  of  Polk  County  in  the  direction  of  Bolivar." 

Willis  Bush  and  David  White  were  appointed  overseers  of  the  part 
in  Rives  county. 

Phillip  Cecil,  a  justice  of  the  peace,  died  in  July,  1836,  which  is  the 
first  death  of  record,  and  whose  will  was  recorded.  His  wife,  Polly  Cecil, 
was  administratrix,  and  Cyrus  C.  Robertson  and  Samuel  Garth  were 
appointed  to  examine  and  invoice  the  effects  of  the  estate. 

Russel  Morgan  was  the  second  death,  and  probate  action  taken  by 
the  court.  The  probate  court  was  a  part  of  the  county  court  in  this 
county  until  1872,  but  the  county  court,  after  the  year  1856,  kept  the 
records  in  separate  books.  The  early  probate  business  will  all  be  found 
in  the  county  court  records  previous  to  the  above  date. 

Peyton  Parks  was  appointed  assessor  for  the  year  1833,  and  the  tax 
levy  was  the  same  as  that  of  1835. 

DEATH  OF  JOSEPH  FIELDS. 

The  death  of  the  sheriff,  Joseph  Fields,  left  Nathan  A.  Fields  acting 
sheriff  for  a  few  months,  until  the  August  election  of  1836,  when  Robert 
Allen  was  elected.  The  sheriff  and  collector's  ofifice  was  one  and  the 
same  until  1872,  when  the  collector's  office  was  attached  to  the  treas- 
urer's. 

Jonathan  T.  Berry,  county  clerk,  presented  his  resignation  of  that 
office  to  the  county  court  at  the  August  term,  1836,  and  Fielding  A. 
Pinnell  received  the  appointment.  Mr.  Pinnell  held  the  office  for  sev- 
enteen years. 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  137 

In  the  meantime  the  county  seat  question  had  been  agitated  and 
settled,  the  commissioners  having  made  their  report.  The  report  was 
accepted  at  the  November  term  of  the  court,  1836. 

The  location  selected  was  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  3,  town- 
ship 41,  of  range  26.  The  county  court  appointed  Peyton  Parks  county 
seat  commissioner,  or  county  commissioner  for  the  permanent  seat  of 
justice  of  Rives  County.  Mr.  Parks  was  given  full  power  to  lay  off  the 
town,  to  sell  lots  and  to  do  any  and  all  things  necessary  in  such  cases 
made  and  provided.  Mr.  Parks  laid  off  sixty-four  lots,  and  the  streets 
surrounding  the  public  square.  That  is,  under  his  direction  James  M. 
Goff  surveyed  the  grounds,  fixed  the  stakes,  and  Goff's  assistants  were 
James  Gladden,  Robert  Sproul  and  William  George,  the  two  latter  car- 
rying the  chains  and  otherwise  assisting.  Mr.  Goff  received  $42.75  for 
the  survey,  the  three  last  named  $3.50  each,  and  Mr.  Parks  came  in  for 
$17.25  for  selling  lots  at  the  first  sale,  which  came  off  in  February,  1837. 
Mr.  Parks  and  John  F.  Sharp  sold  of  the  first  survey  lots  to  the  amount 
of  $1,356.48. 

The  next  move  was  for  a  court  house,  and  John  F.  Sharp,  then 
county  judge,  and  Thomas  B.  Wallace,  who  had  succeeded  William  Goff 
as  treasurer,  on  the  latter's  resignation,  were  appointed  superintendents 
with  full  powers  to  plan  and  contract  for  a  new  court  house.  After  the 
above  order  it  was  some  months  before  the  county  court  looked  after  the 
patent  for  the  quarter  section  of  land  upon  which  the  county  seat  was 
located.  The  land  had  been  surveyed  and  platted,  lots  sold,  etc.,  and 
so  the  following  order  was  made  and  placed  upon  the  record: 

"  That  John  F.  Sharp  be  appointed  agent  for  and  in  behalf  of  the 
county  of  Rives,  to  deposit  with  the  register  and  receiver,  at  Lexington^ 
$200  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  a  pre-emption  right  to  the  quarter  sec- 
tion of  land  on  which  the  town  of  Clinton — the  seat  of  justice  for  Rives 
County  has  been  located.  And  it  is  further  ordered,  that  said  county 
pay  said  agent  $2.50  for  each  day  he  may  be  necessarily  engaged  in 
transacting  said  business."     Judge  Sharp  rendered  a  bill  of  $12.50. 

It  was  not  until  December,  1837,  that  Messrs.  Sharp  and  Wallace 
were  able  to  report  on  the  plan  for  the  new  court  house.  The  location 
having  been  submitted  and  approved  and  a  brick  structure  decided  upon, 
the  county  court  made  the  following  order  and  placed  it  upon  the  record. 

COURT   HOUSE   APPROPRIATION. 

"  It  is  therefore  ordered  that  the  sum  of  $2,500  be  and  is  hereby 
appropriated  by  the  court  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  brick  couit  house 
in  the  said  town  of  Clinton  and  county  of  Rives,  and  that  the  said  com- 
missioners be  authorized  and  vested  with  full  powers  to  offer  the  letting 
of  said  building  for  the  lowest  and  best  bid  which  can  be  had,  after  giv- 
ing public  notice  of  the  time  and  place  of  offering  the  same. 


138  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

The  contract  to  build  the  court  house  was  let  in  January,  1838,  to 
John  D.  Mercer,  to  be  completed  within  eighteen  months  from  the  sign- 
ing of  the  contract,  and  the  cost  of  construction  to  be  divided  into  three 
equal  payments — the  first  two  in  six  and  twelve  months,  and  the  last 
payment  when  the  court  hoVise  was  finished  and  accepted  by  the  court. 

Judge  Sharp  was  also  appointed  county  commissioner  for  the  perma- 
nent seat  of  justice,  with  full  power  to  sell  and  collect  notes  and  make 
deeds  in  the  name  of  the  county.  Judge  Sharp  held  this  position  until 
1844,  when  he  resigned. 

The  lots  in  the  first  plat  having  mostly  been  sold,  another  survey 
was  ordered,  and  in  March,  1838,  the  new  addition  was  placed  upon  the 
market  by  Commissioner  Sharp,  Joseph  Montgomery  having  surveyed 
the  ground,  for  which  he  received  the  sum  of  $12.  The  report  of  this 
sale,  like  the  others,  was  probably  filed  away,  and  the  names  of  the  pur- 
chases and  prices  paid  can  only  be  told  by  producing  that  paper.  There 
was  one  lot  sold  at  private  sale  of  record.  That  was  to  George  W.  Lake, 
and  he  paid  the  munificent  sum  of  $8  for  the  choice  lot  No.  89,  "  sup- 
posed to  contain  a  half  acre  of  ground." 

John  F.  Sharp,  who  was  appointed  to  go  to  Lexington,  Missouri,  to 
enter  the  selected  land  for  the  county  seat  at  the  land  office,  and  secure 
a  United  States  patent,  made  his  report.  Lots  had  been  sold  ranging 
from  $4  to  $5,  but  only  certificates  of  purchase  given.  Judge  Sharp 
reported  to  the  county  court  that  he  had  entered  the  quarter  section  of 
land  at  the  land  office  at  Lexington  December  12th,  1837. 

There  is  really  very  few  of  the  early  records  that  are  satisfactory  in 
many  important  points.  For  instance,  the  census  of  Rives  County  was 
ordered  taken  in  1836,  and  the  sheriff,  Robert  Allen,  performed  the  work, 
but  the  only  record  of  his  work  is  the  account  the  sheriff  made  out 
against  the  county  of  $35.00  "for  taking  the  census  of  Rives  County," 
and  the  account  was  ordered  paid.  What  the  populatien  was  may  have 
been  known  at  the  time,  but  it  is  not  known  at  this  day,  nor  is  it  of 
record.  It  is  so  in  numerous  instances  in  the  enumeration  of  children 
of  school  age.  They  were  taken  years  before  any  account  was  published 
of  their  number.  The  county  court  acted  upon  the  theorj'  in  those  days 
that  these  items  were  for  their  knowledge,  to  carry  out  their  sworn  duty, 
but  that  posterity  had  nothing  to  do  with  it,  and  so  when  they  got  the 
information  and  used  it,  that  was  the  end  of  it.  It  is  possible  that  in 
some  hidden  corner  ot  some  old  rickety  building  which  answered  for  a 
court  house  in  those  primeval  days,  that  a  scrap  of  foolscap  paper  might 
be  found  with  these  figures  upon  it,  but  the  probability  is,  the)'  went  to 
light  the  old  clay  pipe,  or  a  fire. 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  1 39 

REMOVAL   OF   THE   COUNTY    SEAT. 

Soon  after  the  sale  of  lots  had  been  effected,  the  order  came  for  the 
county  and  circuit  courts  to  be  held  at  Clinton,  and  the  "House  of  Goff" 
was  thenceforward  shorn  of  its  honor  as  the  county  seat  of  Rives  County. 

There  wasn't  much  of  a  show  for  a  court  house,  or  a  house  to  hold 
court  in,  at  Clinton,  but  Mr.  George  W.  Lake  was  authorized  to  find  some 
kind  of  a  building  to  hold  court  in,  and  have  it  ready  by  the  May  term, 
1837,  of  the  county  court,  and  that  term  was  held  in  Clinton,  being  the 
first  county  court  at  the  permanent  seat  of  justice  of  Rives  County.  The 
last,  or  February  term,  at  Goff's,  was  a  memorable  one,  as  it  planned  out 
most  of  the  work  which  resulted  in  a  new  court  house,  and  also  organ- 
ized a  more  thorough  system  for  the  management  of  county  affairs.  It 
might,  perhaps,  be  just  to  say,  that  the  officials  were  learning  more  thor- 
oughly their  duties,  and  the  manner  of  carrying  them  out.  At  this  last, 
or  February  term,  at  Goff's,  came  the  commissioners  who  had  performed 
the  onerous  duty  of  locating  the  county  seat,  and  presented  their  little 
bills.  Messrs.  Young  and  McDowell,  of  Lafayette  County,  thought 
about  $12  each  would  satisfy  their  yearning  for  the  currency  of  the  realm, 
while  Mr.  Boone,  of  Jackson,  called  for  $14,  as  a  remuneration  for  the 
important  services  he  had  rendered  as  one  of  the  founders,  you  might 
say,  of  this  beautiful  city  of  Clinton,  a  gem  that  lies  upon  the  fair  bosom 
of  the  prairies  of  Henry  County,  a  city  of  fine  business  blocks,  beautiful 
residences  and  grounds,  and  last  but  not  least,  a  generous,  open-hearted 
and  hospitable  people.  Such  a  prospect  as  is  now  presented  to  the  eye 
was  but  dimly  seen  or  felt  by  the  old  pioneers,  but  they  paid  the  bills  of 
the  commissioners  promptly,  and  probably  with  thanks.  At  least  they 
were  done  with  a  peripatetic  court  house,  and  had  come  to  the  beautiful 
city  of  the  dim  and  distant  future  to  stay.  That,  at  least,  was  enough 
to  be  thankful  for. 

The  first  county  pauper  was  also  evolved  at  this  time  from  the  haunts 
of  poverty,  and  came  before  the  court  to  be  taken  care  of  as  a  county 
charge.  He  was  a  blind  man  named  George  Manship,  and  his  offer  to 
become  a  charge  upon  the  county  was  gracefully  accepted  by  the  county 
court  under  the  circumstances. 

Whether  the  county  court  used  James  B.  Sears'  house  as  a  court 
room  in  May  or  not  is  not  of  record,  but  in  June  they  did,  and  he  got  $6 
rent.  It  is  more  than  likely  that  covered  the  rent  of  both  sessions.  At 
all  events,  Mr.  Littleberry  Kimsey  offered  to  furnish  a  house  from  the  fol- 
lowing November  for  thirteen  months  at  the  rate  of  $50  per  annum. 
Just  what  the  thirteen  months  meant  was  not  stated,  but  it  was  proba- 
bly that  that  date  was  the  completion  of  the  new  court  house.  The 
proposition  was  accepted. 


140  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

There  was  a  slight  change  in  taxation  in  the  year  1837,  increasing 
on  valuation  and  made  it  less  on  poll.  The  rates  decided  on  were  i6| 
cents  on  the  $100  valuation,  25  cents  poll,  merchants'  license  $12  to  state 
and  $12  to  county  for  six  months,  peddlers  $20  for  six  months,  taverns 
$10  to  state  and  $5  to  county  for  one  year,  and  groceries  to  state  and 
county  each  $5  per  year. 

The  first  school  district  organized  in  the  county  was  in  the  fall  of 
1837  as  District  No.  i  in  township  42  of  range  26,  and  from  that  date  the 
selling  of  school  lands  and  the  organization  of  school  districts  com- 
menced, and  from  this  foundation  has  arisen  the  magnificent  system  and 
liberal  management  of  the  schools  of  the  present  day.  Our  forefathers 
built  well  and  laid  a  solid  foundation  for  the  intellectual  advancement 
and  moral  progress  of  the  people  of  to-day.  But  the  school  history  of 
Henry  County  will  be  found  fully  written  up  under  its  own  proper  head- 
ing in  another  place,  and  will  therefore  call  our  readers'  attention  to  it 
then.  It  will  be  found  interesting  reading  to  those  who  take  pride  in 
the  intellectual  advancement  of  the  people  generally  and  of  the  youths 
of  the  present  day. 

THE   COUNIY   SEAT. 

Clinton  seemed  to  grow  and  prosper.  There  was  not  in  its  location 
or  afterwards,  which  happened  to  many  other  county  seats,  that  was  a 
county  seat  fight.  There  were  no  towns  of  importance  in  the  county, 
and  the  only  rivalry  possible  was  in  the  ownership  of  land  near  the 
center  of  the  county,  but  even  that  was  denied  them,  as  the  land  was 
only  just  opened  for  market,  and  not  enough  people  to  purchase  all  the 
land  available  for  a  county  site.  So  when  Clinton  was  located  she  had 
no  rivals,  her  location  prevented  rivalry  afterwards.  Being  so  near  the 
center,  all  she  had  to  do  was  to  grow  and  prosper.  In  August  of  1837, 
a  patrol  was  appointed.  About  this  time  William  GofT  resigned  the 
ofifice  of  county  treasurer,  and  Thomas  B.  Wallace  was  appointed.  A 
tavern  was  built  and  a  license  to  keep  it  was  granted  to  John  Nave,  he 
paying  $10  to  the  state  and  $5  to  the  county  for  the  privilege.  This 
was  Clinton's  first  hotel. 

The  August  election  came  off  as  usual,  but  a  special  election  was 
held  at  the  town  of  Clinton  on  the  23rd  of  November,  1837,  to  elect  a 
justice  of  the  peace.  This  was  the  first  held  there.  He  was  to  have 
jurisdiction  over  Grand  River  Township. 

The  county  court,  after  paying  Mr.  Sears  $6  for  court  house  favors, 
as  before  mentioned,  removed  their  court  house  to  a  building  furnished 
by  Robert  Sprawl.  He  got  $15  rent,  but  how  long  it  was  used  was  not 
stated. 

Another  slight  change  took  place  in  the  township  lines,  and  this  time 
it  was  between  Grand  River  and  Big  Creek.     Mr.  Matthew  Davis  wanted 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  I4I 

to  be  in  Grand  River  Township,  and  by  the  order  of  the  court  he  got 
there.  The  next  thing  to  a  road  in  those  early  days  was  a  way  to  get 
across  the  large  streams  when  the  ford  could  not  be  used.  This  was 
accomplished  by  ferries,  and  the  first  one  started  in  Henry  or  Rives 
County  was  by  Edward  Mulholland,  who  was  granted  a  license  to  keep  a 
ferry  across  Grand  River  on  section  9,  township  40,  of  range  25,  he  pay- 
ing $2  to  the  state  for  the  privilege,  the  county  charging  nothing.  The 
rates  for  ferriage  was,  for  a  man,  6  cents;  man  and  horse,  12  cents;  one 
horse  wagon,  25  cents;  two  horse  wagon,  31  cents;  four  horses  and 
wagon,  50  cents,  and  hogs,  sheep  and  cattle,  4  cents  each. 

The  first  sale  of  slaves  of  record  was  those  belonging  to  the  estate 
of  B.  Cox,  which  took  place  in  February,  1838,  the  family  generally  pur- 
chasing them.  The  sale  was  ordered  to  settle  the  estate.  From  May 
I2th,  1838,  to  May  12th,  1839,  the  sum  of  $72.50  was  paid  to  John  Parks 
for  the  use  of  his  house  to  hold  court  in.  This  was  quite  an  advance 
over  the  year  before,  but  then  John  Parks'  house  might  have  been  larger 
than  the  others.  This  was  the  fourth  change  of  location  since  the  seat 
of  justice  had  been  pervianently  located. 

There  was  another  sale  of  lots  at  auction  March  22  and  23,  1838,  on 
a  credit  of  nine  months.  This  time  was  given  in  place  of  the  twelve 
months  given  at  a  previous  sale,  but  it  was  done  to  help  meet  the  second 
payments  on  the  court  house  which  would  become  due  about  that  time. 
The  sale  of  lots  amounted  to  $315-  Some  $11  worth,  or  two  lots  were 
sold  in  August,  and  in  March,  1839,  another  sale  footed  $156.  On  the 
previous  or  first  sale  of  lots  on  twelve  months  reported  at  $1,356.18,  the 
time  was  up,  $736.04  was  paid  in  and  the  remainder  of  the  notes  were 
renewed.  Mr.  Goff,  who  had  handed  in  his  resignation  as  treasurer  of 
Rives  County  some  months  before,  presented  his  account  for  services 
rendered.  He  had  been  acting  treasurer  for  over  a  year  and  he  thought 
he  was  entitled  to  $40.32.  and  seeing  he  had  waited  nearly  a  year  before 
presenting  his  account,  it  was  promptly  passed  and  a  warrant  issued  for 
the  full  amount.  This  warrant  was  worth  its  face  as  a  tax  paying  cur- 
rency and  somewhere  in  the  neighborhood  of  seventy-five  cents  on  the 
dollar  in  store  goods.  But  the  farmers  soon  got  to  understand  that 
these  warrants,  like  the  greenbacks  of  to-day,  were  their  own  issue,  that 
there  was  good  property  behind  them,  and  that  a  little  bit  of  reasoning 
advanced  them  to  par  and  kept  them  there. 

The  first  coroner's  inquest  was  on  the  body  of  Peggy  Givens,  whose 
body  was  found  on  the  road  leading  to  her  home.  Exposure  and  appo- 
plexy  was  supposed  to  have  caused  her  death.  The  coroner's  fees  and 
burial  expenses,  except  coffin,  amounted  to  $6.80.  A  justice  of  the 
peace  acted  as  coroner. 

The  year  1839  ushered  in  numerous  changes,  and  there  were  many 
new  settlers  who  found  their  homes  here.     Not  all  had  gone  to  the  beau- 


142  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

tiful  Indian  lands  known  as  the  "  Platte  Purchase,"  but  many  found  the 
splendid  prairies  of  Henry,  with  their  deep,  rich  soil,  good  enough  for 
them,  and  that  if  there  were  richer  lands  than  what  they  had  before  their 
eyes  others  might  go  and  find  them,  as  for^them  they  were  satisfied. 
There  is  no  mistake  about  it;  the  solid  progress  that  Henry  County  had 
made,  both  in  wealth  and  population,  in  less  than  a  decade  from  the  set- 
tlement of  Arbuckle,  Avery,  Parks,  Cecils,  Goffs  and  others — from  1831. 
1832  and  1833  to  the  year  1840 — had  been  the  equal  of  any  similar  area 
of  land  in  the  state,  only  excepting  the  wild  rush  of  1837-8  to  the  above 
mentioned  "  Platte  Purchase"  in  Northwest  Missouri.  Yet  large  bodies 
of  this  land  went  into  the  hands  of  speculators,  and  therein  it  proved 
more  of  a  curse  than  a  blessing  to  that  section  of  the  state. 

The  county  building  was  progressing.  Judge  Sharp  had  his  hands 
full  attending  to  county  seat  matters  and  had  to  resign  his  superintend- 
ency  of  the  court  house  building.  Mr.  Matthew  Davis  was  called  on  to 
take  his  place,  and  Messrs.  Wallace  and  Davis  remained  commissioners 
until  the  completion  of  the  work.  In  addition  to  a  new  court  house  a 
public  well  was  considered  a  great  public  convenience,  and  two  of  the 
public-spirited  citizens  of  Clinton  offered  to  the  county  court  to  sub- 
scribe $100  towards  a  well  if  the  county  would  put  up  a  like  amount. 
The  names  of  these  gentlemen  were  Asaph  W.  Bates  and  Thomas  B. 
Wallace.  The  county  court  was  a  pretty  shrewd  trio  of  old  farmers  and 
they  promptly  accepted  the  proposition,  but  coupled  it  with  the  follow- 
ing proviso: 

"  If  the  well  did  not  cost  $200  the  county  would  pay  its  share  or  half 
what  it  did  cost,  and  Bates  and  Wallace  were  to  pay  the  other  half." 

They  did  not  propose  to  subscribe  $roo  anyway,  in  case  the  well 
should  not  cost  the  full  amount.  The  contract  was  let,  and  a  guarantee 
clause  of  plenty  of  water  and  the  well  walled  up  with  rock  and  every- 
thing in  good  order  added,  Messrs.  Bates  and  Wallace  agreeing  to  the 
economy  proviso  of  the   court.     The  well  proved  of  great  convenience. 

There  had  been  numerous  ferry  privileges  granted,  but  it  seems  there 
was  one  needed  across  Grand  River,  on  the  road  leading  from  Clinton  to 
Harmony  Mission,  in  Bates  County,  which  had  not  found  a  keeper.  Such 
being  the  case  the  county  court  offered  to  any  one  who  would  take  charge 
and  keep  said  ferry  at  the  point  designated,  extra  prices  for  ferriage. 
These  were  for  a  four  horse  team  and  loaded  wagon,  $1.50;  the  same 
empty,  $1;  two  horse  wagon,  50  cents;  man  and  horse,  25  cents;  horses 
and  mules,  12  cents  per  head,  and  sheep  and  hogs,  6  cents.  Who  accepted 
this  most  liberal  offer  was  not  recorded. 

This  year  also  showed  great  activity  in  the  schools.  There  were 
some  five  or  six  sections  of  these  lands  sold,  generally* at  the  govern- 
ment price  of  $1.25  per  acre.  Some  few  choice  lots  would  go  higher,  if 
the  owners  adjoining  wished  to  enlarge  their  landed  estate- 


CHAPTER   VI. 


RIVES  DISGRACED  AND  HENRY  CROWNED-LET  US  HAVE 

A  LAW  SUIT. 


FAILED  TO  MATERIALIZE-COUNTY  FAIR-WHAT  IT  COST— CEDAR  TOWNSHIP— MORE 
TOWNSHIPS-DtEP  WATER-ST.  CLAIR  AND  HENRY -RIVES  TO  HENRY- SOME 
REFLECTIONS-DRAM  SHOP— PROPOSING  A  SUIT- VALUATION  AND  ELECTION- 
ITEMS-HALF  SHEET  OF  FOOLSCAP— THE  FIRST  BRIDGE-OSAGE  RIVER  ASSOCIA- 
'lION-4626  9;-TO  REPAIR   COURT  HOUSE,  $i.5oo-NO  PROBATE  COURT-PROGRESS. 


FAILED   TO    MATERIALIZE. 

It  was  as  early  as  1839  that  the  farmers  of  Henry  County  first  took 
up  the  idea  of  forming  an  agricultural  society,  and  the  county  court 
granted  an  order  for  an  election  for  the  purpose  of  organization.  What 
became  of  it,  or  what  it  amounted  to,  is  not  known.  This  was  in  Feb- 
ruary. The  matter  slumbered  then  for  two  and  a  half  years,  and  then 
the  same  identical  order  was  made  at  the  August  term  of  the  court  in 
1841.  It  seemed  to  have  then  slept  the  sleep  that  knows  no  waking,  for 
it  slumbered  no  less  than  seventeen  years.  In  1858  the  first  agricultural 
fair  was  held  in  Henry  County,  but  it  came  near  being  a  success  a  year 
sooner. 

In  the  meantime  the  court  house  was  approaching  completion.  Two 
payments  had  been  made,  and  in  August,  1839,  the  contractor  reported 
his  work  done.  The  commissioners  reported  that  the  same  was  com- 
pleted, "except  the  circular  glass  over  the  door,  and  a  bar  across  the 
south  door."  The  county  court  accepted  the  report  of  the  commission- 
ers, and  ordered  the  payment  of  $833.33,  when  the  two  little  matters 
spoken  of  were  attended  to.  The  court  took  a  look  at  the  building, 
which  seemed  to  satisfy  them,  and  they  felt  that  their  dignity  would  not 
be  compromised  when  they  took  possession  of  the  building,  but  what 
clearly  filled  their  souls  with  horror  was  the  debris  which  surrounded 
this  stately  edifice,  (which  is  now  an  ejtesore  to  the  aesthetic  culture  of 
the  present  day).  The  court  thought  it  knew  itself  and  its  proper 
standing  in  society,  and  promptly  withheld  $25  of  the  contractor's  pay 
until  he  cleared  that  stuff  away,  and  the  surroundings  were  such  as 
would  not  disgrace  them  or  detract  from  the  handsome  appearance  of 


144  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

their  new  temple  of  justice.  The  court  house  completed  cost  $2,565, 
without  the  commissioners'  salaries  who  superintended  its  construction. 
The  $65  being  for  extra  work  in  changing  the  roof. 

In  the  last  payment  the  county  fell  short  in  funds  to  the  amount  of 
$713.70  and  the  majority  of  the  court  decided  to  borrow  it  from  the  road 
and  canal  fund.  Judge  Kimsey  promptly  dissented,  saying  that  that 
fund  could  not  be  legally  used  for  any  such  purpose.  That  it  could  only 
be  used  for  roads  and  canals,  and  be  loaned  out  expressly  for  the  increase 
of  the  road  and  canal  fund.  The  majority  of  the  court.  Judge  John  F. 
Sharp,  and  Judge  Francis  Parazette,  admitted  that  Judge  Kimsey  was 
right,  and  they  at  once  borrowed  the  money,  themselves  giving  their 
notes,  with  a  majority  of  the  county  court  as  their  security,  in  the 
name  of  the  County  of  Rives.  They  then  handed  the  mone}'  over  to  the 
commissioners  to  settle  up  in  the  manner  and  exceptions  before  noted. 

CEDAR  TOWNSHIP. 

The  territory  south  of  St.  Clair  County  was  also  a  part  of  the  terri- 
tory of  Rives,  or  rather  under  its  civil  and  military  jurisdiction,  but  there 
were  few  settlers  and  the  distance  so  great  that  it  had  not,  up  to  this  time, 
appeared  in  the  proceedings  of  the  Rives  County  Court.  The  first  settler 
was  believed  to  have  been  John  Crisp,  who  settled  on  Sac  River,  near  the 
center  of  the  county,  and  where  afterwards  the  Montgomery  &  Dunnegan 
Mill  was  erected.  He  afterwards  moved  south  in  Dade  County,  on  what 
was  afterwards  called  Crisp's  Prairie,  but  still  in  Cedar  Township.  The 
organization  of  this  territory  into  a  township  was  done  by  an  order  of 
the  court  in  February,  1840.  The  territory  included  in  this  township 
covered  all  the  territory  now  known  as  Cedar,  Dade,  and  Lawrence 
Counties.  The  following  is  the  order  of  organization  made  at  the  above 
date  : 

"  Ordered  by  the  court  that  an  additional  township  be  laid  off  z«  this 
cotinty  to  be  called  Cedar  Township,  as  follows  :  Bounded  south  by  the 
county  of  Newton,  east  by  Polk,  west  by  Bates  and  north  by  the  south 
boundary  of  township  37,  of  ranges  Nos.  27  and  28." 

This  order  seemed  to  have  swung  around  to  the  west  and  taken  in 
Jasper  and  Barton  Counties  as  w^ell.  None  of  these  counties  were 
organized  at  that  time.  Bates  County  included  Vernon,  and  Jasper 
being  organized  first  included  Barton,  the  latter  county  not  being  taken 
off  of  Jasper  until  1855.  The  other  counties,  Dade  and  Jasper,  were 
organized  in  1841,  Cedar  in  1843,  ^"^  Lawrence  in  1845.  So  Cedar 
Township  began  to  be  curtailed  of  her  immense  proportions  soon  after 
her  organization  as  a  township.  John  G.  Williams  was  appointed  a 
justice  of  the  peace  for  Cedar  Township.  There  was  an  election  in 
August  for  a  constable  and   Mr.  Stephen  R.  Wright  was  elected.     He 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  I45 

brought  the  returns  of  that  election  of  Cedar  County  to  the  Henry- 
County  Court  and  received  $5  for  bringing  them.  He  traveled  some  150 
miles,  required  about  a  week's  time,  paid  his  own  expenses  and  received 
the  above  munificient  remuneration.  Some  of  our  official  friends  who 
claim  the  title  of  constable  would  hardly  go  across  the  street  for  such 
pay  at  this  day.  This  election  was  held  at  the  mill  of  John  G.  Williams, 
and  the  judges  of  the  first  election  were  Obediah  Smith,  William  Ains- 
worth  and  John  G.  Williams.  As  St.  Clair  County  was  the  next  year, 
1841,  organized  out  of  that  part  lying  immediately  south,  Rives  County 
had  no  further  jurisdiction,  and  St.  Clair,  with  her  two  townships  of 
Waubleau  and  Monegaw,  was  then  an  independent  municipality. 

MORE   TOWNSHIP,    SALARY. 

Up  to  this  time  Rives  County  had  consisted  of  but  four  municipal 
divisions,  viz.:  Big  Creek  and  Grand  River  on  the  west,  and  Tebo  and 
Springfield  on  the  east.  It  was  decided  to  make  another  township  to 
be  called  "Deepwater"  and  this  was  done  by  taking  the  territory  off  of 
the  south  part  of  Grand  River.  It  was  and  is  the  southwest  township 
in  the  county.  Deepwater  Township  line  was  slightly  changed  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1841,  and  again  varied  a  little  in  an  order  dated  May  2,  1842. 

Prior  to  the  year  1840  the  justices  of  the  county  court  received  one 
dollar  and  fifty  cents  a  day  for  their  services,  that  is,  for  services  actually 
performed.  In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1840  the  justices  allowed  them- 
selves $2  per  day  for  each  day's  attendance  at  court.  The  census  of  1840 
was  taken  by  the  sheriff  but  what  number  of  inhabitants  Henry  or 
Rives  County  had  was  not  entered  of  record,  but  will  be  given  under 
the  head  of  population.  It  took  the  sheriff,  Phillip  J.  Buster,  sixty-five 
days  to  complete  his  work  and  his  compensation  was  $97.50,  or  $1.50  a 
day.  There  was  little  change  going  on.  The  county  seemed  to  grow 
and  prosper,  keep  out  of  debt  and  pay  promptly  its  bills. 

ST.    CLAIR   AND    HENRY. 

The  people  of  St.  Clair  County  believing  that  their  population  was 
sufficient,  and  that  they  were  capable  of  managing  their  own  affairs, 
petitioned  the  general  assembly  for  an  act  of  organization  to  become  a 
full  sister  in  the  galaxy  of  counties,  and  castoff  the  clothing  of  a  depend- 
ent. The  petitioner  was  received  by  the  legislature  and  acted  upon  Jan- 
uary 29,  1841,  and  henceforth  she  was  free,  and  allowed  to  "  paddle  her 
own  canoe  "  in  a  manner  which  to  her  seemeth  best. 

At  this  same  session  of  the  general  assembly  Rives  County  became 

a  thing  of  the  past,  and   Henry  County  succeeded   to  the  title,  interests 

and    emoluments  of  all   that   was    once,  but   never  to    be   again,  Rives 

County. 

10 


146  HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 

In  1840,  the  Hon.  John  C.  Rives,  of  Virginia,  became  a  Whig  in  pol- 
itics, and  as  Rives  County  was  a  strongly  Democratic  one,  was  named 
after  the  distinguished  Virginian,  because  of  his  fame  and  his  Democ- 
racy. On  learning  he  had  been  false  to  his  faith,  and  had  wandered  from 
the  "  true  fold,"  the  people  became  exasperated  and  decided  to  change 
the  name  of  the  county  from  Rives  to  Henry,  this  last  in  honor  of  the 
great  oratorical  light  of  the  American  Revolution  of  1776,  Patrick  Henry. 
In  the  legislature  of  1841,  the  people  secured  the  passage  of  the  following: 

"AN   ACT   TO   CHANGE   THE   NAME   OF   RIVES   COUNTY. 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Missouri,  as  folloivs : 

Section  i.  That  all  that  portion  of  country  bounded  as  follows,  to 
wit  :  Beginning  at  the  southwest  corner  of  section  30,  township  44,  of 
range  28  ;  thence  south,  to  the  line  between  townships  39  and  40  ;  thence 
east,  to  the  line  between  ranges  23  and  24;  thence  north  to  the  southeast 
corner  of  Johnson  County  ;  thence  west  to  the  beginning,  shall  compose 
the  county  of  Henry. 

Sec.  2.  All  laws  in  force  relating  to  the  county  of  Rives  shall  be 
construed  to  apply,  in  all  respects,  to  the  county  of  Henry,  and  all  acts 
and  things  done  and  performed,  and  contracts  made,  or  which  may  be 
done  or  made,  before  the  first  day  of  September  next,  in  the  name  of  the 
county  of  Rives,  shall  be  as  valid  and  binding  in  that  county  and  all 
others,  as  if  made  or  done  in  the  name  of  the  county  of  Henry;  and  all 
matters  and  business  which  is  commenced,  or  which  shall  before  the  said 
first  day  of  September,  be  commenced  in  the  name  of  the  county  of 
Rives,  shall  be  continued  in  the  name  of  the  County  of  Henry,  and  all 
officers,  civil  or  military,  appointed,  or  to  be  appointed  for  the  county  of 
Rives,  shall  be  deemed  and  taken  to  be  appointed  for  the  county  of 
Henry,  and  are  hereby  authorized  to  act  as  such. 

Sec.  3.  All  courts,  heretofore  established  and  directed  by  law  to 
be  held  in  the  county  of  Rives,  shall  in  all  respects  apply  to  the  county 
of  Henry. 

Approved  February  15,  1841." 

This  act  to  take  eftect  from  and  after  its  passage. 

It  was  because  of  the  apostacy  of  the  Hon.  William  C.  Rives  to  his 
political  faith,  which  had  been  Democratic,  who  turned  and  had  become 
a  follower  of  Henry  Clay,  that  caused  the  name  of  Rives  County  to  be 
changed  to  Henry,  and  the  deliberate  treachery  of  Martin  Van  Buren 
to  General  Lewis  Cass  and  the  Democratic  party,  caused  the  name  of 
the  adjoining  county  of  Van  Buren  to  be  changed  to  Cass. 

A  man  may  change  his  politics  and  his  party  without  in  any  way 
affecting  either  his  honesty  or  his  manhood,  if  that  change  is  from  per- 
sonal conviction,  but  when  attempting  to  carry  out  a  spirit  of  revenge, 
or  to  secure  the  power  and  spoils  of  office,  they  are  simply  traitors  to' 
party,  and  but  an  apology  for  true  manhood.  So  we  have  here  in  this 
changing  of  names  in  counties  lying  side  by  side  a  proof  that  the  spirit 


HISTORY   OK    HENRY    COUNTY.  I47 

and  conceptions  of  the  people,  at  h(hurt,  are  right,  and  that  treachery 
will  receive  condign  punishment  at  theirl^ands  in  every  case.  Farewell, 
Rives,  welcome  Henry.  And  we  trust  that  in  after  time,  if  the  occasion 
should  arise,  that  this  name  may  arouse  in  the  hearts  of  the  people  the 
spirit  of  true  patriotism  and  love  of  liberty,  as  his  magic  voice  and 
inspired  words,  "Give  me  liberty,  or  give  me  death,"  shook  the  halls  of 
congress  in  the  crisis  of  American  liberty,  and  brought  forth  that  great 
"Declaration  of  Independence,"  which  has  ever  since  been  the  beacon 
light  of  hope,  no  longer  deferred,  to  the  oppressed  of  all  nations  and 
climes.  And  those  inspired  words  aroused  congress  to  action  and  gave 
courage  and  hope  to  the  already  battle  scarred  heroes  of  many  bloody 
fields,  and  if  in  the  recall  of  this  name  it  shall  inspire  our  people  to 
action  and  deeds  of  heroic  valor,  all  will  be  well.  They  can  tell  their 
children  of  him,  and  of  the  great  war  of  Independence,  and  to  cherish 
in  their  memories  the  trials  and  the  valor  of  the  heroes  of  1776,  and  to 
emulate  their  deeds  and  virtues.  If  this  is  done  the  future  of  Henry 
County  will  never  be  imperilled  by  armed  foes. 

The  organization  of  St.  Clair  County  required  from  Henry  a  settle- 
ment of  its  affairs,  and  an  account  of  Henry  County's  stewardship  while 
under  its  jurisdiction.  The  principal  item  was  that  of  the  school  fund, 
some  of  the  sixteenth  section  having  been  sold  under  the  direction  of 
the  county  court  of  this  county.  The  court  made  an  order  at  once  to 
find  out  the  amount  of  funds  in  its  hands,  money,.notes,  &c.,  and  to  turn 
the  same  over  to  the  representative  duly  authorized  to  receive  the  same 
of  St.  Clair  County. 

DRAMSHOPS. 

The  groceries,  or  the  general  stores,  had  held  a  monopoly  of  the 
liquor  traffic  since  the  organization  of  the  county,  there  being  no  regu- 
lar licensed  saloon  in  the  county  up  to  May,  1841.  On  May  3,  Preston 
Wise  presented  a  petition  for  a  dramshop  license,  as  it  was  then  called, 
and  he  secured  the  coveted  prize  for  six  months,  by  paying  to  the  col- 
lector of  the  county  $15  to  the  state  and  $22.50  to  the  county,  and  the 
advalorem  tax  on  each.  This  license  was  for  a  saloon  in  Clinton,  and  at 
the  same  time  M.  Arbuckle  and  Sabine  Jones  received  licenses  for  dram- 
shops in  Henry  County.  They  paid  the  same  fee  for  the  same  length  of 
time,  six  months. 

The  license  granted  to  Matthew  Arbuckle  was  to  go  to  Tebo  Town- 
ship as  then  organized  and  was  said  to  have  been  located  at  Calhoun. 
The  other  license,  the  place  was  not  mentioned.  It  was  to  open  a  dram- 
shop in  Henry  County.  From  this  time  on  for  several  years  licenses 
were  granted  to  all  who  applied.  There  were  in  later  years  some  oppo- 
sition and  Grand  River  Township  was  the  first  to  oppose  the  granting 
of  licenses  for  dramshops  in  their  township. 


iI48  HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 

PROPOSING   A    SUIT. 

At  the  May  term,  May  4,  1841,  the  foUowinc^  appeared  of  record: 

"Jonathan  T.  Berry,  one  of  the  justices  of  this  court,  submitted  the 
following  for  the  consideration  of  the  court,  viz.:  Whereas,  the  legis- 
lature, by  an  act  passed  lOth  February,  1835,  entitled  an  act  concerning 
the  road  and  canal  fund,  among  other  things  provided:  If  by  any  order 
of  any  county  court,  any  part  of  the  fund  shall  be  misapplied  to  objects 
other  than  roads,  bridges  and  canals,  the  members  of  the  court  present 
at  the  time  of  making  the  order  and  consenting  thereto  shall  be  indi- 
vidually liable  for  the  amount  so  misapplied,  and  the  same  may  be 
•recovered  by  suit  in  the  name  of  the  county  for  the  use  of  the  said  fund; 
and  it  appearing  from  the  report  of  the  treasurer  of  this  county  that 
$1,226.30  has  been  used  by  the  county  for  other  purposes  than  those  pro- 
vided in  said  act;  I, as  one  of  the  justices  of  the  county  court  of  Henry 
County,  move  said  court  to  enter  suit  for  the  recovery  thereof" 

"And  after  mature  consideration  thereon  by  the  court  the  said 
-motion  was  overruled." 

Exactly,  there  were  two  against  one  and  the  "protest"  got  the 
'benefit  of  a  record.  Over  $700  of  this  fund  went  to  pay  the  last  pay- 
ment on  the  court  house  of  which  two  former  judges.  Sharp  and  Para- 
zette,  gave  their  individual  note  to  the  fund  for  security.  Judge  Berry, 
lin  the  abstract  was  right,  but  it  was  scarcely  just. 

•    VALUATION — ELECTION. 

The  assessed  valuation  of  Henry  County  was  first  placed  upon 
-record  in  1842.  It  then  footed  up  $197,059.  There  were  also  505  polls. 
The  assessed  value  of  1845,  which  was  the  next  found  placed  upon  the 
record,  was  $35 1,308,  almost  double  in  four  years. 

The  first  school  township  organized  in  the  county  was  in  Novem- 
ber of  1842,  being  in  congressional  township  43,  range  26.  Mr.  William 
Akens  was  appointed  school  commissioner. 

At  the  election  in  August,  1841,  William  R.  Owen  and  Phflip  J. 
Buster  were  candidates  for  the  office  of  sheriff  and  collector.  Buster  got 
the  certificate  and  Owen  at  once  entered  a  protest,  and  contested  the 
election.  The  suit  was  decided  in  favor  of  Owen,  who  took  possession 
January  i,  1842,  Mr.  Buster  retaining  the  office  only  a  little  more  than 
three  months.  But  the  peculiarity  of  the  case  came  out  when  Mr.  Owen 
■coolly  brought  in  his  bill  against  the  county,  of  $161.43,  ^.s  the  amount 
it  cost  him,  as  he  said,  to  secure  his  just  rights.  The  county  court 
slightly  demurred  to  this,  in  fact  refused  downright  to  pay  a  penny  of 
it.  This,  of  course,  precipitated  matters,  and  Mr.  Owen's  attorney 
promptly  asked  for  a  writ  of  mandamus,  to  compel  the  county  court  to 
fork  over  the  money  for  this  bill  of  costs.  This  seemed  to  the  court  a 
pretty  hard  case,  and  they  called  in   their  legal   adviser  and  consulted 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  149- 

upon  the  course  to  be  pursued,  and  it  was  thought  best  to  join  issue  and 
let  the  circuit  court  try  the  case.     They  made  the  following  rejoinder  : 

"  The  county  court  of  Henry  County,  in  answer  to  said  writ  of  man- 
damus for  cause  of  non-payment  of  the  sums  certified  to  be  paid,  say, 
that  the  cost  accrued  in  the  contested  election  between  William  R. 
Owen  and  Phillip  J.  Buster,  for  the  sheriffalty  of  said  county,  to  which 
suit  the  county  nor  this  court  was  a  party,  nor,  as  the  court  conceives,, 
are  in  any  way  interested  in  the  event  thereof,  therefore  they  conceive 
that  they  are  neither  equitably  or  legally  bound  to  levy  the  same  upon 
the  county  for  payment.  Whicli  answer  is  ordered  to  be  certified  to  the" 
circuit  court." 

The  suit  was  decided,  nevertheless,  against  the  county,  and  they" 
paid  the  $[61.43,  ^"d  as  the  judgment  added,  "the  cost  of  this  suit." 

There  was  still  a  sale  of  lots  going  on  in  the  town  of  Clinton.  Now 
and  then  a  purchaser  would  come  forward,  and  the  prices  would  go  right- 
up.  Lots  107  and  108  were  sold  for  $9  each;  five  years  before  they  could 
have  been  bought  for  $5.  The  cheapest  sale  seems  to  have  been  ten- 
acres  in  the  southwest  part  of  the  town,  which  were  sold  to  Asa  C.  Mar- 
vin for  $15. 

Among  the  incidents  of  that  time  was  the  residence  and  death  of  a' 
soldier  of  the  war  of  1812,  living  in  Henry  County,  and  also  the  parents- 
of  several  others,  who  had  died  or  been  killed  in  battle  while  in  the 
United  States  service.  William  Baylis,  a  revolutionary  soldier,  died  in" 
this  county  June  18,  1843.  He  was  from  Kentucky,  and  had  been  a  lieu- 
tenant in  the  army  of  the  revolution  of  1876.  He  had  received  a  pen- 
sion of  $320  a  year  from  1831,  although  the  law  was  not  passed  until^ 
1833.     This  sum  was  divided  into  two  semi-annual  payments. 

HALF   SHEET   OF   FOOLSCAP, 

It  is  a  notorious  fact,  a  fact  that  has  been  handed  down  to  us  from' 
generation  to  generation,  because  instilled  into  our  minds  by  practice 
and  precept,  that  our  ancestors  were  a  penurious  race  in  the  use  of  paper,, 
and  there  is  not  a  particle  of  doubt  but  what  the  very  justices  who  made 
the  following  order  were  in  their  home  life  as  careful  of  the  scraps  of 
paper  as  those  who  came  into  court  with  a  petition  on  the  back  of  an 
old  letter  or  on  a  blank  page  of  some  old  book,  or  still  worse,  a  scrap  of 
paper  torn  off  some  sheet  of  foolscap  not  over  an  inch  wide,  to  bring 
into  court  an  account,  a  report  or  a  petition.  However  that  may  be,  the 
court,  whether  they  practiced  economy  in  the  matter  of  paper  or  not 
were  heartily  tired  of  receiving  such  scraps,  which  were  too  small  to  hie 
or  keep  in  any  respectable  shape  for  reference,  and  made  this  order: 

"It  is  ordered  that  all  papers  presented  to  this  court  hereafter  must 
be  on  not  less  than  a  half  sheet  of  foolscap  paper,  and  that  the  court 
will  not  act  on  no  paper  less  in  size  than  the  above,  notes,  receipts  and- 
vouchers  of  settlement  of  estates  excepted." 


150  HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 

THE   FIRST   BRIDGE. 

The  first  bridge  of  any  account  built  in  Henry  County  was  started 
in  the  fall  of  1845  and  completed  in  May,  1846.  It  cost  $1,470,  and  the 
contractor  was  to  keep  it  in  good  repair  for  two  years.  Fifteen  hundred 
dollars  had  been  appropriated.  The  bridge  was  built  across  Grand 
River  at  a  place  known  as  the  "  Big  Ripple,"  on  the  road  leading  from 
Clinton  to  Harmony  Mission,  in  Bates  County. 

ITEMS. 

Another  well  was  built  in  the  court  house  yard,  completed  February, 
1845. 

Judge  John  F.  Sharp  delivered  the  patent  for  the  quarter  section  of 
land  on  which  Clinton  was  located,  to  the  county  court  in  November, 
1844.  That  patent,  however,  is  not  of  record,  nor  does  any  one  at  this 
day  know  what  has  become  of  it. 

A  debtor  and  credit  account  was  ordered  to  be  kept,  and  the  county 
clerk  was  charged  to  keep  it,  so  the  court  could  tell  the  condition  of  the 
county  finances  at  any  time. 

The  clerk  of  the  county  court  showed  up  his  financial  reports  of 
receipts  and  disbursements  for  the  fiscal  year  ending  May,  1847.  The 
county  had  run  behind,  or  had  fallen  in  debt  just  $47.56. 

All  the  lots  in  Clinton,  not  sold,  were  ordered  to  be,  either  by  pri- 
vate or  public  sale,  as  the  commissioner  might  see  fit. 

Thomas  B.  Wallace  resigned  the  treasurership  February,  1846.  He 
had  been  treasurer  for  nearly  nine  years. 

There  was  on  hand,  the  first  day  of  May,  1846,  the  sum  of  $3,730.64, 
belonging  to  the  road  and  canal  fund. 

The  first  fence  around  the  court  house  square  was  to  include  one 
acre  of  ground.     John  Sweeny  took  the  contract  to  build  it. 

Henry  County  joined  what  was  called  the  "Osage  River  Associa- 
tion," and  paid  $626.95  for  the  privilege.  The  court  then  turned  over 
the  share  that  Henry  County  held  in  the  Osage  River  to  the  state,  and 
declined  to  invest  any  more. 

The  Mexican  war  commenced  in  1846. 

It  cost  $350  to  keep  the  court  house  in  repairs  from  the  time  it  was 
erected  up  to  1848. 

First  mention  of  the  issue  of  county  warrants  was  in  1850;  $991.95 
had  been  taken  in  for  taxes  by  the  collector. 

The  delinquent  lists  of  all  kinds,  real  and  personal,  for  1854,  was 
only  $44.83. 

Andrew  M.  Tutt  made  the  first  plat  of  the  township  of  Henry 
County  in  1853.     There  were  seven  in  all. 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  151 

The  first  school  commissioner  of  the  county  was  George  W.  Miner, 
who  was  appointed  in  November,  1864. 

The  sum  allowed  for  the  treasurer,  salary,  from  1848,  for  several 
years,  was  $80.  It  was  then  raised  to  $100,  and  kept  at  that  for  several 
years. 

The  field  notes  of  Henry  County  were  purchased  in  1853,  for  the 
sum  of  $40. 

In  1853  $1,500  was  appropriated  to  improve  and  finish  off  the  court 
house. 

Benjamin  F,  Owen  offered  to  put  up  a  well  house  over  the  old  well 
on  the  southeast  corner  of  the  public  square,  if  the  county  court  would 
grant  him  an  exclusive  lease  of  it  for  fifteen  years.     Mr.  Owen  got  it. 

It  was  this  same  year  that  the  temperance  element  out  voted  the 
dramshops  in  Grand  River  Township,  they  getting  an  order  that  no 
dramshops  should  be  licensed  in  that  township  for  twelve  months,  end- 
ing May,   1854. 

Persons  who  turned  their  cows  in  the  court  house  yard  were  fined 
$2.50. 

NO   PROKATE   COURT. 

All  the  probate  business  of  Henry  County  had  been  transacted  by 
the  county  court,  and  in  many  other  counties  of  the  state  they  had  done 
the  same.  In  fact,  there  was  little  of  it  done  outside  of  large  cities,  by 
any  other  officers  than  county  court  justices.  A  law  was  passed,  how- 
ever, in  the  winter  of  1848-9  by  the  general  assembly  in  session,  known 
as  a  "  Probate  act,"  appointing  a  judge  and  defining  his  duties.  This 
act  was  left  optional  with  the  people  of  the  several  counties  of  the  state 
to  accept  or  reject  the  law,  which  was  to  take  effect  only  on  receiving  a 
majority  of  the  qualified  voters  of  the  county.  Henry  County  did  not 
seem  ro  take  much  interest  in  the  matter,  and  though  it  was  voted  upon 
at  the  annual  August  election  (1849),  only  a  light  vote  was  polled.  The 
vote  for  a  separate  probate  court  was  returned  and  showed  ninety-eight 
votes  in  favor  of  the  new  court  and  ninety-one  against  it.  The  majority 
of  the  county  court  at  once  decided  that  the  vote  was  a  failure,  that  a 
majority  of  the  qualified  voters  of  Henry  County  had  not  voted  in  its 
favor,  and  consequently  there  was  no  probate  court  in  Henry  County, 
nor  was  there  any  for  many  years  after,  or  until  1872. 

Justices  C.  C.  Bronaugh  and  Johnathan  T.  Berry  decided  that  as  the 
act  did  not  say  that  "a  majority  of  the  qualified  voters  voting  in  its 
favor,  etc.,  but  a  majority  of  the  qualified  voters  of  the  county,  so  read 
the  law."  To  this  view  of  the  case  Justice  John  VanHoy  dissented,  but 
he  was  a  minority,  and  that  ended  the  business.  It  was  thought  that 
it  was  less  expensive  to  the  people  to  keep  matters  as  they  were. 


152 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 


PROGRESS, 
i 

There  was  considerable  increase  in  the  population  of  the  county, 
and  immigrants  came  in  in  groups  and  formed  settlements.  The  major- 
ity were  still  from  the  southern  states.  The  township  grew  so  that  two 
of  them,  Tebo  and  Grand  River,  were  each  divided  into  two  voting  pre- 
cincts, the  order  of  the  court  being  here  given: 

At  the  July  term,  1856,  Tebo  Township  was  divided  into  two  voting 
precincts,  the  boundaries  of  which  were  as  follows  : 

"Precinct  No.  i  to  include  all  that  part  of  Tebo  Township  on  the 
east  side  of  the  road  running  from  the  township  line  near  William  A. 
Gray's  to  Calhoun;  thence  following  the  road  to  the  high  point  of  Tebo 
by  way  of  A.  Atkins,  and  that  the  poll  books  for  said  precinct  be  opened 
at  the  church  in  Calhoun." 

"Precinct  No.  2  to  include  all  that  part  of  Tebo  Township  lying  on 
the  west  side  of  the  road  running  from  the  township  line  near  William 
A.  Gray's  to  Calhoun;  thence  following  the  road  to  the  high  point  of 
Tebo,  by  way  of  A.  Atkins,  and  that  the  polls  be  opened  at  M.  Arbuckle's 
store  in  Calhoun." 

At  the  same  term  of  the  court  and  date  the  township  of  Grand 
River  was  also  divided  into  two  voting  precincts,  known  as  Nos.  i  and 
2,  and  their  metes  and  boundaries  were  described  as  follows: 

"  Beginning  at  a  point  on  the  line  between  Henry  and  St.  Clair 
Counties,  where  the  road  leading  from  Osceola  to  Clinton  crosses  the 
same;  running  from  thence  along  said  road  to  Clinton,  and  from  Clinton 
along  the  main  road  to  the  Grand  River  bridge.  All  that  portion  of 
said  township  south  of  said  road  shall  be  known  as  Precinct  No.  i,  and 
the  poll  books  for  said  precinct  be  opened  at  Major  Marvin's  office  in 
Clinton. 

"And  all  that  portion  of  said  township  lying  north  of  said  road  shall 
be  known  as  Precinct  No.  2,  and  the  poll  books  for  said  precinct  shall 
open  at  the  court  house." 


CHAPTER  VII. 

JAILS— ELECTION— FINANCES— TOWNSHIPS. 

A  NEEDED  INSTITUTION— FINANCIAL  AND  OTHERWISE— RESOLUTION  OF  THANKS- 
PATENT  OFFICE  AND  AGRICULTURAL  REPORTS-ELECTION  OF  1858,  THE  FIRST  OF 
RECORD— RECEIPTS  AND  EXPENDITURE^— NINE  VOTING  PRECINCTS  IN  i860— 
TOWNSHIP  BOUNDARIES,  AUGUST,  i860— THE  GREAT  CHANGE-FINANCIAL  DEPRESS- 
ION—EXHIBIT—DELINQUENTS OF  1861  TO  1864-TAXATION— LEVY,  COLLECTIONS  AND 
DELINQUENCIES  FROM  1865  TO  1870— ITEMS. 

A   NEEDED   INSTITUTION. 

Henry  County  had  been  pretty  free  from  criminally  inclined  people, 
but  a  jail  at  last  became  a  necessity  and  one  was  accordingly  ordered. 
It  took  no  less  than  three  persons  to  oversee  this  job  to  the  satisfaction 
of  the  court.  In  November,  1855,  ^  committee  was  appointed  to  draw 
up  a  plan  and  specifications  and  let  the  contract  for  a  jail  building  for 
the  county  of  Henry.  The  commissioners  named  were  Joseph  Davis, 
Daniel  Ashby  and  William  M.  Bogarth.  They  were  ordered  to  adver- 
tise the  job  so  as  to  get  the  best  and  lowest  bid  for  the  work.  Three 
thousand  dollars  were  appropriated  for  the  building.  It  was  finally  let 
to  Messrs.  William  Johnson  and  Joel  C.  Bridges,  who  entered  into  a 
bond  of  $6,000  for  the  faithful  performance  of  their  contract.  The  con- 
tractors pushed  things,  and  in  April  got  $1,000,  and  by  November,  1856, 
had  received  $2,100  in  all. 

By  the  middle  of  December  the  committee  reported  that  the  jail 
was  completed,  but  not  according  to  contract.  The  county  court  then 
ordered  the  commissioners  to  retain  $350  in  their  hands  until  the  con- 
tract was  fully  and  honestly  carried  out,  and  for  the  sheriff  to  take  the 
keys.  The  jail  was  finally  completed,  and  its  total  cost  $3,044,  the  $44 
being  for  extra  work.  This  without  the  commissioners'  salaries.  The 
first  jailor  put  in  charge  was  William  D.  Street. 

FINANCIAL   AND   OTHERWISE. 

The  next  statement  of  the  finances  of  the  county  was  in  1856,  when 
it  was  shown  that  the  receipts  'for  the  fiscal  year  ending  May,  1857, 
exceeded  the  expenses  to  the  amount  of  $241.71.  There  was  a  floating 
debt  outstanding    in  warrants  of  $183.22.     The  intention  was   to  keep 


154  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

out  of  debt,  and  although  considerable  expense  had  been  gone  into  in 
building  and  improvements,  the  taxes  had  been  levied  to  meet  the 
increased  expenditures,  and  it  had  done  so  despite  of  the  delinquent 
lists,  vvWch,  though  not  large,  seem  to  grow  in  proportion  to  increased 
taxation. 

The  election  for  governor  in  1856,  was  the  first  and  nearly  the  last 
vote  entered  upon  the  record  until  1880.  That  year  James  S.  Rollins 
received  441  votes,  and  Robert  M.  Stewart  291.  The  latter,  however, 
carried  the  state  and  became  its  governor.  A  list  of  all  the  state  officers, 
United  States  senators  and  members  of  congress  will  be  found  in  another 
part  of  this  work,  and  carried  up  to  date. 

RESOLUTION  OF   THANKS. 

It  was  in  ante  bclhnn  days  when  congressional  and  governmental 
literature  was  being  wafted  to  every  congressional  district  in  the  land, 
and  such  literary  gems  as  the  patent  office  reports,  the  Congressional 
Globe  and  Agricultural  Reports,  were  the  staple  and  most  interesting 
reading  furnished  a  confiding  people  by  the  public  servants,  and  that  too, 
without  money  and  without  price,  that  the  judges  of  the  Henry  County 
Court  became  the  proud  and  grateful  recipients  of  favors  from  their  ever 
thoughtful  servant,  the  Hon.  Thomas  P.  Akers,  congressman  for  this 
district,  then  known  as  the  Fifth.  That  they  should  feel  it  their  duty  to 
offer  him  a  "  resolution  of  thanks,"  and  have  the  same  spread  upon  the 
minutes  for  a  liberal  supply  of  these  valuable  works,  is  not  to  be  won- 
dered at.  To  receive  this  light  and  instructive  reading  for  their  amuse- 
ment during  the  long  winter  evenings  to  come,  was  indeed  a  boon. 
Therefore,  for  this  unexpected  supply  of  mental  pabulum,  and  the 
exquisite  pleasure  of  its  perusal  to  be  experienced  in  the  near  future, 
they  caused  to  be  written  out  the  following  resolution,  and  the  same 
entered  upon  the  record,  at  the  August  term,  August  12,  1857  : 

Ordered,  That  the  thanks  of  this  court  are  hereby  tendered  to  the 
Hon.  Thomas  P.  Akers,  member  of  congress  from  this  district,  for  pre- 
senting each  member  of  this  court  with  a  copy  of  the  Agricultural 
Reports  from  the  patent  office  for  the  year  1855." 

This  was  all  right  and  proper,  but  for  some  unexplained  reason,  the 
genial  and  faithful  Akers  failed  to  materialize,  or,  in  other  words  his 
congressional  duties  came  to  an  end,  when  the  unexpired  term  which  he 
had  been  called  to  fill  came  to  a  close. 

ELECTION,  AUGUST,  1858. 

The  election  returns  of  Henry  County  was  the  first  county  election 
returns  made  for  county  officers  of  record.  The  following  was  placed 
upon  the  records  for  the  August  election  of  1858: 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  1 55 

Congress — 

S.  H.  Woodson 762 

John  W.  Reid 221 

G.  R.  Smith 122 

State  Senate — 

M.  C.  Goodlett 508 

L.  S.  Cornell 506 

Representatives — 

Dewitt  C.  Stone 574 

Daniel  Ashley 537 

Sheriff- 
William  R.  Taylor 582 

George  W.  Minor 535 

County  Court  Justice — 

Jonathan  T.  Berry 547 

Samuel  M.  Shensley 518 

Public  Administrator — 

Alexis  Warmsly 686 

Joshua  Sweeny 276 

Treasurer — 

Royal  L.    Burge 798 

Coroner — 

P.  F.  Genoway 650 

Superintendent  Public  Schools — 

John  G.  Provines no  v^ote  entered 

William  B.  Starks no  vote  entered 

ITEMS. 

The  new  township  of  Bogard  was  organized  August,  i857-  It  lies 
in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  county. 

The  town  of  Clinton  was  incorporated  February,  1858. 

Osage  Township,  in  the  southeast  corner  of  the  county,  was  organ- 
ized in  May,  1858,  and  the  voting  precinct  was  established  at  the  house 
of  George  W.  Bowles. 

The  Clinton  Hay  Scales  Company  was  organized  in  August,  1857, 
and  the  county  court  granted  "twenty  feet  square  of  ground,  and  more 
if  necessary,"  to  accomplish  their  purpose  of  erecting  a  large  platform 
scale.     The  county  subscribed  $95  to  the  stock. 

The  receipts  of  Henry  County  for  the   fiscal  year  ending  May. 

1859 $7,358  84 

Expenditures,  same  time 7. 198  48 

Excess  of  receipts $    160  36 

For  i860,  ending  May,  receipts $5,604  58 

For  i860,  ending  May,  expenditures 5,473  62 

Excess  of  receipts $     13096 

There  was  a  deficit  for  1861  of  $382.94. 


156  HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 

Twenty  dollars  were  paid  for  wolf  scalps  at  the  February  term  of 
the  county  court,  i860. 

The  nine  (9)  voting  precincts  in  Henry  County,  January  1st,  i860, 
were  Calhoun,  Bellemont,  Leesville,  Clinton,  Goldsmith's  Store,  N.  J. 
Dunn's,  Bogard,  at  Asa  Hendrick's  house;  Big  Creek,  Kimsey's  School 
House;  Osage  Township,  the  house  of  George  VV.  Bowles. 

The  second  fence  around  the  public  square  was  erected  in  the  sum- 
mer of  i860,  and  the  court  house  yard  was  enlarged  some  twelve  feet, 
it  being  extended  that  number  .of  feet  on  each  side,  and  William  R. 
Taylor  was  placed  in  charge  of  construction.  The  old  fence  was  sold 
for  $14.15. 

The  bonds  for  treasurers  and  collectors  was  not  very  high,  being 
from  $20,000  to  $30,000,  until  i860.  That  year  they  were  raised  and 
Royal  L.  Burge  $50,000,  and  William  R.  Taylor,  $40,000  bonds  were 
given.     The  former  as  treasurer  and  the  latter  sheriff  and  collector. 

Another  election  for  a  probate  court  was  had  in  i860,  but  nothing 
resulted. 

The  county  court  ordered  in  1861  the  publication  of  the  boundaries 
of  the  seven  municipal  divisions  of  which  it  was  composed,  in  the  Clin- 
ton Journal. 

$3  a  day  was  now  the  pay  of  the  county  court  judges. 

The  military  roll  of  the  county,  as  returned  August,  1861,  numbered 
1,640  names. 

The  receipts  in  the  war  year,  1862,  were  287.98,  and  expenditures, 
$2,1 13. II. 

The  valuation  of  slaves  was  place  1  at  $150  each,  and  assessment  at 
that  figure. 

The  deficit  for  the  fiscal  year  ending  May,  1863,  amounted  to 
$871.10. 

TOWNSHir    BOUNDARIES. 

The  boundaries  of  the  several  municipal  townships  of  Henry 
County  was  more  clearly  defined  by  action  of  the  court  at  its  session, 
August  10,  i860.     They  were  as  follows: 

TEBO   TOWNSHIP. 

"  Beginning  at  the  northeast  corner  of  the  county,  thence  moving 
west  on  the  county  line  to  the  northwest  corner  of  section  36,  in  town- 
ship number  44,  of  range  26;  thence  south  on  section  line  to  the  line 
between  townships  42  and  43;  thence  east  on  said  township  line  to  the 
northwest  corner  of  section  5,  in  township  42,  of  range  25;  thence  south 
on  section  line  to  the  southwest  corner  of  section  17,  in  township  42,  of 
range  25;  thence  east  on  section  line  to  the  eastern  boundary  of  the 
county;  thence  north  on  county  line  to  the  beginning. 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  1 57 

BIG  CREEK  TOWNSHIP. 

"Beginning  at  the  northeast  corner  of  section  35,  in  township  44,  of 
range  26;  thence  west  on  section  line  to  the  middle  of  the  main  channel 
of  Big  Creek  to  its  confluence  with  Honey  Creek;  thence  up  the  middle 
of  the  main  channel  of  Honey  Creek  to  the  line  betwen  townships  43 
and  42;  thence  east  on  said  township  line  to  the  southeast  corner  of 
section  35,  township  43,  of  range  26;  thence  north  on  section  line  to  the 
beginning." 

BOGARD  TOWNSHIP. 

"Beginning  at  the  northwest  corner  of  the  county;  thence  running 
east  on  the  county  line  to  the  middle  of  the  main  channel  of  Big  Creek 
on  the  north  line  of  section  36,  in  township  44,  of  range  28;  thence 
down  the  main  channel  of  Big  Creek  to  the  middle  of  the  main  channel 
of  Grand  River;  thence  up  the  middle  of  the  main  channel  of  Grand 
River  to  the  western  boundary  of  the  county;  thence  north  on  county 
line  to  the  beginning." 

DEEPWATER  TOWNSHIP. 

"Beginning  at  the  southwest  corner  of  the  county;  thence  north  on 
county  line  to  the  middle  of  the  main  channel  of  Grand  River;  thence 
down  the  middle  of  the  main  channel  of  Grand  River  to  the  line  between 
ranges  26  and  27;  thence  south  on  said  range  line  to  the  southern  line 
of  the  county;  thence  west  on  the  county  line  to  the  beginning." 

OSAGE  TOWNSHIP. 

"Beginning  at  the  southwest  corner  of  township  40,  of  range  26; 
thence  north  on  said  range  line  to  the  middle  of  Deepwater  ;  thence 
down  the  middle  of  the  main  channel  of  Deepwater  to  its  confluence  with 
Grand  River;  thence  down  the  middle  of  the  channel  of  Grand  River 
to  the  Benton  County  line;  thence  south  on  county  line  to  the  middle  of 
the  channel  of  Osage  River;  thence  up  the  middle  of  the  main  channel 
of  Osage  River  to  the  south  line  of  township  40,  of  range  24  ;  thence 
west  on  township  line  to  the  beginning." 

SPRINGFIELD   TOW^NSHIP. 

"Beginning  at  the  northeast  corner  of  section  24,  in  township  42,  of 
range  24;  thence  south  on  county  line  to  the  middle  of  the  main  chan- 
nel of  Grand  River;  thence  up  the  middle  of  the  main  channel  of  Grand 
River  to  the  line  between  sections  14  and  15,  in  township  40,  of  range 
25;  thence  north  on  section  line  to  the  northwest  corner  of  section  23, 
in  township  42,  of  range  25;  thence  east  on  section  line  to  the  begin- 
ning." 

GRAND    RIVER   TOWNSHIP. 

"  Beginning  at  the  northeast  corner  of  section  22,  township  42,  of 
range  25;  thence  south  on  section  line  to  the  middle  of  the  main  chan- 
nel of  Grand   River;    thence  up  the  middle  of  the  channel    of  Grand 


158  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

River  to  the  mouth  of  Deepwater;  thence  up  the  middle  of  the  main 
channel  of  Deepwater  to  the  line  between  ranges  26  and  27;  thence 
north  on  said  range  line  to  the  middle  of  the  main  channel  of  Grand 
River;  thence  up  the  middle  of  the  channel  of  Grand  River  to  the  mouth 
of  Big  Creek;  thence  up  the  middle  of  the  main  channel  of  Big  Creek  to 
the  mouth  of  Honey  Creek;  thence  up  the  middle  of  the  main  channel 
of  Honey  Creek  to  the  line  between  townships  42  and  43;  thence  east 
on  said  township  line  to  the  northeast  corner  of  section  6,  in  township 
42,  of  range  25;  thence  south  on  section  line  to  the  southwest  corner  of 
section  17,  township  42,  of  range  215;  thence  east  on  section  line  to  the 
beginning.  ' 

These  boundaries  remained  intact  until  May  8,  1868.  Two  of  the 
townships  had  been  given  two  voting  precincts  each,  Tebo  and  Grand 
River,  and  some  changes  had  been  made  in  the  voting  places,  but  no 
new  townships  had  been  formed.  At  the  above  date  two  new  townships 
appeared,  one  designated  "  White  Oak,"  and  the  other  "  Windsor,"  and 
the  following  boundaries  and  changes  appeared: 

WHITE   OAK    TOWNSHIP. 

"Commencing  at  the  southwest  corner  of  section  18,  township  41, 
of  range  28,  running  thence  north  on  county  line  between  Henry  and 
Bates  to  the  center  of  the  channel  of  Grand  River;  thence  down  the 
center  of  the  channel  of  Grand  River  to  the  section  line  between  2  and 
3,  in  township  41,  of  range  27;  thence  south  on  said  section  line  to  the  south- 
east corner  of  section  15,  township  41,  of  range  27;  thence  running  west 
on  section  line  to  place  of  beginning,  and  it  is  ordered  that  that  part  of 
Henry  County  enclosed  in  said  boundaries  be,  and  the  same  shall  be 
known  as  '  White  Oak  Township.'  " 

This  caused  some  other  changes  in  Deepwater  and  Grand  River 
Townships.     The  changes  made  were,  of 

DEEPWATER. 

"  Commencing  at  the  southwest  corner  of  Henry  County,  thence 
running  north  on  county  line  between  Bates  and  Henry,  to  section  line 
between  sections  18  and  19  ;  thence  east  on  section  line  to  the  northeast 
corner  of  section  22,  township  41,  range  27  ;  running  thence  south  on 
section  line  to  the  center  of  the  channel  of  Deepwater  Creek  ;  thence 
down  the  center  of  the  channel  of  Deepwater  to  the  range  line  between 
ranges  26  and  27  ;  thence  south  to  county  line  between  St.  Clair  and 
Henry  ;  thence  west  on  said  line  to  the  place  of  beginning." 

Grand  River  Township  came  in  for  an  increase  of  territory,  the  fol- 
lowing being  added  to  her  bounds  : 

"Sections  i,  2  and  12,  and  that  part  that  lies  south  of  Grand  River 
in  township  41,  range  27;  and  sections  13,  14,  23,  24,  25,  26,  35  and  36,  in 
township  41,  range  27,  and  that  part  of  sections  i  and  2  in  township  40, 
range  27,  lying  on  north  side  of  Deepwater  Creek,  is  hereby  added  to 
Grand  River  Township." 


HISTORY    OF    HEXRY    COUNTY.  1 59 

Two  voting  precincts  and  townships  were  made  out  of  Tebo  Town- 
ship, by  dividing  the  same  east  and  west  of  the  Warsaw  and  Warrens- 
burg  road.  That  portion  lying  west  of  said  road  was  Tebo  Township, 
and 

WINDSOR   TO\VNSHIP 

"  was  all  that  portion  of  Tebo  Township  lying  east  of  said  road,  and 
shall  be  known  and  designated  as  '  Windsor  Township '  or  election 
district." 

THE   GREAT   CHANGE. 

From  May  8,  1868,  until  March  6,  1873,  the  county  of  Henry  was 
divided  into  nine  municipal  townships,  whose  metes  and  bounds  are 
described  in  the  preceding  pages. 

At  the  session  of  the  general  assembly  of  Missouri,  held  at  Jeffer- 
son City  in  the  winter  of  1872-3,  a  new  township  organization  law  was 
passed,  leaving  it,  however,  optional  with  the  several  counties  of  the 
state  to  accept  or  reject  the  law  by  a  vote  of  the  people.  Henry  County 
accepted  the  new  law,  and  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the  same, 
the  county  court  met  on  March  6,  1873,  to  divide  the  county  into  muni- 
cipal districts. 

The  conclusion  was  to  number  them  from  one  to  nineteen,  giving 
each  number  a  name.     This  gave  the  county 

•  NINETEEN   TOWNSHIPS, 

and  their  boundaries  will  be  found  under  the  head  of  their  respective 
townships. 

FINANCIAL   DEPRESSION. 

The  financial  depression  which  was  brought  upon  the  state  by  the 
fierce  strife  of  our  civil  war  was  one  of  the  most  serious  drawbacks 
which  the  people  during  those  evil  times  had  to  contend  with.  Where 
all  had  been  peace  and  prosperity  was  felt  the  blight  of  distrust,  the 
ruination  of  all  business,  the  gradual  destruction  of  property  and  all 
hope  of  prosperity.  Who  was  to  blame  for  this  terrible  state  of  affairs, 
of  the  loss  of  life,  the  sundering  of  social  ties,  and  all  the  concomitant 
horrors  of  a  fierce  and  deadly  internecine  strife,  it  is  not  the  province 
of  this  history  to  give.  We  have  only  to  record  the  general  facts,  of 
which  Henry  County,  as  a  part  of  this  great  country,  contributed  to  her 
own  weal  or  woe. 

Nothing  can  so  plainly  show  the  deplorable  depth  to  which  the 
county  suffered  than  to  give  her  financial  statements  for  that  period. 
How  demoralization  covered  the  whole  people  as  a  pall,  and  strife — bit- 
ter and  unrelenting — crowned  these  horrors,  these  figures  will  show  with 


l60  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

appalling  exactness  and  tell  with  what  fearful  weight  of  sorrow  and 
woe  the  people  struggled.  It  was  not  only  during  the  heart-rending 
strife  that  these  figures  tell  their  terrible  tale,  but  for  years  after  the 
struggle  was  kept  up,  and  now,  while  nearly  two  decades  have  passed 
since  peace  came  with  its  wings  of  love  and  rested  upon  all,  even  now 
the  effects  are  visible  here  and  there  of  the  sanguinary  struggle  which 
darkened  our  fair  land,  wrought  misery  and  sadness  to  her  people  and 
destruction  to  their  homes  and  firesides. 

THE   FINANCIAL   EXHIBITS. 

The  tax  delinquent  lists  of  Henry  County  up  to  May,  i86i,  the  end- 
ing of  the  fiscal  year,  were  (ew,  and  the  total  amount  in  dollars  and 
cents  seldom,  if  ever,  exceeded  $ioo.  Up  to  that  date  the  entire  back 
taxes  had  nearly  all  been  collected,  excepting  the  last  years'  returns. 

DELINQUENT    1 86 1. 

State $2,575  9i 

County 976  13 

Total $3,552  04 

This  also  included  militia  tax  delinquent  of  $81.04. 

1862. 

State $  ao25  47 

County 504  <^5 

Total $  2.529  52 

For  the  Delinquent,  1861 535  39 

1862 52466 

Total $  3.589  57 

For  1863,  it  footed  in  all 2,906  75 

For  1864,  it  was  reported  at 7,558  02 

The  county's  financial  statement  showed  that  it  was  in  debt  on  the 
first  day  of  August,  1864,  $1,662.62,  and  that  increased  to,  in  August 
1865,  $3,503.66.  A  bounty  of  $50  was  offered  in  the  spring  of  1865  for 
and  the  treasurer  was  ordered  to  sell  $5,000  Union  Military  bonds  at 
85  cents  on  the  dollar,  but  the  war  closing  it  does  not  show  that  the 
bondsweresold  on  the  record.  In  July,  1865,  there  was  $350  charged  as 
paid  on  the  bounty  fund. 

The  tax  receipts  for  the  fiscal  year,  August,  1866,  as  then  reported, 
amounted  to  $6,863.56,  and  the  expenditures  showed  an  excess  over  the 
above  of  $1,778.06,  adding  that  much  to  the  county  debt.  Warrants 
were  signed  to  meet  the  difference,  and  the  floating  debt  now  exceeded 
$5,000. 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY.  l6l 

Notwithstanding  the  war  had  ceased,  the  demoralization  had  been 
so  great,  and  the  destruction  of  values  so  complete  that  it  seemed 
almost  impossible  for  the  people  to  recuperate.  The  delinquent  lists 
for  1867  and  1868  proved  nearly  the  equal  of  preceding  years.  Here  is 
the  collector's  returns  made  January  i,  1868,  for  the  year  1867: 

State  revenue  delinquent $  2,310  19 

County  revenue  delinquent 1,843  9^ 

State  internal  fund  tax  delinquent 3,689  92 

Railroad  delinquent 1,373  05 

County  bridge  delinquent 448  81 

Total  delinquent  on  Real  Estate $  9,665  95 

LEVY  OF  1868. 

The  total  tax  levy  for  1868  was,  by  items,  as  follows: 

State  revenue  tax $  8,535.75 

County  revenue  tax 6,503.64 

State  interest  tax 13,008.22 

Railroad  tax 4.887.50 

County  bridge  tax 1,638.23 

Total $34,573-34 

The  delinquent  was  reported  as  follows: 

Real  estate.  Personal.  Total. 

State    revenue $i,730  84  $71 1  96  $2,442  80 

County  revenue I.730  84  467  33  2,198   17 

State    interest 1,730  84  467  33  2,198   17 

Railroad   revenue 2,079  59  57^  74  2,651   33 

Grand  total  .• $9,490  47 

No  bridge  tax  was  returned  delinquent. 

The  delinquent  list  for  1869  was  returned  on  state,  county  and  rail- 
road, at  $11,591.62. 

From  this  statement  of  taxation  and  delinquencies  something  can 
be  told  of  the  utter  wreck  of  property,  and  the  prostration  of  a  people 
into  poverty  and  almost  despair.  Numbers  of  those  who  passed  through 
this  fiery  furnace  of  want  and  destitution  are  living  to-day,  and  yet 
remember  the  fearful  ordeal  through  which  they  lived.  Others  have 
crossed  the  mystic  river,  and  the  great  beyond  is  their  final  home — 
peace  and  rest  are  theirs.  The  boys  of  that  period,  those  from  six  to 
ten  years  of  age,  can  remember  but  little  of  the  struggle  that  poverty 
brought  on  all,  and  these  pages  of  facts  and  figures  may  be  of  interest 
to  them  and  to  their  children.  With  the  total  receipts  and  expenditures 
of  the  county  for  the  year  ending  February  ist,  1870,  we  close  this 
exhibit,  giving*as  it  does  the  five  years  following  peace.  There  was  col- 
lected of  the 

11 


^62  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

Back  taxes  of  1 866 $  6,602  59 

Back  taxes  of  1867 , 7,600  75 

Back  taxes  of  1 868 1 1 ,307  93 

And  of  the  taxes    of  1869 12,883  42 

Total . $38,394  69 

Gross  expenditures  the  same  year 38,200  13 

Excess  of  revenue $      194  56 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  year  1869  was  the  first  that  showed  a  recu- 
peration, over  $25,000  having  been  collected  of  the  delinquent  list  of 
other  years. 

Mr.  James  R.  Connor,  the  new  assessor  for  1871,  having  by  close 
work  and  vigilance,  increased  the  assessment  of  real  and  personal  prop- 
erty, was  allowed  an  extra  compensation  of  $200.  He  was  well  paid 
but  he  earned  it,  and  the  county  could  afford  it.  He  added  i,8oo  new 
tracts  to  the  tax  roll,  many  living  in  the  county  having  forgot  to  make 
any  returns,  and  increased  the  assessment  of  personal  property  $250,000, 
which  showed  considerable  forgetfulness  on  the  part  of  sundry  persons 
heretofore,  on  what  personals  they  owned.  But  these  little  matters 
were  not  alone  indigenous  to  Henry  County.  Man  is  proverbially  known 
for  his  forgetfulness  when  taxation  is  to  be  considered.  At  this  day  it 
has  become  chronic. 

ITEMS. 

A  census  was  taken  in  1868  and  the  cost  was  $325.25,  and  again  in 
1876  at  a  cost  of  $638.75,  but  the  number  of  the  population  was  not 
recorded  in  either  case. 

The  recorder's  office  was  established  January  i,  1871. 

The  poor  farm  was  purchased  in  April,  1871.  It  cost  $7,200,  to  be 
paid  in  three  equal  annual  instalments. 

The  treasurer  reported,  January,  1872,  that  he  had  up  to  date 
redeemed  railroad  coupons  amounting  to  $55,895,  and  county  warrants 
of  the  sum  of  $15,942.56,  less  $50  for  interest  on  warrants.  The  warrants 
and  coupons  were  burned  in  the  presence  of  the  treasurer  and  county 
court. 

The  first  poor  farm  bond  for  $2,400  was  renewed  and  also  a  portion 
of  the  interest,  February  i,  1872,  and  new  bond  was  given  for  $2,583.30. 

Township  organization  carried  at  the  November  election,  1872. 

Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas  first  assessment  of  property  in  Henry 
County  was  at  a  valuation  of  $592,739.  This  was  in  1873.  The  com- 
pany has  37  4-100  miles  of  road  within  Henry  County. 

The  county  court  justices  received  a  salary  of  $5  each,  per  da}',  from 
1864  to  1873. 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 


165 


The  tax  rates  for  horses  was  $40;  mules,  $50;  and  cattle  $15,  for 
the  year  1874,  Springfield  Township  alone  excepted.  Cattle  were  there 
rated  at  $12. 

Swamp  land  fund  in  1878  amounted  to  $9,648.99;  fines  and  penal- 
ties fund  amounted  to  $5,736.75.  It  is  loaned  for  the  benefit  of  the 
schools,  being  added  to  the  school  fund. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

INVESTIGATION   AND    EXONERATION— AND   MORE   TAXA- 
TION. 

WANTED  AN  INVESTIGATION— RESULT,  EXONERATION— EVF.RYTHING  LOVELY-REGIS- 
TRATION AND  REGISTRARS— THE  COUNTY  COURT— THE  FOUR  DISTRICTS  AND 
THEIR  BOUNDARIES- TAXATION  AND  COLLECTIONS— COUNTY  EXPENDITURES— 
THE  REPEAL— DISTRICTS  i  AND  2— JUDGE  GANTT,  COUNl  Y  AGENT— SALE  OF  $400,000 
RAILROAD  STOCK-SINKING  FUND— ASSESSMENT  AND  LEVY— A  DONATION— SWAMP 
LAND  CLAIMS-SOME  ITEMS. 

WANTED   AN   INVESTIGATION. 

There  having  been  some  talk  that  the  financial  exhibits  of  certain 
years  had  not  been  correct,  and  that  the  collectors  were  short  in  their 
accounts,  the  matter  was  brought  before  the  grand  jury  at  its  April  ses- 
sion in  1871.  The  jury,  after  an  investigation,  made  a  request  upon  the 
county  court  for  an  examination  of  collectors'  accounts  from  1867  to 
1870,  inclusive,  and  to  appoint  a  committee  for  that  purpose.  The 
court  promptly  acted  upon  the  suggestions  of  the  grand  jury,  and 
appointed  Harvey  W.  Salmon,  Charles  H.  Snyder  and  William  E.  Brink- 
erhoff  such  committee. 

THE  EXAMINATION: 

The  report  of  the  special  committees  to  examine  into  the  financial 
condition  of  Henry  County  for  the  years  1867,  1868,  1869  and  1870, 
reported  errors  in  the  aggregate  of  $671.68,  in  the  collector's  returns  for 
these  years.  The  sums  agregating  the  above  amount  were  nine  in  num- 
ber, from  $18.78  for  the  smallest,  to  $1 50.2:5  for  the  largest,  and  belonged 
to  all  the  different  levies,  such  as  revenue,  bridge,  railroad,  etc.  There 
was  no  evidence  adduced  to  show  a  criminal  intent,  but  more  a  want  of 
an  arithmetical  education  on  the  part  of  the  collectors.  James  M.  Mil- 
ler was  collector  for  1867,  and  Henry  T.  Dodson  for  the  three  following 
years,  called  for  by  the  county  court  for  examination. 

The  report  also  stated  that  the  inaccuracies  for  the  year  1867  was 
caused  by  the  mistake  of  the  clerk  of  the  county  court  in  turning  over 
two  pages  at  once  in  footing  the  gross  amount,  missing  entirely  the  page 
so  turned.  The  errors  discovered  were  in  1867  and  1868;  in  the  former 
they  amounted  to  $394.39,  and  in  the  latter  $277.29. 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 


165 


The  years  1869  and  1870  proved  relatively  correct.  The  committee 
so  appointed  and  reporting  were  C.  H.  Snyder  (then  county  clerk),  Hon. 
H.  W.  Salmon  and  William  E.  Brinkerhoff.  The  report  was  accepted 
by  the  county  court  and  was  made  to  them  at  the  October  term,  1871. 

The  committee  asked  for  more  time  to  go  more  fully  into  an  exam- 
ination of  the  financial  condition  of  the  county,  but  made  the  above 
report  of  work  done  in  the  collector's  office. 

They  also  asked  for  more  specific  instructions  in  regard  to  their 
future  work. 

On  the  i6th  day  of  January,  1872,  Collector  Miller  came  forward  and 
paid  $295.50,  which  the  court  explained  was  the  amount  he  was  short  by 
the  report  of  the  commissioners.  The  amount  short  for  1867  was,  as 
above  reported,  $394.39,  but  it  is  probable  that  a  portion  was  collected 
by  Mr.  Miller's  successor. 

Whether  the  committee  ever  done  anything  further  is  not  of  record, 
and  if  the  other  collector  paid  it  is  also  left  out  of  the  county  court  pro- 
ceedings, but  it  is  probable  that  all  was  satisfactorily  settled.  It  may 
not  be  considered  remarkable  by  the  people  of  Henry  County  that  there 
should  never  have  occurred  a  defalcation  among  any  of  its  officials  from 
the  date  of  its  organization,  yet  such  is  the  case,  and  it  is  and  would  be 
considered  remarkable  in  almost  every  other  county.  The  writer  has 
examined  the  records  of  no  less  than  seven  counties  within  the  past 
eighteen  months,  and  not  one  but  had  a  blemish  spot  among  some  of 
those  who  had  been  chosen  to  conduct  their  county  affairs. 

This  purity  of  action  on  the  part  of  the  official  conduct  of  those 
entrusted  with  the  welfare  of  the  county  deserve  a  few  words  of  praise, 
and  the  record  is  entered  here  as  worthy  of  all  commendation. 

REGISTERING  OFFICERS. 


The  formation  of  the  new  townships  required  the  appointment  of 
registering  officers  at  once  to  register  the  voters  for  the  coming  election 
(1873).     These  appointments  in  the  different  townships  were  as  follows: 


Windsor,  William  Goforth, 
Tebo,  Davis  Mann. 
Shawnee,  Thomas  F.  Hill. 
Big  Creek,  A.  M.  Butcher. 
Bogard,  James  Kepner. 
White  Oak,  John  Schroeder. 
Honey  Creek,  Luther  I.  Stewart. 
Fields'  Creek,  John  Hopton. 
Deer  Creek,  J.  W.  Middelcoff. 
Springfield,  Henry  Shafer. 


Leesville,  John  Venlemans. 
Bethlehem,  H.  C.  Jury. 
Clinton,  James  V.  Bergen. 
Davis,  John  E.  Severs. 
Walker,  Henry  B.  Hicker. 
Deepwater,  Joseph  Capehart. 
Bear  Creek,  John  J.  Teller. 
Fairview,  Robert  W.  McFarland. 
Osage,  C.  F.  Mercer. 


l66  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

THE   COUNTY   COURT. 

Not  only  did  the  new  township  organization  law  entail  upon  the 
county  court  the  making  of  new  and  many  more  municipal  districts  and 
the  appointment  of  registering  officers,  but  it  also  called  for  the  laying 
out  of  the  county  into  four  justices  or  judicial  districts,  the  law  giving 
each  county  five  justices  of  the  county  court,  instead  of  the  three  which 
had  composed  the  county  county  court  since  its  organization.  One  of 
the  justices  was  to  be  voted  for  by  the  county  at  large,  his  term  was 
iour  years,  and  he  was  to  be  the  president  of  the  court,  the  other  four 
were  to  be  elected  from  the  four  districts  into  which  the  county  was 
to  be  divided.  This  division  was  not  made  until  July  22,  1873,  and  a 
special  election  was  held  on  the  21st  day  of  August  for  their  election. 
The  county  was  divided  as  below  : 

FIRST   DISTRICT. 

District  No.  i  is  composed  of  municipal  townships,  named  and  num- 
bered as  follows  :  No.  i,  Windsor;  No.  2,  Tebo  ;  No.  3,  Shawnee;  No.  4, 
Big  Creek;  Honey  Creek,  No.  7,  and  Fields'  Creek,  No.  8. 

SECOND    DISTRICT. 

Bogard  Township,  No.  5;  White  Oak,  No.  6;  Davis,  No.  14;  Walker, 
No.  15;  Deepwater,  No.  16,  and  Bear  Creek,  No.  17. 

THIRD   DISTRICT. 

Clinton  Township,  No.  13. 

FOURTH    DISTRICT. 

Deer  Creek,  No.  9;  Springfield,  No.  10;  Leesville,  No.  11;  Bethle- 
hem, No.  12;   Fair  View,  No.  18,  and  Osage,  No.  19. 

The  election  resulted  in  the  election  of 

William  R.  Taylor,  judge-at-large,  M.  A.  Stewart,  ist  year,  F.  M. 
Groff,  2d  year;  Lewis  P.  Beatty,  3d  year,  and  B.  L.  Owens,  4th  year. 

The  years  for  which  each  was  to  serve  was  decided  by  lot  between 
the  four  justices  elect,  as  above  shown,  the  law  requiring  one  of  the  asso- 
ciate justices  to  retire  each  year. 

The  tax  levy  and  assessment  from  1870  to  1874  was  not  of  special 
interest  as  no  attempt  had  been  made  to  show  fully  the  financial  condi- 
tion of  the  county  at  any  time.  In  April,  1874,  a  full  exhibit  of  the 
levy  and  back  taxes  uncollected  was  made,  and  also  the  amount  collected 
and  what  was  left  still  delinquent  in  the  hands   of  the  collector.      It 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  167 

will  be  observed  by  the' figures  that  follow  that  the  railroad  tax  and  its 
delinquent  in  other  years  was  a  trifle  over  one-third  of  the  amount  to 
be  collected.  The  tax  collections  are  given  in  detail  and  will  be  good 
for  reference. 

TAXES  AND  COLLECTIONS. 

The  levy  of  1873  with  the  back  taxes  due  on  each  fund  added  was 
as  follows: 

State  revenue,  including  back  delinquent $  20,923  04 

State  interest  fund,  back  delinquent 19,236  30 

County  revenue,  back  delinquent 36,572  93 

Railroad  tax,  back  delinquent 47,483  25 

Road  tax,  back  delinquent 5,779  25 

Fines  and  penalties,  back  delinquent 1,583  56 

Total $131,578  33 

Here  was  this  enormous  sum  to  be  paid  by  the  people  of  Henry 
County  in  one  year.  To  be  sure  a  large  portion  of  it  had  been  accu- 
mulating from  year  to  year,  and  was  not  of  that  year's  levy,  but  it  was 
due  and  must  be  paid.  Very  little  force  so  far  had  been  used  to  compel 
payment,  for  it  was  well  known  the  people  were  struggling  to  regain 
their  standing  and  to  pay  off  arrears,  and  to  distress  them  by  suit  had 
not  often  been  attempted.  However,  they  responded  that  year  nobly. 
Here  is  the  returns  of  amount  on  each  fund  paid  in: 

State  revenue $  14,98 1  98 

State  interest 14,553  02 

County  revenue 31,679  72 

Railroad  tax 40,590  66 

Road  tax 4,926  64 

Fines  and  penalties 1,583  56 

Total $  108,3 1 5   58 

The  people  paid  in  $108,315.58  for  the  year  1873,  leaving  a  total 
balance  due  on  back  taxes  of  $23,262.75.  That  was  a  pretty  prompt 
meeting  of  this  enormous  obligation,  and  reduced  the  back  tax  list  over 
$i2,OGO.     The  amount  due  in  1873  being  a  little  over  $35,000. 

COUNTY   EXPENDITURES. 

The  county  clerk  made  the  following  report  of  the  receipts  and 
expenditures  of  the  county,  for  the  fiscal  year  ending  April,  1875  : 

Receipts  from  all  sources $21,304  88 

Expenditures 20,869  84 

Receipts  over  expenditures  of $435  04 


l68  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 


1875. 


Receipts  to  April  i,  1876 $16,410  48 

Expenditures 14  92 1   80 

Excess  of  receipts $1 ,488  68 

In  October,  1875,  a  notice  was  served  upon  the  delinquents  of  the 
years  1869  to  1873,  inclusive,  that  they  must  pay  their  taxes  by  the  com- 
ing January,  or  suit  would  be  commenced  to  enforce  it. 

THE   REPEAL. 

The  new  township  organization  law,  which  went  into  effect  in  1873, 
was  repealed  by  a  vote  of  the  people  in  1877.  The  county  court  there- 
fore was  changed  again  from  five  members  back  to  three.  At  their 
regular  meeting  in  February,  1858,  the  county  was  divided  into  two 
districts  for  associate  justices,  the  presiding  judge,  as  under  the  previous 
law  to  be  voted  for  by  the  people  of  the  county  at  large.  This  division 
was  as  follows  .'* 

DISTRICT   NO.    I. 

To  be  composed  of  the  townships  of  Windsor,  Tebo,  Shawnee,  Big 
Creek,  Bogard,  White  Oak,  Honey  Creek,  Fields'  Creek,  Deer  Creek  and 
Springfield. 

DISTRICT   NO.    2. 

To  be  composed  of  the  townships  of  Leesville,  Bethlehem,  Clinton, 
Davis,  Walker,  Deepwater,  Bear  Creek,  Fairview  and  Osage. 

There  was  a  slight  change  made  in  the  boundary  line  of  Fairview 
and  Clinton  Townships,  being  a  desire  on  the  part  of  Fairview  to  run  a 
straight  line  east  from  the  northwest  corner  of  township  40,  of  range  26, 
to  the  dividing  line  between  sections  4  and  5,  of  the  same  township  and 
range.     Grand  River  being  the  cause  for  this  desired  change. 

TAXES  OF   1878. 

The  amount  ot  the  tax  levy  on  real  estate  for  1878  was $64,604  18 

On  personal  property 34.4H  70 

$99,018  88 
There  was  of  this  collected  : 

On  real  estate $40,991  41 

On  personal  property 21 ,609  1 1 

$62,600  52 

Leaving  the  delinquent  on  both  of  a  gross  amount  of $36,418  36 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  169 

There  was  collected  the  same  year  on  back  taxes,  1877,  and  penalties 
on  real  and  personal  : 

For  the  county $12,583    12 

For  the  state 4.033   14 

Licenses — state  and  county,  1878 986  00 

$17,632  26 
This  condensed  statement  shows  what  amount  of  taxes  was  assessed 
that  year,  and  how  the  people  paid.     Nineteen  thousand  dollars  of  this 
sum  was  for  school  purposes. 

A   SINKING   FUND. 

The  railroad  suits  and  a  desire  to  compromise  caused  a  good  deal  of 
trouble  to  the  county  court  at  this  time,  and  money  was  an  object,  and 
so  an  application  was  made  to  Judge  Wright  to  grant  an  order  for  the 
levy  of  iive  mills  on  the  dollar  of  the  assessed  valuation  of  real  and 
personal  property  in  the  county  as  stated,  "  As  a  special  tax  to  create 
a  sinking  fund  to  be  used  in  the  purchase  of  outstanding  railroad  bonds 
of  Henry  County  at  their  lowest  market  value  in  the  discretion  of  the 
county  court." 

The  order  was  granted  and  made  of  record  in  the  county  court  pro- 
ceedings at  the  May  adjourned  term,  as  was  also  the  petition  to  the 
circuit  judge  by  the  county  attorney,  C.  C.  Dickinson.  They  will  be 
found  in  full  on  pages  100,  loi,  102,  and  103,  of  Rook  I,  County  Court 
record. 

James  B.  Gantt  was  appointed  county  agent  of  the  August  adjourned 
term,  1879.  to  dispose  of  the  4,000  shares  of  Tebo  &  Neosho  Railroad 
stock  for  the  same  amount  of  stock  in  the  Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas 
Road,  ar  i  then  sell  the  same.  This  is  fully  treated  in  the  article  on 
railroads  in  this  work.  The  assessed  valuation  put  upon  the  Missouri, 
Kansas  &  Texas  Railway  at  the  February  term,  1880,  was  more  than 
double  the  valuation  of  the  previous  five  years.  As  assessed  in  the  county 
and  townships  it  footed  up  : 

County • $883,742  40 

The  valuation  in  the  city  of  Clinton 23,685  00 

The  valuation  in  the  city  of  Montrose 8,305  50 

The  valuation  in  the  city  of  Calhoun 8,542  35 

The  valuation  in  the  city  of  Windsor 8,542  35 

Total  assesment,  1880 $932,817  60 

The  assessed  valuation  1880,  was 

County $894,42 1   50 

Cities , 49,660  22 

Total  assessment,  1881 $944,081  72 


I/O  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

They  did  not,  however,  collect  tax  on  this  sum  as  the  state  board 
of  equalization  placed  the  assessed  valuation  for  taxation  at  $322,258.35, 
and  the  levy  at  forty  cents.  The  county  made  the  same  levy  for  county 
purposes  and  then  a  further  levy  of  fifty  cents  on  the  $100  in  Clinton, 
and  thirty  cents  on  the  $100  in  the  city  of  Calhoun  as  a  city  tax. 

A   DONATION. 

The  county  court  at  its  session.  May  16,  188 1,  made  the  following 
order,  as  a  well  merited  compliment  to  the  citizens  of  Clinton  for  their 
noble,  praiseworthy  and  generous  treatment  of  those  in  sickness  and 
poverty  who  had  received  kindly  ministration  at  their  hands.  The  order 
reads: 

"  It  is  ordered  by  the  court  that  a  warrant  be  drawn  on  the  county 
pauper  fund  for  the  sum  of  $500,  payable  to  T.  W.  Collins,  mayor  of 
the  city  of  Clinton,  as  a  donation  to  the  city  of  Clinton  for  expendi- 
tures, aid  and  assistance  rendered  to  paupers  and  destitute  persons  dur- 
ing the  recent  small  pox  scourge  in  Clinton  " 

The  state  claimed  an  indemnity  on  1,000  acres  of  swamp  land  loca- 
ted in  185 1,  1852  and  1853,  the  proof  of  which  they  were  ready  to  make 
under  act  of  congress,  March  2,  1855.  640  acres  of  this  was  in  town- 
ship 42,  range  28;  the  remainder  in  township  40  and  41,  ranges  26  and 
2"].  Mr.  A.  C.  Avery  was  appointed  agent  to  look  after  and  secure  from 
the  government  the  amount  of  the  indemnity  demanded  of  them  by 
the  state. 

SOME   ITEMS. 

The  gold  fever  struck  Henry  County  forcibly  in  1849  and  1850. 

The  largest  loss  by  the  county  up  to  1866  was  the  deposit  made  by 
the  county  with  Miller  &  Kaist,  St.  Louis.  The  question  has  since  been, 
how  much  was  the  loss  and  what  was  done  about  it.''  Answer  still  reserved. 

The  railroad  fever  struck  Henry  County  in  1867  and  raged  violently 
to  1871.  It  cost  the  people  $1,225,000  in  round  numbers.  The  fever 
spent  its  force  and  is  not  likely  to  ever  get  a  serious  hold  in  Henry 
County  again. 

The  year  1875  is  known  as  grasshopper  year. 

Warren  &  Foote  published  the  present  county  map  of  Henry  County 
in  1877. 

In  the  year  1878  the  poor  farm  harvested  a  rat  crop  numbering  I,I00 
rats.     The  year  was  memorable  for  cheap  sausage  meat. 

The  first  snow  storm  in  Henry  County  in  the  winter  of  1879-80  did 
not  come  until  the  12th  day  of  March,  1880.  . 

The  first  marriage  license  under  the  license  law  of  1880-1  was  that 
of  Roy  Driggs  and  Miss  Mattie  Ogden,  June  29,  188 1. 

The  compromise  year  for  railroad  bonds  was  1882. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


FINANCIAL    AFFAIRS— RAILROAD    ASSESSMENT— COUNTY 

VALUATION. 

THE  TAX  LEVY— COLLECTIONS  OF  1879— SAME  IN  i8So-NE\V  COUNTY  JAIL— ITS  COST— THE 
YEAR  1882-RAILROAD  ASSESSMENT  AND  REJECTION-MATERIAL  WEALTH— AS- 
SESSED-VALUATION  FROM  iS/o  TO  1883  OF  HENRY  COUNTY— JANUARY  i,  1882,^5,392,- 
270- JANUARY  I,  1883,  . 

THE   TAX    LEV\    AND   COLLECTIONS   OF    1 879. 

The  total  tax  levy  of  all  kinds  for  1879  and  returned  by  the  col- 
lector, with  the   amount  of   his  collections,   March   1st,    1880,    was  as 

follows: 

• 

State  and  county  levy  on  real  estate $52,516  53 

State  and  county  levy  on  personal  property 3 1,600  33 

State  and  county  levy  on  merchant's  license 3,666  30 

Total $87,783   16 

Deducted  errors  of  assessment,  etc 181  61 

Balance $87,601   55 

The  total  collections  made  as  returned  at  the  above  date  was 
$100,229.64,  the  surplus  coming  from  back  taxes  of  the  years  1877  and 
1878  collected. 

Of  the  taxes  collected  for  1879,  the  Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas 

division  paid $1,2 11    18 

And  the  Western  Union  Telegraph  Company .         10  20 

This  payment  was  on  an  assessed  valuation  of  less  than  $9,000  per 
mile.  The  county  assessment  was  at  the  rate,  in  round  figures,  of 
$24,000  per  mile,  but  the  state  board  of  equalization  put  it  at  the  first 
named  amount.  The  state  is  wrong.  While  at  the  rate  of  taxation 
paid  by  farmers,  merchants  and  artisans,  is  fully  33^  per  cent,  that  of  a 
railroad  corporation  should  not  be  less.  The  railroads  in  Missouri  can 
well  afford  to  pay  a  tax  on  an  assessment  of  $15,000  per  mile,  and  any 
less  sum  than  that  is  a  fraud  upon  the  people.  Why  rich  corporations 
who  have  millions  of  dollars  given  them  as  gifts  should  be  favored  at 
the  expense  of  labor,  is  hard  to  understand. 


172  HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNIY. 

1880. 

The  tax  levy  of  1880  fell  a  little  short  of  1879.  The  total,  as  returned 
by  the  collector   in  his  settlement  March  i,  188 1,  showed  the  following: 

State  tax  levy $20,976  62 

County 64,469  62 

Total  real  and  personal $85,446  24 

The  assessed  valuation  of  the  M.,  K.  &  T.  division  was  only .  $307,776  3 1 
And  the  Western  Union  Telegraph  Company 2,533  00 

The  valuation  of  the  property  of  both  of  these  companies  was  raised 
in  the  assessment  of  1881,  the  former  to  $322,479.35,  and  the  telegraph 
company  to  $3,145.  The  county  levy  was  40  cents  on  the  $100  valua- 
tion on  this  property.  Clinton  assessed  a  tax  of  50  cents  on  the  $ioo,Cal- 
houn  50  cents,  and  Windsor  25  cents  extra  on  what  was  within  their 
limits. 

THE   NEW   COUNTY   JAIL. 

A  new  jail  being  a  necessity,  the  county  court  took  up  the  matter  in 
1880,  and  appointed  Dr.  John  H.  Britt  superintendent  or  commissioner 
to  look  after  it,  and  keep  the  builders  up  to  their  contract.  » The  jail  was 
completed  and  accepted  by  the  court  January  3,  188 1. 

The  order  of  the  county  court  to  pay  for  the  same  was  to  the  amount 
of  $7,880.  This  was  said  to  be  the  balance  on  completion.  The  con- 
tractors were  P.  J.  Pauley  &  Brother.  In  May,  1881,  the  fence,  walk  and 
work  in  the  jail  yard  cost  $163.75,  and  Dr.  Britt  was  paid  $200  for  his 
services  as  superintendent.  These  two  items,  with  the  first  mentioned, 
completed  the  cost  of  the  jail  at  that  time.  There  has  been  a  little 
extra  necessary  work  added  since,  but  it  was  something  less  than  $100. 
It  is  a  good  piece  of  work,  and  a  credit  to  the  county. 

1882. 

The  March  statement  of  1882  showed  a  collection,  state  and  county 
tax,  judgments  and  back  taxes,  to  the  amount  of  $91,000.88,  including 
the  amount,  in  round  numbers,  of  $5,500  back  tax  collections. 

These  back  taxes  of  former  years,  say  from  1862  to  1876,  have  all 
been  paid,  compromised  or  left  in  default  entirely,  but  a  large  portion 
was  collected,  or  in  reality  not  any  great  loss  has  been  experienced  since 
1868.  The  levy  of  1882  was  placed  at  30  cents  on  the  $100  valuation 
for  general  purposes,  10  cents  on  same  valuation  for  county  officers  fund, 
7^  cents  on  same  for  poor  fund,  7\  cents  incidental  fund,  5  cents  jury 
and  witness  fund,  10  cents  county  road  fund,  and  10  cents  for  bridge 
fund.  This  makes  a  total  county  levy  of  80  cents  on  the  $100  valuation 
and  for  state  40  cents.     Total  taxation  on  the  $100,  $1.20. 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  173 

It  would  seem  that  a  school  tax  and  sinking  fund  tax  should  be 
added  to  this. 

The    levy   or   assessed    valuation  of  Missouri,  Kansas    and 

Texas  division  was  placed  by  the  county  at $912,739  20 

The  amount  assesed  within  the   city  of  Clinton  was  a  val- 
uation    24,480  00 

Within  the  city  of  Calhoun '  8,788  80 

Within  the  city  of  Windsor 8,788  80 

Within  the  city  of  Montrose 8,544  00 

Valuation  of  the  property  in  cities $  50,601  60 

Total  assessed  valuation $963,340  80 

This  is  in  round  numbers  $30,500  per  mile.  This  is  further  out  of 
the  way  than  the  state  assessment.  The  fact  is  the  county  should  make 
the  assessment  at  about  $15,000,  and  then  fight  the  state  board  of  equal- 
ization for  the  levy.  This  would  give  a  valuation  of  $555,600  for  county, 
and  about  $25,000  to  the  four  cities,  total  $580,600  assessed  valuation. 
This  would  be  in  reason,  and  would  bring  nearly  double  the  present  tax. 
However,  just  when  corporations  will  cease  to  be  favored  and  the  people 
swindled  is  a  conundrum  "no  fellow  can  answer." 

CAN  PAY  OUT. 

Henry  County  has  passed  through  a  pretty  severe  financial  strug- 
gle. The  struggle  of  the  past  few  years,  however,  will  not  again  be 
felt  as  the  strain  has  ended  by  the  arrangement  for  a  compromise  of  her 
debt.  Having  no  floating  debt  her  whole  liabilities  may  be  considered 
in  the  new  6  per  cent  bond  issue  of  $525,000.  It  is  possible  that  it  will 
not  take  all  to  redeem  the  old  bonds  and  coupons,  but  it  is  pretty  cer- 
tain that  it  will  not  exceed  that  issue.  The  assessed  valuation  of  the 
county  in  1881  and  returned  January  i,  1882,  amounts  to  the  sum  of 
$5,392,170;  that  of  1880  was  $4,620,020;  a  gain  over  the  previous  year 
of  $772,250.  A  levy  on  this  valuation  of  10  mills  on  the  $100  would 
pay  the  interest  and  form  a  sinking  fund,  which,  at  the  end  of  five  years, 
when  the  bonds  can  be  first  redeemed,  of  $112,000  in  round  figures,  but 
as  valuations  would  increase  it  would  be  safe  to  say  that  the  debt  could 
be  reduced  $150,000.  Let  that  levy  continue  for  ten  years  and  the  debt 
will  be  paid,  allowing  for  the  probable  increase  of  the  assessed  valua- 
tion of  the  county.  If  not,  there  would  not  be  much  left  to  worry  them. 
About  that  time,  if  the  old  court  house  has  not  fallen  completely  in 
ruins,  it  would  be  a  good  idea  to  invest  about  $125,000  for  a  court  house 
to  adorr?  one  of  the  prettiest  sites  in  the  state,  and  an  ornament  to  a 
very  beautiful  inland  city,  of  which  the  people  of  the  county  may  well 
be  proud.     A  little  of  it  might  be  left  to  macadamize  the  streets  around 


174  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

the  square.    A  clause  to  that  effect  might  be  added  to  the  appropriation 
bill. 

MATERIAL   WEALTH. 

The  wealth  of  a  county,  the  culture  and  moral  characteristics 
of  her  people,  the  richness  of  her  soil,  and  the  disposition  to  labor  to 
secure  this  productiveness,  is  what  places  her  people  in  the  front  rank 
with  those  who  believe  that  wealth,  progress  and  refinement,  are  the 
open  sesame  of  a  happy  life,  and  a  future  which  shall  be  bounded  by  a 
golden  shore  when  the  "dark  river"  shall  have  been  passed. 

Henry  County  made  no  record  of  her  material  wealth  until  1842, 
when  the  total  assessment  for  1841  showed  the  sum  of  $197,059.  In 
1845  this  sum  had  been  increased  to  $351,308,  which  was  the  assessment 
of  that  year. 

Just  what  lands  and  stock  were  valued  at  would#be  hard  to  say,  but 
it  is  probable,  in  view  of  cheap  lands  and  stock,  that  it  was  fully  up  to 
and  perhaps  higher,  really,  than  the  assessment  at  this  time.  Lands 
were  then  worth  $1.25  per  acre  unimproved,  and  improved  farms  at  from 
$5  to  $7  was  a  large  price.  Taxing  these  farms  at  this  day  at  an  assess- 
sessment  of  from  $5  to  $6  per  acre,  while  improved  farms  are  worth 
from  $25  to  $40,  would  give  a  higher  rate  of  taxation  in  those  old  pio- 
neer days  than  at  the  present.  The  county  seemed  to  grow  and  pros- 
per, but  the  record  of  that  growth  was  very  imperfectly  kept.  Taxation 
and  assessment  went  hand  in  hand,  but  it  was  not  until  i860  that  there 
is  found  another  statement  of  the  progress  of  Henry  County  in  the 
record  of  her  assessment  rolls. 

i860. 

That  year  the  real  estate  and  personal  property  was  returned  sepa- 
rately, or,  it  might  perhaps  be  better  to  state,  was  entered  separately 
and  is  as  follows: 

Real  estate   $1,825,320 

Personal  property 550,080 

Total $2,375,400 

What  the  comparison  was  between  the  assessments  of  i860  and 
1867,  the  next  recorded  return  is  hard  to  say,  as  a  portion  of  the  assess- 
ment in  regard  to  stock  is  not  at  hand  for  reference,  but  the  increase^ 
notwithstanding  the  disastrous  effect  of  the  civil  war  was  marked  in  an 
eminent  degree.     The  assessment  that  year  footed: 

For  real  estate $3-35 1,027 

For  personal  property *  1,016,725 

Total $4,367,752 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY,  175 

The  assessessments  of  1870  and  187 1  also  showed  a  wonderful 
increase,  and  the  latter  year  footed  up  something  like  one  and  a  half 
millions  of  dollars  more  than  the  assessment  of  188 1,  as  returned  in 
Janury  last,  1882.  But  land  was  then  assesed  at  $10.50  per  acre,  while 
the  present  tax  is  but  $5.10  per  acre. 

1870,  1871  AND  1873. 

There  were  assessed  in  1870,  461,011  24-100  acres  of  land,  and  town 
lots  to  the  number  of  1,323.  These,  together  with  the  personal  property 
of  all  kinds,  gave  the  valuation  of  real  and  personal  property  that  year 
at  $6,458,855.     This  was  a  gain  of  nearly  50  per  cent,  in  three  years. 

That  assessment  gave  12,656  tracts  of  land,  giving  the  above  num- 
ber of  acres.  There  were,  also,  returned  as  being  525  whole  sections  of 
land  in  the  county,  and  225  fractional  sections.  The  assessment  for 
1871  showed  15,706  tracts  of  land,  and  3,239  town  lots.  This  was  a  sur- 
prising increase,  and  showed  the  last  year  a  pretty  close  assessment, 
while  that  of  1870  must  have  been  badly  performed,  probably  like  the 
United  States  census  of  that  year,  which  is  one  of  the  most  astounding 
statistical  frauds  ever  compiled  in  the  history  of  this  or  any  other 
country. 

The  assessed  valuation  of  real  and  personal  for  1871  was $7,071,623 

And  for  1873 5,449,369 

This  was  the  last  assessessment  under  the  high  valuation  then  in 
vogue,  and  the  next  is  given,  which  shows  a  falling  off  about  30  per 
cent,  for  the  year  1875,  saying  nothing  about  the  natural  increase  of 
productive  wealth.  This  decrease  was  largely  in  the  real  estate  assess- 
ment mentioned  above. 

1875  TO   1881. 

The  total  valuation  for  1875  was  $4,809,210  with  a  falling  off  in  the 
number  of  acres  of  land  assessed  of  68 1|  acres. 

The  heaviest  tax  year  known  to  the  people  of  Henry  County  was 
that  of  1873.  The  total  tax  of  the  year  footed  up,  $96,340.76,  and,  includ- 
ing back  taxes,  something  over  $100,000  was  collected.  The  assessment 
of  1882,  returned  January  i,  1883,  as  it  shows  the  entire  resources  of  the 
county  and  comparison  of  previous  years,  is  of  great  value,  and  will  be 
found  in  Chapter  X.  The  levy  of  1882  was  :  state,  40  cents;  county,  50 
cents  ;  railroad,  80  cents;  a  total  of  $1,70  on  the  $100  valuation. 


CHAPTER  X. 


SOIL  —  CLIMATE  —  AGRICULTURAL     AND     MINERAL 
RESOURCES  OF  HENRY  COUNTY. 

INrRODUCTORY— LOCATION— CAPITAL  AND  LABOR— WATER  AND  TIMBER-AGRICULTURE 
—CEREALS  AND  GRAPES— FIELD  OF  CORN  AND  OATS  —  SHEEP  -  1865 —STOCK- 
REMARKS  OF  L.  C.  MARVIN— BETTER  HORSES— 1867  TO  1880-SHIPMENTS  OF  1877— 
THE  CENSUS  CROP— RETURNS  OF  1881-2— OF  HORSES,  SHEEP,  CATTLE,  HOGS,  AND 
MULES,  AND  GRAND  TOTAL. 

"  In  ancient  times  the  sacred  plow  employed 
The  kings  and  awful  fathers  of  mankind  ; 
And  some,  with  whom  compared,  your  insect  tribes 
Are  but  the  beings  of  a  summer  day. 
Have  held  the  scale  of  empire,  ruled  the  storm 
Of  mighty  war  with  unwearied  hands, 
Disdaining  little  delicacies,  seized 
The  plow  and  greatly  independent  lived." 

INTRODUCTORY. 

The  resources  of  Henry  County  are  varied,  and  their  full  develop- 
ment brings  wealth,  contentment,  health  and  happiness.  Soil  of  exceed- 
ing richness,  its  alluvial  qualities  reaching  many  feet  below  the  surface, 
making  it  almost  inexhaustible  in  its  producing  qualities.  Streams  of 
running  waters,  timber  of  various  kinds,  all  of  excellent  quality,  yet  lim- 
ited in  supply,  but  more  than  compensated  by  many  hundreds  of  square 
miles  of  coal  field,  illimitable  in  its  productive  capacity,  prairies  undu- 
lating and  easy  of  cultivation,  and  quarries  of  stone  fit  for  a  palace,  of 
the  formality  of  a  hood,  all  these  things  make  the  resources  of  Henry 
County  a  fruitful  theme,  which,  to  give  it  but  partial  justice,  would  fill 
many  pages  of  history.  It  is  the  home  of  the  succulent  grasses;  cereals 
and  vegetables  are  everywhere  productive,  and  with  them  as  a  ground 
work  of  solid  ingredients,  it  gives  it  a  prominence  as  a  stock  raising  and 
dairy  country.  The  latter  would  certainly  flourish  here,  the  equal  of  any 
county  in  the  state,  or  country.  The  farmers  of  Henry  County  have  but 
to  give  their  attention  to  their  farm  duties  to  secure  them  a  home  and  a 
competency. 

There  are  few  states  in  the  union  that  combine  so  great  a  variety 
of  soil,  as  salubrious   a   climate,    so    rich  in    agricultural  and  mineral 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  1 7/ 

resources,  better  adapted  to  stock,  or  a  more  healthy  climate  for  man 
than  Missouri,  and  of  all  these  qualities  certainly  Henry  County  has  her 
full  share. 

There  are  many  reasons  why  Henry  County  should  receive  a  large 
immigration,  and  among  these  is,  that  in  soil,  climate  and  productive 
capacity  it  has  few  superiors  in  the  counties  of  the  state.  Lands  are  not 
high,  and  not  one-half  of  her  soil  is  in  cultivation.  She  has  room  for  a 
hundred  thousand  people,  and  in  all  the  element  of  success  has  her  full 
share.  These  things  are  all  to  be  considered  when  settling  in  a  new 
country,  and  yet  Missouri,  while  a  new  country  in  the  extent  of  her 
immense  forests  and  prairies,  is  old  in  all  that  constitutes  wealth,  refine- 
ment and  culture,  in  the  luxuries  of  life  and  in  her  schools  and  churches. 
It  is  because  of  her  great  educational  facilities  and  her  numerous  railroads 
and  waterways,  which  gives  her  a  pre-eminent  stand  over  both  eastern  and 
western  neighbors.  She  equals  the  east  in  all  the  luxuries  of  life,  of  social 
ties  and  advancements,  with  cheap  lands  and  living  at  less  than  two-thirds 
the  cost.  She  surpasses  the  west  and  the  borders  of  civilization  in 
everything  that  constitutes  a  comfortable  home,  the  necessaries  and  lux- 
uries of  life,  and  all  this  without  going  into  the  confines  of  savage  life, 
and  enduring  the  hardships  and  privations  of  pioneer  life.  One  and  all 
of  these  advantages  may  be  found  in  Henry  County,  and  having  thus 
given  the  reasons  of  our  faith  in  the  future  of  Henry  County,  the  future 
pages  will  give  more  in  detail  what  these  advantages  are  and  how  her 
people  have  improved  them. 

LOCATION. 

Henry  County  is  situated  within  reasonable  distance  of  the  marts 
of  trade — a  very  desirable  feature  to  her  people.  It  is  in  this  location 
which  makes  Henry  County  stand  among  the  first  in  the  list  of  counties 
as  a  market  for  her  surplus  produce.  She  has  the  privilege  of  three 
com.peting  markets,  and  in  the  near  future  her  railway  facilities  will  be 
complete.  It  is  227  miles  to  St.  Louis,  about  eighty-five  to  Kansas  City, 
and  about  500  miles  to  Chicago.  It  is  between  the  38th  and  39th  par- 
allels of  latitude  and  belongs  to  that  section  of  the  state  known  as 
Southwest  Missouri  and  its  northeastern  part — a  section  of  country 
known  for  great  agricultural  resources,  mineral  wealth,  and  a  climate 
whose  health-sustaining  and  life-giving  qualities  are  not  surpassed. 

The  county  has  an  actual  area  of  731  square  miles,  and  an  acreage 
of  467,840,  about  one-fitth  of  which  is  tim.ber.  These  figures  are  differ- 
ent from  others  already  published,  but  which  are  erroneous.  The  figures 
here  given  are  from  actual  measurement  as  given  by  its  boundaries. 
The  census  of  1880  gives  the  area  at  760  square  miles,  but  as  no  one  will 
say  the  county  is  over  thirty  miles  east  and   west  by   twenty-four  and 

one-half  miles  north  and  south,  which  would  only  give  735  square  miles, 

12 


CHAPTER  X. 


SOIL  —  CLIMATE  —  AGRICULTURAL     AND     MINERAL 
RESOURCES  OF  HENRY  COUNTY. 


INrRODUCTORY-LOCATION— CAPITAL  AND  LABOR-WATER  AND  TIMBER-AGRICULTURE 
—CEREALS  AND  GRAPES-FIELD  OF  CORN  AND  OATS  -  SHEEP  -  1865 —STOCK- 
REMARKS  OF  L.  C.  MARVIN— BETTER  HORSES— 1867  TO  1880-SHIPMENTS  OF  1877— 
THE  CENSUS  CROP— RETURNS  OF  1881-2— OF  HORSES,  SHEEP,  CATTLE,  HOGS,  AND 
MULES,  AND  GRAND  TOTAL. 

"  In  ancient  times  the  sacred  plow  employed 
The  kings  and  awful  fathers  of  mankind  ; 
And  some,  with  whom  compared,  your  insect  tribes 
Are  but  the  beings  of  a  summer  day. 
Have  held  the  scale  of  empire,  ruled  the  storm 
Of  mighty  war  with  unwearied  hands, 
Disdaining  little  delicacies,  seized 
The  plow  and  greatly  independent  lived." 


INTRODUCTORY. 

The  resources  of  Henry  County  are  varied,  and  their  full  develop- 
ment brings  wealth,  contentment,  health  and  happiness.  Soil  of  exceed- 
ing richness,  its  alluvial  qualities  reaching  many  feet  below  the  surface, 
making  it  almost  inexhaustible  in  its  producing  qualities.  Streams  of 
running  waters,  timber  of  various  kinds,  all  of  excellent  quality,  yet  lim- 
ited in  supply,  but  more  than  compensated  by  many  hundreds  of  square 
miles  of  coal  field,  illimitable  in  its  productive  capacity,  prairies  undu- 
lating and  easy  of  cultivation,  and  quarries  of  stone  fit  for  a  palace,  of 
the  formality  ot  a  hood,  all  these  things  make  the  resources  of  Henry 
County  a  fruitful  theme,  which,  to  give  it  but  partial  justice,  would  fill 
many  pages  of  history.  It  is  the  home  of  the  succulent  grasses;  cereals 
and  vegetables  are  everywhere  productive,  and  with  them  as  a  ground 
work  of  solid  ingredients,  it  gives  it  a  prominence  as  a  stock  raising  and 
dairy  country.  The  latter  would  certainly  flourish  here,  the  equal  of  any 
county  in  the  state,  or  country.  The  farmers  of  Henry  County  have  but 
to  give  their  attention  to  their  farm  duties  to  secure  them  a  home  and  a 
competency. 

There  are  few  states  in  the  union  that  combine  so  great  a  variety 
of  soil,  as  salubrious    a    climate,    so    rich   in    agricultural   and  mineral 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  1 79 

TIMBER. 

The  prevailing  species  of  timber  is  the  oak.  All  the  varieties  of 
this  tree  are  found  in  greater  or  less  abundance,  but  the  white  oak  is 
probably  more  prevalent  than  any  other.  There  are,  also,  black  walnut 
in  abundance,  ash,  hickory,  elm.  maple,  linn  or  basswood,  pecan,  locust, 
sycamore  and  perhaps  others.  Shrubs  and  wild  fruits  consist  mostly  of 
wild  plum,  pawpaw,  persimmons,  blackberries,  strawberries,  grapes,  crab 
apples,  hazel,  redbud,  black  and  red  haws,  and  probably  others  less  com- 
mon. Besides  the  wild  grape  vine,  which  largely  abounds  in  the  forests 
along  the  streams,  there  are  the  ivy,  honeysuckle,  bittersweet,  wild 
cucumber,  pea  vine,  and  several  other  "  creeping  things,"  for  which  no 
names  are  given.  Timber  has  generally  been  considered  scarce,  but 
coal  largely  compensates  for  the  seeming  deficit  in  that  direction,  by 
furnishing  plenty  of  fuel,  and  timber  is  increasing  rather  than  diminish- 
ing within  the  bounds  of  the  county. 

AGRICULIURE. 

The  cultivation  of  the  soil  was  the  first  and  is  the  most  ennobling  of 
all  callings.  When  the  first  happy  pair  was  created  the}'  were  placed 
in  a  garden,  the  most  delightful  spot  upon  earth;  their  physical  employ- 
ment was  its  cultivation,  their  mental  exercise  to  admire  and  adore  the 
wisdom  and  goodness  of  God,  that  appeared  in  every  shrub  and  plant 
that  flourished  throughout  the  garden.  In  this  department  of  labor  the 
whole  realm  of  truth  is  spread  out  before  us,  and  invites  our  inquiry  and 
investigation.  The  composition  of  soils,  the  laws  that  govern  vegetable 
life,  are  wide  and  pleasant  fields  for  the  exercise  of  the  mind,  and  while 
contemplating  and  studying  nature's  laws,  the  mind  takes  a  pleasing 
transit  from  nature's  works  up  to  nature's  God.  Cowper  has  beautifully 
poetized  the  sentiment: 

"  To  study,  cultivate,  and  with  artful  toil 
To  meliorate  and  tame  the  stubborn  soil; 
To  give  dissimilar,  yet  fruitful  lands, 
The  grain,  or  herb,  or  plant  that  each  demands; 
To  cherish  virtue  in  an  humble  state. 
And  share  the  joys  your  bounty  may  create; 
To  mark  the  matchless  workings  of  the  power 
That  shuts  within  its  seed  the  future  flower, 
Bids  these  in  form  of  elegance  excel. 
In  color  these,  and  those  delight  the  smell; 
Sends  nature  forth,  the  daughter  of  the  skies, 
To  dance  on  earth  and  charm  all  human  eyes  ; 
To  teach  the  canvas  innocent  deceit, 
Or  lay  the  landscape  on  the  snowy  sheet. 
These,  these  are  arts  pursued  without  a  crime, 
That  leave  no  stain  upon  the  wing  of  time.' 


l80  HISTORY    OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

Who  stands  in  so  enviable  a  position  as  the  owners  of  the  soil  and 
producers  of  bread?  They  feed  the  teemin^c^  millions  of  our  population; 
they  supply  their  most  pressing  wants.  Agriculture  is  the  basis  of  all 
our  material  relations.  More  than  one-half  of  the  population  of  our 
country  are  engaged  in  tilling  the  soil,  and  over  three-fifths  of  the  per- 
manent wealth  of  the  country  is  in  their  hands.  The  prosperity  of  the 
country  is  based  upon  the  prosperity  of  the  owners  and  tillers  of  the 
soil.  Truly,  then,  is  agriculture  the  mother  of  a  1  arts,  the  foundation 
and  basis  of  every  other  calling. 

Agriculture,  like  every  other  art,  must  be  educated.  We  educate 
for  the  law— we  educate  for  medicine — we  educate  lor  war,  for  war  upon 
the  land  and  war  upon  the  sea.  We  educate  for  all  arts  and  sciences, 
save,  but  in  a  limited  degree,  that  art  or  science  which  is  the  njoblest  of 
them  all,  and  upon  which  all  other  arts  and  sciences  depend. 

Missouri  possesses  more  natural  advantages  and  adaption  of  soil 
and  climate  for  agricultural  pursuits  than  any  other  state  in  the  west  or 
in  any  other  part  of  the  country.  It  has  a  soil  and  climate  that  will 
grow  in  the  greatest  perfection  the  peach,  apple,  pear  and  cherry, 
together  with  all  other  fruits  that  succeed  in  this  latitude.  While  por- 
tions of  the  state  are  better  adapted  to  the  successful  culture  of  the  vine 
than  any  state  in  the  Union,  unless  it  may  be  Calitornia,  we  have  soil 
well  adapted  to  the  growth  of  tobacco,  hemp,  cotton,  and  all  the  cereals 
and  bulbous  and  tuberous  roots  grow  to  great  perfection. 

Wheat  is  grown  to  perfection  and  the  average  yield  is  exceeded  but 
by  four  states  in  those  years  that  turned  out  the  heaviest  crops.  Henry 
County  has  not  given  full  attention  to  this  cereal,  yet  more  than  enough 
is  raised  for  home  consumption,  and  it  is  of  late  years  becoming  more 
of  a  leading  product,  the  crop  of  1879  being  191,457  bushels.  Corn,  how- 
ever is  the  great  staple  of  Henry  County,  and  in  that  respect  there  are 
but  a  few  counties  that  exceed  her  in  the  gross  yield.  In  1879  Henry 
County  had  a  yield  of  5,002,216  bushels  of  corn  and  but  four  counties  in 
the  state  gave  a  larger  yield.  These  were  Bates,  Carroll,  Nodaway  and 
Johnson,  and  with  the  exception  of  Nodaway  were  not  greatly  in 
advance.  Nodaway  is  the  banner  corn  county  of  the  state,  having  har- 
vested for  1879  no  less  than  6,961,556  bushels. 

The  people  of  Henry  County  may  be  classed  as  an  agricultural  one. 
Out  of  a  population  of  in  round  numbers,  24,000,  only  about  5  5^0  are 
located  in  towns,  leaving  18,500  as  the  agricultural  population  of  the 
county.  In  fact  there  is  far  more  enterprise  exhibited  by  the  agricul- 
tural people  of  the  county,  than  the  capitalists  or  those  living  in  towns. 
The  breeding  of  fine  stock  has  become  quite  general,  and  combined  as 
it  is  with  cereal  products  are  facts  placing  the  farmers  and  stock  raisers 
in  an  enviable  position  in  the  matter  of  finance.  Oats  are  a  leading  crop, 
and  yield  from  thirty  to  forty  bushels  per   acre — to  feed  in  connection 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  l8l 

with  corn  to  horses  is  considered  better  than  feeding  either  alone.  Buck- 
wheat is  but  little  raised,  and  the  same  can  be  said  of  barley.  Rye  is 
also  a  light  crop,  but  little  of  it  being  raised.  Corn,  oats  and  wheat, 
in  the  order  named  being  the  principal  crops.  Hemp  and  flax  yield 
heavy  returns,  but  are  not  extensively  cultivated.  Sorghum  is  an  insti- 
tution that  is  growing  in  favor,  and  in  the  number  of  acres  planted,  there 
are  few  crops  that  pay  better.  Another  crop,  that  of  broom  corn,  has 
been  much  cultivated  of  late,  and  the  year  1882  returned  a  crop  that 
more  than  paid  the  full  value  of  the  land  upon  every  acre  upon  which 
it  was  grown.  Tobacco  could  be  cultivated  with  profit,  but  it  has  not 
taken  the  fancy  of  the  farmer  as  a  staple  crop.  Potatoes  can  be  raised 
in  almost  any  quantity.  The  soil  is  adapted  to  them,  and  it  only  requires 
care  to  raise  an  enormous  crop.  Then  the  turnip  is  another  root  that  it 
is  hard  to  tell  how  many  can  be"  raised  to  the  acre.  A  turnip  "  patch  " 
is  about  all  that  is  seen  planted  or  sown  of  this  root.  The  "patches" 
vary  in  size  from  an  eighth  of  an  acre  to  an  acre,  and  but  few  ever 
exceed  that  space  of  ground.  There  is  nothing  in  the  line  of  roots  and 
and  vegetables,  but  what  yields  handsomely  on  Henry  County  soil. 

GRASSES. 

The  natural  resources  for  grasses  are  very  great,  and  this  for  many 
years  was  a  great  drawback  to  the  cultivation  of  tame  grasses.  For 
years  the  pastures  were  the  open  prairies,  or,  if  necessary,  the  prairies 
fenced  in.  Of  late  years,  however,  timothy  meadows  have  increased 
and  will  continue  to  increase  as  the  stock  interest  grows.  Timothy, 
when  sown,  yields  abundantly,  an  average  of  three  tons  to  the  acre  hav- 
ing been  produced.  The  prarie,  when  cut,  yields  from  one  to  two  tons 
per  acre,  that  on  wet  soil  yielding  the  heaviest,  and  if  properly  cured  is 
a  pretty  fair  hay  for  cattle.  But  for  pasturing  the  blue  grass  ranks  the 
highest,  while  timothy  is  the  leading  hay  grass.  Redtop  and  clover  is 
raised,  but  not  to  a  great  extent;  the  former  act,  however,  as  a  filling  on 
a  timothy  meadow. 

When  you  come  to  take  the  great  yield  of  the  grasses,  the  prolific 
returns  of  corn  and  oats,  the  abundance  of  water,  it  is  not  much  of  a 
wonder  that  within  the  past  few  years  the  farmers  of  Henry  County 
have  turned  their  attention  to  stock.  The  wonder  is  that  it  has  not  been 
a  leading  industry  for  the  past  twenty  years.  Even  now  it  is  only  in  its 
infancy,  and  it  will  be  found  that  money  invested  in  Texas,  Colorado  or 
New  Mexico  will  show  no  greater  profits  than  in  our  own  state  of  Mis- 
souri in  the  matter  of  cattle  raising. 

The  great  ranches  of  these  Western  States  have  made  their  profit 
by  grazing  their  stock  on  government  land,  and  when  free  pastures  are 
no  more,  the  chances  for  large  profits  will  be  much  curtailed.      To   be 


l82  HISTORY    OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 

sure,  large  capitalists  have  combined  and  purchased  a  large  number  of 
acres  of  land  at  a  nominal  cost,  and  will  make  money,  but  the  stock- 
men whose  capital  is  limited  will  not  fare  better  in  those  states  than 
here,  where  a  market  can  be  found  at  his  door. 

SHEEP. 

Henry  County  farmers,  with  but  few  exceptions,  have  not  gone 
largely  into  sheep,  yet  of  all  the  stock  which  go  to  make  up  a  profitable 
return,  the  sheep  has  not  a  superior  for  this  section  of  the  country.  The 
returns  for  i88i  gives  15,289  as  the  total  in  the  county.  This  is  not 
half  the  number  raised  in  the  leading  county,  Livingston,  in  1879, 
and  many  other  counties  double  this  number.  Yet  Henry  County 
is  eminently  a  sheep  county,  in  its  adaptibility  to  this  industry  and  for 
its  successful  and  profitable  production. 

IN    1865. 

In  the  year  mentioned  above  the  Rev.  L.  C.  Marvin,  a  Universalist 
preacher,  who  as  an  emancipationist,  was  elected  speaker  of  the  general 
assembly  in  the  year  1862,  a  man  of  culture  and  varied  experience, 
wrote  to  the  Missouri  Agricultural  Society,  at  their  request,  matters 
agricultural  of  Henry  County.  Of  that  letter  and  report  the  following 
has  been  taken,  which  seems  to  bear  upon  its  face  the  condition,  views 
and  actions  of  the  farmers  of  the  county,  and  in  a  concise  form  tells 
much  that  is  of  interest  at  this  day.  From  this  report  and  the  present 
condition  of  the  farming  population,  the  advance  made  in  some  depart- 
ments can  be  readily  seen. 

The  fol'owing  is  from  the  last  two  pages,  or  closing  of  his  letter  : 
He  says  of  hogs,  cattle,  horses,  no  statistics  ever  having  been  attempted 
previous  to  the  war,  and  the  irregularities  which  prevail  now  and  during 
the  past  few  years  preclude  the  possibility  ot  giving  anything  reliable 
under  this  head.  In  general  terms,  it  may  be  stated  that  few  counties 
in  the  state,  and  none  in  the  southwest,  have  been  more  prolific  in  pro- 
ducing the  kinds  of  stock  above  enumerated  for  market.  Men  whose 
judgment  is  seldom  at  fault  in  estimates  of  this  nature,  are  of  the 
opinion  that  in  1863-4  'I''  many  as  15,000  hogs  were  fattened  and  mar- 
keted from  this  county  alone.  The  weight,  on  an  average,  it  is  supposed 
would  be  about  the  same  as  the  average  of  hogs  which  find  a  market  at 
St.  Louis.  Taking  into  the  account  the  fact  that  a  bloody  and  relentless 
bushwhacking  war  was  carried  on  within  our  bounds  during  that  and 
other  years,  and  the  altogether  unsettled  condition  of  things  generally, 
with  the  indications  as  above  stated,  and  some  estimate  may  be  made  of 
the  capacities  of  our  county  in  a  time  of  profound  peace,  with  none  to 
molest  or  make  us  afraid. 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  183 

Beef  cattle  in  immense  numbers  were  also  driven  from  our  county 
during  the  first  years  of  the  war,  and,  seemingly,  horses  and  mules 
enough  have  been  stolen  and  driven  away  to  outfit  an  army  for  the  occu- 
pation and  conquest  of  the  Peninsula.  There  are  various  kinds  of  stock 
of  the  improved  breeds  among  us,  but  the  most  common  is  the  Durham 
in  the  cattle  line;  and  of  hogs,  the  Berkshire  is  the  favorite,  with  inter- 
mixing of  other  kinds.  Durhams  do  well,  but  require  far  more  care  and 
better  keeping  than  the  natives.  Crosses  between  the  Durham  and 
native,  with  some,  are  a  favorite  kind  of  stock,  giving  more  weight  on 
the  one  hand,  and  requiring  less  care  and  feed  on  the  other. 

No  person  has  ever  undertaken  to  raise  stock  especially  for  the 
dairy.  Farmers  simply  make  their  own  butter,  zvhen  they  have  any,  and, 
incidentally,  a  few  pounds  for  the  market.  There  is  the  commencement 
of  one  cheese  dairy  in  the  county,  belonging  to  Mr.  John  Baker,  where 
the  cows  number  about  eighty.  I  think  he  makes  a  profitable  business 
in  this  matter,  selling  his  cheese  readily  at  high  prices.  His  cows  are 
mostly  natives,  with  a  small  per  centage  of  Durhams.  Considering  the 
price  paid  in  this  region  for  cheese,  and  frequently  for  an  inferior  article, 
and  the  facilities  offered  for  keeping  dairies,  it  is  not  seen  what  business 
could  possibly  pay  better  than  the  manufacture  of  good  cheese  for  the 
market.  One  hindrance  seems  to  be  that  few  people  here  know  the  secret 
of  cheese  making. 

FRUIT. 

Considerable  attention  has  been  paid  to  the  raising  of  apples  and 
peaches,  both  of  which  do  well  and  repay  the  farmer  a  large  return  for 
his  labor.  Almost  every  farmer,  at  present,  and  some  in  the  past,  are 
intent  upon  raising  fruits  of  various  kinds,  and  in  the  future,  from  pres- 
ent indications,  a  large  increase  will  be  visible.  The  best  winter  fruit 
in  all  this  region  is  the  geniting,  an  apple,  I  believe,  unknown  in  the 
north,  but  one  of  the  very  best,  as  conceded  on  all  hands  in  this  vicinity. 
There  is  no  difficulty  in  raising  fruit,  if  the  trees  are  only  planted,  and  a 
reasonable  amount  of  care  taken  of  them,  and  no  labor  pays  the  farmer 
a  larger  per  centage.  The  oldest  fruit  raiser  and  nurseryman  in  this 
county  is  Augustus  Dana,  of  Calhoun.  Though  not  largely  employed  in 
the  propagation  of  fruit,  it  is  believed  he  has  done  much  to  introduce 
good  and  valuable  fruit  into  the  county.  Large  numbers  of  fruit  trees, 
just  previous  to  the  war,  were  bring  introduced  from  New  York  and 
other  eastern  and  northern  states.  It  is  generally  thought,  however, 
that  nurseries  in  this  state  are  to  be  preferred  to  those  a  great  distance 
north  or  east.  Some  are  of  the  opinion  that  trees,  by  being  transplanted 
so  far  from  home,  are  apt  to  change  the  character  of  fruit,  like  a  youth 
who  goes  far  from  home  is  apt  to  fall  into  bad  company,  and  in  the  end 
contract  bad  habits. 


184  HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 

VINES   AND   VINEYARDS. 

There  are,  properly  speaking,  no  vineyards  in  the  county.  There  are, 
however,  in  many  gardens  a  few  vines,  rather  incidentally  or  accident- 
ally than  with  any  well  defined  intention  on  the  part  of  the  planter. 
The  location  of  the  county  and  the  character  and  tastes  of  the  people 
will  be  apt  to  preclude  much  wine  making  in  our  midst,  probably  for  a 
long  time  to  come.  No  reason  is  known  why,  if  properly  cared  for, 
pruned  and  cultivated,  the  winemaker  might  not  do  as  well  here  as  in 
other  localities  within  the  boundaries  of  the  state." 

STOCK. 

There  is  no  enumeration  of  stock  found  prior  to  the  year  1867  of 
record,  and  therefore  the  growth  of  the  county  in  stock  wealth  will  be 
dated  from  that  time.  There  were  few  head  of  fine  cattle  or  sheep  in 
the  county  at  that  time,  and  the  era  of  shorthorns,  Hereford  and  Jersey 
stocks  are  of  a  later  period.  In  the  matter  of  hogs  the  desire  for  fine 
breeds  commenced  earlier.  When  the  land  became  settled  and  the 
savages  curtailed,  the  old  slab-sided  rail  splitter  gave  way  to  the  Berk- 
shire and  the  Poland-China,  and  these  two  breeds  now  predominate,  with 
a  slight  preponderance  perhaps  on  the  side  of  the  latter  breed.  There 
is  but  little  difference  in  reality  between  their  value.  The  Berkshire  will 
hunt  its  food  and  is  not  lazy  in  that  particular,  but  the  Poland-China  is 
a  genuine  hog  all  over.  He  will  go  to  his  food,  but  if  he  could  have  his 
way  the  food  would  be  brought  to  him.  He  despises  exercise  and  get 
fat  because  he  can  help  it,  having  the  appetite  of  a  born  hog. 

Sheep  have,  of  late  years,  attracted  more  attention,  both  as  to  the 
breeds  and  to  their  raising.  The  farmers  of  Henry  County  would  have 
been  better  off  to-day  (but  perhaps  that  is  unnecessary)  if  they  had 
given  their  attention  earlier  to  this  department  of  farm  stock.  It  is  not 
yet  too  late,  and  the  sheep  is  beginning  to  assert  itself  as  a  staple  of 
farm  production.  The  horse  is  another  animal  that  has  seen  far  less 
attention  in  Henry  County  than  it  should.  Not  but  that  there  are  many 
fine  horses  in  the  county,  but  they  are  the  exception  and  not  the  rule.  It 
would  pay  to  take  a  deeper  interest  in  this  best  of  all  farm  stock.  When 
it  comes  to  cattle,  of  late  the  farmer  has  exercised  commendable  energy 
and  desire  to  improve  the  common  stock  and  the  scrub,  for  some- 
thing, that  without  being,  if  any,  more  expensive,  will  sell  on  an  average 
at  three  times  the  value  of  the  aforesaid  scrub.  The  shorthorns  lead  at 
this  time,  and  will,  doubtless  for  sometime  to  come,  but  that  farmer  will 
be  wise  who  also  takes  an  interest  in  the  Hereford  for  the  market,  and 
looks  after  a  thorough  Jersey  for  the  dairy.  The  value  of  the  short  horns 
none  will  deny,  but  a  very  plain  fact  is  also  observant,  that  they  do  not 
combine  in  themselves  all  that  is  desirable  in  cattle.     There  are  several 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 


185 


breeds,  both  of  cattle  and  sheep,  which  it  would  be  well  for  the  farmer 
to  experiment  with,  and  while  the  situation  and  liking  of  one  might  suit 
him,  it  does  not  follow  that  others  would,  under  different  circumstances, 
find  the  same  breed  as  profitable  or  desirable. 

And  right  here  a  very  pertinent  question  might  be  asked:  Why 
does  not  Henry  County  support  and  foster  a  first-class  agricultural 
society  ?  The  want  of  one  certainly  reflects  upon  the  intelligence  and 
enterprise  of  the  farming  population  of  Henry  County  and  certainly  is 
a  mistake. 

As  before  stated,  the  year  1867  was  the  first  that  a  record  was  found 
of  the  assessment  of  live  stock.  That  year  they  numbered  as  follows: 
Horses,  3,979;  mules  and  asses,  1,132;  neat  cattle,  12,520;  sheep,  9,241; 
hogs,  5,823. 

1870. — The  number  increased  rapidly  to  this  date,  as  will  be  seen 
below,  except  in  mules  and  sheep:  Horses,  6,069;  mules  and  asses, 
1,137;  "G^t  cattle,  15,662;  sheep,  9,478;  hogs,  28,005. 

1871 — Horses  7,681;  mules  and  asseS;  1,388;  cattle,  20,567;  sheep,. 
10,331;  hogs  28,617. 

1874 — Horses,  9,301;  mules,  1,965;  cattle,  27,540;  sheep,  13,589; 
hogs,  37,369, 

SHIPMENTS   OF   I877. 

While  the  wealth  of  Henry  County  has  increased  over  25  per  cent^ 
the  past  five  years,  what  she  contributed  to  the  outside  world  during 
the  business  season  of  1876-77  will  be  found  of  interest: 

The  following  is  a  tabulated  statement  of  the  shipments  of  live 
stock  and  produce  from  the  different  stations  in  Henry  County,  Mis- 
souri, for  the  seven  months  ending  May  15,  1877.  The  exhibit  is  taken 
direct  from  the  shipping  books  of  the  Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas  Rail- 
way, and  is  true  in  every  particular. 


0 
1-1 

c 
0 

V 

Q 

0 

■r. 

s 
s 
0 

u 

0 

B 

90 

15 

251 

142 

4 

I 

17 

9 

I 

u 

0 

Cattle 

Hogs 

Sheep 

236 

46 

I 

370 

51 

6 

74 

591 
69 

7 

736 

32 

*  64 

502 

56 

15 

I 

202 

1017 
226 

24 

1697 

676 

4 

Coal , 

Mules 

Horses 

I 

2 

10 

6 

6 

2 

2 

2 
12 

15 

38 

108 

38 

I 

I 

4 

Potatoes 

Broom  Corn  .  •    • 

16 

42 

Flax  Seed 

55 

Miscellaneous 

Flour 

52 

169 
38 

Total    Cars 

678 

135 

1648 

566 

326 

575 

3968 

1 86  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

Under  the  head  of  miscellaneous  is  included  beans,  oats,  stoneware, 
hides,  bran,  watj^on  material,  etc. 

The  total  value  of  the  above  shipments  foot  up  the  handsome  sum 
of  $1,552,998. 

The  census  returns  of  1880  gives  the  cereal  crop  of  the  year  1879, 
and  the  number  of  acres  planted  to  each  crop.  In  this  exhibit  Henry 
County  is  well  to  the  front. 

THE   CENSUS   CROP. 

Acres.  Bushels. 

Corn 131,368  5,002,216 

■Oats 13.730  279,911 

Wheat 17,982  191,457 

Rye 106  1,171 

Buckwheat 19  130 

Barley 15  1 80 

assessor's    RETURNS,   JANUARY    I,    1883. 

The  following  condensed  statement  of  the  returns  of  1882,  and 
returned  January  i,  1883,  is  taken  from  the  Clinton  Democrat,  of  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1883  : 

Total  valuation  of  live  stock,  moneys,  notes,  bonds  and  other  per- 
sonal property,  for  the  year  1882,  arranged  by  townships  : 

Osage $     126,720     Fields'  Creek $       69,970 

Fairview 84,440     Honey  Creek 41,940 

Bear  Creek 81,950     White  Oak 63,220 

Deepwater 109,450     Windsor 173,200 

Leesville 85,870     Tebo 149,290 

Bethlehem 108,300     Shawnee 132,520 

Clinton 466,850     Big  Creek 121,870 

Davis 101,940     Bogard  . .    1 14,500 

Walker 92,590  

Springfield 71,050  Total $2,293,470 

Deer  Creek 95,800 

Valuation. 

Real  estate,  number  acres 462,860         $2,415,435 

Real  estate,  number  town  lots 3,75 1  481,580 

Personal  property 2,293,470 


Total  taxable  wealth  January  i,  1883 $5,190,485 

This  closes  the  resources  of  Henry  County,  and  from  this  date  on 
it  will  be  easy  to  trace  the  growth  and  true  prosperity  of  the  county. 
Here  it  is  found  tabulated  from  1840  to  date,  of  such  years  as  the  same 
was  placed  upon  record,  and  from  this  history  the  past  can  be  gathered. 
This  alone  will  make  it  a  valuable  reference  to  every  citizen  for  all 
iuture  time. 


CHAPTER  XL 


FRUITS   AND   BERRIES— GRAPES   AND   WINES— COAL   AND 

STONE. 


FRUIT  ALL  GROWN  HERE-BERRIES  EVERYWHERE-GRAPES— THE  BEST  VARIETIES- 
COAL,  STONE  AND  IRON— AGRICULTURAL  SOCIETY— WHEN  ORGANIZED— 1839— 1858— 
1869— A  PREMIUM  LIST— DEATH.  BUT  NO  RESURRECnON— FARMER'S  CLUB-HENRY 
COUNTY  MEDICAL  SOCIETY-WHEN  IT  DIED— LIST  OF  MEMBERS— VETERINARY 
CLUB-ELECTED  OFFICERS- DEAD 

FRUITS   AND   BERRIES. 

There  has  been  of  late  years  considerable  attention  paid  to  all  kinds 
of  fruit  and  berries,  and  it  is  only  of  late  years  that  serious  attention  has 
been  given  to  that  which  is  prolific  in  yield  and  of  such  healthful  quali- 
ties as  good  ripe  fruit.  Up  to,  say,  1875,  there  was  very  little  attention 
paid  to  the  raising  of  any  kind  of  fruit  outside  of  home  consumption, 
and  even  in  that  respect  it  was  a  scarce  article.  Berries,  outside  of  a  few 
vines  or  bushes  in  the  garden,  little  attention  was  paid  to  them,  and  yet 
you  will  scarcely  find  a  county  in  the  state  where  fruit  can  be  grown  in 
greater  perfection  or  berries  give  a  more  prolific  yield.  But  orchards 
now  dot  the  county,  and  the  apple  crop  alone  probably  exceeded  a  mil- 
lion bushels  in  the  year  1882,  which  was  a  memorable  one  for  nearly  all 
kinds  of  fruit  in  the  immensity  of  its  yield.  Apples  are  principally,  but 
there  are  peaches  and  plums  in  plenty,  and  cherries  everywhere.  The 
berry  crop  is  not  large  as  yet,  but  strawberries,  currants,  gooseberries, 
raspberries  and  blackberries  are  all  grown,  sufficient  for  home  consump- 
tion. Why  these  berries  are  not  cultivated  more  is  hard  to  tell.  The 
people  have  hardly  yet  got  to  know  the  luxury  they  are  very  unneces- 
sarily depriving  themselves  of,  when  with  but  little  trouble  they  could 
feast  on  these  health-giving  and  luscious  fruits  of  the  garden. 

The  day  is  not  far  distant  when  all  this  will  be  changed,  and  they 
will  wonder  how  they  ever  could  have  lived  without  them.  The  apple 
orchard  is  now  a  staple  of  the  farm,  and  it  will  not  be  long  before  the 
county  will  equal  in  the  yield  of  apples  that  of  any  county  of  the  state; 
and  she  is  not  far  behind  now. 


1 88  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

THE   GRAPE. 

There  are  but  few  vineyards  in  Henry  County  at  this  time,  and  the 
cultivation  of  the  grape  has  not  become  general.  The  soil  is  well 
adapted  to  the  raising  of  some  varieties  of  the  grape,  the  Concord  being 
the  leading  grape  grown  and  considered  the  hardiest  and  less  liable  to 
mildew.  The  Alvira  is  little  grown  and  but  little  known,  but  for  wine 
it  is  considered  superior  to  the  Norton's  Virginia  or  the  Martha.  There  is 
no  mistaking  the  quality  of  the  wine  it  produces,  both  in  body  and  flavor. 
It  is  not  as  prolific  in  its  yield  as  the  Concord,  and  for  that  matter  there 
is  no  grape  that  equals  it  in  yield,  or  can  be  said  to  be  as  hardy,  but  the 
Concord  does  not  make  a  rich  wine.  It  is  lighter  in  body,  and  lacks 
that  delicate  flavor  which  gives  to  the  Norton's  Virginia,  Alvira  and 
Martha  their  chief  attributes,  and  calls  forth  high  praise.  The  Catawba 
is  a  grape  that  was  cultivated  many  years,  but  it  is  light  in  yield  and 
light  in  body  in  the  quality  of  its  wine. 

The  Concord  for  light  wine  is  the  superior  of  any  grown,  when  yield 
and  quality  is  considered.  This  is  meant  in  the  nature  of  a  common 
wine.  The  Herbemont  is  also  cultivated  to  some  extent,  and  has  yielded 
a  very  heavy  crop,  about  eight  hundred  gallons  to  the  acre.  Among 
the  varieties  promising  well,  but  which  are  as  yet  not  extensively  culti- 
vated, are  the  Cunningham,  Clinton,  Hartford  Prolific,  Taylor,  Cynth- 
iana,  Martha,  North  Carolina  Seedling,  Roger's  Hybrid,  No.  i,  and  last, 
though  not  least,  the  Alvira.  The  average  value  of  Catawba  wine  is 
$1.50  ;  Norton's  Virginia  wine,  $4;  Concord  wine,  $2.50;  Herbemont 
wine,  $3.  These  are  the  comparative  prices  in  accordance  with  their 
quality,  and  are  nearly  correct.  In  a  comparison  of  the  wine  made 
from  the  Alvira  and  Norton's  Virginia,  the  preference  was  given  by  good 
judges  to  the  former.  Still  there  is  but  little  difference,  and  the  latter 
gives  a  greater  yield  per  acre.  The  average  yield  per  acre  of  leading 
varieties  may  be  put  down  as  follows,  one  season  with  the  other,  under 
fair  treatment: 

Gallons. 

Catawba,  per  acre 250 

Norton's  Virginia,  per  acre 700 

Concord,  per  acre 1,200 

Alvira,  per  acre 800  to  i  ,000 

Martha,  per  acre 800  to  i  ,000 

Herbemont,  per  acre    1,000 

Clinton,  per  acre 1,000 

There  is  no  doubt  but  the  grape  finds  here  its  natural  home,  and 
will  produce  unrivaled  yields,  and  while  at  this  time  the  Concord  is  the 
favorite,  from  its  hardy  nature  and  sure  returns,  other  varieties  will 
doubtless  find  favor  as  vineyards  increase,  and  a  taste  for  superior  vintage 
becomes  more  widespread  and  desirable. 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  1 89 

MINERAjlS. 

Whether  coal  can  be  called  a  mineral  is  perhaps  subject  to  contro- 
very;  but  one  thing  is  absolutely  certain — that  coal  abounds  in  great 
quantity  in  Henry  County,  fully  threefourths  of  her  surface  being  under- 
laid with  a  very  fine  article  of  bituminous  coal,  and  at  no  very  distant 
future  will  be  mined  in  such  quantities  as  to  make  it  an  important  factor 
in  the  aggregate  of  her  yearly  revenue.  Even  now  it  has  an  important 
bearing  in  the  financial  resources  of  the  county.  There  has  been  as  yet 
no  deep  mining  in  Henry  County.  Numerous  veins  of  coal  have  been 
opened,  varying  from  twenty  inches  to  three  feet  in  thickness,  which  are 
now  being  worked  at  a  profit.  They  are,  comparatively  speaking,  near 
the  surface,  being  from  10  to  120  feet  deep.  One  million  bushels  and 
over  are  now  being  taken  out  annually. 

In  1870  a  vein  of  coal  nine  feet  in  thickness  was  discovered  on  Mr. 
Cook's  farm,  known  as  the  "  Old  John  Gutridge  farm,"  some  300  yards 
from  the  line  of  the  located  Tebo  &  Neosho  Railroad. 

The  Widow  Tyler  Coal  Mines,  three  miles  east  of  Clinton,  have 
been  worked  since  1869.  In  187 1  two  sets  of  hands  were  engaged  to 
keep  up  the  supply,  the  demand  being  so  great. 

Another  shaft  was  sunk  north  of  Clinton  and  has  been  worked  since 
1870. 

The  Lee  Owens  Shaft  has  been  worked  considerable,  and  it  was  at 
this  mine  that  John  Woolfort,  a  miner,  was  killed  in  1877,  the  contents 
of  a  "pot"  falling  on  him. 

S.  D.  Garth  also  struck  a  thirty-inch  vein,  only  a  short  distance 
southeast  of  Clinton,  in  October,  1881. 

These  might  all  be  called  surface  veins,  as  the  deepest,  Osage  No. 
I,  is  but  124  feet  in  depth,  and  as  before  remarked  vary  from  twenty 
inches  to  thirty-six  inches  in  thickness.  It  is  frequently  dug  from  the 
sides  of  ravines  and  creeks.  Several  other  shafts  have  been  sunk  and 
the  mines  are  being  worked. 

The  geological  report  of  the  lower  coal  measure  is  of  great  impor- 
tance to  this  county,  as  the  veins  are  of  great  thickness  and  of  the  finest 
quality  of  bituminous  coal.  It  says  that  the  lower  coal  measures  are 
found  exclusively  in  Henry  County,  comprising  a  vertical  section  of 
rock  and  shale  of  250  to  300  feet,  including  five  workable  seams  of  coal 
from  eighteen  inches  to  five  and  one-half  feet  in  thickness,  and  several 
thin  seams  covering  an  area  of  300  square  miles,  with  three  and  one- 
half  feet  of  workable  coal,  and  250  square  miles  with  six  and  one-half 
feet  of  coal,  and  150  square  miles  with  ten  and  one-half  to  twelve  feet 
of  workable  coal,  or  in  all  650  square  miles  with  three  and  one -half  to 
twelve  feet  of  workable  coal. 


190  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

The  mines  at  Lewis  and  near  Windsor  will  be  found  described  in 
the  history  of  those  townships. 

H^ON  AND  STONE. 

Iron  ore  is  also  found,  and  there  are  also  indications  of  coal  oil. 
The  iron  has  never  been  looked  after  or  efforts  made  to  work  it,  and  the 
same  may  be  said  of  coal  oil.  There  is  nothing  positively  known  of  the 
latter,  but  iron  is  known  to  exist  in  payin,f^  quantity. 

Limestone  may  be  said  to  be  most  numerous  of  the  different  rock. 
Sandstone  is  found  at  intervals,  as  is  also  cotton  rock,  fire  rock,  etc. 
There  has  been  a  fine  quarry  of  a  very  handsome  stone  found  on  the 
farm  of  John  Rhoads,  about  one  and  one-half  miles  from  Montrose.  The 
stone  is  a  finer  grade  than  the  celebrated  VVarrensburg  stone,  and  sus- 
ceptible of  a  higher  finish.  It  is  destined  to  be  one  of  the  most  valuable 
quarries  of  building  stone  in  the  state. 

There  are  quite  a  number  of  quarries  of  other  stone  in  the  county, 
which  will  in  the  future  be  of  great  value.  The  demiand  at  present  is 
light,  but  as  the  people  grow  in  wealth  and  culture,  much  of  this  fine 
stone  will  be  used,  both  for  the  substantial  and  ornamental,  the  qualities 
of  which  will  prove  satisfactory.  There  is  perhaps  more  limestone  in 
the  northern  section  of  the  county,  but  stone  of  some  kind  is  found  in 
almost  every  section.  The  fine  quarry  above  spoken  of,  Mr.  Rhoads',  is 
in  the  southwest,  while  south  and  east  are  the  sandstone  quarries.  Now 
and  then,  on  the  hills  overlooking  Grand  River  and  the  Osage,  some 
flint  is  found.  Take  it  altogether  there  are  few  counties  in  the  state 
better  supplied  with  a  first  class  article  of  building  stone  than  Henry,  but 
really  there  has  been  but  little  done  to  develop  its  resources  in  this  par- 
ticular. The  same  might  be  said  of  coal.  There  is  a  home  market  for 
from  a  half  to  three-quarters  of  a  million  bushels  of  coal,  and  beyond 
this,  and  what  is  supplied  to  the  railroad,  covers  the  extent  of  the  min- 
ing interest.  Yet  there  is  coal  enough  to  make  it  the  equal,  if  not  the 
leading  product  of  the  county. 

AGRICULTURAL   SOCIETY. 

Henry  County,  as  a  county,  has  never  been  largely  interested  in  an 
agricultural  and  mechanical  association.  There  have  been  a  few  moving 
spirits,  who  have  struggled  from  year  to  year  to  educate  the  people  up 
to  the  belief  of  the  well-known  fact,  that  a  well  sustained  agricultural 
society,  would  do  more  to  advance  the  farming  interest  than  any  one 
thing  connected  therewith,  outside  of  intelligent  manual  labor.  In  one 
respect  the  farming  population  of  Henry  County,  cannot  be  called  a 
reading  one,  and  to  some  extent  this  may  account  for  their  want  of 
interest  in  a  society  which  would  prove  so  valuable  to  them.     Not  only 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY.  19I 

does  their  pocket  interest  suffer,  so  also  does  their  moral  and  social 
existence.  The  neighborly  feeling  encouraged  and  promoted  by  these 
societies,  the  social  gathering  and  interchange  of  thoughts,  views  of 
experience  of  each,  go  a  long  way  to  develop  improvements  in  farm  and 
stock,  which  cannot  so  well  be  found  in  any  place  or  institution  as  at  an 
agricultural  fair.  The  spirit  of  social  life,  of  improvement  and  progress, 
seems  to  be  in  a  measure  lacking  among  the  farmers  of  the  county.  As 
before  remarked,  not  all  are  wanting  in  this  spirit,  but  up  to  the  year 
1S83,  the  few  have  failed  to  leaven  the  mass,  and  Henry  County,  rich  in 
soil,  prolific  in  production,  and  by  prudence  and  economy,  has  amassed 
much  substantial  wealth  among  her  people,  yet  among  her  rural  popula- 
tion there  is  seemingly  a  want  of  intelligent  enterprise. 

THE   FIRST   MOVE. 

There  has  been  from  the  first  organization  of  the  county,  some 
spirits,  who  believed  in  agricultural  societies  and  fairs,  and  it  is  found 
that  as  early  as  1838,  there  were  farmers  who  desired  to  form  an  agricul- 
tural association.  The  affair  took  shape  in  February,  1839,  when  the 
county  court  granted  an  order  for  an  election  foi  the  "  purpose  of  organ- 
izing an  agricultural  society." 

Nothing,  so  far  as  the  records  show,  was  accomplished.  Who  were 
the  moving  spirits  was  not  stated.  It  slumbered  for  two  years  and  six 
months,  when  the  county  court  made  again  the  same  order  for  an  elec- 
tion, and  for  the  same  purpose,  at  the  August  term,  1841.  It  again 
failed  to  materialize,  and  seemed  to  have  slept  the  sleep  that  knows  no 
waking.  The  spirit  had  died  out,  and  for  seventeen  years  nothing  was 
heard  of  an  agricultural  society  in  Henry  County. 

THE   SPIRIT   OF   PROGRESS. 

Once  more  the  spirit  began  to  move,  and  in  1857,  the  talk  assumed 
a  demonstrative  tone,  and  during  the  summer  of  the  following  year,  that 
of  1858,  and  the  first  fair  ever  held  in  Henry  County  was  in  the  fall  of 
that  year,  and  for  three  days.  In  1859,  there  was  another,  and  both  of 
these  exhibitions  were  a  success,  and  gave  promise  of  much  future  use- 
fulness. When  those  early  days  are  considered,  the  success  was  phe- 
nominal,  and  in  the  number,  quantity  and  quality  of  articles  exhibited, 
augured  well  for  the  future.  Yet  these  two  fairs  were  all  that  were  held 
in  those  ante  belluin  days.  If  they  could  have  been  continued  there  can 
be  no  doubt  that  the  generous  and  friendly  rivalry  which  was  stimulated, 
and  the  personal  acquaintance  and  friendship  which  was  cultivated, 
would  have  led  to  very  excellent  results  to  the  farming  population,  and 
benefitted  the  community  generally.     Among  the  projectors  and  early 


192  HISTORY   OF    HENR\    COUNTY. 

friends  of  the  society  were  Joseph  Davis,  Joshua  Swinney,  A.  M.  Tutt, 
R.  Allen,  A.  C.  Marvin,  John  A.  Rogers,  A.  C.  Legg,  James  Hogan,  Major 
Good  and  others.  What  caused  the  failure  of  i860  is  not  reported,  and 
after  that  the  general  demoralization  attending  the  fierce  civil  strife  put 
an  end  to  all  ideas  as  to  fairs  or  anything  else  that  savored  of  friendship 
or  progress.  The  people  drifted  along  until  the  times  once  more  became 
settled,  and  they  had,  in  a  measure,  recovered  from  the  prostration  and 
poverty  left  them  when  grim-visaged  war  had  ceased,  and  the  white- 
winged  angel,  "  peace,"  hovered  once  more  over  the  land. 

On  November  20,  i86g,  a  joint  stock  company  was  formed  and 
called  the  agricultural  and  mechanical  society  of  Henry  County,  and 
the  following  prominent  citizens  of  the  county,  at  that  time,  composed 
its  first  board  of  directors,  viz:  A.  C.  Marvin,  R.  Z.  Fewell,  Thomas  E. 
Owens,  Isaac  M.  Cruce,  John  L.  Gray,  John  A.  Bushnell,  James  Hogan, 
Moses  W.  Sevier,  John  O.  Covington,  Robert  Allen,  Jacob  C.  White,  R. 
K.  Murrell  and  Burt  Holcomb. 

On  January  29,  1870,  a  meeting  was  called,  and  an  election  of  offi- 
cers took  place.  For  the  presidency  of  the  association  there  were  four 
candidates,  and  Dr.  J.  H.  Britts  was  elected  by  a  vote  of  forty-three  to 
twenty-five  for  all  the  others.  Captain  Curtis  was  chosen  vice-president 
and  Will  H.  Lawrence,  corresponding  secretary.  The  following  execu- 
tive committee  was  then  appointed  by  townships:  Bogard,  Captain  J. 
A.  Will;  Big  Creek,  L.  E.  B.  Winslow;  Grand  River,  Marshal  Lahue; 
Springfield,  Columbus  Banta;  Osage,  Reuben  Good;  Tebo,  George 
Casey:  Deepwater,  James  T.  Tags;  White  Oak,  S.  L.  W,  Robinson; 
Windsor,  I.  N.   Hughes. 

Active  work  was  commenced  to  get  the  farmers  interested  so  as  to 
hold  a  fair  the  coming  fall,  and  during  the  summer  it  was  announced 
that  the  "Sixth  Annual  Fair  of  the  Henry  County  Agricultural  and 
Mechanical  Society  would  be  held  on  the  fair  grounds,  near  Clinton, 
commencing  September  20,  1870,  and  continuing  four  days. 

The  effect  was  really  a  success,  the  display  of  stock  and  the  product 
of  the  farm  was  first-class  and  the  entries  numerous.  A  very  liberal 
premium  list  was  offered,  the  aggregate  being  $1,200. 

The  board  of  directors  elected  and  holding  office  in  1871  were:  Dr. 
John  H.  Britts,  president;  Colonel  William  H.  McLane,  vice-president; 
William  H.  Cock,  treasurer;  D.  H.  Pierson,  secretary,  and  R.  Z  Fewell, 
H.  P.  Epperson,  J.  P.  Waddell,  John  Hopton,  William  M.  Doyle,  D.  R. 
D.  Dobyns  and  Joseph  Reid  as  constituting  the  board. 

This  seemed  to  be  the  first  fair  held  since  the  war  and  the  last  until 
1878.  Just  why  such  a  prosperous  beginning  should  have  been  allowed 
toi  die  out,  of  course  cannot  be  told,  only  upon  the  ground  taken  in  the 
commencement  of  this  article,  that  while  there  were  a  few  public-spirited 
and  energetic  men  in  the  county,  there  were  not  enough  of  them  to 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  I93 

imbue  with  the  right  spirit  an  era  of  progress  in  the  people's  hearts,  and 
the  association  died  of  inanition,  a  want  of  nourishment  and  that  kind 
■of  food  which  makes  all  public  objects  a  success. 

The  closing  of  the  fair  of  1870  left  the  matter  at  a  rest  or  stand- 
still until  the  year  1878,  above  mentioned,  when  another  spasmodic 
effort  was  made  and  resulted  in  having  a  fair  held  on  the  nth  and  12th 
days  of  October,  1878,  two  days  only.  This  was  under  the  control  of 
the  former  directory.  One  more  attempt  was  made  and  a  three  days' 
fair  was  held  in  1879,  and  this  endeth  the  chapter  so  far  as  a  separate 
fair  in  Henry  County  is  concerned.  The  gentlemen  who  have  been 
instrumental  in  infusing  life  occasionally  into  the  society  have  become 
somewhat  despondent,  and  after  some  twelve  years  of  struggle,  of  time 
and  money  spent,  have,  we  believe,  given  up,  at  least  for  the  present, 
any  hope  of  making  an  agricultural  and  mechanical  society  in  Henry 
County  a  permanent  success.  The  effort  of  1880  having  proved  abor- 
tive, a  few  have  attended  what  is  called  a  district  fair  held  at  Appleton 
City,  in  St.  Clair  County,  but  close  to  the  border  of  Henry  and  Bates. 
Let  us  hope  that  a  more  liberal  spirit  will  yet  take  hold  of  the  farmers 
of  Henry  County,  and  that  the  public  spirited  citizens  may  in  the  near 
future  see  the  full  fruition  of  their  hopes  and  desires  and  that  the  Agri- 
cultural and  Mechanical  Society  of  Henry  County  will  yet  have  a  perma- 
nent being  and  become  a  pronounced  success. 

FARMERS  CLUB. 

There  was  a  farmers  club  organized  in  1869,  of  which  Dr.  Britts  was 
president.  At  the  meeting  held  at  Clinton  on  February  5,  1870,  there 
was  a  lively  discussion  about  the  stock  law.  There  were  quite  a  number 
of  lawyers  who  got  up  and  undertook  to  explain  the  law  and  air  their 
farming  knowledge,  which  latter  was  about  all  heresay  and  theoretical, 
but  announced  in  that  sort  of  matter  of  fact  way  that  they  knew  all 
about  it,  in  fact  much  more  than  the  tillers  of  the  soil  themselves. 
When  these  limbs  of  the  law  got  through  a  quiet  old  farmer  by  the 
name  of  Winslow,  got  up  and  grimly  remarked,  "that  it  made  the  meet- 
ing a  heap  more  spicy  by  hearing  from  those  who  knew  nothing  about 
farming,"  and  then  sat  down.  It  was  a  sort  of  a  wet  blanket  on  the 
legal  lights,  who  afterwards  kept  silent,  fearing  perhaps  they  had  exhib- 
ited more  ears  than  was  really  necessary,  the  old  farmer  chuckled  quietly 
to  himself,  and  the  neighbors  smiled  aubibly,  and  this  ended  the  meet- 
ing. There  were  other  meetings  of  the  club  which,  when  the  Grange 
furor  passed  over  the  country  became  embodied  into  that  institution 
known  as  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry.  This  was  an  order  of  high  merit 
and  wielded,  during  its  short  existence,  immense  power  for  good,  and  it 
has  been  the  only  organization  strong  enough  it  its  Way  to  make  corpo- 

13 


194  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

rations  tremble  at  its  word  and  railway  kings  bow  to  its  behests.  The 
order  is  not  yet  extinct,  but  its  power  has  waned.  It  may  again  come 
forth,  clad  in  the  armor  of  right,  with  power  to  enforce,  and  if  based 
upon  the  creed  upon  which  it  first  started  into  life,  may  God  speed  the 
day  of  its  coming.  An  organization  armed  with  aggression  in  the  cause 
of  right  and  justice,  with  the  power  to  carry  it  out,  is  something  badly 
needed  in  this  accursed  monopoly  ridden  era,  and  it  cannot  come  too 
soon.  Speed  the  day  that  the  justice  of  its  cause,  and  the  power  of  its 
might,  may  become  triumphant,  that  labor  may  have  its  reward  and  be 
forever  removed  from  the  slavery  of  capital. 

HENRY  COUNTY  MEDICAL  SOCIETY. 

This  society  was  organized  in  Clinton  April  5th,  1870.  Dr.  Britts 
was  called  to  the  chair,  and  Dr.  Winch  secretary.  On  organization  the 
first  motion  was  by  Dr.  Stewart,  to  the  effect  that  the  name  should  be 
called  the  "  Henry  County  Medical  Society."  Articles  2d  and  4th,  arti- 
cles of  the  State  Medical  Society,  was  adopted  as  the  2d  and  3d  articles 
of  this  constitution,  as  was,  also,  the  6th  and  7th  of  the  state  constitu- 
tion made  the  5th  and  6th  in  the  Henry  County  Society.  By-laws  were 
drawn  up  and  adopted  at  the  next  meeting,  but  the  regular  officers  were 
chosen  at  the  first,  at  the  date  of  organization.  For  permanent  presi- 
dent. Dr.  John  H.  Britts;  for  vice  president,  Dr.  W.  L.  Shankland  ;  for 
treasurer.  Dr.  Samuel  Jones;  for  recording  secretary.  Dr.  Robert  Zener; 
for  corresponding  secretary,  Dr.  T.  F.  Leech;  for  librarian,  Dr.  Bronaugh. 
Executive  committee — Dr.  Leech,  Dr.  Stewart,  Dr.  Trevey. 

A  committee  on  election  was  appointed,  and  a  fee  of  $1  charged  for 
membership.  The  national  code  of  ethic  was  adopted,  and  Dr.  J.  W. 
Stewart  elected  to  represent  the  association  in  the  State  Medical  Society, 
which  was  to  meet  at  St.  Louis  on  the  26th  of  April. 

The  association  met  pretty  regularly  during  the  ensuing  year.  A 
fee  bill  was  prepared  and  adopted  and  a  small  pamphlet  was  published, 
embracing  the  constitution  and  by-laws,  the  code  of  ethics  and  the  fee 
bill  for  use  of  the  members.  With  the  exception  of  the  papers  and 
essays  prepared  and  read,  the  above  constituted  the  principal  business 
of  the  year. 

The  election  in  May,  1871,  resulted  in  the  selection  of  the  following: 
President,  Dr.  J.  P.  Dimmitt;  vice  president,  Dr.  J.  W.  Bronaugh;  cor- 
responding secretary.  Dr.  W.  H.  Wirich;  recording  secretary.  Dr.  Rob- 
ert Zener;  treasurer,  Dr.  Samuel  Jones;  librarian,  Dr.  I.  F.  Houx, 

Executive  Committee — Drs.  Britts,  Rayston  and  Chilton. 

Elective  Committee — Drs.  Stewart,  Trevey  and  Shankland. 

There  were  lively  and  interesting  discussions  at  all  these  meetings, 
but  all  within  the  jurisdiction  of  medicine  and  the  experience  and  prac- 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  I95. 

tice  of  each  physician  as  detailed,  when  of  importance,  was  of  essentia! 
advantage  to  the  members  of  the  society. 

There  was  a  fine  assessed  for  absenteeism  toward  the  latter  part  oi 
the  second  year.  Still  there  was  no  doubt  that  a  hearty  interest  was 
taken  in  the  society  by  all  its  members. 

ITS   THIRD   YEAR. 

The  third  annual  meeting,  May  28,  1872.  Dr.  W.  L.  Shankland,. 
president;  Dr.  Robert  Zener,  vice  president;  Dr.  I.  F.  Houx,  corres- 
ponding secretary  and  librarian;  Dr.  P.  S.  Jennings,  recording  secre- 
tary; Dr.  J.  W.  Stewart,  treasurer. 

Excutive  Committee — Drs.  Chilton,  Trevey  and  Dimmitt. 

Elective  Committee — Drs.  Britts,  Bronaugh  and  Winn. 

The  society  clearly  announced  the  position  that  it  did  not  recog- 
nize the  school  of  medicine  known  as  homeopathy. 

The  society  closed  its  labors  for  some  reason  in  1874,  at  which  time 
Dr.  P.  S.  Jennings  was  president  and  Dr.  J.  H.  Britts  secretary.  That  it 
had  accomplished  much  good  during  the  four  years  and  a  little  over  of 
its  existence  was  freely  admitted  by  the  physicians,  members  of  the 
society  and  many  able  papers  were  read  and  discussed,  but  removals 
from  the  county,  and  by  death,  decimated  the  ranks,  and  the  member- 
ship declined. 

One  serious  trouble  was  in  the  unfailing  health  of  Henry  County. 
It  is  not  a  prosperous  field  for  many  doctors.  The  people  are  given  to 
health  and  longevity,  and  the  daily  sight  of  this  kind  of  people  has  a  sor- 
rowful feeling  upon  a  doctor's  mind,  and  the  effect  upon  his  pocketbook 
is  entirely  too  Realistic  to  illumine  his  face  with  a  joyful  presence.  A 
few  have  prospered  and  many  have  left,  but  at  this  time  the  future  of  a 
Henry  County  medical  society,  of  a  near  or  ultimate  resurrection,  is  not 
flattering. 

THE  LIST   OF   MEMBERS. 

The  total  membership  was  twenty-two,  as  follows: 

Dr.  John  H.  Britts.  Dr.  Thomas  F.  Leech. 

Dr.  William  H.  Winch.  Dr.  P.  S.  Jennings. 

Dr.  I.  F.  Houx.  Dr.  B.  H.  Land. 

Dr.  Robert  Zener.  Dr.  Edward  Chilton. 

Dr.  W.  L.  Shankland.  Dr.  A.  P.  Bowman. 

Dr.  Robert  Trevey.  Dr.  C.  F.  Mercer. 

Dr.  Samuel  Jones.  Dr.  J.  S.  Jones. 

Dr.  John  W.  Bronaugh.  Dr.  John  Wilson. 

Dr.  E.  C.  Royston.  Dr.  W.  A.  Davidson. 

Dr.  J.  W.  Stewart.  Dr.  J.  D.  Axtine. 

Dr.  J.  P.  Dimmitt.  Dr.  Samuel  H.  Jones. 


196 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 


VETERINARY    CLUB. 

A  veterinary  club  was  formed  in  Clinton  in  the  year  1870,  the  inten- 
tion of  which  wa.s  to  make  horse  and  its  diseases  their  special  study.  Its 
officers  were  Dr.  F.  M.  Estes,  president;  Will  H.  Lawrence,  vice  presi- 
dent; William  E.  Wallor,  secretary,  and  George  P.  Durst,  treasurer. 
What  the  society  did,  or  how  long  it  was  in  existence  cannot  at  this  day 
be  clearly  established.     It  lived,  yet  seemed  to  have  died. 


\s  ^(i/^^  e!^"^^ 


CHAPTER  XII. 

SCHOOI^S— THEIR  GROWTH  AND  FINANCIAL  EXHIBIT. 

THE  FIRST  SCHOOL- SALE  OF  SCHOOL  LAND  IN  1836  TO  1838— NO  PRAIRIE  LANDS  WANTED 
THE  FIRST  STATE  SCHOOL  FUND  APPORTIONMENT— APPORTIONMENT  OF  1850-1854 
NUMBERING  THE  SCHOOL  DISTRICTS— TOWNSHIP  FUNDb  OF  1858  AND  1860-FROM 
1866  TO  1870— STATE  SCHOOL  MONEY— 1880,  AND  THE  TOTAL  COUNTY  FUND-RE- 
CEIPTS AND  EXPENDITURES  FOR  1881— REPORT  OF  THE  CLINTON  GRADED  SCHOOL 
FOR  1S81-AMOUNT  APPORTIONED  FOR  MAY,  1882— THE  STATE. 

THE   START— LOG   CABIN   SCHOOLS. 

Henry  County  has  not  been  behind  her  sister  counties  in  her  desires 
and  aims  for  a  thorough  school  system.  The  people  of  a  neighborhood 
who  had,  previous  to  the  county's  organization,  but  apologies  for  schools, 
were  anxious  that  the  sixteenth  section  should  contribute  as  soon  as 
possible  to  improve  their  school  facilities.  Some  schools  had  been  kept 
in  the  county  at  private  cabins,  and  again  some  old  deserted  one  had 
been  utilized  for  teaching  the  children  of  a  neighborhood  in  the  rudi- 
ments of  an  elementary  education. 

Very  cheap  and  very  imperfect  had  been  these  schools,  the  parents 
paying  from  one  to  two  dollars  per  month  for  each  pupil.  All  of  these 
early  schools  were  known  as  subscription  schools.  The  neighbors  would 
get  together,  when  an  old  hut  was  not  at  hand,  and  erect  a  log  cabin  with 
a  stick  chimney,  puncheon  stools,  no  doors  or  windows,  and  here  would 
be  found  the  youths  of  both  sexes  gathered  together,  taking  their  first 
lessons  in  reading,  writing,  and  arithmetic.  It  was  not  much,  but  it  was 
all,  and  the  best  the  pioneers  of  those  early  days  could  do.  As  the 
population  increased,  better  provisions  were  made,  and  the  state  school 
fund  became  an  important  item  in  causing  the  winter  term  to  lengthen 
to  three  and  four  months. 

The  county  had  been  organized  but  a  little  over  a  year  when  the 
inhabitants  of  what  is  now  Clinton  Township,  petitioned  for  the  sale  of 
the  sixteenth  section  of  township  42,  of  range  26.  The  court  granted 
the  petition  at  the  February  term,  1836.  This  was  the  first  land  sold, 
but  not  all  of  the  section  was  disposed  of  Then  followed  the  petitions 
for  the  sale  of  other  sixteenth  sections  in  the  order  here  given  : 

Sixteenth  section,  township  40,  range  25,  August,  1836. 


198  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

Sixteenth  section,  township  43,  range  25,  November,  1836. 
Sixteenth  section,  township  42,  range  24,  March,  1838. 
None  of  these  sections  were  fully  sold  at  the  first  sale. 

NO   PRAU^IE    LANDS   WANTED. 

The  old  pioneers  never  had  a  liking  for  prairie  lands,  and  all  of  the 
settlers  generally  located  on  or  near  a  stream  of  water.  While  the 
prairies  were  treeless,  on  the  banks  of  all  the  streams  and  rivers  there 
was  plenty  of  wood.  This  objection  to  prairie  land  was  very  plainly 
exemplified  by  the  early  settlers  of  Henry  County,  in  a  petition  to  the 
county  court,  that,  sixteenth  section  of  township  42,  of  range  25,  the 
sixteenth  section  of  township  43,  of  range  24,  and  the  sixteenth  section 
■of  township  41,  of  range  26,  be  given  back  to  the  United  States,  on  the 
ground  "that  it  was  poor  land,  and  there  was  no  timber  on  it,"  and  that 
they  have  the  privilege  of  selecting  three  other  sections  of  land  in  their 
place.  The  court  effected  the  change,  for  Thomas  Arbuckle  was  after- 
ward commissioned  to  select  the  lands  for  township  43,  range  24,  and  he 
may  have  done  it  for  all,  and  when  selected,  an  order  was  granted  for  its 
sale  for  school  purposes. 

In  August,  1837,  the  first  school  district  was  organized  in  Henry 
County,  and  was  called  district  No.  i,  township  42  of  range  26.  John  F. 
Sharp,  George  W.  Lake  and  Hiram  Baker  were  appointed  trustees. 
They  continued  in  office  one  year  and  then  all  resigned.  There  were  no 
others  organized  until  November,  1842,  when  one  was  organized  in 
township  43  of  range  26.  Mr.  William  Akens  was  appointed  commis- 
sioner. From  that  time  on  to  1847  quite  a  number  were  in  operation, 
no  less  than  nine  receiving  the  state  fund  distributed  that  year,  which 
amounted  to  $322.40.     It  was  apportioned  as  follows: 

Township  43,  range  24 $71  60  No.  children 179 

Township  43,  range  25 52  40  No.  children 131 

Township  43,  range  26 77  60  No.  children 194 

Township  42,  range  24 39  20  No.  children 98 

Township  42,  range  25 19  20  No.  children 48 

Township  41,  range  25 10  40  No.  children 26 

Township  41,  range  26 15  20  No.  children 38 

Township  41,  range  28 13  20  No.  children 33 

Township  40,  range  25 23  60  No.  children ...    59 

This  was  the  first  money  distributed  which  was  found  of  record. 
The  next  apportionment  of  state  fund  here  entered  was  in  May,  1850, 
and  it  amounted  to  $363.96. 

In  May,  185  i,  the  state  school  money  received  was  divided  among 
all  the  townships  in  proportion  to  the  number  of  children  in  each  town- 
ship between  the  ages  of  six  and  twenty.  The  si^m  apportioned  is  given 
in  detail,  so  as  to  show  on  future  pages  the  growth  of  the  schools  in  the 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 


199 


county,  and  what  townships  were  in  the  lead,  both  in  number  of  chil- 
dren of  school  age  and  schools  in  operation.  The  gross  sum  from  the 
state  amounted  to  $439.40,  and  each  township  received  its  proportion,  as 
here  given: 

STATE  SCHOOL  APPORTIONED,  1850. 

This  fund  is  received  in  April  or  May  of  the  following  year,  and  the 
amount  was  received  and  distributed  to  the  school  districts  in  May,  185 1, 
and  divided  as  follows: 


Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 


ip  40, 

ip40, 

ip40, 

ip4i. 

ip4i. 

ip4i. 

ip  42, 

ip42, 

ip  42, 

ip42. 

ip42, 

ip42, 

ip42, 

iP43. 

1P43, 

ip43, 

ip43. 

ip43, 

ip43. 

ip44, 

1P44. 

1P44, 

range  24 $  13  60 

range  27 9  60 

range  28 13  20 

range  24 32  00 

range  27 7  20 

range  28 16  40 

range  24 34  00 

second  district  24 12  00 

range  25 23  20 

second  district  25 12  40 

range  27 8  40 

second  district  27 4  00 

range  28 25  60 

range  24 86  40 

range  25 48  00 

range  26 40  80 

second  district  26 4  80 

range  27 23  20 

range  28 8  80 

range  24 10  80 

range  25 4  40 

range  27 3  60 


There  was  a  steady  increase  in  the  state  fund  from  year  to  year,  and 
by  the  sale  of  the  sixteenth  sections  the  townships  fund  also  began  to 
show  a  fair  supply  for  distribution.  The  state  fund  for  1852  was  $410.80, 
1853.  $450.50,  and  that  apportioned  in  1854  to  $611.10.  The  number  of 
children  in  the  county  of  school  age  was,  in  1852,  1386,  and  in  1854, 
1444.  The  state  school  money  of  1852  gave  thirty  cents  to  each  child 
of  school  age,  while  that  of  1854  was  within  a  fraction  of  forty-two  cents. 
As  the  year  1854  was  the  first  year  that  a  full  apportionment  was  made 
of  all  funds,  the  county  and  townships  being  apportioned  together  it  is 
here  given  with  the  township  funds,  such  as  had  any. 

There  was  distributed  of  county  school  money  $216  and  of  state 
money  $611.10.  There  was,  according  to  the  school  census,  1444  chil- 
dren between  the  ages  of  five  and  twenty  years  in  Henry  County. 

In  1854  there  were  six  townships  which  at  that  time  had  no  perma- 
nanent  township  school  fund,  the  sixteenth  section  still  remaining 
unsold.     Township  44,  of  ranges  from  28  to  24  inclusive,  being  one-sixth 


20O  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

of  the  township  on  its  southern  border  and  lying  within  Henry  County^ 
were  attached  to  the  school  townships,  joining  them  in  township  43,  of 
the  same  ranges. 

February  7,  1857,  the  county  was  divided  into  regular  school  dis- 
tricts for  the  first  time  and  numbered  from  one  to  twenty,  and  they 
remain  so  to  this  day. 

The  sum  of  $300.66  was  received  for  the  county  school  fund  for  the 
year  1856  and  apportioned. 

In  June,  1857,  the  county  court  apportioned  the  county  /und,  the 
amount  being  $386.88. 

The  highest  price  any  school  land  brought  was  a  forty-acre  tract — 
northwest  quarter  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  16,  township  41,. 
range  28 — sold  to  James  A.  Cummings  at  $7.75  per  acre.  He  purchased 
240  acres  of  that  section. 

Section  16,  of  township  41,  range  28,  sold  for  $2,012.  It  was  sold 
May  II,  1857,  and  brought  the  highest  price  of  any  school  lands  sold  up 
to  that  date;  Mr.  Cummings  paying  an  average  of  $3.8o|  per  acre  for 
his  240  acres,  and  J.  A.  Pinson,  purchasing  the  remainder  of  the  section 
— 400  acres — at  an  average  of  $2.70  per  acre.  There  was,  on  the  date 
above  $3,818  worth  of  school  lands  sold. 

In  May,  1858,  the  state,  county  and  township  fund  had  increased  sO' 
that  the  distribution  that  year  amounted  in  all  to  $1,608.51.  The  county 
treasurer  also  made  a  full  exhibit  of  the  township  funds  of  each  district. 
The  organization  in^o  school  districts  caused  the  fund  to  be  properly 
separated  and  each  district  had  its  proper  amount  to  its  credit.  This 
was  the  first  full  exhibit  made.  The  report  is  below  of  each  township 
fund  at  interest. 

TOWNSHIP    FUNDS    1858. 

District  No.     i $1,71677  District  No.  1 1 $      85679' 

District  No.    2 i,74i  ^7  District  No.  12 979  55 

District  No,     3 1,244  87  District  No.  13 1,028  39^ 

District  No.    4 88552  District  No.  14 1,351    13 

District  No.     5 954  99  District  No.  15 2,166  78 

District  No.    6 890  05  District  No.  16 

District  No.    7 102  57  District  No.  17 

District  No.     8  •  •    • 858  27  District  No.  18 

District  No.    9 i,oii   23  District  No.  19    ... 

District  No.  10 1,052   13  District  No.  20 


I 


1,281 

42 

82 

90 

950 

30 

538 

15 

517 

35 

Total .  $20,2 10  83 

The  swamp  land  fund  amounted  to  $9,890.65. 

The  return  of  township  funds  for  1859  showed  a  gain  of  $2,436.60,. 
the  total  footing  up  $22,641.43,  and  that  of  i860  was  $13,089.34. 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 


20I 


i860. 


District  No. 

I 

townsh 

District  No. 

-7 

tovvnshi 

District  No. 

2 

townsh 

District  No. 

3 

townsh 

District  No. 

4 

townsh 

District  No. 

S 

townsh 

District  No. 

6 

townsh 

District  No. 

7 

townsh 

District  No. 

8 

townsh 

District  No. 

Q 

townsh 

District  No. 

10 

townsh 

District  No. 

II 

townsh 

District  No, 

12 

townsh 

District  No. 

n 

townsh 

District  No. 

14 

townshi 

District  No. 

IS 

townsh 

District  No. 

16 

townsh 

District  No. 

17 

townsh 

District  No. 

18 

townsh 

District  No. 

IQ 

townsh 

District  No. 

20 

townshi 

The  township  and  county  fund  distributed  in  i860  was  as  follows 
and  footed  up  $2,521.90: 

ip  43,  range  24 $  164  62 

ip  43,  range  25 $154  02  (  g  g 

ip  44,  range  25 27  71  f  '        -^ 

ip  43,  range  26 124  63 

ip  43,  range  27 78  55 

ip  43,  range  28 196  83 

ip  42,  range  28 -....'. 98  48 

ip  42,  range  27 1025 

ip  42,  range  26 82   55 

ip  42,  range  25 99  28 

ip  42,  range  24 100  25 

ip  41,  range  24 88  26 

ip  41,  range  25 95    12 

ip  41,  range  26 156  26 

ip  41,  range  27 148  29 

ip  41,  range  28 216  67 

ip  40,  range  28 i?i  45 

ip  40,  range  27 *  .  .  .  .  345   20 

ip  40,  range  26 122  58 

ip  40,  range  25 54  21 

ip  40,  range  24 39  69 

The  school  census  was  3,051  children  of  school  age. 

The  troubles  which  overran  our  country  from  1861  to  1865  had  a 
most  depressing  effect  upon  not  only  the  school  fund  of  the  state,  which 
arose  to  nearly  a  million  dollars,  but  Henry  County  sunk  nearly  one-half 
of  her  permanent  fund  in  the  same  time.  The  interest  on  the  swamp 
land  fund  was  in  May,  1861,  for  the  year,  $1,118.20,  and  strays  and  fines 
reported,  $383.69.  This  was  given,  as  -the  law  required,  to  the  school 
fund.  That  year,  1861,  the  largest  fund  had  been  received  of  any  pre- 
vious year,  the  increase  being  marked,  and  had  not  the  war  and  its 
attendant  evils  prevailed,  the  school  fund  of  the  county  would  have  borne 
wonderful  fruit  in  the  education  of  her  children. 

For  years  the  amount  apportioned  to  some  of  the  school  districts 
was  not  drawn,  and  the  sum  began  to  accumulate  in  the  treasury.  It  was 
decided  at  the  February  term,  1862,  to  loan  it  out  and  add  it  to  the  prin- 
cipal of  the  fund  of  the  township  that  had  neglected  or  failed  to  use  the 
amount  thus  apportioned.  In  the  report  given  of  the  township  fund  and  the 
swamp  land  fund,  which  is  all  loaned  out,  the  records  in  the  county 
clerk's  office  gives  the  names  of  all  those  to  whom  the  fund  is  loaned. 
For  instance,  take  record  book  E,  on  pages  213  to  222,  inclusive,  will  be 
found  names,  amount  and  the  sum  due  by  each  for  the  fiscal  year  ending 
July,  1862. 

The  state  apportionment  for  1864  was  $1,342.44 


202 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY, 


1866  AND   1870. 


To  show  how  the  years  of  bitter  strife  affected  the  permanent  school 
fund  of  the  county,  the  figures  are  given  as  taken  from  the  record.  As 
before  given, 

The  township  fund  for  1859  was $22,641  43 

That  given  for  the  year  i860 23.089  34 

The  report  for  1866,  total  fund 20,694  68 

For  1870,  ten  years  after,  it  was 23,895   56 

Showing  a  total  increase  in  ten  years  of 806  22 

The  township  fund  is  again  given  for  the  two  last  years  mentioned, 
but  by  townships,  so  that  each  can  sec  its  loss  or  gain  in  the  different 
years,  and  it  will  also  serve  as  a  guide  to  count  the  future  increase: 


Township  Fund   1866. 


Township  Fund   1870. 


District  No. 
District  No. 
District  No. 
District  No. 
District  No. 
District  No. 
District  No. 
District  No. 
District  No. 
District  No. 
District  No. 
District  No. 
District  No. 
District  No. 


I   $   1,691   24 

1,974  08 
1,194  40 

922  27 


2 
3 
4 

5  1,051  7^ 

6 

7 
8 

9 
10 
II 
12 
13 
14 


789  00 
255  16 
570  81 
842  30 
1,111  94 
463  56 
763  00 
901  32 
893  53 


District  No.  15  2,144  00 

District  No.  16 I,ii0   19 

District  No.  17 2,471  01 

District  No.  18 6or  62 

District  No.  19 438  00 

District  No.  20 405  47 


Distr 
Distr 
Distr 
Distr 
Distr 
Distr 
Distr 
Distr 
Distr 
Distr 
Distr 
Distr 
Distr 
Distr 
Distr 
Distr 
Distr 
Distr 
Distr 
Distr 


ct  No. 
ct  No. 
ct  No. 
ct  No. 
ct  No. 
ct  No. 
ct  No. 
ct  No.    8 
ct  No.    9 
ct  No.  10 
ct  No.  II 
ct  No.  12 
ct  No.  13 

ct  No.  14 1,264  32 

ct  No.  15 926  00 

ct  No.  16 1,160  69 

ct  No.  17 3.583  08 

ct  No.  18 707  71 

ct  No.  19 438  00 


I $   1,625  82 

2 1,946  17 

3 1,239  69 

4 1.223  30 

5 785-38 

6 1,089  00 

7 2,850  48 

8 800  81 

9 797  98 

758  97 
785  08 
635  00 
972  61 


ct  No.  20 


305  47 


Total $20,694  68      .  Total $23,895   56 

A  township  school  tax  was  levied  in  the  several  townships  for  1867, 
to  the  amount  of  $15,161.40.  In  addition  thereto  some  of  the  school 
districts  levied  an  additional  tax. 

In  the  Sixth  Annual  Report  of  the  State  Superintendent  of  Public 
Schools  for  the  year  1872,  page  228,  the  number  of  acres  of  school  lands 
sold  in  this  county  was  put  down  at  10,400  acres,  and  the  number  still  on 
hand  at  2,400  acres,  making  a  total  in  the  county  of  12,600  acres.  The 
10,400  acres  were  credited  as  being  sold  for  the  sum  of  $27,545.10.  As 
this  fund  from  the  sale  of  school  lands  at  this  time,  1882,  only  amounts 
to  $24,133.04,  the  people  can  see  that  they  have  nor  only  lost  the  prin- 
cipal to  the  amount  of  $3,412.06,   but   lost  ten  years'  interest  besides 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  203 

which  at  ten  per  cent,  equals  the  principal,  or  a  total  lost  of  $30,957.16, 
sacying  nothing  about  the  2,400  acres  of  school  lands,  which  are  about  all 
disposed  of.  The  same  report  (1872),  makes  an  interesting  statement  of 
the  swamp  land  sale,  a  history  of  which  will  be  found  in  another  part  of 
this  work.  This  report  credits  the  county  with  25,298.12-100  acres,  but 
says  the  county  sold  27,120  acres  for  the  gross  sum  of  $15,699.66  ;  that  it 
had  still  unsold,  1,480  acres,  and  that  it  had  lost  of  the  amount  sold  for, 
no  less  than  $6,621.86.  There  was  about  40  per  cent,  and  over,  of  the 
principal  of  this  sum  gone — where  ?  The  war  times  was  a  great  year  for 
losses,  and  but  little  of  it  had  been  regained  a  decade  after. 

In  the  report  of  the  State  Superintendent  of  Public  Schools,  Janu- 
ary 5,  1876,  covering  the  proceedings  of  1875,  it  says,  in  reference  to  the 
school  funds  of  the  state,  that,  "  the  township  swamp  land  and  county 
school  funds  are  under  the  control  of  the  various  county  courts,  and,  as  a 
general  rule  have  been  badly  managed.  They  have,  to  a  shameful  extent 
been  lost,  squandered  and  stolen.  This  was  more  particularly  true  of 
the  war  period  of  our  history.  There  is  now  a  general  principle  to  guard 
more  faithfully  these  interests."  Now  all  this  is  true  enough,  but  the 
counties  and  county  courts  were  not  as  derelict  in  their  duties  as  the 
state  officers  were  during  the  same  time  and  up  to  January,  1869.  It  then 
required  a  state  certificate  of  indebtedness  of  no  less  an  amount  than 
$900,000  from  the  state  to  the  state  school  fund,  to  meet  the  sum  due 
that  fund,  which  the  state  had  neglected  to  do  for  a  period  of  eight 
years.  There  is  perhaps  no  better  place  to  show  how  the  school  fund 
of  the  state  stood,  January  i,  1876,  than  here  taken  from  this  report.  It 
shows'  that  Missouri  stands  well  towards  the  front  rank  of  states  that 
have  made  liberal  and  extensive  provisions  for  the  education  of  her 
children. 

THE   FIGURES. 

Total  township  fund  January,  i  1876 $2,079,182  96 

Total  swamp  land  fund  1876 1,088,200   13 

Total  county  fund   1876 1,169,516  70 

Total  amount  controlled  by  county $4,336,899  79 

The  total  of  state  school  fund 2,910,635   54 

Total  school  fund  of  the  state $7,248,535  33 

To  show  the  people  of  the  county  how  the  state  school  money  has 
gained  in  the  amount  apportioned,  the  figures  of  the  different  years  are 
given  together.  Very  few  are  aware  of  the  rapid  increase  of  this  fund 
or  even  aware  of  the  amount  annually  apportioned  to  this  county. 

STATE   SCHOOL   MONEY. 

State  school  fund  apportioned   1852 $410  80 

State  school  fund  apportioned    1953 450  50 

State  school  fund  apportioned   1854 611    lO 


204  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

For  a  number  of  years  the  money  apportioned  and  distributed  was 
all  put  together.  The  state  fund,  however,  for  1871  and  apportioned 
May  1872,  was  $3,466.  This  shows  a  decided  gain  for  the  years  first 
given. 

There  were  that  year  eighty-four  schools  in  Henry  County  for 
white  children  and  four  for  colored,  and  there  were  eighty-four  school 
buildings  in  the  county.  The  enumeration  showed  children  of  school 
age  in  the  county,  January  i,  1873,  7,286,  and  in  1874  they  numbered 
6,737.  The  state  school  money  for  those  years  was  :  For  1874, 
$4,227.80;  1875,  $4,442.30,  and  the  number  of  children  of  school  age  in 
the  county  numbered  for  1875,  7,230.  The  same  year  Henry  County 
had  the  following  permanent  school  fund  : 

Total  township  fund $23,3  17  89 

Total  swamp  land  fund 10,022  88 

Total  county  fund 5,613  65 

Total $38,954  42 

Henry  County  had  98  school  houses  in  1875,  and  rented  four  more 
buildings  for  school  purposes.  The  value  of  school  property  in  the 
county  was  $64,198.74,  and  the  wages  paid  teachers  the  same  year  (1875) 
aggregated  $22,648.22.  These  figures  show  the  rapid  advance  made  in 
the  county  for  a  more  perfect  school  system.  The  tax  levy  for  a  number 
of  years  has  been  quite  heavy,  and  the  sums  thus  voluntarily  paid  have 
done  much  to  place  the  educational  facilities  of  Henry  County  not  only 
on  a  firm  foundation,  but  have  placed  her  in  the  line  of  educational  facil- 
ities and  genuine  progress,  in  the  front  rank  of  counties  in  the  state. 

1880. 

The  schools  show  a  commendable  advance  in  the  past  five  years. 
The  state,  county  and  township  funds  have  gradually  increased,  and  the 
receipts  for  school  purposes  correspondingly  advanced.  More  schools 
were  needed  and  furnished,  and  the  demand  in  all  departments  fully  met. 

The  general  statistics  for  1880,  and  published  January  i,  1881,  are 
here  given: 

Number  of  children  of  school  age,  white 7.729 

Number  of  children  of  school  age,  colored 315 

8,044 

Number  of  school  houses  in  the  county 108 

Number  of  school  houses  rented '        7 

115 

Number  of  schools  kept  in  1880 115 

Value  of  school  property ...    $79,835  00 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  20$ 

Number  of  teachers  employed,  males 103 

Number  of  teachers  employed,  females 75 

178 

Average  salary  of  teachers,  males $36  ,10 

Average  salary  of  teachers,  females 31   05 

Average  salary  paid  teachers $33   57 

Total  amount  of  salary  paid  teachers $25,417  04 

Total  amount  of  township  fund  for  1880 $23,536  53 

Total  amount  of  county  fund  for  1880 I7.990  05 

Total  township  and  county  permanent  fund.  .  $41,526  58 

RECEIPTS   AND   EXPENDITURES. 

• 

Cash  on  hand  first  of  school  year $   13,398   15 

State  school  fund  received 5,594  50 

County  school  fund  received 1.405    1 1 

Township  school  fund  received 2,061  80 

From  all  other'sources 365  70 

From  taxation 28,200   12 


Total  receipts $  5 1,025  38 

Total  expenditures 37,209  20 


Balance  on  hand,  January  i,  1881 $i3,8j6  18 

This  shows  a  healthy  state  of  the  school  finances,  but  still  there  is 
no  special  necessity  for  so  large  an  amount  remaining  on  hand  at  the  end 
of  the  year.  It  might  go  to  the  permanent  fund,  so  that  by-and-by,  tax- 
ation might  be  lessened. 

The  following  interesting  report  of  the  Clinton  Graded  School  is 
appended  : 

CLINTON. 

To  the  Hon.  R.  D.  Shannon,  Superintendent  of  Public  Schools  of  Mis- 
souri : 

Dear  Sir — Under  the  provisions  of  section  7138,  Revised  Statutes, 
I  have  the  pleasure  of  submitting  the  following  report  of  the  public  graded 
school  of  Clinton  school  district  for  the  school  year  beginning  Septem- 
ber 8,  1879  : 

Number  of  white  persons  in  the  district  between  six  and  twenty 

years  of  age 987 

Number  of  colored  persons  in  the  district  between  six  and  twenty 

years  of  age 148 

Total  enumeration  of  white  and  colored i,i35 


206  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

Total  enrollment  of  white  pupils 814 

Total  enrollment  colored  pupils 131 


Total  enrollment  of  white  and  colored  pupils 945 

Number  of  pupils  enrolled  between  six  and  sixteen  years  of 

age 792 

Number  of  pupils  enrolled  between  sixteen  and  twenty  years 

of  age 22 

Average  number  of  days  attendance  by  each  pupil  enrolled.         99  7- 10 

Number  of  days  school  has  been  taught 174 

Total  number  of  days  attendance  by  all  pupils 94,234 

Average  number  of  pupils  attending  each  dayf 542 

Number  of  teachers  employed  in  the  district  during  the  year  12 

Average  salaries  of  teachers  per  month $46  33 

Highest  salary  paid  to  teachers.     (Principal  $1,000) 40  00 

Lowest  salary  paid  to  teachers 35  00 

Number  of  school  houses  in  the  district .  .  2 

Number  of  buildings  rented  for  school  purposes 2 

Number  of  pupils  that  may  be  seated  in  the  various  schools.  810 

Number  of  white  schools 3 

Number  of  colored  schools i 

Average  cost  per  day  on  daily  attendance .*.  .  .6| 

Value  of  school  property  in  the  district $20,000  00 

Average  rate  per  $100,  levied  for  school  purposes  in  the  dis- 
trict   .60 

Assessed  value  of  property  in  the  district $757,160  00 

Amount  on  hand  at  the  beginning  of  the  school  year 4,062    14 

Amount  received  for  tuition  fees 52  50 

Amount    received    from  public   funds,   (state,    county,    and 

township) 13,282  58 

Amount  realized  from  taxation 8,180  28 

Amount  paid  for  teachers'  wages  in  district  during  the  year.        4,616  55 

Amount  paid  for  fuel  in  the  district  during  the  year 

Amount  paid  for  repairs  or  rent  of  school  houses  during  the 

year 

Amount  paid  for  apparatus  and  incidental   expenses  in  the 

district  for  the  year 

Amount  expended  in  defraying  past  indebtedness 

Balance  in  hands  of  treasurer  at  close  of  year 4,283  69 

Very  respectfully, 

E.  P.  LAMKIN,  Superintendent. 
This  school  has  become  noted  for  its  proficiency  and  the  success 
which  has  attended  its  course  for  the  past  few  years.  The  building  is  a 
fine  one,  and  its  appurtenances  throughout  belong  to  the  latest  and  most 
approved  method  of  teaching.  Two  years  ago  there  was  a  fine  addition 
added  to  it,  almost  equal  to  its  former  dimensions,  and  even  this  now  is 
hardly  adequate  to  the  demand  upon  it. 

The  state  fund  is  increasing,  showing  a  steady  gain.  So  do  the 
county  and  township  funds,*as  fines,  penalties,  estrays,  etc.,  are  added  to 
them  yearly 


99 

87 

511 

46 

476 

01 

2,920 

00 

HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  20/ 

The  apportionment  from  the  state,  May,  1881,  amounted  to.  .  $  5,771    57 

Township  fund,  same  time 2,909  96 

County  fund,  same  time 3.076  83 

Total.  .' $11,758  36 

The  figures  from  these  three  sources  for  May,  1882,  amounted  to 
$12,260.03. 

THE   STATE. 

Missouri  as  a  state  is  not  behind  her  sisters  in  advancing  the  cause 
of  education,  and  to-day  the  permanent  school  fund  of  the  state,  includ- 
ing the  township  and  county  fund,  exceeds  that  of  any  state  in  the  Union, 
Indiana  alone  excepted. 

The  school  fund  of  Indiana  from  all  sources  and   perma- 
nent is $9,065,254  73 

That  of  Missouri    8,950,805  71 

A  difference  in  favor  of  the  former $    1 14,449  02 

The  school  property  of  the  state  was  valued  January  i,  1881,  at 
$7,353,401.22. 

Tnere  is  not  a  particle  of  doubt  that  the  sum  dedicated  to  educa- 
tional purposes  in  permanent  funds  and  school  property  aggregates  the 
sum  of  $16,500,000. 

When  the  population  of  the  state  is  considered,  the  destruction  and 
loss  occasioned  by  the  civil  war,  the  prompt  manner  in  which  the  state 
has  upheld  and  sustained  the  education  of  her  sons  and  daughters  has 
had  no  superior  among  her  sister  states,  and  but  few  if  any  equals. 
When  the  constitution  gives  one-quarter  of  the  income  annually  to  the 
support  of  this  system  of  popular  education,  and  fines  and  penalties  are 
turned  over  to  its  use,  and  the  counties  of  the  state  annually  levy  a  tax 
according  to  their  population  of  from  ten  to  twenty  thousand  dollars  irb 
addition  to  all  that  may  arise  from  the  permanent  fund,  will  any  one  say 
that  the  educational  interests  of  youths  of  this  state  are  neglected.-*  No 
state  in  the  union  can  boast  of  a  better  system,  or  has  shown  a  greater 
desire  to  advance  the  cause  of  popular  education,  of  religion  and  mor- 
ality, and  she  stands  the  peer,  having  few  equals  and  no  superiors  in  the 
constellation  of  states  that  forms  this  glorious  union.  Rich  in  agricul- 
tural resources  and  mineral  wealth,  blest  with  a  climate  unsurpassed  for 
its  healthfulness,  a  soil  rich  and  inexhaustible,  it  needs  but  the  teaching 
of  the  rising  generation  that  honor  and  manhood,  combined  with  intel- 
lectual culture  is  the  stepping  stone  to  future  greatness,  and  it  is  for 
them  to  advance  and  develop  these  to  make  her  a  beacon  light,  and  an 
example  for  her  sister  states  to  emulate. 


CHAPTER  Xlll. 

MURDERS,  ASSASSINATIONS  AND  ROBBERIES. 

THE  BLUDGEON  FOR  KING;  THE  KNIFE  FOR  HARPER;  THE  PISTOL  FOR  WILLIAMSON  AND 
ROBIN;  THE  SHOT  GUN  FOR  MILLER  AND  EDMONDSON;  THE  HAMMER  OR  HATCHET 
FOR  CLARK,  AND  A  SHOT  IN  THE  DARK  FOR  EZELL— STAND  STILL  AND  HOLD  UP 
YOUR  HANDS  WAS  THE  CHEERING  WORDS  WHICH  MET  D.  B  LAMBERT  AND 
ARRESTED  A  GAME  OF  CROQUET— CRIMES  IN  HENRY  COUNTY  AND  THEIR  PUN- 
ISHMENT—THE GALLOWS,  THE  PENITENTIARY  AND  THE  REAPER,  "  DEATH  " 

ASSASSINATION   OF   SCOTT   D.    KING. 

One  of  those  cold-blooded  assassinations  which  sometimes  shock  the 
world  for  its  cool  and  deliberate  fiendishness,  was  the  murder  of  Scott  D. 
King,  by  a  relative  named  John  Lester.  The  act  was  committed  in 
Lafayette  County,  but  the  trial,  conviction  and  hanging  was  performed 
in  Henry  County,  brought  here  on  a  change  of  venue.  The  motive 
■seemed  to  have  been,  from  the  testimony,  the  securing  of  property.  It 
was  even  said  that  his  own  mother  came  near  being  a  victim  to  his  hell- 
ish cupidity  and  passion.  The  principal  witness  was  a  John  B.  Horton, 
whom  Lester  approached  with  a  proposition  to  murder  King.  At  first 
lie  seemed  willing,  and  the  character  he  bore  was  none  too  good,  but  his 
■coward  heart  failed  him.  He,  like  a  sleuth  hound,  dogged  Lester's  steps 
■until  he  claimed,  and  Lester  afterward  admitted,  that  the  latter  had 
committed  the  murder.  Horton  turned  state's  evidence,  thereby  saving 
his  own  neck  as  an  accessory.  The  body  of  King  was  found  and  the 
excitement  ran  so  high,  especially  as  it  was  rumored  and  believed  that 
his  mother,  too,  was  to  have  been  a  victim,  that  Judge  Lynch  was  in  a 
fair  way  to  become  judge,  jury  and  executioner.  He  was  brought  here  on 
the  9th  day  of  June,  1846,  and  after  a  fair  and  impartial  trial  was  con- 
victed and  sentenced  to  be  hung.  He  was  executed  in  the  south  part  of 
the  town,  the  gallows  having  been  erected  very  near  if  not  upon  the 
spot  where  the  depot  of  the  Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas  railroad  now 
stands.  This  was  the  first  hanging  in  Henry  County.  Lester  had 
•decoyed  King  into  the  woods  and  when  he  got  him  there,  stepped 
behind  him,  and  without  warning  struck  King  a  violent  blow  on  his 
head  with  a  club  crushing  the  skull  and  producing  undoubtedly  almost 
instant  death.     The  condition  of  his  head  showed  that  the  blow  would 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY.  209 

have  killed  him  had  no  other  been  struck,  the  fiend,  however,  did  not 
intend  to  leave  anything  to  a  chance  recovery,  and  beat  his  victim  until 
his  death  was  sure.  John  B.  Horton  left  the  country,  and  the  next 
heard  of  him  he  had  killed  a  man  in  Virginia,  and  was  arrested,  tried, 
convicted   and   executed,  in   that  state. 

The  trial  of  Lester  commenced  on  June  9,  1846,  before  Judge  Foster 
P.  Wright,  being  an  adjourned  April  term.  The  jury  was  as  follows: 
William  H.  Cock,  foreman;  Mason  C.  Fewell,  Mark  Funk,  George  Cart- 
ridge, Archibald  C.  Legg,  William  Coff,  John  C.  Rayburn,  Valentine 
Bell,  Peyton  S.  Banister,  James  F.  Nichols,  Charles  B.  Bradford  and  Phil- 
lip Elkins. 

The  jury,  after  four  days'  trial,  brought  in  a  verdict  of  murder  in  the 
first  degree,  and  on  Saturday  morning,  June  13,  1846,  Judge  Wright  sen- 
tenced him  to  be  hung  on  Friday,  July  31,  1846,  which  sentence  was  duly 
executed  at  twelve  o'clock  that  day. 

THE    EXECUTION   OF   PATTERSON. 

[From  the  Clinton  Advocate  ] 

Friday,  July  22,  188 r,  caine  at  last — it  caine  all  too  soon,  no  doubt, 
for  the  condemned  man.  A  full,  fair  and  an  impartial  trial  had;  two  stays 
of  execution  had  been  granted  by  the  supreme  court  to  permit  a  full 
investigation  of  the  proceedings  in  the  lower  court;  the  governor  had 
been  appealed  to  by  his  counsel,  and  they  had  made  the  last  effort  they 
could  to  save  him  from  the  scaffold,  but  there  was  now  no  hope.  He 
must  expiate  his  crime  and  answer  to  the  law  for  the  life  of  his  victim. 
"  Whoso  shedded  man's  blood,  by  man  shall  his  blood  be  shed."  There 
is  no  vengeance  in  it.  It  is  the  strong  arm  of  the  law  taking  hold  of  him 
who  disregards  the  law,  that  society  may  be  protected  and  men  be  secure 
in  their  persons  and  property  from  those  who  would  assault  or  despoil 
them.  Least  of  all  was  there  vengeance  in  this  case.  Thirteen  years 
before  the  ciime  had  been  committed,  men's  passions  had  cooled  and  no 
one  was  crying  for  his  blood.  No  friend  of  the  murdered  man  was  in 
court  to  prosecute.  There  was  no  one  near  who  had  any  feeling  against 
the  accused;  no  one  who  felt  any  interest  in  his  victim  or  even  knew 
him.  There  was  no  one  to  prosecute  except  the  ofificers  of  the  law;  no 
prosecuting  witnesses  in  anger  and  heat  to  color  a  tale  for  effect.  It 
was  a  dispassioned  trial,  if  ever  there  was  one,  and  resulted  in  a  verdict 
of  guilty.  John  W.  Patterson  paid  the  penalty  of  his  crime  on  the  scaf- 
fold to-day.  The  morning  light  had  hardly  beamed  in  the  eastern  sky, 
when  the  crowds  began  to  pour  into  town  to  witness  the  hanging.  And 
here  let  us  remark  that  while  the  prosecution  of  John  W.  Patterson  was 
calm  and  dispassioned,  and  there  was  no  unseemly  demand  for  his  con- 
viction, yet  it  bespeaks  to  our  mind  a  depraved  and  diseased  condition 


210  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY, 

of  society  that  brings  together  such  a  crowd  to  witness  his  execution. 
What  is  it  they  come  to  see?  What  motive  prompts  them  to  come? 
The  law  will  take  its  course,  and  its  offended  majesty  be  vindicated  by 
the  proper  officers  and  their  necessary  attendants.  There  is  no  need  of 
others. 

THE   CLOSING   SCENE. 

At  II  o'clock  Captain  G.W.Armstrong-  assisted  by  Lieutenants 
Kitchen  and  Scott,  marshaled  the  Patterson  Guards  in  the  court  house 
square,  and  marched  them  over  to  the  jail,  and  formed  there  in  two 
lines  in  front.  The  condemned  man  was  brought  out  by  the  sheriff, 
assisted  by  Deputy  EUiston  and  others,  and  was  placed  in  a  carriage 
between  two  deputies  and  driven  to  the  place  of  execution  west  of  town, 
on  an  open  space  across  the  creek,  opposite  the  woolen  mill,  where  the 
gallows  had  been  erected,  the  guards,  numbering  about  fifty  armed  men, 
attending  close  to  the  carriage  during  the  journey,  and  the  immense 
crowd  following  and  going  with  it. 

The  prisoner  was  taken  at  once  to  the  scaffold,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Pierce 
read  a  selection  from  scripture  and  offered  an  appropriate  prayer,  after 
which  the  death  warrant  was  read.  He  then  shook  hands  with  his  attor- 
neys, McBeth  and  Fyke,  and  several  others  on  the  stand.  A  couple  of 
straps  were  then  put  around  his  legs,  and  arms  pinioned  behind  his  back. 
The  black  cap  was  then  drawn  over  his  eyes.  He  shook  hands  with 
Sheriff  Hopkins,  and  immediately  after  the  sheriff  cut  the  rope,  and  the 
trap  fell  at  11:49,  ^"'^  ^t  one  minute  past  12  he  was  pronounced  to  be 
dead. 

The  physicians  attending  were  Schilling,  Boyer,  Land,  Jr.,  Hardi- 
man,  Stewart  and  Jennings.  The  prisoner  manifested  no  concern  but 
bore  up  throughout  the  trying  ordeal  with  stoic  indifference;  made  no 
remarks,  but  expiated  his  crime  in  silence.  May  the  lesson  not  be  for- 
gotten by  those  who  witnessed  the  execution  or  may  read  of  it. 

A  BRIEF  HISTORY  OF  THE  CRIME. 

During  the  last  days  of  November  or  the  first  of  December,  1868,  a 
man  was  found  lying  dead  on  the  prairie  in  Leesville  Township,  near 
Cole's  .«;tore,  in  this  county,  with  two  wounds  on  his  head  and  his  throat 
cut.  The  wounds  had  the  appearance  of  having  been  made  with  the  pole 
of  a  hammer  or  hatchet,  and  the  throat  as  having  been  cut  or  haggled 
with  some  dull  instrument.  The  body  was  found  by  Isaac,  son  of  J.  R. 
Halford,  some  distance  from  the  main  road,  out  in  the  high  grass.  A 
sack  and  a  part  of  a  blanket  were  found  near  the  body,  more  or  less 
bloody,  the  sack  being  marked  "  Hezekiah  Patterson."  The  body  was 
recognized  by  Mr.  Henry  Bradley  as  a  man  who  had  stayed  at  his  house 
the  night  previous,  and  who  gave  his  name  as  Clark. 


HISTORY    OF    HENRY    COUNTY.  211 

THE    MURDERED    MAN. 

James  G.  Clark  was  a  resident  of  St.  Clair  County.  Some  time  in 
November  Mr.  Clark  took  a  trip  to  St.  Louis,  it  is  said  to  get  money  to 
pay  an  indebtedness  upon  his  farm.  He  went  to  St.  Louis,  returned  to 
Sedalia,  and  there  bought  some  lumber  and  employed  James  W.  Patter- 
son .with  his  team  to  haul  his  lumber  to  his  farm.  With  the  lumber, 
some  chairs  and  a  sofa,  the  pair  leave  Sedalia  in  an  ol^  government 
wagon,  with  a  broad  tire  and  covered.  The  first  we  hear  of  them  is  in 
this  county,  some  twelve  miles  southeast  of  Clinton.  Here  they  stopped 
on  the  banks  of  the  Tebo  for  the  night.  Mr.  Clark,  not  being  well  con- 
cluded to  stay  in-doors  if  possible,  consequently  he  went  to  a  house 
near  by  and  got  permission  to  stop  for  the  night  with  the  family.  Next 
day  they  took  up  their  journey.  Mr.  Clark,  not  being  well,  was  lying 
on  the  lumber  and  happened  to  fall  asleep.  Patterson  saw  this,  and  to 
carry  out,  as  he  afterwards  confessed,  a  determination  to  kill  him  and 
secure  his  money,  took  up  a  hatchet,  crept  towards  him  and  dealt  him  a 
blow  with  the  pole  of  the  instrument  on  the  head,  crushing  in  the  skull. 
A  second  blow  was  given,  and  to  finish  the  man  effectually,  his  throat 
was  struck  with  the  edge  of  the  hatchet  a  time  or  two.  He  went  on  a 
piece,  turned  out  of  the  road  and  drove  out  in  the  prairie,  threw  the 
body,  out,  drove  back  into  the  main  road  and  passed  on  to  Prownington. 
Here,  at  the  store  of  Doyle  &  Avery,  Patterson  unloads  his  wagon,  sells 
a  chair  or  two  and  returned  to  Sedalia,  as  he  averred. 

A  day  or  two  after  the  body  is  found,  recognized  and  suspicion 
directed  to  the  driver  of  the  broad-tired  wagon,  which  was  traced  to  and 
from  the  body,  and  had  been  noticed  afterward  going  north  toward 
Sedalia.  A  company  of  some  six  men  started  upon  this  clue  to  hunt  up 
the  murderer.  They  went  to  Sedalia,  found  the  wagon  in  the  wagon 
yard  and  identified  it  as  the  one  seen  on  the  highway.  Shortly  after- 
ward the  wagon  team  and  driver  were  seen  to  pass  up  the  street  and 
stop  at  a  blacksmith  shop.  The  sheriff  was  found,  a  warrant  for  the 
arrest  of  Patterson  issued,  and  the  arrest  made.  Upon  being  arrested 
he  demanded  the  cause  of  his  arrest.  Mr.  Hornbeck  and  the  party  told 
him  it  was  for  the  murder  of  Clark.  He  denied  the  charge,  but  said  that 
his  partner  had  been  out  there.  Upon  further  conversation  he  admitted 
that  he  had  been  out  there  awd  that  his  partner  had  killed  Clark,  and 
that  he  had  tried  to  prevent  it.  The  party  then  took  charge  of  the 
prisoner  and  started  for  Clinton.  As  they  were  riding  along,  two  by 
two,  Hornbeck  remarked  that  he  (the  prisoner)  might  as  well  confess,  as 
there  was  a  clear  case  against  him.  Patterson  replied  that  he  had  tried 
to  pray,  but  that  he  could  not  with  a  lie  in  his  mouth,  and  that  he  might 
as  well  tell  the  whole  truth,  whereupon  he  gave  a  detailed  account  of 
how  it  was  done.     He  stated  that  he  saw  Clark  with  two  bills,  which  he 


212  HISTORY    OF    IlENRV    COUNTY. 

took  to  be  $500  bills,  but  they  afterward  proved  to  be  only  $50  bills;  that 
when  he  saw  them  he  determined  in  his  mind  to  kill  Clark  and  have 
them.  He  accordingly  laid  plans  for  the  consummation  of  his  inten- 
tions. The  night  they  camped  on  Tebo's  banks  he  intended  to  com- 
mit the  deed  and  throw  the  body  into  the  stream.  The  opportunity 
came  the  next  day  as  the  victim  lay  asleep,  and  was  taken  advantage 
of  with  the  results  as  stated. 

Pattersoi>  was  brought  to  Clinton  and  placed  in  the  county  jail, 
and  an  indictment  for  murder  was  brought  against  him.  He  was  brought 
to  trial  and  a  change  of  venue  taken  to  Morgan  County.  Here  he  suc- 
ceeded in  breaking  jail  and  making  his  escape,  and  for  nearly  twelve 
years  succeeded  in  eluding  justice. 

THE  MANNER  OF  IHS  RE-ARREST. 

The  father  of  Patterson  died  in  Jasper  County  some  eight  years  ago, 
and  in  settling  up  the  estate  the  administrator  found  among  the  papers 
a  letter  from  John  W.  Patterson,  from  Illinois.  A  correspondence  was 
the  result,  which  led  under  the  stimulant  of  a  reward,  to  this  re-arrest 
in  August  last,  in  Livingstone  County,  Illinois,  where  he  was  living 
under  the  assumed  name  of  John  Williams.  When  he  found  that  he  was 
fairly  captured,  he  said: 

"I  am  your  man;  there  is  no  use  in  denying  it,  for  the  folks  out 
there  know  all  about  it." 

He  was  brought  back  to  Clinton,  indicted  by  a  grand  jury,  tried, 
convicted  and  sentenced  to  be  hung  at  the  April  term  of  the  circuit 
court.  A  report  came  that  a  man  in  Granby,  Newton  County,  had  made 
a  confession  upon  his  death  bed  several  years  since  that  he  had  killed 
Clark.  Upon  the  strength  of  this,  the  statement,  word  was  sent  to  the 
prosecuting  attorney  of  that  county  who,  upon  inquiring,  found  that 
such  a  confession  had  been  made.  Information  to  that  effect  was  sent 
to  T.  J.  Lingle  on  Wednesday  night.  Thursday  morning  Judge  McBeth 
went  to  Jefferson  City  to  confer  with  the  governor,  but  he  positively 
refused  to  interfere.  Thus  the  last  hope  for  a  release  faded  from  his 
view.  It  is  very  doubtful,  however,  whether  he  built  very  largely  upon 
a  respite,  knowing  so  well  his  guilt.  When  told  of  the  governor's  deci- 
sion he  simply  remarked,  "that  settles  it." 

ON   THE    BRINK   HE   STEALS   A   WATCH. 

Although  his  days  had  been  numbered,  and  the  time  set  for  his  exe- 
cution, yet  it  seems  not  to  have  given  him  any  serious  concern  for  the 
hereafter,  or  caused  him  to  amend  his  conduct.  The  ruling  passion  was 
still  strong  in  the  face  of  death,  as  the  following  incit'ent  shows: 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY.  213 

One  of  the  attendants  at  the  jail  some  time  since  missed  a  u  atch  that 
he  had  left  hanging  near  Patterson's  cell.  A  few  days  ago  Patterson  desired 
to  send  a  small  box  of  things  to  his  wife.  He  had  the  box  nailed  up, 
and  requested  that  it  should  not  be  opened,  but  his  wish  was  disregarded 
and  the  box  opened,  and  in  it  was  found  the  missing  watch.  In  a  note 
he  had  stated  that  the  watch  was  given  him  by  his  cell  mate,  and  he  sent 
it  as  a  present  to  his  infant  son.  One  of  Patterson's  fellow  prisoners 
stated  that  Patterson  had  fastened  a  crooked  pin  to  a  stick  and  hooked 
the  watch  in. 

Sometime  in  June,  Patterson  wrote  what  he  claims  to  be  his  last 
words.  He  must  be  a  hardened  wretch,  indeed,  who  can  pass  into  eter- 
nity with  so  palpable  a  falsehood  upon  his  lips.  His  several  confessions, 
voluntarily  made,  and  fully  corroborated  by  the  evidence,  leaves  no 
shadow  of  a  doubt  in  the  minds  of  any  one  as  to  his  guilt.  Had  there 
been  another  guilty  of  the  crime,  and  in  his  power,  as  was  this  so-called 
'  partner,  he  would  certainly  have  made  an  effort  to  have  had  him  traced 
up,  but  singularly  enough  he  seemed  never  to  have  thought  that  by  hnd- 
ing  this  man  his  own  innocence  would  be  established.     The  following  is 

THE   STATEMENT. 

Clinton,  Missouri,  June,  1881. 

Having  been  asked  a  good  many  times  since  my  re-arrest  last 
August,  why  I  did  not  have  any  plea  to  make  in  my  own  behalf,  I  will 
just  say  here  in  answer  to  all  such  questions,  that  I  was  caught  foul  in 
the  first  place,  without  any  show  for  my  life,  and  that  I  have  been  under 
disadvantages  ever  since,  and  consequently  I  thought  it  would  be  of  no 
profit  to  me  in  any  way,  shape  or  form  in  my  present  trouble,  for  I  could 
not  back  up  what  I  might  say  with  evidence  as  required  by  law,  for  I 
have  had  no  witnesses  in  my  behalf  and  have  had  no  show  to  get  any, 
and  considering  that  I  am  behind  the  bars  where  no  man  is  supposed  to 
tell  the  truth  I  have  thought  it  best  to  keep  still  and  say  nothing.  Nev- 
ertheless, I  will  state  a  few  facts  which  I  know  to  be  the  truth. 

In  the  first  place  I  will  call  the  minds  of  the  people  back  to  the 
beginning  of  this  trouble  of  mine  (in  1868).  In  1868  I  left  home  in 
Jasper  County,  Missouri,  (my  father  having  just  moved  into  this  state 
in  the  fall  of  1868)  to  make  a  trip  to  Sedalia  on  purpose  of  getting  some 
boxes  of  household  goods  belonging  to  my  parents,  (the  goods  having 
been  shipped  through  by  rail).  Next  morning  after  arriving  in  Sedalia  I 
met  this  man  Clark,  who  was  looking  for  some  one  to  haul  a  load  for 
him.  When  I  found  out  what  he  wanted  I  refused  him.  But  I  wanted 
to  get  my  wagon  repaired  before  going  home,  and  after  I  ascertained 
that  three  or  four  days  would  elapse  before  I  could  get  the  wcrk  done 
on  the  wagon;  then  I  chanced  to  meet  Clark  on  the  street  again  and  he 
insisted  that  I  haul  the  load  for  him.  While  I  was  considering  the  mat- 
ter this  partner  of  mine  (spoken  of  in  the  testimony  at  my  trial)  he 
spoke  up  and  said  if  I  would  let  him  have  the  team  he  would  make  the 
trip,  as  he  was  out  of  work  and  it  would  give  him  employment  and  help 


2  14  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

to  make  expenses  for  rae  while  waiting  to  get  my  wagon  fixed.  He 
suggested  that  I  could  stay  in  town  or  go  to  my  brother's  in  the  country 
until  he  returned  with  the  team. 

And,  being  young  and  entirely  inexperienced  in  the  ways  of  the 
world,  having  always  remained  pretty  close  at  home  and  under  the  influ- 
ence of  honest,  upright  and  religious  parents,  and  supposing  also  that 
everybody  else  was  as  good  as  their  word,  and  this  man  (a  so-called 
partner),  who  was  a  man  I  chanced  to  overtake  on  my  way  to  Sedalia 
soon  after  leaving  home.  He  asked  me  to  let  him  ride;  said  he  was 
traveling  looking  for  work,  he  being  near  my  size  and  about  my  com- 
plexion with  short  hair,  while  I  at  that  time  wore  mine  long  and  curled 
under  at  the  bottom.  His  name  I  have  forgotten,  and  he  making  me 
some  very  fair  promises  as  to  what  he  would  do,  when  he  would  come 
back,  his  own  charges,  etc.,  I  at  last  consented  to  let  him  take  the  team 
and  make  the  trip,  and  expenses,  if  he  could,  in  part  until  I  could  get 
my  wagon  repaired.  So  he  loads  up  with  lumber,  a  lounge-bedstead 
and  two  chairs  (but  no  fishing  tackle,  as  indicated  in  the  evidence)  and 
off  he  starts  in  company  with  this  man  Clark,  what  his  christian  name 
was  T  do  not  know,  for  I  never  heard  of  it  as  I  know  of  until  my  re-ar- 
rest. How  long  he  was  gone  with  the  team  I  don't  remember  now,  but 
I  was  anxious  to  see  him  when  he  returned.  When  I  met  him  on  the 
street  he  said  he  had  put  the  team  in  the  stable  and  the  wagon  in  the 
yard,  and  after  going  to  the  stable,  finding  the  team  all  right,  we  then 
went  to  the  hotel  and  registered  our  names;  (name  of  hotel  I  have  for- 
gotten) after  supper  he  said  to  me  that  he  believed  that  he  would  go  to 
Illinois  on  the  first  train  that  came  along,  which,  I  believe,  was  between 
nine  and  ten  o'clock  that  night;  and  that  is  the  last  that  I  have  seen  or 
heard  of  him  since;  and  between  supper  and  train  time  he  told  me  all 
about  the  trouble  he  had  been  into,  giving  me  the  full  particulars  of  the 
crime;  what  he  done  it  for,  how  he  done  it,  and  what  he  done  with 'the 
body,  and  also  the  load  and  that  he  had  dropped  a  letter  in  the  postoffice 
at  or  near  the  place  that  he  left  the  load,  stating  in  the  letter  to  my 
father  about  what  time  I  would  be  at  home.  (As  I  had  directed  him  to 
as  soon  as  he  got  through  with  his  load  and  mail  it  at  the  first  postoffice 
when  he  had  an  opportunity  to  do  so). 

He  said  he  thought  he  was  detected  when  he  seen  a  man  cross  the 
creek  near  where  he  was  seen  after  throwing  the  body  from  the  wagon, 
that  some  man  was  watching  him  when  he  run  back  next  morning  to 
get  the  sheep  skin,  after  that  he  said  he  had  no  fear,  and  if  I  would  keep 
still  that  he  would  give  me  big  money,  that  he  would  pay  me  well  for 
it.  He  told  me  he  seen  the  man  pay  for  the  lumber,  and  thought  he  had  big 
money  with  him.  He  then  gave  me  the  pocket  book  that  was  found  in 
my  possession  next  day.  What  it  contained  I  do  not  know;  all  that  I 
know  of  its  contents  is  what  the  witnesses  testified  to  on  the  stand.  The 
next  day  I  was  arrested,  taken  up  stairs  in  a  building.  The  parties  that 
arrested  me  searched  me  and  found  the  pocket  book.  They  kept  me 
over  night  in  that  room  under  guard.  They  had  made  frequent  remarks 
during  the  night  of  a  mob,  which  I  think  was  enough  to  make  anybody's 
hair  stand  on  end;  and  once  the)'  all  jumped  to  their  feet  and  looked 
from  one  to  the  other  and  said  the  mob  had  surrounded  the  house,  and 
as  like  as  not  try  to  break  in,  (so  they  all  expressed  themselves) 
and  then  there   was  several    words  passed   in  regard  to  a  mob  while  on 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  21$ 

the  road  from  Sedalia  to  Henry  County,  which  was  just  previous  to  the 
time  that  I  made  the  confession  to  them,  and  according  to  the  best  of 
my  recollections  of  my  experience  at  that  time  I  was  in  the  right  mind 
to  have  told  almost  anything  that  I  was  asked  to  tell;  ignorant  of  the 
consequences,  and  the  result  was  that  I  related  the  circumstances  of  the 
crime  just  as  they  were  detailed  to  me  but  two  evenings  before,  only 
placing  myself  in  the  stead  of  the  real  criminal. 

It  seems  a  strange  mystery  to  me  now  why  I  did  so,  unless  through 
fright;  and  then  after  the  examination  at  the  squire's,  I  heard  them 
speaking  or,  for  something  about  a  mob,  and  which  would  be  the  best, 
that  is,  the  safest  road  to  go  from  there  to  avoid  coming  in  contact  with 
the  mob,  apparently  talking  as  though  they  expected  the  mob  at  any 
time  almost.  And  after  starting  for  Clinton  (it  being  then  late  in  the 
evening)  they  took  me  off  of  the  road  some  distance  to  stop  over  night, 
in  order  to  baffle  the  mob,  they  said.  I  heard  them  say,  one  to 
another,  that  if  the  mob  didn't  find  us  that  night  that  we  would  have  no 
need  to  fear  the  next  day.  And,  come  to  find  out,  there  was  no  mob 
out  at  all.  A  strange  memory,  I  think,  that  the  witnesses  could  not 
recollect  that  anything  was  said  about  a  mob,  except  once  (that  was  in 
Sedalia),  while  they  can  remember  the  particular  points  so  well,  even  to 
one  man  who  goes  so  far  as  to  say  he  recognizes  me  as  being  the  same 
identical  person  that  he  spoke  a  few  words  to  twelve  years  ago,  and 
another  man  testified  that  I,  while  on  the  train  between  Sedalia  and 
Clinton  last  August,  drew  a  large  pocket-book,  or  wallet,  I  believe  he 
called  it  out  of  my  pocket,  saying  at  the  same  time  that  was  all  I  got 
from  my  father's  estate.  Now,  I  think,  that  reasonable  common  sense 
will  tell  anybody  that  I  had  no  such  thing  with  me  at  the  time,  after  they 
consider  what  my  circumstances  was  then — being  away  from  home  when 
arrested  and  not  been  seen  home  since — I  could  not  help  telling  the 
sheriff  of  Illinois,  that  he  put  a  false  addition  to  what  he  ought  to  have 
said,  which  if  he  had  not  done  it,  his  evidence  would  have  been  worthless, 
in  a  manner,  in  behalf  of  the  state — that  wherein  he  testified  that  I  said, 
"I  did  it,  and  the  people  there  know  it,  and  there  is  no  use  in  denying 
it,"  this  much  of  the  statement  is  false.  And  Mr.  Kehn's  the  railroad 
man's  statement  about  drawing  the  wallet  out  of  my  pocket,  is  also  false. 
And  there  is  other  points  of  evidence  of  the  same  character,  that  I  could 
mention,  but  I  consider  this  is  sufficient  to  show  the  people  that  I  have 
had  no  fair  show  for  my  life.  That  in  the  first  place  they  scared  a  con- 
fession out  of  me,  and  one  that  suited  them,  on  and  at  the  trial  there  was 
more  added  to  it,  apparently  in  order  to  be  sure  to  convict  me,  or  at 
least  it  seemed  so  to  me.  I  admit  that  I  did  wrong,  and  was  to  blame, 
more  or  less,  in  making  the  confession  as  I  did,  but  I  done  it  under 
restraint,  although  the  witnesses  had  not  the  idea  or  impression  that 
they  did  not  try  to  influence  me  in  that  day.  I  have  also  seen,  and 
that  to  my  sorrow,  since  the  beginning  of  this  trouble,  that  I  did  wrong 
in  not  exposing  the  man  while  I  had  the  opportunity — I  mean  to  say 
while  he  was  to  be  had.  But  I  was  young  at  that  time  and  entirely 
inexperienced  in  the  ways  of  the  world;  never  had  been  in  any  trouble 
before  where  the  law  had  to  have  anything  to  say.  I  was  like  all  other 
boys,  easily  led  astray  and  this  has  proved  a  sad  experience  to  me,  and 
not  only  sad  to  me  but  it  is  a  sad  affairto  my  bosom  friend,  my  wife,  and 
doubly  sad  to  me  on  her  account. 


2l6  •  HISTORY   or    HENR\    COUNTY, 

Now  the  thought  may  rise  in  the  minds  of  some  people  why  did  he 
get  married  while  in  such  circumstances?  I  admit  that  I  done  wrong  in 
getting  married  and  by  so  doing  draw  a  good  woman  into  shame  and 
sorrow  as  I  have  done.  But  then  let  me  reason  the  case  to  some  extent; 
In  the  first  place  I  am  happy  to  say  I  had  no  evil  principles  or  inten- 
tions, not  inclined  or  disposed  to  become  a  renegade  or  outlaw,  but,  on 
the  contrary,  I  was  raised  under  honest,  upright  teachings  and  being 
so  inclined  it  was  my  desire  to  settle  down  and  make  a  good  citizen  of 
myself  if  I  could.  And  considering  that  I  had  implements  put  into  the 
jail  to  effect  my  escape  with  twelve  years  ago  (by  who,  I  know  not)  and 
having  been  home  twice  since  my  escape  to  visit  my  parents,  the  first 
time  about  four  or  five  weeks  after  my  escape,  the  second  time  about 
four  years  after;  this  last  time  I  remained  in  Carthage  with  my  parents 
over  a  week,  and  there  was  never  any  reward  offered  for  me,  or  any  stir 
made  after  me  that  I  ever  heard  of,  and  having  lived  in  the  same  neigh- 
hood  in  Illinois,  undisturbed  nearly  ever  since  my  escape.  I  naturally 
concluded  that  I  never  would  be  disturbed,  and  the  best  thing  I  could 
do  would  be  to  seek  for  myself  a  good  companion  and  settle  down  and 
have  a  good  home  of  my  own  as  comfortable  as  I  could  under  the  cir- 
cumstances, which  I  believe  I  did  with  some  honor  as  a  citizen  and 
neighbor.  (As  evidence  in  my  trial  goes  to  show.)  Thank  God  I  had 
lionor  enough  about  me  to  make  my  living  by  the  sweat  of  my  brow,  or 
in  other  words  by  hard  work.  Now  I  think  I  have  said  enough  to 
explain  my  trouble  from  beginning  to  ending,  as  this  statement  will 
show,  and,  as  I  have  stated  above,  it  seems  useless  for  me  to  say  much 
in  self  defense,  for  I  am  behind  the  bars  where  people  are  all  considered 
false.  Although  I  have  made  a  true  statement,  as  best  I  can,  people 
may  not  believe  it,  but  I  wanted  the  people  to  have  a  true  history  of 
the  circumstances  of  this  trouble  before  it  is  too  late  for  me  to  write  it. 
Whether  believed  or  not  they  are  my  dying  words.  And  the  way  the 
matter  stands  now  I  have  no  hopes  of  a  future  happiness  in  this  world, 
although  I  have  a  wife  and  child  in  Illinois  who  long  for  my  return;  and 
allow  me  to  say  she  is  a  true  wife  and  a  pleasant  companion,  and  very 
dear  to  me,  but  my  hopes  for  a  future  time  in  company  with  them  is 
blasted,  and  as  it  were,  like  the  dews  of  the  morning  vanished  from 
sight. 

Now,  wishing  everybody  well,  I  bid  adieu  to  all. 

THE   MURDER   OF   >nLLS. 

This  was  a  cold  blooded  murder,  yet  not  one  premeditated.  It  was 
the  result  of  a  high  temper,  violent  and  ungovernable,  and  it  wrecked 
the  homes  and  lives  of  two  families. 

On  Monday  morning,  October  loth,  1870,  John  W.  Adkins,  a  well  to 
do  farmer,  shot  and  killed  a  neighbor  by  the  name  of  Mills.  Mr.  Adkins 
had  some  trouble  about  his  hogs,  and  without  examining  into  the  mat- 
ter took  it  for  granted  that  Mills  was  the  trespasser,  merely  from  the 
fact  that  he  resided  near  Mr.  Adkins'  home  and  passed  through  a  lane 
near  his  (Adkins)  house.  His  hogs  had  been  dogged  and  otherwise 
ill  treated,  and  he  had   found   them   shut   in    his  barn  only  a  day  or  two 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  21/ 

before.  Meeting  Mills  and  his  son  on  the  morning  above  referred  to,  on 
their  way  to  work  hauling  rock,  Mr.  Adkins,  who  was  on  horseback  and 
armed  with  a  shotgun,  stopped  Mills  and  accused  him  of  being  the 
aggressor.  Mills  denied  all  charges.  Adkins  cursed  Mills  and  grew 
more  violent  as  his  anger  increased,  and  told  Mills  if  he  thought  he  could 
fool  with  him  he  was  barking  up  the  wrong  tree,  and  cocked  his  gun. 
Mills  did  not  seem  much  alarmed,  but  picked  up  a  piece  of  rock  in  the 
bottom  of  his  wagon,  and  then  threw  it  down.  He  rose,  however,  from 
his  seat  and  faced  Adkins,  saying  men  who  threatened  had  better  look 
out  for  themselves.  The  latter  immediately  fired.  The  load  of  shot  took 
effect  in  his  side,  just  above  his  heart,  and  Mills  fell,  and  caused  his 
almost  instant  death. 

His  son  and  a  family  of  movers  going  by,  who  had  stopped  on  hear- 
ing the  loud  talk  and  angry  words  were  witnesses  of  the  appalling  crime. 
The  movers  were  brought  to  town  and  gave  their  evidence,  and  then 
were  permitted  to  proceed  on  their  journey.  Mr.  Adkins  went  to  his 
house  and  then  fled  from  his  home  forever.  A  little  while  afterwards  he 
was  traced  to  Arkansas,  but  he  was  never  arrested  and  has  not  again 
been  seen  in  Henry  County.  He  sent  a  deed  of  forty  acres  of  land  in 
Henry  County  to  the  widow  of  his  victim,  since  which  time  he  has  not 
been  heard  from.  He  was  never  followed  or  prosecuted.  His  own 
family  also  remained  here,  and  left  the  murderer  to  himself  A  rumor 
was  current  a  few  years  ago  that  he  had  married  in  that  state,  but  no 
one  seems  to  have  taken  the  trouble  to  find  out.  Just  why  he  escaped 
the  punishment  justly  deserved  for  his  crime  is  hard  to  tell.  Justice  in 
this  case  was  different  from  that  in  the  case  of  Patterson.  He  was  hanged 
years  after,  punished  for  his  crime,  and  no  one  connected  with  his  victim 
had  a  hand  in  securing  for  him  his  just  deserts. 

ASSASSINATION   OF  JAMES   H.  EDMONDSON. 

One  of  the  most  deliberate  and  cold  blooded  assassinations  that  has 
happened  in  this  or  any  other  country,  was  the  shooting  of  James  H. 
Edmondson,  on  the  night  of  September  26,  1869,  at  Calhoun,  Henry 
County.  Of  this  assassination  little  is  to  be  said,  for  little  is  known  out- 
side of  the  appalling  fact.  Mr.  Edmondson  had  closed  his  store,  and 
gone  to  the  house,  and  having  occasion  to  go  out,  did  so.  While  but  a 
little  distance  from  the  house,  which  was  on  the  east  side  of  the 
public  square,  he  was  hailed  by  some  one  with,  "  is  that  you,  Jim.''"  He 
did  not  catch  the  words  at  first,  but  said,  "who's  that.'*"  The  words 
came  back,  "  is  that  you,  Jim.'"  in  a  muffled  voice,  and  he  answered, 
"  yes."  The  word  had  scarcely  left  his  lips,  when  the  person  fired  a  load 
of  buckshot,  striking  him  on  his  side  and  hip,  and  as  he  turned  and 
raised  himself  received  another  charge  in  his  shoulder  and  neck,  and  he 


2l8  HISTORV   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

fell  prostrate.  The  firing  had  alarmed  several  and  doors  were  flung 
•open,  but  the  second  shot  followed  so  closely  upon  that  of  the  first  that 
no  one  could  get  out  before  the  murderous  work  had  been  completed. 
The  groans  of  the  wounded  man  soon  brought  others  besides  his  family, 
and  he  was  carefully  carried  in  and  laid  on  his  bed.  Beyond  the  above 
remarks,  which  he  was  hardly  able  to  utter,  he  made  no  sign,  and  soon 
the  soul  of  James  H.  Edraondson  had  been  wafted  on  spirit  wings  to  his 
Maker.  He  did  not  recognize  the  voice,  and  nothing  definite  has  ever 
been  known. 

The  work  of  death  was  on  the  public  square,  near  the  northeast 
corner.  The  murderer  ran  across  the  square,  and  crossed  the  railroad 
just  south  of  the  square  and  in  the  southwest  corner  of  the  town;  beyond 
that  he  could  not  be  traced.  Edmondson  had  received  no  less  than 
twenty-one  buckshot,  any  one  of  which  would  have  killed  him,  besides 
being  grazed  with  others.  The  above  number  was  found  in  his  body, 
and  whoever  the  murderous  wretch  was  he  meant  to  be  sure  of  his  work. 
Some  time  afterward  a  man  by  the  name  of  Thomas  A.  Spotswood  was 
arrested  for  the  murder.  Suspicion  was  strong  against  him,  but  the  evi- 
dence was  lacking.  His  trial  was  short  and  he  was  discharged.  Over 
thirteen  years  have  passed  since  this  terrible  tragedy  took  place  and 
nothing  reliable  has  yet  been  discovered  as  to  who  was  the  assassin,  yet 
the  belief  has  in  no  wise  abated  with  many  that  Spotswood  was  the  man. 

Thus  was  a  young  man  in  the  prime  of  life,  with  large  family  con- 
nections and  a  host  of  friends,  taken  off  to  appease  the  hatred  of  some 
fiend  in  human  form. 

RAPE   AND  JUDGE   LYNCH. 

In  July,  1870,  a  Miss  George,  while  on  her  return  from  picking  ber- 
ries, was  stopped  on  her  way  home  in  broad  day  light,  by  a  negro 
named  John  Sears,  supposed  to  have  had  some  Mexican  blood  in  his 
veins.  Sears  drew  a  large  knife  and  swore  he  would  kill  her,  and  in  her 
fright  he  accomplished  his  hellish  purpose.  She  was  on  a  visit  to  her 
brother-in-law  in  Calhoun.  She  succeeded  in  getting  home  and  told 
her  sister.  She  instantly  went  to  her  husband  and  related  the  story, 
who  gathered  his  neighbors  and  started  a  hunt  for  the  criminal.  He 
was  tracked  to  near  Clinton  where  he  was  captured  and  put  in  jail  the 
same  night.  The  next  morning  Judge  Lynch  gave  his  decision  that 
the  miscreant  should  be  hung,  and  although  the  sheriff  objected  and 
stated  he  was  not  the  judge  whose  orders  he  obeyed,  the  representa- 
tives of  Judge  Lynch  gave  the  sheriff  to  understand  that  it  was  their 
business  to  obey  orders  and  John  Sears  was  taken  to  the  court  house 
yard  and  hung  to  a  tree,  the  lynchers  waiting  around  the  doomed  vil- 
lain to  see  that  he  was  done  kicking  before  they  left.  The  crime  was 
heinous  and  the  punishment  just,  swift  and  terrible. 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  2ig 

THE   bullet's   fatal   WORK — WILLIAMSON   GAYE    UP    HIS  LIFE. 

The  cause  of  the  death  of  John  S.  Williamson  was  something  of  the 
nature  of  a  family  quarrel,  and  yet  it  was  not.  An  uncontrolable  temper 
and  a  fierce  tongue  were  the  moving  causes  which  produced  the  fatal 
result.  John  S.  Williamson  and  John  G.  Clark  were  both  young  men, 
and  the  latter  was  a  suitor  and  aspired  to  the  hand  of  Miss  Williamson, 
a  sister,  in  marriage.  The  Williamson  family  did  not  approve  of  the 
match,  and  John  seemed  to  be  particularly  and  determinedl}-  opposed 
to  it.  It  is  hard,  even  at  this  day,  to  get  anything  like  a  history  of  this 
sad  affair.  Neighbors  and  friends  on  both  sides  will  not  talk  about  it, 
and  others  reply,  "  well,  yes,  I  remember  the  affair,  but  really  I  don't 
know  anything  about  it  only  from  heresay."  Well,  can  you  give  us  what 
you  know.-*  "  Yes,  but  really  I  didn't  know  aaything;  there  was  some 
objections  to  Clark  waiting  upon  Miss  Williamson,  and  there  was 
some  feelings,  but  really  I  didn't  know  anything  about  it.  I  heard  some- 
thing of  the  kind,  etc." 

It  will  be  seen  from  such  guarded  expression  that  there  was  little 
to  be  found  out,  and  what  objection  the  family  had  to  Clark  will  not  be 
given  even  by  those  who  know,  whether'  from  fear,  policy  or  friendship, 
is  a  matter  which  the  writer  cannot  explain.  The  above  is  the  substance 
of  some  half  a  dozen  enquiries  to  learn  the  true  facts.  Outside  of  these 
the  writer  interviewed  many  others,  whose  chief  reply  was,  "  Well,  yes, 
I  remember  the  circumstance,  and  if  you  will  go  to  such  a  one  he  can 
tell  you  all  about  it."  That  person  was  found  but  all  he  knew  was 
simply  nothing,  but  such  a  person  could  give  the  information,  and  at 
least  a  half  dozen  were  interviewed. 

The  facts  were  simply  that  the  young  men  were  not  on  good  terms, 
The  victim  was  opposed  to  Clark  as  a  brother-in-law,  and  he  used  one 
night  at  a  neighbors,  where  Clark  was  in  the  habit  of  visiting,  some  very 
abusive  language  in  regard  to  Clark.  Whether  Clark  was  there  or  came 
in  after  is  not  stated,  but  Clark  came,  the  language  about  him  he  soon 
learned  of,  and  he  informed  Williamson  that  it  must  be  settled.  A  few 
days  after,  in  company  of  two  young  men,  he  went  to  the  field  where 
Williamson  was  stacking  haj".  Williamson  was  on  the  stack  and  Clark 
rode  up  and  demanded  a  retraction  of  the  language  above  referred  to. 
This  Williamson  refused  to  do,  and  Clark  drew  his  pistol,  as  also  did 
Williamson.  Two  or  three  shots  were  fired  by  each  when  Williamson 
fell,  shot  through  the  body,  just  over  his  heart  and  below  his  left  shoulder. 
Clark  escaped  unhurt.  Williamson  was  taken  home  and  lived  but  a  few 
hours.  It  was  said  that  the  young  men  who  accompanied  Clark  had  no 
idea  of  a  fatal  termination  of  their  visit,  but  expected  that  Williamson 
would  retract  and  went  as  witnesses  to  settle  the  quarrel.  The  princi- 
pals, however,  took  the  matter  in  their  own  hands,  and  the  end   proved 


220 


HISTORY   OFHENKV    COUNTY. 


disastrous.  Clark  was  aricsted,  or  gave  himself  up,  was  duly  indicted 
and  put  in  jail  a  short  time.  He  was,  however,  in  poor  health,  and  was 
released  on  giving  bail  in  the  sum  of  $15,000.  He  lived  but  a  short  time 
dying  of  heart  disease  before  his  final  trial. 

This  is  the  substance  of  all  the  writer  gleaned  or  could  gather  of 
this  sad  and  tragic  affair,  and  this  was  submitted  to  a  party  who  knew, 
or  was  supposed  to  know  as  much  about  it  as  anyone,  but  who  dis- 
claimed all  but  heresay  knowledge,  but  said  that  the  above  was  about 
the  facts  of  the  case  as  he  had  heard.  The  shooting  and  death  of  Will- 
iamson occurred  in  January,  1872. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

"SATAN  FINDS  WORK  FOR  IDLE   HANDS  TO  DO." 

THE  WORK  OF  FIENDS— SELF  DEFENSE  IS  NOT  MURDER— IT  WAS  THE  GAME  OF  "DEAD 
OPEN  AND  SHUT"— AND  THEY  LOST  EVERY  TIME-PISTOLS  VS.  CROQUET  MAL- 
LETS—PISTOLS THE  WINNER- A  CRAZY  WOMAN'S  CRIME-  KILLING  EZELL.  NOT  FOR 
A  CRIME,  BUT  BECAUSE  HE  WOULDN'T  STAY  ARRESTED-"  TELL  MY  SISTER  THAT 
I  LEAVE  HER  ALL  MY  PROPERTY,  I  AM  DYING  "-VERDICT,  JURY  COULD  NOT 
AGREE— THE  END. 

THE    HOPKINS   TRAGEDY. 

There  was  a  great  excitement  occasioned  in  the  year  1874,  by  the 
killing  of  George  Hopkins,  by  William  Bailey.  Before  the  trial  was 
ended,  and  before  and  after,  there  were  many  assertions  made  that  the 
prosecution  was  carried  on  in  a  spirit  of  vengeance,  and  that  hatred  of 
Bailey  by  some  half  a  dozen  persons  was  the  groundwork  of  the  prose- 
cution, and  that  those  persons  swore  they  would  have  him  hung.  Not 
only  was  he  the  subject  of  this  reported  persecution,  but  his  mother  was 
also  the  recipient  of  the  hatred  and  undying  vengeance  of  these  men. 
Whether  true  or  not,  the  mother  was  caused  to  suffer  because  she  did 
not  and  would  not  believe  her  son  guilty  of  murder,  but  only  acting  in 
self  defense.  Whether  these  rumors  were  true  or  not,  William  Bailey 
was  tried,  convicted  and  sent  to  prison  for  four  years  for  murder  in  the 
second  degree.  His  lawyers  promptly  appealed  the  case,  but  before  the 
supreme  court  could  act  in  the  case,  he  had  been  in  the  penitentiary  four 
months,  and  had  also  suffered  an  imprisonment  in  jail,  and  his  mother 
had  been  confined  there  five  months,  when  she  was  released. 

The  supreme  court  decided  that  he  was  not  guilty  of  murder  and 
his  release  was  ordered.  The  general  impression  sided  with  the  supreme 
court.  In  the  trial  two  of  the  jury  were  for  acquittal,  six  for  a  four 
years'  term  in  state  prison  and  four  for  hanging.  The  action  of  the 
supreme  court  ended  their  legal  troubles,  but  they  were  ruined  finan- 
cially and  Mrs.  Bailey  broken  in  health. 

PARTICULARS     OF    IHE     ROBBERY    OF    LAMBERT'S    STORE     IN    CLINTON, 

MISSOURI.  * 

[From  the  Advocate,  May,  1875. J 
Heretofore   Clay  County  has  been  the  scene  of  outlawry,  but  now 
Henry  County  comes  in,  and  for  daring  recklessness,  what  is   truthfully 
told  below,  has  never  had  an  equal  here. 


222  HISTORY    OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 

D.  B.  Lambert  keeps  a  thriving  country  store  twelve  miles  north  of 
Clinton.  His  store  stands  alone  on  the  prairie,  and  in  a  portion  of  it  he 
lives.  The  store  is  the  resort  for  young  people  in  that  neighborhood. 
A  croquet  set  is  planted  there,  and  on  Thursday  last.  May  13,  1875,  at 
7  P.  M.,  in  the  yard  a  part}^  of  eight  were  playing  croquet,  and  Mr.  Lam- 
bert was  in  the  store.  Two  strangers,  tall,  slim  and  genteel  men,  rode 
up  and  came  in,  and  after  a  few  minutes  in  came  two  more,  looking  simi- 
lar to  the  others.  Just  as  they  were  inside  the  door  the  first  drew  a  pis- 
tol and  told  Lambert  to  stand,  and  the  other  two  went  to  the  croquet 
ground  and  told  the  eight  croqueters  to  "  Walk  in,  ladies  and  gentle- 
men, and  be  seated." 

Three  of  the  robbers  came  in  and  assisted  in  guarding  them  while 
the  fourth  one  robbed  the  store.  Lambert  was  marched  into  the  rear 
room  with  the  others. 

In  the  meantime  a  little  over  $300  in  greenbacks  was  taken,  also  a 
very  favorite  silver  watch,  a  fine  shotgun,  two  revolvers  and  a  lot  of 
other  goods  from  the  store.  They  turned  up  every  box  in  the  house,  and 
searched  every  corner.  They  came  in  from  the  west,  and  when  they  left 
started  in  the  direction  of  Clinton.  They  were  all  well  dressed,  well 
armed,  and  mounted  on  the  finest  of  horses.  No  uncouth  language  was 
used  by  any  of  the  robbers.  Lambert  had  his  money  in  his  pocket,  also 
his  watch,  v/hen  they  made  him  shell  out. 

The  robbing  was  done  so  quickly  that  a  blacksmith,  100  yards  dis- 
tant, pounded  away  and  knew  nothing  of  it  until  it  was  over. 

Mat.  Dorman  is  a  truthful  citizen  and  lives  near  Clinton,  and  he  has 
stated  that  about  noon  last  Tuesday  he  was  in  company  with  two  of  the 
Younger  Brothers  and  two  other  men,  and  that  he  conversed  with  them; 
and,  further,  he  states  that  he  is  personally  acquainted  with  both  of  the 
Younger  Brothers.  It  is  supposed  that  their  companions  are  Jesse  and 
Frank  James. 

About  one  year  ago  two  men  came  to  Lambert's  store,  and  he  saw 
and  suspected  them  from  their  actions,  and  he  thinks  two  of  this  gang 
are  the  same  ones.  Noeffort  is  being  made  by  any  officers  in  Clinton  to 
capture  these  outlaws,  and  it  is  not  supposed  that  there  will  be. 

LATER. 

In  my  telegram  last  night  I  recited  what  I  had  learned  from  the 
party  w4io  was  captured  by  the  Claude  Duvals  at  Lambert's  store. 
To-day  I  made  a  hasty  drive  to  the  store,  and  there  met  D.  B.  Lambert, 
the  proprietor,  his  wife,  Miss  Bessie  Sharp  and  A.  S.  Mulholland,  all  of 
whom  were  in  the  storeroom  while  the  bandits  went  through  it  in  a  sys- 
tematic manner. 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  223 

The  bandits  halted  north  of  the  store  five  minutes,  in  a  fence  cor- 
ner, and  held  a  consultation;  then  rode  past,  hitched  their  horses  and 
two  entered.  One  called  for  a  cigar,  and  fumbling  it  with  his  left  hand 
coolly  drew  a  ten-inch,  dazzling  bright  revolver,  and  rubbing  it  under 
Lambert's  nose,  told  him  to  throw  up  his  hands.  Then  followed  the 
robbing  reported  yesterday.  With  his  hands  above  his  head  they 
marched  him  and  Miss  Sharp  up  stairs,  and  a  systematic  se^irch  was- 
made  but  no  money  found. 

It  seems  that  they  had  been  told  that  Lambert  had  $3,000  or  $4,0001 
in  gold  about  the  house,  and  the  leader  told  him  that  he  would  give  him,' 
till  he  counted  ten  to  display  it.  With  a  pistol  at  his  forehead  he  com- 
menced to  count — one,  two,  three,  four,  and  at  this  the  heroic  Miss 
Sharp  rushed  between  them.  He  was  then  taken  to  the  back  yard,  and 
one  man  pointed  a  cocked  pistol  at  his  head  while  another  twisted  his 
wrists,  and  there  he  stood,  pleading  for  mercy  and  telling  them  they  had 
all  his  money.  His  true  and  brave  wife  could  stand  this  no  longer,  and 
she  struck  the  highwayman  a  powerful  blow  in  the  stomach,  whicli 
caused  him  to  release  his  grasp.  One  hour  and  a  half  was  occupied  in 
this  cool  and  systematic  robbery,  and  during  that  time  all  of  the  men 
were  compelled  to  keep  their  hands  clasped  over  their  heads.  They 
all  say  the  leader  was  the  coolest  man  they  ever  saw.  He  con- 
trolled every  movement  and  did  nearly  all  the  talking.  When  ready  to 
leave,  they  led  the  eight  captives  to  the  back  yard,  huddled  them' 
together,  and  in  true  knightly  style  mounted  their  handsome,  agile- 
horses  and  rode  off  in  a  dashing  cavalry  style. 

All  but  the  leader  wore  white  handkerchiefs  around  their  necks  and' 
slouched  their  hats  over  their  eyes.  Nothing  of  the  false  face  or  masque 
was  used.  The  leader  did  not  pretend  to  disguise  himself  in  any  way. 
Mrs.  L.  told  him  he  had  been  at  the  store  before  and  he  said  it  was  so, 
and  he  told  her  not  to  look  at  him  too  close,  as  she  might  know  him' 
again,  and  he  turned  his  back  on  her.  On  the  little  finger  of  his  left 
hand  he  wore  a  beautiful  gold  ring  with  a  brilliant  set  therein.  He  is- 
fully  six  feet  in  hight,  short  light  hair,  short  sandy  chin  whiskers  and 
mustache,  light  brown  eyes,  spare  made,  well  shaped  face,  long  arms  and 
can  look  another  straight  in  the  eye.  He  said  he  had  been  an  outlaw 
ever  since  the  war.  The  hands  of  each  of  the  four  were  white  and  soft. 
Their  language  indicated  that  they  were  Americans.  They  were  well' 
dressed  and  well  behaved.  None  of  them  was  over  thirty  years  of  age,, 
and  one  of  them  was  quite  a  small  man.  Everyone  present  was  fully 
convinced  that  they  were  experts  at  the  business,  and  seemed  to  think 
that  others  who  came  in  contact  with  them  in  similar  manner  to  what 
we  have  recorded  had  better  lay  down  the  spoils.  The  store  was  filled 
all   day   with   country  folks,  and   it   is  estimiated  that  Mr.  Lambert  has. 


224  HISTORY    OF    HENRY    COUNTY.  , 

answered    1 1,000   questions.     On    the   next   day   Mr.  Lambert  found  his      1 
shotgun  in  a  neighbor's  field. 

This  bold  robbery  astonished  the  people  of  Henry  County,  and  not- 
withstanding it  was  done  in  broad  daylight,  the  women  of  Henry  County 
persisted  for  months  in  looking  under  their  beds  for  robbers,  before  retir- 
ing for  the  night.  This  history  has,  however,  no  record  where  that 
search  proved  successful,  and  the  writer  is  happy  in  being  able  to 
■embalm  this  fact  in  the  pages  of  history.  The  women,  however,  were 
not  all  alone,  for  the  men  got  together,  and  concluded  now  that  the 
horses  had  been  stolen,  it  was  a  good  time  to  lock  the  stable  door,  or  in 
other  words,  a  meeting  was  called  to  take  into  consideration  the  propri- 
ety of  forming  a  vigilant  committee,  "  an  organization,"  says  the  call, 
"  that  will  be  strictly  legal."  "All  citizens  who  were  opposed  to  highway 
robbery,"  were  cordially  invited  to  attend.  There  was  not  a  doubt  but 
that  Mr.  Lambert's  friends  were  largely  in  a  majority  at  the  meeting, 
which  was  held  May  21,  1875.  It  was  certainly  a  serious  matter  to  be 
thus  afflicted  right  in  grasshopper  time,  though  it  is  believed  to  be  an 
assured  fact  that  misfortunes  never  come  singly. 

DEATH  OF  F.  H.  RABINE. 

On  Saturday,  August  19,  1876,  John  H.  Light  shot  and  killed  F.  H.  J 
Rabine.  They  were  both  engaged  in  the  pottery  business  at  Calhoun, 
Mr.  Rabine  for  something  over  three  years  and  Light  about  one.  They 
had,  it  seems,  become  jealous  of  each  other  and  from  ill  words  came 
threats  of  bodily  harm.  This  was  probably  the  result  of  being  in  the 
same  business,  and  the  tragedy  seemed  to  have  been  brought  on  by  the 
tell-tale  peculiarity  of  a  Calhounite,  who  it  seems,  reported  to  Rabine, 
that  Light,  who  had  just  finished  burning  a  kiln  of  ware,  remarked  to 
this  third  party  that  Rabine,  or  some  of  Rabine's  hands,  had  put  some- 
thing in  his  slack  or  glazing,  which  had  seriously  damaged  the  ware,  in 
fact  he  claimed  that  out  of  $200  he  would  only  realize  $20  worth  of  good 
ware.  This  accusation  was  borne  to  the  ears  of  Rabine,  who  became 
highly  incensed.  This  was  the  prelude  to  the  fatal  difficulty.  On  Saturday, 
as  above  stated,  both  parties  met  on  the  platform  at  the  railroad  depot,  just 
as  the  western  bound  passenger  train  arrived.  Rabine,  armed  with  a 
■good  sized  club,  which  he  carried  concealed  by  his  side,  accosted  Light, 
-demanding  to  know  if  he.  Light,  had  accused  him  of  putting  something 
in  his  slack.  Light  replied  that  he  had  said  that  either  he,  Rabine,  or  some 
of  his  hands  had  done  so.  A  few  words  passed  when  Rabine  dealt  Light  a 
heavy  blow  on  the  nose  with  his  club  felling  him  and  repeated  the  blow 
twice  after  Light  was  down.  The  first  blow  broke  Light's  nose  and  stunned 
him,  as  soon  as  he  recovered  sufficiently  to  understand  things  he  tried 
to  rise  to  his  feet  an.d  draw  a  revolver,  as  he  did   so    Rabine   started    to 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  22$ 

run  when  Light  fired  two  shots  in  quick  succession  at  the  fleeing  man 
both  shots  taking  effect  in  his  back  near  the  spine.  Rabine,  after  being 
shot,  jumped  from  the  platform,  ran  a  few  steps  and  fell.  He  dropped 
his  club  and  regaining  his  feet  ran  home,  a  distance  of  about  250  yards- 
Arriving  at  the  house  he  sat  down  in  the  door  way  and  said  to  his  wife: 
^'John  Light  has  shot  and  killed  me."  These  were  his  last  and  only 
words,  and  he  fell  over  dead,  not  living  two  minutes  after  reaching  his 
doorstep. 

Mrs.  Rabine  became  frantic  at  once,  and  soon  the  neighbors  were 
aroused.  Light  went  home,  but  was  soon  told  that  he  had  killed  Rabine. 
He  expressed  no  regret,  but  stated  he  was  willing  to  stand  his  trial. 
Such,  says  the  Clinton  Democrat,  was  the  substance  of  the  matter  as 
related  by  eye  witnesses. 

An  inquest  was  held  over  the  body  on  Sunday  morning.  Light  was 
arrested,  but  waiving  examination  before  a  justice,  he  gave  bail  in  the 
sum  of  $2,000  to  appear  the  next  day  at  the  circuit  court,  then  in  session 
at  Clinton.  Judge  Wright  empanneled  a  special  grand  jury,  and  an 
indictment  was  found  of  manslaughter  in  the  second  degree. 

John  H.  Light,  still  a  resident  of  Calhoun,  was  of  medium  hight, 
light  hair,  blue  eyes,  and  rather  prepossessing  in  appearance  and  thirty- 
five  years  of  age.  He  was  born  in  Batavia,  Clearmont  County,  Ohio. 
He  had  a  wife,  but  no  children. 

Rabine,  the  man  killed,  was  a  German,  and  came  to  Calhoun  from 
Huntingdale,  and  to  the  latter  place  from  Knob  Noster.  He  had  fol- 
lowed the  business  in  both  places  successfully,  and  had  removed  to  Cal- 
houn to  get  on  a  line  of  railway,  and  to  enlarge  his  facilities  and  increase 
the  manufacture  of  his  wares.     He  left  a  wife  and  three  children. 

The  pistol  used  was  an  Allan's  patent  seven-shooter.  No.  22  car- 
tridge. 

The  trial  came  off  on  the  29th  of  August,  ten  days  after  the  fight, 
and  the  following  constituted  the  jury:  E.  S.  Morgan,  foreman;  S.  W. 
Billingsley,  D.  E.  A.  Price,  John  Hopton,  Richard  Marshall,  George  Kel- 
lums,  Robert  Gilbert,  J.  H.  Cannon,  William  Ellis,  Daniel  Golden,  G. 
W.  Hancock  and  E.  O.  Price. 

The  verdict  was:  "  We,  the  jury,  find  the  defendant  not  guilty." 
He  was  immediately  discharged  by  command  of  Judge  Wright. 

MURDER   OF  JAMES    HARPER   BY    HIS   STEP   MOTHER. 

The  following  terrible  tragedy  was  the  work  of  a  lunatic,  which  at 
■first  was  not  thought  by  a  good  many  persons.  There  maybe  some  even 
to  this  day  who  have  doubts,  but  the  best  medical  minds  are  satisfied. 
The  woman  has  been  in  the  asylum  at  Fulton  nearly  ever  since  the 
occurrence,  and  her  second  trial  came  off  in  Vernon  County  on  a  change 


226  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

of  venue  in  November,  but  upon  full  investigation  the  prosecuting  attor- 
ney, C.  C.  Dickinson,  declined  to  prosecute.  The  keeper  of  the  asylum 
and  the  physician  gave  explicit  belief  in  Mrs.  Harper's  insanity,  and  her 
husband.  Dr.  Harper,  has  always  believed,  and  has  done  all  he  could, 
since  satisfied  of  the  fact,  to  shield  her.  On  the  withdrawal  of  prose- 
cution she  was  taken  back  to  Fulton  and  again  incarcerated,  with  no 
hope  of  ever  leaving  the  institution  alive.  Her  actions  were  a  mixture 
of  saneness  and  insanity,  but  there  is  no  doubt  that  had  not  her  mother 
caught  the  gun  she,  too,  would  have  been  killed,  and  then,  feeding  on 
the  excitement,  her  child  would  have  been  the  next  victim,  coupled  with 
self-destruction.  The  following,  taken  from  the  Clinton  Advocate  of 
October  13th,  1881,  is  a  graphic  account  as  detailed  to  coroner's  jury  on 
Monday,  the  loth  of  October,  the  next  day  after  the  murder.  The 
Advocate  says: 

Crime  develops  itself  in  many  ways,  and  often  crops  out  where 
least  expected,  and  often  in  a  manner  to  send  a  shock  of  horror  to  even 
such  as  are  familiar  with  it  in  all  its  phases.  Such  a  crime,  and  one  for 
which  there  seemed  not  the  least  provocation,  occurred  in  this  county 
Sunday  morning  last,  it  being  no  less  than  the  inhuman  butchering  o(  a 
seven  year  old  child  by  a  step-mother. 

The  woman  who  stands  charged  with  this  heineous  crime  is  Mrs. 
Mary  M.  Harper,  wife  of  Dr.  James  P.  Harper,  who  lives  in  Honey  Creek 
Township,  about  twelve  miles  northwest  of  Clinton.  Her  maiden  name 
was  Dejarnette,  and  was  married  to  Dr.  Harper  three  years  ago  last 
month  in  Bates  County,  near  Altoona. 

The  family  consisted  of  Dr.  Harper,  his  wife,  and  two  children  and 
Mrs.  Dejarnette,  mother  of  Mrs.  Harper.  Dr.  Harper  is  well  known 
throughout  the  county  and  is  a  practicing  physician.  So  far  as  the  out- 
side world  knows,  he  got  along  harmoniously   with  his  wife  and  family. 

The  murdered  child  is  the  issue  of  a  first  marriage  with  Miss  Mary 
Brown.  The  child  is  represented  as  having  been  a  bright,  intelligent 
one,  for  its  age,  and  of  an  even,  quiet  disposition.  If  there  was  any 
unpleasant  relations  existing  between'  the  child  and  its  step-mother,  it 
was  not  known  in  the  neighborhood. 

The  sad  tragedy  occurred  a  little  after  nine  o'clock  last  Sunday 
morning,  the  particulars  of  which,  as  here  given,  were  gleaned  from  the 
evidence  of  Mrs.  Dejarnette,  and  conversations  of  different  parties  who 
were  on  the  ground  soon  after  the  deed  was  committed. 

At  the  coroner's  inquest  the  first  witness  examined  was  Reuben  Mor- 
gan who  said:  "Yesterday  morning  about  9  o'clock  I  came  here  to  the 
school  house  to  church.  After  I  got  to  the  church  I  went  to  the  well  to  get  a 
drink  of  water,  about  the  time  I  commenced  drinking  I  heard  an  unusal 
noise  in  this  direction,  like  some  person  was  in  distress.  I  then  hastened  to 
the  front  yard  of  the  school  house  and  some  men  were  standing  there.    I 


HISTORY    OF    HENRY    COUNTY.  22/ 

told  them    theie   was  some   person    in    distress    and   we   ought   to    see 
after  it,  and  that  quick.     They  started  for  this  place  a  foot  and  I  got  on 
horseback.     About  half  way  the  young  men  halted  and  I  rode  up  and 
asked  them  the  trouble  there;  they  answered  there  was  a  little  boy  in 
the  field  with  his  throat  cut.     I  turned  my  eyes  in  that  direction.    I  saw 
the  boy  naked  and  bloody  all   over — pretty   much.      I  then  still  heard 
the  noise  at  the  house    like    thej^  were   in   distress,   like   I   heard  at  the 
school  house.      I  didn't  halt  there.     I  told  the  boys  to  take  charge  of  the 
boy  and   I  would  ride  up  to  the  house  and   see  what  was  the  trouble 
here.     When  I  got  opposite  the  end  of  the  yard  fence  running  east  I  saw 
Mrs.  Dejarnette  and  Mrs.  Harper  standing  at  the  east  fence  east  of  the 
cook  room.     I  sprung  off  my  horse  as  quick  as  I  could  and  went  in  the 
direction  ot  the  ladies  where  they  were  standing.     When  I  got  opposite 
the  gate  east  of  the   porch  I  saw  they   had  a  double-barreled   shot  gun, 
one  pulling  and  the  other  pulling.     Mrs.   Harper  observed,   not  to  come 
there  for  the  gun  was  cocked.     I  told  her  it  did  not  make  any  difference 
with  me,  the  gun  was  what  I  wanted  and  the  gun  I  must  have.    The  muz- 
zle of  the  gun  was  through  the  crack  in  the   plank  fence.      As  I  passed 
b)^  that  I  went  pretty  lively  until  I  got  hold  of  it — I  had  to  go  in   front 
of  the  gun,  Mr.  Depew  came  to  my  assistance.     I  told  him  to  take  hold 
of  the  woman,  Mrs.  Harper.     I  then  went  down  the  lane.     I  helped  the 
young  men  bring  the  boy  to  the  house  on  a  bed  cover.     Mrs.  Harper 
told  me  I   'had  just  as  well  let  that  boy  die,  for  bleeding  to  death   was 
the  easiest  death  any  one  could  die  on  earth.'    After  we  had  got  the  boy 
on  the  bed  I  was  trying  to  make  him  as  comfortable  as  possible,  for  he 
was  very  much  chilled.    She  remarked  again,  I  '  had  just  as  well  let  that 
boy  die  for  him   and  her   couldn't  live.'      Young  Dan.    Randolph,  Bud. 
Dobyns  and    others  helped    me  bring   the  boy  in.     Harper's   house  and 
school  house  is  on  the  public  road  leading  east  and  west  from  Big  Creek 
bridge  and  Dobyn's  school  house.      The   school   house  is  west   of  Dr. 
Harper's  residence  about  200  steps.     I  put  the  boy  in  the  east  and  sputh 
room  known  as  cook  room.     He  was  wounded  on  the  arm,  seemed  to  be 
pretty  deep  cut  about  the  elbow— seemed  to  have  been  made  by  some- 
thing  like  a  knife.     I  saw  a  knife  in  Mrs.  Dejarnette's  possession  which 
was  said  to  have  done  the  cutting — bleeding  freely   from  neck,  held  his 
head  down. 

All  he  ever  said  to  me  was  that  he  wanted  to  go  to  his  Aunt  Ann's 
(Mrs.  Murphy,  who  kept  him  a  great  deal.)  When  we  first  took  him  up 
the  boy  was  scared,  and  it  was  with  difficulty  that  we  could  get  him  out 
of  the  buggy.  I  told  him  I  would  take  him  and  stay  with  him,  that  he 
should  not  be  hurt— I  would  stay  with  him  until  his  pa  came.  Chris. 
Beck's  little  boy  spoke  to  him — he  approached  the  little  boy  and  asked 
him  what  was  the  matter,  and  he  said  his  ma  had  cut  his  throat.  I  so 
understood  this  from  young  Lorenzo  Beck.   I  remained  in  and  about  the 


228  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

room  from  nine  to   about  one,   young   Daniel  Randolph   and    Mr.  Byron 
Homan  most  of  the  time,  also  Mr.  Depew." 

The  following  is  the  testimony  of  Mrs.  Polly  Ann  Dejarnette  :  "I 
reside  in  Bates  County,  Missouri.  I  was  here  at  Dr.  Harper's  Sunday 
morning.  I  came  here  the  first  day  of  September,  i88i.  Mrs.  Harper  is 
my  daughter.  Everything  was  peace  and  quietude  yesterday  morning, 
and  a  couple  of  little  boys  of  Mr.  Friend's  came  over  to  get  some  glycerine, 
and  Mrs.  Harper  got  the  glycerine.  I  came  to  the  door  with  her  and 
the  little  boys  and  she  said:  'tell  your  ma  to  come  down,'  and  the  next  I 
heard  little  Jimmie  scream.  I  supposed  she  was  putting  glycerine  in 
his  nose,  which  was  sore,  and  I  came  to  the  door,  got  there  as  quick  as 
I  could,  and  when  I  got  there  I  saw  the  boy  and  his  arm  was  bleeding. 
I  ran  to  him  and  she  said:  'ma,  get  away,'  and  I  said  I  would  die  by  the 
child.  I  then  took  the  child  and  applied  cold  water  to  his  arm.  I  had 
him  on  the  bed;  she  came  in  and  snatched  him  up  and  I  held  on  to  him. 
I  put  my  hand  to  his  throat  to  protect  him.  I  didn't  see  her  have  any 
knife,  but  I  knew  she  intended  to  do  something  wrong,  and  I  wanted  to 
protect  him.  I  then  took  the  child  and  applied  applications  to  his  throat 
and  about  the  time  I  got  the  blood  checked,  she  came  in  and  said  :  'ma, 
get  away  from  there:'  and  said:  'Jimmie,  get  up,'  and  I  said:  'he  shan't,' 
and  turned  round  to  see  and  she  had  a  gun  cocked  and  turned  at  me 
•with  finger  on  the  trigger.  I  then  hollowed  and  screamed  and  gave  the 
alarm  until  the  neighbors  came  to  me.  She  also  threatened  to  shoot 
Mr  Morgan.  When  I  saw  the  gun  pointed  at  me  I  turned  and  caught 
the  barrel,  and  told  the  child  to  get  out  of  the  way.  He  was  in  the  east 
room — kitchen,  where  he  now  lies.  We  were  at  the  east  door.  He  must 
have  come  out  of  the  north  door,  or  on  the  porch,  about  twenty  feet, 
and  from  east  door  to  east  gate.  She  told  me  she  would  kill  me  if  I 
didn't  let  loose. 

He  was  first  cut  at  north  parlor  door  in  the  arm.  He  was  standing 
just  outside  the  door  looking  down,  dressed  as  usual,  with  his  face 
towards  the  door.  Mrs.  Harper  was  going  from  him,  south  toward  the 
hall  door  (three  rooms  and  one  hall).  Jimmie  was  standing  at  the  east 
hall  door  when  the  Friend  boys  came  and  they  came  to  the  same  door 
and  she  came  to  the  same  door  and  she  gave  them  the  glycerine  in  the 
hall  and  they  all  three  came  through  the  parlor.  The  Friend  bo}'s  had 
been  gone  only  a  few  minutes  when  Jimmie  screamed — Friend  boys  very 
small.  I  then  took  Jimmie  and  took  him  to  the  water  stand  and  washed 
him  and  put  him  on  the  bed — I  undressed  him.  I  was  applying  cold 
water  all  the  time  and  can't  tell  how  long  it  was  before  Mrs.  Harper 
came  in  where  he  was  lying.  When  I  took  him  he  was  cut  only  on  the 
arm.  She  came  in,  perhaps,  a  quarter  of  an  hour  afterwards  and  caught 
hold  of  him  and  dragged  him  from  the  bed.  I  struggled  to  protect  him, 
and  we  went  out  of  the  east  door  and  got  to  the  gate.     She    must   have 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  229 

cut  him  in  the  throat  at  the  gate.  He  was  then  dressed  and  I  then  took 
him  in  and  undressed  him  and  put  applications  to  his  throat.  I  had  got 
the  blood  stopped  when  she  came  in  with  the  gun,  he  didn't  say  anything 
about  how  he  got  cut,  he  only  said:  'Grandma  it  hurts.'  I  told  him  to 
let  it  be  and  bear  with  it  until  his  pa  came.  I  wanted  to  save  his  life. 
I  didn't  see  her  afterwards  for  some  time.  I  didn't  notice  which  room 
she  was  in.  I  asked  her  when  I  first  saw  her  at  the  parlor  what  it  meant. 
I  can't  tell  her  reply.  I  had  no  conversation  with  her  that  evening. 
Until  late  yesterday  evening  I  couldn't  get  her  to  talk  with  me.  Some 
of  the  other  women  had  a  talk  with  her — she  didn't  talk  with  me  at  all 
about  it.  She  had  a  wild  look  and  wasn't  right  the  day  belore,  but  I 
didn't  think  of  it  till  then.  She  hasn't  been  right  since  I  have  been  here, 
in  fact. 

"  How  old  was  the  child  .^" 

"  He  was  going  on  seven  years  old." 

"  How  old  is  Mrs.  Harper.-"" 

"About  thirty-one  or  thirty  two." 

"  How  long  have  they  been  married.-*" 

"  Three  years  last  September." 

"  What  was  the  nature  of  the  relations  between  Mrs.  Harper  and 
the  child.?" 

"Always  pleasant  before  this." 

"Who  were  on  the  premises  when  this  happened.-*" 

"Mrs.  Harper,  little  Jimmie  and  myself  were  here  alone.  Dr.  Har- 
per had  gone  to  see  a  patient." 

"  What  time  did  Dr.  Harper  leave.-*  " 

"  He  left  about  nine  o'clock." 

"  She  told  Jimmie  to  wash  and  fix  himself  up  for  Sunday  school  and 
he  said  'I  would  just  as  lief  go  this  way." 

"What  became  of  the  knife.-*" 

"  I  took  the  open  knife  from  her  hand." 

"  What  did  you  do  with  it.-*  " 

"  I  turned  it  over  to  Dr.  Powers,  at  his  request." 

"  Whose  knife  was  it.-*" 

"  Her  knife." 

"  What  kind  of  a  knife  was  it.-*" 

"A  little  knife,  two-bladed;  small  blade  was  open;  point  broken  off;, 
also  point  broken  off  of  big  blade." 

Paul  Gumpert  testified:  "I  came  up  from  the  school  house,  and 
saw  the  boy  get  up  and  climb  over  the  fence  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
road.  Jimmie  crawled  through  the  hedge  and  got  a  piece  from  the 
hedge  in  the  corn  field  and  fell  down.  I  asked  him  what  was  the  mat- 
^ter.  He  said,  '  Ma  cut  my  throat,'  and  he  said,  *  Go  to  the  house  and 
ake  the  gun  away  from  her.'   And  I  came  to  the  house  and  go*  over  the 


230  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

fence,  and  came  to  where  Mrs.  Harper  and  Mrs.  Dejarnette  were  with 
the  gun,  and  took  hold  of  Mrs.  H.;  and  me  and  Mr.  Depew  had  a  hold 
of  her,  and  Mr.  Morg^an  and  Bud  Dobyns  the  muzzle  of  the  gun.  She 
said  she  intended  to  kill  Jimmie,  Mrs.  Dejarnette,  the  baby  and  herself 
That  was  as  soon  as  we  had  separated  her,  east  of  the  kitchen.  He  fell 
about  one  hundred  steps  from  here." 

Dr.  Powers  testified:  "A  knife  was  turned  over  to  me  by  Mrs.  Dejar- 
nette."    (Knife  exhibited.     Black  handle;  small;  blood  on  small  blade.) 

Question — -"  Doctor,  you  may  describe  the  cuts." 

"There  seemed  to  be  at  least  three  strokes  made  on  the  neck;  cut 
on  left  arm  at  the  bend  of  the  elbow;  the  cut  on  the  arm  not  dangerous." 

At  the  close  of  the  testimony  the  jury  returned  the  following  ver- 
dict: 

State  of  Missouri,      ) 
Couj^TY  of  Henry.  \  ^^' 

We,  the  jury,  having  been  duly  sworn  by  James  T.  Land,  coroner  of 
Henry  County,  Missouri,  diligently  to  inquire  and  true  presentment 
make  in  what  manner  and  by  whom  one  James  Harper,  whose  dead  body 
was  found  at  the  residence  of  Dr.  James  P.  Harper  in  the  county  of 
Henry  and  state  of  Missouri,  on  the  loth  day  of  October,  A.  D.  188 1, 
came  to  his  death,  after  having  heard  the  evidence  and  upon  full  inquiry 
concerning  the  facts,  and  a  careful  examination  of  said  body,  do  find 
that  the  deceased  came  to  his  death  about  nine  o'clock  A.  M.  on  the  lOth 
day  of  October,  1881,  at  the  residence  of  his  father,  Dr.  Harper,  Henry 
County,  Missouri.  That  his  death  resulted  from  the  infliction  of  some 
two  or  three  wounds,  one  at  least  a  mortal  wound,  in  his  neck;  that  said 
wounds  were  made  by  Mrs.  Mary  M.  Harper,  his  stepmother,  about  nine 
o'clock  A.  M.,  October  9,  1881,  in  her  attempt  to  kill  him;  that  we  also 
find  besides  the  above  wounds  one  severe  wound  on  his  left  arm  on  the 
bend  of  his  elbow,  made  a  short  time  before  the  infliction  of  the  wounds 
on  the  neck,  which  was  also  done  by  Mrs.  Harper,  all  of  said  wounds 
being  made  by  a  penknife  held  in  the  hand  of  his  stepmother.  We  fur- 
ther were  not  able  to  discover  any  provocation  tor  the  assaults  upon  the 
deceased,  he  being  only  about  seven  years  old,  and  nothing  appearing 
to  show  any  reason  for  an  assault  upon  hmi;  that  Drs.  Land  and  Powers, 
together  with  the  family  and  others,  were  present  when  he  died. 

Given  under  our  hands  at  the  residence  of  Dr.  Harper,  in  the 
county  of  Henry,  state  of  Missouri,  this  lOth  day  of  October,  A.  D.  1S81. 

JAMP:S  F.  land,  Coroner.  ' 

D.  SWATH  OUT. 

W.  F.  COVINGTON. 

J.  G.  MOORE. 

G.  P.  SELBV. 

JAMES  E.  FRAZIER. 

The  necessary  papers  were  then  drawn  up  by  Squire  Webster  for 
her  arrest  and  served  by  Constable  Cheatham. 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  '  23 1 

THE   SHOOTING   OF    EZElL. 

Burt  R.  Ezell  was  shot  and  killed  on  the  night  of  November  15,  188 1. 
From  the  Windsor  Review  is  taken  the  following  summary  and  substance 
of  the  facts  developed  in  this  sad  case: 

"  Mr.  B.  R.  Ezell  resided  with  his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Samuel 
Wherry,  near  Burnett  Station,  in  Johnson  County,  and  came  to  Windsor 
on  Tuesday  to  assist  Mr.  Wherry  in  loading  a  lot  of  hogs,  belonging  to 
him,  on  the  cars  for  shipment.  After  the  shipment,  Mr.  Ezell  remained 
in  town,  got  on  a  spree,  and  about  eleven  o'clock  at  night,  with  a  boon 
companion,  went  over  to  "Africa,"  so  called,  being  that  part  of  Windsor 
principally  occupied  by  colored  people.  He  entered  the  house  of  Mack 
Sims,  and  insulted  his  wife,  and  Mack  finding  he  could  do  nothing,  went 
over,  to  City  Marshal  Hall,  and  requested  him  to  come  over  there.  What 
transpired  there,  and  also  the  facts  of  the  shooting,  is  given  in  the  evi- 
dence at  the  examination  and  preliminary  trial.  After  being  shot,  Ezell 
was  taken  to  the  Bass  Hotel,  where  he  was  examined  by  the  physicians 
who  had  been  summoned,  and  every  care  taken  of  him.  His  sister,  Mrs. 
Wherry,  was  sent  for  and  arrived  before  his  death,  remaining  with  him 
until  he  was  relieved  of  pain  and  life.  He  remained  conscious  most  of 
the  day  following  the  night  of  the  shooting,  but  soon  after  night  became 
restless,  and  his  mind  wandering.  From  that  time  until  1:30  o''clock, 
when  he  died,  he  gradually  sank,  and  at  the  above  hour  all  that  was  mor- 
tal of  Burt  Ezell  passed  from  earth,  and  his  soul  to  the  judgment  of  Him 
who  gave  it." 

THE   EVIDENCE. 
/      ■ 

The  evidence  seemed  to  be  of  a  peculiar  kind,  but  all  pointed  to  the 
fact  that  after  Ezell  was  arrested,  he  attempted  to  escape  in  the  dark, 
was  fired  at,  mortally  wounded,  and  died  from  the  wound,  as  above  stated, 
and  yet  the  man  had  committed  no  crime  for  which,  even  if  he  escaped, 
could  have  been  more  than  alight  fine,  let  alone  paying  the  penalty  with 
his  life 

It  was  a  brutal  and  reckless  affair,  at  best,  allowing  that  no  inten- 
tion of  murder  was  in  the  heart  or  mind  of  him  who  fired  the  fatal  shot. 
And  it  may  be  mentioned  here  that  a  trial  of  one  of  the  four  persons 
who  were  supposed  to  have  done  the  work  of  death,  was  tried  at  the 
December  term,  1882,  of  the  circuit  court  at  Clinton,  and  the  jury  were 
unable  to  agree  as  to  the  guilt  of  the  defendants  and  they  were  dis- 
charged and  a  new  trial  will  be  given. 

MARSHAL   hall's   EVIDENCE. 

This  evidence  refers  more  especially  to  the  killing.  It  was  long  and 
tedious,  referring  to  the  arrest  of  Ezell  and  his  escape  from   him.     He 


232  HISTORY   OK    HENRY    COUNTY. 

said:  "I  called  for  Stone  &  Ragan  and  they  dressed  and  came  out 
on  the  sidewalk.  Cotton  came  also.  I  told  them  what  was  up  and  what 
I  wanted;  told  them  my  gun  was  empty  and  I  wanted  ammunition. 
Went  down  and  waked  up  Charlie  Lewis,  got  the  ammunition  and  loaded 
my  gun.  When  I  got  back  Eli  Dawson,  (the  person  on  trial)  John  Tay- 
lor and  Benjamin  Smith  were  standing  in  front  of  the  store.  I  then  told 
them  to  take  the  horses  to  the  stable  and  put  them  up,  and  then  we  will 
go  and  find  this  fellow.  The  horses  were  supposed  to  belong  to  Ezell 
and  another  party,  and  in  Ezell's  escape  from  Hall  had  hit  him  and  run. 
Hall's  face  was  covered  with  blood.  Those  above  told  Hall  to  go  back 
and  wash  and  they  would  attend  to  the  horses.  About  the  time  I  (Hall) 
got  through  washing  Will  Cotton  came  in  and  said  they  had  caught  him 
and  wanted  me  to  come  up  there.  As  I  was  putting  on  my  overcoat  I 
heard  firing.  Cotton  had  a  lantern  and  we  walked  rapidly  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  bank.  Firing  had  ceased  after  we  had  got  out  of  Harnsber- 
ger  &  Ragan's  store.  I  saw  lights  on  Benton  Street,  near  McGee's.  I 
don't  know  how  many  shots  were  fired,  as  many  as  three,  there  might 
have  been  more.  I  came  to  where  the  light  was  and  saw  the  body  of  a 
man  in  the  center  of  Benton  Street  and  recognized  him  as  the  one  with 
whom  I  had  a  fuss,  and  started  Cotton  for  Dr.  Shadburne." 

Cotton's  evidence  was  pretty  much  the  same  after  his  meeting  with 
Hall,  but  stating  that  the  persons  who  sent  him  for  Hall  were  in  the  dark 
outside  the  barn,  and  he  did  not  recognize  any  one. 

DAVE    M'GEE'S   evidence, 

was  in  substance  as  follows:  "Heard  some  one  talking  between  my  house 
and  Ousley's  stable.  They  came  on  to  my  corner,  and  I  heard  some  one 
run,  who  appeared  to  run  in  a  westerly  direction  from  the  sound.  Then 
I  heard  shots.  I  went  out  doors  to  where  they  assembled,  and  I  found 
there,  Eli  Dawson,  Benj.  Smith,  Charles  Ragan,  John  Taylor,  Jim  Bush 
and  others.  Marshal  Hall  came  up  just  after  I  did.  Saw  the  deceased 
lying  on  the  ground.  The  doctor  came  up  and  said  he  must  be  taken 
somewhere  to  be  better  cared  for.  Did  not  recognize  any  of  the  parties 
who  passed  my  house  before  the  shooting  commenced." 

All  the  evidence  was  of  a  similar  nature:  "  Heard  shots  fired,"  nobody 
recognized,  and  a  man  killed.  The  Review,  in  its  report,  summed  up 
editorially,  as  follows  : 

"  The  parties  who  took  the  horses  to  the  stable,  found  Ezell,  and  ar- 
rested him.  He  claimed  he  was  not  the  man  and  started  to  McGee's, 
to  prove  his  statement.  Arriving  there.  Bush  stepped  to  the  door  to 
awaken  Dave.  Just  then  the  prisoner  started  to  run,  and  the  firing 
began,  with  results  as  above  stated." 


HISTORY    OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  233 

JURY   VERDICT. 

We,  the  undersigned,  find  the  deceased  came  to  his  death  by  shoot- 
ing at  the  hands  of  unknown  parties. 

(Signed,)  J.  A.  CALFA, 

I.  W.  MITCHELL, 
JAMES  M.  DOUGLAS; 

We,  the  undersigned  cannot  concur  in  the  above  verdict. 

(Signed,)  EDMUND  BASS, 

W.  A.  BRAME, 
W.  H.  HAM. 

ARRESTED. 

On  Friday  following  state  warrants  were  issued  for  the  arrest  of  Elr 
Dawson,  J.  B.  Bush,  John  Taylor,  and  John  W.  Hall,  and  they  all  gave 
bail  in  the  sum  of  $5,000  each,  102  names  going  on  the  bonds.  On  the 
succeeding  Wednesday  they  had  a  preliminary  trial  before  Justices  Tutts 
and  Powell.  C.  C.  Armstrong,  prosecuting  attorney,  and  H.  H.  Arm- 
strong appeared  for  the  state,  and  Judge  Shirk,  of  Sedalia,  Peyton  A. 
Parks,  Clinton,  and  Allen  &  Allen,  of  Windsor,  for  the  defense.  At  the 
opening  the  state  dismissed  the  charge  as  to  J.  R.  Bush,  and  he  was 
released,  but  held  the  others  for  examination.  The  evidence  was  much 
the  same,  somewhat  more  full,  and  Dawson  got  the  worst  of  it.  The 
trial  resulted  in  the  discharge  of  Taylor  and  Hall  by  the  justices  pre- 
siding, but  Dawson  was  bound  over,  and  his  trial  came  off  as  above  men- 
tioned, December  term,  1882,  with  a  failure  to  agree  on  the  part  of  the 
jury.  The  case  was  tried  before  Judge  Gantt,  and  continued  five  days. 
The  prospect  of  conviction  in  any  future  trial  is  not  flattering. 

It  was  said  that  while  Ezell  was  lying  on  the  ground  waiting  for  the 
doctor's  arrival,  he  said  to  Taylor,  "  Tell  my  sister  that  her  brother  on 
his  dying  bed  leaves  his  property  to  her."  There  was  a  strong  feeling 
of  affection  between  the  two,  and  when  the  sister  came  the  meeting 
seemed  almost  heartrending.  From  that  he  seemed  to  understand  that 
his  wound  was  mortal.  It  was  a  sad  case,  and  it  is  not  likely  that  a  man 
arrested  for  a  misdemeanor  will  be  again  killed  if  he  seeks  to  make  a 
sudden  escape. 

They  generally  can  be  found  and  costs  and  fine  paid  at  some  future 
day,  but  neither  the  law  and  the  fine  and  cost  was  of  a  nature  to  demand 
the  life  of  the  man,  or  immediate  payment.  The  lesson  has  caused  one 
man  his  life,  let  us  hope  another  may  not  be  sacrificed.  Here  endeth  the 
record  of  crime. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

THE    COUNTY'S   SERVANTS— ELECTIONS    OF   1880  AND  1882. 


THE  COUNTY  OFFICERS,  FROM  ALPHA  TO  OMEGA-THE  YEAR  AND  THE  DAY-REPRE- 
SKNTATIVES,  STATE  SENATORS  AND  CONGRESSMEN-ELECTION  OF  1880— ELECTION 
OF  1882  — CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICTS  —  SENATORIAL  DISTRICT  MEMORANDA  — 
POLITICAL— HENRY  COUNTY  DEMOCRATIC— WHAT  DIFFERENCE  DOES  IT  MAKE- 
CIRCUIT  COURT  ITEMb— SLANDER,  DIVORCE  AND  PERJURY— THE  FIRST  GRAND 
JURY. 

COUNTY   OFFICIALS— COUNTY   JUDGES. 

1835— Thomas  Arbuckle,  presiding;  William  Goft;  Joseph  Mont- 
gomery, presided  from  September  21. 

1837 — John  F.  Sharp,  presiding;  William  Goff,  Thomas  Kimsey. 

1838 — Francis  Parazette,  in  place  of  William  Goff,   resigned. 

1841 — James  P.  Drake,  presiding;  John  F.  Sharp,  Jonathan  T. 
Berry.  • 

1842 — Christopher  C.  Bronaugh  in  place  of  James  P.  Drake,  resigned; 
Jennings  Beckvvorth  in  place  of  John  F   Sharp,  resigned. 

1843 — Christopher  C.  Bronaugh,  presiding;  Jonathan  T.  Berry,  Jen- 
nings Beckwith. 

1844 — Jonathan  Sweeney,  presiding;  Christopher  C.  Bronaugh,  John 
C.  Stone. 

1848 — Christopher  C.  Bronaugh,  presiding;  Jonathan  T.  Berry,  John 
M.  Van  Hoy. 

1850 — William  McCown,  in  place  of  John  VanHoy,  resigned. 

1852 — James  P.  Bone,  presiding  ;  James  Freeman  and  Milton  B. 
Merritt. 

1856 — Christopher  C.  Bronaugh,  in  place  of  James  P.  Bone,  deceased. 

Judge  Bone  died  September  4,  1855,  and  resolutions  of  respect  and 
condolence  were  entered  by  his  associate  justices,  of  record,  and  the 
resolutions  ordered  published  in  the  Independent,  Osceola,  and  Demo- 
crat, Warsaw. 

1856 — Daniel  Stewart,  presiding  ;  William  L.  Avery,  John  M.  Van 
Hoy. 

1858 — Daniel  Stewart,  presiding;  William  L.  Avery,  Jonathan  T. 
Berry. 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  235 

i860 — J.  G.  Dorman,  presiding;  William  L.  Avery,  Jonathan  T. 
Berry. 

1862 — J.  G.  Dorman,  presiding  ;  William  L.  Avery,  John  P.  Stone. 

1863 — A.  M.  Rhoads,  in  place  of  John  P.  Stone,  time  expired. 

1865 — J.  G.  Dorman,  presiding;  William  L.  Avery,  Henry  Devinny, 
in  place  of  A.  M.  Rhoads,  resigned;  William  Jennings  and  Joseph  Hil- 
legas,  in  place  of  Dorman  and  Avery,  time  expired. 

1866 — Henry  Devinny,  presiding  ;  William  Jennings,  Joseph  Hil- 
legas. 

1869 — William  Jennings,  presiding  ;  Joseph  Hillegas,  Jared  Steven- 
son. 

1871 — Joseph  Hillegas,  presiding;  Jared  Stevenson,  William  Mun- 
son. 

1872 — Jaren  Stevenson,  presiding  ;  William  Munson,  James  T.  Gil- 
liland. 

NEV^   ORGANIZATION   LAW. 

1873 — William  R.  Taylor,  presiding;  B.  L.  Owens,  Lewis  P.  Beatty, 
M.  A.  Stewart,  F.  M.  Gofif. 

1875 — Phillip  W.  Cecil,  in  place  of  W.  R.  Taylor,  resigned;  Metel- 
lus  Wood,  presiding,  in  place  of  F.  M.  Goff,  time  expired. 

1877 — John  Venlemans,  presiding;  M.  A.  Stewart,  Lewis  P.  Beatty, 
P.  W.  Cecil,  P^phraim  Allison.     New  organization  law  repealed. 

1877— M.  A.  Stewart,  presiding  August;  L.  P.  Beatty,  M.  B.  Merritt, 
presiding  1879. 

1881 — Ephraim  Allison,  presiding;  M.  A.  Stewart,  Lewis  P.  Beatty. 

1882 — Lewis  P.  Beatty,  presiding;  John  S.  Kelley,  James  M.  Har- 
rison. 

COMMISSIONERS   SEAT   OF  JUSTICE. 

1836,  Peyton  Parks;  1838,  John  F.  Sharp;  1844,  Jennings  Beckwith; 
1845,  Asaph  W.  Bates;  1850,  Joseph  Davis;  1854,  Daniel  Ashby;  1866,  P. 
S.  Jennings.  From  1870  to  1877  special  commissioners  appointed  as 
occasion  required.  1877,  James  Parks,  county  seat  commissioner;  1881, 
Charles  S.  Robinson;    1882,  Charles  S.  Robinson. 

SUPERINTENDENTS   PUBLIC    BUILDINGS. 

1837,  John  F.  Sharp,  Thomas  B.  Wallace.  Office  discontinued  after 
the  completion  of  the  court  house. 

PUBLIC   SQUARE   COMMISSIONERS. 

1852,  Benjamin  F.  Owens;  1854,  Lewis  H.  Tutt;  1874,  D.  T.  Terry, 
1880,  Ambrose  B.  Hopkins;   1882,  Ambrose  B.  Hopkins. 


236  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY, 

SPECIAL   CLAIM    AGENT — WIDOWS   AND   ORPITANS. 

1866,  D.  W.  Alkire.    Office  discontinued. 

SUPERVISORS   OF    REGISTRATION. 

1867,  Henry  Devinny;    1870,  Jared  Stephenson.    Office  discontinued, 

TREASURERS. 

1836,  William  Goff,  resigned;  1837,  Thomas  B.  Wallace,  resigned 
1846;  1846,  Asaph  W.  Bates,  died  September,  1849;  1849,  Asa  C.  Mar- 
vin, resigned  1852;  1852,  George  H.  Hardy;  1856,  Thomas  S.  Rogers; 
1858,  Royal  L.  Burge;  1865,  Jared  Stevenson;  1866,  I.  N.  Rogers;  1870, 
Henry  Riehl;  1872,  Ephraim  Allison;  1876,  William  F.  Carter;  1878, 
Emory  O.  Price;   1882,  Emory  O.  Price. 

SHERIFFS   AND   COLLECTORS. 

1835,  Joseph  Fields,  died;  1836,  Nathan  A.  Field,  deputy  and  acting; 
1836,  Robert  Allen;  1840,  Philip  J.  Buster,  seat  contested;  1841,  William 
R.  Owens,  contestant;  1844,  Robert  Allen;  1848,  William  R.  Taylor; 
1850,  John  M.  VanHoy;  1854,  Dewit  C.  Stone;  1858,  William  R.  Taylor; 
1862,  Jasper  N.  Coats,  resigned;  1863,  Samuel  K.  Williams;  1866,  James 
M.  Miller;   1868,  Henry  T.  Dodson;   1870,  John  Curtis. 

SHERIFFS,  ONLY. 

1872,  D.  T.  Terry;  1876,  W.  B.  Calvird;  1880,  Ambrose  B.  Hopkins; 
1882,  Ambrose  B.  Hopkins. 

CLERKS   AND    RECORDERS. 

1835,  Jonathan  T.  Berry,  resigned  ;  1836,  Fielding  A.  Pinnell;  1853, 
Lewis  H.  Tutt;  1859,  Benjamin  L.  Quarles;  1862,  William  Parks,  resigned 
September  12,  1863;  1863,  James  Parks,  resigned  April  1865;  1865,  John 
M.  Dunn,  resigned  July,  1865;  1865,  John  L.  Barlow. 

CLERKS   ONLY. 

1870,  Charles  H.  Synder;  1874,  Benjamin  L.  Quarles;  1878,  Joseph 
A.  Doyle;  1882,  Benjamin  L.  Quarles. 

ASSESSORS. 

1835,  George  B.  Woodson,  appointed;  1836,  Peyton  Parks;  1837, 
William    McMillan;   1838,   George  W.  Martin;    1840,  James  W.  Fields; 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  237 

1841,  Edward  Seaton;  1845,  Nathan  A.  Fields;  1846,  William  Cecil;  1854, 

A.  H.  Clark,  elected  and  removed;   1855,  Daniel   Ashby,  appointed  and 
resigned;  1856,  William  L.  Avery,   appointed  ;   1856,  William  R.  Taylor 
elected.  The  new  assessment  law  was  passed  by  the  legislature  this  year 
1858,  District   No.   i,  William  R.  Taylor;   District  No.  2,  James  Parks 
District  No.  3,  William   M.  Beaman;   District  No  4,   Moses  W.  Sevier 
District  No.  5,  Vincent  N.  Jones;  1859,  District  No.  i,  William  T.  Legg 
District  No.  2,  James  Parks;  District  No.  3,  William  M.  Beaman;  Dis- 
trict No.  4,  James  B.  Mclntyre  ;  District  No.  5,  Vincent  N.  Jones.     Law 
repealed,   i860,  James  Parks,  appointed, Hiram  C.  Russell,  elected  August; 

1862,  Jeremiah  L.  Cross,  removed,  failed  to  return  his  book  in  time;  1864, 
John  R.  Turner;  1865,  James  M.  Miller;  1867,  John  A.  Wells;  1869,  Henry 

B.  Hecker;  1871,  James  R.  Conner;  1877,  Peter  D.  Lane;  1878,  A.  B.  Hop- 
kins; 1880,  John  H.  Royston;  1882,  John  H.  Royston. 

COLLECTORS. 

1878,  William  F.  Carter;  1880,  Frank  S.  Ware;  1882,  Frank  S.  Ware. 

RECORDERS. 

1870,  W.  D.  Tyler;  1874,  George  W.  Armstrong;  1882,  William  H. 
Allison. 

INSPECTOR   OF   MINES. 

1881-2,  Richard  Bowen. 

COMMON  PLEAS  COURT. 

1869,  R.  C.  McBeth;  1871,  William  L.  Avery,  to  July  ist,  1873  — 
merged  into  the  probate  court. 

PROBATE   COURT. 

1873,  William  L.  Avery,  died  September,  1875;  1876,  F.  E.  Savage; 
1878,  James  Parks;   1882,  James  Parks. 

PUBLIC   ADMINISTRATORS. 

1847,  Robert  Allen;  1849,  Asa  C.  Marvin;  1853,  John  M.  VanHoy, 
declined;  Robert  M.  Hardwick;  1856,  Joshua  Sweeny;  1858,  Alexis 
Walmsly;  i860,  F.  E.  Savage,  resigned  1862;  1862,  James  Parks,  declined; 

1863,  William  H.  Peer;  1864,  William  A.  Gray;  1865,  A.  M.  Rhoads; 
1868,  William  P.  Baker;  1872,  George  W.  Hopkins;  1875,  John  C.  Rivers; 
1880,  Benjamin  F.  Milton;   1882,  Thomas  A.  Cheaney. 


238  HISTORY    OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 

SCHOOL  SUPERINTENDENTS. 

1853,  George  W.  Miner,  resigned  July,  1858;  1858,  John  W.  Will- 
iams; 1866,  William  E.  Brinkerhoff;  1867,  Matthew  Zener;  1870,  James  E. 
Flagg;  1875,  Thomas  J.  Claggett;  1877,  J.  N.  Cook,  died;  1878,  Max 
McCann,  unexpired  term;  1879,  Peyton  A.  Parks;  1881,  William  H. 
Smith;  1882,  William  H.  Smith. 

SURVEYORS. 

1835,  Joseph  Montgomery;  1843,  Ebenezer  Gilkerson;  1844,  Thomas 
Britton,  resigned;  1845,  John  W  Williams;  1846,  John  W.  Wallace;  1854, 
Daniel  Ashby;  1857,  John  W.  Williams;  i85i,  Samuel  K.  Williams, 
resigned  and  reelected;  1869,  William  E.  Brinkerhoff;  1872,  Bird  D. 
Parks;  1880,  Henry  C.  Allen;  1882,  Henry  C.  Allen. 

ROAD  COMMISSIONERS. 

1865,  George  W.  Squires;  1867,  William  Crosier;  1869,  William  Mun- 
son,  resigned;  1870,  W.  D.  Tyler,  resigned;  1871,  H.  H.  Linnville;  1877, 
Bird  D.  Parks,  ex-officio  being  consolidated  with  the  office  of  Surveyor; 
1880,  Henry  C.  Allen;  1882,  Henry  C.  Allen. 

CORONER. 

1844,  George  J.  Allen;  1847,  George  Brummet;  1856,  Peter  F.  Gen- 
eway;  i860,  John  A.  Bushnell;  1864,  William  Moore;  1868,  Samuel 
Jones;  1870,  J.  W.  Stoker;  1872,  C.  C.  Williams;  1874,  William  A.  David- 
son; 1876,  Robert  Trevey;  1878,  James  P.  Dimmitt;  1880,  Dr.  B.  H. 
Land;   1882,  Bart  B.  Green. 

SUPERINTENDENT    OF   POOR. 

1868,  Samuel  Jones,  resigned;  1871,  Robert  Allen;  1874,  Dr.  John 
W.  Stewart;  1877,  Dr.  A.  N.  Kincanon;  1879,  Dr.  James  P.  Dimmitt; 
1880,  Dr.  B.  H.  Land,  resigned;  1882,  James  F.  Land. 

MANAGERS   POOR   FARM. 

1871,  D.  A.  Henry;  1874,  Richard  Woodson;  1879,  Daniel  E.  A.  Price; 
1880,  Eli  Wade;   1882,  Eli  Wade. 

COUNTY   ATTORNEYS. 

1843,  Lycurgus  Alney;  1846,  A.  M.  Tutt;  1854,  Royal  L.  Burge; 
1858,  Royal  L.  Burge  and  Dewitt  C.  Stone,  special;  1859,  Royal  L.  Burge; 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY.  239 

1861,  Alexis  Wamsly;   1863,  Royal  L.  Burge  and  A.  C.  Avery,  special- 
1865,  Royal  L.  Burge;  1866,  W.  H.  H.  Waggoner;  1867,  Royal  L.  Burge, 
died  October  19.  1868;   1869,   William  N.  Pickerell;   1872,  W.  W.  Gate- 
wood;   1875,  Charles  B.  Wilson;   1877,  C.  C.  Dickinson;   1882,  Robert  E 
Lewis, 

COUNTY  RAILROAD  AGENTS. 

1866,  Royal  L.  Burge,  died;  1869,  William  H.  McLane,  resigned ^ 
1870,  Dewitt  C.  Stone;  1874,  William  R.  Taylor.  Then  the  court 
appointed  different  agents  and  attorneys  from  time  to  time  to  vote 
stock,  and  to  defend  the  county  against  suits,  etc.,  as  occasion  required. 
1880,  James  B.  Gantt;   1882,  William  H.  Cock. 

CIRCUIT   CLERKS. 

i856,  William  Weaver;  1871,  John  A.  Driggs;  1875,  William  C. 
Edmonston;  1878,  Charles  S.  Robinson,  resigned;  1879,  Benjamin  L. 
Ouarles;   1882,  RoUin  B.  McConnell. 

REPRESENTATIVES. 

1836,  George  B.  Woodson,  three  terms;  1842,  Samuel  Land;  1844,. 
Peyton  Parks;  1846,  A.  C.  Marvin;  1848,  Dr.  John  W.  Fitzhugh;  1850, 
William  Steele;  1852,  A.  C.  Marvin;  1854,  John  W.  Williams;  1856,. 
Robert  Allen;  1858,  Dewit  C.  Stone;  i860,  James  A.  Tutt;  1862,  Levi 
C.  Marvin,  speaker;  1864,  William  Weaver,  ineligible;  1864,  Augustus 
Dana;  1866,  William  Schafer;  186S.  William  H.  McLane;  1870,  George 
W.  Squires;  1872,  Jerubal  G  Dorman;  1S74,  Banton  G.  Boone,  speaker; 
1876,  William  T.  Thornton;  1878,  William  H.  Cock;  1880,  George  H. 
Shelton;   1882,  Dr.  W.  L.  Shankland. 

STATE   SENATORS. 

1836,  Joseph  Montgomery,  Henry  County;  1840,  James  Young,  Lafa- 
yette County;  1842,  Benjamin  F.  Massey;  1846,  James  M.  Gatewood, 
Henry  County;  1850,  B.  W.  Grover,  Johnson  County;  1854,  M.  C.  Good- 
lette,  Henry  County;  1858,  A.  C.  Marvin,  Henry  County;  1862,  W.  S. 
Holland,  Henry  County  (change  in  district);  1868,  W.  H.  Blodgette,. 
Johnson  County;  1872,  Joshua  LaDue,  Henry  County;  1876,  J.  B.  New- 
berry, two  years.  Bates  County  (the  new  constitution  changed  district); 
1878,  J.  N.  Bradley,  Bates  County;  1882,  Dr.  John  H.  Britts,  Henry  County. 

CIRCUIT  JUDGES. 

1835,  Charles  H.  Allen,  Fifth  Judicial  District;  1837,  John  F.  Ryland^ 
Sixth  Judicial  District;  1845,  Foster  P.  Wright-  185  i,  Waldo  P.  Johnson; 


24©  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

1854,  DeWitt  C.  Ballou;  1859,  Foster  P.  Wright;  1862,  Burr  H.  Emerson, 
Seventh  Judicial  District;  1868.  David  McGaughey;  1873,  Foster  P. 
Wright;  1880,  James  R.  Gantt,  present  judge. 

Cn^CUIT    ATTORNEYS. 

1835,  William  B.  Almond;  1840,  Henderson  Young;  1844,  Robert  G. 
Smart;  1850,  Waldo  P.  Johnson;  1S56,  Thomas  W.  Freeman;  1862,  S.  S. 
Burdette;    1868,  James  Masters.     Office  discontinued. 

.     ELECTION   OF    1880. 

The  presidential  election  of  1880,  was  one  which  from  its  excite- 
ments and  questions  at  issue,  brought  out  a  full  vote.  It  is  here  given 
that  it  may  be  contrasted  with  the  vote  of  1884,  when  that  vote  shall  be 
counted.  The  election  of  1880  failed  to  bring  out  a  full  vote,  and  the 
progress  of  the  county  as  to  party  increase,  and  of  the  voting  population, 
will  be  better  obtained  by  comparing  with  the  presidential  vote  two 
years  hence.     The  national  and  state  tickets  for  1880  stood  as  follows: 

HENRY    COUNTY. 

Hancock  over  Garfield,  plurality 1 127 

Majority 821 

Crittenden  over  Dyer,  plurality 1 134 

Majority 809 

The  majorities  for  the  remainder  of  the  state  ticket  did  not  vary 
but  a  few  votes  from  that  for  governor.  The  Greenback  ticket  polled 
from  306  to  330  votes  on  the  state  ticket,  and  ran  as  high  as  352  down  to 
307  on  the  local  or  county  ticket. 

In  1880,  the  state  had  thirteen  congressional  districts,  but  the  cen- 
sus of  that  year  gave  to  Missouri  according  to  the  apportionment,  one 
more  congressman,  or  fourteen.  The  state  was  then  redistricted,  and 
Henry  County  was  placed  in  what  is  now  called  the  Twelfth  Congress- 
ional District.  The  old  Sixth  was  composed  of  fourteen  counties,  while  1 
the  new  Twelfth  has  but  eight.  Seven  of  the  eight  were  in  the  old  Sixth, 
and  the  one  now  added  to  the  seven  to  make  the  Twelfth  District  is 
Cass  County. 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 
FOR  CONGRESS— SIXTH   DISTRICT. 


241 


COUNTIES. 


Greene  .    . 
Barry    .    .    . 
McDonald    . 
Newton  .    . 
Jasper  .    .    . 
Barton  .    .    . 
Vernon  .    . 
St.  Clair  .    . 
Bates    .    .    . 
Cedar  .    .    . 
Dade  .    .    . 
Lawrence  . 
Henry       .    . 
Webster   .    . 

Total  .  . 
Plurality  .  . 
Per  cent.  ,  . 
Scattering  . 

Total  vote 


1 

•6 

pi 

U3  ^ 

13  a 

la 

u 

„  0 

—  0 

c 

0 

0  i» 

S-5 

•— > 

^0 

^Q 
^ 

2143 

2299 

1456 

1434 

I  166 

1 103 

1077 

771 

670 

649 

636 

105 

1574 

1730 

1200 

660 

2575 

38'3 

2285 

2096 

940 

1205 

580 

341 

2329 

1297 

1579 

494 

1009 

1686 

696 

628 

2997 

1987 

231 1 

919 

909 

1133 

783 

767 

926 

1348 

767 

^055 

1473 

1685 

1281 

1 192 

2908 

1808 

2146 

678 

106  I 

1044 

972 

482 

22680 

22787 

17769 

11622 

107 

6147 

4982 

50.05 

4398 

28.76 

54 

3 

45521 

40398 

BO 

5 


1922 
304 
499 

1210 

1722 
744 
551 

1061 

673 
328 
306 
459 

668 
567 


1 1 004 

27.22 


For  circuit  judge,  the  majority  for  James  B.  Gantt  over  William 
Page  was  898. 

THE   COUNTY  TICKET. 

The  vote  of  the  county  ticket  is  given  in  full  as  it  will  make  it  val- 
uable for  reference: 
Representatives — 

George  J.  Shelton,  Democrat 2772 

James  C.  Carpenter,  Republican 1647 

D.  E.  Browning,  Greenback 352 

Circuit  Clerk — 

Benjamin  L.  Quarles,  D 2826 

Henry  B.  Hecker,  R 1680 

Jerome  B.  McCoy,  G 307 

Prosecuting  Attorney — 

Clement  C.  Dickinson 2726 

George  W.  Dunn 1974 

Collector — 

Frank  S.  Ware 2833 

James  M.  Cameron. 1655 

Henry  Walbert 317 

County  Treasurer — 

Emory.  O.  Price 2840 

Henry  S.  Marvin 1674 

Reuben  Morgan 309 

16 


242  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

Sheriff- 
Ambrose  B.  Hopkins 2837 

John  N.  Barlow 1704 

M.  M.  Robarb 275 

Surveyor — 

Henry  C.  Allen 2847 

Samuel  K.  Williams 1741 

Assessor — 

John  H.  Royston 2833 

William  A.  Walker 1652 

Ellis  Smith 315 

Public  Administrator — 

Benjamin  F.  Milton -. 2832 

H.  J.  Dooley 1673 

Thomas  H.  Banta 313 

Coroner — 

James  F.  Land 2822 

W.  C.  Bromfield 1682 

Henry  Settles 308 

Presiding  Justice — 

Ephriam  Allison 2713 

Thomas  Day 2008 

County  Judge  First  District — 

Lewis  P.  Beatty, 1.329 

George  Cock 764 

H.  C.  Mullins lOi 

County  Judge,  Second  District — 

Mark  A.  Stewart 1,450 

John  C.  Bram 944 

Harry  P.  Brown 202 

Township  Organization — 

For 1 ,682 

Against 2,468 

Restraining  Swine  at  Large — 

For   1,190 

Against 3,082 

The  list  of  justices  of  the  peace  and  constables  for  the  several  town- 
ships can  be  found  entered  on  pages  299  and  300  of  county  records, 
book  L 

In  the  above  vote  the  names  are  given  in  the  order  of  Democrats, 
Republicans  and  Greenbackers,  the  highest  being  the  Democratic  vote 
and  the  lowest  the  Greenback. 

1882. 

The  election  of  1882  was  another  Democratic  victory  in  state,  con- 
gressional, state  senatorial  and  county.  The  state  ticket  had  a  majority 
of  about  70,000,  rather  over  than  under,  and  there  was  a  general  Demo- 
cratic gain  in  almost  every  county  in  the  state  on  the  local  tickets.  The 
general  election  throughout  the  United  States  was  such  heavy  gains 
that  it  is  known  as  the  Democratic  C3'clone  of  1882. 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  243 

The  vote  is  as  follows: 
Tudee  Supreme  Court —  „  ^ 

^      "Sherwood ^98.620 

Wagner ^^^'239 

•u-  ^2,407 

Kice J  <^  / 

Sherwood's  plurality  over  Wagner 70,381 

Sherwood's  plurality  over  all 37-974 

Superintendent  Public  Schools— 

Coleman 202.855 

Hill ^24.759 

Booth 32,264 

Coleman's  plurality  over  Hill 78.096 

Coleman's  plurality  over  all 45-832 

Railroad  Commissioner — 

James  H.  Harding 202,137 

Robert  H.   Hunt ^^^'^"^^ 

Matthew  H.  Ritchey •   32.576 

Harding's  majority 44-170 

Vote  on  Constitutional  Amendment— 

For  amendment 4-^6 

Against  amendment 142,742 

Majority  against  amendment 58,601 

The  following  is  the  vote  for  congressmen: 

First  District — 

William  H.  Hatch '^'243 

John  M.  Glover • 'I'W 

F.  A.  Leavitt •      ^^7 

Hatch's  majority 4, 169 

Second  District — 

A.  M.  Alexander 19-033 

William  Quayle 5-302 

D.  B.  Dorsey •   ^'^^S 

Alexander's  majority 5-103 

Third  District — 

A.  M.  Dockery ^7-201 

James  H.  Thomas 12.887 

Joseph  H.  Burrows •    2-405 

Dockery's  majority 1,889 

Fourth  District — 

J.  N.  Burnes ^3-325 

Nat  Sisson 2,185 


244  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

Fourth  District — 

M.  A.  Reed 10,571 

Burnes'  majority ,. 5^9 

Fifth  District- 
Alexander  Graves 12,695 

John  T.  Crisp 8,672 

John  McCabe 243 

Graves'  majority 3.780 

Sixth  District — 

John  Cos^jrove I7,i49 

William  C.  Aldridge 1 1.349 

Cosgrove's  majority 5, 800 

Seventh  District — 

A.  H.  Buckner I4.370 

T.  J.  McNair 1,786 

Charles  Dandt 9.857 

Buckner's  majority 2,727 

Eighth  District — 

O'Neill 7,240 

Sessinghaus 5.514 

Daley 1,291 

•     Sullivan ; 1,039 

Ninth  District— 

Broadhead 6,860 

McLean   6,758 

Hill 463 

Tenth  District— 

Clardy 13,536 

Manistre 7.4S5 

Jackson 2,667 

Ford  Smith 49 

Eleventh  District — 

R.  P.  Bland 14,259 

W.  J.  Wallace ! 10,530 

John  H.  Quinn 1,187 

Bland's  majority 2,542 

Twelfth  District- 
Charles  H.  Morgan 14.768 

William  J.  Terrell 9,1 1 1 

Gage  S.  Spring 3,550 

Morgan's  majority 2,107 

Thirteenth  District — 

Robert  W.  Fyan 13.904 

William  W.  Cloud 12,424 


HISTORY  OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  245 

Thirteenth  District — 

J.  S.  Hazeltine 6,122 


Fyan's  majority 1,480 

Fourteenth  District — 

Lowndes  H.  Davis 14,023 

Solomon  G.  Kitchen 2,920 

A.  B.  Carroll 7,^77 


Davis'  majority 3.926 

The  average  majority  for  the  Democratic  congressional  ticket  out- 
side of  the  St.  Louis  districts — eighth,  ninth  and  tenth — was  3,100. 
The  vote  for  congress  in  this  district  is  given  by  counties: 

Cass  County — 

C.  H.  Morgan 2,338 

W.  J.  Terrell i,39i 

S.  G.  Spring 4.39 


Total  vote  polled 4. 1 58 

Bates  County —  , 

C.  H.  Morgan \ 3,002 

W.  J.  Terrell 1,895 

S.  G.  Spring 454 


Total  vote  polled 5-35  ^ 

Henry  County — 

D.  H.  Morgan : 2,570 

W.  J.  Terrell 1,400 

S.  G.  Spring 98 

Total  vote  polled 4,068 

St.  Clair  County — 

C.  H.  Morgan 987 

W.  J.  Terrell 746 

S.  G.  Spring 849 

Total  vote  polled 2,582 

Vernon  County — 

C.  H.  Morgan 2,43 1 

W.  J.  Terrell 997 

S.  G.  Spring 261 

Total  vote  polled 3-789 

Cedar  County — 

C.  H.  Morgan i  ,243 

W.J.Terrell 994 

S.  G.  Spring 217 

Total  vote  polled 2,554 


246  HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 

Barton  County — 

C.  H.  Morgan 1,304 

W.  J.  Terrell y-jy 

S.  G.  Spring 10 


Total  vote  polled 2,091 

Dade  County — 

C.  H.  Morgan 983 

W.  J.  Terrell 827 

S.  G.  Spring .• 387 


Total  vote  polled 2, 197 

Total  for  Morgan 14,848 

Total  for  Terrell ."■ 9,027 

Total  for  Spring 2,715 

Morgan's  total  majority  over  Terrell 5,821 

Morgan  over  Spring 12,133 

Morgan's  plurality ....    3, 106 

There  was  some  falling  off  in  the  vote  of  this  county  as  compared 
with  the  vote  of  1880.  Taking  th^  electoral  vote  of  that  year  and 
the  vote  for  congressmen  this  year  we  have: 

Hancock 2,821     Morgan 2,570 

Garfield 1,694     Terrell 1,400 

Weaver 306     Spring 98 


Total 4,821  Total 4,068 

A  difference  of  753  votes  in  favor  of  1880. 

The   counties  composing   the   state  senatorial   district,    are,   Cass, 
Bates  and  Henry,  and  below  is  the  vote  : 

THE    SENATORIAL   VOTE — CASS   COUNTY. 

John  H.  Britts 2,365 

H.  J.  Dooley i  ,440 

BATES  COUNTY. 

J.  H.  Britts 3,006 

H.J.  Dooley i  ,970 

HENRY   COUNTY. 

J.  H.  Britts 2,580 

H.  J.  Dooley 1,412 

Total  vote  polled 12,773 

Britts'  total  vote 7,95 1 

Dooley's  total  vote 4,822 


Britt's  majority 3.129 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  24/ 

In  1880,  the  Greenbackers  put  out  both  a  senatorial  and  a  county 
ticket,  but  for  the  election  of  1882,  the  party  leaders  decided  to  waive  it 
in  counties  where  the  vote  was  light.  In  this  senatorial  district  and 
county,  no  Greenback  ticket  was  put  forth,  they  giving  their  attention 
to  the  state  and  for  congress.  The  local  vote  of  Henry  County  is  given 
in  detail,  so  that  the  political  complexion  and  the  number  of  votes  of 
each  township  can  be  seen. 

OFFICIAL  VOTE  OF  HENRY  COUNTY  FOR  1 882. 

Name  of  Candidates.  Vote.    Maj. 

Supreme  judge — 

Thomas  A.  Sherwood,  D 2572     1130 

David  Wagner,  R 1442 

Superintendent  Public  Schools — 

.   W.  E.  Coleman,  D 2596     1173 

Osmer  C.  Hill,  R 1423 

Railroad  Commissioner — 

Tames  Harding,  D 2596     1 167 

Robert  H.  Hunt,  R 1429 

Constitutional  Amendment,  Yes 912 

Constitutional  Amendment,  No 1849       937 

Congress,  12th  District — 

Charles  H.  Morgan,  D 2570     1072 

William  J.  Terrell,  R 1403 

G.  S.  Spring,  G ....     98 

State  Senate — 

John  H.  Britts,  D 2580     1 168 

H.  J.  Dooley,  R 1412 

Representative — 

W.  L.  Shankland,  D 2539     1063 

Daniel  A.  Brooks,  R 1476 

Probate  Judge — 

James  Parks,  D 2621      1205 

George  W.  Dunn,  R 1416 

Circuit  Clerk — 

RoUen  B.  McConnell,  D 2643     1244 

William  A.  Walker,  R. 1399 

County  Clerk — 

Benjamin  L.  Quarles,  D 2450       901 

John  A.  Driggs,  R 1395 

James  W.  Victor,  1 154 

County  Collector — 

Ffank  S.  Ware,  D , 2626     1206 

Charles  Littlepage,  R 1420 

County  Treasurer — 

Emory  O.  Price,  D 2652     1257 

William  Shafer,  R 1395 

Sheriff- 
Ambrose  B.  Hopkins,  D 2676     13 14 

James  M.  Horner,  R 1362 


248  HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 

Prosecuting  Attorney — 

Robert  E.  Lewis,  D 2526     1044 

Alvin  Haynie,  R 1482 

Recorder — 

William  H.  Allison,  D 2556     1 105 

Nathan  Ellington,  R 145 1 

Assessor — 

John  H.  Royston,  D 2624     1 190 

David  Erwin,  R 1434 

Presiding  Judge  County  Court — 

Lewis  P.  Beaty,  D 2566     1 126 

Garrett  W.  Freeman,  R 1440 

Associate  County  Judge  No.  I — 

John  S.  Kelley,  D 1 109       423 

Thomas  Day,  R 686 

Associate  County  Judge  No.  2 — 

James  M.  Harrison,  D 1395       588 

James  Armstrong,  R 807 

Public  Administrator — 

Thomas  A.  Cheaney,  D 2591      1132 

Henry  B.  Hecker,  R 1459 

Coroner — 

Bart  B.  Green,  D   2574     1 1 18 

William  C.  Brumfield,  R 1456 

For  restraining  swine  from  running  at  large 1741 

Against  restraining  swine  from  running  at  large 1907       166 

STATE   SENATORS. 

The  senatorial  district,  of  which  Henry  County  has  composed  a 
part,  since  its  organization,  has  been  changed  a  number  of  times,  and 
Henry  County  has  no  cause  for  complaint,  so  far  as  receiving  her  share 
of  the  senatorial  honors  of  the  district  of  which  she  has  composed  a  part. 
The  early  senatorial  districts  were  composed  of  many  counties,  covering 
a  large  territory,  but  these  are  not  of  much  moment  to  the  reader.  The 
Fifteenth  Senatorial  District  formed  in  1872,  from  the  census  of  1870, 
gave  to  that  district  the  counties  of  Johnson,  Henry,  St.  Clair  and  Ben- 
ton. Under  the  last  apportionment,  this  county  was  placed  in  the  Four- 
teenth Senatorial  District,  composed  of  the  counties  af  Cass,  Bates,  and 
Henry,  and  was  so  organized  in  1882, 

The  first  election  held  for  general  purposes  in  Rives  County  (now 
Henry)  was  in  1836,  and  Joseph  Montgomery,  then  county  judge,  and 
one  of  the  three  who  composed  the  first  county  court  of  Rives  County, 
was  elected  to  the  office  of  state  senator.  Henry  County  was  not  again 
allowed  a  candidate  until  1858,  when  the  Hon.  M.  C.  Goodlet  was  elected. 
In  1872,  Henry  County  again  received  the  honors,  and  Joshua  Laden 
was  elected.  At  the  last  election,  and  in  the  new  Fourteenth  District, 
Dr.  John  H,  Britts,  a  prominent  physician  and  citizen  of  Clinton,  was 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  249 

elected,  and  Henry  County  was  again  honored  the  first  of  the  trio  com- 
posing the  counties  of  the  district  under  the  late  apportionment. 

CONGRESSMEN, 

The  full  list  of  congressmen  of  the  state  up  to  i88acan  be  found  in 
the  history  of  the  state  in  foregoing  pages,  but  those  who  have  repre- 
sented Henry  County,  as  a  part  of  a  congressional  district,  is  here  given 
that  the  citizens  of  the  county  may  know  their  own  immediate  represent- 
atives. The  first  members  of  congress  were  from'  the  state  at  large  and  not 
by  districts,  the  district  organization  being  arranged  in  1846,  and  that  was 
the  first  year  that  an  election  for  congressmen  took  place  by  districts.  This 
county  formed  a  part  of  the  Fifth  Congressional  district,  and  five  was  the 
number  of  congressmen  to  which  this  state  was  entitled  until  after  the 
census  of  1850.  Missouri  gained  two  members  by  that  census,  but  this 
district,  or  rather  the  Fifth  District,  still  included  Henry  County.  In 
i860,  the  census  gave  the  state  nine  congressmen,  this  county  still 
remaining  as  a  municipal  part  of  the  Fifth  District. 

Notwitstanding  the  evil  effects  of  the  civil  war  and  other  causes,, 
the  natural  advantages  which  were  so  prominently  seen  by  every  traveler 
or  prospector  who  visited  the  state,  that  her  increase  became  rapid  and 
continuous,  and  in  the  census  of  1870  it  was  shown  that  few  states  in  the 
Union  had  exceeded  her  in  solid  growth  and  material  prosperity.  This 
census  gave  Missouri  thirteen  congressmen^  and  under  the  new  apportion- 
ment Henry  County  was  placed  in  the  Seventh  District  and  its  first  con- 
gressman was  the  Hon.  Thomas  T.  Crittenden,  now  the  honored  and 
able  governor  of  the  state. 

Henry  County  remained  attached  to  the  Seventh  District  until  after 
the  adoption  of  the  new  constitution  of  1875,  when,  at  the  session  of  the 
general  assembly  in  the  winter  of  1876-7,.  a  new  apportionment  was 
made  and  Henry  was  placed  in  the  Sixth  Congressional  District,  where 
it  remained  until  the  census  of  1880,  which  added  one  more  congress- 
man, and  Henry  County  was  placed  in  the  Twelfth  Congressional  Dis- 
trict. 

SEVENTH    DISTRICT, 

The  Seventh  District  was  composed  of  the  following  counties:  John- 
son, Cooper,  Dallas,  Henry,  Moniteau,  Benton,  St.  Clair,  Camden,  Mor- 
gan, Hickory,  Cole,  Miller  and  Pettis — thirteen. 

SIXTH    DISTRICT. 

The  following  counties  were  apportioned  to  this  district:  Greener 
Vernon,  Dade,  Barry,  Bates,  Lawrence,  McDonald,  St.  Clair,  Henry,  New- 
ton, Cedar,  Webster,  Jasper  and  Barton — fourteen. 


2  50  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

TWELFTH    DISTRICT. 

This  is  the  present  congressional  district,  which  it  will  probably 
remain  until  after  the  census  of  1890,  and  is  composed  of  the  eight  fol- 
lowing named  counties:  Cass,  Bates,  Henry,  St.  Clair,  Vernon,  Barton, 
Dade  and  Cedar. 

MEMBERS. 

Those  who  have  been  the  immediate  representatives  of  Henry 
County  since  the  state  was  divided  into  districts,  are:  1844-6,  John  S. 
Phelps;  1848.  John  S.  Phelps;  1850,  John  S.  Phelps;  1852,  John  S. 
Phelps;  1854,  John  G.  Miller,  died;  1855,  Thomas  P.  Akers,  unexpired 
term;  1856,  James  H.  Woodson;  1858,  James  H.  Woodson;  i860,  John 
W.  Reid,  expelled;  1862,  John  W.  McClurg;  1864,  John  W.  McCl'urg; 
1866,  John  W.  McClurg,  resigned,  1867,  John  H  Stover,  unexpired  term; 
1868,  Samuel  S.  Burdette;  1870,  Samuel  S.  Burdette;  1872,  Thomas  T. 
Crittenden;  1874,  John  F.  Phillips;  1876,  Thomas  T.Crittenden;  1878, 
James  R.  Waddill;   1880,  Ira  R.  Hazeltine;   1882,  Charles  H.  Morgan,  v 

MEMORANDA. 

The  "  Drake  constitution,"  so  called,  was  adopted  by  a  majority  of 
29,000. 

Eighty  thousand  voters  were,  by  it,  disfranchised  in  Missouri. 

The  president  of  the  convention  was  Arnold  Kreckel,  now  on  the 
supreme  bench.  Charles  D.  Drake  was  vice  president,  and  afterward 
left  the  state. 

Willis  S.  Holland  was  the  delegate  from  Henry  County,  and  he 
voted  for  the  Drake  disfranchisement. 

The  convention  of  1875  was  presided  over  by  Hon.  Waldo  P.  John- 
son and  Nathaniel  W.  Watkins;  a  connection  of  Henry  Clay  was  vice- 
president.  E.  A.  Nickerson  was  the  delegate  to  Henry  County  to  the 
•convention  and  favored,  by  his  vote,  the  new  constitution.  The  vote  of 
Henry  County  for  governor  in  1870  was,  for 

B.  Gratz  Brown ....  1064 

J.  W.  McClurg 921 

Brown's  majority 143 

S.  S.  Burdette  carried  this  county  by  a  majority  of  165,  and  his  plur- 
ality in  the  district  was  1707. 

POLITICAL. 

Henry  County,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  above  vote,  was,  at  the  last 
■election,  not  far  from  an  average  majority  of  twelve  hundred,  and  in 
1880  it  was  about  nine  hundred  votes. 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY.  25 1 

Henry  County  has  always  been  Democratic  except  during  and  just 
after  the  civil  war.  She  was  named  after  Rives,  of  Virginia,  because  of 
his  Democracy,  and  promptly  repudiated  him  and  his  name  when  he 
became  a  follower  of  the  illustrious  "  Harry  of  the  west,"  Henry  Clay, 
of  Kentucky.  It  will  make  but  little  difference  which  of  the  leading 
parties  she  upholds,  if  her  people  will  solidly  unite  to  advance  her  mater- 
ial prosperity,  add  to  her  educational  facilities,  and  follow  in  the  paths 
of  true  virtue  and  honor  in  all  things. 

CIRCUIT   COURT   ITEMS. 

To  show  how  in  early  days  crime  was  punished,  a  case  of  perjury  is 
taken.  The  person  was  convicted  of  perjury  in  1833  in  the  Lafayette 
Circuit  Court,  and  had  the  following  sentence  passed  upon  him:  A  fine 
of  one  cent;  be  confined  in  jail  one  minute;  to  stand  in  the  pillory  one 
minute;  be  deprived  of  his  vote,  of  being  a  witness  or  juror,  or  of  ever 
holding  any  office  within  the  state.  The  first  three  items  of  punishment 
were  imposed  at  once.  This  man  afterward  became  an  honorable  citi- 
zen of  Henry  County  for  years,  and  was  relieved  of  his  disabilities,  the 
three  last,  by  a  pardon  of  Governor  Lilburn  W.  Boggs  a  few  years  after- 
ward with  proof  of  his  honorable  conduct. 

The  first  divorce  suit  was  entered  July,  1838;  Edward  Roberts  was 
the  plaintiff  and  Nancy  Roberts,  defendant.  The  divorce  was  granted, 
the  wife  receiving  $50  alimony. 

The  first  suit  for  slander  was  entered  by  Thomas  Windsor  against 
Elijah  Pucket  in  1838.     Damages  not  serious. 

FIRST   GRAND   JURY. 

The  first  grand  jury  was  drawn  in  1835,  and  they  met  in  August  of 
that  year.  Joseph  Fields  was  sheriff,  Fielding  A.  Pinnell  clerk,  Charles 
H.  Allen  was  presiding  judge.  What  indictments  they  returned,  if  any, 
is  not  known,  the  records  of  the  circuit  court  of  Henry  County  for  the 
first  three  years,  from  August,  1835,  to  March,  1838,  being  lost  and  prob- 
ably destroyed.  How  and  by  whom  this  loss  was  occasioned  is  not 
known,  but  the  loss  is  unfortunate. 

The  names  are  Archibald  C.  Legg,  John  Wilson,  Pleasant  Walker, 
George  W.  Walker,  Robert  Allen,  Chesley  Jones  and  Phillip  Cecil.  The 
rest  of  the  names  composing  this  grand  jury  have  been  lost  to  the  mem- 
ory of  the  oldest  settlers. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

POPULATION,  DEVASTATION  AND  EXULTATION. 

POPULATION  OF  HENRY  COUNTY— POPULATION  OF  TOWNS-THE  UNITED  STATES  AND 
THE  STATE  OF  MISSOURI-THE  GRASSHOPPER  PLAGUE-DESl  RUCTION  OF  CROPS 
—RELIEF— MEADOW  COUNTY  SCHEME— THE  BANTAM  CROWED,  BUT  CROWED  IN 
VAIN— THE  CLINTON  SCARE— SWAMP  LAND  HISTORY-FROM  A  TO  IZZARD  AND  A 
POSTSCRIPT— SALES  FROM  $7,00  TO  25  CENTS  PER  ACRE— RECEIPTS  AND  LOSSES- 
POOR  FARM-WHEN  PURCHASED—  ITS  COST— WHERE  LOCATED— DESCRIPTIONS, 
ETC. 

POPULATION  OF  HENRY  COUNTY. 

While  Henry  County  was  settled  in  1830,  and  a  local  census  was 
taken  in  1838,  yet  there  is  no  record  until  the  United  States  census  of 
1840  was  taken.  What  it  was  by  townships  is  hard  to  tell,  yet  as  there 
were  but  four  it  was  probably  nearly  equally  divided.  Grand  River 
Township  was  the  smallest  in  agricultural  population,  but  Undoubtedly 
Clinton  made  up  in  the  general  aggregate.  This  may,  also,  be  said  of 
1850  and  i860. 

The  change  in  townships  in  1858,  and  again  a  few  years  later,  would 
give  but  little  of  what  the  present  townships  had  under  tie  late  division. 

Henry  County  had  a  population  in  1840  of  4,726,  St.  Clair  County 
then  being  a  part  of  her  territory,  and  her  population  included  in  the 
above  figures.  In  1850  the  census  gave  a  population  of  4.052,  and  these 
figures  were  for  Henry  County,  alone,  St.  Clair  having  been  organized  in 
1841.  In  i860  Henry  County  had  a  population  of  9,866.  Here  was  an 
increase  of  144  per  cent  in  ten  years.  The  increase  was  exceeded  by 
only  seven  counties  in  the  state  for  the  decade.  The  decade  between 
i860  and  1870  is  reported  in  the  latter  year  by  townships,  and  is  here 
given: 

CENSUS   OF    1870. 

Whites.  Col'd.  Total. 

Big  Creek  Township 1,363  27  1,390 

Bogard  Township 1,080  37  1,117 

Deepwater  Township 2,01 1  44  2,055 

Grand   River  Township 5,127  323  5,450 

Clinton,  town,  640. 

Osage  Township 826  2  828 

Springfield  Township 1,869  ~7  1,896 

Tebo  Township 3,156  152  3,308 

White  Oak  Township 1,327  30  i,357 

16,759         642         17,401 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  253 

The  town  of  Clinton  is  concluded  in  the  aggregate  of  Grand  River 
Township. 

The  only  town  reported  was  Clinton  with  a  population  of  640. 
What  other  towns  were  in  the  county  were  reported  in  the  total  figures 
of  the  township. 

REMARKS. 

The  census  of  1870  was  the  worst  fraud  ever  put  upon  the  people. 
There  were  many  towns  in  Henry  County  which  should  have  be  reported, 
then  some  idea  of  their  growth  during  the  decade  could  have  been 
known,  but  this  was  not  done,  and  in  many  cases  the  returns  were  not 
correctly  reported.  Calhoun,  Windsor  and  Leesburg,  are  old  towns. 
Should  have  been  reported  separately. 

,    CENSUS   OF    1880. 

Bear  Creek  Township 817 

Bethlehem  Township 1,380 

Big  Creek  Township 1,038 

Bogard  Township I,I9S 

Clinton  Township 3,849 

Davis  Township 1,074 

Deepwater  Township 1,652 

Deer  Creek  Township 1 ,  1 2 1 

Fairview  Township 848 

Fields'  Creek  Township 852 

,Honey  Creek  Township 480 

Leesville  Township 1,253 

Osage  Township 1,010 

Shawnee  Township 1,104 

Springfield  Township 941 

Tebo  Township 1,725 

Walker  Township 1,102 

White  Oak  Township 565 

Windsor  Township 1,900 

Total 23.906 

TOWNS. 

Clinton  City.  . 2,868 

Ld  Due 140 

Montrose 495 

Lewis 154 

Leesville 70 

Brownington. 251 

Huntingdale 66 

Calhoun 492 

Windsor  City •. 872 

Total 5,408 


254  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

Agricultural  population 18,498 

Cities  and  towns 5,408 

Total  county 23,906 

Shawnee  Mound  and  Coalsburg  each  have  a  population  probably  of 
from  thirty-five  to  forty  souls,  and  there  are  a  few  cross-road  stores,  but 
this  is  about  all. 

HOW  IT  HAS  ADVANCED. 

To  show  what  Henry  County  has  advanced  the  past  half  century  a 
summary  is  given  of  her  population  by  the  census  of  different  years  and 
the  per  cent,  of  her  gains  given,  leaving  out  the  fractions: 

Population  1840,4,726;  1850,  4,052,  St.  Clair  County  taken  off;  i860, 
9,866,  gain  144  per  cent.;  1870,  17,401,  gain  76  per  cent.;  1880,  23,906, 
gain  37  per  cent.  , 

As  the  state  gained  but  twenty-six  per  cent,  the  last  decade,  Henry 
County  has  gained  eleven  per  cent,  above  the  average,  and  there  is  no 
reason  that  she  should  not  gain  even  more  rapidly  during  the  present 
decade.  Certainly  the  productive  quality  of  the  soil,  the  mildness  of 
the  climate,  the  amount  of  cheap  lands  yet  in  the  market,  are  induce- 
ments that  only  need  be  known  to  be  appreciated  and  utilized.  Let  the 
people  of  Henry  County  show  to  the  world  these  advantages,  and  immi- 
gration will  flow  in  until  the  waste  lands  will  blossom  like  the  rose,  and 
by  increase  of  taxable  wealth,  reduce  taxation  to  all.  Advertise  to  the 
world  that  Henry  County  will  welcome  the  immigrant,  and  that  besides 
the  welcome  it  can  be  added  that  she  has  every  other  attractiveness  o^ 
soil,  climate,  and  lands  at  low  prices. 

THE   GRASSHOPPER    P1.AGUE. 

It  was  the  year  1875  that  will  long  be  remembered  by  the  people 
of  at  least  four  states,  as  the  grasshopper  year.  The  scourge  struck 
Western  Missouri  April,  1875,  and  commenced  devastating  some  of  the 
fairest  portions  of  our  noble  commonwealth.  They  gave  Henry  an 
earnest  and  overwhelming  visitation,  and  demonstrated  with  an  amazing 
rapidity  that  their  appetite  was  voracious,  and  that  everything  green 
belonged  to  them  for  their  sustenance.  They  came  in  swarms,  they  came 
by  the  millions,  they  came  in  legions,  they  came  by  the  mile,  and  they 
darkened  the  heavens  in  their  flight,  or  blackened  the  earth's  surface, 
where  in  myriads  they  sought  their  daily  meal.  Henry  County  was 
visited  from  about  the  first  week  of  May,  and  remained  until  the  ist  of 
June,  1875,  and  during  that  time,  every  spear  of  wheat,  oats,  flax  and 
corn  were  eaten  close  to  the  ground.  Potatoes  and  all  vegetables  received 
the  same  treatment,  and  on  the  line  of  their  march,  ruin  stared  the  far- 
mer in  the  face,  and  starvation  knocked  loudly  at  his  door. 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  255. 

The  chinch  bug  also  added  to  the  horror,  and  they  filled  the  air  at 
times,  as  though  a  snow  storm  was  in  the  grandeur  and  height  of  its 
power. 

The  people  were  thoroughly  alarmed,  and  the  rich  and  able  were 
called  upon  to  help  support  their  suffering  fellow-beings.  Meetings 
were  called,  and  the  farmers  were  advised  to  plant  everything  that  was 
possible  to  arrive  at  maturity,  even  if  it  depended,  in  a  measure,  upon  a 
fall.  Corn  meal  had  been  furnished,  and  the  scene  at  the  depot  in  Clin- 
ton was  not  only  an  impressive  one,  but  told  with  ghastly  effect  the 
wholesale  devastation  that  the  myriads  of  pests  had  wrought  upon  one 
of  the  fairest  spots  on  God's  green  earth.  Not  far  from  200  wagons  were 
collected  in  the  vicinity  of  the  depot  at  one  time,  their  anxious  owners 
waiting,  with  an  eagerness  truly  painful  to  witness,  to  secure  their  little 
donation  of  corn  dispensed  by  the  grange  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor 
and  needy.  It  is  needless  to  add  that  many  hungry  teamsters  wended 
their  way  homeward  with  a  feeling  of  thankfulness  swelling  in  their 
hearts  to  the  giver  of  all  good  for  raising  them  up  a  helper  in  their  time 
of  need. 

On  May  the  14th,  1875,  the  citizens  of  Clinton  became  aware  that 
the  resources  of  their  own  could  not  meet  the  wants  of  the  sufferings 
people  looking  to  them  for  succor,  and  to  keep  the  wolf  of  starvation 
from  their  door  a  meeting  was  called  to  decide  upon  a  course  of  action 
and  to  carry  it  out,  as  no  time  was  to  be  lost. 

The  meeting  was  organized  by  calling  Dr.  J.  H.  Britts  to  the  chair, 
and  Thomas  Day,  secretary.  The  chair  appointed  William  A,  McLane, 
R.  Z.  Fewell,  M.  Woods,  J.  B.  Gantt  and  G.  Y.  Salmon  a  committee  to 
draft  a  programme.  The  report  of  said  committee  was  received  and! 
committee  discharged.  Report  was  discussed  and  adopted.  Motion 
offered  for  the  chair  to  appoint  a  committee  of  five  as  an  executive  com- 
mittee to  receive  contributions,  distribute  the  same,  and  exercise  a  gen- 
eral supervision  of  the  wants  of  the  destitute.  Motion  adopted. 
Motioned  that  the  executive  committee  be  requested  to  seek  a  reduction' 
of  freight.  Moved  that  the  township  board  and  trustees  be  requested 
to  forward  the  names  of  the  destitute  to  the  executive  committee. 
Motion  carried.  Moved  that  the  executive  committee  be  empowered 
to  fill  all  vacancies  in  township  committees.  Executive  committee 
appointed  by  the  chair,  William  H.  McLane,  G.  Y.  Salmon,  J.  B.  Colt,. 
M.  Woods,  M.  Stewart,  J.  H.  Britts  and  R.  W.  Majors.  Moved  that  the 
resolution  as  to  planting  be  adopted. 

REPORT. 

Mr.  Chairman — Your  committee  having  consulted,  have  come  to- 
the  conclusion  that  we  have  not  the  means  in  our  midst  to  relieve  the 
necessity  of  our  poor.     Great  destitution  is  alarming.     We  must  have 


256  HISTORY   OK    HENRY    COUNTY. 

aid  !  We  are  now  in  the  midst  of  a  famine  !  Tiie  people  of  Henry- 
County  have  always  contributed  liberally  when  other  sections  needed 
our  aid;  believing  then  that  an  appeal  to  those  portions  of  our  country 
that  have  been  blessed  will  bring-  contributions  of  corn  and  bacon  for 
our  poor,  we  are  in  favor  of  sending  duly  authorized  agents  to  solicit 
aid  from  the  people  of  other  portions  of  the  country,  and  especially  the 
great  center  of  commerce. 

WILLIAM  H.  McLANE,  Chairman. 

J.  B.  GANTT,  Secretary. 

RESOLUTION. 

Owing  to  the  fact  that  there  is  now  great  and  wide  spread  alarm 
among  all  classes  of  citizens  of  this  county  at  the  ravages  of  the  grass- 
hoppers and  chinch  bugs,  and  that  much  harm  will  necessarily  ensue  to 
the  growing  crops  of  the  county,  and  in  many  instances  the  flax  crop  is 
already  destroyed,  therefore,  be  it 

Resolved,  ist.  That  to  prevent  the  destitution  that  must  necessarily 
follow  if  the  crops  of  the  county  are  destroyed  and  not  replenished, 
we  earnestly  recommend  that  farmers  do  not  cease  planting  as  long  as 
a  crop  is  likely  to  mature  at  all;  that  after  it  is  too  late  to  plant  corn,  we 
recommend  Hungarian  and  millet  be  sown  for  the  purpose  of  supplying 
the  deficiency  of  the  hay  crop. 

2d,  That  it  is  only  by  earnest  and  persistent  effort  that  we  will  be 
able  to  supply  the  loss  caused  by  these  pests,  and  to  some  extent  pre- 
vent the  calamity  that  now  threatens  us. 

A  resolution  to  memorialize  the  state  board  of  equalization  was 
adopted.  Committee  appointed,  W.  H.  McLane,  B.  G.  Boone  and  J.  B. 
Gantt. 

Moved  that  the  county  papers  be  requested  to  publish  the  proceed- 
ings of  this  meeting.     Carried. 

Moved  that  executive  commttee  have  power  to  fill  vacancy  in  their 
own  board.  J.  H.  BRITTS.  Chairman. 

THOMAS  DAY.  Secretary. 

Active  work  at  once  commenced  and  an  appeal  was  made  for  assist- 
ance, which  met  with  a  generous  response,  even  an  Iowa  town,  a  dis- 
tant place,  contributing  a  car  load  of  corn  by  the  appeal  of  one  of  Henry 
County's  farmers  who  had  formerly  lived  in  that  state,  and  from  many 
eastern  towns  came  a  welcome  supply. 

The  hoppers  reached  Clinton  between  the  loth  and  15th,  and  they 
moved  upon  the  fields  outside,  and  in  twenty-four  hours  a  Mr.  Rose- 
baugh's  garden,  potato  patch  and  young  coin  was  completely  eaten  out. 
They  then  moved  like  an  army  upon  his  oat  field.  That  which  was 
promising  of  a  handsome  yield  was  within  the  short  space  of  twenty- 
four  hours  a  desert  waste. 

On  the  15th  of  June  quite  a  large  lot  of  early  corn  was  received  and 
dealt  out  in  limited  supply  to  all  who  were  ready  and  willing  to  plant, 
to  the  poor  without  price,  to  those  able  to  pay  at  the  cost  of  delivery, 
And  at  that  date  and  for  two  weeks  later  supplies  or  rations   were   still 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  257 

issued  to  the  poor.     The  grasshoppers   began   to  take   their  departure 
about  the  20th  of  June. 

MEADOW  COUNTY. 

One  cannot  exactly  say  "  Meadow  County,"  for  it  only  existed  like 
some  railroad  projects,  on  paper,  but  there  was  a  time  when  the  men- 
tion of  Meadow  County  would  raise  a  tempest  of  anger  in  the  hearts  of 
some  people  while  joy  unspeakable  would  shine  out  on  the  faces  of  others 
like  the  silver  lining  to  the  black  and  sombre  clouds  which  hung  o'er  the 
darkened  heavens.  Up  in  the  northeast  part  of  Henry  County  on  a 
rise  in  a  beautiful  prairie,  lies  the  spot  which  conceived  and  wicked  men 
who  brought  forth  the  audacious  idea  of  a  "  Meadow  County."  The 
spot  aforesaid  has  for  years  been  known  by  the  name  of  "  Windsor.' 
It  is  not  of  the  game  cock  breed  for  it  is  too  small,  but  belongs  to  the 
bantam,  and  according  to  its  inches  can  make  as  bold,  as  daring  and  as 
game  a  fight  as  any  "  cock  of  the  walk."  But,  notwithstanding  its  fight- 
ing qualities,  the  wickedness  of  its  attempt  and  the  outrageous,  and  it 
might  be  said  its  dastardly  conception,  it  was  doomed  to  meet  with  dis- 
appointment and  failure,  and  without  wishing  to  deepen  the  line  of  sor- 
row upon  which  our  little  bantam  was  overwhelmed,  about  the  time  that 
its  failure  became  known,  that  silver  lining  took  a  southwestern  shoot 
and  the  tempest  of  anger  aforesaid  found  a  resting  place  in  the  bosom 
of  our  aspiring  young  bantam,  "  Windsor."  It  was  a  despairing  blow  to 
dissatisfied  ambition,  and  while  the  people  of  Henry  County  were  per- 
fectly willing  that  it  should  swallow  Sedalia  they  were  slightly  opposed 
to  its  making  a  meal  also  of  Clinton.  This  may  be  called  selfishness, 
but  it  is  the  truth,  nevertheless,  "  and  that's  what's  the  matter  with 
Windsor." 

The  attempt  was  made  at  the  session  of  the  general  assembly,  in  the 
winter  of  1870- 1,  and  the  county  was  to  be  carved  out  of  Pettis,  Johnson, 
Henry  and  Benton,  and  to  raise  the  proud  city  of  Windsor  to  the  exalted 
position  of  a  county  seat,  Warrensburg,  Sedalia,  Warsaw,  and  Clinton, 
were  to  be  stuck  up  in  one  corner  of  their  respective  counties.  Certainly 
there  was  a  whole  volume  of  modesty  contained  in  this  simple  request, 
and  it  is  really  a  wonder  that  that  and  succeeding  legislature  failed,  in 
slang  term,  "  to  catch  on." 

However,  there  was  a  good  deal  of  noise  made,  and  when  the  news 
reached  Clinton,  on  February  21,  1871,  that  the  bill  had  been  favorably 
reported,  the  people  actually  thought  they  had  been  struck  by  lightning. 
The  bells  rang  out  a  peal  and  a  meeting  was  called,  and  sixteen  of 
her  most  prominent  citizens  were  made  a  mass  delegation  to  go  to  Jef- 
ferson at  once,  and  sit  down  on  the  infernal  scheme.  Just  why  they 
did  not  pick  up  the  bantam  as  they  passed  and  wring  its  neck,  has 
never  been  explained.     They  sat  down  on  it,  however,  until  the  life  was 


258  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

crushed  out  of  it.  The  scheme  was  once  more  presented  to  the  legis- 
lature at  the  session  of  1872-3,  but  it  never  rose  to  the  dignity  of  being 
able  to  raise  an  alarm,  and  its  second  attempt  died  of  indigested  ambi- 
tion. This  ended  "  Meadow  County,"  for  all  time,  or  in  fact,  any  other 
attempt  to  change  the  present  municipal  divisions  which  form  our  com- 
monwealth, 

SWAMP   LANDS. 

The  swamp  lands  of  Henry  County  was  a  splendid  contribution  to 
the  educational  fund  of  the  county,  and  had  wisdom  and  business  talent 
conducted  its  disposition,  Henry  County's  school  fund  might  have  been 
increased  many  thousands  of  dollars.  In  the  swamp  land  management 
there  is  no  disputing  the  fact  that  it  was  both  reckless  and  unbusiness- 
like, and  it  may  be  said  that  Henry  County  was  not  alone  in  its  waste- 
ful or  reckless  management  of  its  school  funds,  in  the  disposal  of  these 
swamp  and  overflowed  lands,  so-called,  but  in  reality,  some  of  the 
choicest  lands  in  the  county  was  among  them.  From  the  time  those 
lands  were  ready  for  the  market  until  they  were  finally  disposed  of,  it 
seems  as  if  the  county  court  could  not  rest.  Sales  were  ordered  every 
few  months.  The  price  first  was  $[.25  per  acre,  but  this  did  not  sell 
them  fast  enough,  and  the  price  was  lowered  to  75  cents  per  acre.  The 
land  still  seems  to  burn  the  fingers  of  the  county  courts  and  another  fall 
in  price  was  made  to  50  cents  per  acre.  Just  two  years  from  the  first 
sale,  in  February,  1854,  the  court  evidently  could  not  stand  it  any  longer, 
and  so  they  made  an  order  virtually  giving  them  away,  and  they  evi- 
dently determined  to  close  them  out.  The  order  was  made  at  the  Feb- 
ruary term,  1856,  to  sell  the  remaining  swamp  and  overflowed  land  at  25 
cents  per  acre,  and  the  sheriff  was  not  only  ordered  to  advertise  the 
same  within  the  county,  as  usual,  but  to  advertise  in  the  Osceola  Inde- 
pendent -and  in  the  Warsaw  Democrat.  Even  this  frantic  endeavor 
failed  to  relieve  the  county  court  from  its  burden,  and  had  it  not  been 
for  the  charitable  act  of  George  Y.  Salmon  and  Robert  Allen,  the  court 
might  have  been  bereft  of  senses  in  trying  to  get  rid  of  what  they 
believed  was  an  enormous  elephant  on  their  hands.  Messrs.  Salmon 
and  Allen  kindly  took  what  was  left,  nearly  4,000  acres,  off  their  hands 
at  the  nominal  price  of  25  cents  per  acre.  The  court  was  saved,  and 
the  land  went  to  swell  the  private  pockets  of  its  purchasers,  while  the 
school  fund  held  but  a  moiety  of  what  it  should  have  received.  Of 
course  all  the  purchasers  were  right  in  taking  these  lands  at  the  price 
offered,  and  but  few  would  have  been  willing  to  have  invested  so  largely 
as  the  two  last  purchasers,  who  had  to  hold  and  pay  taxes  on  them  for 
years,  for  in  the  natural  course  of  events  it  was  not  to  be  expected  that 
they  could  so  soon  dispose  of  what  the  county  had  believed  was  an 
untold  evil  on  their  hands.     There  was  no  county  debt,  no  great  number 


HISTORY  OF  h?:nry  county.  259 

of  schools  needed  just  then.  The  sixteenth  sections  were  being  sold  off 
from  applications,  and  the  state  school  money  was  increasing  yearly,  but 
that  court  gave  themselves  no  rest  until  every  acre  of  swamp  was  sold. 

HOW  AND  WHEN  SOLD. 

From  February  13,  1852,  to  October  i,  1855,  over  25,000  acres  of 
land  were  placed  upon  the  market,  and  6,566  99-100  acres  sold.  Of  this 
5,237  24-100  acres  was  sold  at  government  price,  except  here  and  there 
a  lot  which  went  higher,  where  it  was  wanted  by  adjoining  proprietors, 
and  1,329!  acres  was  sold  at  seventy-five  cents  per  acre.  Up  to  June, 
1856,  there  were  three  sales  which  numbered  in  the  aggregate  8,218  42-100 
acres  which  were  sold  at  fifty  cents  per  acre,  and  6,899  /o-ioo  acres  at 
twenty-five  cents  per  acre.  Quite  a  large  portion  of  that  sold  at  the 
different  prices  named  went  over  the  regular  price  for  special  lots.  Over 
4,000  acres  of  the  first  lot  sold  at  twenty-five  cents,  realized  thirty-three 
cents  per  acre.  Here  was  a  sale  of  swamp  land  (in  acres)  of  21,685 
ii-ioo  and  it  realized  to  the  county  $12,984.54.  Mr.  Robert  Allen  was 
appointed  by  the  court  to  select  this  land,  and  he  received  for  the  work 
$597.16.  The  returns  of  the  survey  and  selection  of  these  lands  was 
made  November  14,  1853.  Of  this  swamp  land  fund  there  was  in  the 
hands  of  the  county  treasurer,  drawing  interest  at  the  rate  of  ten  per 
cent,  per  annum,  $7,575.81,  there  was  cash  on  hand  of  $171.25  on  Jan- 
uary I,  1867,  making  a  total  of  $7,747.06.  This  was  the  report  of  the 
county  court  after  a  full  examination  by  them  of  the  swamp  land  funds 
reported  that  the  disposition  that  had  been  made  of  the  funds  appeared 
to  stand  as  above. 

Here  was  a  small  clerical  error  of  $5,237.48  less  expenses,  and  also 
less  the  sum  of  $1,269.70,  which  was  loaned  to  the  use  of  the  road  and 
canal  fund,  which  leaves  the  net  expenses  of  the  sale,  locating  and  sur- 
veying, $3,967.78,  or  a  trifle  over  31  per  cent  of  the  total  received. 

The  state  reports  that  Henry  County  had  of  swamp  and  overflowed 
lands  25,298  12-100  acres.  This  would  leave  as  yet  on  hand  3,613  acres, 
and  about  this  number  of  acres  was  the  purchase  made  by  Messrs.  Sal- 
mon and  Allen  at  the  December  term,  1856,  when  they  proposed  to  the 
county  court  that  they  would  take  the  remaining  swamp  lands  belong- 
ing to  Henry  County  at  their  advertised  offer  of  twenty-five  cents  per 
acre,  and  the  court  promptly  closed  with  the  ofter. 

Here  seemed  to  be  the  end  of  the  swamp  land  business  so  far  as  the 
land  was  concerned,  only  except  the  land  in  Taney  County,  but  it  did 
not  end  what  became  of  the  funds,  and  there  seems  to  have  been  another 
discrepancy  and  another  elephant  in  the  management  of  this  fund. 

An  examination  showed  December,  i860 $9,228  46 

In  July,  1 86 1,  there  was 9,447  73 

And  in  1866  another  report  made  the  amount  on  hand 5,288  94 


26o  HISTORY    OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 

What  became  of  this  odd  $4,000  and  upwards  the  records  do  not 
state.  Neither  is  it  referred  to.  The  fact  that  it  was  gone  seems  to 
have  been  sufficient.  However,  there  was  an  evident  mistake  in  this 
report,  as  was  also  in  the  statement  that  was  made- — "that  the  swamp 
land  bonds  amounted  to  $14,285.52."  That  probably  included  the  fines 
and  penalties  and  other  county  funds  that  may  have  been  entered 
together. 

The  state  superintendent's  report  of  schools  in  1872  gives  this  state- 
ment: 

Henry  County  swamp  lands,  acres 25,298   12-100 

Amount  land  sold,  acres 27,120 

Amount  sold  for $15,699  "J^ 

Lost  by  being  improperly  secured  ....    6,62 1   86 

Balance  on  hand $  9,077  90 

Number  of  acres  unsold,  1,480. 

These  extra  acres  are  probably  the  forfeited  lands. 

The  Swamp  Land  Fund  in  1876,  $10,022.88;  in  1879,  $9,645;  in  1881, 
$11,231.88. 

The  fund  is  now  nearly  at  a  stand.  The  interest  being  paid  annu- 
ally to  the  township,  per  capita,  for  school  purposes. 

As  the  writer  of  these  pages  had  heard  much  of  these  lands,  and  as 
was  stated,  sacrificed,  it  was  thought  best  to  give  all  the  facts  which 
could  be  found  of  record.  Every  statement  here  made  is  of  record, 
and  as  it  extended  over  a  period  of  nearly  sixteen  years,  it  took  time 
and  patience  to  place  it  in  a  clear  light  before  the  reader. 

Mr.  A.  C.  Avery  was  appointed  county  agent  to  confer  with  the  state 
authorities  in  regard  to  some  lands  claimed  by  the  state,  and  to  look 
after  Henry  County's  interest  in  the  matter.  His  work  is  not  yet  com- 
pleted and  of  course  no  report  has  been  made. 

The  county  has  also,  as  a  part  of  this  swampland  gift,  1,680  acres  in 
Taney  County.  Lewis  P.  Beatty  was  authorized  in  1877  to  go  and  look- 
after  it,  and  sec  what  it  amounted  to.  He  did  so,  returned  and  made  his 
report.  The  above  was  the  number  of  acres  belonging  to  Henry  County, 
of  which  up  to  this  date  none  has  been  sold. 

POOR  FARM. 

After  two  requests  had  been  made,  and  commissioners  appointed  to 
select  land  for  a  poor  farm,  and  both  proved  a  failure,  it  was  decided  by 
the  county  court  to  purchase  an  improved  farm  for  county  purposes. 
The  purchase  was  accordingly  made  in  April,  1871,  of  the  east  half  of 
the  northwest  quarter,  and  west  half  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  33, 
township  42,  range  26,  and  also  the  east  half  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  the 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  26'I 

northwest  quarter  of  section  17,  in  township  41,  range  26  ;  making  a  farm 
of  160  acres,  twenty  acres  of  wood  land;  purchased  of  Frederick  Chris- 
man,  for  the  sum  of  $7,200,  to  be  paid  in  three  equal  annual  instal- 
ments of  $2,400  each,  with  interest  at  the  rate  of  ten  per  cent,  per 
annum.  The  bonds  were  made  payable  to  "  bearer,"  and  worded:  "  For 
the  purchase  of  the  poor  farm,  purchased  of  Frederick  Chrisman." 

Mr.  Robert  Allen  was  put  in  charge  as  superintendent,  and  Dr.  J.  W. 
Stewart,  county  physician.  Previous  to  this  Mr.  Samuel  Jones  had  been 
acting  as  superintendent,  but  at  that  time  the  paupers  were  boarded  at 
different  places,  any  where  that  the  people  would  take  them.  D.  A. 
Henry  was  made  farm  manager.  Mr.  Robert  Allen  resigned  in  1874  and 
Dr.  Stewart  was  made  both  superintendent  and  physician  for  the  county 
poor.  Some  talk  was  made  of  the  doctor's  management,  but  an  exami- 
nation fully  exonerated  him,  and  he  remained  in  charge  some  four 
years,  when  he,  to,  resigned.  At  the  time  when  Dr.  Stewart  took 
charge  D.  A.  Henry  retired,  and  Richard  Woodeson  assumed  the  position 
of  manager  of  the  poor  farm.  This  was  in  1874.  In  1877  the  resigna- 
tion of  Dr.  Stewart  having  been  accepted,  Dr.  A.  N.  Kincanon  was 
appointed  superintendent  and  accepted,  as  also  the  position  of  county 
physician.  Mr.  Woodeson  continued  as  farm  manager.  Dr.  Kincanon 
made  his  first  annual  report  in  February,  1878,  to  the  county  court  then 
in  session,  of  his  management.  His  report  of  expenses  for  the  last 
quarter  of  the  year,  November,  December  and  January,  winter  months, 
amounted  to  $518.23  and  that  he  had  sold  farm  produce  to  the  amount 
of  $596.77,  being  a  surplus  of  $78.54  still  in  his  hands.  This  report  seems 
to  be  perfectly  satisfactory  to  the  court  for  it  was  the  first  time  that  the 
farm  had  been  able  to  pay  one-fourth  and  over  of  its  expenses.  Mr. 
Richard  Woodeson  was  still  manager. 

In  1879  Dr.  James  P.  Dimmitt  was  appointed  county  physician  and 
superintendent,  with  Daniel  E.  A.  Price  as  farm  manager.  These  gen- 
tlemen were  followed  in  1880  by  Dr.  B.  H.  Land  as  superintendent  and 
Eli  Wade  as  farm  manager.  This  position  Mr.  Wade  retired  from  in 
February,  1883,  with  the  expectation  of  making  Lafayette  County  his 
future  home.  The  past  year  the  superintendent  has  been  Mr.  James  F. 
Land.  The  home  has  now  nine  tenants.  It  is  one  of  the  best  farms  in 
the  county,  within  two  miles  of  the  county  seat,  and  is  a  most  pleasant 
and  comfortable  home  for  the  unfortunate. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

RAILROAD  HISTORY. 

ITS  FIRST  INCEPTION— PACIFIC  RAI  LKOAD  SUBSCRIPTION  jtso.ooc— HOW  $5,000  WAS  PAID- 
STOPPING  FUKTHER  PAYMENT-$, 50,000  T.  &N.  RAILROAD- THE  SUBS  RIPTION— 
$250,000  BONDS— tOME  MORE  STOCK-  GETTING  TO  THE  MEAT-CLINTON  &  MEMPHIS 
RAILROAD- A  PROTEST-AND  S'lTLL  ANOTHER  PROTEST— WHAT  BECAME  OF  'J  HE 
$50,000   IF    PRACITCABLE— IT  WASN'T  PRACTICABLE— "A  D D  BARKEN  IDEALITY  " 

RAILROADS. 

The  railroad  history  of  Henry  County  is  one  fraught  with  many 
mistakes  and  errors  as  well  as  a  partial  success  which  has  cost  the  peo- 
ple many  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars.  It  was  a  costly  experiment 
but  might  have  been  far  less  so,  had  reason  assumed  control  after  the  die 
had  been  cast,  and  Henry  County  had  placed  her  credit  in  a  manner  it 
could  not  be  withdrawn.  The  great  benefit  which  has  been  received 
from  what  was  known  as  the  Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas,  now  that  divi- 
sion of  the  Missouri  Pacific  railway,  is  certainly  beyond  count.  Had  the 
Tebo  &  Neosho  branch,  or  that  part  running  to  Osceola,  been  allowed 
to  have  been  completed,  there  is  not  a  partical  of  doubt  that  ere  this  it 
would  have  paid  its  investment,  notwithstanding  the  stealings  which 
were  supposed  to  have  been  going  on. 

Those  bonds  have  already  been  partly  paid;  the  remainder  will  be. 
and  yet  no  road.  The  trade  that  would  have  come  to  Clinton  from  the 
south,  the  opening  of  the  coal  veins  and  the  increased  value  of  real 
estate  would  have  redeemed  the  bonds.  Experience  is  a  dear  teacher, 
but  its  lessons  are  numbered.  Notwithstanding  the  faults  and  the  mis- 
takes of  the  past,  Henry  County  must  have  another  railroad  within  her 
border,  and  that  road  must  enter  her  territory  at  the  northwest  and  find 
its  southern  outlet  in  the  direction  of  Osceola,  in  St.  Clair  County.  Kan- 
sas City,  which  has  become  the  metropolis  of  the  Missouri  Valley,  lies 
but  about  seventy-five  miles  from  the  county  seat  of  Henry  County. 
That  city  has  become  the  second  cattle  and  hog  market  in  the  country, 
and  it  is  there  that  the  farmers  and  business  men  will  secure  the  best 
returns  for  their  products,  and  at  the  same  time  find  a  purchasing 
emporium  for  all  their  wants.  When  that  opening  comes  Henry  County, 
already  far  advanced,  will  take  a  more  rapid  stride  toward  the  head  of 
the  column  of  agricultural  counties  in  the  state. 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  263 

THE   FIRST   START. 

The  first  railroad  project  which  drew  the  attention  of  the  people 
was  called  the  Pacific  Railroad,  and  Henry  County  was  called  to  sub- 
scribe $10,000  of  the  stock.  This  was  done  by  a  vote  of  the  people  at 
the  August  election,  185 1.  It  rested  in  that  way  for  twelve  months  and 
probably  lapsed,  when  the  following  is  found  of  record: 

$50,000   PACIFIC    RAILROAD   SUBSCRIPTION. 

The  following  order  appears  of  record  at  what  was  termed  a  "  call 
term  "  of  the  county  court,  held  on  the  25th  day  of  August,  1852,  the 
people  having  voted  at  the  August  election  in  its  favor.     It  reads: 

"  Under  the  direction  of  a  majority  of  the  people  of  this  county, 
it  is  ordered  by  the  court  that  $50,000  worth  of  stock  be  subscribed  to 
the  Pacific  Railroad  on  the  part  of  the  county,  provided:  That  said 
road  is  located  on  the  route  surveyed  on  the  dividing  of  the  Missouri 
and  Osage  Rivers,  known  as  Kirkwood  Survey,  passing  by  the  high  point 
of  Tebo,  or  through  the  county.  The  county  bonds  for  which  stock  to 
be  issued  whenever  the  railroad  is  under  contract  to  the  county  line,  or 
north  of  it,  and  upon  the  further  condition  that  the  legislature  of  this 
state  hereafter  legalizes  the  action  of  this  court." 

The  matter  seems  to  have  rested  there  until  the  February  term  of 
the  county  court,  February  i8th,  1853,  when  the  following  order  was 
made: 

"  Ordered  that  the  order  made  at  the  adjourned  term  of  the  court, 
held  the  25th  day  of  August,  1852,  under  the  direction  of  the  majority  of 
the  people  of  this  county,  authorizing  said  court  to  subscribe  $50,000  worth 
of  stock  to  the  Pacific  Railroad,  be,  and  the  same  is,  hereby  amended, 
so  as  to  dispense  with  the  condition  of  passing  the  high  point  of  Tebo, 
or  this  county,  but  to  run  the  Kirkwood  survey  through  Johnson  County 
on  the  ridge  route.  And  it  is  further  ordered  that  James  M.  Gatewood 
be  appointed  special  agent  to  subscribe  stock  to  the  above  amount  in 
said  railroad,  for  and  in  behalf  of  the  county." 

William  Wall,  Joseph  Davis  and  Asa  C.  Marvin  were  appointed 
agents  to  attend  the  meeting  of  the  directors  of  the  Pacific  Railroad, 
and  vote  its  stock.  At  the  term  of  court,  February,  1854,  $1,100  were 
paid  over,  being,  as  the  order  reads,  "  10  per  cent  of  the  subscription." 
The  money  was  borrowed  from  the  road  and  canal  fund.  A  few  days 
after,  at  the  same  term,  the  court  ordered  a  warrant  for  $800  to  be  drawn 
in  favor  of  Joseph  Davis,  the  money  to  be  paid  on  the  call  made  by  the 
Pacific  Railroad  Company,  as  above  stated. 

BORROWING   MONEY. 

A  portion  of  the  money  to  pay  the  call  was  borrowed  of  William  M. 
Hall,  who  received  the  county's  obligation  for  $500,  and  had  turned  over 


264  HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 

to  him  $914  of  swamp  land  bonds.  The  balance  to  make  up  the  pay- 
ment, $2,760,  was  borrowed  of  the  road  and  canal  fund.  This  was  in  Feb- 
ruary, and  at  the  May  term  of  the  court,  1854,  Asa  C.  Marvin,  financial 
agent  of  the  county  in  railway  matters,  brought  in  the  receipt  of  George 
R.  Smith,  the  agent  of  the  Pacific  Railway  Company,  for  $5,000,  being 
the  amount  of  the  first  call  of  ten  per  cent,  on  the  stock  subscribed. 
Nothing  of  moment  transpired  until  the  February  term,  1857,  when  an 
order  was  made  restraining  the  sheriff  from  further  collection  of  the  tax 
levied  for  the  purpose  of  paying  interest  and  calls  on  stock  taken  by  the 
county  in  the  Pacific  Railroad  Company.  The  tax  was  the  same  as  the 
state  levy  at  the  time,  and  the  sheriff  was  ordered  to  pay  back  to  parties 
already  paid,  and  await  a  suit.  J.  Davis  objected  to  paying  the  tax,  and 
got  out  an  injunction  restraining  the  sheriff  from  collecting.  Hence,  the 
above  order,  which  was  to  last  until  the  suit  was  decided. 

The  court  in  May,  1857,  appointed  Robert  Allen  commissioner,  with 
full  power  to  act,  for  Henry  County,  to  vote  stock,  pay  moneys,  etc.,  he 
to  give  a  bond  in  the  sum  of  $20,000  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  his 
duties. 

At  the  October  term,  1858,  the  court  ordered  Robert  Allen,  com- 
missioner, who  had  the  county  affairs  in  his  hands,  to  turn  over  what 
money  he  had  collected  by  taxation  into  the  county  treasury,  and  at  the 
same  time  suit  was  ordered  to  commence  against  him  and  his  sureties, 
for  the  funds  collected  for  the  Pacific  Railroad,  and  for  its  return  into  the 
treasury,  as  above. 

At  the  November  term,  1858,  the  late  sheriff,  Dewitt  C.  Stone, 
reported  in  his  hands  funds  arising  from  the  railroad  tax  of  $1,765.95. 
This  sum  the  court  ordered  to  be  deposited  in  the  county  treasury. 

STOPPING   PAYMENT. 

This,  it  seems,  was  not  done,  so  at  the  April  term,  1859,  suit  was 
ordered  against  Stone  and  his  security,  for  moneys  collected  by  him  on 
a  levy  for  subscription  to  the  railroad  company.  Alexis  Walmsley  was 
appointed  attorney  to  prosecute  the  case.  This  order  seemed  to  get  Mr. 
Stone  and  he  came  into  court  and  entered  into  an  agreement  to  pay 
over  said  money  if  the  court  would  stand  between  him  and  a  suit  by  the 
railroad  company.  This  the  court  agreed  to  do,  provided  the  costs  and 
penalties  did  not  exceed  the  amount  to  be  paid  over,  to  wit:  $1,725.80; 
the  money  to  be  paid  in  by  April  22,  1859.  The  suit  was  held  in  abey- 
ance until  the  above  date,  in  case  of  his  failure  to  pay  over  the  money. 
The  amount  of  $1,765.92  was  paid  into  the  treasury,  as  reported  by 
Royal  L.  Burge,  treasurer,  at  the  May  term-,  1859. 

The  next  item  in  this  railroad  matter,  of  record,  was  an  order  to  pay 
Russell  Hicks  $400,  attorney  fees,  in  a  case  in  the  circuit  court  of  the 
Pacific  Railroad  Company  against  Henry  County.     This  was  in  1861. 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  265 

June  12,  1863,  the  treasurer  was  ordered  to  invest  all  the  railroad 
funds  in  the  treasury  in  county  warrants,  the  latter  to  be  hied  with  the 
clerk  of  the  county  court,  to  be  held  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  the  rail- 
road tax  fund.  This  seems  to  be  the  ending  of  the  Pacific  Railway 
Company  matter  so  far  as  it  was  of  any  importance  to  the  people. 

There  was  a  correspondence  opened  with  the  company  early  in 
1866  to  ascertain  upon  what  terms  they  would  transfer  the  stock  held 
by  the  county,  to  the  Tebo  &  Neosho  Railroad  Company.  What  the 
correspondence  amounted  to  is  not  of  record,  but  in  August,  1866,  an 
order  was  made  for  an  election  to  test  the  feelings  of  the  people  to  sub- 
scribe $150,000  to  the  Tebo  &  Neosho  Railroad  Company,  the  election  to- 
be  held  September  26  of  that  year.  The  question  was  carried  and 
$150,000  was  subscribed  to  the  stock  of  said  Tebo  &  Neosho  Railroad 
Company. 

$  I  50,000   T.  &   N. 

As  a  large  portion  of  the  people  of  Henry  County  are  not  acquainted 
with  all  the  facts  in  the  railway  controversy,  it  will  be  perhaps  best  tO' 
give  a  plain  statement,  as  the  people  have  in  the  past  years  been  con- 
siderably exercised  over  the  acts  of  a  few  reckless  persons,  and  are  still 
paying  the  penalty  in  the  shape  of  annual  taxes  to  the  gross  amount  of 
hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars,  the  value  of  which  they  have  not 
received  one  cent. 

When  the  vote  was  carried  subscribing  $150,000  to  the  new  candi- 
date for  public  favor,  the  president  of  the  company  came  forward  and 
made  a  few  suggestions  to  the  county  court.  The  first  was  to  issue  to- 
his  company  one  bond  to  the  amount  of  the  entire  subscription,  and 
then  coupon  bonds  of  $1,000  each  with  interest  at  seven  per  cent 
per  annum,  payable  in  New  York,  and  the  interest  to  be  paid  semi- 
annually on  the  1st  of  July  and  January,  and  to  date  from  January  i,. 
1867,  "That  upon  the  return  of  the  single  bond  150  bonds  may  be 
issued  iHstead  thereof" 

It  may  be  supposed  that'the  150  single  bonds  were  not  issued  for 
the  building  of  the  railroad,  that  was  consummated  by  the  issue  of  the 
one  bond  of  $150,000.  That  bond  was  redeemed  by  the  issue  of  the  150' 
separate  $1,000  bonds  with  coupons  attached.  This  rather  strength- 
ened the  legality  and  further  secured  the  final  payment  of  the  bonds. 

These  suggestions,  as  above  noted,  were  made  in  the  form  of  reso- 
lutions passed  by  the  Tebo  &  Neosho  Railroad  Company,  and  pre- 
sented to  the  county  court  by  its  then  president,  Thomas  L.  Wilson. 

THE    SUBSCRIPTION. 

The  county  court  in  session  January  5,  1867,  complied  with  these 
requests,  in  the  following  order,  made  of  record  and  recorded  on  pages- 
474  and  475,  book  E.     It  reads: 


266  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

"  In  response  to  said  resolutions  and  in  connpliance  with  the  vote  of 
the  county  at  a  special  election  held  on  the  26th  day  of  September,  1866,  j 
it  is  considered  and  ordered  by  the  court:  That  the  county  of  Henry, 
in  the  state  of  Missouri,  take  and  subscribe  to  the  capital  stock  of  the 
Tebo  &  Neosho  railroad  company,  fifteen  hundred  shares  of  one  hun- 
dred dollars  each,  amounting  to  the  sum  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  thou- 
sand dollars,  and  that  Rox^al  L.  Burge,  be,  and  he  is  hereby  appointed  the 
agent  of  said  county,  to  subscribe  said  shares  to  the  capital  stock  of 
said  company,  with  full  power  and  authority  to  represent  said  county 
and  transact  all  business  of  the  same  pertaining  to  said  stock.  It  is 
further  ordered  that  a  single  bond  of  said  county  for  the  sum  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars,  bearing  date  on  the  first  day  of  Jan- 
uary, 1867,  payable  ten  years  after  date,  with  interest  at  the  rate  of  seven 
per  centum  per  annum,  payable  semi-annually,  and  both  principal  and 
interest  payable  in  the  city  of  New  York,  be  issued  and  delivered  to 
said  company  for  its  immediate  use;  and  it  is  further  ordered  that  upon 
the  return  of  said  bond  to  said  county,  that  one  hundred  and  fifty  bonds 
of  said  county  for  one  thousand  dollars  each,  payable  ten  years  after 
date,  bearing  seven  per  cent,  interest  per  annum,  with  suitable  coupons 
attached,  be  issued  in  lieu  of  said  bond,  and  delivered  to  said  company  in 
payment  of  the  subscription  aforesaid." 

"  It  is  ordered  by  the  court  that  Peter  A.  Ladue  be  requested  to  pre- 
pare a  form  for  said  bond  with  coupons  attached,  and  ascertain  the 
expense  of  lithographing  the  same,  and  report  to  the  court  at  the  next 
February  term  thereof." 

The  bonds  were  contracted  for  and  received,  and  were  to  be,  when 
issued,  signed  by  the  president  of  the  county  court,  and  countersigned 
by  the  county  clerk.  The  first  of  the  single  series  of  bonds,  ten  in  num- 
ber, numbered  from  one  to  ten — were  signed  and  turned  over  to  the 
county  treasurer,  July  17,  1867,  "as  part  of  stock  subscription  to  the  Tebo 
&  Neosho  Railroad  Company,  by  Henry  County."  The  bonds  were  then 
continued  to  be  issued,  and  placed  in  the  hands  of  Royal  L  Burge,  until 
the  number  of  107  had  been  issued,  when  the  court  ordered  the  remain- 
der at  a  called  term  of  the  court,  held  October  8,  1868,  to  be  turned  over 
to  the  treasurer  of  the  railroad  company,  the  number  being  from  108  to 
150,  inclusive,  in  full  for  subscription  to 'the  Tebo  &  Neosho  Railroad 
Company  on  the  part  of  Henry  County. 

After  the  death  of  Royal  L.  Burge,  which  occurred  October  19,  1868, 
R.  C.  McBeth  was  made  railroad  attorney  for  the  county,  in  the  Pacific 
Railroad   suit. 

$250,000  ADDED. 

In  May,  1869,  the  county  court  met  and  subscribed  $250,000  to  the 
Tebo  &  Neosho  Railroad  Company  in  coupon  bonds  of  $1,000  each,  with 
interest,  and  upon  certain  conditions  therein  expressed,  and  levied  a  tax 
of  40  cents  on  the  $100  to  pay  interest  on  the  railroad  bonds  for  the  year 
1869.  The  principal  conditions  were,  that  the  road  should. run  diagon- 
ally across  the  county  in  the  direction  of  Fort  Scott,  and  $1 50,000  of  the 


I 


HISTORY    OF    HENRV   COUNTY.  267 

bonds  should  not  be  handed  over  until  the  road  was  completed  to  Clin- 
ton, and  the  cars  running  thereon.  The  other  $100,000  was  to  be 
delivered,  it  is  supposed,  when  called  for,  as  no  mention  was  made  in  the 
order  of  retaining  but  the  $150,000.  These  bonds,  principal  and  inter- 
est, were  payable  at  the  Park  Bank,  in  New  York  City,  the  bonds  draw- 
ing ten  per  cent,  interest,  tlie  interest  payable  semi-anmially.  The  bonds 
were  dated  June  i,  iS6g,  with  the  understanding,  that  when  the  $150,- 
000  were  delivered,  that  the  coupons  should  be  cut  off  to  date  of  delivery. 

William  Jennings,  one  of  the  members  of  the  county  court,  was 
made  county  agent  to  subscribe  the  stock  to  said  railroad,  which  was 
done  under  date  of  May  5th,  1869.  The  tax  levy  of  40  cents  on  the  $100 
valuation  made  to  meet  the  interest  on  bond  subscribed,  produced  the 
sum  of  $20949.78,  of  which  $15,280.06  was  returned  collected,  besides 
the  collector's  commission  and  $4,879.59  delinquent. 

However,  on  the  ist  day  of  January,  1870,  the  railroad  company 
wished  to  secure  the  first  $100,000,  which,  it  seems,  the  court  had 
reserved  the  right  to  deliver  at  its  own  option.  To  effect  this  the  friends 
of  the  road  obligated  themselves  to  the  county  in  the  sum  of  $100,000, 
which  obligation  or  bond  was  signed  by  Asa  C.  Marvin,  Richard  H. 
Milton  and  Cyrus  Newkirk,  conditioned,  that  if  the  railroad  was  com- 
pleted to  Clinton  by  the  ist  day  of  November,  1870,  it  should  be  (the 
bond)  null  and  void,  the  company  to  be  allowed  extra  time  for  all  una- 
voidable delay.  This  is  what  secured  to  the  people  of  Henry  County 
the  present  road,  first  known  as  the  Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas  Railroad, 
(M.,  K.  &  T.)  now  the  M.,  K.  &  T.  division  of  the  Missouri  Pacific  Rail- 
road. It  has  been  an  immense  advantage  to  the  people,  to  the  advance- 
ment of  the  material  prosperity  of  Henry  County,  and  could  the  Kan- 
sas City  road  have  been  completed.  Henry  County  to-day  would  had  a 
much  larger  population,  and  her  wealth  would  have  been  increased  many 
hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars. 

There  is  no  one  thing  that  would  give  so  much  new  life,  and  develop 
the  rich  resources  which  now  lie  barren  of  results  in  Henry  County,  as 
a  direct  railroad  to  Kansas  City.  That  road  may  go  b}'  the  way  of  Har- 
risonville,  or  still  more  direct,  by  the  way  of  Holden,  and  then  an  inde- 
pendent line  from  there,  or  strike  the  Chicago  &  Alton  near  the  eastern 
border  of  Jackson  County,  and  within  its  limits.  The  people  then  would 
have  a  market  the  equal  of  St.  Louis,  and  150  miles  nearer.  The  road 
must  be  built  if  the  people  of  Henry  County  would  not  have  their  county, 
rich  in  agricultural  and  mineral  wealth,  lie  stagnant,  while  all  around 
them  is  energy  and  enterprise.  Delay  is  folly,  if  all  that  go  to  make  a 
people  prosperous,  and  the  county  advance  in  material  wealth,  is  an 
object  to  be  sought. 

At  the  August  term  of  the  county  court,  1870,  it  was  decided  to 
deliver  to  the  company  above  mentioned,  the  remaining  bonds,  $150,000, 


268  HISTORY    OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

and  the  presiding  justice  and  the  clerk  were  ordered  to  sign  the  same 
and  deliver  them  to  the  proper  officer  of  the  railroad  company,  first  cut- 
ting off  the  July  coupons,  which  was  done  and  the  bonds  delivered. 

With  this  action  closed  the  official  history  of  the  county  with  the 
Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas,  or  Tebo  &  Neosho  Railroad  Company,  so  far 
as  that  road  was  concerned,  only  excepting  the  important  part  of  paying 
the  bonds  subscribed  to  the  road,  which  had  ten  years  to  run,  and  the 
legal  proceedings  attached  thereto. 

The  next  railroad  matter  claiming  the  attention  of  the  writer  of  this 
history,  was  called  a  branch  of  the  Tebo  &  Neosho  Railroad. 

CLINTON   Si   MEMPHIS    RAILROAD. 

Notwithstanding  that  the  tax  or  levy  for  railroad  purposes  had  been 
raised  from  forty  cents  on  the  $ioo  valuation  in  1869  to  seventy  cents  in 
1870,  the  projectors  of  the  above  road  petitioned  the  county  court  for  a 
subscription  of  $150,000  upon  a  petition  of  the  names  of  sundry  voters 
of  the  county,  without  the  formality  of  an  election,  or  a  two-third  vote 
of  the  people,  as  was  made  on  the  other  road.  The  court,  however,  sub- 
scribed the  $150,000  upon  certain  conditions  and  restrictions,  the  road 
to  run  in  the  direction  of  or  to  Osceola  in  St.  Clair  County  and  in  the 
general  direction  of  Memphis,  and  no  bonds  to  be  delivered  until  a  con- 
tract was  let  which  was  of  a  kind  to  warrant  its  full  performance  in 
doing  the  grading  and  the  masonry  on  the  proposed  line  to  the  south 
line  of  the  county.  This  proposition  for  subscription  was  made  at  the 
August  term  of  the  county  court  and  was  carried  by  two  of  the  three 
judges,  one  dissenting.  The  same  parties  also  requested  the  court  to 
subscribe  $50,000  to  the 

CLINTON   &   KANSAS   CITY    RAILROAD, 

or  to  the  Clinton  &  Kansas  City  Branch  of  the  Tebo  &  Neosho  Rail- 
road. This  subscription  was  also  made  by  the  same  two  judges,  one 
dissenting  and  whose  protest  is  here  given.  The  conditions  of  this  last 
subscription  was  that  the  money  was  to  be  used  within  Henry  County 
in  the  general  direction  of  Kansas  City,  either  through  Cass  County  or 
through  Johnson  County.  Hon.  Joseph  Hillegus,  associate  justice,  was 
made  the  county  agent,  and  subscribed  the  above  bonds  as  he  had  the 
$150,000  previous  to  the  Clinton  &  Memphis  Branch. 

THE   PROTEST. 

The  Hon.  William  Jennings,  presiding  justice  of  the  court,  entered 
his  protest  to  both  subscriptions  in  the  following  words,  recorded  on  folios 
357  and  358,  book  F,  county  court  records: 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  269 

"  First.  The  court  is  prohibited  by  the  seventeenth  section  of  chap- 
ter 63  of  the  general  statutes  of  Missouri,  from  taking  the  stock  it  sub- 
scribed or  to  lend  its  credit  to  said  proposed  railroad,  without  having 
first  ordered  an  election  at  which  two-thirds  of  the  qualified  voters  of 
Henry  County  should  give  their  assent  to  said  subscription.  There 
having  been  no  such  election  the  subscription  is  illegal  and  void. 

Second  Because  there  is  no  legal  corporation  organized  under  any 
law  of  this  state  by  the  name  of  the  Clinton  &  Memphis  Branch  of  the 
Tebo  &  Neosho  Railroad,  nor  any  lawfully  organized  corporation  by  the 
name  of  the  Clinton  &  Kansas  City  Branch  of  the  Tebo  &  Neosho  Rail- 
road. ,  .     ,  1         •     J-  4-1 

Third.  Because  the  county  court  has  no  right  to  do  indirectly, 
what  she  is  prohibited  from  doing  directly  by  the  statutes  before  cited, 
namely  to  vote  money  and  aid  to  a  railroad  organized  since  the  adop- 
tion of  the  new  constitution  of  Missouri,  without  the  preliminary  step 
of  an  election  at  which  two-thirds  of  the  qualified  voters  of  the  county 
should  vote  in  favor  of  the  subscription. 

Fourth  Because  by  the  order  of  the  county  court  of  last  term  the 
subscription  was  agreed  to  be  voted  by  the  majority  of  the  court  upon 
a  petition  of  a  majority  of  the  tax-payers  of  Henry  County,  and  there 
has  been  no  legal  or  sufficient  evidence  produced  to  the  court  that  said 
majority  have  so  petitioned.  . 

Fifth  Because  in  view  of  the  burdensome  taxation  already 
imposed  on  the  citizens  of  Henry  County,  I  consider  this  new  tax  ruin- 
ous in  its  tendencies  and  inexpedient  at  this  time. 

[Signed.]  WILLIAM  JENNINGS,  President. 

August  4,  1870." 

Notwithstanding  this  protest  the  subscription  stood,  and  on  Novem- 
ber 7.  1870.  the  court  ordered  to  be  delivered  the  $150,000  in  bonds  to 
the  "Committee  of  construction"  of  the  Clinton   &  Memphis  branch  of 
the  Tebo  &  Neosho  Railroad  Company.     The  next  August,  being  August 
15,  1871,  the  $50,000  in  bonds  subscribed  to  the  Clinton  &  Kansas  City 
branch  of  the  Tebo  &  Neosho  Railroad  were  also  signed  and  turned  over 
to  the  "chairman"  of  construction  committee  of  that  road,  the  company 
having,  as  before  stated  in  the  order,  "fulfilled  the  conditions  prescribed 
and  therefore  entitled  to  the  bonds."     This   order  was  made  under  the 
protest  of  Jarred  Stephenson,  associate  justice,  for   he   said   the    reason 
"  because  said  subscription  was  made  in  violation  of  law  and  the  wishes 
and   interests  of  the   taxpaying  citizens  of   Henry   County."     Yet   Mr. 
Stephenson  was  one  of  the  justices  who  made   the   subscription   to  the 
road,  over  the  protest  of  the  presiding  justice,  Judge  William  Jennings. 
At  this  same  term  of  the  court  an  order  was  passed,   Justice   Jarred 
Stephenson  again  protesting,  appointing  John  S.  Kimbrough,  the  agent 
of  the  county  of  Henry,  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  the   two  branches, 
heretofore  spoken  ot,  the  Tebo  &  Neosho  Railroad.     The  appointment 
was  more  especially  made  to  act  upon  a  petition  of  the  transfer,  by  sale 
or  lease  of  said  branches,  or  of  said  stock,  "to  any  other  corporation  or 
railroad  company."     He  was  fully  empowered  to   act   as  his  judgment 


270      ■  HISTORY    OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

might  dictate,  the  only  provi'^o  of  the  court  being  that  Henry  County 
should  hold  stock  to  the  same  amount  in  any  company  or  corporation 
said  stock  should  be  transferred.  He  was  to  cast  the  vote  of  Henry 
County  and  to  hold  his  position  with  full  power  until  his  appointment 
was  revoked  by  the  county  court.  To  this  action  Judge  Stephenson  as 
above  remarked  entered  his  protest  in  the  words  following: 

ANOTHER   PROTEST. 

"To  the  above  action  of  Judges  Munson  and  Hillegus  in  appointing 
an  agent  to  cast  the  vote  of  Henry  County,  I  enter  my  protest,  for  the 
following  reasons:    * 

First — Because  the  said  Clinton  &  Kansas  City  branch,  and  Clinton 
&  Memphis  branch  of  the  Tebo  &  Neosho  Railroad  have  no  existence  in 
law,  and  any  subscription  of  stock  to  said  branch  roads  by  the  County 
of  Henry  for  the  construction  of  said  branch  roads  is  void. 

Second — Because  the  pretended  subscription  made  by  the  county 
court  to  aid  in  the  construction  of  said  branch  roads  was  made  in  viola- 
tion of  law  and  against  the  interests  and  wish  of  the  tax  paying  citizens 
of  this  county. 

Third — Because  the  bonds  of  said  Henry  County,  issued  in  pay- 
ment of  said  subscription  to  said  branch  roads  are  illegal  and  utterly 
void. 

[Signed]  JARRED  STEPHENSON." 

August  15th,  1871. 

A  new  company  had  been  formed  or  organized  under  the  name  of 
the  Kansas  City,  Memphis  &  Mobile  Railroad  Company,  and  this  com- 
pany (so  called)  wished  to  get  the  franchise,  bonds,  etc.,  of  the  branch 
roads  aforesaid,  and  the  appointment  of  Mr.  Kimbrough  as  agent  of 
Henry  County  was  the  first  step  to  secure  said  object. 

On  the  31st  day  of  August,  1871,  the  stockholders  of  the  Clinton  & 
Memphis  branch,  and  of  the  Clinton  &  Kansas  City  branch  of  the  Tebo 
&  Neosho  Railroad,  held  a  meeting  in  Clinton,  in  which  Mr.  Kimbrough 
made  his  appearance,  and  he  then  and  there  voted  the  sale  of  the 
branches  to  the  said  (so  called)  Kansas  City,  Memphis  &  Mobile  Railroad 
Company,  and  stated  in  his  report  that  a  majority  of  said  stockholders 
so  voted,  and  that  the  condition  of  this  sale  was  that  Henry  County 
should  have  2,000  shares  of  $100  each  in  the  new  company  in  place  of 
the  shares  in  said  branches  of  an  equal  amount. 

The  county  court  accef)ted  the  report  of  its  agent,  and  also  accepted 
the  certificate  for  2,000  shares  in  the  new  company,  at  the  meeting  of 
the  county  court  held  November  6,  1871.  Mr.  Kimbrough  also  presented 
his  account  for  services  rendered  as  above,  and  received  a  Henry  County 
warrant  for  the  sum  of  $31.31,  in  full  of  demands.  The  first  six  months 
interest  on  all  the  bonds  subscribed  to  the  branch  roads  were  cut  off  and 
destroyed.     They  amounted  to  $10,000. 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  2/1 

Matters  for  a  while  seemed  to  iiave  drifted  along.  The  tax  levy  of 
1871,  for  railroad  purposes,  was  placed  at  90  cents  on  the  $100  valuation 
of  the  county  assessment,  but  was  divided,  64  cents  going  to  the  Mis- 
souri, Kansas  &  Texas,  and  36  cents  for  the  branch  roads.  "This  was 
done,  as  an  injuction  suit  had  been  commenced  against  the  payment  of 
the  interest  on  the  bonds  issued  to  the  branches.  Nothing  of  importance 
transpired  outside  of  the  legal  contest.  Work  toward  Osceola  had  been 
commenced,  and  was  finally,  so  far  as  grading,  and  the  culverts  put  in, 
finished. 

On  the  26th  of  May,  1874,  there  being  some  doubt  as  to  the  disposi- 
tion of  the  $50,000  in  bonds  delivered  to  the  construction  committee  of 
the  Clinton  &  Kansas  City  Branch,  and  there  being  no  work  done,  the 
county  court  was  asked  to  investigate,  and  if  possible  find  out  what  dis- 
position has  been  made  of  those  bonds.  The  court  approved  of  the  sug- 
gestion and  appointed  W.  W.  Gatewood,  then  county  attorney,  and 
Messrs.  Parks  and  Gantt,  to  assist  him,  in  trying,  '"if practicable','  to  dis- 
cover the  whereabouts  of  the  missing  $50,000.  They  were  issued 
expressly  for  the  work  to  be  done  within  Henry  County,  in  the  direction 
of  Kansas  City,  either  by  the  way  of  Cass  County  or  Johnson  County, 
and  for  no  other  purpose.  They  had  been  issued  over  three  years  and 
no  work  done.  If  the  gentlemen  made  any  report,  it  was  not  put  upon 
the  records. 

The  same  year,  1874,  the  Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas  commenced  suit 
against  Henry  County  for  excessive  valuation,  by  an  injunction  for 
assessment  purposes,  and  J.  B.  Gantt  was  appointed  attorney  by  the 
county  to  defend  it.  The  valuation  for  1873,  was  $592,739,  and  that  of 
1874,  which  had  been  handed  in  by  the  railroad  company,  at  a  much 
lower  valuation,  the  county  court  refused  to  accept,  and  placed  its  assess- 
ment at  $592,640.  This  the  railroad  company  objected  to,  and  hence  the 
suit.  This  road,  we  believe,  is  now  bonded  at  a  cost  of  some  $40,000  per 
mile,  and  this  tax  is  but  a  trifle  over  one-third  of  what  the  company 
claims  it  to  have  cost.  No  doubt  the  road  and  its  equipment  cost  over 
one  million  of  dollars,  and  fifty  per  cent  of  its  real  value  was  not  exor- 
bitant taxation,  especially  when  $400,000  was  given  the  company  out- 
right by  the  people.  The  assessment  for  1875,  was$653,832.45,  and  about 
the  same  for  1876.  In  1877,  the  county  assessed  on  this  same  Missouri, 
Kansas  &  Texas  road,  $533,501.15  valuation,  and  the  different  townships 
on  a  valuation  of  $564,008.51,  but  in  1878,  came  down  to  the  sum  of 
$449,168.76,  as  the  total  assessed  valuation  of  the  railroad  property  of 
this  corporation  within  the  county.  The  company  opposed  taxation,  but 
was  willing  to  receive  interest  on  the  bonds,  even  if  suits  had  to  be 
brought  to  compel  the  one  and  reject  the  other. 

The  old  Pacific  bonds,  of  which  but  part  had  been  issued,  the  court 
ordered  no  taxes  to  be  collected,  and  those  that  had  paid  taxes  into  the 


2/2  HISTORY   OF    HKNRY   COUNTY. 

treasury  for  the  interest  redemption  of  the  bonds,  and  held  certificates, 
to  come  forward  and  get  their  money  back.  The  interest  fund  had  been 
loaned,  and  the  treasurer  was  ordered  to  call  it  in  and  pay,  after  adding 
40  per  cent.,  to  those  who  had  paid  taxes  and  subscription  previous  to 
i860.     This  order  was  made  in  April,  1875,  and  renewed  July,  1877. 

In  the  meantime  the  Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas  had  passed  into  the 
hands  of  a  receiver,  and  the  $400,000  subscribed  to  the  capital  stock  by 
Henry  County  seemed  to  have  "  gone  where  the  woodbine  twineth,"  but 
if  there  was  death  as  regards  the  stock,  there  was  life  in  the  taxation 
yet  left  on  the  property,  and  that  increase  of  the  taxable  wealth  of  the 
county  was  where  the  people  were  destined  to  get  their  money  back,  if 
ever.  The  subscription  may  have  been  considered  costly,  but  where  the 
people,  as  in  this  case,  got  the  road^  there  was  not  so  much  lost,  but 
much  may  be  gained  in  the  end.  The  people  of  Missouri  have  not  and 
never  will  lose  anything  by  the  building  of  railroads.  It  is  only  where 
bonds  and  money  have  been  g-iven,  scoundrels  have  gotten  away  with  it, 
and  the  roads  expected  having  proved  but  a  "d — d  barren  ideality,"  that 
the  people  have  had  cause  to  romplain. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

ONE  MILLION  DOLLARS  SQUANDERED— $400,000  OF  STOCK 

SOLD  FOR  $86,585.71. 

THE  RAILROAD  BULL  GORING  THE  COUNTY  OX— LAW  SUITS,  JUDGMENTS  AND  MANDA- 
MUS—JUDGE GANTT  APPOINTED  COUNTY  AGENT— H.  W.  SALMON  VERBALLY  AP- 
POINTED—THE SALE— THE  PURCHASE  OF  BONDS,  JUDGMENTS  AND  COUPONS-AND 
VET  AFTER  ALL  A  MILLION  DOLLARS  AND  OVER  SQUANDERED— TAX  LEVY— COM- 
PROMISE-EXCHANGE  OF  BONDS-REDUCTION  OF  DEBT-FINAL  COST. 

RAILROAD   BULL   AND   COUNTY   OX. 

In  regard  to  the  remark  above  of  a  willingness  on  the  part  of  the 
Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas  to  receive  interest  and  avoid  taxation,  the  fol- 
low ing  order  of  the  court  seems  to  bear  out  such  a  construction,  outside 
of  the  notorious  fact  of  a  desire  for  under  valuation  when  it  came  to  the 
assessment.     This  order,  dated  October  22,  1875,  reads: 

"  It  is  ordered  by  the  court  that  if  William  Bond,  receiver  of  the 
Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas  Railway  Company,  shall  pay  into  the  county 
treasury  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  November,  1875,  the  state  interest 
tax  amounting  to  $1,285.60,  and  school  tax  of  the  sum  of  $2,422.45, 
which  is  now  due  from  said  company,  the  balance  of  the  tax  due  for  the 
year  1874  will  be  made  in  two  equal  sums  of  $396.61,  payable  respect- 
ively on  the  1st  day  of  April  and  July,  1876,  without  interest  until  after 
maturity,  which,  if  not  then  paid,  shall  draw  ten  per  cent." 

There  was  a  disposition  on  the  part  of  persons  holding  Henry 
County  bonds  which  would  come  due  the  following  January,  1877,  to  find 
out  what  could  be  done  to  secure  their  pay,  and  they  suggested  to  the 
county  court  a  conference.  Judges  M.  Wood  and  M.  A.  Stewart  were 
authorized  to  see  what  the  bondholders  proposed.  They  went  to  St. 
Louis  in  April,  1876,  and  just  what  they  reported  on  their  return  is  not 
of  record,  but  this  little  order  can  be  found  on  page  225  of  record  book 
H,  which  reads  to  the  point: 

"  It  is  ordered  by  the  court  that  E.  Allison,  county  treasurer,  be 
and  he  is  hereby  directed  not  to  pay  any  money  after  this  date  on  any 
railroad  coupon  of  Henry  County  until  the  further  order  of  this  court. 

May  20,  1876." 

There  was  considerable  lawing  done  in  regard  to  these  bonds,  and 
quite  a  number  of  lawyers,  both    inside  and  outside   of  the  county,  had 

18 


274  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

received  liberal  fees  for  making  defense  of  the  county's  interest,  but  the 
first  practical  result  of  the  above  order  seemed  to  be  in  the  purchase  of 
forty-five  one  thousand  dollar  bonds  for  the  sum  of  $18,058.10,  a  trifle 
over  forty  cents  on  the  dollar. 

In  the  meantime,  a  Mr.  A.  H.  Nicholay  got  judgment  in  the  United 
States  Circuit  Court  against  the  county  for  $25,000,  and  a  mandamus  was 
issued,  compelling  the  county  to  pay,  and  accordingly  a  levy  was  made 
of  15  cents  on  the  $100  valuation,  to  pay  this  judgment.  This  levy  was 
made  in  May,  1878,  at  the  time  of  the  levy  for  general  taxation.  Judg- 
ments began  to  fall  fast  upon  Henry  County,  nearly  all  the  suits  going 
against  her.  A  tax  became  necessary,  for  it  had  been  determined  to 
use  the  sinking  fund  and  all  other  funds  that  could  be  spared  to  pur- 
chase bonds  and  coupons  at  40  cents  on  the  dollar,  or  thereabouts,  judg- 
ments or  no  judgment.  The  creditors  in  fact  knew  nothing  of  funds  on 
hand,  and  would  agree  to  wait  for  a  new  tax  levy.  Therefore,  the  court 
asked  for  a  five  mill  tax  to  raise  money  to  pay  these  judgments  and  got 
it,  and  it  was  enough  to  add  to  the  purchasing  fund  a  little  to  discount 
bonds  on.  Judge  Wright  had  granted  the  order,  and  then  when  a  new 
batch  of  judgments  were  rendered  later,  Judge  Gantt  granted  another. 
However,  something  had  to  be  done,  and  the  court  made  a  bold  strike 
to  get  rid  of  the  stock  held  in  the  Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas  Road, 
and  secure  the  best  price  possible,  and  invest  the  proceeds  in  the  county's 
indebtedness.  There  did  not  seem  to  be  much  outside  talk  about  this 
move.  Something  near  $100,000  in  judgments  and  bonds  held  by  those 
who  had  secured  them,  caused  a  desire,  if  possible,  to  tide  over  and  save 
the  county.  It  had  defaulted  on  principal  and  interest  from  1875,  but 
the  mandamus  knew  "  no  such  word  as  fail." 

JUDGE   GANTT'S   APPOINTMENT. 

August  iith,  1879,  the  following  appointment  is  made  of  record: 

*'  It  is  ordered  by  the  court  that  James  B.  Gantt  be,  and  he  is  hereby 
appointed  agent  of  Henry  County,  in  the  State  of  Missouri,  to  exchange 
the  stock  which  Henry  County  holds,  to  wit:  Four  thousand  shares  in  the 
Tebo  &  Neosho  Railroad  Company,  for  the  same  amount  of  stock  in  the 
Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas  Railway  Company,  and  also  that  he  be  author- 
ized and  empowered  to  sell  said  stock  in  the  Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas 
Railway  Company,  and  to  assign,  set  over  and  transfer  said  Missouri, 
Kansas  &  Texas  Railway  Company  stock  to  the  purchaser  or  purchasers 
thereof,  and  said  James  B.  Gantt  is  authorized  to  endorse  said  Tebo  & 
Neosho  Railroad  Company  stock  in  the  name  of  said  county." 

This  wasn't  a  very  strange  order,  and  as  the  stock  of  the  aforesaid 
road  was  of  but  little  quotable  value,  it  was  not  thought  or  expected 
much  could  be  done  with  it. 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  2/5 

Judge  Gantt  made  his  preparations  to  carry  out  this  order  as  rapidly 
as  possible,  and  the  county  court  gave  him  a  verbal  order  to  secure  as 
his  assistant  Major  H.  W.  Salmon.  The  report  of  their  doing  is  so 
important  to  the  people  that  it  is  given  here  in  full. 

THE   CLOSING   OUT. 

The  final  closing  out  of  the  M.,  K.  &  T.  stock  reduced  the  outstand- 
ing indebtedness  of  the  coufity  $183,301.77.  The  sale  was  supposed  to 
have  been  made  too  soon,  as  the  stock  went  higher  the  next  spring,  but 
judgments  wouldn't  waic,  and  as  the  stock  went  up  so  did  Henry  County 
bonds,  so  if  loss  was  made  on  one  side  it  gained  on  the  other.  It  looks 
rather  hard  to  see  what  has  been  paid,  what  is  yet  to  be  cancelled,  and 
then  look  at  its  results.  Still,  at  this  time  the  die  was  cast,  the  matter 
has  been  compromised,  and  while  it  may  be  considered  something  of  a 
burden,  the  people  to-day  can  far  easier  redeem  the  debt  than  one-half 
of  it  could  have  been  done  six  or  seven  years  ago.     Here  is  the  report: 

JUDGE   GANTT'S   REPORT. 

To  the  County  Court  of  Henry  County,  Missouri: 

I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  in  compliance  with  the  order  of  this 
court,  made  and  entered  of  record  at  the  August  term,  1879,  ^"^^  o^'^  the 
I2th  day  of  August,  1879,  appointing  me  the  agent  of  Henry  County  to 
exchange  the  four  thousand  shares  of  stock  held  by  Henry  Count}'  in 
the  Tebo  &  Neosho  Railwa)'  Company,  for  a  like  number  of  shares  of  the 
stock  of  the  Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas  Railway  Company,  and  to  sell 
the  same  for  the  use  of  said  county,  and  in  pursuance  of  the  verbal 
instructions  of  the  court,  that  I  should  associate  with  myself  Major  H. 
W.  Salmon,  to  assist  and  co-operate  with  me  in  effecting  the  exchange 
and  sale  of  the  Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas  Railway  stock.  We  proceeded 
to  New  York  City,  reaching  there  on  Saturday,  the  4th  day  of  October, 
1879.  We  succeeded  in  effecting  the  exchange  of  the  old  stock,  and  the 
issuance  of  the  new  stock  in  the  name  of  H.  W.  Salmon,  on  the  8th  day 
of  October,  1879,  ^"<^  sold  said  new  stock  on  that  day,  and  the  day  fol- 
lowing, through  the  firm  of  S.  F.  Johnson  &  Co.,  No.  2  Nassau  Street, 
New  York  City,  whose  statement  of  the  sale  and  accounting  for  the  pro- 
ceeds thereof,  are  herewith  filed  and  made  a  part  of  this  report,  and  is 
marked  "  Exhibit  A." 

From  these  statements,  it  will  be  observed,  they  account  to  Major 
H.  W.  Salmon  for  the  proceeds  of  seven  thousand  shares,  instead  of  four 
thousand  shares,  the  amount  of  Henry  County's  stock.  This  excess  of 
three  thousand  shares  is  the  stock  of  Vernon  County,  Missouri,  whose 
agent,  Judge  Paul  F.  Thornton,  accompanied  us,  and  transferred  the 
stock  of  Vernon  County  to  Major  H.  W.  Salmon,  also,  in  order  to  accomp- 
lish for  Vernon  County  the  same  purpose  we  had  in  view,  and  in  account- 
ing Vernon  County  had  three-sevenths  and  Henry  County  four-sevenths 
of  the  net  proceeds. 


2/6  IlISTOKV   or    HENK\    COUNTY. 

That  is  to  say,  the  whole  amount  received  by  Major  H.  W.  Salmon, 
of  S.  F.  Johnson  &  Co.  was  $151,525,  of  which  amount  I  received  of 
Major  Salmon  four-sevenths,  or  $86,585  71,  and  Judge  Paul  F.  Thornton 
for  Vernon  County  three-sevenths,  or  $64,939.29;  so  that  I  have  had  in 
my  hands  the  said  sum  of  $86,585.71,  which  sum,  after  deducting  the 
amount  of  our  expenses  incurred  in  this  behalf — that  is,  for  traveling 
expenses,  hotel  bills  and  other  expenditures  on  this  account,  which  were 
both  for  Major  Salmon  and  myself,  $600 — left  in  my  hands  for  investment 
$85,985.71.  You  will  further  notice  that  the  stock  was  sold  at  from  $21 
per  share  to  $22^  per  share,  thus  averaging  the  highest  price  that 
Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas  stock  had  ever  commanded  in  the  stock  mar- 
ket, as  can  readily  be  seen  by  the  "Stock  Report"  compiled  from  the 
record  of  the  New  York  Stock  Exchange,  covering  a  period  of  twenty 
years  from  i860  to  1880,  which  shows  in  tabulated  form  the  highest  and 
lowest  prices  this  stock  brought  during  each  month  since  it  was  placed 
on  the  stock  board  of  the  New  York  Stock  Exchange,  which  said  report 
I  also  file  herewith  as  a  part  of  this  report  of  mine,  making  it  exhibit 
"  B." 

It  may  be  proper  for  me  to  state  in  this  connection  that  this  Mis- 
souri, Kansas  &  Texas  stock  declined  and  advanced  for  several  weeks 
after  this  sale,  going  as  low  as  $20  per  share  in  November  following  our 
sale  in  October,  and  afterward  advancing  in  the  late  winter  and  spring, 
until  some  of  the  counties,  viz,  Pettis  County,  sold  for  $30  per  share. 
While  on  the  one  hand  it  may  be  a  subject  of  regret  that  we  did  not 
hold  this  stock  and  obtain  the  highest  price  therefor,  yet  it  will  and 
must  be  remembered  that  the  order  of  the  court  was  made  under  peculiar 
circumstances.  For  years  the  stock  had  been  considered  utterly  value- 
less, and  even  in  January,  1879,  was  quoted  at  $5|  per  share, 
so  great  was  the  mortgage  debt  of  the  railroad  and  the  continued 
default  of  the  company  to  pay  interest  on  its  first  mortgage  bonds. 
When  your  Honors  determined  to  sell  the  stock  you  had  a  two-fold 
object  in  view,  namely;  to  prevent  a  levy  and  sale  of  this  stock  in  favor 
of  some  of  the  numerous  judgments,  creditors  of  Henry  County,  who 
had  obtained  their  judgments  in  the  United  States  courts  prior  to  your 
order,  as  had  been  done  in  a  number  of  cases  against  other  counties, 
notably  Schuyler  and  Callaway  Counties,  and  they  entirely  sacrificed  the 
stock  and  at  the  same  time  paying  out  its  proceeds  at  dollar  for  dollar 
on  these  judgments.  Your  order  prevented  this  sacrifice  and  saved  thou- 
sands of  dollars  to  the  county.  Your  other  object  was  to  obtain  from 
this  stock  a  fund  with  which  you  could  purchase  in  the  outstanding 
railroad  indebtedness  of  the  county  while  they  were  at  a  large  discount. 
This  you  have  accomplished  in  a  large  measure  and  whatever  the  result 
has  been,  no  one  can  question  the  motives  of  the  court,  and  considering 
the  advance  in  securities  of  all  kinds  the  past  year,  there  is  still  no 
doubt  you  sold  at  the  proper  time.  In  carrying  out  the  verbal  instruc- 
tions of  the  court  and  furthering  its  purpose  to  invest  the  money  received 
from  the  sale  of  this  stock  in  buying  in  the  outstanding  indebtedness  of 
the  county  consisting  of  its  railroad  bonds  together  with  the  interest 
thereon  and  the  judgments  obtained  on  the  same  against  the  county,  I 
have  with  the  aid  and  assistance  of  Maj.  H.  W.  Salmon,  whom  I  called 
to  my  assistance  as  desired  by  the  court,  bought  Henry  County  bonds, 
judgments  against  the   county,    interest  coupons  and   interest   thereon 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  277 

amountin^^  in  the  ag^gregate  to  $183,301.77  buying  the  same  as  rapidly 
as  I  could  under  the  circumstances,  avoiding  at  the  same  time  making 
any  purchase  that  was  in  our  opinion  calculated  to  advance  the  price  of 
the  bonds  of  the  county  and  thus  increasing  our  indebtedness,  and,  as 
your  Honors  are  aware,  consulting  in  almost  every  instance  with  the 
court  prior  to  making  an  investment. 

By  reference  to  a  detailed  statement  herewith  filed,  marked  Exhibit 
"C,"  you  will  find  that  I  have  purchased  with  the  funds  aforesaid,  fifty- 
one  bonds  of  $1,000  each,  of  tens  of  1870;  fifty-four  bonds  of  $1,000  each, 
of  tens  of  the  C.  &  M.  Branch  of  Tebo  &  Neosho  Railroad,  of  1871,  and 
twelve  bonds,  tens  of  1871,  of  $1,000  each,  of  the  Clinton  and 
Kansas  City  Branch  of  the  Tebo  &  Neosho  Railroad,  with  interest 
coupons  thereto  attached  as  per  statement;  also  judgments  against  the 
county  on  railroad  bonds  and  coupons,  and  a  small  amount  of  extra 
detached  coupons  from  bonds.  The  total  expenditures  on  account  of 
the  purchases  made  as  stated  above  together  with  the  expenses  of  H, 
W.  Salmon,  myself  and  W.  D.  Tyler,  incurrred  in  traveling  expenses, 
telegrams  and  express  charges,  etc.,  amounts  to  $84,666.57,  leaving  in 
my  hands  $1,319.14,  which  sum  I  now  here  hand  to  the  court. 

Concerning  the  prices  paid  for  these  bonds,  I  will  say  that  the  bonds 
of  Henry  County,  as  well  as  the  bonds  of  other  counties,  and  all  other 
securities  have  advanced  since  this  business  was  undertaken;  caused,  as 
all  are  aware,  in  a  large  measure  by  the  easy  money  market,  and  the  gen- 
eral prosperity  of  the  country. 

HE   BEARS   TESTIMONY. 

Before  closing  this  report  I  desire  now  and  here  to  bear  testimony 
to  the  skill  and  fidelity  to  Henry  County,  shown  by  Maj.  H.  W.  Salmon 
throughout  this  whole  business.  I  do  not  desire  to  arrogate  to  myselt 
the  credit  of  having  made  the  purchase  of  these  bonds,  and  managing 
the  negotiations  with  the  various  persons  with  whom  we  had  to  deal,  as 
I  have  relied  in  a  great  measure  on  his  large  experience  and  extensive 
acquaintance  with  such  matters. 

At  one  time  we  thought  it  best  to  send  some  discreet  person  to 
Kentucky,  where  a  large  number  of  our  bonds  are  held,  and  we  selected 
for  this  purpose  Mr.  W.  D.  Tyler,  cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank,  of 
Clinton,  and  while  he  did  not  succeed  in  making  the  purchase,  he  obtained 
much  valuable  information,  and  his  expenses,  $125,  I  have  paid  as  was 
agreed  before  hand.  In  conclusion,  I  desire,  both  in  behalf  of  Major 
Salmon  and  myself  to  thank  this  court  and  its  individual  members  for 
the  uniform  courtesy  and  confidence  reposed  in  us  in  the  management 
of  this  matter,  coming  as  it  did  unsought  by  us.  And  I  will  only  add, 
in  my  own  behalf  that  every  act  and  move  I  have  made  in  the  premises 
has  been  to  subserve  the  best  interests  of  Henry  County.  All  of  which 
is  respectfully  submitted  for  your  approval. 

JAMES  B.  GANTT. 

The  following  are  the  papers  referred  to: 

"EXHIBIT  C." 

Statement  of  bonds,  interest  coupons,  and  judgments  purchased  for 
Henry  County,  with  funds  arising  from  sale   of  Tebo   &   Neosho   stock, 


278  HISTORY   OK    HENRY    COUNTY. 

showing  the  date  of  each  purchase,  from  whom  purchased  and  the 
amount  paid  therefor. 

NOVEMBER  I,   1 879.      LOT  NO.   I. 

Bought  of  Donaldson  &  Fraley  22  bonds,  Clinton  &  Memphis  branch 
Tebo  &  Neosho  Kailroad,  Nos.  ^6,  77,  78,  79,  80,  8 r,  82,  83,  84,  85,  86,  87, 
88,  89,  90,  91,  92,  93,  94,  95,  96  and  97,  with  coupons  of  1872  and  subse- 
quent, paid  $1 1,000. 

JANUARY  28,   1880.      LOT  NO.  2. 

Bought  of  Alfred  Ennis,  attorney  for  Portsmouth  Savings  Bank,  40 
bonds,   lOs   of  1870  issue,  Nos.    113,  114,  115,  116,  117,  119,  133,  134,  135, 

136,  137.  138,  139.  140,  141.  142,  143.  144.  145.  148,  149.  150,  i5f.  152,  156, 
157,  158,  166,  167,  168,  169,  182,  184,  214,  215,  216,  217,  218,  2^\g  and  220, 
with  July,  1879,  coupons  and  those  subsequent.  Also  three  coupons  of 
July,  1878,  from  bonds  142,  143  and  144.  Also  two  judgments  in  favor 
of  the  Portsmouth  Savings  Bank  vs.  Henry  County,  in  the  United  States 
Circuit,  Western  District  of  Missouri,  Nos.  1035  and  1300,  as  per  state- 
ment accompanying  said  bonds.     Paid   $28,368.90. 

MARCH  20,   1880.      LOl   NO.  3. 

Bought  of  the  Farmers  and  Merchants,  Hannibal,  Missouri,  one 
bond,  No.  24.  Clinton  &  Kansas  City  Branch  of  Tebo  &  Neosho  Rail- 
road, with  July,  1878,  and  subsequent  coupons  attached.     Paid  $410. 

MARCH  20,   1880.      LOT  NO.  4. 

Bought  of  W.  J.  McNight,  four  January,  1876,  coupons,  from  bonds 
Nos.  139,  145,  149  and  150,  of  issue  of  1867.     Paid  $52. 

MAY  5,   1880.      LOT  NO.  5. 

Bought  of  Donnell,  Lawson  &  Simpson,  21  bonds,  Nos.  11,  12,  13, 
14,  15,  18,  49,  50,  56  and  57  of  Clinton  &  Memphis  Branch,  and  Nos.  12, 
13,  14,  17,  19,  20,  27,  28,  29,  30  and  49  of  Clinton  &  Kansas  City  Branch 
of  Tebo  &  Neosho  Railroad,  with  coupons  of  1879  and  subsequent 
attached,  also  judgment  No.  1297  of  E.  C.  Lewis  vs.  County,  Jmie  30, 
1879,  for  $8,852,  in  United  States  Court.     Paid  $16,832.67. 

AUGUST  29,   1880.      LOT  NO.  6. 

Bought  of  Donalson  &  Fraley  ten  bonds,  Nos.  19,  20,  21,  22,  23,  24, 
44,  45,  46  and  47  Clinton  &  Memphis  Branch,  Tebo  &  Neosho  Railroad, 
with  coupons  of  July,  1876,  and  subsequent.     Paid  $7,775. 

SEPTEMBER  I,  1880.      LOT  NO.  7. 

Bought  of  Donnell,  Lawson  &  Simpson  ten  bonds,  Nos.  loi,  102, 
1.03,  104,  105,  106,  107,  108,  109  and  1 10  Clinton  &  Memphis  Branch,  Tebo 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  2/9 

&  Neosho  Railroad,  with  coupons  of  July  1875,  a'nd   subsequent.     Paid 
$7,850. 

NOVEMBER    10,    1880,   LOT   NO.    8. 

Bought  of  Donalson  &  Fraley  one  bond,  No.  64,  Chicago  &  Memphis 
Branch  of  the  Tebo  &  Neosho  Railroad  with  coupons  of  1875  and  sub- 
sequent.    Paid  $860. 

DECEMBER    I,    1880,    LOT   NO.   9. 

Bought  of  Donnell,  Lawson  &  Simpson  "  Patty  B.  Lex  bonds," 
nine  bonds,  lOs  of  1870,  Nos.  226,  227,  228,  229,  230,  231,  232,  233  and 
234,  with  coupons  January,  1879,  and  subsequent,  together  with  judg- 
ment of  W.  R.  and  Patty  B.  Lex  vs.  Henry  County  in  the  United  States 
Circuit  Court,  Western  District  of  Missouri,  No.  1,274,  November  21, 
1879,  for  $2,570.50.     Paid,   $8,542.50. 

DECEMBER    I,    1880,    LOT   NO.    10. 

Bought  of  Donnell,  Lawson  &  Simpson  one  bond,  No.  4,  los  of 
1870,  with  coupons  of  July  1876  and  subsequent.  This  bond  is  now  held 
by  Donnell,  Lawson  &  Simpson,  of  New  York,  for  H.  W.  Salmon.  Paid, 
$885. 

DECEMBER   6,    1880,    LOT   NO.    11. 

Bought  of  Donnell,  Lawson  &  Simpson,  one  bond.  No.  109,  los  of 
1870,  with  coupons  of  July,  1876,  and  subsequent.  This  bond  is  also  in 
the  hands  of  Donnell,  Lawson  &  Simpson,  of  New  York,  held  for  H.  W. 
Salmon.     Paid,  $915. 

DECEMBER  6,    1880,   LOT   NO.    12. 

Bought  of  James  M.  Avery,  one  bond.  No.  120,  Clinton  &  Memphis 
Branch  of  the  Tebo  &  Neosho  Railroad,  lOs  of  1871,  with  coupons  of 
January,  1875,  attached,  and  subsequent,  and  six  extra  coupons,  Nos. 
153  and  154,  July,  1874,  lOs,  1871,  and  July,  1876,  January,  1877,  July, 
1877,  and  January,  1878;  coupons  from  bond  24,  Clinton  &  Memphis 
Branch  of  the  Tebo  &  Neosho  Railroad.     Paid,  $1,050. 

Lot  No.  13,  W.  D.  Tyler's  expenses  to  Kentucky,  $125. 

Total  amount  expended,  $84,666.57. 

"Which  said  report,  being  seen  and  duly  considered  by  the  court,  is 
ordered  filed.  And  now  comes  James  B.  Gantt  and  turns  over  to  the 
court  all  the  bonds,  coupons  and  judgments  as  per  statement  in  his 
report,  including  bonds  Nos.  4  and  109,  mentioned  in  lots  10  and  11, 
also  the  treasurer's  receipt  for  balance  not  expended  of  $1,319.14.  It  is 
thereupon  ordered  by  the  court  that  James  B.  Gantt  be  fully  released 
from  further  responsibility  as  agent  ot  Henry  County  in  the  matter 
aforesaid.  It  is  further  ordered  by  the  court  that  the  bonds,  coupons, 
and  judgments,  aforesaid,  and  all  other  papers  in  the  matter,  be  filed  in 
the  office  of  the  clerk  of  this  court,  and  that  said  bonds  and  coupons  be 
and  are  hereby  cancelled  in  the  presence   of  the   court,   by  writing  the 


280  HISTORY  OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 

word  "  cancelled,"  date,  etc.,  across  the   face   or  the  signatures  on  the 
bonds  with  red  ink. 

"  It  is  ordered  by  the  court  that  a  warrant  be  drawn  on  the  sinking 
fund  for  the  sum  of  $400,  payable  to  James  B.  Gantt  for  legal  services 
on  behalf  of  county  per  account,  this  day  allowed  and  filed." 

This  report  was  made  to  the  county  court  and  entered  of  record 
December  8,  1880. 

A   TAX   LEVY. 

The  petition  for  an  assessment  made  before  Judge  Gantt  and  before 
referred  to  was  made  May  16,  1881.  There  was  no  particular  amount  of 
levy  mentioned,  but  enough  to  cover  the  amount  of  the  judgments  and 
costs  of  the  suits.  The  order  was  granted  May  17,  188 1,  and  the  levy 
was  made  and  $1,087.68  of  the  amount  paid  February  10,  1882.  There 
were  seven  of  these  judgments,  for  which  the  order  granting  the  levy 
referred. 

As  it  was  found  next  to  impossible  to  secure  many  more  of  the 
bonds  at  a  heavy  discount  and  the  costs  of  a  suit  were  expensive,  one 
more  effort  was  made  to  compromise  the  debts.  The  people  at  last 
began  to  realize  that  it  was  but  to  settle  the  debt  and  take  a  breathing 
spell.  The  strain  had  been  going  on  for  three  or  four  years.  .A  propo- 
sition to  fund  the  debt  at  seventy-five  cents  on  the  dollar  was  offered  to 
vote  upon,  and  the  county  court  called  a  special  election  June  26,  1882, 
to  test  the  feelings  of  the  people.  The  vote  was  taken  and  there  was  a 
majority  of  880  votes  in  favor  of  the  proposition.  In  making  the  order 
to  carry  out  this  affirmative  vote  the  court  stated  that  there  was  a  debt 
of  nearly  $700,000  yet  to  be  looked  after. 

The  debt  was  to  be  paid  at  seventy-five  cents  on  the  dollar,  the 
bonds,  coupons  and  interest  to  be  added  together.  The  new  bonds  to 
be  5-2OS,  that  is,  to  run  twenty  years  and  be  redeemable  after  five  years 
at  the  option  of  the  county,  and  to  pay  interest  at  six  per  cent  per 
annum,  payable  annually  instead  of  semi-annually.  As  the  original 
debt  was  $600,000  and  it  has  been  running  nearly  thirteen  years  on  an 
average,  and  $450,000  drawing  ten  per  cent,  the  sum,  if  none  had  been 
paid,  would  have  amounted  at  this  time  to  over  $1,400,000,  including 
the  coupons  and  not  counting  the  interest  upon  the  latter,  which  is 
demanded.  These  new  six  per  cent  bonds  are  payable  at  the  National 
Bank  of  Commerce,  New  York  City,  and  dated  July  i,  1882. 

The  court  at  once  acted  upon  the  vote  of  the  people,  and  ordered 
200  bonds  of  $500  each,  with  coupons  attched,  and  425  bonds  of  $i,000 
each,  with  coupons,  for  the  purpose  of  refunding.  William  H.  Cock  was 
appointed  agent  to  look  after  the  funding  process.  Mr.  Cock,  as  finan- 
cial agent,  made  October  9,  1882,  the  following  report  of  his  work: 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY.  28l 

SETTLEMENTS. 

No.  I — Catherine  Stark. 

Old  bonds,  $1,766.71,  at  75  cents,  new  bonds $   1,325  03 

Exchanged  i  bond $   i,0O0  00 

Cash  for  balance 325  03 

No.  2 — Grant  &  Grant,  Davenport,  Iowa. 

Old  bonds,  $59,088.03,  at  75  cents,  new  bonds $44,316  02 

Net  S.  U.  Church,  new  bonds 2,63 1  78 

$46,947  80 

40  bonds,  $1,000 $40,000  00 

9  bonds,        500 4,500  00 

Cash 2,447  80 

No.  3— William  C.  Blair. 

Old  bonds  $24,008,  at  75  cents,  new  bonds $18,006  00 

18  bonds,  $1,000 $18,00  000 

Cash 6  00 

No.  4 — John  A.  Humes. 

Old  bonds,  $2,409.00,  at  75  cents,  new  bonds $   1,806  75 

Mr.  Humes  paid  in  cash 193  25 

$  2,000  oo 
2  bonds,  $  1 ,000 $2,000  00 

No.  5— J.  G.  Fox,  Easton,  Pa. 

Old  bonds,  $3,785,  at  75  cents,  new  bonds $  2,841   25, 

2  bonds,  $1,000 $2,000  00 

I  bond,         500 500  00 

Cash  paid 341  25 

September  21. 

No.  6— Albert  Parker,  judgments. 

Old  bonds,  $57,516.87,  at  75  cents,  new  bonds $43-137  65 

Add  cost  of  judgment 35^  73 

Cash  paid  by  Mr.  Parker 3  62 

$43,500  00 

43  bonds,  $  1 ,000 $43,000  00 

I  bond  500 500  00 

August  17. 

No.  7 — John  B.  Henderson,  in  part. 

Old  bonds,  $29,080.30,  at  75  cents,  new  bonds $21,810  25 

Add  cost  of  suits 94  47 

Cash  paid  by  John  B.  Henderson    95  28 

$22,000  00 
22  bonds,  $1,000 $22,000  00 


282  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

No  8. — Wernes  &  Dickinson — 

Old  bonds,  $2,049.50  at  75  cents,  new  bonds $1,537   '3 

Commission  allowed '. 12  50 

$   1.549  63 

I  bond $  1 ,000  00 

I  bond 500  00 

Cash 49  63 

August  31st. 

No.  9 — Mrs.  H.  D.  Warner,  by  attorney — 

Old  coupons.  $69.50  at  75  cents $        52   13 

Cash $      52   13 

September  ist. 

No.  10— H.  S.  Mills,  Kansas  City- 
Old  bonds,  $797.50  at  75  cents,  new  bonds 598   13 

1  bond $    500  00 

Cash 98   13 

August  i8th. 

No.  II — Mrs.  Albert  Blackweison,  by  attorney — 
Old  bonds,  $3,643  at  75  cents,  new  bonds 2,732  25 

2  bonds  $1,000 $2,000  00 

1  bond 500  00 

Cash 232  25 

September  ist. 

No.  12 — Mrs.  A.  F.  Smith,  by  attorney — 
Old  bonds,  $3,643  at  75  cents,  new  bonds 2,732  25 

2  bonds  $1,000 $2,000  00 

1  bond 500  00 

Cash 232  25 

August  19th. 

No.  13 — Brick  Jones,  Esq — 
Old  bonds,  $3,504  at  75  cents,  new  bonds 2,628  00 

2  bonds  $1,000 $2,000  00 

1  bond 500  00 

Cash 1 28  00 

August  2 1st. 

No.  14 — H.  O.  Warren,  New  Milford,  Conn.,  by  attorney — 
Old  bonds,  $3,643  at  75  cents,  new  bonds 2,732  25 

2  bonds  $1,000 $2,000  00 

1  bond 500  00 

Cash 232  25 

August  19th. 

No.  15 — Mrs.  A.  F.  Smith,  by  attorney — 
Old  bonds,  $3,643  at  75  cents,  new  bonds 2,732  25 

2  bonds  $  1 ,000 $2,000  00 

I  bond 500  00 

Cash 232  25 

August  19th. 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  283 

No.  16 — E.  B.  Marsh,  by  attorney — 

Old  bonds,  $3,643  at  75  cents,  new  bonds 2,732  25 

2  bonds  $  1 ,000 $2,000  00 

1  bond 500  00 

Cash 232  25 

August  19th. 

No.  17 — J.  B.  Owsley,  by  attorney — 
Old  bonds,  $3,643  at  75  cents,  new  bonds 2,732  25 

2  bonds  $  1 ,000 $2,000  00 

I  bond 500  00 

Cash 23225 

August  17th. 

No.  18 — Lee  Hayden  — 
Old  bonds,  $1 1,194  at  75  cents,  new  bonds 8,395   50 

8  bonds  $1,000 $8,000  00 

Cash 395   50 

August  17th. 

No.  19 — John  Baughman — 

Old  bonds,  $1,821.50  at  75  cents,  new  bonds 1,366  13 

I  bond $1,000  00 

Cash 366   13 

August  17th. 

No.  20 — J.  S.  Owsley — 

Old  bonds,  $5,464.50  at  75  cents,  new  bonds 4,098  38 

4  bonds  $1,000 $4,000  00 

Cash 98  38 

August  17th. 

No.  21 — L.  P.  Nelson,  by  attorney — 

Old  bonds,  $6,300  at  75  cents,  new  bonds 4.725  00 

4  bonds  $1,000 : $4,000  OO 

I  bond 500  00 

Cash 225  00 

September  2d. 

No.  22- — John  B.  Henderson  (in  part) — 
Old  bonds,  $12,264.00  at  75  cents,  new  bonds 9,198  00 

9  bonds,  $  1 ,000 $9,000  00 

Cash 198  00 

August  14th. 

No.  23— William  AuU— 

Old  bonds,  $2,360.50  at75  cents,  new  bonds ^^77'^  ^o 

I  bond   $  1 ,000  00 

I  bond   500  00 

Cash 270  40 

August  24th. 


284  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

No.  24 — H.  V.  Loring — 

Old  bonds,  $1 1,402.50  at  75  cents,  new  bonds 8,55  i   88 

8  bonds,  $  i  ,000 $8,000  00 

I  bond 500  00 

Cash ■     51  88 

August  14th. 

No.  25 — Anthony  McElroy,  Springfield,  Missouri — 

Old  bonds,  $5,256.00  at  75  cents,  new  bonds 3,Q42  00 

3  bonds,  $  1 ,000 $3,000  00 

1  bond 500  00 

Cash 442  00 

August  14th. 

No.  26 — Samuel  Spaulding — 
Old  bonds,  $3,504.00  at  75  cents,  new  bonds 2,628  00 

2  bonds,  $  1 ,000   $2,000  00 

I  bond 500  00 

Cash ! 128  00 

August  14th. 

No.  27— H.  S.  Wethers,  Stanford,  Kentucky- 
Old  bonds,  $1,752  at  75  cents,  new  bonds loH  00 

I  bond $  1 ,000  00 

Cash 314  00 

August  14th. 

No.  28— Albert  Parker- 
Old  bonds,  $4,884.00  at  75  cents,  new  bonds 3,663  00 

3  bonds,  $1,000 $3,000  00 

I  bond s 500  00 

Cash 1 63  00 

August  14th. 

In  these  settlements  the  bonded  debt  had  been  reduced  as  follows: 

Total  cash  paid  out  in  exchange $7,627  64 

Cash  received  in  exchange  from  Nos.  4,  6  and  7 292   15 

Bonded  debt  reduced $7,335  49 

For  the  above  net  reduction  warrants  were  drawn,  one  September  4, 
1882,  for  $3,000  and  on  October  9  one  for  $4,180.86  and  one  for  $1,319.14, 
or  a  total  of  $8,000,  to  pay  said  exchange  in  favor  of  W.  S.  Little  &  Co., 
St.  Louis.  The  difference  of  $664.51  was  not  accounted  for  in  the  above 
settlement  and  it  probably  went  for  commissions. 

Up  to  October  9,  1882,  as  per  statement  above,  the  old  debt  had 
been  reduced  and  new  bonds  issued,  as  below: 
One  hundred  and  eighty-six  new  six  per  cent  bonds,  $1,000 

each,  issued  in  exchange  for  old  $186,000  00 

Twenty-five  new  six  per  cent  bonds,  $500  each 12,500  00 

Amount  new  bonded  debt,  October  9,  1882 $198,500  00 

Add  cash  reduction 7,335  49 

$205,835  49 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  285 

The  amount  paid  out  in  the  reduction  of  the  old  debt  under  the 
compromise. 

Previous  to  the  compromise  the  old  debt  had  been  reduced  to  a  con- 
siderable extent  by  the  purchase  at  difterent  times  of  the  railroad  bonds 
at  a  large  discount  and  by  the  payment  of  interest  coupons  sometimes 
at  their  face  value,  and  again  at  a  discount.  As  far  as  the  records  show 
this  discount  or  payment  of  the  old  debt  has  been  about  as  follows,  not 
all  of  the  amounts  being  given,  but  the  amount  of  cash  paid  for  them: 

The  Nicolay  judgment  paid,  net .    $25,000  00 

Portsmouth  Savings  Bank,  net 4.564  90 

John  B.  Henderson,  net ^,^77  30 

Paid  M.  A.  F\^ke  as  attorney,  including  the  Dunning  farm  pur- 
chase (these  at  par) 4.703   30 

Paid  on  seven  judgments,  levy  made  to  pay  them 1,087  68 

$42,033   18 

This  amount  was  paid  at  face  value  of  the  bonds  and  coupons  and 
reduced  the  debt  just  that  amount,  less  some  cost  added,  the  full 
pound  of  flesh  being  demanded. 

THE    DISCONTINUED   BONDS. 

There  were  quite  a  number  of  bonds  and  coupons  redeemed,  and 
while  the  sum  paid  out  is  found  of  record,  the  total  amount  of  the  pur- 
chase was  not  made  of  entry. 

For  instance,  Charles  B.  Wilson  expended  $11,946.80  in  cash  in  the 
purchase  of  coupons  and  bonds.  He  gave  the  number  of  the  coupons 
and  bonds  and  his  account  was  correct,  but  there  were  so  many  of  them 
and  of  different  dates  that  it  was  a  good  job  to  figure  them  up.  Again 
an  entry  was  made  that  two  bonds  were  purchased  for  $700  and  five 
were  purchased  for  $2,050.  These  were  $1,000  bonds  but  how  many 
coupons  were  attached,  if  any,  was  not  stated.  The  purchases  showed 
a  pretty  good  bargain,  one  being  at  about  30  per  cent  and  the  five  at  a 
trifle  over  40  per  cent,  the  over-plus,  probably,  being  commission  on 
purchase.  However,  the  reduction  of  the  debt  can  be  got  at  pretty  close. 
It  is  given  below: 

Forty-five  bonds,  of  $1,000  each,  bought  for $18,058   10 

Two  bonds,  of  $1,000  each,  bought  for 700  00 

Five  bonds,  of  $1,000  each,  bought  for 2,050  00 

Twenty-nine  bonds,  C.  B.  Wilson    at  a   little   over  forty-one 

cents  on  the  dollar 1 1,946  80 

Making  eighty-one  bonds,  costing $32,754  90 

Sale  of  Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas  stock  invested  $84,666.57, 
reduced  the  debt  $183,301.77,  but  of  this  $117,000  only  were  bonds,  the 


286  HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 

remainder  being  coupons,  judgments  and  costs.  So  from  these  pur- 
chases we  have  a  reduction  of  the  principal,  that  is  in  bonds  of  $169,000, 
besides  the  bonds  purchased  by  Mr.  Wilson,  say  a  full  reduction  of 
$180,000  of  the  principal;  the  balance  being  paid  in  coupons  or  interest. 
The  county  court  have  in  new  six  per  bonds  $525,000. 

This  it  is  hoped  will  be  sufficient  to  redeem  the  old  bonds  and  cou- 
pons at  the  compromise  rate  of  75  cents  on  the  dollar. 

^VHAT    IT   COST. 

The  total  expense  to  the  people  of  Henry  County  in  this  railway 
business,  and  for  the  present  railroad  facilities  enjoyed  by  them,  is  here 
given  and  itemized.  There  is  no  disputing  the  figures,  for  they  are  of 
record,  but  probably  few  of  the  citizens  of  the  county  were  aware  of  the 
fact,  and  the  people  will  here  see  just  what  they  have  paid. 

Amount  paid  Missouri  Pacific  Railroad,  1852 $  5,000  00 

Cost  and  interest 2,400  00 

Interest  on  $150,000,  7  per  cent,  bonds,  1867,  8  years,  then 

defaulted 84,500  00 

Interest  on  $450,000,  10  per  cent,  bonds,  1870-71,  4  years.  180,000  00 

Paid  judgments,  cost  and  interest    42,033    18 

Paid  purchase  of  bonds  and  coupons 32,754  80 

Paid  cash  in  exchange " 8  000  00 

Paid  attorney  fees,  say 10,000  00 

New  issue  6  per  cent,  bonds 525,000  00 

So  far  the  debt  foots  up $    889, 197  98 

Before  these  bonds  can  be  redeemed,  5  years  interest  must 

be  paid,  at  $31,500  per  year 157,500  00 

$1,046,697  98 

For  this  sum  the  people  have  a  railroad  37  4-100  miles  long,  which 
is  all  they  will  ever  get  for  this  money.  This  is  in  round  numbers,  $28,- 
000  and  a  little  over  per  mile,  and  notwithstanding  they  must  pay  this 
sum,  they  are  in  the  same  position  Satan  was  when  he  took  a  certain 
person  up  into  a  high  mountain,  and  offered  him  all  the  world,  etc.,  and 
the  poor  d — 1  didn't  own  a  foot  of  it.  No  mention  is  made  of  $183,000 
and  odd,  paid  by  Judges  Gantt  and  H.  W.  Salmon,  as  the  amount  so  paid 
was  paid  by  sale  of  stock.  The  further  exchange  of  bonds  will  be  chron- 
icled as  made  up  to  the  closing  of  this  history. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

INVESTIGATION— A  REPORT— A  CONFESSION. 

A  RFXORD  OF  CRIME,  BRIBERY,  MIDNIGHT  DELIVERY  OF  BONDS— HOW  IT  WAS  DONE- 
ACCOUNTS  RENDERED— INVESTIGATION— THE  REPORT— WHERE  THE  MONEY 
WENT  TO— EXCEPTING  $180,000— THE  ENGINEER'S  CONFESSION. 

HOW   IT   WAS   DONE. 

One  of  the  peculiar  phases  of  this  railroad  bond  business,  was  the 
persistent  attack  made  upon  those  gentlemen  who  were  engaged  in  an 
honest  attempt  to  build  the  Kansas  City,  Springfield,  and  Memphis 
Railroad,  by  the  manager  of  these  branch  roads,  whose  principal 
endeavor  has  since  been  proved,  to  a  great  extent,  was  to  get  hold  of 
the  people's  bonds  and  pocket  the  proceeds.  In  this  connection  is  given 
a  couple  of  articles  from  the  Clinton  Advocate,  whose  editor  at  that 
time  was  chief  fugleman  of  the  LaDue's,  and  others.  While,  no  doubt,, 
honest  in  his  opinion  and  belief,  he  had  no  ground  for  the  course  that 
he  pursued,  of  slander  and  abuse.  He  lived  to  see  and  know  that  he 
had  been  simply  a  dupe  or  tool — an  instrument  of  designing  men,  and 
and  like  them  left  for  other  climes,  and  whose  absence  has  not  in  any 
way  been  a  detriment  to  the  good  people  of  Henry  County.  The  fol- 
lowing is  only  a  sample  of  many  characteristic  articles  which  deluged 
the  people  from  week  to  week,  until  the  grand  scheme  of  plunder  had 
been  consummated,  and  the  natural  enquiry  was  made  by  the  county 
court,  "What  has  become  of  those  bondsi'"  Well,  tie  bonds  have  been 
found,  but  who  got  the  money,  while  pretty  well  understood,  is  not  a 
question  that  some  care  to  agitate. 

The  Railroad  Bond  Swindle,  so  called,  of  Henry  County,  stands  out 
prominently  and  alone,  as  the  only  rascally  and  fraudulent  transaction 
in  her  history,  but  it  was  sufficiently  large  and  of  a  character  that  the 
people  are  willing  to  rest  there,  and  that  those  who  have  left  for  north- 
ern or  southern  climes,  are  welcome  to  remain  in  their  new  homes. 

SOME   HISTORY. 

The  paper  containing  this  article  was  dated  December  8th,  1870, 
and  reads: 


288  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

"Never  in  the  history  of  railroads  in  Henry  County  has  one  been 
brought  up  to  a  point  where  the  people  can  see  what  is  to  be  in  so  short 
a  space  of  time  as  the  one  we  now  write  of  The  so  called  Kansas  City 
&  Memphis  road  made  a  power  of  noise  in  this  community.  Its  prime 
movers,  Richardson,  Williams  and  Ferred,  made  a  great  amount  of  fuss 
in  Henry  County,  but  their  component  parts  were  all  gas,  and  our  argus 
eyed  railroad  men  soon  discovered  the  facts,  and  they  put  on  foot  an 
organization  that  meant  business.  Not  a  year  ago  the  Clinton  &  Mem- 
phis and  Clinton  &  Kansas  City  branches  of  the  Tebo  &  Neosho  Rail- 
road were  formed,  and  to-day  the  bonds  of  Henry  and  St.  Clair  Counties 
have  been  sold  in  sufficient  quantities  to  put  the  road  under  contract, 
(not  built)  southward.  A  large  force  will  be  put  on  the  work  east  of 
Clinton  next  Monday  by  Mr.  Colt,  the  successful  and  worthy  contractor. 
The  construction  committees  of  these  roads  have  worked  faithfully  and 
honestly  since  their  election,  and  the  result  now  shows  for  itself.  Much 
more  could  be  said  about  this  road,  but  for  the  present  it  is  enough  to 
know  the  work  will  commence  in  good  earnest  next  Monday  morning. 
Much  praise  is  due  to  D.  C.  Stone,  A.  D.  Ladue,  P.  A.  Ladue,  Judge  R. 
C.  McBeth,  Waldo  P.  Johnson  and  R.  S.  Graham,  for  the  faithful  manner 
in  which  they  have  put  this  important  road  in  proper  shape.  Come  to 
the  dirt  breaking  next  Monday  morning,  and  let  us  all  rejoice  over  the 
success  that  awaits  us  in  the  future,  when  we  are  joined  with  iron  bands 
to  the  City  of  Memphis  in  the  State  of  Tennessee." 

The  above  was  followed  by  another  article,  headed: 

"The  prayer  of  Clintonians  has  been.  Oh,  Lord!  give  us  three  rail- 
roads; just  three,  if  no  more;  Amen.  Come  to  the  dirt  breaking  next 
Monday  and  see  the  beginning  of  the  end.  The  progress  has  not  been 
in  vain.  We  have  one  railroad  and  two  more  certain.  Hurrah  for  Clin- 
ton, hurrah  for  everybody!     The  'Model  Town'  is  hindmost  to  nobody." 

The  Advocate,  then  owned  and  edited  by  Will  H.  Lawrence,  was 
full  of  just  such  rodomontade  from  week  to  week,  and  as  it  was  the  lead- 
ing paper  in  the  county  at  that  time,  it  was  no  wonder  the  people  were 
deceived  by  its  constant  reiteration.  The  hollow  mockery  of  this  is  now 
plain  to  be  seen,  and  the  fact  that  these  "argus-eyed  railroad  men  meant 
business"  is  painfully  apparent  and  has  been  for  years  to  every  taxpayer 
of  Henry  County. 

\VHEN   THE  RASCALITY  STARTED. 

At  the  time  that  A.  P.  Ladue  went  to  Jefferson  City  to  recover  the 
charters  to  these  branch  roads,  he  met  the  secretary  of  the  Kansas  City 
&  Memphis  Railroad.  Mr.  Ladue  informed  the  secretary  what  he  was 
there  for,  which  was  already  known,  and  stated  to  the  aforesaid  secretary 
that  if  the  Kansas  City  &  Memphis  Railroad  Company  would  give  him 
five  per  cent,  commission  on  subscription  and  make  him  agent  he  would 
forego  his  purpose  of  getting  these  branch  charters.  The  offer  was 
•declined  by  the  secretary  for  two  reasons:  first,  that  he  had  not  the 
authority  of  his   board  of  directors,  and,  second,  that   a   commission   of 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  289 

two  and  one-half  per  cent,  was  sufficient,  and  was  so  stated,  but  would 
not  be  accepted.  The  charters  were  secured  and  then  commenced  the 
work  of  destroying  the  Kansas  City,  Springfield  &  Memphis  Company, 
and  in  that  work  he  had  the  help  of  parties  in  Kansas  City  who,  like 
Ladue  "was  on  the  make,"  road  or  no  road.  Twelve  years  have  passed, 
and  through  the  machinations  of  these  men,  life  has  been  sacrificed,  a 
million  of  dollars  and  over  sunk,  and  with  the  exception  that  the  prime 
movers  of  this  great  fraud  are  dead  or  have  left  the  country,  the  people 
have  no  recourse  and  no  consolation.  But  the  bitter  reality  is  stamped 
upon  their  memory  once  a  year,  as  the  tax  gatherer  makes  his  annual 
round. 

Many  other  articles,  false  in  their  character,  in  regard  to  these  roads, 
and  slanderous  against  the  members  of  the  first  named  road,  were  pub- 
lished, but  there  came  a  change.  Those  who  were  reviled  stand  out 
with  characters  unblemished,  while  those  who  instigated  the  slanderous 
charges  are  not  now  thought  worthy  of  notice,  and  the  county  that  once 
knew  them,  knows  them  no  more.  With  one  more  article  from  the 
Advocate,  whose  editor  acknowledged  that  he  had  been  duped,  and 
with  a  couple  of  extracts  from  the  Kansas  City  Times,  this  report  closes. 
It  has  been  the  writer's  aim  to  give  facts  and  figures,  and  naught  set 
down  in  malice,  and  it  is  an  unvarnished  tale  of  a  great  wrong,  which 
will  serve  as  a  warning  for  all  time  to  the  people  of  Henry  County. 

KANSAS   CITY   &   MEMPHIS   RAILROAD. 
From  the  Clinton  Advocate,  May  14,  1874. 

Jackson  County,  thinking  the  suit  brought  by  Donnell  &  Lawson, 
the  bankers  and  holders  of  the  Jackson  County  bonds,  of  this  road  in 
New  York  City,  were  in  a  close  place  when  suits  had  been  brought 
against  them  in  the  superior  court  of  New  York,  sent  Colonel  S.  Wood- 
son (not  Silas)  to  New  York,  to  do  the  best  he  could  in  the  premises. 
He  represents,  after  an  absence  of  two  weeks,  that  he  interviewed  the 
above  bankers,  counted  the  bonds,  and  found  there  were  three  suits  in 
the  courts  there,  on  attachment  against  this  road,  and  that  a  writ  of 
attachment  in  each  case  had  been  levied  on  these  bonds  in  the  hands  of 
Donnell,  Lawson  &  Co.  He  obtained  an  order  restraining  any  one  from 
attaching  these  bonds  and  having  them  declared  bonds  of  Jackson 
County.  He  thinks  the  bonds  and  proceeds  of  such  as  have  been  sold 
and  remain  on  hand,  are  safe  from  the  proceedings  now  pending  in  the 
courts,  and  must  remain  so  until  the  gradation  and  masonry  are  com- 
pleted from  Kansas  City  to  Harrisonville.  Having  been  an  old  friend 
of  this  road  from  its  inception,  we  confess  that  now  our  confidence  is 
shaken  when  we  read  the  itemized  bill  brought  back  from  New  York  by 
Mr.  Woodson: 

19 


290  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

William  F.  Chittenden  vs.  the  Kansas  City  &  Memphis  Railroad 
Company. 

Complaint  on  two  warrants,  viz:  No.  165,  dated  June  28,  1873,  to 
Amos  Green,  attorney  for  James  Lullis  &  Co.,  $3,000;  No.  221,  dated 
January  3,  1874,  to  John  Polk,  $500. 

Complaint  on  two  warrants,  viz:  No.  155,  dated  March  20,  1873,  to 
J.  E.  Marsh,  $1,200;  No.  158,  dated  March  20,  1873,  to  John  W.  Polk  for 
$100. 

Complaint  on  two  warrants,  viz:  No.  150.  dated  March  20,  1873,  to 
R.  C.  McBeth  for  $5,000;  No.  226,  dated  January  29,  1874,  to  R.  C. 
McBeth  for  $1,500. 

All  drawn  by  R.  T.  Van  Horn,  president. 

John  D.  Stickland  vs.  the  Kansas  City,  Memphis  &  Mobile  Railroad 
Company. 

Complaint  on  fourteen  warrants: 

No.  142,  dated  August  3,  1872,  to  S.  W.  Caldwell  for  $588.60. 

No.  143,  dated  September  17,  1872,  to  S.  W.  Caldwell  for  $1,307.88. 

No.  150,  dated  November  19,  1872,  to  S.  W.  Caldwell  for  $1,379.03. 

No.  157,  dated  March  20,  1873,  to  R.  T.  VanHorn  for  $5,000. 

No.  163,  dated  June  12,  1873,  to  P.  A.  LaDue  for  $1,550. 

No.  220,  dated  December  16,  1873,  to  W.  Freeman  for  $789.65. 

No.  281,  dated  February  10,  to  R.  T.  VanHorn  for  $5,000. 

No.  162.  dated  February  10,  1874,  to  A.  D.  LaDue  for  $4  389.46. 

No.  233,  dated  February  10,  1874,  to  James  Corington  for  $6/],.So. 

No.  234,  dated  February  10,  1874,  to  Henry  L.  Ladue  for  $595. 90. 

No.  235,  dated  February  10,  1874,  to  A.  D.  LaDue  for  $5,600. 

No    196,  dated  February  10,  1874,  to  Claud  LaDue  for  $595.50. 

No.  137,  dated  February  lO,  1874,  to  W.  R.  Freeman  for  $316.66. 

No.  239,  dated  February  10,  1874,  to  Henry  L.  LaDue  for  $105. 

KANSAS   CITY   &   MEMPHIS   RAILROAD. 

The  Kansas  City  Times,  speaking  of'the  troubles,  says,  in  its  issue 
of  August  9,  1875,  that,  "  It  is  not  our  purpose  to  attack  or  defend  any- 
body in  this  connection,  nor  to  shield  any  wrong  doer  from  a  just  respon- 
sibility. But  we  do  want  the  exact  status  of  the  road  placed  in  a  clear  light 
before  the  people,  so  the  discussion  as  to  what  can  or  shall  be  done  may 
be  relieved  of  all  the  rubbish  of  personal  bickerings  and  idle  wranglings 
about  mismanagement  and  maladministration  in  the  past. 

We  have  had  enough  of  that.  Doubtless  if  there  had  been  less  of  it, 
the  cars  would  have  been  running  on  the  road  by  this  time.  No  sooner 
was  the  enterprise  begun  than  it  was  attacked  with  suits,  and  harassed 
with  all  sorts  of  contentions  and  gouges.  If  we  must  go  back  and  fight  all 
those  old  battles  over  again,  the  road  bed  will  be  washed  away,  the 
the  county  subscriptions  to  the  amount  of  $1,050,000  will  be  lost  forever, 
before  we  can  get  ready  to  take  up  the  enterprise  where  it  stands  to-day. 
Let  us  take  right  hold  here  without  further  delay. 

Jackson,  Cass,  Henry  and  St.  Clair  own  an  unfinished  railroad  which 
has  cost  them  $1,050,000,  and  which,  as  now  managed,  is  not  progress- 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY.  291 

ing,  but  going"  to  destruction,  and  still  costing  them  fifteen  or  twenty 
thousand  dollars  yearly  in  salaries  to  nominal  officers  of  a- railroad  com- 
pany which  is  doing  nothing.  What  is  the  use  of  paying  $5,000  a  year 
each  to  presidents,  superintendents,  etc.,  for  doing  nothing.-'  If  the 
enterprise  is  dead,  why  not  stop  the  cost  of  pretending  that  it  is  alive  .^ 
Is  it  dead,  or  is  only  sleeping  under  the  incubus  of  an  unfortunate,  inca- 
pable or  suspected  and  bottled  up  management.''" 

MEMPHIS   RAILROAD   AGAIN. 

The  Advocate,  in  its  issue  of  August  lOth  says  of  the  bill  here 
appended: 

"  The  question  is,  shall  the  whole  enterprise  be  sacrificed  because 
the  gentlemen  are  not  paid.'  Shall  the  counties  lose  the  million  dollars 
already  invested  and  pay  out  a  million  and  a  half  more  in  interest  with- 
out realizing  any  benefits,  because  the  officers  of  the  company  claim  it 
is  owing  them  a  few  thousand  dollars.'  That  will  be  an  impossibilit}-  for 
the  present  management  to  resurrect  the  enterprise,  we  believe  it  to  be 
a  foregone  conclusion  in  the  minds  of  the  people.  In  nearly  all  the 
counties  a  spirit  of  interest  is  being  awakened,  and  the  sine  qua  non  as 
everywhere  expressed  is  that  there  be  a  change  in  officers.  The  gen- 
tlemen interested  know  this  as  well  as  anyone,  and  there  is  no  need  of 
their  trying  to  conceal  the  fact.  How  much  wiser  then  would  it  be  for 
them  to  meet  these  counties  half  way,  to  propose  some  basis  of  settle- 
ment, and  to  join  with  all  good  citizens  and  tax  payers  iu  rescuing  the 
road  from  total  loss,  and,  if  possible,  to  secure  its  completion.  They 
are  jointly  interested  in  having  it  built,  and  should  forego  some  personal 
considerations  to  see  that  accomplished." 

GETTING  AT  THE  MARROW. 

Thus  far  our  history  of  this  railroad  business  has  principally  been  con- 
fined to"  the  records  found  in  Henry  County,  but  a  betrayed  people 
started  a  more  thorough  investigation,  commencing  at  Kansas  Cit}^  and 
following  the  action  of  the  company  as  far  as  Osceola.  The  following 
article  is  taken  from  the  Clinton  Democrat  of  December  23,  1875,  head- 
lines and  all;  it  being  the  report  of  the  committee  of  investigation  of 
Jackson  County: 

MEMPHIS  AND  MOBILE  RAI1.ROAD  —  REPORT  OF  THE  COxMMITTEE 
APPOINTED  TO  INVESTIGATE  UPON  THE  MATTERS  OF  THE  SUB- 
SCRIPTION OF  THIS  COMPANY — THE  COMMITTEE  RECOMMEND 
AN  APPLICATION  FOR  THE  APPOINTMENT  OF  A  RECEIVER. 

To  the  County  Court  of  Jackson  County: 

Gentlemen: — Your  committee  appointed  by  order,  dated  August 
5,  1875,  to  investigate  and  report  upon  the  matter  of  the  subscription  of 
this  county,  to  the  Memphis  &  Mobile  Railroad  Company,  and  the  pres- 
ent condition  of  the  affairs  of  said  company,  report  as  follows: 


292  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

That  we  called  upon  the  superintendent  of  the  company,  Mr.  A.  D. 
Ladue,  to  examine  the  records,  books  and  papers  of  the  corporation, 
and  made  as  full  an  examination  as  we  thought  necessary.  Our  exami- 
nation was  directed  mainly  to  the  following  objects  of  inquiry: 

First.  The  amount  of  stock  issued  by  the  company  and  the  pro- 
ceeds thereof. 

Second.  The  disposition  made  by  the  directors  of  the  proceeds  of 
the  stock  subscriptions. 

Third.  The  assets  and  liabilities  of  the  corporation  at  the  present 
time. 

Fourth.  The  character  of  the  past  management  of  the  road  in  res- 
pect to  its  faith  and  ability,  and  the  possibility  and  utility  of  securing  a 
change  of  the  management  in  the  interest  of  the  bona  fide  stockholders. 

So  far  as  we  were  able  to  examine  them,  the  record,  books  and 
papers  of  the  company  give  no  sufficient  history  of  its  actual  transac- 
tions. 

In  the  matter  of  stock,  it  appears  that  stock  to  a  large  amount,  has 
been  voted  and  issued  for  which  there  appears  to  be  no  regular  sub- 
scription. 

The  company  was  organized  under  the  general  law  of  the  state, 
which  required  a  bona  fide  subscription  of  $1,000  per  mile  of  the  pro- 
posed road,  five  per  cent  of  which  should  have  been  paid  in  cash  as  the  basis 
of  the  organization.  It  was  required  that  the  actual  payment  of  this 
five  per  cent  should  be  certified  by  three  of  the  proposed  company. 

This  corporation  was  organized  upon  the  basis  of  the  following  sub- 
scriptions: 

P.  A.  LaDue $  10,000 

R.  C.  McBeth 10,000 

A.  D.  LaDue • 1 0,000 

W.  D.  Meade 10,000 

T.  H.  Mastin 10,000 

A.  L.  Harris 10,000 

R.  B.  Higgins 10,000 

D.  C.  Stone ,,.  .    10.000 

G.  Y.  Salmon 10,000 

Waldo  P.  Johnson 10,000 

R.  T.  Van  Horn 10,000 

J.  W.  Polk 10,000 

I.  D.  Hines 10,000 

J.  W.  Reid 5,000- 

Total $135,000 

Three  of  the  directors  certified  to  the  above  subscription,  and  rhe 
payment  of  5  per  cent,  thereof  in  cash,  under  oath. 

The  books  of  the  company  do  not  show  that  one  dollar  in  cash  was 
evej  received  by  the  company,  either  of  the  5  per  cent,  or  any  of  the 
balance  of  the  subscription. 

The  stock  was  issued  and  some  months  afterwards  returned  and 
cancelled,  and  afterward  again  reissued  in  payment  of  pretended  ser- 
vices of  the  incorporators,  and  is  now  outstanding. 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  293 

R.  O.  Boggess,  upon  becoming  a  director,  received  $10,000  worth  of 
stock,  for  which  nothing  was  ever  paid. 

In  1875  one  million  dollars  of  stock  of  the  company  was  issued  to 
W.  G.  Ford,  for  which,  so  far  as  the  books  show,  or  we  could  learn  from 
the  superintendent  by  inquiring,  nothing  whatever  was  paid. 

All  the  above  issues  of  stock  appear  to  us  to  have  been  fraudulent, 
and  that  the  issuing  thereof  renders  them  liable  to  severe  penalties 
under  our  laws. 

The  bona  fide  subscriptions  are  the  following: 

Jackson  County $  300,000 

Cass  County , 300,000 

Henry  County 200,000 

St.  Clair  County 250,000 

Total $1,050,000 

The  above  were  transferred  from  the  Clinton  &  Kansas  City  branch 
of  the  Tebo  &  Neosho  Railroad  Company  and  were  paid  for  in  county 
bonds.  The  books  of  the  company  show  vouchers  issued  to  the  amount 
of  $869,952.69.  The  proceeds  of  the  county  bonds  subscribed,  as  near 
as  we  can  learn,  are  $840,000,  to  which  add  $145,000  original  subscrip- 
tions, included  in  the  whole  amount  of  vouchers  issued  and  not  paid, 
total  $985,000,  leaving  a  deficit  of  expenditures  less  than  receipts  of 
$115,047.31. 

These  vouchers  and  the  books  and  papers  fail  to  show  the  nature 
of  large  amounts  of  expenditures  they  represent,  and  in  some  instances 
there  appears  to  be  large  monetary  transactions  for  which  no  satisfac- 
tory explanation  can  be  arrived  at  from  an  inspection  either  of  the 
vouchers  or  the  books. 

For  instance,  Mr.  John  W.  Polk,  one  of  the  directors,  seems  to  have 
handled  $iO,coo  in  Jackson  County,  for  which  there  is  no  separate 
voucher  and  no  account  whatever  of  the  disposition  of  the  same.  It 
appears  that  Mr.  H.  M.  Holden  stands  charged  on  the  books  of  said 
company  as  having  received  and  paid  in  full  the  sum  of  $76,000,  and, 
strange  to  say,  when  called  upon  for  an  inspection  of  books,  papers,  etc., 
as  former  treasurer  of  the  company,  he  stated  positively  that  he  had 
nothing  whatever  to  do  with  any  money  transactions  of  the  company; 
that  he  neither  received  nor  paid  out  as  treasurer  of  said  company  any 
sum  of  money  whatever. 

This  money  spent  in  Jackson  County  is  very  indefinite.     Item. 

Vouchers  Nos.  13  and  14,  for  $6,000,  to  J.  J.  Mastin  &  Co.  for  con- 
tingent expenses. 

Vouchers  Nos.  46,  47  and  49,  for  $28,000,  to  J.  J.  Mastin  &  Co.  for 
contingent  expenses. 

These  vouchers,  Mr.  M.  states,  were  drawn  to  balance  various  over- 
drawn accounts  at  the  Mastin  Bank. 

Voucher  No.  35,  for  $6,500,  to  Mr.  J.  T.  Crisp  for  contingent 
expenses. 

*We  have  been  unable  to  see  Mr.  Crisp  and,  consequently,  can  form 
no  idea  as  to  the  purpose  for  which  this  money  was  applied. 

It  appears  from  the  report  of  the  committee  of  citizens  and  engi- 
neers appointed  by  the  Jackson   County  Court  to  examine  and   report 


294  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

the  amount  of  work  done  in  Jackson  County  by  the  various  contractors 
along  the  line  of  the  road  that  in  the  list  of  vouchers  issued  on 
account  of  construction,  there  has  been  allowed  to  various  contractors 
large  amounts  in  excess  of  the  original  contract  price,  and  in  the  aggre- 
gate amounting  to  about  $77, ooomore  than  the}%  the  contractors,  agreed 
to  do  for  originally. 

We  deem  it  unnecessary  to  itemize  the  vouchers  issued  for  contin- 
gent expenses  in  the  other  counties,  though  it  may  be  said  that  it 
amounts  to  a  very  large  sum. 

It  does  appear,  however,  that  of  the  proceeds  of  the  county  bonds, 
the  following  sums  were  paid: 

For  engineering  expenses. . $40,027  35 

For  construction 480,938  83 

For  salaries  and  officers'  contingent  expenses 200,1^0  00 

For  right  of  way 53,022  43 

For  tie  and  timber  account 34.109   18 

Copies  of  these  vouchers  were  taken  and  are  in  the  hands  of  the 
committee.  The  assets  of  the  company  consist  of  the  right  of  way  and 
road  bed  so  far  as  constructed,  ties,  the  uncollected  subscriptions  and  the 
Soden  bond.  This  bond  was  given  by  the  Soden  Brothers  upon  their 
settlement  with  the  Jackson  County  Court  and  the  company  for  work 
done.  In  consideration  of  settlement  and  payment  for  the  work  done 
by  them,  they  agreed  to  complete  the  road  to  Harrisonville,  in  Cass 
County,  and  gave  bond  in  the  sum  of  $100,000  for  the  completion  of  the 
same.  The}'  have  not  fulfilled  the  obligations  of  said  bond,  but  whether 
a  recovery  can  be  had  thereon  is  a  question  that  this  committee  does 
not  attempt  to  decide. 

The  liabilities,  so  far  as  we  can  learn  of  any,  are  embraced  in  the 
following  judgments  : 

H.  Hale,  for $16,430  (Sj 

J;  mes  Campbell,  for 2,490  3 1 

Soden  Brothers,  for 6,2 1 5   36 

W.  T.  Thornton 4.484  44 

Total    $29,520  78 

Upon  these  judgments  executions  have  been  issued  and  are  now 
in  the  hands  of  the  sheriffs  of  Jackson  and  Henry  Counties,  who  have 
levied  upon  the  road-bed,  ties,  etc.,  and  will  at  an  early  day  sell  the 
same  unless  some  steps  are  taken  to  prevent  the  sale  thereof. 

We  have  have  been  informed  by  Superintendent  LaDue  that  several 
of  the  above  judgments  are  fraudulent,  in  this,  that  the  claims  upon 
which  they  are  founded  have  long  since  been  paid,  and  at  the  time  of 
their  rendition  nothing  was  due  the  parties  obtaining  them. 

It  may  be  proper  to  mention  in  the  number  of  liabilities,  that 
$2,000,000  in  first  mortgage  bonds  have  been  issued,  and  are  now  in  the 
hands  of  the  Land  Grant  and  Trust  Company,  of  New  York,  for  sale  or 
hypothecation,  as  may  to  the  directors  seem  advisable.  It  appears  from 
the  books  that  Mr.  Holden,  as  treasurer  of  the  company,  was  directed 
to  have  said  bonds  prepared,  with  his  fac  simile  qx\^x2.\qA  upon  the  cou- 
pons thereof,  and  authorized  to  select  agents  for  the  sale  of  same,  not  to 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  295 

exceed  the  sum  of  $20,000  per  mile.  What  action,  if  any,  in  the  prem- 
ises, he  took,  we  have  failed  to  ascertain.  Our  information  as  to  the 
amounts  issued,  and  where  placed,  was  obtained  from  Mr.  A.  D.  LaDue. 

In  conclusion,  your  committee  state  that  the  inevitable  result  of 
their  investigations  is,  that  the  stock  of  the  company  has  been  fraudu- 
lently issued  and  manipulated,  to  suit  the  private  purposes  of  the  man- 
agers and  that  the  funds  of  the  company  have  been  grossly  misapplied 
to  fraudulent  purposes,  and  wasted  in  extravagant  payments  made  to 
contractors  and  others.  It  is  only  necessary  to  refer  to  the  amount  of 
expenditures  for  salaries  and  contingent  expenses,  as  compared  with  the 
amount  expended  on  the  road,  to  show  this.  It  could  not  have  been  a 
wise  or  judicious  management  that  thus  disposed  of  them. 

We  are  advised  that  under  the  circumstances  the  present  directory 
are  liable  to  removal  at  the  instance  of  the  stockholders,  and  that  a 
receiver  may  be  appointed,  whose  business  it  will  be  to  collect  the  unpaid 
subscriptions  and  recover  moneys  fraudulently  misapplied,  and  out  of 
them  pay  the  existing  debts  so  far  as  such  debts  are  justly  due,  and  if 
any  of  them  are  not  due,  and  the  judgments  prove  to  be  fraudulent  or 
obtained  by  collusion,  that  proper  steps  may  be  taken  to  vacate  them. 

That  thus  the  road  bed  and  right  of  way  may  be  saved  from  sacri- 
fice until  such  time  as  the  reviving  energies  of  the  country  and  the 
demands  for  intercourse  with  the  section  through  which  this  road  passes 
and  with  which  it  connects,  shall  render  possible  the  further  prosecution 
of  the  work.  Or  if  the  other  assets  of  the  road  prove  insufficient  to  pay 
its  just  debts  and  it  is  necessary  to  sell  the  road  for  their  payment,  that 
it  may  be  sold  in  a  manner  most  favorable  to  the  interests  of  the  real 
stockholders,  the  counties  that  have  subscribed  and  paid  for  the  stock. 
A  sale  by  a  receiver  might  be  so  managed,  as  to  time  and  manner,  as 
to  insure  the  best  price  and  a  purchaser  by  those  who  will  be  likely  to 
complete  the  road. 

We,  therefore,  recommend  that  this  county  alone,  or  in  connection 
with  other  bona  fide  stockholders  cause  an  application  to  be  made  for 
the  appointment  of  a  receiver.  J.  B.  YAGER, 

A.  M.  ALLEN, 
W.  A.  BROUGHAM, 

Committee. 

This  report  was  a  sort  of  astonisher  to  most  of  those  connected 
with  the  matter.  The  papers  were  asked  not  to  publish  the  report, 
and  some  did  not,  but  a  few  did,  and  thus  this  history  is  made  more 
complete.  The  committee,  however,  still  investigated,  it  seems,  and 
again  is  found  a  report,  and  this  time,  of  a  large  expenditure  of  money, 
with  "^^  peculiar  item  of  "  Contingent  Expenses,"  being  fearfully  often. 

From  the  Henry  Counly  Democrat,  of  January  20,  1876. 

THE  iMEMPHIS  RAILROAD  SWINDLE— T^VO  HUNDRED  AND  NINETY-ONE 
ITEMS — THE  MEN  WHO  GOT  THE  MONEY,  AND  HOW  MUCH 
EACH. 

The  following  are  the  recorded  expenditures  of  the  Memphis  Rail- 
road Company,  as   taken   by  the    county  court  committee  of  Jackson 


296  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

County,  from  the  stubs  of  its  warrant  books.  We  find  the  items  pub- 
lished in  the  Independence  Sentinel.  We  also  learn  from  another  source, 
that  in  addition  to  the  expenditures  here  given,  additional  warrants 
to  the  amount  of  one  hundred  and  eighty  thousand  dollars  were  issued, 
for  which  the  books  show  no  account  whatever.  Not  even  so  much  as 
"contingent"  expenses.     Read  the  items  and  do  your  own  thinking  : 

Peter  Soden  &  Bro.,  contractors,  Sept.  21,  1871, $30,544  00 

Thomas  Corrigan  &  Bro.,  contractors,  September  20,  1 871  ...  .  48,212  21 

H.  Hale,  contractor,  September  20,  187 1 1,442  25 

James  Lillis  &  Co.,  contractors 7, 1 5  i  99 

Hicks,  ties,  September  20,   1871 1,039  5^ 

P.  A.  Ladue,  contingent  expenses,  September  20 700  00 

Church  Bell,  right  of  way,  September  20,  187 1 250  00 

J.  M.  Hughes,  right  of  way,  September  21,  1871 200  00 

G.  S.  Hedges,  right  of  way,  September,  21,  1871 .      200  00 

B.  F.  Robinson,  right  of  way,  September  21,  1871 200  00 

J.  W.  Polk,  right  of  way,  September  21,  1871 472  90 

J.  J.  Mastin  &  Co.,  engineering,  September  21,  1871 8,080  00 

J.  J.  Mastin  &  Co.,  contingent  expenses,  September  21,  1871 .  .  3,000  00 

J.  J.  Mastin  &  Co.,  contingent  expenses,  September  21,  1871..  3,000  00 

Levison  &  Blythe,  contingent  expenses,  September  23,   1871 .  29  70 

Henry  County  Democrat,  printing,  December  7,  187 1 20  00 

G.  W   Salmon,  right  of  way,  October  10,  1871 5,000  00 

E.  DeWolf,  office  rent,  October  16,  187 1 12  00 

J.  B.  Colt,  construction,  October  16,  1871 13,522  89 

H.  Hale,  construction,  October  16,  1871 1 1,139  49 

F.  McCabe,  construction,  Oct.  16,  1871 5,840  96 

B.  L.  Owen,  tie  and  timber  account,  Oct.  16,  187 1 8,169  40 

Pay  roll,  engineering  account,  Oct.  16,  1871 630  00 

Foote  &  Heller,  engineering,  Oct.  16,  1871 I5  7o 

W.  D.  Lee,  right  of  way,  Oct.  16,  1871 150  00 

Western    Union    Telegraph,  contingent    expenses,   Oct.    16, 

1871 23  53 

D.  C.  Stone,  contingent,  Oct.  17,  1871 1 13  00 

Frank  McCabe,  construction,  Oct.  18,  1871   2,626   16 

Bellmyer  &  Small's  rolling  stock  account,  Oct.  18,  1871 2,428  30 

James  Munson,  right  of  way,  Oct.  18,  187 1   150  00 

W.  H.  Lawrence,  contingent  expense  account,  Oct.  18,  1871 .  .  350  00 

Suavely,  engineering,  Oct.  18,  1871 5  35 

Roberts  &  Brice,  engineering,  Oct.  18,  1871 300  68 

Pay  roll.  Pinks  party,  engineering,  Nov.  4,  1871    325   00 

John  T.  Crisp,  contingent,  Nov.  4,  1871 6,500  00 

E.  A.  Cutler,  pay  roll,  engineering, ,  1871   793  33 

William  Miller,  engineering,  Nov.  15,  1871 171   80 

B.  L.  Owen,  tie  and  timber  account,Nov.  15,  1871 18,075  5° 

B.  L.  Owen,  tie  and  timber  account,  Nov.  15,  1871 1,260  00 

H.  Hale,  construction,  Nov.  15,  1871 7,327  47 

Pay  roll,  engineering,  Nov.  15,  187 1 644  00 

A.  D.  LaDue,  engineering,  Nov.  16,  1871 116  00 

J.  J.  Mastin  &  Co.,  contingent  expenses,  Nov.  28,  187 1 582   10 

J.  B.  Colt,  construction,  Nov.  28,  1871 7,874  20 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  297 

Haysler  &  Bro..  engineering,  Nov.  28,  1871 $        12  00 

J.  J.  Mastin  &  Co.,  contingent  expenses,  Nov.  25,  1871 18,305   00 

J.  J.  Mastin  &  Co.,  contingent  expenses,  Nov.  28,  1871 i,355   00 

John  T.  Crisp,  contingent  expenses,  Nov.  28,  1871 200  00 

J.  J.  Mastin  &  Co.,  contingent  expenses,  Nov.  28,  1871 8,740  00 

E.  R.  Hickman,  contingent,  Nov.  28,  1871 54o  00 

J.  J.  Mastin,  interest  and  exchange,  Nov.  28,  1871 1,000  00 

Smith  &  Keating,  engineering,  Dec.  5,  1871 145   00 

John  Curtis,  engineering,  Dec.  9,  187 1 6  93 

Salmon  &  Stone,  contingent,  Dec.  1 1,  1871 900  00 

A.  D.  LaDue,  engineering,  Dec.  1 1,  1871 430  00 

Roberts  Bros.,  engineering.  Dec.  13,  1871 5^  75 

John  H.  Parks,  tie  and  timber,  Dec.  18,  1871 58   58 

J.  T.  Parker,  right  of  way,  Dec.  20,  1871 10  00 

Jordan  &  Co.,  engineering,  coal,  Dec.  20,  187 1 615 

J.  R.  Cline,  right  of  way,  Cass  County,  Dec.  23,  1871 3.290  00 

A.  H.  Boyles,  right  of  way,  Cass  County,  Dec.  23,  1871 265  00 

D.  C.  Stone,  per  John  Barnhart,  right  of  way,  Jan.  I,  1872. . .  .  325  00 

L.  J.  Ferrell,  right  of  way,  Jan.  i,  1872 217   50 

G.  A.  Champin,  right  of  way,  Jan    r,  1872 150  00 

Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas  Railroad   Company,  rolling   stock, 

Jan.  I,  1872 452  00 

M.  Baird  &  Co.,  rolling  stock,  Jan.  i,  1872 7,065   00 

Third  National  Bank,  bills  payable,  Jan.  i,  1872 15,000  00 

P.  A.  LaDue,  contingent,  Jan.  i,  1872 i,75o  00 

W.  Nunin  &  Co.,  contingent,  Jan.  i,  1872 41  78 

R.  &  T.  A.  Ennis,  contingent,  Jan.  i,  1872 4  65 

Jackson  &  Sharp  Co.,  rolling  stock,  Jan.  i,  1872 5,6oo  00 

D.  C.  Stone,  contingent,  Jan.  i,  1872 272   50 

R.  B.  Higgins,  contingent,  Jan.  i,  1872 500  00 

G.  Y.  Salmon,  contingent,  Jan.  i,  1872 500  00 

J.  W.  Polk,  contingent,  Jan.  2,  1872    500  oo 

Thomas  H.  Mastin,  contingent,  Jan.  2,  1872 500  00 

R.  C.  McBeth,  contingent,  Jan.  2,  1872    500  00 

J.  D.  Hinds,  contingent,  Jan.  2,  1872 500  00 

A.  L.  Harris,  contingent,  Jan.   2.  1872 500  00 

R.  T.  VanHorn,  contingent,  Jan.  2,  1872 500  00 

W.  D.  Meade,  contingent,  Jan.  2,  1872 5^0  00 

H.  W.  Salmon,  contingent,  Jan.  2,  1872    912  46 

G.  \'V,  Reed,  contingent,  Jan.  2,  1&72 250  00 

W.  P.  Johnson,  contingent,  Jan.  2,  1872 500  00 

H.  W.  Salmon,  contingent,  Jan.  2,  1872 6.325  00 

A.  D.  LaDue,  contingent,  Jan.  2,  1872 500  00 

P.  A.  LaDue,  contingent,  Jan.  2,  1 872 500  00 

P.  A.  LaDue,  contingent,  Jan.  2.  1 872 i ,793  49 

Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas  Company,  rolling  stock,  Jan.  2,  1872 .  473  00 

Engineering  pay  roll,  Jan.  3,  1872    565   3^ 

F.  M.  Groff,  right  of  way,  Jan.  4,  1872 50  00 

James  Corington,  engineering,  Jan.  5,  1872 I7  7° 

James  Lillis  &  Co.,  construction,  Jan.  8,  1872 75.879  34 

James  Lillis  &  Co.,  construction,  Jan.  8,  1872         794  65 

H.  Hale,  construction,  Jan.  8,  1872 24,120  35 


298  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

H.  Hale,  construction,  Jan.  8,  1872    $      160  25 

J.  W.  Polk,  right  of  way,  Jan.  9,  1872 176  50 

J.  \V.  Polk,  contingent,  Jan.  9,  1872 780  00 

Peter  Soden  &;  Bro.,  construction,  Jan.  12,  1872 31,880  33 

W.  P.  Smith,  engineering,  Jan.    15,    1872 9.774  8[ 

Thomas  Corrigan,  construction  Jackson  County,  Jan.  20,  1872  51.328  71 

James  Lillis  &  Co.,  construction  Cass  County,  June  23,  1872.  .  2,084  ^o 

J.  N.  Sharp,  ties,  Feb.  5,  1872 960  00 

E.  A.  Cutter,  engineering.  Feb.  12,  1872 loo  00 

Western   Union   Telegraph    Company,   contingent    expenses, 

Feb.  12,  1872 17  89 

W.  B.  Napton,  Jr.,  contingent  expenses,   Feb.  12,  1872 300  00 

J.  B.  Colt,  construction,  Feb.  12,  1872 12,354  00 

Haysler  &  Bro.,  engineering  expenses,  Feb.  14,  1872 43  7^ 

J.  R.  Cline,  contingent  expenses,  Feb.  24,  1872 3,000  00 

C.  Hurst,  right  of  way,  Feb.  24,  1872 10  00 

Russel  Hicks,  tie  and  timber  account,  March  i,  1872 2,000  00 

Western    Union    Telegraph   Company,  contingent  expenses, 

March  i,  1872    23    18 

W.  D.  Mead,  contingent  expenses,  March  i,  1872 1,000  00 

M.  B.  Stewart,  engineering,  March  r,  1872 32  25 

Thomas  Hensley,  engineering,  March  i,  1872 ij  45 

Robert  Allen,  contingent   account   board  of  James  MuUaday, 

April  I,  1872 20  00 

W.  L.  Shankland,  right  of  way,  April  16,  1872 10  00 

Western    Union   Telegraph   Company,   contingent   expenses, 

April  16,  1872 9   14 

Third  National  Bank,  interest  and  discount,  April  16,  1872.  .  .  798  25 

John  J.  Mastin  &  Co.,  interest  and  discount,  April  16,  1872.  .  .  126  00 

J.  J.  Mastin  &  Co.,  interest  and  discount,  April  16,  1872 4.165   00 

J.  J.  Mastin  &  Co.,  engineering  expenses,  April   16,  1872.  ...  36  27 

J.  J.  Mastin  &  Co.,  contingent  expenses,  April  16,  1872 475   54 

Thomas  H.  Mastin,  contingent  expenses,  April  16,  1872 2,875   o^ 

James  Lillis  &  Co.,  construction,  April  25,  1872 7.879  58 

M.  Baird  &  Co.,  rolling  stock.  May  16,  1872 7.535  00 

James  Abernathy,  contingent  expenses,  May  6,  1872 41   25 

Western    Union    Telegraph   Company,   contingent   expenses. 

May  6,  1 872 9  79 

J.  N.  Ramsey,  contingent  expenses.  May  6,  1872 25   00 

Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas   Railroad   Company,  rolling  stock, 

May  6,  1872 312  05 

G.  Y.  Salmon,  contingent  expenses.  May  6,  1872 200  00 

J.  B.  Colt,  construction,  May  4,  1872 41   25 

Charles  Griswold,  engineer,  May  7,  1872. 1,650  00 

W.  P.  Mead,  contingent  account,  Maj'  7,  1872 250  00 

R.  C.  McBeth,  contingent   expenses.  May  7,  1872 2,000  00 

Notford,  contingent  expenses,  May  7,  1872 143   59 

William  Connor,  right  of  way.  May  7,  1872 75  00 

James  Corington,  contingent,  May  7,  1872    7  5o 

Charles  Griswold,  engineer's  expenses  for  Mayand  June,  1872,  420  00 
G.  W.  Caldwell,  grading  in  St.  Clair  County,  May  and  June, 

1872 ^ 3,068    10 


HISTORY    OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  299 

W.  C.  Meade,  recording  of  deeds  and  right  of  way.  May,  15, 

1872 $       89  00 

S.  W.  Caldwell,  gradation  in  St.  Clair  County,  July  18,  1872.  .  588  60 

S.  W.  Caldwell,  work  in  St.  Clair  County,  August,  1872 1.307  88 

C.  Griswold,  engineering,  July  and  August,  1872 480   53 

Stationery  and  printing,  November  1872 I5   25 

J.  E.  Marsh,  salary  expense  account,   four  months,  November 

7,  1872 1,738  66 

Matt  W.  Foster  &  Co.,  stationery  and  printing,  November  7, 

1872 ^6   12 

G.  S.  Case,  contingent,  November  7,  1872 240  00 

Keevil  &  Turner,  contingent,  November  7,  1872 75   00 

T.  VV.  Caldwell,   work  as  shown    by   estimate  for  percentage, 

November   19,   1872 1-379   14 

T.  W.  Caldwell,  balance  due  him  on  estimate  under  Hale  con- 
tingent account,  November   19,  1873 694  04 

H.  Case,  office  rent,  March  20,  1873 140  00 

Bullene  &  Co.,  contingent,   March  20,  1873 60  00 

A.  V.  Van  Epps,  Hale  contract,  March  20,  1873 64  72 

J.  E.  Marsh,  expenses  and  salary,  March  20,  1873 1,200  00 

A.  S.  Stewart  &  Co.,  H.  Hale  contract,  March,    1873 10   54 

R.  T.  Van  Horn,  salary,  March  20,  1873 5,000  00 

J.  W.  Polk,  expenses.  March  20,  1873 loo  00 

R.  C.  McBeth,  attorney,  March  20,  1873 5,000  00 

VV.  C.  Meade,  secretary,  March  20,  1873 2,000  00 

H.  M.  Holden,  expenses,  March  20,  1873 150  00 

Cavanaugh,  second  class  masonry,  in  part  payments   of  war- 
rants Nos.  96  and  97,  March  20,  '73 2,1 17  07 

P.  A.  LaDue,  contingent,  June  12,  1873 45    50 

Wallace  Laws,  right  of  way,  June  26,  1873 157   15 

Amos  Green,  attorney  construction,  June  28,  1873 3,000  00 

Charles  McKenna,  construction  .=.econd  class  masonry,  August 

15.  1873 838  50 

Philip  Conroy,  right  of  way,  August  23,  1873 500  00 

Ben  Anderson,  right  of  way,  August  25,  1873 89  00 

R.  Floury,  right  of  way,  August  25,  1873 275   00 

Wyatt  Webb,  right  of  way,  August  25,  1873 550  00 

S.  H.  McLaughlin,  right  of  way,  August  25,  1873 180  00 

W.  P.  Martin,  right  of  way,  August  26,  1873 50  00 

Edward  West,  right  of  way,  August  2/^,  1873 400  00 

Oliver  Cale  &  Co.,  right  of  way,  August  27,  1873 300  oa 

Nancy  Davis,  right  of  way,  August  27,  1873 75   00 

John  Selt.  right  of  way,  August  27,  1873 10  00 

Thomas  Ashery,  right  of  way,  August  27,  1873 40  00 

G.  M.  Sheldon,  right  of  way,  August  27,  1873 120  00 

J.  B.  Shut,  right  of  way,  August  29,  1873 loo  00 

Hugh  Dixon,  right  of  way,  August  29,  1873 100  00 

G.  W,  Bryant,  right  of  way,  August  29,  1873 275  00 

P.  J.  Kelly,  right  of  way,  August  29,  1873 200  00 

G.  M.  Holloway,  right  of  way,  August  30,  1873 900  00 

J.  M.  Dillon,  right  of  way,  August  30,  1873 650  00 

H.  Steiner,  right  of  way,  August  30,.  1S73 250  00 


300  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

N.  Hornbuckle,  right  of  way,  August  30.  1873 $       50  00 

Daniel  Boone,  right  of  way,  August  30,  1873 66  00 

Mart  Hackler,  right  of  way,  September  i,  1873 1,200  00 

Marion  Barnett,  right  of  way,  September  2,  1873 300  00 

W.  R.  Bernard,  right  of  way,  September  3,  1873 3.000  00 

I.  E.  Price,  right  of  way,  September,  3,  1873 200  00 

B.  J.  Franklin,  right  of  way,  September  4,  1873 55o  00 

John  Orr,  right  of  way,  September  5,  1873 200  00 

Solomon  Wyatt,  right  of  way,  September  5,  1873 650  00 

James  Jessup,  right  of  way,  September  9,  1873 550  00 

Cal  Caldwell,  right  of  way,  September  9,  1873 500  00 

A.  B.  H.  McGee,  right  of  way,  November  10,  1873 4,000  00 

M.  Randolph,  right  of  way.  November  12,  1873 5o  00 

Northv/est  quarter  of  northwest  quarter  section  27,  township 

48,  range  33.  right  of  way,  November   12,  1873 200  00 

W.  H.  Cobb,  right  of  way,  November  12,  1873 loo  00 

Samuel  Protect,  right  of  way,  November  12,  1873 1 15   00 

W.  Turner,  right  of  way,  November  12,  1873 5o  00 

Brown  &  McSpalden,  right  of  way,  November  12,  1873 100  00 

W.  Bevis,  right  of  way,  November  23,  1873 50  00 

James  Jessup,  right  of  way,  November  23.  1873 100  00 

F.  Weddick,  right  of  way,  November  23,  1873 loo  00 

Edward  DeWolf,  right  of  way  and  engineering,  Oct.  18,  1873  73  -25 

Regan,  right  of  way,  Nov.  12,  1873 300  00 

J.  C.  Morris,  right  of  way,  Nov.  12,  1873 1,800  00 

J.  W.  Keefer,  right  of  way,  Nov.  12,  1873 200  00 

C.  B.  Piatt,  right  of  way,  Nov.  12,  1873 loo  00 

W.  R.  Barr,  right  of  way,  Nov.  12,  1873 65  90 

W.  Renisch,  right  of  way,  Nov.  12,  1873 10  00 

A.  Jenkins,  right  of  way,  Nov.  12,  1873 125   00 

P.  Soden  Sc  Bro.,  construction,  Sept.  30,  1873 18,349  30 

Soden  &  Bro.,  construction,  Sept.  20,  1873 15,210   12 

James  Campbell,  engineering,  Dec.  16,  1873 1.529  00 

W.  R.  Truman,  engineering,  Dec.  16,  1873 789  65 

A.  B.   H.  McGee,  engineering 1,400  00 

Karnes  &  Piss,  contingent,  Jan.  i,  1874 148  95 

E.  Chiles,  right  of  way,  Jan.  3,  1874 350  00 

J.  W.  Polk,  contingent,  Jan.  30,  1874 500  00 

Levi  Tyler,  contingent,  Jan.  30,  1874    150  00 

R.  C.  McBeth  as  attorney  at  law  and  committeeman  to  New 

York,  Jan.  29,  1874 i,5oo  00 

W.  D.  Meade,  contingent  as  secretary,  Jan.  29,  1874 i,5oo  00 

A.  Qualmd,  engineering,  Jan.  29,  1874 1-999  00 

P.  Soden,  construction,  Jan.  30,  1874 8,180  06 

Journal  Company,  construction,  Jan.  30,  1874 64  74 

R.  T.  VanHorn,  contingent,  Feb.  10,  1874 5, 000  00 

A.  D.  LaDue,  balance  in  ledger,  Feb.  lo,  1874 4.239  56 

H.  L.  LaDue,  contingent,  Feb.  10,  1874 594  00 

A.  D.  LaDue,  contingent,  Feb.  10,  1874 4.000  00 

Claud  LaDue,  engineering,  Feb.  10,  1874 596  00 

W.  R.  Truman,  engineering,  Feb.  10,  1874 316  66 

James  Campbell,  engineering,  Feb.  10,  1874 602  25 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  301 


$  105  00 
00 
00 


90 

July  2,  1874 • J  '    '  '^''    'o^. 350  00 

W.  D.  Meade,  right   of  way   June  25,  i874.  •  •  •  • ^^ 

Poindexter,  land  and  right  of  way,  Aug^  7.  i«74.  •  •  •  • ^ 

T   H.  J.  Harris,  land  and  right  of  way,  Aug.    1 1,  1874 3/b 

tred  Widlich,  land  and  right  of  way,  Aug    17,  1874 -  - 

John  Regan,  land  and  right  of  way,  Aug^i8,  i874-  ■  •  - 3 

William  Turner,  land  and  right  of  way,  Aug.  20,  1874 ^°  °^ 

H.  M.  Holden,  contingent,  Sept   7,  iW- ^^ 

R.  F.  Mastin,  right  of  way,  Sept.  ^o,  1^74 ^^^  ^^ 

J.  N.  Harris,  right  ot  way,  Sept.  10     1874^    ^^^  ^^ 

Isaac  Johnson,  right  of  way,  Sept.  10.  ^874 i  200  00 

F.  Patrick,  right  of  way,  Sept.  10,  1874^    '          ^^ 

B.F.Martin,  right  of  way,  Sept.  ^  ^'  '^74- -^ -^_ ^ 

Penn.  (duplicate  200)  right  of  way,  Sept.  12,  1874 ^^^  ^^ 

W.  H.  Barr,  right  of  way   Sept.  19,  i874 ^^  ^^ 

R.  White,  right  of  way,  Sept.  21,  i874^  • ^^^^^  ^^ 

J.  J.  Mastin,  right  of  way,  Sept.  25,  1874 g^  ^^  ^^ 

T.  Mastin.  contingent    Sept.  25,    '«74-^- •    00 

R.  C.  McBeth,  right  of  way,  Sept.  26,    874 ^  ^        ^^ 

P.  A.  LaDue,  right  of  way.   Sept   26,  1874 ^^^^  2^ 

Sol  Hilligus,  ties,  Sept   26,   1874.^  ' ;f,- V^., '.■.■.  9,'5oo  00 

W.  P.  Johnson,  right  of  ^ay,  Sept.  26,  1874 ^  ^        ^^ 

R.  T.  VanHorn,  contingent,  ^^pt.  26    1874 "^  '        ^^ 

A.  D.  LaDue,  contingent,  Sept.  26,    874 •  '^^       ^^ 

G.  Y.  Salmon,  contingent  Sept.  26,  1874 9,500  00 

D.  C.  Stone,  contingent,  Sept.  26   1874^ ^  ^        ^^ 

W.  D.  Meade,  contingent,  ^ept.  26,    874 '^'       ^^ 

A.  L.  Harris,  contingent,  Sept.  26,    874 •  ^^        ^^ 

John  W.  Polk,  contingent  ^^P^-^f; ;^74.  •g_^-  • ;  ;  ^  ^^^  ^o 

Meade  Woodson,  right  of  way,  Sept   26   1874 ^^ 

W.  S.  Parish,  right  of  way,  Aug.  28,  1874 125   00 

Mordecai  Bui,  right  of  way,  Oct.  2,  1^72 _■ ^^ 

James  Campbell,  engineering,  Oct^26,  i874„  -^ •  •  •  • ;  ^ 

C.  H.  Nickerbocker,  engineering,  Oct.  26   1874 ^ 

W.  H.  Salmaker,  engineering,  Oct.  26     874 i.^^ 

H.  L.  LaDue,  construction,  Oct.  26,  1874^^ ^^^  ^ 

Claude  LaDue,  engineering,  O^t.  26    1874.^ .- ^^ 

R.  T.  Van  Horn,  engineering^  ^""V^Ia^"^ 368  30 

James  Harder,  engineering.  Oct.  26.  ^ 874 ^ 

James  Burke,  engineering,  Oct.  26.  1874.  •  •  ■ ^^^  00 

A.  M.  Statemaker,  engineering,  Oct.  26,  1874 ^^6  65 

James  Corington,  engineering,  Oct^  26    1874 • 

James  Campbell,  engineering  Oct.  26   1874 52,151   24 

Soden  &  Bros.,  construction,  Oct.  26,  1874- •  ■  -  ;^-  •  „  ^  '   ^ 

H   L  McElro;,  right  of  way.  part  payment  warrant  No.  272,  ^^^  ^^ 

entered  in  warrant  272,   1874.  •••■-•  ''V.^V  97-^'  entered 
Meade  Woodson,  right  of  way,  as  part  of  warrant  272,  entered        ^  ^^  ^^ 

in  warrant  272 


302  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

William  McClure,  right  of  way,  Nov.  21,  1874    $  50  00 

,  engineering,  Jan.  2,    1875 2,389  00 

M.  E.  Summers,  second  class  masonry,  Feb.  4,  1875 1,056  00 

James  Corrington,  duplicate,  Feb.  lo,  1875 673  80 

The  Democrat,  in  commenting  upon  this  astounding  exposure  of 
what  became  of  the  money,  made  the  following  remarks:  "We  also 
learn  from  another  source  that  in  addition  to  the  expenditures  here 
given,  that  additional  warrants,  to  the  amount  of  $180,000  were  issued, 
for  which  the  books  show  no  account  whatever.  Not  even  so  much  as 
"contingent  expenses." 

ONE   MORE    EXPOSURE. 

With  one  more  important  paper  this  history  of  wrong  will  be  closed. 
That  exposure  shows  the  whole  game,  that  from  the  start  "  they  meant 
business."  With  the  bribery  of  a  county  judge,  whose  affidavit  was 
made  and  left  for  safe  keeping,  but  is  now  missing,  though  its  contents 
are  not,  and  will  not  be  denied.  From  the  hasty  summoning  of  a  county 
judge  to  come  town  to  sign  $50,000  of  the  bonds,  and  their  midnight 
delivery,  the  attempted  purchase  of  men  who  could  influence  a  county 
court,  down  to  the  deliberate  fraud  of  fraudulent  contracts,  the  whole  is 
exposed,  and  a  more  sickening  and  dishonest  record  would  be  hard  to 
find  in  the  annals  of  fraud.  This  is  the  record  the  people  of  Henry  County, 
who  have  been  so  foully  wronged,  can  now  understand,  and  if  no  other 
satisfaction  is  ever  granted  them,  they  will  have  the  knowledge  of  who 
"did  it."  From  beginning  to  end  this  record  of  railroad  history  is  offi- 
cial, and  it  has  required  no  small  amount  of  labor  and  patience  to  bring 
to  light  the  whole  facts  bearing  on  the  case.  Some  darker  spots  are  still 
left.  The  query  the  editor  of  the  Democrat  asks,  "  What  became  of  the 
$180,000  not  even  entered  as  contingent  expenses.'"  is  one  of  them.  The 
closing  up  is  the  well  known  confession  of  the  engineer,  or  that  part  of 
it  that  referred  to  the  work  between  Clinton  and  Osceola,  the  contracts, 
and  what  came  of  them.  The  following  will  be  found  very  interesting 
reading: 

THE     engineer's     CONFESSION— ADDITION,     DIVISION     AND  .   SILENCE — 
OR   H0^V   TO   ROB   THE   PEOPLE. 

As  there  has  been  a  great  deal  said  in  the  past  concerning  the  mis- 
appropriation of  the  funds  furnished  by  the  counties,  in  the  shape  of 
bonds,  to  build  a  railroad  from  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  to  Memphis,  Ten- 
nessee; and  as  my  name  has  been  frequently  mentioned  as  one  of  the 
"  railroad  ring,"  in  justice  to  myself  and  to  the  counties  concerned,  I 
have  decided  to  make  a  frank  and  full  expose  of  all  that  I  know  about 
the  past  management  of  the  road 'and  the  dealings  of  the  officers  of  the 
company,  particularly  in  regard  their  to  very  virtuous  and  honest  (?) 


HISTORY   OK    HENRY    COUNTY.  305 

disposition  of  the  funds  entrusted  to  their  hands.  It  is  not  necessary 
for  me  to  go  into  a  detailed  verbiage  of  the  first  organization  of  the  com- 
pany, as  that  is  a  matter  which  has  been  frequently  published  and  is 
doubtless  familiar  to  the  people  of  all  interested  counties.  I  will,  there- 
fore, simply  commence  with  my  first  connection  with  the  railrord  com- 
pany. I  was  employed  by  the  first  president  of  the  company,  D.  C. 
Stone,  to  commence  a  survey  of  the  road  from-  Clinton,  Henry  County,. 
Missouri,  to  Osceola,  St.  Clair,  County,  Missouri.  I  made  a  reconnois- 
ance  of  the  line  in  August,  1870,  and  early  in  September  of  the  same 
year,  started  a  party  of  engineers  to  run  a  preliminary  line  from  Clin- 
ton south,  taking  charge  of  the  party  in  person.  After  reaching  the 
southern  line  of  St.  Clair  County  I  left  the  party  in  camp  to  await 
orders  from  the  board  and  went  to  Clinton  to  attend  a  meeting  of  the 
board  to  be  held  at  that  time.  I  was  then  elec'-^d  chief  engineer  of  the 
Clinton  &  Memphis  Branch  of  the  Tebo  &  Neosho  Railroad,  with  orders 
to  run  a  line,  to  Bolivar,  Polk  County,  Missouri,  and  to  start  another 
party  to  locate  the  line  from  Clinton  south,  preparatory  to  commencing 
work.  I  now  come  down  to  the  time  I  first  became  convinced  that 
everything  was  not  straight. 

A.  D.  LADUE  MAKES   A  CALL. 

Mr.  A.  D.  Ladue  came  to  me  in  my  office  and  made  the  request  that 
I  fix  such  a  price  for  the  work,  and  to  fix  it  in  such  a  manner  that  the 
contractors  could  divide  and  at  the  same  time  the  price  would  look  small 
to  outsiders.  To  this  request  I  did  not  know  what  to  say;-  but  directly 
Ladue  getting  no  reply  from  me,  he  went  out  and  that  was  the  last  I 
heard  of  it.  This  was  the  latter  part  of  November,  1870.  I  wrote  tO' 
some  friends  in  St.  Clair  County  to  meet  me  at  the  Osage  timber,  near 
where  the  line  now  runs.  I  left  in  the  morning  and  returned  in  the 
evening.  I  there  met  and  told  them  just  how  things  were.  They  beg- 
ged of  me  not  to  resign  but  to  keep  my  position  (I  had  made  up  my  mind 
to  resign  and  told  them  so).  They  said,  knowing  what  I  did,  I  could  keep 
my  position  in  the  company  and  prevent  any  great  amount  of  damage 
or  stealing;  that  if  I  resigned  some  one  would  be  appointed  who  would 
do  the  bidding  of  their  dishonest  masters,  and  that  as  they  already  had 
the  bonds  and  as  nothing  could  be  done  to  prevent  the  company  from 
making  use  of  them  not  to  resign  but  to  do  the  best  I  could  for  the  coun- 
ties. I  came  back  from  this  interview  hardly  knowing  what  to  do.  I 
consulted  with  my  friends  and  they  also  advised  me  not  to  say  anything; 
that  if  I  did  my  statement  would  be  refuted  by  Ladue  and  Stone,  who 
were  both  influential  and  well  known  men  while  I  was  comparatively  a 
stranger.  They  advised  me  by  no  means  to  resign  if  I  really  had  the 
good  of  the  counties  at  heart.  I  will  now  proceed  to  show  how  little 
good  I  was  able  to  do. 

WE  WILL  NOW  PROCEED  TO  MAKE  A  CONTRACT. 

Mr.  J.  B.  Colt  came  to  me  and  said  Mr.  Ladue  that  he,  Colt,  should 
enter  into  a  contract  to  do  certain  work  at  the  following  prices:  (the 
prices  were  not  mentioned  at  this  time  but  afterwards  I  found  out  what 
they  were)  earth  excavation  27  cents  pej  yard;  loose  rock  $1  per   yard;. 


304  HISTORY   OF    IIENRV   COUNTY. 

solid  rock  $i  75  per  yard;  clearing  and  grubbing  $70  per  acre:  culvert 
masonry  $S-50  per  yard;  and  that  he,  Colt,  was  to  give  I^adue  and  Stone 
two  cents  per  yard  on  earth,  25  cents  in  loose  and  solid  rock,  and  $20 
per  acre  on  clearing  and  grubbing,  and  $1  per  yard  on  culvert  masonry. 
That  he  did  not  know  what  to  do.  and  did  not  want  to  do  anything  that 
was  not  right,  and  said  that  if  I  would  stand  by  him  he  would  do 
nothing  but  what  was  right.  I  assured  him  that  I  would  do  so  and  that  he 
could  depend  on  me.  This  was  the  last  that  I  heard  about  the  contract 
until  I  had  to  make  out  the  estimates  when  the  prices  were  given  me. 
The  work  was  at  least  one-half  done  before  I  found  out  there  was  any- 
thing divided. 

They  then  told  me  all  about  it,  stating  that  the  difference  between 
the  first  named  prices  and  those  actually  paid  the  contractors  were,  after 
the  whole  amount  had  been  drawn,  handed  back  to  the  contractors. 
They,  the  contractors,  drawing  the  entire  amount,  and  then  paying  the 
difference  to  LaDue  in  his  office,  which  was  divided  between  A.  D. 
LaDue  and  D.  C.  Stone,  except  the  contract  let  to  H.  Hale,  which  I  will 
explain  hereafter.  The  contract  for  the  first  twenty  miles  south  from 
Clinton  was  let  to  J.  B.  Colt,  with  the  understanding  that  Captain  Wil- 
liam Weaver  was  to  have  the  last  five  miles  (which  was  in  St.  Clair 
County).  Captain  Weaver  was  to  have  the  same  price  Colt  received. 
The  contract  for  that  five  miles  was  a  part  of  the  first  twenty,  which  was 
let  to  J.  B.  Colt,  and  had  to  be  receipted  by  him  to  the  company,  and  a 
separate  estimate  was  made  to  Weaver.  The  prices  Weaver  received 
were  the  same  that  J.  B.  Colt  actually  received,  that  is,  the  original  price 
less  the  bonus  paid  to  LaDue  and  Stone,  (they  first  told  me  the  differ- 
ence Colt  received),  Weaver  not  knowing  anything  of  this  arrangement, 
but  supposing  that  he  received  the  amount  of  the  original  contract  prices. 
We  will  now  take  the  contract  let  to  H.  Hale.  He  had  really  nothing 
to  do  with  the  contract,  more  than  to  lend  the  use  of  his  name  for  one- 
third  of  the  profits,  which  was  the  difference  between  prices  in  the  orig- 
inal contract  and  the  prices  of  the  sub- contractors.  The  prices  of  the 
original  were  the  same  as  those  in  J.  B.  Colt's  contract,  and  the  sub- 
prices  were  as  follows:  Earth,  23  cents;  loose  rock,  65  cents;  solid  rock, 
$1.50;  clearing  and  grubbing,  $40  per  acre  and  two-thirds  of  the  over- 
haul; the  culvert  work  at  $4.  The  bridge  work  was  let  to  Frank  McCabe 
at  the  following  prices:  Bridge  masonry,  $11,  and  Grand  River  at  $12,  he 
paying  the  $3  per  yard  and  actually  receiving  $8  and  $9. 

THEY  SCOOP  $27,000. 

We  will  now  proceed  to  recapitulate:  First  take  J.  B.  Colt's  contract 
in  Henry  county. 

Earth  excavation,  165,383  i-ioo  yards  at      2c,  $  3,307  66 

Loose  rock  excavation,  8.672  7- 100  yards  at  25c,  2,168  17 
Solid  rock  excavation,  4,715  4-100  yards  at  25c,  1,178  85 
Third  class  masonry,        1.920  yards  at  $    i,        1,920  00 

Clearing  and  grubbing,         43  6-10     acres  at     20,  872  00 

$  9,446  6% 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  305 

ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

Earth  excavation,  30,327  3-100  yards  at      2c,  $  606  54 

Loose  rock  excavation,    1,916  yards  at    25c,  479  00 

Solid  rock  excavation,        717  2-100  yards  at    25c,  179  30 

Third  class  masonry,  400  yards  at      $i,  400  00 


-$   1,664  84 


H.  HALE,   ST.   CLAIR   COUNTY. 

Earth  excavation,           65,350  5-100  yards  at      4c,  $  2,614  02 

Loose  rock  excavation,  9,420  7-100  yards  at    35c,  3.297  24 

Solid  rock  excavation,    3,493  7-100  yards  at    25c,  8.73  42 

South  Osage  River,           4,642  8-100  yards  at    25c,  1,160  70 

Third  class  masonry,      1,128  62-100  yards  at  $1.50  1.69293 

Clearing  and  grubbing,    371  78-100  yards  at  30.00  1.133  40 

Over  haul, 2,627  71 


$13,399  21 
Two-thirds  the  amount  of $  8,932  80 

FRANK    M'CABE. 

Second  class  masoniy,  2,325  80-100  yards  at  $3.00 $  6,987  40 


Grand  total $26,93 1  72 

WHY   I   DID — WHY   I   D-IDN'T. 

The  question  will  doubtless  be  asked  why  I  did  not  make  this  state- 
ment before.  In  answer  I  will  state,  at  the  time  I  had  found  all  these 
things  to  a  certainty,  I  went  to  two  members  of  the  board,  and  to  one  of 
them  I  made  a  clear  and  perfect  statement,  and  would  have  done  so  to 
the  other  had  he  not  refused  to  hear  me. 

The  first  named  was  Mead,  of  Osceola,  and  the  last  was  McBeth,  of 
Clinton.  It  was  he  who  would  not  listen  to  me;  who  went  to  D.  C.  Stone 
and  told  him  he  had  better  stop  me  from  telling  things.  Stone  came  to 
me  and  wanted  to  know  what  I  had  said  to  that  director.  I  do  not 
remember  just  all  that  was  said  between  Stone  and  myself,  but  from  that 
time  on  Stone  was  continually  making  threats  to  me  that  if  some  par- 
ties did  not  keep  their  mouths  shut  he  would  fix  them;  that  he  carried 
the  thing  to  do  it  with,  and  would  put  his  hand  on  his  pocket  at  the 
same  time.  I  thought  at  the  time  and  afterwards  became  convinced 
that  he  meant  that  I  was  the  person  who  must  stop  talking.  The  direc- 
tor I  made  the  statement  to  told  me  I  had  better  look  out  for  my  life; 
that  Stone  had  made  threats  which  he  thought  applied  to  me,  although 
no  names  were  mentioned.  Having  a  family  to  support,  I  could  not 
endanger  my  life.  For  this  and  other  reasons  of  a  similar  character, 
which  for  prudential  reasons  I  deem  it  best  not  to  mention  at  this  time, 
I  have  been  induced  to  withhold  this  statement  of  facts  from  the  public 
until  the  present  time. 

[Signed]  CHARLES  GRISWOLD. 

20 


3o6 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 


The  record  from  1876  to  date  is  familiar  to  all.  The  main  feature 
and  acts  of  the  people  of  Henry  County  through  their  county  court  and 
the  agents  have  been  given,  and  the  matter  is  now  ended,  except  to 
meet  the  principal  and  interest  on  the  compromised  debt.  Here  the 
question  is  left,  trusting  that  a  period  of  uninterrupted  prosperity  may 
fall  upon  her  people  until  the  last  vestige  of  this  great  wrong,  except  its 
undying  remembrance,  shall  have  passed  away. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

THE  CIVIL  WAR. 

THE  STORM  CLOUD-A  GOOD  DEAL  OF  SORROW,  ETC.-1861  HISTORIC-MEETING  AT  CLIN- 
TON—WHAT WAS  SENT  TO  THE  GOVERNOR— DEMOCRATIC  MEETING— RESOLUTIONS 
PASSED-NEWSPAPER  COMMENIS -UNION  MEETINGS-THE  RESULT-THE  GOSPKL 
OF  HATE-FEDERAL  FORCES— THE  GRAY  PREDOMINATES— SOME  LOCAL  MATTERS 
—THE  BRIDGING  OF  THE  BLOODY  CHASM— ALL  IS  PEACE— THE  BLUE  AND  THE 
GRAY-THE  HEROES  WHO  DIED. 

THE    STORM    CLOUD. 

The  Lone  Star  State  had  seen  her  Alamo,  and  from  the  blood  of 
her  murdered  sons  came  forth  a  glorious  state  with  the  banner  of  free- 
dom and  independence  proudly  floating  in  the  breeze.  Then  had  fol- 
lowed the  Mexican  War  with  a  large  increase  of  territory  to  join  event- 
ually the  noble  sisterhood  of  states.  The  wave  of  excitement  caused  by 
the  golden  discoveries  of  California,  had  come  and  gone,  and  the 
quiet  which  followed  was  like  the  sleep  of  death.  But  this  was  the  hush 
before  the  storm,  and  soon  the  dark  and  ominous  cloud  of  civil  strife 
began  to  hover  over  the  land.  Where  all  was  peace  the  demon  of  hate 
and  fanatacism  sprang  up,  and  our  country,  unexampled  in  the  world's 
history  for  its  prosperity,  was  soon  given  over  to  desperate  conflict;  a 
struggle  which  was  to  deluge  our  land  with  blood,  and  which  was  not 
only  to  rend  the  liberties  of  the  people,  but  start  an  era  of  corruption 
the  like  of  which  the  world  had  never  seen.  Hundreds  of  thousands  of 
people  slain,  thousands  of  millions  of  the  people's  money  stolen.  Our 
fair  land  was  to  pass  through  the  trying  ordeal  of  domestic  strife  that 
clothed  our  people  in  anguish  and  gloom,  and  which  brought  sorrow  and 
mourning  into  nearly  every  household  in  the  land. 

1861. 

The  year  i86i  is  historic.  The  hydra-headed  monster,  hate,  had 
taken  possession  of  the  hearts  of  the  people  and  could  only  be 
appeased  by  deadly  conflict  and  carnage  upon  the  battle  field.  Peace 
spread  her  wings  and  soared  aloft,  and  the  "Land  of  the  free"  once  more 
attested  her  devotions  to  free  institutions  by  sealing  that  devotion  in 
blood.     Right  or  wrong  they  attested  their  sincerity  by  sacrificing  their 


308  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

lives  upon  the  alter  of  their  belief — fighting  for  principles.  The  battle 
was  fought,  victory  won  by  the  Federal  arms,  and  those  who  did  the 
fighting  have  clasped  hands  across  the  bloody  chasm.  The  blue  and  the 
gray  mingle  in  fraternal  union. 

WHEN   IT   STARTED. 

Very  many  of  the  people,  both  north  and  south,  still  believe  that 
the  roar  of  the  signal  gun  at  Fort  Sumter  was  the  opening  of  the  dread 
conflict,  but  it  would  seem  from  the  following  official  record,  that  Boston 
was  the  starting  point  that  inaugurated  the  terrible  civil  strife,  and  that 
her  fanatics  furnished  the  arms,  they^  dared  not  use  themselves  to  start 
the  unholy  contest. 

The  following  document,  when  submitted  to  the  legislature  at  its 
session  of  1860-1  by  the  then  governor  of  the  state,  Claiborne  F.  Jack- 
son, for  the  action  of  the  legislature,  to  take  such  steps  as  the  good  name 
of  the  commonwealth  demanded.  The  first  refers  to  the  action  of  the 
people  of  Henry  County,  in  mass  meeting  assembled: 

At  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Clinton,  Henry  County,  Missouri, 
held  at  the  court  house  on  the  night  of  the  20th  of  November,  1860,  the 
following,  among  other  proceedings,  were  had,  to  wit: 

After  a  speech  from  Judge  Williams,  of  Kansas  Territory,  and  other 
gentlemen,  the  following  resolutions  were  adopted: 

Whereas,  We  have  received  indisputable  evidence  of  the  fact  that 
the  notorious  Montgomery,  of  Kansas,  has  lately  been  receiving  large 
supplies  of  arms,  money  and  provisions  from  the  East,  and  he  has  erected 
a  fort  and  has  supplied  the  same  with  munitions  of  war,  and  that  he  has 
collected  a  large  band  of  outlaws  around  him,  and  that  he  has  published 
that  the  United  States  District  Court  should  not  convene  at  Fort  Scott; 
that  the  several  United  States  officers  in  that  portion  of  Kansas  Terri- 
tory should  leave  the  territory  or  be  killed;  that  these  officers  have  been 
compelled  to  abandon  their  official  duties  and  flee  for  their  lives;  that 
several  citizens  of  the  county  have  actually  been  murdered,  property 
plundered,  negroes  stolen  and  the  border  counties  threatened  with  inva- 
sion, and  open  and  extensive  preparations  made  to  carry  the  threats 
into  execution,  for  the  purpose  of  murder,  plunder  and  negro  stealing. 

Resolved,  That  a  volunteer  company  be  organized  for  the  purpose  of 
defending  our  own  homes,  and,  if  necessary,  the  western  borders  of  the 
state. 

Resolved,  That  a  messenger  be  immediately  sent  to  the  governor  of 
the  state  with  a  request  to  provide  for  the  purpose. 

Resohed, -Thdit  Thomas  E.  Owen,  Norval  Spangler,  J.  C.  Alexander, 
J.  Davis,  A.  M.  Tutt,  B.  L.  Dozier,  T.  W.  Royston.  S.  P.  Ashby  and  Burt 
I-lolcomb  be  appointed  to  enroll  such  names  as  may  be  willing  to  join  a 
volunteer  company  and  to  effect  an  organization  of  the  same. 

Resolved,  That  D.  C.  Stone  and  W.  A.  Duncan  be  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  wait  upon  the  governor  and  represent  to  him  the  emergency  of 
the  case,  and,  if  possible,  procure  a  supply  of  arms. 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  30 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  fifteen  be  appointed  to  inform  the  citi- 
zens of  the  county  of  Henry  of  the  meeting  and  its  purposes,  of  the  22d 
inst.,  and  devise  means  for  the  same. 

Tebo — A.  C.  Avery,  J.  Davis. 

Springfield— R.  K.  Murrell,  E.  J.  Warth. 

Osage — A.  T.  Bush,  N.  S.  Spangler. 

Deepwater — B.  L.  Dozier,  L.  Cruce. 

Big  Creek — B.  L.  Ouarles,  J.  G.  Dorman. 

Bogard — Jesse  Nave,  B.  G.  Boone. 

Grand  River— S.  P.  Ashby,  W.  H.  Cock,  J.  H.  Vance. 

Resolved,  That  a  messenger  be  sent  to  Warsaw,  Osceola,  Lexington 
and  Warrensburg,  and  take  with  them  a  copy  of  the  proceedings  of  this 
meeting  and  ask  their  co-operation. 

Lexington — A.  Raney,  Hampton  Winew. 
Warrensburg— T.  A.  Hust,  M.  W.  Lowry. 
Osceola— B.  F.  Cox,  H.  C.  Tutt. 
Warsaw — H.  S.  Marvin,  R.  L.  Burge. 

I.  M.  CRUCE,  Chairman. 
L.  B.  Ouarles,  Secretary. 

Clinton,  Mo.,  November  20,  i860. 
Goyernor  Stewart  : 

Sir:  I  am  here  to  inform  the  citizens  of  this  place  of  the  following 
facts ;  and  I  have  been  requested  to  present  them  to  you  as  governor  of 
the  state. 

The  Abolitionists,  under  the  command  of  Montgomery  and  Dr. 
Jennison,  to  the  number  of  from  three  to  five  hundred,  armed  with 
Sharpe's  rifles,  dragoon  sabres,  navy  revolvers  and  bowie  knives  each, 
have  suddenly  commenced  a  war  of  extreme  ferocity  on  the  law-abiding 
citizens    ot  Southern  Kansas,  in  the  counties  of  Linn  and  Bourbon. 

These  arms  arrived  by  the  wagon  load  at  or  near  Mound  City,  about 
one  month  since,  in  boxes  marked  as  donations  for  Kansas  sufferers. 
They  are  all  new. 

Montgomery  had  been  at  Boston  during  part  of  the  summer,  and 
returned  with  plenty  of  money  to  enlist  recruits.  Many  of  his  men  are 
freshly  imported.  He  has  taken  possession  of  Fort  Scott  and  other 
towns  on  the  border  near  the  Missouri  line.  He  has  murdered  Mr. 
Moore,  a  grand  juror;  Mr.  Harrison,  Mr.  Samuel  Scott,  Mr.  Hindes,  and 
obliged  all  of  the  United  States  officers,  including  myself,  to  fiy  for  our 
lives.  His  openly  expressed  design  in  a  public  speech,  as  he  said,  "  with- 
out concealment,"  is  to  keep  possession  of  Fort  Scott  and  other  places 
near  the  state  line,  to  prevent  "  a  fire  in  the  rear,"  while  he  cleaned  out 
"Southern  Missouri  of  Slaves."  So  far,  he  has  carried  out  literally  his 
declared  programme. 

The  citizens  of  Missouri  on  the  Osage,  Marmaton,  and  in  Bates  and 
Vernon,  are  flying  from  their  homes  into  the  interior. 

He  boasts  that  he  has  money  and  arms  to  sustain  one  thousand  men. 
These  are  faets.     "  Oinne  pars  fui." 

My  court  was  broken  up  by  them — the  U.  S.  Court  for  the  Southern 
District.  I  expect  they  have  seized  the  records,  and  also  the  records  of 
the  land  office,  as  he  publicly  declared  he  would  do  so. 


310  HISTORY   or    HENR\    COUNTY. 

I  send  this  in  haste  to  accompany  the  proceedings,  etc.,  of  a  meet- 
ing of  the  citizens  here.  Yours,  etc., 

J.  WILLIAMS, 
U.  S.  District  judgt',  jd  Judicial  District  of  the   Territory  of  Kansas. 

Warsaw,  Mo.,  November  22,  i860. 
To  D.  C.  Stone  : 

Montgomery  is  at  Ball's  Mill — stole  a  number  of  negroes  and  mur- 
dered six  or  eight  men.  Williams  is  here.  Great  excitement — meeting 
to  be  held  to-night — company  formed.  J.   H.  LEACH. 

Warsaw,  Mo.,  November  22,  1660. 
To  General  Hackney : 

Is  it  possible  to  get  the  military  from  St.  Louis,  say  five  hundred 
men  armed  and  equipped.''  Montgomery  has  actually  invaded  the  state, 
and  is  now  near  Taberville.     Reply  immediately. 

JAMES  ATKISSON. 

The  following  extract  from  a  letter  written  from  Papin\-ille,  Bates 
County,  Missouri,  December  2,  i860,  to  Gen.  G.  A.  Parsons,  was  also 
presented  by  the  governor  to  the  legislature  with  the  others.  The  extract 
is  as  follows  : 

"They  have  been  in  the  state  in  parties,  evidently  for  the  purpose  of 
stealing  negroes  and  other  property,  and  to  murder  some  of  our  citizens; 
they  have  also  threatened  the  Democratic  Banner,  a  newspaper  published 
at  West  Point,  Bates  County,  Missouri;  and  wherefore  we  would  state 
that  our  county  is  virtually  beseiged,  our  lives  and  property  being 
endangered  by  this  band  of  outlaws,  compelling  us  to  be  armed  to  repel 
an  invasion,  with  which  Montgomery  has  threatened  us  in  public  speeches. 
Our  state  has  been  invaded  and  is  now  in  imminent  danger  of  being 
again  visited  by  Montgomery  and  his  hired  band.  We  would  further 
represent  that  on  account  of  the  present  state  of  affairs,  general  distress 
now  prevails.  Slave  owners  have  sent  their  negroes  to  the  interior  of 
the  state. 

All  honest  and  law-abiding  men  of  Southern  Kansas  have  either 
left  or  are  leaving  the  territory,  abandoning  their  all  to  save  life. 

In  conclusion  we  would  repeat  to  you,  that  we  deem  this  section  of 
Missouri  in  danger,  which  we  are  but  poorly  prepared  to  resist  success- 
fully. We  also  believe  that  they  will  attack  us  before  spring  ;  that  this 
border  has  been  selected  as  the  battle  ground  of  the  two  great  parties, 
the  one  for  the  Constitution  and  the  Union,  and  the  other  for  Abolition 
and  Disunion. 

The  leaders — Montgomery  and  Jennison — of  the  latter  part)- openly 
and  defiantly  state  that  their  object  is  to  steal  and  liberate  negroes  in 
Southwest  Missouri,  and  to  hang  or  shoot  every  man  who  opposes  them, 
b^ing  well  armed  with  new  and  superior  arms,  and  money  supplied  from 
the  East;  they  have  now  possesion  of  Fort  Scott  and  other  important 
places  near  the  state  line,  and  if  Kot  crushed,  we  may  soon  meet  them  in 
our  state  with  sufficient  force  to  carry  out  their  programme." 

The  people  of  Missouri  began  to  see  that  if  something  was  not 
done  that  blood  and  carnage  would  soon  begin  its  terrible  work.    Union 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY.  31I 

meetings  were  held  in  almost  every  county  of  the  state,  but  the  people, 
while  favoring  union  to  the  last  degree,  had  no  love  for  the  abolition 
fanatics  who  were  doing  all  that  devils  incarnate  could  do  to  precipitate 
a  deadly  conflict.  In  Henry  County  strong  Union  sentiments  were 
expressed  as  above  and  another  meeting  called.  Its  proceedings  are 
here  given: 

"  DEMOCRATIC    MEETING." 

"  Pursuant  to  a  previous  notice  a  large  number  of  the  citizens  of 
Henry  County  met  at  the  court  house  at  Clinton  on  the  9th  of  January, 
i860,  for  the  purpose  of  appointing  delegates  to  the  Democratic  State 
Convention,  which  convened  at  Jefferson  City  on  the  9th  of  April  next, 
when  the  following  proceedings  were  had: 

Major  William  M.  Wall  was  made  chairman  and  R.  K.  Murrell 
appointed  secretary  of  the  meeting. 

On  motion  of  R.  L.  Burge  it  was  resolved  that  a  committee  of  six 
be  appointed  to  draft  resolutions  expressing  the  sense  of  this  meeting; 
whereupon  the  following  gentlemen  were  selected,  to  wit:  R.  L.  Burge, 
L.  Cruce,  John  A.  Bushnell,  J.  G.  Dorman,  G.  F.  Warth  and  James 
Swindle. 

During  the  absence  of  the  committee  the  meeting  was  addressed  by 
Messrs.  Marvin,  Williams  and  Murrell  upon  the  political  questions  of 
the  day.  The  committee  returned  and  reported  the  following  preamble 
and  resolutions: 

Whereas,  The  United  States  have  advanced  more  rapidly  than 
any  other  nation  in  all  the  elements  that  constitute  greatness;  and 
whereas,  the  administration  of  the  general  government  has  been  in  the 
hands  of  the  Democratic  party  for  the  greater  portion  of  that  time; 
therefore 

Be  it  Resolved,  That  we  have  entire  confidence  in  the  principles  of 
the  Democratic  party. 

Resolved,  second.  That  we  regard  the  so-called  Republican  party  of 
the  north  as  a  sectional  and  fanatical  one,  whose  avowed  principles  are 
directly  subversive  of  the  constitution,  and  whose  ultimate  triumph  would 
be  a  national  calamity — greatly  endangering  the  union  of  the  states  ;  and 
that  we  look  with  extreme  reprobation  at  its  attempted  organization  in 
our  own  state. 

Resolved,  third,  That  in  the  Democratic  party  we  recognize  a  truly 
national  party,  unwaveringly  devoted  to  the  rights  and  interests  of  every 
section  of  our  common  country,  and  to  the  preservation  and  perpetuity 
of  the  entire  union. 

Resolved,  fourth.  That  we  hereby  pledge  ourselves  unanimously 
and  cordially  to  support  the  nominee  of  the  Charleston  convention,  and 
of  our  state  convention,  which  convenes  at  Jefferson  City  on  the  9th  of 
April  next. 

Resolved,  fifth.  That  we  endorse  the  Cincinnati  platform,  adopted 
June.  1856,  and  the  principles  enunciated  in  the  Dred  Scot  case. 

Resolved,  sixth,  That  having  full  confidence  in  the  ability  and 
integrity  of  the  Hon.  Waldo  P.  Johnson,  of  St.  Clair,  we  hereby  instruct 
our  delegates  to  the  state  convention  to  cast  the  vote  of  this  county  for 
him  as  our  first  choice  for  sfovernor. 


312  HISTORY    OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

Resoli'cd,  seventh,  That  having  entire  confidence  in  the  qualifica- 
tions and  fitness  of  our  esteemed  fellow-citizen,  Major  Daniel  Ashby,  of 
Henry,  for  the  office  of  state  treasurer,  we  hereby  instruct  our  delegates 
to  cast  the  vote  of  this  county  for  him  as  first  choice  for  said  office. 

Resolved,  eighth.  That  while  we  view  the  recent  outrages  commit- 
ted at  Harper's  Ferry,  as  the  fruits  of  the  teachings  and  "irrepressible  con- 
flict" principles  of  the  Republican  party  of  the  north,  and  sincerely  sym- 
pathize with  and  approve  of  the  course  pursued  by  the  state  of  Virginia, 
we  regard  the  union  meetings  recently  held  in  the  north  as  manifesting 
the  spirit  of  patriotism  calculated  to  check  the  disorganizing  principles 
of  the  Abolition  party,  and  preserve  the  union  of  the  states  on  true 
Constitutional  grounds. 

Resolved,  ninth,  That  in  view  of  the  eminent  abilities  and  long- 
tried  services  of  that  "wheel-horse"  of  Democracy,  Claiborne  F.  Jack- 
son, we  recommend  him  as  the  second  choice  of  this  meeting  as  a  can- 
didate for  the  office  of  governor. 

Resolved,  tenth,  That  the  chair  appoint  seventeen  delegates  to 
attend  a  state  convention  at  Jefferson  City  and  cast  the  vote  of  Henry 
County  in  obedience  to  the  foregoing  instruction;  whereupon  the  fol- 
lowing were  appointed  by  the  chair,  to  wit:  G.  H.  Warth,  A.  C.  Marvin, 
S.  P.  Ashby,  J.  G.  Dorman,  A.  Walmsley,  L.  Cruce,  William  Johnson, 
Addison  Bronaugh,  John  A.  Bushnell,  R.  L.  Avery,  William  M.  Wall, 
John  W.  Williams,  James  Swindle,  William  H.  Murrell,  A.  J.  Lee,  John 
O.  Covington  and  William  Paul. 

Resolved,  eleventh,  That  each  township  in  the  county  be  requested 
to  elect  delegates  to  a  convention  to  be  held  at  Clinton  on  the  first 
Monday  in  May,  next,  for  the  nomination  of  county  officers  and  the 
more  perfect  organization  of  the  party,  and  the  twelfth  resolution  called 
for  the  publication  of  the  foregoing  in  the  Warsaw  Democrat,  Jefferson 
Examiner  and  Clinton  Journal.  From  the  latter  and  under  date  of 
January  13th,  i860,  the  above  proceedings  were  taken.  The  report  was 
signed,  WILLiAM  M.  WALL,  President. 

RICHARD  K.  MURRELL,  Secretary. 

THE   journal's   COMMENTS. 

"A  report  of  the  proceedings  of  a  Democratic  convention,  which 
was  held  in  this  place  on  Monday  last,  January  9th,  i860,  will  be  found 
in  another  column.  Without  expressing  any  other  opinion  regarding 
the  general  tenor  of  the  resolutions  adopted,  and  which  every  one  is  at 
liberty  to  construe  as  he  pleases,  yet  we  must  say  that  the  spirit  which 
dictated  the  eighth  resolution  is  worthy  of  general  imitation.  We  have 
not  seen  before  in  any  portion  of  the  South,  a  single  instance  of  a  pub- 
lic recognition  of  the  conservative  principles  which  prompted  the  recent 
Union  demonstrations  in  the  North.  Can  it  be  that  Henry  County  has 
taken  the  lead  of  the  entire  South,  in  a  movement  which  sound  policy 
as  well  as  common  sense  would  suggest.''" 

The  Journal  also  copies  an  article  from  the  Jefferson  P^xaminer, 
which  it  apparently  indorses.  The  Journal  was  an  independent  and 
conservative  sheet,  with  an  outspoken  Union  sentiment,  but  disclaimed 
any  sympathy  with  the  Republican  party.     He  explained  that  he  was 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  313 

opposed  to  and  held  in  contempt  the  teachings  of  the  "Helper  Book,"  and 
that  he  was  for  the  Union,  now  and  forever.  The  Examiner  article  is 
here  given  : 

"  UNION   MEETINGS." 

"Since  the  Harper's  Ferry  tragedy,  Union  meetings  have  been  held 
in  nearly  all  the  principal  cities  of  the  East,  and  glorious,  patriotic,  and 
Union-loving  sentiments  have  been  freely  expressed.  No  one  can  have 
any  doubt  after  reading  the  proceedings  of  these  meeting,  but  that  there 
is  a  conservative  element  in  the  free  states,  and  that  that  element  will 
ever  be  found  upholding  the  rights  of  the  inhabitants  of  every  portion 
of  our  glorious  confederacy — knowing  no  North,  no  South,  no  East,  no 
West.  Still  no  person  who  has  the  welfare  of  this  country  at  heart,  can 
be  so  blind  as  not  to  be  fully  aware  that  there  is  an  organization  north 
of  Mason  &  Dixon's  line,  the  leaders  of  which  are  most  corrupt  at  heart,, 
ready  and  willing — and  we  may  say  anxious — to  hurl  this  beautiful 
fabric  of  ours  into  the  abyss  of  darkness. 

In  the  present  emergency,  when  the  troubled  waters  roll  high,  when 
disaster  and  shipwreck  stare  us  in  the  face,  it  becomes  the  imperative 
duty  of  every  true  and  loyal  American  citizen  to  show  by  his  actions — 
not  by  mere  words^that  he  still  cherishes  a  deep-seated  love  for  the 
union  of  the  states.  Let  harmony,  peace  and  good  will  prevail  and  we 
will  have —    . 

'  A  union  of  lakes, 

A  union  of  lands,  ^ 

A  union  of  states,  none  can  sever  ; 

A  union  heart'^, 

A  union  of  hands 
And  the  flag  of  our  union  forever  !* 

We  hope  the  good  work  so  bravely  begun  by  our  brethren  of  the 
East,  will  go  steadily  on  without  faltering  until  sectionalism  is  routed 
from  our  midst,  and  until  every  traitor  receives  the  same  punishment  so 
justly  meted  out  to  Ossawatomie  Brown  and  his  vile  accomplices." 

THE   RESULT. 

These  meetings  and  extracts  show  the  temper  of  the  people  of 
Henry  County,  and  of  Missouri  generally,  at  the  inception  of  the  war^ 
a  feeling  which  afterward  moderated  by  the  comnaencing  of  one  of  the 
greatest  civil  wars  of  history.  The  cool  and  determined  hatred  and 
fanatacism  which  had  assumed  the  leadership  at  the  North,  was  met  by 
an  impetuous,  uncontrolable  temper  on  the  part  of  the  leaders  of  the 
South,  and  thirty-five  millions  of  people  were  led  to  the  slaughter,  who 
really  were  conservative  in  their  feelings  and  abhorred  the  very  thought 
of  a  fratricidal  strife. 

The  people  of  Henry  County,  as  will  be  seen,  were  for  the  Union 
from  the  start,  and  not  until  the  signal  gun  of  defiance  had  reverberated 
through  the  valleys  and  over  the  prairies  of  our  grand  old  state,  did  this 
sentiment  change,  and  the  people  almost  unanimously  joined  the  cause 
of  the  South.     Not  then  even  was  disunion  in  their  hearts. 


3-14  HISTORY   OF    HENRV   COUNTY. 

Eighteen  years  have  passed,  and  sectional  feeling  is  fast  disappear- 
ing before  the  light  of  reason  and  the  glory  of  our  noble  confederacy  of 
states.  The  gospel  of  hate  and  the  spirit  of  fanaticism  is  finding  its 
place  in  the  grave,  as  its  disciples  are  gathered  by  the  reaper  of  death, 
on  his  annual  rounds.  The  unholy  anger  of  an  impetuous  people  is  giv- 
ing way  to  a  nobler  effort,  for  they  have  seen  and  felt  that  a  judgment 
so  weak  as  to  be  controlled  by  anger,  is  manhood  debased,  and  that  they 
have  fearfully  paid  for  their  unheard  of  and  idiotic  folly. 

The  war  left  its  bitter  fruits  in  Henry  County.  Devastation  and 
ruin  swept  over  its  fertile  fields,  hatred  and  animosity  sprang  up  here  and 
there,  and  the  worst  element  of  human  nature  held  its  brutal  sway  for 
four  long  years.  Peace,  with  its  angel  wings,  hovered  over,  and  at  last 
settled  upon  this  striken  land,  and  the  sorrow  and  desolation  of  the  past 
and  present  was  softened  by  the  bright  and  more  hopeful  future.  Henry 
County  contributed  her  quota  to  the  armies  in  battle  array,  and  while 
some  joined  the  Federal  forces,  by  far  the  greater  number  united  with 
the  army  of  the  confederac}'.  Some  returned,  others  did  not,  each  and 
all  did  their  duty,  according  to  their  belief 

THE   FEDERAL   FORCES. 

Three  years  or  the  war— December  31,  1863 — Six  volunteers  in  the 
Eighteenth  Infantry,  one  in  the  Twenty-fourth  Infantry,  one  in  the 
Twenty-seventh  Infantry,  nine  in  the  Thirty-third  Infanty,  three  in  the 
First  Cavalry,  two  in  the  Eighth  Cavalry.     Twenty-two  in  all. 

MISSOURI   STATE   MILITIA. 

Four  volunters  in  the  First  Cavalry,  two  in  the  Sixth  Cavalry,  twenty- 
seven  in  the  Seventh  Cavalry.     Thirty-three  in  all. 

One  volunteer  joined  a  Kansas  regiment,  two  an  Arkansas  regi- 
ment, two  the  Third  Arkansas  Regiment.     Five  in  all. 

Here  was  a  total  of  sixty,  who  joined  the  federal  forces  up  to  Janu- 
ary I,  1864.  Undoubtedly  there  were  others,  but  still  Henry  County  citi- 
zens were  mostly  in  favor  of  the  Southern  cause. 

THE   GRAY   PREDOMINATES. 

Henry  County  was  more  devoted  to  the  South  than  to  the  Federal 
cause,  and  nearly  1,000  of  her  sons  risked  their  lives  and  fortunes  to  the 
cause  they  held  most  dear.  One  company  raised  at  or  near  Windsor, 
was  General  Price's  body  guard.  But  the  record  of  those  who  went  into 
the  war  on  the  Confederate  side  is  not  to  be  found.  The  record  of  the 
P"ederal  army  can  be  had,  but  when  the  lost  cause  found  its  grave,  its 
records  were  left,  in  most  cases  to  neglect,  or  purposely  destroyed. 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  3^5 

While  bravery  and  true  patriotism  Tiad  found  in  the  Confederate 
army  thousands  of  representatives,  they  were,  according  to  those  who 
believed  in  the  gospel  of  hate,  but  vile  traitors.  So  the  records  of 
brave  men  are  lost,  and  history  can  only  be  gathered  from  oral  testimony. 
To  be  sure  the  Confederate  archives  are  safely  housed  at  Washington, 
but  they  would  be  of  little  use  in  local  history,  even  if  examined.  Many 
dark  deeds  were  committed  in  the  county,  and  Clinton  had  her  court 
martial,  and  the  bullet  did  its  deadly  work. 

A  son  of  Alfred  Kimsey  was  shot  as  a  bushwhacker  in  1862,  and 
Howard  Hampton  gave  up  his  life  on  Shawnee's  beautiful  prairies. 

Clinton  had  a  call  from  the  notorious  Colonel  Jim  Lane,  and  he  was 
going  to  destroy  the  county  records  or  carry  them  off,  but  changed  his 
mind  or  was  persuaded  out  of  it.  Then  came  Colonel  A.  M.  Tutt,  and 
he  was  also  about  to  take  these  records,  but  did  not,  and  at  last  they 
were  boxed  and  sent  by  wagons  to  Sedalia  under  the  charge  of  Judge  J. 
G.  Dorman,  which,  after  several  mishaps,  among  which  was  a  break 
down,  arrived  safely  within  the  boundary  of  the  "Wind  City."  Henry 
County  was  not  a  battle  field,  though  several  skirmishes  were  had  within 
her  border,  but  armed  men  of  both  sides  passed  and  repassed  through 
and  over  her  fertile  fields,  and  devastation  and  ruin  was  found  every- 
where, but  not  that  utter  wreck  which  followed  where  the  contending 
hosts  met  in  battle  array  and  struggled  for  supremacy.  It  would  require 
a  volume  to  detail  all  the  local  happenings,  and  then  the  record  would 
neither  be  accurate  or  add  to  the  welfare  of  the  county.  Let  the  dead 
past  bury  its  dead,  and  let  the  present  become  a  beacon  light  for  future 
progress.  Dwelling  on  the  past,  and  especially  that  which  can  only 
bring  sorrowing  reminiscence,  is  not  the  duty  of  the  hour,  and  so  long 
as  that  record  cannot  be  furnished,  because  not  kept,  it  is  best  to  pass  it 
by  and  look  not  to  the  past,  but  to  the  future. 

The  battle  for  a  separate  republic  was  lost  and  the  Union  pre- 
served—an imperishable  sisterhood  of  states.  Victory  crowned  the 
Union  army  and  the  contending  hosts  shook  hands  across  the  bloody 
chasm.  To  be  sure  cowards  came  to  the  front  when  the  strife  was 
ended  and  preached  the  "gospel  of  hate,"  but  the  masses  of  the  people 
have  at  last  driven  them  to  cover.  There  is  a  union  of  hearts  and  a 
union  of  hands  in  this  year  of  our  Lord,  1883,  and  the  country  is  making 
rapid  strides  towards  the  front  rank  of  nations.  The  blue  and  the  gray, 
the  flag  of  our  Union  waves  over  both,  and  if  ever  a  future  conflict  shall 
call  our  people  to  arms,  the  gray  and  the  blue  will  be  found  side  by  side, 
each  in  heroic  endeavor  for  the  preservation  of  their  common  country. 
They  sleep  side  by  side  on  many  fields  of  battle,  the  living  are  once 
more  brothers,  the  dead  are  united,  and  upon  the  graves  of  the  blue  and 
the  gray  are  placed  the  garlands  of  victory,  and  memory  is  ever  kept 
green  for  the  loved  ones  dead. 


3l6  HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 

THE  HEROES  WHO  DIED. 

''God  knows  who  was  right, 

Ah!  yes!  it  is  true, 
And  the  God  of  the  Gray 

Is  the  God  of  the  Blue; 
He  bore  their  proud  spirits 

To  mansions  above. 
And  He  crowned  them  at  last 

With  his  garlands  of  love. 

The  grasses  grow  green 

On  the  graves  where  they  lay, 
The  flowers  bloom  alike 

O'er  the  Blue  and  the  Gray; 
And  loved  ones  tears 

Are  mingled  with  dew, 
While  with  it  God  blesses 

The  Gray  and  the  Blue. 

In  Heaven  above  us 

God  opens  his  gate 
No  strife  or  contention, 

No  discord,  no  hate; 
The  portals  are  open, 

And  there,  side  by  side, 
Stand  the  heroes  of  battle — 

The  heroes  who  died. 

God  welcomes  them  all ; 

Though  in  battle  array 
One  bore  the  bright  blue. 

And  the  other  the  gray. 
Though  one  fought  for  Union, 

The  other  for  State, 
One  Angel  of  Mercy 

Guided  all  to  God's  gate. 

And  there  at  the  right  hand 

Of  him  who  is  just. 
Away  from  the  mortal 

And  up  from  the  dust, 
There,  there  by  God's  throne, 

Far  away  from  earth's  grave 
In  raiments  unspotted. 

Stand  the  true  and  the  brave. 


Shall  we,  the  frail  worldlings, 
Who  yet  live  and  wait — 

Shall  we  sit  in  judgment. 
Or  cry  out  in  hate, 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 


317 


While  a  father  above  us, 

A  father  all  wise, 
Calls  back  his  loved  children 

From  earth  to  the  skies, 

Foigive  us,  forgive  us, 

Dear  Father  above  ! 
Bring  back  to  our  conscience 

The  heart  beat  of  love ; 
And  while  we  are  weeping 

For  our  loved  ones  to-day 
Let  us  tenderly  cherish 

The  Blue  and  the  Gray." 


Y3^ 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

CLINTON  TOWNSHIP. 

TOWNSHIP  AND  CITY— ITS  EARLY  BOUNDARIES— WHERE  IT  LIES— THE  METES  AND 
BOUNDS  OF  1873— AREA  AND  POPULATION— ITS  STREAMS  AND  FOUNTAINS— TIMBER 
AND  PRAIRIES— PIONEERS  AND  WHO  CAME  LATER— SCHOOLS  AND  PIONEER 
PREACHING— NEW  ARRIVALS-ITS  FIRST  PHYSICIAN— PROGRESS  AND  TRANSPOR- 
TATION-TOWNSHIP OFFICERS— THE  NEXT  CHAPTER,  "  THE  MODEL  CITY." 

A   SORT   OF  COMBINATION. 

This  township  may  be  said  to  be  mostly  included  in  the  city  of 
Clinton,  for  its  history  is  pretty  nearly  all  included  in  the  settlement  of 
the  county  seat,  its  growth  and  its  prosperity.  Originally  this  township 
was  a  part  of  Grand  River  and  Springfield  Townships,  range  line  26 
dividing  them  and  also  passing  through  the  center  of  what  is  now  Clin- 
ton Township.  In  i860  the  boundary  line  of  Grand  River  was  changed 
and  Clinton  w^as  then  all  in  Grand  River  Township,  and  there  it  remained 
until  the  final  upheaval  of  township  affairs  by  the  new  township  organ- 
ization law  of  1872-3  brought  it  into  existence.  At  the  same  time  it 
blotted  from  the  map  of  Henry  County  the  name  of  Grand  River  Town- 
ship, which  had  existed  since  the  county  was  organized,  a  period  of  thir- 
ty-eight years.  Clinton  Township  lies  in  the  second  tier  of  townships 
from  its  southern  border,  and  is  the  central  township  and  known  as 
Congressional  Township  No.  41,  of  range  26,  besides  a  small  portion  of 
tow^nship  40  of  ranges  26  and  25,  and  also  of  township  42  of  range  25, 
having  in  these  additions  nearly  three  and  a  half  sections  of  land  added 
to  her  domain.  This  was  caused  by  the  sinuous  course  of  Grand  River 
on  her  eastern  border  and  Deepwater  on  the  southeast. 

ITS   BOUNDARY. 

Composed  of  Congressional  Township  No.  41  of  range  No.  26  and 
the  west  half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  No.  31  and  the  west 
half  of  section  No.  31  in  township  No.  41,  of  range  25;  also  commencing 
at  the  southwest  corner  of  the  west  half  of  lot  No.  2  of  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  No.  6,  township  No.  40  of  range  No.  26,  and  running 
thence  east  to  the  southeast  corner  of  the  east  half  of  lot  No.  2  of  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  No.  5;  thence  south  to  the  southeast  corner 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  319 

of  the  east  half  of  lot  No.  i  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  No.  5; 
from  thence  east  to  the  center  of  section  No.  i;  from,  thence  south 
to  the  center  of  section  No.  12;  thence  east  to  the  southeast  corner  of 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  No.  12,  in  township  No.  40  of  range 
No.  26,  and  from  thence  east  on  the  center  section  line  running  east  and 
west  through  sections  7  and  8  of  township  No.  40' of  range  25  to  right 
bank  of  Grand  River. 

AREA   AND   POPULATION. 

This  gives  Clinton  Township  an  area  of  a  trifle  over  39I  sections  of 
land,  or  an  acreage  of  25,084  acres.  It  is  one  of  the  best  townships  in 
the  county.  Grand  River  comes  in  from  the  northwest  and  flows  diag- 
onally through  the  township,  and  on  the  east  running  nearly  due  souths 
being  its  eastern  boundary  for  nearly  three  miles.  In  the  northwest  is 
Fields'  Creek,  in  the  centeh  Town  Creek,  and  on  the  east  side  Deer  Creek, 
all  emptying  into  Grand  River,  and  on  its  southern  boundary  Deepwater 
is  found  passing  clear  across  the  township  from  west  to  east,  emptying 
into  Grand  River  just  south  of  the  southeast  corner  of  the  township. 
Timber  is  abundant  all  along  the  banks  of  these  streams,  and  the  rest,  or 
about  three-fourths  of  the  township  is  prairie  land.  So  far  as  the  fer- 
tility of  the  soil  is  concerned,  it  is  fully  up  to  the  average  of  the  county, 
but  for  some  reason,  the  agricultural  population  has  not  kept  pace  with 
the  surrounding  townships.  In  1870  the  population  was  not  given  sep- 
arately as  it  had  not  been  organized,  and  the  township  of  Grand  River 
had  been  given  including  other  territory  besides  Clinton. 

Clinton  City  had  a  population  of  640,  as  given  by  the  census  of 
that  year.  The  population  of  the  city  and  township  in  1880  was  3,849, 
of  which  the  city  of  Clinton  had  2,862,  and  the  township  987  outside  of 
the  city.  The  growth  of  the  city  for  the  decade  was  very  great,  but 
the  township  grew  but  very  little,  being  hardly  a  natural  increase.. 

THE    PIONEERS. 

Among  those  who  made  this  township  their  home  was  James  B. 
Sears,  who  settled  on  section  5,  and  his  son  Frank  Sears,  now  living  in 
Oregon;  John  Nave,  on  section  4;  William  R.  Owens,  on  section  12;  P. 
J.  Byser,  from  North  Carolina,  in  section  33,  in  1839,  ^"^  ^^1^  ^^^  former 
in  1 83 1.  In  fact,  except  the  Arbuckles,  Kimseys  and  a  few  others, 
these  were  among  the  first  settlers  of  the  county.  The  Wallaces  came 
in  1836,  A.  W.  Bates  in  1837,  and  many  others  whose  further  history 
will  be  found  in  that  of  the  city  of  Clinton  and  pioneer  history. 

The  first  school  was  kept  as  early  as  1833  by  old  man  Johnson  and 
he  went  from  house  to  house  when  he  first  commenced. 

Addison  Young,  Presbyterian,  was  the  first  preacher.  He  preached 
as  early  as  1831,  at  the  cabins  of  the  settlers  but  was  never  a  permanent 


320  HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 

resident  of  the  county.  Both  Abraham  Millice,  a  German,  and  a  Metho- 
dist and  Thomas  Keeney,  a  Baptist,  also  held  services  in  the  settlement 
in  1832.  There  was  not,  until  1835,  either  a  school  house  or  church  in 
the  township. 

The  Huntley  Mill,  on  Grand  River,  on  section  23,  some  three  miles 
southeast  of  Clinton,  was  put  up  in  1845,  ^"d  for  a  long  time  was  the 
only  mill  in  all  this  section  of  country,  and  Huntley  Mill  became  quite  a 
noted  place. 

There  was  no  store  in  the  township  until  the  location  of  the  county 
seat,  but  in  1836  Thomas  B.  and  Benjamin  F.  Wallace  started  a  store  in 
Fields  Creek  Township,  about  one  mile  north  of  Clinton,  on  section  35. 
and  kept  it  about  twelve  months,  when  early,  in  1837,  when  town  lots 
were  ready  to  be  sold,  removed  to  Clinton  and  opened  the  first  store  in 
the  township.  The  location  of  the  county  seat  gave  Clinton  Township 
a  start,  and  with  the  county  seat  has  double  the  population  of  any  town- 
ship in  the  county,  Windsor  coming  next  with  1,900,  a  little  less  than 
half  of  Clinton. 

NEW  ARRIVALS. 

The  first  child  born  in  the  township  was  Ermie,  a  daughter  of  John 
Nave,  born  1837.  The  first  physician  in  the  township  who  resided 
within  its  limits  was  Dr.  Hobb. 

The  first  election  in  the  township  after  the  county  seat  was  located 
was  in  1837.  The  first  election  in  Grand  River  Township,  of  which 
Clinton  was  a  part,  was  in  1836. 

PROGRESS  AND  TRANSPORTATION. 

From  1840  to  the  present  time  Clinton  City  has  outgrown  the  town- 
ship, and  for  a  number  of  years  there  was  nothing  to  break  the  monot- 
ony of  farm  life  or  prevent  the  county  seat  from  growing.  Then  came 
war's  alarm,  when  brother  was  to  meet  brother  in  mortal  combat,  and  a 
once  free  and  happy  republic  was  to  become,  for  a  time,  the  seat  of  a 
military  despotism,  and  the  demon  of  hate  was  to  hold  high  carnival  for 
four  long  and  gloomy  years. 

But  even  these  dread  years  passed  away,  and  the  sunlight  of  peace 
once  more  shed  its  glowing  rays  over  the  land.  Then  Clinton  Township 
and  city  woke  up  to  the  future,  and  the  dead  past  was  left  to  bury  its 
dead.  Its  transportation  facilities  are  at  this  time  composed  of  the  Mis- 
souri, Kansas  &  Texas  Railroad,  which  passes  from  the  north  to  the 
southwest  portion  of  the  township,  giving  about  six  miles  of  road  to  the 
township,  with  Clinton  as  the  station.  Another  road  is  now  being  built 
from  Clinton  to  Osceola,  which  will  have  a  mileage  within  the  township 
of  about  three  and  a  half  miles,  but  will  have  no  station  except  Clinton 
within  the  township.     The  local  history  of  these  roads  will  be  found  in 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  32 1 

separate  chapters  under  railroad  history,  a  history  which  is  likely  to 
arouse  intense  interest  among  the  people  of  Henry  and  St.  Clair 
Counties. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  schools  of  Clinton  Township  number  four,  beside  tho  graded 
school  of  Clinton  City,  and  they  are  all  in  a  flourishing  condition.  In 
fact,  if  there  is  any  one  thing  that  has  shown  good  judgment  and  an 
enlightened  policy,  it  is  the  interest  taken  in  advancing  the  cause  of 
education.  Education  is  an  enduring  monument,  the  foundation  upon 
which  the  superstructure  of  a  free  republic  is  built.  Let  Christianity 
and  education  go  hand  in  hand,  and  tyranny  will  find  no  foothold  on 
American  soil. 

TOWNSHIP    OFFICERS. 

Under  the  provisions  of  the  new  township  law  township  officers 
were  elected,  but  Henry  County  repealed  the  law,  which  was  unfortu- 
nate, as  by  township  assessment  the  assessed  valuation  of  each  town- 
ship was  separate,  and  its  cereal  and  stock  production  was  taken.  With 
the  same  rate  of  valuation  this  law  showed  the  growth  of  each  town- 
ship in  the  county,  and  its  progress  or  decay  was  shown  from  year  to 
year.  In  the  county  assessment  the  gross  sum  is  given,  but  whether 
that  increase  has  been  in  the  north,  south,  east  or  west  part  of  the 
county  can  only  be  known  by  days  of  toil  and  comparison.  Two  sets 
of  officers,  which  were  elected  under  that  law,  are  here  given: 

1873— NEW   ORGANIZATION   LAW. 

Justices  of  the  peace — George  S.  Ellis,  Charles  S.  Robinson,  Ansby 
Fike,  J.  R.  Browning. 

Supervisor — John  Curtis. 
Clerk— W.  L.  Windsor. 
Asssessor — John  H.  Doane. 
Collector — David  P.  Daum. 
Constable — Solomon  Blatt. 

1875. 
Trustee — S.  D.  Garth. 
Assessor — George  Hopgood. 
Clerk— W.  B.  Calvird. 
Collector — William  L.  Windsor. 
Road  overseer — Egbert  King. 
Constable — John  N.  Barlow. 
Justice  of  the  peace — Theodore  W.  Collins. 

21 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

THE  "MODEL  CITY"  OF  THE  PRAIRIES. 

SOMETHING  OF  THE  MODEL  TOWN— THE  BEAUTY  OF  ITS  SURROUNDINGS— WHEN  AND 
WHERE  LOCATED— STREETS,  ETC.— DATE  OF  ENTRY  OF  THE  TOWN  SITE,  1837— POST 
OFFICE  AND  POSTMASTER— DEED-HOTEL  AND  SALOON— WHEN  INCORPORATED, 
1858— ITS  GROWTH  IN  TWENTY-ONE  YEARS— THE  NEW  BOUNDARY,  1866— THE  IRON 
HORSE-POPULATION  OF  CLINTON  BY  DECADES— WHILE  A  TOWN— THEN  A  CITY 
OF  THE  FOURTH  CLASS— A  FINANCIAL  EXHIBIT- ELECTION  OF  1880  AND  1882- 
ANOTHER  FINANCIAL  SHOWING— THE  SMALL  POX  SCARE— SOMETHING  AUTHENTIC 
—ITS  FUTURE. 

CITY   OF   CLINTON — THE   MODEL   TOWN. 

Clinton,  in  its  plat  and  surroundings,  may  well  be  called  the  "The 
Model  Town."  There  are  very  few  as  handsomely  located  towns  in  the 
state  as  Clinton,  and  this,  combined  with  the  beautiful  residences,  hand- 
some churches  and  splendid  business  blocks,  its  flagstone  sidewalks, 
make  one  of  the  most  desirable  resident  cities  in  the  state.  Could  her 
wealth  be  utilized  within  her  border  she  would  hold  an  advanced  posi- 
tion and  Henry  County  itself,  would  stand,  in  wealth  and  productive 
capacity,  in  the  front  rank  of  counties  in  the  state.  Fully  two  million 
dollars  are  invested  outside  of  Henry  County  by  her  citizens,  and  she 
thus  loses  the  advantages  arising  from  this  large  increase  of  wealth,  and 
the  taxation  it  would  legitimately  produce.  Of  course  this  wealth  has  a 
right  to  be  invested  where  its  owners  elect,  but  it  don't  speak  well  for 
home  pride  or  public  spirit,  both  of  which  is  required  to  build  a  town 
and  increase  the  material  prosperity  of  the  county  at  large. 

Right  in  the  center  of  a  magnificent  prairie,  sitting  upon  a  natural 
elevation  or  crest,  the  "  Model  City"  stands,  bathed  in  the  sunlight,  with 
the  spires  of  her  christian  temples  glistening  in  the  bright  rays  which 
are  reflected  for  miles  around,  for  upon  the  open  prairies,  far  to  the 
south  and  east,  these  spires  which  ascend  toward  heaven  can  be  seen  for 
many  miles,  showing  to  the  traveler  that  where  they  stand  rest  can  be 
found  on  his  earthly  journey,  and  in  his  heart  they  stand  before  him  as 
a  harbinger  of  rest,  a  beacon  light  to  direct  him  on  the  journey  of  life, 
which  passes  through  the  narrow  way,  crossing  the  dark  and  mystic 
river  which  flows  through  the  valley  of  death,  but  when  safely  crossed 
the  £folden  shore  is  found. 


HISTORY   OF   HENRV   COUNTY.  323, 

WHEN   AND   WHERE    LOCATED. 

The  gentlemen  selected  to  locate  the  county  seat  of  Rives  County,. 
although   appointed   by  the  act  of  the  legislature,  December  13,  1834,. 
failed  to  make  that  selection  until  the  fall  of  1836,  or  about  twenty-one 
months  after  their  appointment. 

Anderson  Young  and  Daniel  McDowell,  of  Lafayette  County,  and 
Daniel  M.  Boone,  of  Jackson  County,  were  the  commissioners  appointed, 
and  they  made  the  selection  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  3,  town- 
ship 41  of  range  26,  as  the  site  for  the  seat  of  justice  of  Rives  County* 
Their  report  was  presented  to  the  county  at  the  November  term,  1836, 
and  accepted  by  it. 

The  county  court  at  once  acted  upon  the  report  by  appointing  Pey- 
ton Parks  county  seat  commissioner,  with  full  power  to  plat  and  lay  out 
the  same,  and  to  sell  lots,  etc.  Mr.  Parks  called  on  James  M.  Goff,  sur- 
veyor, to  plat  a  certain  portion  of  the  quarter  section,  which  Mr.  Goff 
did  with  the  assistance  of  James  Gladden,  Robert  H.  Sproull  and  Wil- 
liam C.  George.  Sixty-four  lots  were  laid  off,  and  the  first  sale  of  lots 
took  place  February,  1837. 

The  first  building  was  put  up  by  Thomas  B.  and  Benjamin  F.  Wal- 
lace. This  was  a  store  house  built  of  logs  and  weather  boarded,  and 
into  this-  building  they  moved  their  store,  the  first  in  the  place,  from  their 
location,  a  mile  north  of  town.  The  lot  was  known  as  lot  number  17. 
John  Nave  put  up  the  first  hotel.  This  was  a  first  class  structure,  looked 
a  good  deal  like  a  cattle  pen,  and  was  located  on  the  ground  where  Ful- 
kerson  &  Parks'  drug  store  now  stands.  He  had  three  rooms  facing  on 
Franklin  Street,  two  facing  on  Main,  with  a  hallway  between  the  last 
two  rooms.  Nathan  Fields  hauled  the  logs  for  Wallace's  store,  and  part 
of  those  for  the  hotel.  They  were  one  story  and  a  half  buildings,  or  had 
a  good  sized  loft  overhead.  It  was  not  long  before  other  buildings  were 
put  up  by  John  M.  Reid,  B.  Fand  and  A.  W.  Bates,  and  soon  Clinton, 
became  quite  a  village  in  size  and  appearance. 

STREETS,  ETC.. 

With  the  letting  ot  the  new  court  house,  and  the  location  or  removal 
of  the  court  from  Goff's,  Clinton  seemed  to  be  full  of  life  and  growing 
rapidly.  In  1840,  she  boasted  of  nearly  250  inhabitants.  In  the  plat- 
ting of  the  town,  streets  were  laid  out  as  follows: 

RUNNING   NORTH    AND  SOUTH. 

Main  Street,  east  side  public  square. 
Washington  Street,  west  side  public  square. 


324  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

EAST   AND   WEST. 

Franklin  Street,  north  side  public  square. 

Jefiterson  Street,  south  side  public  square. 

First  street  north  of  Franklin  was  named  Greene  Street.  The  first 
street  south  of  Jefferson  was  called  Grand  River  Street.  The  first  east 
of  Main  was  called  East  Street,  and  west  of  Washington,  Water  Street. 
The  streets  around  the  square  were  marked  out  eighty  feet  wide,  and 
were  laid  off  and  named  in  January,  1837,  at  the  time  of  the  platting  of 
the  town.  So  it  seems  the  first  buildings  put  up  were  completed  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1837,  and  others  soon  followed. 

DATE   OF   ENTRY. 

The  quarter  section  upon  which  Clinton  stands  was  not  entered  until 
December,  12,  1837,  when  John  F.  Sharp  was  authorized  by  the  county 
court  to  proceed  to  Lexington  and  enter  the  same.  This  was  done  on 
the  date  above  mentioned. 

On  examination  the  section  line  was  found  to  be  west  of  East 
Street,  and  that  street  was  just  over  the  line  on  section  two,  and  it  was 
therefore  withdrawn  or  not  laid  out. 

Thomas  R.  Wallace  and  John  F.  Sharp  were  appointed  to  superin- 
tend the  building  of  the  court  house,  and  they  were  ordered  to  let  the 
same.  There  were  several  that  supposed  that  no  one  would  take  the  job 
for  $2,500,  and  several  Calhounites  were  positive,  but  it  was  let  to  John 
D.  Mercer,  of  Pettis  County,  and  work  begun.  The  brick  used  was 
burned  on  the  public  square.  The  clay  was  little  mixed  with  iron,  which 
made  the  brick  of  a  dark  color,  but  it  was  excellent  brick  clay. 

Thomas  11  Wallace  now  lives  in  Lexington,  Missouri,  and  is  in  the 
real  estate  and  insurance  business.  Benjamin  F.  Wallace,  who  was  the 
first  postmaster  of  Clinton,  is  now  living  in  California.  John  Nave» 
Asaph  W.  Bates,  John  F.  Sharp,  and  Robert  Allen,  have  all  closed  their 
earthly  career,  Nathan  Fields  is  living  in  Fields'  Creek  Township.  The 
first  election  ever  held  in  Clinton  was  for  a  justice  of  the  peace  for 
Grand  River  Township,  and  the  election  was  held  November  23,  1837. 

The  first  physician  was  Dr.  Hobb,  who  was  there  as  late  as  1842. 
At  the  time  the  postoffice  opened  in  Clinton,  there  had  been  only  one 
in  the  county  and  that  was  at  Goff's,  and  William  Goff  was  postmaster- 
As  Calhoun  was  laid  out  about  the  same  time,  or  a  little  sooner,  than 
Clinton,  the  Goff  postoffice  was  removed  to  that  town,  and  these  two 
postoffices  were  the  only  ones  in  the  county,  James  Fields  being  post- 
master of  the  Calhoun  office.  Benjamin  Wallace  made  a  map  of  all 
this  section  of  Missouri  in  1839  and  sent  it  to  Washington.  This  knowl- 
edge of  the  country  caused  him  to  be  appointed  government  agent  in  this 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  325 

section,  of  the  postoffice  department,  and  he  was  required  to  appoint  or 
recommend  postmasters  for  the  new  offices  established,  and  in  many 
cases  to  locate  them.  He  gave  a  bond  of  $10,000,  on  which  bond  were 
the  names  of  George  W.  and  Preston  Walker,  Robert  Allen  and  Thomas 
B.  Wallace.     The  following  is  the  first  deed  of  record: 

DEED   OF   TOWN    LOTS,   CLINTON. 

This  indenture,  made  the  19th  day  of  February,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  1838,  between  John  F.  Sharp,  the  county  seat  commissioner  of 
Rives  County,  and  the  State  of  Missouri,  of  the  one  part,  and  John  Bru- 
met,  of  the  County  of  Rives,  of  the  other  part,  witnesseth,  that  the  said 
John  F.  Sharp,  on  behalf  of  the  County  of  Rives,  for  and  in  considera- 
tion of  the  sum  of  fifty-seven  dollars  to  him  in  hand  paid,  the  receipt 
whereof  is  hereby  acknowledged,  doth  bargain,  grant,  sell  and  convey, 
and  confirm  unto  the  said  John  Brumet,  his  heirs,  and  assigns  forever 
all  the  right,  title  and  claim  the  County  of  Rives  has  to  the  following 
lots,  situated  and  being  in  Clinton,  the  county  seat  of  Rives  County,  and 
state  aforesaid,  to  wit:  Lot  Number  42,  fronting  on  the  south  side  of 
Jefferson  Street,  one  chain,  fifty-eight  links  and  one-tenth;  thence  run- 
ning back  three  chains  and  sixteen  links  and  two-tenths;  also  Number 
54,  fronting  on  the  east  side  of  Main  Street,  containing  the  same  number 
of  chains  and  links  in  front  and  length;  also  lot  Number  56,  fronting  on 
the  east  side  of  Washington  Street,  containing  the  same  in  front  and 
back,  and  also  Number  57,  fronting  on  the  west  side  of  Washington 
Street,  containing  the  same  number  of  chains  and  links  in  front  and 
back,  supposed  to  contain  one  half  acre  each,  by  survey,  be  the  same 
more  or  less,  together  with  all  and  singular,  the  appurtances  thereunto 
belonging,  or  in  anywise  appertaining  to  have  and  to  hold  the  above 
described  lots  unto  the  said  John  Brumet,  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever. 
And  the  said  commissioner,  John  F.  Sharp,  the  aforesaid  lots  unto  the 
said  John  Brumet,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  against  the  claim  or  claims  of 
all  and  every  other  person  whomsoever,  do  and  will  warrant  and  forever 
defend  by  these  presents. 

In  witness  whereof  the  said  commissioner,  John  F.  Sharp,  party  of 
the  first  part,  have  hereunto  set  his  hand  and  seal  the  day  and  3'ear  first 
above  written. 

JOHN  F.  SHARP,     [se.^vl.] 
Commissioner  for  the  County  Seat  of  Rives. 

On  which  is  the  following  endorsement: 

State  of  Missouri,  | 

Rives  County,    p^' 

On  the  19th  day  of  March,  1838,  personally  appeared  before  me,  the 
undersigned  clerk  of  the  county  court,  John  F.  Sharp  and  acknowledged 
the  above  and  foregoing  deed  of  conveyance  to  be  his  act  and  deed,  for 
the  purpose  therein  expressed,  and  I  do  further  certify  that  the  said  John 
F.  Sharp  is  personally  known  to  me  to  be  the  same  person  who  exe- 
cuted the  same.  ¥.  A.  PINNELL, 

Clerk. 

Recorded  the  above  and  foregoing  deed  and  acknowledgment  this 
23d  day  of  May,  1838.  F.  A.  PINNELL, 

Clerk. 


326  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

HOTELS  AND  SALOONS. 

Having  a  first-class  hotel,  other  public  institutions  were  also  thought 
to  be  necessary  and  it  was  decided  that  a  first-class  saloon  should  be 
opened  for  the  convenience  of  the  traveling  public  and  other  callers  that 
came  within  their  gates.  Mr.  Preston  Wise  came  forth  as  the  good 
Samaritan  and  proclaimed  his  willingness  to  provide  liquid  refreshment 
for  the  men  who  were  caught  in  the  rain  storm  and  announced  that  they 
were  very  wet,  and,  also,  that  they  were  very  dry.  Mr.  Wise  got  a 
"dram-shop"  license  May  3,  1841,  and  the  beverage  could  be  had  soon 
after  at  five  cents  a  drink,  or  generally  in  those  days  a  "ftp,"  which  was 
a  Spanish  sixpence. 

There  was  very  little  to  impede  the  growth  of  the  town,  yet  Clinton 
did  not  grow  very  fast  in  those  days.  The  closing  out  of  every  mer- 
chant in  the  county  but  one  in  1842  give  the  town  a  set  back;  still  immi- 
gration came  in  and  settled  up  the  beautiful  prairies,  something  that  in 
time  would  be  a  substantial  backing  for  a  town.  A  town  is  a  convenience 
— but  it  is  the  country  that  makes  towns  and  villages  and  supports  them. 

THE   lOWN  OF  CLINTON. 

They  wanted  an  incorporated  town  in  1858,  and  this  was  the  peti- 
tion: 

"Whereas  a  petition  was  presented  to  the  court  signed  by  sundry 
citizens  of  the  town  of  Clinton  in  this  county,  praying  to  have  said  town 
incorporated,  and  setting  forth  the  metes  and  bounds  thereof,  and  it 
appearing  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  court  that  two-thirds  of  the  taxable 
inhabitants  of  said  town  have  signed  said  petition,  and,  also,  that  the 
prayer  of  said  petition  is  reasonable, — It  is  therefore  ordered  by  the 
court  that  the  said  town  of  Clinton  be  declared  to  be  incorporated 
within  the  following  metes  and  bounds  as  set  forth  in  said  petition, 
to  wit:  The  southeast  quarter  of  section  number  three,  and  that  part  of 
the  west  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  two,  lying  south  of 
Franklin  Street,  contained  in  Davis'  Addition  to  said  town,  all  in  town- 
ship number  forty-one  (41),  of  range  number  26,  and  to  be  known,  styled 
by  the  name  of  the  "Town  of  Clinton;"  and  the  court  do  hereby  appoint 
George  H.  Warth,  William  H.  Schroeder,  William  H.  Cock,  Jerald  G. 
Dorman  and  Andrew  M.  Tutt.  a  board  of  trustees  for  said  town,  accord- 
ing to  the  statute  in  such  cases  made  and  provided." 

February  6,  1858. 

Thus  Clinton  became  an  incorporated  town,  but  at  that  time,  it  did 
not  put  on  any  metropolitan  airs,  or  did  it  seem  much  impressed  with 
its  new  honors,  still,  it  was  slowly  but  steadily  improving  in  appearance 
as  well  as  in  population,  though  it  was  far  from  being  a  large  town. 

In  i860,  twenty-three  years  after  Clinton  was  first  settled,  it  boasted 
•of  a  population  of  some  500.     This  was  not  a  rapid  growth,  in  fact  Clin- 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  327 

ton  had  exhibited  but  little  energy  or  enterprise,  being  willing  to  float 
along  with  the  current. 

About  this  time  the  Abolitionists  of  the  North  and  the  "  Fire-Eaters'' 
of  the  South,  came  to  an  agreement  to  disagree,  and  this  resulted  in  a 
four  years'  war,  and  to  Clinton  of  a  loss  of  at  least  half  of  her  population. 
The  following  item  was  found  in  the  hrst  issue  of  the  Advocate,  Janu- 
ary, 1866:  "Clinton  has  a  population  of  250  inhabitants,  white  and 
black."  November  loth,  of  the  same  year,  1866,  the  boundary  of  the 
town  of  Clinton,  was  defined,  and  it  is  possible  it  can  be  traced  yet,  if 
the  doctor  hasn't  cut  or  destroyed  the  "peach  tree"  or  removed  the  rock. 

BOUNDARY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   CLINTON. 

"The  west  half  section  No.  2,  and  the  east  half  section  No.  3,  town- 
ship No.  41,  of  range  26,  or  in  other  words  :  commencing  at  a  rock  near  a 
peach  tree,  in  the  yard  and  directly  south  of  the  residence  of  Dr.  McLane, 
running  east  to  the  northwest  corner  of  the  fair  ground  ;  thence  north, 
to  the  township  line,  near  one  acre,  owned  by  Charles  Synder  at  the 
north  end  of  Seventh  Street;  thence  west,  one  mile  to  the  line  of  George 
W.  Hancock's,  or  to  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  3;  thence  directly 
south,  one  mile,  to  the  southwest  corner  of  Oak  Grove  Cemetery;  thence 
east,  on  Ohio  Street,  to  the  place  of  beginning." 

Here,  then  was  the  leaven  which  was  to  transfer  nearly  a  dead  town 
to  life  and  progress,  to  raise  her  up  and  place  her  before  the  people  as 
the  "  model  town."  The  record  of  1845  was  duplicated  in  1866,  and  Clin- 
ton stood  at  the  latter  date  just  where  she  had  stood  twenty-one  years 
before  in  point  of  population.  But  when  the  white-winged  angel  of 
peace,  which  had  hovered  over  our  ill-fated  country  for  four  long  years, 
found  rest  for  its  feet  once  more,  hope  took  upon  itself  a  spirit  shape, 
and  sank  into  the  hearts  of  the  people,  nestling  there,  with  whispering 
of  a  bright  and  glowing  future,  if  manhood  and  womanhood  would  step 
to  the  front.  Hope,  indeed,  told  a  flattering  tale,  but  it  took  truth  as  a 
companion,  and  the  records  of  the  past  eighteen  years  have  proven  to 
the  people  that  they  were  not  deceived. 

Although  Clinton  had  no  flatboats  to  navigate  Grand  River,  and  in 
fact  that  stream  failed  to  flow  nearer  than  two  miles  of  her  corporate 
limits,  yet  she  took  a  start,  and  clothing  herself  with  energy  and  enter- 
prise, and  making  "  progress"  her  aim,  she  moved  forward,  and  the  cen- 
sus of  1870  gave  her  a  population  of  640.  Here  was  a  gain  of  over  150 
per  cent,  in  four  years.  This  seemed  to  encourage  her  to  greater  efforts. 
New  business  houses  began  to  appear,  handsome  residences  took  shape, 
and  she  spread  herself,  radiating  from  the  public  square.  In  the  mean- 
time, railroad  and  telegraph  facilities  had  come  to  hand,  she  had  com- 
munication with  the  outside  world,  and  seemed  to   imbibe  some  of  its 


328  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

metropolitan  airs.  The  ghastly  sight  of  board  shanties,  which  had  filled 
the  public  square,  had  all  been  removed,  and  the  town  felt  a  new  inspir- 
ation at  the  change. 

THE   IRON    HORSE. 

August  23,  1870,  was  a  day  of  triumph  for  the  people  of  Clinton  and 
they  made  the  most  of  it.  The  bells  rang  out  a  joyous  peal,  the  boom 
of  the  cannon  was  re-echoed  from  the  hills  and  valleys  and  rolled  ove^ 
the  prairies  like  the  voice  of  heaven's  artillery.  The  people  who  came 
from  far  and  near  took  up  the  shout  of  welcome,  and  amid  these  evi- 
dences of  joy  and  good  will  came  the  "  iron  horse,"  the  earth  trembling 
at  his  tread,  his  nostrils  breathing  fire  and  smoke,  bidding  defiance  to 
time  and  distance.  The  people  had  gathered  three  thousand  strong,  and 
the  day  was  given  ov«r  to  speech  making  and  rejoicing. 

Colonel  Boudinot  of  the  Cherokee  Nation,  made  an  eloquent  speech 
of  welcome,  followed  by  the  solid  Burdette,  then  the  member  of  con- 
gress from  this  district,  who  gave  a  history  of  the  iron  horse  and  the 
road  he  travels.  Then  Colonel  J.  D.  Hines,  of  Harrisonville,  gave  one 
of  his  brilliant  off-hand  speeches,  and  this,  with  some  appropriate  clos- 
ing remarks,  ended  the  speaking  of  the  day.  Each  one  of  these  orators 
of  the  day  made  history.  Colonel  Boudinot  still  ranks  as  one  of  the 
ablest  men  of  his  nation  and  stands  deservedly  high  in  the  confidence 
of  his  people.  Of  him  alone  we  speak.  It  was  that  same  year  that  a 
brewery  was  started  in  Clinton,  but  it  succumbed  to  life's  fitful  fever,  and 
this  was  about  the  only  manufacturing  establishment  of  which  Clinton 
could  boast  at  that  date,  except  her  splendid  flouring  mills. 

However,  there  was  quite  a  manufacturing  fever  developed  during 
1870  and  1871,  but  it  did  not  materialize.  A  few  meetings  were 
held,  some  talking  was  done  but  it  failed  to  act  or  germinate  in  the  estab- 
lishing of  manufactories  or  a  manufacturing  town.  And  this  is  the 
position  of  affairs  as  late  as  January  i,  1883.  With  the  completion  to 
Osceola  and  to  Kansas  City  or  Holden  of  the  present  railroad  move,  the 
manufacturing  interests  may  take  a  new  lease  of  life,  and  germinate 
into  something  tangible.  It  would  prove  the  foundation  stone  of  a  pros- 
perous future. 

POPULATION   OF   CLINTON. 

It  is  in  the  population  of  Clinton  that  the  story  of  her  progress  is 
best  told,  and  so  the  record  is  here  given,  the  first  few  decades  taken 
from  local  sources : 

The  population  of  Clinton  in  1840 100 

The  population  of  Clinton  in  1850 250 

The  population  of  Clinton  in  i860 500 

The  population  of  Clinton  in  1865 250 

The  population  of  Clinton,  census   1870 640 

The  population  of  Clinton,  census   1880 2,868 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  329 

This  last  is  one  of  the  most  surprising  gains  of  any  city  in  the 
state,  a  gain  of  within  a  fraction  of  450  per  cent,  or  more  than  doubling 
her  population  of  1870,  every  two  and  a  half  years. 

There  is  another  important  factor  in  this  matter.  Take  her  popu- 
lation, say  3,000,  and  there  is  probably  not  another  city  in  the  state 
according  to  the  above  population,  that  can  equal  her  in  solid  wealth. 
It  may  not  all  find  its  way  on  the  assessor's  book,  but  it  is  here,  if  they 
will  just  figure  it  up. 

With  a  new  railroad  to  Osceola,  gas  works  with  a  pledge  of  paying 
$3  per  thousand  feet  of  gas  for  twenty-one  years,  there  will  be  a 
chance  to  invest  in  lands  and  coal  mines  for  an  income  sufficient  to  meet 
the  expense  of  gas  bills.  So  the  business  adjusts  itself.  To  a  new  res- 
ervoir of  wealth  a  conduit  is  attached  which  will  be  able  to  carry  it  off 
with  equal  facility. 

BEFORE   IT   WAS    FOURTH    CLASS. 

In  1876  the  following  list  of  town  officers  were  installed  for  the 
year: 

Trustees — William  H.  Lawrence,  chairman;  R.  C.  McBeth,  Frank 
S.  Gobar,  Henry  Reihl,  Martin  W.  Mann. 

Collector — Earnest  Snyder. 

City  attorney  and  city  clerk — Samuel  E.  Price. 

Assessor — Charles  Snyder. 

Treasurer — Harry  S.  Leonard. 

Marshal — Asa  Smith. 

Census  taker — Samuel  B.  Crem. 

Engineer — James  B.  Burgen. 

In  1872  J.  G.  Middelcoff  was  chairman  of  the  board  of  trustees,  and 
Dr.  S.  P.  Jennings  in  1874  and  1875.  The  latter  year  the  following  con- 
stituted the  board: 

Trustees  elected — S.  P.  Jennings,  J.  B.  Colt,  John  Oechsli,  James 
Brannum,  Dr.  G.  Y.  Salmon.  » 

A   CITY   OF   THE   FOURTH    CLASS. 

The  election,  which  resulted  in  an  almost  unanimous  vote  for  a  city 
of  the  fourth  class,  having  been  counted,  the  next  move  was  for  an 
election  for  city  ofificers.  There  was  considerable  maneuvering  between 
the  parties  to  get  control  of  the  city  affairs,  these  parties  being  repub- 
lican and  democratic. 

The  election  came  off  on  Tuesday,  April  2d,  1878,  and  below  are 
both  tickets  and  the  vote.     It  was  hotly  contested: 


cond. 

Third. 

Total. 

54 

lOI 

252 

56 

65 

214 

330  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

WARDS. 
Mayor — 

First. 

^Blatt 97 

Bollinger 93 

Blatt's  majority 38 

Marshall- 
First.     Second.     Third.     Total. 

*Vernon 73  46  96  215 

Jones 108  62  66  237 

Jones'  majority 22 

ALDERMEN— FIRST   WARD. 

'^Britts 93     Snyder 98 

*Brannum 91     Hopgood 100 

ALDERMEN — SECOND   WARD. 

*Hughes 52     Foote 51 

^Fyke 38     Winzenburg   73 

ALDERMEN— THIRD   WARD. 

*Allison 99     Brinkerhoff 73 

*Riggins   88     Oechsli . 70 

Democrats  designated  by  an  *. 

This  gave  the  Democrats  three  aldermen  out  of  six  and  a  Demo- 
cratic mayor,  who  had  the  casting  vote  in  the  council  on  a  tie. 

This  was  claimed  as  a  great  Democratic  victory,  as  it  was  believed 
the  Republicans  had  a  sure  thing  until  the  votes  were  counted.  C.  A. 
Calvird  was  appointed  clerk. 

When  the  city  ofificers  became  duly  installed  they  very  naturally 
wanted  to  know  what  kind  of  a  prize  they  had  drawn,  and  they  directed 
their  attention  in  the  first  place  to  the  city  finances,  and  found  nothing 
left  to  speak  of.  The  Clinton  Advocate  made  the  following  statement 
•of  the  situation  to  which  the  "new  city"  had  fallen  heir: 

"The  books  of  the  town  for  the  past  year  were  posted  in  the  aggre- 
gate, at  the  last  meeting  of  the  old  town  board,  and  show,  April  4,  1878: 

Expense,  all  kinds $4,547  08 

Receipts,  from  all  sources 3,886  21 


Warrants  outstanding  and  unpaid $  660  87 

Sidewalk  account  outstanding 584  95 

Delinquent  tax  uncollected 985   18 


I 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  33 1 

This  showing  leaves  the  finances  of  the  city  in  a  bad  fix  for  the  new 
board  to  take  hold,  inasmuch  as  the  law  under  which  a  city  of  the  fourth 
class  operates,  will  not  permit  the  issuance  of  warrants  unless  there  is 
money  in  the  treasury  to  pay  the  same.  The  outstanding  sidewalk 
account,  which  is  inexcusably  large,  will  doubtless  continue  to  outstand, 
unless  there  is  an  attempt  at  forced  collection;  and  the  collections  will 
be  extraordinarily  good  if  there  is  enough  of  the  $985.18  delinquency 
collected  to  meet  the  deficit  of  outstanding  warrants  of  $660.87.  The 
new  board  has  been  left  high  and  dry  with  no  heritage  except  the 
expense  bills  of  the  old,  and  the  startling  figures  of  $4,547.08,  represent- 
ing the  financial  ability  of  the  old  board  to — spend  money,  to  say  the 
least." 

The  impression  among  the  new  city  officers  was,  that  it  was  not  a 
very  flattering  state  of  affairs,  but  as  they  were  in  office,  and  the  welfare 
of  the  city  in  their  keeping,  it  was  necessary  to  go  to  work  and  bring 
not  only  order  out  of  chaos,  but  some  money  into  the  city  treasury, 
wherewith  to  move  the  wheels  of  progress,  pay  the  debt  and  start  for- 
ward on  the  road  to  success.  To  accomplish  this  the  new  officers  went 
manfully  to  work  to  build  up  the  "  Model  Town,"  so-called. 

THE   FINANCIAL    EXHIBIT — 1880. 

At  the  close  of  Mayor  Blatts'  administration  of  two  years,  a  report 
of  receipts  and  expenditures  was  made,  which  gave  a  total  expenditure 
for  the  year  of  city  expenses  proper  of  $2,551.36,  and  a  total  disburse- 
ment of  $3,030.83,  the  reduction  of  the  city  debt  being  $479.47. 

THE    ELECTION   OF    1880. 

The  election  of  1879  was  only  for  aldermen,  and  resulted  in  the 
choice  of  Albestus  Moore  in  the  First  Ward,  W.  D.  Tyler  in  the  Second, 
and  Simon  Hirsch  in  the  Third  Ward.  The  election  of  1880,  was  for  mayor, 
marshal  and  three  aldermen,  and  meant  a  change  all  around. 

For  Mayor — T.  W.  Collins. 

For  Marshal — George  Hopgood. 

For  Aldermen — G.  Y.  Salmon,  William  W.  Bolinger  George  Hove- 
meyer. 

Henry  S.  Marvin  was  continued  city  treasurer.  Egbert  King 
received  the  appointment  of  street  commissioner,  and  Samuel  B.  Orem 
clerk  and  city  attorney. 

The  total  delinquent  list,  real  and  personal,  from  1877  to  1879, 
inclusive,  was  reported  at  $3,466.23. 

The  aldermen  elected  for  1881,  were  Wilson  H.  Bledsoe,  first;  Gus- 
tavus  C.  Hughes,  second,  and  R.  C.  McBeth  in  the  Third  Ward. 


33-2  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

June  28,  i88r,E.  King  resigned  as  street  commissioner,  and  T.  H. 
Rains  was  appointed. 

November  22,  1881,  Henry  S.  Marvin  resigned  as  city  treasurer,  and 
W.  D.  Tyler  received  the  appointment.  There  were  no  other  changes 
until  the  following  spring  election. 

•  I 

ELECTION   OF    1 882. 

The  choice  of  city  officers  at  this  election  was,  for 

Mayor— W.  D.  Tyler, 

Marshal — George  Hopgood, 

Aldermen — Daniel  S.  Duden,  First  Ward;  J.  S.  Fenn,  Second  Ward,. 
W.  B.  Calvird,  Third  Ward. 

Mr.  E.  Marks  received  the  appointment  for  street  commissioner. 
The  city  treasurer  having  been  elected  mayor,  that  office  was  filled  by 
the  appointment  of  William  H.  Dodge,  as  treasurer.  Thomas  P.  Bates 
was  made  collector,  and  William  Elliott,  policeman. 

FINANCES. 

The  statement  at  the  first  meeting  of  the  council  after  the  election 
of  1880,  was  to  the  effect  that  the  city  debt  then  amounted  to  a  little  less 
than  $400,  and  to  meet  this  debt,  current  expenses,  and  city  improve- 
ments, it  would  require  $3,500.  To  raise  this  sum  a  levy  was  made  of  a 
city  tax  of  50  cents  on  the  $100  valuation,  and  $1  poll. 

This  met  all  expenses  and  the  debt,  and  left  a  balance  in  the  city 
treasury  from  the  collector's  report,  April  25,  1882,  of  $286.93. 

The  collector's  return  for  the  two  years  was  : 

Debit $13,563  S6' 

Credit 13,276  93 


$286  93 

The  delinquent  list  which  in    1880   had  footed  up   $3,466.23,  for  the 
years  1877-8-9,  was  with  the  year  1880  added,  as  follows  : 

Personal  delinquent $1,068  66 

Real  Estate 998  07 


$2,066  73 

The  City  of  Clinton,  is  except  perhaps  a  hundred  dollars  in  running 
accounts,  out  of  debt,  and  the  city  treasury  held  January  ist,  1883, 
$725.84,  cash  on  hand  to  its  credit. 


SMALL   POX   SCARE. 


In  January,  1881,  it  was  reported  that  there  was  small  pox  in  Clin- 
ton and  the  mayor   promptly  called   a  meeting  of  the  city   council   to 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  333 

verify  the  report  from  the  physicians  of  the  city,  and  to  take  prompt 
measures  to  confine  it  to  as  few  cases  as  possible.  The  meeting  of  the 
council  was  held  January  19,  1881,  and  the  city  physician  reported  that 
he  had  three  cases  on  hand,  and  while  at  that  stage  of  the  desease  he 
could  not  possibly  say  it  was  small  pox,  yet  that  was  his  belief  and  that 
the  symptoms  he  thought  justified  him  in  that  belief. 

This  seemed  to  satisfy  the  council  that  the  dread  disease  was  among 
them  and  active  steps  were  taken  to  secure  a  pest  house  and  to  confine 
the  cases  to  those  that  had  been  considered  in  danger  by  coming  in  con- 
tact with  those  stricken  down  before  the  nature  of  the  sickness  had  been 
known.  At  the  next  meeting  of  the  council  Hon.  Harvey  W.  Salmon 
offered  the  old  brick  machine  shop  to  the  city,  free  of  charge,  as  a  pest 
house,  and  further  supplemented  his  generous  offer  by  an  offer  to  furnish 
money  needed  to  place  it  in  order  for  the  reception  of  the  sick.  The 
city  accepted  the  kind  offer  with  thanks  and  no  better  place  could  have 
been  chosen  while  the  building  was  capable  of  housing  all  that  might  be 
or  should  become  afflicted. 

On  February  i,  1881,  the  scourge  might  be  said  to  have  culminated. 
Up  to  that  time  there  had  been  seventy-seven  cases  of  sickness,  thirty 
of  which  had  been  declared  small  pox  and  of  this  number  nine  had  died. 
At  that  date  there  were  eleven  cases  still  in  the  hospital.  The  citizens 
met  the  scourge  nobly  and  worked  unceasingly  to  ameliorate  the  condi- 
tion of  those  stricken  with  the  loathsome  pest. 

This  noble  action  on  the  part  of  the  citizens  met  a  handsome 
response  from  the  people  of  the  county,  who  through  their  county  court 
donated  $500  toward  the  expense  of  the  citizens  in  fighting  the  dread 
disease. 

This  was  the  first  and  the  last  time  this  pest  had  ever  invaded  the 
city  of  Clinton,  and  there  is  not  much  danger  for  the  future,  though  it  is 
not,  of  course,  free  from  the  visits  of  strangers  who  may  possibly  have 
the  disease  in  their  system  and  bring  it,  as  was  done  before. 

ITS   FUTURE. 

The  growth  of  Clinton  has  been  marked  the  past  few  years.  That 
is,  it  has  been  greatest  since  1876,  but  came  again  nearly  to  a  standstill 
the  past  year,  that  of  1882.  Very  few  residences  were  put  up  and  no 
business  houses  of  any  value.  The  opening  of  1883  seems  to  hold  out 
more  encouraging  prospects.  The  new  railroad,  when  completed,  will 
give  it  more  life,  and  while  many  of  its  citizens  think  that  outside  invest- 
ment will  pay  them  better,  strangers  will  come  and  make  fortunes  right 
under  their  noses.  There  is  no  mistaking  the  fact  that  Clinton  is  a  good 
point  for  trade  and  will  be  better  by  and  by.  The  situation  is  such  that 
she  has  a  large  country  tributary  to  her,  and  she  is  far  enough  from  the 


334 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 


large  markets  of  Kansas  City  and  St.  Louis  to  hold  a  market  of  her 
own.  With  a  railroad  to  Holden  or  completion  of  the  Osceola  road 
would  give  her  many  advantages,  and  that  outlet,  the  writer  learns,  has 
been  decided  upon  by  the  Missouri  Pacific  Railroad  Company.  Then 
her  future  is  sure,  if  enterprise  and  public  spirit  shall  be  the  guide  of 
her  business  men.  The  city  can  well  be  called  the  "  Model  Town,"  from 
the  beauty  of  her  surroundings  and  commanding  position.  Let  her  busi- 
ness men  also  be  known  in  the  same  manner  for  their  public  spirit, 
energy  and  enterprise. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

SCHOOLS— CHURCHES— LODGES— DEATH  OF  GARFIELD. 

CLINTON  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS— RETROSPECT— LINCOLN  SCHOOL— ACADEMY— COST  OF  BUILD- 
INGS—NUMBER OF  PUPILS— CHURCHES  AND  THEIR  ORGANIZATIOI^S— NUMBER  OF 
MEMBERS— COST  OF  CHURCH  BUILDINGS— SOCIETIES— A.  F.  AND  A,  M.— I.  O.  O  F.— 
KNIGHTS  TEMPLAR— ROYAL  ARCH  CHAPTER-A.  O.  U.  W.— DEATH  OF  PRESIDENT 
GARFIELD. 

RETROSPECT. 

The  early  school  history  of  Clinton  varies  not  at  all  from  the  rise  and 
progress  of  schools  in  other  cities.  It  has  had  its  drawbacks,  and  it  also 
has  had  prosperous  times,  and  while  the  people  can  pass  over  with  but 
little  regretful  feelings  what  may  have  now  and  then  arisen  in  the  path 
of  educational  progress,  the  public  schools  of  Clinton  stand  to-day  a 
proud  monument  to  the  intellectual  and  progressive  spirit  of  her  citi- 
zens, and  a  bright  omen  of  a  noble  future,  wherein  Christianity  and 
education  will  go  hand  in  hand.  Schools  have  been  kept  in  Clinton 
since  1840,  and  even  as  far  back  as  1833  a  school  was  taught  within  one 
and  a  half  miles  of  this  spot.  It  was  a  private  school.  Still  while  Clin- 
ton has  grown  and  prospered  her  educational  interest  has  fully  kept 
pace.  There  was  the  regular  public  school  kept  from  year  to  year,  or 
from  winter  to  winter,  with  an  occasional  summer  term,  but  it  was  not 
until  the  tide  of  returned  prosperity  set  in  after  the  sickening  desolation 
left  by  the  civil  war,  that  the  real  sentiment  of  an  advanced  educational 
spirit  took  possession  of  the  people. 

THE   FRANKLIN   SCHOOL. 

In  1868  the  citizens  became  aware  that  increased  school  facilities 
were  needed  and  that  a  more  extended  system  of  education  was 
demanded  to  meet  the  requirements  of  the  age.  This  feeling  culmina- 
ted by  the  erection  of  a  fine  brick  school  house  which  was  finished  in  the 
fall  of  1870,  and  which  was  thought  would  fully  meet  the  demand  for 
educational  purposes.  It  is  an  imposing  building,  occupying  about  one 
square  of  ground  and  upon  a  site  which  gives  it  a  conspicuous  mark  for 
strangers  to  observe.  The  structure  was  completed  at  a  cost  of 
$26,656.35.  It  was  a  building  and  an  equipment  that  the  people  were 
justified  in  feeling  proud  of.    The  school  opened  November  i,  1870,  with 


336  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

Prof.  Johnson  as  principal,  and  the  following  assistants:  Mrs.  Will}', 
Mrs.  Devlin,  Miss  Mary  Mitchell,  and  Misses  M.  Alice  and  A.  Warth, 
making  a  corps  of  six  teachers.  Progress  has  marked  every  step  of  its 
way,  and  while  a  kw  have  seemed  to  regret  the  outlay,  the  great  body  of 
the  citizens  would  not  be  without  this  magnificent  representation  of 
their  intellectual  culture  and  progressive  spirit  of  enterprise  for  much 
more  than  it  has  thus  far  cost  them. 

AFTER   TEN   YEARS. 

For  ten  years  the  school  kept  on  the  even  tenor  of  its  way.  Nine 
months'  schooling  was  given  annually  to  the  children  and  youths  of  the 
*'  Model  City,"  and  so  it  flourished  and  prospered.  But  the  city  grew 
and  the  demand  became  painfully  oppressive  upon  the  school  directory 
for  more  room.  Their  beautiful  school  building  became  dwarfed.  That 
which  was  believed  would  meet  the  wants  for  school  priviliges  for  a  gen- 
eration to  come,  had  exhausted  its  capacity  in  a  single  decade. 

Once  more  was  the  question,  what  shall  we  do  for  more  room.' 
There  was  but  one  reasonable  or  sensible  answer — build.  The  close  of 
the  school  year  of  1880-1,  clearly  showed  that  to  meet  the  demand  of  the 
coming  year  an  addition  was  necessary,  and  steps  were  taken  to  accomp- 
lish the  desired  object.  Work  was  commenced  on  an  addition,  42x47 
feet  in  size,  two  stories  high,  of  good  and  substantial  brick  work.  It 
was  completed,  and  with  the  furniture  cost  $6,500,  which  makes  the 
present  school  building  of  Clinton  stand  in  a  total  cost  of  $33,156.35,  but 
there  are  few  buildings  in  the  state  for  school  purposes  its  superior,  while 
there  is  not  a  city  in  the  state  of  the  population  of  Clinton,  than  can 
show  as  fair  a  monument  of  educational  enterprise  as  is  here  exhibited. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  say  that  it  is  a  prosperous  school,  and  that  able 
and  experienced  teachers  have  been  and  are  employed.  Its  record 
speaks.  That  record  is  such  that  no  man  could  throw  so  much  as  even 
a  straw  in  its  way  and  to  its  detriment,  that  could  not  be  accused  of  the 
supremest  folly. 

In  1870,  six  teachers  were  employed,  and  in  1882,  twelve  were  found 
necessary  to  fill  the  required  places.  There  is  now  an  enrollment  of  765 
scholars  at  the  present  time,  and  as  above  stated  twelve  teachers  are 
engaged.     There  names  are  as  follows: 

Superintendent — Professor  C.  B.  Reynolds. 

Assistants— Mrs.  Carrie  D.  Price,  Mrs.  F.  M.  De  La  Vergne,  Mrs. 
Sallie  Gardiner,  Miss  Fannie  Garth,  Miss  Tillie  Hart,  Miss  G.  S.  Gist, 
Miss  Efifie  May,  Miss  Jennie  Kennedy,  Miss  Ella  Highrote,  Miss  lennie 
Kincannon,  Miss  Maria  Bedford. 

Here  is  a  small  city  gathered  daily,. yet  order  reigns  supreme.  Let 
them  gather  the  rich  fruit  now  offered  them,  that  they  may  fill  the  places 
a  generation  to  come  that  are  filled  by  the  men  and  women  of  to-day. 


PUP.LIC    SCHOOL    BUILDINCi    AT    CLINION. 


HISTORY   OF    HEXRV   COUNTY.  337 

THE   LINCOLN   SCHOOL. 

The  Lincoln  Colored  School  of  Clinton  is  a  commodious  frame 
structure,  put  up  at  a  cost  of  some  $1,500,  and  is  comfortably  finished 
and  furnished.  There  is  in  this  school  an  enrollment  of  120  scholars  and 
an  average  daily  attendance  of  about  one  hundred.  Two  teachers  are 
employed  and  every  facility  and  advancement  is  accorded  to  them  that 
is  found  in  the  Franklin  School,  which  their  progress  demands  or 
requires.  The  Lincoln  School  is  well  kept,  well  attended,  and  its  pro- 
gress is  commendable. 

CLINTON   ACADEMY. 

The  Clinton  Academy  ranks  as  one  of  the  best  private  schools  in 
this  section  of  Missouri,  its  course  of  education  being  thorough  and  its 
success  thus  far  almost  phenomenal. 

The  school  was  founded  in  1879  by  Prof  VV.  H.  Stehl,  and  opened 
with  a  list  of  sixty  scholars.  After  two  years  of  successful  work  Prof 
E.  P.  Lamkin  united  with  him  in  conducting  the  same  for  one  year, 
when  Prof  Lamkin  assumed  entire  control  and  is  its  present  propri- 
etor. Every  department  is  under  the  charge  of  a  competent  instructor, 
and  the  school  is  thorough  and  and  practical  in  all  its  details.  At  the 
present  term  eighty  pupils  are  in  attendance,  and  the  Clinton  Academy 
has  assumed  a  name  and  place  among  the  educational  institutions  of 
the  state.  It  aims  to  be  as  advanced  and  thorough  as  any  similar  insti- 
tution of  the  same  grade  in  all  its  departments,  which  comprises  in  its 
course  of  study,  the  classics,  scientific  and  normal  departments,  etc. 

Professor  Lamkin  is  assisted  by  Prof  B.  F.  Milton,  Mrs.  Hattie  Mil- 
ton, and  Miss  Miriam  Switzer.  The  musical  department  is  under  the 
charge  of  Miss  Bertha  Custer,  a  lady  of  rare  musical  accomplishments, 
and  an  instructor  of  merit  and  success.  The  Clinton  Academy  is  in 
successful  operation  as  the  above  shows,  and  is  an  honor  and  credit  to 
the  city,  and  should  get  from  it  a  generous  support.  In  educational 
facilities,  in  a  high  order  of  instructive  talents,  and  in  the  handsome 
manner  in  which  all  intellectual  progress  is  sustained,  Clinton  can  be 
proud  of  the  noble  position  she  holds  among  the  cities  of  the  state. 

PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

The  Presbyterian  Church,  of  Clinton,  was  organized  February  17, 
1866,  by  a  few  devoted  spirits  and  the  foundation  laid  for  the  present 
influential  and  successful  church  organization.  The  original  members 
were  J.  A.  De  la  Vergne,  Mrs.  F.  M.  De  la  Vergne,  A.  S.  De  la  Vergne, 
Mrs.  Catharine  Rogers,  Matilda  Allen,  William  Moore  and  Rebecca 
Moore.  When  established  the  church  was  connected  with  the  Presby- 
tery of  Osage,  and  its  first  sacrament  was  administered  on  the  first  Sab- 


338  HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 

bath  in  April,  1866.  The  first  session  meeting  was  held  November  8, 
1867,  at  which  time  eight  accessions  were  received  into  the  church  by- 
letter  and  confession  of  their  faith.  This  meeting  was  held  at  the  resi- 
dence of  J.  A.  De  la  Vergne. 

For  the  first  few  years  the  church  was  irregularly  supplied,  and 
preaching  was  had  only  at  stated  intervals.  The  growth  of  the  church, 
however,  had  become  such  by  1870,  as  to  warrant  it  in  securing  the  ser- 
vices of  a  pastor,  and  a  call  was  made  upon  the  Rev.  J.  B.  Allen,  who 
accepted,  and  was  duly  installed  and  faithfully  performed  the  duties  of 
his  calling  for  some  three  years  and  over.  Under  his  charge  the  church 
grew,  and  strengthened  with  its  growth.  The  church  then  called  the 
Rev.  Rewel  Dodd,  who  became  the  pastor  in  1874,  and  continued  his 
pastoral  duties  acceptably  until  1879. 

That  year  the  Rev.  R.  M.  Carson  was  installed  as  pastor,  but 
remained  only  a  few  months,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Jo-siah 
Moore,  under  whose  constant  care  it  prospered.  The  reverend  gentle- 
man closed  his  pastorate  in  1881,  and  in  November  of  the  same  year 
that  eminent  divine  and  earnest  Christian  gentleman,  the  Rev.  John  G. 
Fackler,  was  installed  as  pastor.  Under  his  care  the  church  seems  to 
have  taken  new  life.  To  his  earnest,  quiet,  but  energetic,  action,  the 
good  work  goes  bravely  on,  bringing  many  to  the  fold,  and  there  they 
will  remain,  for  his  eloquence  in  the  pulpit  and  the  social  qualities  of 
the  man  attracts  and  endears  him  to  the  whole  church. 

At  present  the  congregation  is  without  a  church  edifice.  One  was 
built  a  few  years  since  at  a  cost  of  $2,500,  but  was  sold  in  1882.  The 
church  has  some  very  eligible  lots,  upon  which  a  new  church  is  to  be 
erected  in  the  near  future,  one  that  will  meet  the  demands  of  a  growing 
and  prosperous  church. 

THEY    WERE    RECEIVED. 

In  1876  a  Presbyterian  church  connected  with  the  Missouri  Synod 
(known  as  the  Declaration  and  Testimony  Synod)  was  organized  April 
4  of  the  above  year.  This  church  decided  upon  uniting  with  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  thereupon  presented  a  petition,  signed  by  J. 
G.  Middelcoff  and  twenty  others,  expressing  their  desire  for  union  and 
were  received. 

Present  Elders— J.  A.  De  LaVergne.  J.  G.  Middelcoff,  E.  W.  Snyder, 
J.  P.  Watkins,  S.  Rice  and  E.  P.  Lamkin. 

Trustees — E.  W.  Snyder,  E.  P.  Lamkin,  ].  T.  McKee,  John  P.  Walkins 
and  Alvin  Haynie. 

Its  present  membership  is  no. 

CUMBERLAND   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH — AN   INCIDENT. 

In  the  summer  of  1866  the  Rev.  J.  H.  Houx,  of  Warrensburg,  Mis- 
souri, was  conducting  a  revival  meeting  at  the  Bear  Creek  camp  ground 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY.  339 

of  the  M.  E.  Church,  south,  in  this,  Henry  County,  during  which,  on  the 
Sabbath  day,  he  was  arrested  on  a  writ  sworn  out  by  some  citizens  for 
violating  the  law  of  the  land  by  preaching  the  Gospel,  he  having  not 
taken  the  prescribed  oath.  This  oath  was  known  as  the  "Drake's  Inferno." 
This  fact  coming  to  the  knowledge  of  some  of  the  citizents  of  Clinton, 
the  reverend  gentleman  was  at  once  invited  to  come  to  Clinton  and 
preach.  The  following  September  he  accepted,  and  came  to  Clinton 
and  preached  in  the  school  house,  and  in  October  he  again  came  and 
the  court  house  being  occupied  the  reverend  gentleman  preached  in  the 
open  air  under  the  shade  of  the  trees  back  of  the  Riggins  Hotel,  seats 
having  been  provided,  to  a  large  audience.  Mr.  Houx  continued  these 
meetings  monthly  until  the  following  February,  when  a  series  of  revival 
meetings  were  held  by  him  and  the  Rev.  H.  R.  Smith,  for  some  three 
weeks,  resulting  in  many  conversions,  and  aroused  a  spirit  for  good 
which  resulted  in  the  organization  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church,  on  March  4,  1867,  with  the  following  named  members: 

G.  B.  Bell,  Joanna  Ashby,  Henrietta  Ashby,  D.  M.  Ray,  Thomas  B, 
Riggins,  Nancy  Riggins,  J.  W.  Riggins,  George  T.  Riggins,  D.  M.  Ray, 
B.  L.  Owen,  Frances  J.  Owen,  S.  F.  Miskimmore,  Mary  L.  Kennedy,  P. 
J.  Shewsbury,  Julia  A.  Jury,  Kate  A.  Rogers,  Medora  M.  Rogers,  R.  W. 
Hendrix,  Lizzie  Hendrix,  Elizabeth  Parks,  Marion  B.  Means,  Eliza  A. 
Holland,  Elizabeth  Wells,  Rettie  R.  Royston,  Matilda  Allen,  B.  L. 
Quarles,  Sarah  A.  Quick,  Julia  Atwood,  Mary  E.  Fields,  S.  F.  Williams, 
Jane  Williams,  C.  T.  Collins,  Theresa  Collins,  Montgomery  R.  Tutt, 
Annie  Bailey,  T.  C.  Miller,  J.  W.  Miller,  W.  W.  Jackson,  Rebecca  L. 
Jackson,  J.  D.  Garner,  Mary  T.  Meece,  I.  Hurst,  Emma  Garth,  Willis  G. 
Rogers,  Adam  M.  Fulkerson,  Angeline  Fulkerson,  J.  Angle,  Mattie  E. 
Kennedy,  M.  D.  Collins,  Rachel  Collison  (colored).  Ruling  Elders:  B. 
L.  Owens  and  B.  L.  Quarles. 

The  church  has  been  prosperous,  has  wielded  a  large  influence  for 
good  in  the  community  and  has  at  this  time  120  members. 

At  the  organization  the  Rev.  H.  R.  Smith  was  asked  to  become 
their  pastor,  giving  the  church  half  his  thime.  The  call  was  accepted 
in  April,  and  he  came  and  settled  here.  He  continued  his  earnest  work 
until  the  26th  of  January,  1872,  when  the  Lord  called  him  home.  To 
his  fervid  eloquence,  constant  care  and  earnest  work  the  church  had 
grown  and  prospered,  and  his  loss  was  deeply  felt.  The  church  then 
called  to  its  service  the  Rev.  G.  L.  Moad,  who  accepted  the  pastorate, 
which  he  has  held  for  a  period  exceeding  ten  years,  honored  and  beloved 
by  his  flock,  because  of  his  kindly  and  faithful  work. 

The  present  elders  are  John  S.  Kimbrough,  B.  L.  Quarles,  B.  L. 
Owen,  W.  W.  Jackson,  S.  F.  Williams. 

Deacons — G.  F.  Warth  and  J.  M,  Weidemeyer. 


340  HISTORY   OF    HEXRV   COUNTY. 

The  first  church  was  erected  in  1868,  at  a  cost  of  $3,000,  but  was 
condemned  as  unsafe  in  1877.  The  church  having  grown  and  the  con- 
gregations large  a  fine  brick  church  edifice  was  erected  the  same  year 
the  other  was  condemed,  which  was  handsomely  finished  and  furnished, 
.all  costing  the  sum  of  $9,000.     Its  future  seems  fairly  bright. 

M.    E.    CHURCH. 

This  church  was  organized  on  the  first  Sabbath  in  June,  1866.  There 
-was  not  a  numerous  gathering,  neither  were  many  to  join  the  beaten 
track,  but  the  narrow  way.  "  Tall  oaks  from  little  acorns  grow,"  and 
this  church  resembles  such  growth,  for  while  its  start  was  weak  yet  it 
was  healthy  and  held  the  germ  of  a  powerful  organization  which  to-day 
resembles  the  giant  oak  of  the  forest,  strong  and  enduring,  and  pro- 
tected from  the  storm  ot  adversity  those  who  came  under  its  protecting 
care.  Mr.  S.  Jones  and  Mary  Jones  were  the  first  members,  and  they, 
with  the  assistance  of  the  Rev.  C.  E.  Carpenter,  formed  the  organiza- 
tion. In  July,  1866,  four  more  members  were  added,  and  on  March  1st, 
1867,  thirteen  earnest  and  faithful  workers  in  the  Cause  of  Christ  had 
enrolled  themselves  as  members. 

It  has  wonderfully  grown  and  prospered.  In  1867,  a  neatly  furnished 
and  handsome  brick  structure  was  erected  for  church  purposes,  36x54 
feet  in  dimensions,  the  whole  costing  $4,000.  There  are  at  this  time  140 
members  belonging  to  the  church. 

The  following  have  officiated  as  resident  ministers  since  its  organi- 
zation, and  in  the  order  named:   Revs.  E.  C.  Carpenter,  J.  R.  Saseen, 

Laughren,  J.  W.  Newcomb,  S.  Alexander,  R.  R.  Pierce,  A.  H.  Heimlein 
and  J.  N.  Pierce. 

A  flourishing  Sunday  School,  with  an  enrollment  of  140  scholars,  is 
connected  with  the  church,  under  the  superintendency  of  A.  J.  Blackford. 

There  have  been  dismissed  to  other  congregations  no  less  than  155 
members,  and  from  the  membership  of  the  church  five  ministers  have 
gone  forth  to  work,  and  work  faithfully  in  the  Lord's  vineyard. 

METHODIST   CHURCH   SOUTH. 

One  of  the  first  denominations  to  hold  religious  services  in  Clinton, 
was  the  M,  E.  Church  South,  but  as  all  who  were  then  connected  witli  it 
have  passed  beyond  the  river,  or  moved  to  other  sections,  it  is  impossi- 
ble to  get  data  and  facts  in  regard  to  it.  Regular  services  were  held 
until  the  war,  and  after  peace  was  restored  the  society  was  reorganized, 
but  the  records  were  not  preserved  as  carefully  as  they  should  have  been 
until  the  present  administration,  under  the  care  of  Rev.  J.  F.  Robb,  who 
has  inaugurated  a  systematic  record,  which,  if  continued,  the  future  his- 
torian will  find  his  task  less  difficult.  The  present  membership  is  44. 
The  society  owns  a  comfortable  frame  church. 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  34I 

FIRST   BAPTIST   CHURCH. 

The  First  Baptist  Church  of  Clinton  was  organized  September  16, 
1866,  by  the  Rev.  James  Wood.  Quite  an  interest  prevailed  at  the  time. 
The  following-  were  the  original  members:  I.  N.  Barlow,  E.  A.  Barlow, 
Thomas  D.  Hancock,  William  H.  Dodge,  Sallie  Avery,  Perez  S.  Jennings 
and  Laura  Jennings.  At  the  close  of  the  service  there  came  forward 
seventeen  persons,  who  joined  the  church  at  once.  The  church  has  pros- 
pered greatly  and  its  congregation  is  perhaps  the  wealthiest  in  the  city. 
In  1869  they  erected  a  fine  brick  edifice  on  a  commanding  site  at  a  cost 
of  nearly  $20,000.  The  church  was  dedicated  October  17,  1869,  by  the 
Rev.  Thomas  Rambant.  The  following  named  ministers  have  officiated 
in  the  order  named:  The  Rev.  E.  T.  Brown,  Rev.  J.  W.  Warder,  Rev. 
George  Kline  and  the  Rev.  A.  Matchett.  The  present  number  of  mem- 
bers is  138. 

In  connection  with  the  church  is  a  flourishing  Sunday  School,  with 
an  enrollment  of  125  scholars.  It  is  under  the  superintendency  of  Mr. 
A.  C.  Avery,  who,  by  earnest  labor,  has  caused  it  to  grow  gmd  flourish 
and  become  a  strong  pillar  of  the  church  and  the  foundation  stone  of  its 
future  progress. 

The  present  deacons  are  A.  C.  Avery,  P.  S.  Jennings  and  J.  M.  Avery. 

CHRISTIAN  CHURCH. 

The  first  meeting  of  this  denomination  was  held  in  1854,  by  Elder 
Phenix.  Services  were  afterwards  held  by  Elders  Speed  and  Longan 
until  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  when,  in  common  with  other  religious 
denominations,  services  were  suspended.  Of  the  original  congregation 
only  two  now  remain,  Mrs.  Conner,  formerly  Miss  Bozarth,  and  Mrs. 
Ragland;  W.  Hancock  came  soon  after  the  first  organization.  In  1866 
a  reorganization  was  effected  by  Elder  Birge,  and  although  this  denom- 
ination is  rather  weak  in  the  county  regular  services  have  been  man- 
tained  although  the  church  has  had  but  two  regular  pastors.  Elders  J. 
A.  Ming  and  N.  M.  Ragland.  The  society  has  a  comfortable  church 
edifice  costing,  when  built,  nearly  $6,000.  The  number  of  present  mem- 
bership is  about  100. 

CATHOLIC. 

This  society  in  1875  erected  a  frame  building  which  has  cost  them 
$800. 

COLORED, 

There  are  two  colored  societies.  The  colored  M.  E.  Church  has  a 
brick  edifice,  and  the  Baptists  have  a  frame  building. 


342  HISTORY   OF    HEN'RY    COUNTY. 

LODGES   AND   SOCIETIES — K.  OF    P. 

Desplain  Lodge,  No.  34. — This  lodge  was  organized  October  15, 
1874,  with  nineteen  charter  members.  It  continued  until  July  10,  1877, 
when  it  disbanded.  This  apparently  ended  the  lodge,  but  some  four 
years  after  an  attempt  was  made  to  resurrect  it,  to  renew  a  life  which 
should  never  have  been  suspended.  June  18,  1881,  the  project  of  reor- 
ganization was  effected  with  a  membership  of  twenty-four.  The  organ- 
ization at  once  elected  its  officers,  and  were  as  follows:  W.  W.  Bolinger, 
C.  C;  J.  T.  McKee,  V.  C;  T.  W.  Collins,  P.;  S.  B.  Oram,  K.  of  R.  &  S.; 
F.  R.  Piper,  M.  of  F.;  A.  Moore,  M.  of  E.;  C.  H.  Griffen,  M.  at  A.  Since 
that  time  the  lodge  has  proven  a  success,  it  membership  gradually 
increasing  until  it  numbers  at  this  date,  January  i,  1883,  forty  members. 
The  interest  taken  in  the  order  is  now  so  strong  as  to  preclude  any  idea 
of  another  disbandment,  and  its  future  seems  one  of  decided  promise. 
The  election  of  officers  for  the  present  year  took  place  January  i,  1883, 
and  were  duly  installed  by  C.  H.  Griffen,  D.  D.  G  C.  The  officers  were: 
W.  H.  Carpenter,  C.  C;  R.  H.  Woods.  V.  C;  M.  A.  Kitchen,  P.;  T.  P. 
Bates,  K.  of  R.  &  S.;  C.  H.  Griffen,  M.  of  F.;  D.  G.  Duden,  M.  of  E.;  J. 
Simons,  M.  at  A. 

I.  o.  O.  F. 

Clinton  Lodge,  No.  169,  chartered  May  22,  1867,  had  a  fine  hall 
handsomely  furnished,  being  in  the  Fulkerson  &  Parks  building.  This 
and  other  buildings  were  burned  on  the  night  of  November  19,  1876, 
consuming  all  of  the  lodge  books,  papers  and  regalia.  The  lodge  prop- 
erty was  insured,  and  this  enabled  them  to  start  again  under  encourag- 
ing auspices.  They  received  from  the  grand  lodge  a  new  charter,  dated 
May  19,  1877,  upon  which  were  inscribed  the  following  names  as  charter 
members:  W.  M.  Doyle,  W.  H.  Bledsoe,  F.  Herkert.  James  B.  Martin, 
E.  L.  Foote,  M.  W.  Mann,  John  N.  Barlow,  James  P.  Dimmitt,  J.  G.  Dor- 
man,  A.  Gebhardt. 

The  meetings  are  held  weekly  and  upon  Monday  nights.  This 
lodge  owns  a  handsome  two-story  brick  building  on  the  corner  of  Jeffer- 
son and  Grand  River  Streets,  in  the  second  story  of  which  their  fine  hall 
is  located,  with  parlor,  ante  room,  etc.  The  lodge  is  now  and  has  been 
for  years  in  a  flourishing  condition,  doing  a  large  amount  of  good  and 
relieving  much  distress  among  the  members  of  its  lodge  and  order. 

Its  present  membership  now  numbers  126,  with  thirty-two  members 
past  grand. 

The  officers  now  installed  are:  Daniel  B.  Ragland,  N.  G.;  Nicholas 
Hindern,  V.  G. ;  W.  B.  Calvird,  treasurer;  Charles  S.  Robinson,  secretary. 

What  amount  had  been  expended  previous  to  the  fire  could  not  be 
ascertained,  only  partially  and  from  memory,  but  since  the  new  books 
have  been  opened  there  has  been  disbursed: 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  343 

For  relief  of  sick  members $  599  00 

For  relief  of  widows  and  orphans 442  80 

Donations 292  45 

Funeral  benefits 1 50  00 

Total $1,484  25 

"And  the  greatest  of  these  is  charity." 

KNIGHTS   TEMPLAR. 

Boanerges  Commandery,  No.  34,  received  its  charter  June   14,  188 1, 
with  the  names  of  the  following  charter  members:     R.  F.  Stevenson,  G. 
L.  Moad,   A.   F.  Wyckoff,  J.  W.  Baldwin,   H.   W.   Grantley,  William  M. 
Prier,  W.  H.  Stone,  W.  H.  Lusk,  E.  C.  McCarty,  D.  C.  McNeil.     The  fol- 
lowing officers  were  elected  who  held  for  the  year  1882,  to  wit:     R.  F. 
Stevenson,  E.  C;  H.  W.  Grantley,  G.;  A.  Haynie,  C.  G.;  M.  A.  Fyke,  P.; 
G.  Hornmeyer,  S.  W. ;  W.  H.  Stone,  J.   W. ;  C.  T.  Collins,  Treasurer;  I. 
N.  Jones,  Recorder;  G.  L.  Moad,  S.  B.;  B.  G.  Boone,  Sword  Bearer;  A. 
M.  Fulkerson,  W. ;  E.  C.    McCarty,   C.  G.      The   lodge  has  been   fairly 
prosperous  and  numbers  thirty-one   members.     For  the  year  1883  the 
following  are  its  officials:     H.  W.  Grantley,  E.  C;  A.  M.  Fulkerson,  G. 
A.  Haynie,  C   G.;  G.  L.  Moad,  P.;  W.  F.  Carter,  S.  W.;  I.  N.  Jones,  J.  W. 
H.  F.  Chappelar,  Treasurer;  S.  E.  Cheek,  Recorder;  B.  G.  Boone,  S.  B. 
W.  A.  Moore,  Sword  Bearer;  M.  A.  Fyke,  W. ;  G.  Hornmeyer,  C.  G. 

Ci^INTON  ROYAL  ARCH  CHAPTER  NO.  73 

was  instituted  January  9,  1875,  by  Companion  H.  L,  Tillottson,  under 
the  authority  of  Companion  Rufus  E.  Anderson,  Most  Excellent  Grand 
High  Priest  of  Missouri,  and  chartered  at  a  regular  convocation  of  the 
Grand  Royal  Arch  Chapter  of  Missouri,  held  at  St.  Louis  October  7, 
1875,  signed  by  Most  Excellent  Comp.  Charles  F.  Seavitt,  Grand  High 
Priest;  Comp.  Joseph  S.  Browne,  Deputy  Grand  High  Priest;  Comp, 
William  R.  Stubblefield,  Grand  King;  Comp.  Noah  M.  Givan,  Grand 
Scribe;  Comp.  George  Frank  Gouley;  Grand  Secretary. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  charter  members  and  officers:  Comp. 
Matt  A.  Fyke,  M.  E.  H.  P.;  Comp.  Benjamin  L.  Quarles,  K.;  Comp.  E. 
C.  McCarty,  Scribe;  Comp.  C.  H.  Carpenter,  C.  H.;  Comp  William  T. 
Thornton,  P.  S.;  Comp.  A.  M.  Fulkerson,  R.  A.  C;  Comp.  J.  H.  Webster, 
M.  third  V.;  Comp.  James  Brannam,  M.  second  V.;  Comp.  Ausby  Fyke, 
M.  first  v.;  Comp.  John  S.  Kimbrough,  Treas  ;  Comp.  James  A.  Austin, 
Sec;  Comp.  Lewis  P.  Beatty,  G.;  Comp's  A.  J.  Dunham,  J.  C.  Gilliam, 
G.  L.  Moad,  and  others. 

The  first  petitions  for  chapter  degrees  were  presented  January  9th, 
1875.  as  follows:  George  Y.  Salmon,  J.  G.  Middelcoff  and  Henry  Riehl, 
of  Tebo  Lodge  No.  68,  Clinton,  Mo. 


344  HISTORY   01'    HENRV    COUNTY. 

John  Oechsli  and  William  C.  Cashman,  of  Clinton  Lodge  No.  48 1, 
Clinton,  Mo.,  Comp.  R.  T.  Lindsay  demitted  from  Chapter  No.  10, 
Arkansas,  and  a  member  of  Tebo  Lodge  No.  68,  petitioned  for  mem- 
bership. 

This  chapter  has  prospered  ever  since,  and  is  now  in  possession  of 
a  good  set  of  furniture  and  an  excellent  paraphernalia.  The  following  is 
a  list  of  the  officers  for  1883,  the  members  numbering  forty-six:  Comp. 
J.  G.  Middelcoff,  M.  E.  H.  P.;  Comp.  B.  L.  Quarles,  E.  K.;  Comp.  Banton 
G.Boone,  E.  S.;  Comp.  George  Hovmeyer,  C.  of  H.;  Comp.  Alvin  Haynie, 
P.  S.;  Comp.  William  F.  Carter,  R.  A.  C;  Comp.  Barney  Stearne,  M.  3d 
v.;  Comp.  L  P.  Williams,  M.  2d  V.;  Comp.  Joseph  Pollock,  M.  1st  V.; 
Comp.  John  Oechsli,  Treas.;  Comp.  Hale  Montgomery,  Sec;  Comp.  S. 
E.  Cheek,  G. 

This  chapter  has  prospered  from  the  beginning.  Its  membership  is 
composed  of  the  best  men  in  the  county,  and  ranks  high  as  a  chapter  in 
the  state.  Regular  convocation,  the  first  Friday  night  of  each  month  in 
Tebo  Lodge  room. 

A.  F.  AND   A.  M. 

Tebo  Lodge  No.  6S,  was  chartered  at  a  regular  communication  of 
the  Grand  Lodge  of  Missouri,  held  at  St.  Louis,  bearing  the  date  Octo- 
ber 23,  1844,  signed  by  J.  W.  S.  Mitchell,  G.  M.;  Frederick  L.  Billon,  D. 
G.  M.;  E.  S.  Ruggles,  S.  G.  W  ;  J.  F.  L.  Jacoby,  J.  G.  W.,  and  Richard 
B.  Dallam,  G.  S.,  under  the  seal  of  the  grand  lodge,  authorizing  brothers 
Andrew  M.  Tutt  as  W.  M.;  John  A.  Tutt,  S.  W.;  John  W  Williams,  J. 
W.,  and  several  others  to  meet  and  work  as  a  lodge  of  Ancient,  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons.  This  lodge  met  and  throve  till  the  beginning  of  the 
late  civil  war,  which  caused  them  to  suspend  labor.  In  1866,  a  number 
of  the  old  members  and  other  Masons,  met  at  their  old  hall,  and  the  fol- 
lowing is  a  copy  of  the  proceedings  of  said  meeting: 

Whereas,  In  consequence  of  the  disturbances  existing  along  the 
borders  of  Missouri,  during  the  late  civil  war  in  the  United  States,  the 
members  of  Tebo  Lodge,  No.  68,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  were  prevented  from 
meeting  and  holding  their  regular  communications,  thereby  forfeiting 
their  charter  of  said  lodge  in  the  year  1861.  The  cause  of  these  disturb- 
ances having  been  removed,  and  by  virtue  of  a  resolution  of  the  grand 
lodge  of  Missouri,  passed  at  its  May  session  in  May,  1866,  restoring  said 
charter,  several   memV)ers  of  said   lodge  met  in   their   hall   in   Clinton, 

Henry   County,   Missouri,   on  the  day  of  August,    1866,  and  under 

the  direction  of  Past  Master  John  A.  Pigg,  of  Sedalia  Lodge,  No.  236, 
the  lodge  was  opened  on  the  third  degree  in  due  form. 

Thereupon  the  following  officers  were  duly  elected  to  serve  until  the 
regular  election  fixed  by  the  by-laws  of  said  lodge.  G.  Y.  Salmon,  W. 
M';  B.  L.  Quarles,  S.  W.;  William  A.  Duncan,  J.  W.;  W.  H.  Cock,  Sec- 
retary; Reuben  T.  Lindsay,  Treasurer;  S.  D.  Garth,  S.  D.;  George  F. 
Royston,  J.  W.;  V.  O.  Grant,  t. 


' 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  345 

There  were  present,  visiting,  Brothers  William  Settles,  of  Wells- 
ville,"Lodge,  No.  194;  T.  H.  Dennis,  Plattsmouth  Lodge.  No.  6;  N.  B.;  M. 
Zener,  Newport  Lodge,  No.  209,  Indiana;  T.  B.  Riggins,  Jefferson  City- 
Lodge,  No.  23. 

The  officers  elect  being  present  were  duly  installed  with  proper 
instructions  as  to  their  duties  by  Brother  John  A.  Pigg,  past  master, 
aforesaid.  There  being  no  further  business  before  the  lodge  the  same 
was  dulv  closed  until  its  next  regular  communication. 

W.'H.  Cock,  Secretary.  G.  Y   SALMON,  W.  M. 

From  that  date  to  the  present  time,  1883,  the  lodge  has  thrived  and 
experienced  her  "high  tides"  and  "low  ebbs,"  as  is  the  custom  of  lodges. 
During  which  time  she  has  had  enrolled  on  her  list,  nearly  300  members. 
She  has  assisted  in  instituting  and  contributed  members  to  six  neighbor- 
ing lodges  in  her  old  jurisdiction,  and  still  retains  over  ninety  members^ 
and  ranks  among  the  best  lodges  of  the  state.  About  1872,  this  lodge 
suffered  a  loss  of  their  hall;  having  built  and  furnished  in  good  order, 
the  second  story  over  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  the  founda- 
tion of  which  settled,  causing  the  house  to  crumble,  and  rendering  it 
unsafe  to  meet  in.  The  lodge  then  sold  their  interest  in  the  lot  for  a 
nominal  sum  to  the  church,  and  has  since  rented  hall  room,  and  now 
occupy  a  room  on  the  southwest  corner  of  the  square,  nicely  fitted  up, 
furniture,  etc.,  amounting  to  over  $1,000,  and  are  in  a  flourishing  condi- 
tion. The  officers  for  the  current  year  are  :  Hale  Montgomery,  W.  M.; 
W.  H.  Allison,  S.  W.;  J.  L  Hinkle,  J.  W.;  Harry  Kemp,  S.  D.;  George 
Rains,  J.  D.;  L  P.  Williams,  S.  S.;  Joseph  White,  J.  S.;  James  Spangler, 
Treas.;  J.  G.  Middleoff,  Sec;  Wesley  Lowdermilk,  T. 

Among  old  papers  was  found  the  following  copy  of  returns  sent  to 
grand  lodge  in  1858,  of  work  done  and  membership:  Number  initiated 
during  year,  10;  number  passed  during  year,  12;  number  raised  during 
year,  11;  number  admitted  on  demits  during  the  year,  5;  number 
demitted  during  the  year,  8;  number  of  deaths  during  the  year,  2. 

Officers,  1858— J.  W.  Settles,  W.  M.;  B.  L.  Ouarles,  S.  W.;  S.  P. 
Ashby,  J.  W. ;  J.  G.  Thornton,  Jr.,  Treas.;  S.  M.  Shrewsbury,  Sec;  A. 
M.  Tutt,  S.  D.;  S.  D.  Garth,  J.  D.;  W.  M.  Bozarth,  T. 

Past  Masters— Robert  Allen,  J.  G.  Morton,  Jr.,  A.  M.  Tutt,  W.  M. 
Bozarth. 

Roll  of  members,  1858:  B.  L.  Owens,  M.  A.  Stuart,  B.  F.  Ashby,  J. 
S.  D.  Blevens,  J.  O.  P.  Hargus,  C.  E.  Cruce,  G.  W.  Cruce,  R.  T.  Lindsay, 
Benjamin  Childers,  P.  F.  Genoway,  P.  B.  Sharp,  Thomas  L.  Shipp, 
William  Martin,  J.  H.  Gilliam,  S.  C.  Washburn,  W.  W.  Wood,  G.  F. 
Warth,  T.  B.  Cummins,  D.  T.  Terry,  Daniel  Stewart,  J.  W.  Askew,  C. 
K.  Dodge,  William  H.  Peer,  William  McCann,  William  H.  Westfall.  C. 
P.  Faris,  Wessley  Harbert,  L  M.  Cruce,  Sof.  Cruce,  D.  C.  Stone,  William 
Paul,  M.  R.  Gillett,  J.  H.  Webster,  P.  Wise,   F.  P.  Hibler,  W.   H.   Hines, 


34^  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

V.  O.  Grant,  W.  W.  Collins,  C.  T.  Collins,  W.  J.  Dunn,  William  Hurburt, 
W.  H.  McConnell,  C.  H.  Farley,  D.  A.  Gillespie,  J.  S.  W.  Comb. 

Stated  communications  on  the  nights  of  the  first  and  third  Satur- 
days of  each  month. 

Clinton  Lodge,  No.  481. — Dispensation  was  granted  June  24,  1874, 
and  their  charter  received  under  date  of  October  13,  1874,  with  the  fol- 
lowing charter  members:  W.  C.  Cashman,  C.  M.  Fyke,  B.  L.  Quarles,  W. 
Griffin,  C.  H.  Carpenter,  H.  K.  Davis,  N.  B.  Riggins,  M.  A.  Fyke,  A.  M. 
Fulkerson,  J.  P.  Botkins,  John  Oechsli  and  J.  Wrightman.  The  order  has 
gradually  enlarged  its  sphere  of  operations,  increased  its  strength  and 
steadily  gaining  in  number  and  influence.  The  following  members  have 
held  the  office  of  W.  M.:  B.  L.  Quarles,  1875-6-7;  M.  A.  Fyke,  1878;  A. 
P.  Ferguson,  1879-80;  G.  Hovmeyer,  188 1;  A.  P.  Ferguson,  1882.  Pres- 
ent officers,  1883:  A.  P.  Ferguson,  W.  M.;  E.  L.  Foote,  S.  W.;  I.  N. 
Jones,  J.  W.;  J.  Wrightman,  treasurer;   W.  Ellis,  secretary. 

A.  O.  U.  w. 

There  is  quite  a  flourishing  lodge  of  the  above  order  in  Clinton,  but 
its  history  could  not  be  secured,  although  several  applications  were  made 
for  it. 

DEATH   OF   PRESIDENT   GARFIELD. 

When  the  fatal  result  of  the  assassin's  work  had  been  flashed  over 
the  land  there  came  up  from  the  hearts  of  the  people  a  wail  of  sorrow 
from  one  extent  of  the  country  to  the  other.  Every  heart  was  bowed, 
and  there  was  a  hush  for  a  time  as  if  the  pulse  of  the  nation  had  ceased 
to  beat.  The  man  was  forgotten,  but  the  death"  of  a  president  by  assass- 
ination was  a  severe  shock,  and  from  every  hill  and  valley,  from  palace 
and  hovel  alike,  came  forth  the  sound  of  sorrow  and  sadness  at  the 
nation's  loss,  and  pity  welled  up  in  the  hearts  of  all  for  the  weeks  of  suf- 
fering the  president  had  endured  ere  death  claimed  him  for  his  own. 
Clinton  mourned  with  others  at  his  death  and  appropriate  funeral  cere- 
monies were  performed,  all  business  being  suspended. 

An  eloquent  and  very  impressive  sermon  was  delivered  by  the  Rev. 
J.  G.  Fackler.  A  few  impressive  words  were  spoken  by  the  Rev.  J.  N. 
Pierce,  a  speech  by  C.  H.  Snyder,  and  the  sorrowful  event  was  closed 
with  music  and  prayer.  Time  will  pass  on,  but  memory  will  cling  to 
the  tragic  death  of  James  A.  Garfield,  and  the  sad  event  will  go  down 
in  history  and  mark  a  black  spot  upon  the  history  of  political  struggles. 


' 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 

THE  BAR,  PRESS,  BANKS  AND  BUSINESS. 

THE  EARLY  BAR-CLINTON  BAR— THE  PRESS— WHO  OWNED  THEM— BANKS  AND  BANK- 
ING-THE  BUSINE-SS  INTERESTS  OF  CLINTON— THE  DIRECTORY  OF  1874— THE  DIREC- 
TORY OF  1883— MANUFACTURES— FLOUR,  CARRIAGE  AND  WAGON  AND  CIGAR— ITEMS 
OF  INTEREST  WHICH  CALL  I  O  MIND  SEVERAL  THINGS-AN  INTERESTING  CHAP- 
TER OF  BIOGRAPHIES  AMD  BUSINESS -A  COMBINATION  OF  BRAINS  AND  ARTIbTIC 
SKILL-INCIDENTS  AND  ACCIDENTS. 

THE   EARLY   BAR. 

Very  few  members  of  the  Henry  County  bar  of  to-day  remember 
the  early  practitioners,  or  know  anything  of  riding  the  circuit.  There 
was  a  good  deal  of  hard  work  and  hard  riding  connected  with  the  first 
sessions  of  courts  in  this  county,  and  in  fact  in  nearly  all  the  counties. 
Long  and  dreary  rides  through  an  unsettled  country  often  became 
monotonous,  and  it  was  then  that  the  legal  lights  of  early  times  cracked 
their  jokes  and  laughed  long  and  heartily  over  the  amusing  incidents  in 
their  circuit.  Unfortunately  it  is  impossible  at  the  present  day  to  obtain 
any  personal  reminiscences  which  would,  in  themselves,  form  an  inter- 
esting chapter. 

The  first  bar  was  a  strong  one,  composed  of  big  brained,  large 
hearted,  good  natured  gentlemen,  whose  rugged  health  and  lively  spirits 
added  a  wholesome  zest  to  their  rattling  intellectual  encounters  and 
hard  fought  battles  in  the  legal  arena. 

Judge  Charles  H.  Allen  held  the  first  circuit  court  at  Goff's,  in 
August,  1835,  and  William  B.  Almond,  at  that  time  a  rising  member  of 
the  bar  of  North  Missouri,  came  before  the  court  as  circuit  attorney. 
The  record  ofthat  court  has  been  lost.  Just  who  stepped  to  the  front  in  those 
days  would  be  hard  to  tell,  but  among  those  who  led  in  the  legal  con- 
tests was  John  F.  Ryland,  of  Lafayette  County,  afterwards  a  judge  of  the 
circuit;  in  fact,  followed  Judge  Allen  in  1837.  Then,  in  1838,  came  Wil- 
liam McCord  and  the  genial  Dewitt  McNutt,  who  rode  the  circuit  and 
could  get  off  a  story  in  a  manner  that  would  drive  dull  care  away,  even 
if  the  mud  was  deep  and  the  streams  out  of  their  banks.  They  were 
admitted  to  practice  in  the  circuit  court  in  1838.  Judge  Foster  P.  Wright 
was  also  an  attorney  in    those  days,  but  it  cannot  be  said  that  his  future 


348  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

success  and  popularity  was  very  discernible  at  that  early  day.  Judge 
Wright  has  grown  with  his  years. 

James  L.  English  was  another  of  the  stars  that  shown  in  the  legal 
firmament  of  those  da}'s.  Samuel  L.  Sawyer  and  Robert  L.  Stewart 
asked  to  be  admitted  and  were  at  the  July  term,  1839,  and  in  the  month 
of  July  of  the  following  year  came  Hamilton  Carmichael.  Waldo  P. 
Johnson  was  an  attorney  at  that  time.  There  were  many  others  that 
tried  their  legal  ability  between  1840  and  1850.  William  Steele  was 
one.  Thomas  Raffin  was  another,  and  he  proved  a  man  of  ability  and 
secured  a  large  practice.  Mark  L.  Means  became  a  lawyer  in  1845,  and 
many  other  names  might  be  added  to  the  list.  Henderson  Young  and 
Robert  G.  Smart,  both  afterwards  served  as. circuit  attorneys.  These 
men  were  not  residents  of  Henry  or  Rives  County,  but  practiced  in  her 
courts.  Asa  C.  Marvin  was  a  resident  and  so  was  L.  C.  Marvin,  the 
lawyer  and  preacher.  The  former  was  a  member  of  both  houses  of  the 
legislature,  and  the  latter  a  member  of  the  house  and  its  speaker  in 
1862-63.  Dewitt  C.  Ballou,  who  was  also  judge  of  this  circuit,  was 
another  who  rode  the  circuit  and  rode  it  well.  The  names  of  those  who 
came  later  is  familiar  to  most  of  our  readers,  and  quite  a  number  of  those 
that  are  here  mentioned  rose  to  a  high  place  among  the  legal  lights  of 
their  day. 

They  shone  as  bright  stars  in  the  legal  firmament ;  their  names  have 
lived  after  them,  and  will  go  down  in  history,  bearing  with  them  bright, 
laurel  wreaths  of  legal  victories,  won,  or  the  judicial  fairness  which  ever 
characterized  those  who  wore  the  ermine.  Thus  has  been  slightly 
sketched  a  few  of  the  noted  names  which  have  graced  the  legal  forum  in 
days  agone,  and  whose  memories  are  cherished  with  fervor,  because  of 
the  proud  monument  they  have  left  of  noble  natures  and  great  legal 
attainments. 

CLINTON   BAR. 

The  present  bar  of  Clinton  is  a  body  of  courteous  gentlemen,  whose 
legal  attainments  will  compare  most  favorably  with  the  best  lawyers  of 
the  state.  Following  will  be  found  a  list  of  the  names,  with  short  sketches 
of  those  who  now  constitute  the  bar  of  Clinton. 

JUDGE   J.  B.  GANTT. 

This  gentleman  is  a  native  of  Georgia,  having  been  born  in  Putnam 
County  in  that  state,  October  26,  1845.  He  commenced  reading  law  in 
the  office  of  Col.  L.  N.  Whittle,  one  of  the  prominent  lawyers  of  Macon, 
Georgia,  and  of  that  state.  He  graduated  at  the  university  of  Virginia 
in  i858,  then  removed  to  St.  Louis,  and  was  there  admitted  to  the  bar  by 
Judge  Rombauer,  of  the  circuit  court.     After  one  year  of  practice,  Judge 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY.  349 

Gantt  made  Clinton  his  home,  reaching  here  July  i6,  1869,  and  entered 
the  law  firm  of  R.  Allen  &  Co.,  as  a  partner,  the  other  partners  being 
Judge  James  Parks,  and  William  T.  Thornton,  now  of  New  Mexico.  Judge 
Gantt  retired  from  the  firm  in  1875,  and  removing  to  Sedalia,  entered 
into  partnership  with  George  G.  Vest,  now  United  States  senator.  This 
partnership  lasted  two  years,  when  the  Judge  again  turned  his  eyes 
towards  Clinton,  and  in  1877  made  this  city  his  permanent  home.  In 
the  year  1880,  Judge  Gantt  received  the  nomination  and  was  elected 
judge  of  the  Twenty-second  Judicial  District  of  our  state,  which  he  has 
graced  with  a  rare  judicial  judgment,  and  his  courteous  treatment  of  the 
bar  has  won  him  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all. 

HON.  JAMES   PARKS. 

In  the  early  settlement  of  Missouri,  no  state  was  more  largely  rep- 
resented than  Kentucky — in  many  instances  her  sons  and  daughters 
being  among  the  earliest  pioneers. 

Peyton  and  Almira  Parks,  the  parents  of  Hon.  James  Parks,  were 
born  in  Kentucky,  where  they  were  married  in  1826.  During  the  follow- 
ing year,  October  28,  1827,  James  was  born  and  was  brought  by  his  par- 
ents to  Cooper  County,  Missouri,  where  they  arrived  in  the  winter  of  the 
same  year. 

They  remained  in  Cooper  County  until  1834,  when  they  emigrated 
to  Henry  County,  the  same  being  at  that  time,  but  little  more  than  a 
wilderness,  where  roamed  unmolested  the  wild  animal,  and  the  scarcely 
less  wild  Indian.  Being  possessed  of  strong  arms  and  a  brave  heart. 
Mr.  Parks  reared  his  home,  nothing  daunted,  and  industriously  applied 
himself  to  the  duties  before  him,  having  an  abiding  faith  in  a  better 
time  coming.  His  wife  died  in  1847  (September),  and  he,  after  witness- 
ing the  growth  of  Henry  County — covering  a  period  of  nearly  half  a 
century — also  passed  away  in  November,  1880,  respected  by  all  who 
knew  him. 

James  obtained  such  an  education  as  was  afforded  by  the  common 
schools  of  Henry  County  (which  were  very  imperfect  at  best)  in  addi- 
tion to  what  instruction  was  given  him  at  home. 

In  1862  he  commenced  the  study  of  law,  and  during  the  year  fol- 
lowing he  received  the  appointment  of  county  and  circuit  clerks  for 
Henry  County,  which  positions  he  filled  until  January,  1867,  in  the  mean- 
time continuing  his  study  of  the  law.  When  his  term  of  office  expired 
he  obtained  a  license  to  practice  and  soon  worked  up  a  good  business. 
In  1878  he  was  elected  judge  of  the  probate  court  and  again  elected  in 
1882,  his  term  of  office  expiring  in  1887.  The  judge  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  order. 


350  HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 

He  was  married  December  24,  1850,  to  Miss  Mary  J.  Allen,  a  native 
of  North  Carolina.  They  have  six  children,  whose  names  are  as  follows: 
Almira  F.,  Laura  A.,  Peyton  A.,  Mattie  E.,  Susan  and  Anna  A. 

HON.  FREDERICK   E.  SAVAGE 

is  the  seventh  child  of  John  and  Margaret  (Frizell)  Savage,  and  was  born 
in  Lewis  County,  Kentucky,  August  12,  1836.  His  educational  advan- 
tages were  excellent.  Besides  attending  the  common  schools  of  his 
county  he  was  a  student  of  Delaware  College,  Ohio,  where  he  received 
a  collegiate  education.  In  1856  he  began  the  study  of  law  under  the 
instruction  of  J.  B.  Houston,  Esq.,  at  Washington,  Kentucky,  and  after 
pursuing  his  studies  for  six  months  he  entered  the  law  office  of  S.  Hol- 
brook,  at  Clarksburg,  in  the  same  state.  There  he  remained  for  one 
year,  when  he  went  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  where  he  continued  to  read 
law  in  the  office  of  Judge  William  T.  Wood  until  December,  1857,  when 
he  came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  and  located  at  Clinton,  the  county 
seat.  In  1858  he  entered  upon  the  practice  of  law,  continuing  therein 
until  1861,  when  he  enlisted  as  first  lieutenant  in  Company  A,  Owens' 
Battery,  Southern  army.  After  being  in  the  army  six  months  he 
resigned  and  returned  to  his  native  state,  where  he  resided  about  a  year, 
when  he  again  enlisted  in  the  Southern  army,  this  time  joining  Com- 
pany C,  Seventh  Cavalry,  General  John  Morgan's  command,  with  which 
he  served  as  a  faithful  and  gallant  soldier  until  the  close  of  the  war.  In 
1865  he  located  in  Scott  County,  Kentucky,  and  commenced  teaching 
school,  continuing  said  occupation  until  November,  1868,  when  he 
returned  to  Clinton,  Missouri,  and  immediately  resumed  the  practice  of 
law. 

In  1874  he  was  elected  judge  of  the  probate  court,  the  duties  of 
which  he  faithfully  and  ably  administered  for  four  years.  He  filled  the 
ofifice  of  county  attorney,  one  term  by  appointment.  In  May  (20)  1874, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  L.  M.  Mallory,  who  is  a  native  of 
Scott  County,  Missouri. 

ROBERT  C.  MCBETH. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  has  a  state  reputation  in  legal 
requirements,  was  born  in  Harrison  County,  Ohio.  October  4,  1838.  Here 
he  was  raised  until  his  twenty-first  year,  having  received  a  fair  educa- 
tion, when  he  entered  the  law  office  of,  at  that  time,  a  prominent  lawyer, 
G.  W.  Mcllvaine,  who,  at  this  writing  is  one  of  the  judges  of  the  supreme 
court  of  Ohio.  Judge  McBeth,  on  the  completion  of  his  studies,  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  at  New  Philadelphia,  where  he  at  once  engaged  in  a 
successful  practice,  which  he  continued  for  some  time,  being  prosecuting 
attorney  of  Tuscarawas  County,  Ohio,  four  years.     At  the   end   of  that 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  351 

time,  or  at  the  close  of  the  war,  the  western  fever  struck  him  and  he 
came  to  Missouri,  stopping  a  short  time  in  Warsaw,  Benton  County, 
but  finally  settling  in  Clinton  in  the  year  1866.  He  has  held  a  promi- 
nent position  at  the  Henry  County  bar  for  years,  was  for  one  term  judge 
of  the  common  pleas  court,  which  had  concurrent  civil  jurisdiction  with 
the  circuit  court,  but  declining  further  service  has  since  given  his  atten- 
tion to  the  law.  He  has  secured  a  very  lucurative  practice  and  is  at  this 
time  at  the  highth  of  his  legal  powers,  a  good  speaker  and  an  adept  in 
legal  technicalities.  Judge  McBeth  is  something  of  a  politician,  promi- 
nent in  the  council  of  the  Republican  party  of  his  county  and  state,  and 
has  secured  to  himself  a  handsome  competency. 

BANTON  G.  BOONE 

was  born  in  Callaway  County,  Mo.,  October  23d,  1838.  His  father,  Ban- 
ton  G.,  was  a  native  of  Madison  County,  Kentucky,  and  his  mother, 
Elizabeth  Boone,  was  a  native  of  the  same  state.  He  received  such 
educational  advantages  as  his  own  indomitable  energies  afforded.  At 
the  age  of  fourteen  he  entered  a  printing  office  in  Troy,  Lincoln  County, 
to  learn  the  printing  business.  In  1856  he  became  a  resident  of  Clin- 
ton, Henry  County,  Mo.,  and  soon  after  was  appointed  deputy  circuit 
clerk,  and  held  the  position  four  years.  He  improved  his  leisure  hours 
of  day,  with  hours  of  night,  fitting  himself  for  the  practice  of  law,  and 
in  1859  '"'e  was  admitted  to  the  bar  by  Judge  Foster  P.  Wright.  His 
standing  in  the  legal  profession  has  been  gained  only  by  hard  and  unre- 
mitting study.  A  laborious  student  with  a  clear  analytical  mind,  clear- 
ness and  quickness  of  perception,  and  prompt  in  application  he  has 
every  element  which  combine  the  lawyer  and  counselor.  Mr.  Boone 
has  become  prominently  connected  with  the  political  history  of  the 
state.  In  1874  he  was  nominated  by  the  democrats  as  a  candidate  for  ^ 
the  legislature,  and  elected  by  a  handsome  majority.  He  was  declared 
Mie  nominee  of  his  party  in  the  caucus  for  speaker,  his  opponents  being 
General  James  Shields  and  M.  V.  L.  McLelland.  He  was  subsequently 
elected  by  a  vote  of  ninety-six  to  twenty-four,  J.  L.  Bittinger,  of 
Buchanan,  being  his  republican  opponent.  He  proved  to  be  a  man  well 
fitted  for  the  position,  and  his  impartiality  and  unpartisan  conduct, 
together  with  his  uniform  fidelity  to  the  public  good  won  for  him  the 
regard  of  the  entire  general  assembly.  In  1872  he  was  a  candidate 
before  the  convention  for  attorney  general,  and  came  within  one-third 
of  a  vote  of  being  the  nominee.  Politically  he  is  a  staunch  democrat, 
and  from  boyhood  he  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  all  political  matters. 
He  is  a  close  student  and  fondly  devoted  to  the  profession  of  his  choice, 
and  his  future  eminence  lies  in  the  legal  arena,  where  his  natural  and 
acquired  qualifications  opens  up  to   him  a  nobler  aspiration  and  more 


352  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

enduring  fame.  He  was  married  June  4th,  1874,  to  Miss  Irene  C. 
Rogers,  a  daughter  of  the  late  Dr.  John  A.  Rogers,  a  prominent  physi- 
cian and  one  of  Clinton's  early  settlers.  Their  family  consists  of  two 
children,  Bessie  and  Britts  Gorman. 

MATTHEW    A.  FYKE,  ESQ. 

Prominent  among  the  members  of  the  bar  of  Henry  County  is  Mat- 
thew A.  Fyke.  He  was  born  in  Union  County,  Illinois,  May  27,  1848, 
and  is  the  fourth  child  of  Josiah  A.  and  Margaret  Fyke.  His  parents 
emigrated  from  Tennessee  to  the  former  state  in  their  youth,  and  were 
reared  in  Union  County,  where  they  were  married  and  where  they  now 
reside.  Matthew  received  a  good,  practical  education,  and  in  1866,  when 
eighteen  years  of  age,  commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of 
Thomas  E.  Merritt,  Salem,  Illinois.  He  continued  the  study  of  law  for 
the  period  of  three  years.  In  the  meantime,  however,  he  taught  school 
in  order  to  raise  funds  for  his  own  support,  while  completing  his  studies. 
In  May,  1869,  he  was  licensed  to  practice  law  by  the  supreme  court,  of 
Illinois.  He  practiced  his  profession  for  six  months  in  his  native  count}', 
but  having  a  desire  to  move  further  west,  believing  that  the  western 
country  offered  superior  advantages  to  the  ambitious  and  energetic,  of 
whatever  trade  or  profession,  he  left  Illinois  and  came  to  Henry  County 
in  1871,  locating  at  Clinton,  where  he  still  resides.  Industriously  apply- 
ing himself  to  his  profession  his  business  has  gradually  increased  until 
he  now  enjoys  a  lucrative  practice.  He  is  not  only  a  good  lawyer,  but 
is  a  successful  business  man,  being  one  of  the  stockholders  of  the  Henry 
County  Bank.  Mr.  Fyke  is  a  member  of  the  Blue  Lodge,  Chapter  and 
Commandery,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  was 
united  in  marriage  October  19,  1871,  to  Miss  Jennie  Bennett,  who  was 
also  a  native  of  Illinois.  Mrs.  Fyke  died  May  2,  1873.  They  had  one 
•child,  Jennie  B. 

SAMUEL   B.   ORExM 

is  a  native  of  Bucks  County,  Pennsylvania,   and   he  was   born  July   16, 
1837.      His   father,  Jonathan  Orem,  a   native  of  Pennsylvania,  married 
Elizabeth  Buchanan,  a  native  of  New  Jersey.     When  S.  B.  was  eighteen 
years  of  age  he  removed  to  Jersey  County,  Illinois,  and  until  1862  taught 
school.   He  then  enlisted  in  Company  K,  Ninety-seventh  Illinois  Infantry,    j 
and  was  commissioned  first  lieutenant.  In  the  winter  of  1863  and  the  spring    j 
of  1864  he  served  as  assistant  quartermaster  at   New   Orleans.      At  the    'i 
battle  of  Fort   Blakely  he  was  wounded  in  the  leg  and  was  in  the  hos- 
pital   until  mustered  out  of  service   in  July,    1865.       Until  1866  he  was 
employed  in  the  plantation  department  of  the  Freedmen's  Bureau.     He 
then  returned  to  Jersey  County,  Illinois,  and  in   1868  came  to  Clinton 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  353 

and  soon  after  he  was  appointed  deputy  county  clerk.  He  also  filled 
the  position  of  deputy  sheriff  and  deputy  circuit  clerk.  In  1875,  in  con- 
nection with  I.  N.  Jones,  he  published  the  Advocate,  and  after  two  years 
journalistic  experience,  he  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law.  In  1880  he 
was  elected  city  attorney.  He  was  married  June  11,  1871,  to  Miss  Eliza 
E.  Darby  a  native  of  New  York.  They  have  two  children,  Herbert  H. 
and  Arthur  D. 

CHARLES   T.   COLLINS 

was  born  in  Fayette,  Howard  County,  Missouri,  February  22,  1833,  and 
reared  there  until  seventeen  years  of  age.  During  three  and  a  half  years 
of  this  time  he  was  a  student  in  Central  College,  Fayette.  He  then 
removed  to  Clinton  and  commenced  clerking  in  a  mercantile  house  and 
pursued  this  avocation  until  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  when  he  enlisted 
in  a  company  of  Missouri  State  Guards  commanded  by  Captain  Owens, 
but  on  account  of  disability  he  served  only  a  short  period.  In  the 
autumn  of  1862,  he  went  to  Macon  City,  Missouri,  residing  there  until 
July,  1864;  then  to  Clay  County,  Illinois,  where  he  lived  one  year  and 
then  returned  to  Clinton  and  resumed  his  former  business  of  salesman 
with  different  firms  until  1872,  when  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Fyke  & 
Ladue.  After  applying  himself  assiduously  for  three  years  he  entered 
into  partnership  with  Mr.  Fyke.  He  is  a  safe,  reliable  and  successful 
attorney,  and  the  firm  of  Fyke  &  Collins  has  a  reputation  not  bounded  by 
county  limits.  Mr.  Collins  was  married  January  6,  1868,  by  Miss  Emma 
Moore,  who  died  July  23,  1870.  He  was  again  married  May  24,  1876,  to 
Mrs.  Mollie  Bradley,  whose  maiden  name  was  Skinner.  They  have  two 
children:     Edna  E.  and  Birdie  S. 

CLEMENT   C.    DICKINSON, 

one  of  the  rising  attorneys  of  Henry  County,  is  a  native  of  Prince 
Edward  County,  Virginia,  and  was  born  December  6,  1849.  He  is  a 
classical  scholar  and  was  graduated  from  Hampton  and  Sidney  College. 
From  1868  until  1872  he  was  principally  engaged  in  teaching  school  in 
Kentucky.  In  1872  he  came  to  Clinton,  where,  for  three  years,  he  was 
engaged  in  teaching,  occupying  his  leisure  hours  in  preparing  himself 
for  the  practice  of  law.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1876  and  in  the 
fall  of  that  year  elected  prosecuting  attorney  which  office  he  held  with 
signal  ability  and  success,  until  January  i,  1883.  As  a  lawyer  he  is  a  pleas- 
ant speaker  and  full  of  brilliant  ideas  and  sound  logic  and  he  has  proven 
himself  a  successful  practioner.  He  was  married  December,  1882,  to 
Miss  Mattie  Parks,  a  daughter  of  Judge  James  Parks  of  this  city. 


23 


354  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

HANNIBAL    II.  ARMSTRONG 

is  a  native  Missourian,  having  been  born  in  Lincoln  County,  this  state,, 
but  may  be  considered  a  Henry  County  boy,  having  arrived  in  this 
county  at  the  tender  age  of  two  years.  He  was  born  November  3,  1852. 
He  is  a  graduate  of  the  Kentucky  State  University,  at  Lexington,  Ken- 
tucky. He  finished  his  studies  in  1871,  and  in  1872,  entered  the  law 
office  of  McBeth  &  Price,  where  he  remained  for  three  years,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1875,  and  also  held  the  office  of  city  attorney  for 
one  year.  An  absence  for  nearly  two  years  in  Texas,  from  1876  to  1878, 
in  which  he  was  engaged  in  farming,  gave  him,  on  his  return  to  Clinton, 
greater  zest  for  his  profession,  and  he  now  ranks  as  one  of  the  leading 
attorneys  among  the  younger  members  of  the  bar.  He  is  a  rising  legal 
light,  a  good  talker,  good  student,  and  in  fact  endowed  with  those  quali- 
ties which  makes  the  lawyer  and  the  man.  He  was  married  July  19,  1882, 
to   Miss  Lucy  J.   Harris,  of  Texas. 

SAMUEL   E   PRICE 

is  a  native  of  Ohio  and  he  was  born  in  Carroll  County,  October  26,  1841. 
He  was  educated  at  the  McNeeley  Normal  School  in  Harrison  County, 
that  state.  Having  selected  the  practice  of  law  as  his  life  vocation  he 
entered  the  office  of  J.  C.  Hance,  a  prominent  attorney  of  New  Phila- 
delphia, Ohio,  and  after  a  thorough  preparation  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  Carroll  County.  He  remained  in  the  office  of  his  preceptor  until 
the  fall  of  1865  and  in  December  of  that  year  he  removed  to  Warsaw,^ 
Benton  County,  Missouri,  where  he  practiced  one  year  and  then  removed 
to  Clinton,  Henry  County,  He  formed  a  partnership  with  Judge  R.  C. 
McBeth  which  continued  until  July,  1874,  when  they  dissolved.  In  1877 
Mr.  Price  associated  himself  with  J.  Blackford  and  this  firm  continued 
until  May,  1880,  since  which  period  he  has  conducted  his  practice  alone. 
He  is  careful  and  methodical  and  to  this  may  be  attributed  much  of  his. 
success.  He  was  married  July  20,  1870,  to  Miss  Carolina  D.  Smith,  a 
native  of  Ohio.     They  have  one  son,  John  J. 

THEODORE  W.  COLLINS 

was  born  in  Boone  County,  Ohio,  December  9,  1843.  He  received  an 
academic  education  at  the  Ohio  Valley  Academy,  of  Decatur,  that 
state.  He  enlisted  in  the  Federal  army  during  the  late  war  in  Com- 
pany E,  Tenth  Cavalry  Regiment,  serving  over  one  year.  Seven  months 
of  this  time  was  spent  as  drill  master  of  Marsh's  battalion.  After  his 
discharge  he,  in  1864,  re-enlisted  in  the  Fourth  Ohio  Regiment,  which 
was  on  escort  duty,  being  General  Howard's  body  guard  in  the  march  to 
the  sea.     After  returning  home  he  was  engaged  in  teaching  in  his  native 


HISTORY   OV    HENRY   COUNTY.  355 

State  until  1867.  when  he  removed  to  Macon  City,  Missouri,  and  taught 
school  until  1869,  devoting  his  leisure  hours  to  the  study  of  law  in  the 
office  of  Williams,  Jones  &  Brock.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
Macon  County,  and  in  1869  settled  in  Clinton  and  commenced  the  prac- 
tice of  law.  He  has  both  talents  and  ability  and  first-class  business 
qualifications  which  he  is  utilizing  in  carrying  on  a  heavy  insurance  bus- 
iness. His  mind  runs  more  to  that  than  law  and  he  makes  little  effort 
to  secure  a  practice  in  the  profession.  He  has  held  the  position  of 
mayor  of  Clinton  and  is  active  in  educational  matters.  He  was  married 
August  2,  1868,  to  Miss  E.  Johnson,  of  Pennsylvania.  They  have  two 
children,  Carl  F.  and  Maud  E. 

CHARLES  A.  CALVIRD 

is  a  native  of  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  and  he  was  born  April  27,  1854. 
His  youth  was  spent  on  a  farm.  He  commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the 
office  of  M.  A.  Fyke,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Henry  County  in 
February,  1875,  and  though  young  in  his  profession,  in  1878-9,  held  the 
office  of  city  attorney  of  Clinton.  His  career  has  been  one  of  honest, 
continued  and  successful  effort,  and  he  has  a  bright  and  promising  future 
before  him.  He  was  married  March  30,  1881,  to  Miss  Flavia  Lindsay,  a 
native  of  this  county,  and  a  daughter  of  J.  Lindsay,  one  of  Henry  County's 
most  worthy  citizens.     They  have  one  daughter,  Enid. 

ALVIN   HAYNIE 

was  born  in  Winchester,  Scott  County,  Illinois,  on  March  3,  1847.  At 
the  age  of  ten  years  his  father  removed  to  DeWitt  County,  Illinois,  where 
the  subject  was  raised  and  educated,  receiving  a  good  English  education 
in  the  common  and  normal  schools  of  Illinois.  He  served  in  the  Federal 
army  during  the  late  war  as  a  private.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  entered 
the  law  office  of  the  Hon.  H.  S.  Green,  a  prominent  railroad  lawyer  of 
that  state,  and  remained  two  years,  when  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
May,  1868,  being  then  twenty-one  years  of  age.  In  July,  1881,  after 
several  years  of  successful  practice  in  Illinois,  he  removed  to  Clinton, 
Henry  County,  and  commenced  at  once  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
where  he  holds  a  well  deserved  and  prominent  place,  which  his  natural 
qualifications  and  hard  study  have  given  him.  He  was  married  Novem- 
ber 26,  1872,  to  Miss  Olive  R.  Longmate.  Their  family  consists  of  two 
children:  William  L.  and  Frank.  Mr.  Haynie  has  attained  to  the  degree 
of  Knight  Templar  in  the  Masonic  fraternity. 

ROBERT   E.  LEWIS, 

the  prosecuting  attorney  of  Henry  County,  was  born  in  the  neighboring 
county  of  Cass  April  3,  1857.     In  1866  the  family  removed  to  Callaway 


356  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

County,  Missouri.  He  was  educated  at  Westminster  College,  Fulton, 
Missouri,  and  while  teachincr  for  three  years  pursued  his  law  studies.  On 
moving  to  Clinton  in  March,  1880,  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Judge  J. 
B.  Gantt,  and  from  whose  office  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1881.  Mr. 
Lewis  was  elected  to  the  office  of  prosecuting  attorney  of  Henry  County 
at  the  election  of  1882,  and  has  a  splendid  field  to  develop  whatever  of 
talent  he  may  possess  in  the  high  and  honored  profession  in  which  he 
has  made  a  life  engagement. 

JULIUS   C.  JENNINGS 

first  came  to  Clinton,  Missouri,  in  1871.  He  is  a  native  of  Kennebeck 
County,  Maine,  and  he  was  born  February  ii,  1853.  He  received  his 
education  at  the  Maine  Wesleyan  College  at  Kent's  Hill,  that  state. 
After  coming  to  Clinton  he  was  for  several  years  engaged  in  teaching 
school  and  studying  law  with  C.  B.  Wilson.  In  1875  he  removed  to 
Indiana,  where  for  two  years  he  held  the  position  of  superintendent  of 
the  city  schools  of  Covington,  and  the  following  two  years  a  similar 
position  at  Russelyille,  that  state.  In  1879  he  returned  to  Henry  County, 
Missouri,  and  began  the  practice  of  law,  making  his  residence  at  Cal- 
houn for  two  years.  The  past  two  years  he  has  made  his  home  in  Clin- 
ton, where  he  is  steadily  working  into  a  good  practice. 

EDWARD  A.  GRACEY 

is  a  native  of  White  County,  Tennessee,  and  he  was  born  May  22,  i860. 
He  received  a  liberal  education  and  commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the 
office  of  D.  L.  Snodgrass,  at  Sparta,  Tennessee,  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
years,  and  in  1878  and  1879  attended  the  law  school  at  Lebanon,  Ten- 
nessee, and  was  admitted  to  the  White  County  bar  in  October,  1880.  In 
February,  1881  he  came  to  Clinton,  Missouri,  and  entered  the  law  office 
of  Hon.  B.  G.  Boone  and  again  admitted  to  the  bar  in  August  of  that 
year.  May  22,  1882,  he  was  appointed  a  justice  of  the  peace  and  the 
following  November  he  was  elected  to  this  office.  From  his  natural  talents 
and  studious  habits,  a  bright  and  promising  future  is  sure  to  be  realized. 
He  was  married  September  6,  1882,  to  Miss  OUie  Blakemore,  a  native  of 
Henry  County,  Missouri. 

THOMAS    MARION  CASEY. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  native  of  Henry  County,  having  been 
born  in  Shawnee  Township,  April  25,  1858.  He  was  reared  upon  a  farm 
and  took  a  liking  to  the  business,  but  was  anxious  to  have  a  thorough 
education.  In  this  he  was  supported  by  his  parents.  Having  received  the 
rudiments   of  an    English   education,    and   otherwise   fitted    himself  in 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY.  357 

an  advancement  for  a  thorough  collegiate  course,  he  entered  the  Cum- 
berland University,  of  Lebanon,  Tennessee,  in  the  opening  fall  term, 
1877,  in  the  nineteenth  year  of  his  age.  He  made  rapid  progress  and 
graduated  with  high  honors  from  the  literary  department  in  1881.  He 
returned  home  for  the  summer  vacation,  and  in  the  fall  again  returned 
to  Lebenon  and  entered  the  law  department,  which  has  become  famous 
for  its  thorough  course  of  studies,  and  the  number  of  legal  lights  that 
claim  it  as  their  Alma  Mater.  In  June,  1883,  he  graduated  from  the  law 
department,  received  his  diploma,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  Armed 
with  the  proof  of  his  talents  and  hard  study,  he  again  returned  home, 
and  soon  after  entered  the  law  office  of  the  Hon.  Banton  G.  Boone,  where 
for  nearly  a  year  he  has  steadily  pursued  his  legal  studies,  and  will 
undoubtedly  become  a  member  of  the  bar  of  Henry  County. 

IHE   PRESS   OF   CLINTON. 

« 
There  are  but  few  towns  of  the  state  outside  of  the  metropolitan 
cities  which  have  had  a  more  able  and  entertaining  public  press  than 
Clinton.  The  press  has  done  much  to  advance  the  material  prosperity 
of  the  town  and  it  should  be  encouraged  by  a  liberal  support.  The 
character  of  the  citizens  of  a  town  or  city  is  known  and  judged  by  its 
press,  and  in  very  many  cases  a  newspaper  has  been  in  advance  of  the 
people,  yet  the  press  itself  has  not  done  justice  to  the  extent  of  its  power 
for  good,  because  the  people  with  whom  it  lived  gave  it  but  a  meager,  if 
not  a  sort  of  starvation  support.  Let  the  citizens  give  their  newspapers 
a  generous  subscription  and  advertising  patronage,  and  in  the  end  they 
will  reap  a  threefold  benefit.  It  is  bread  cast  upon  the  waters,  to  be 
returned  after  many  days. 

FIR.ST   PAPER. 

The  first  paper  published  in  the  City  of  Clinton  was  known  as  the 
Clinton  Journal,  and  the  first  number  was  issued  April  26th,  1858.  Its 
publisher  was  Isaac  E.  Olney,  who  remained  with  it  until  it  suspended 
in  the  year  1861,  on  account  of  the  then  opening  of  the  civil  war.  The 
paper  might  have  been  said  to  have  been  neutral  in  political  matters, 
the  editor  devoting  his  time  to  local  affairs,  of  town  and  county.  He 
received  the  official  printing  of  the  county,  and  in  the  year  1858  received 
$49.50  for  publishing  the  first  financial  statement  of  Henry  County  ever 
given  to  the  public.  Mr.  Olney  removed  from  Clinton  in  the  summer  of 
1861,  to  Garnet,  Kansas,  at  which  place  it  is  said  he  died  some  years 
since.  Clinton  was  then  a  small  town  of  less  than  500  inhabitants,  and 
the  paper,  which  was  a  seven  column  sheet,  columns  fourteen  ems,  pica, 
wide,  was  really  a  credit  to  the  place. 


358  HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 

THE  ADVOCATE. 

During  the  time  of  the  civil  war,  no  paper  was  published  in  Clinton 
or  in  Henry  County,  until  January  22,  1866.  The  Advocate  was  then 
started  by  G.  Sellers,  and  the  same  year  Mr.  Will  H.  Lawrence  bought 
an  interest  and  the  firm  was  Sellers  &  Lawrence.  Mr.  Will  H.  Law- 
rence purchased  the  paper  in  1867  and  continued  its  editor  and  proprietor 
for  eight  years  and  over,  leasing  the  office  to  Mr.  L  N.  Jones,  March  i, 
1873,  for  one  year.  The  Advocate  was  Republican  in  politics,  and  was 
•one  of  the  most  influential  weeklies  of  the  party  in  the  state,  and  still 
continues  to  hold  a  leading  position  in  its  party  and  in  this  section  of 
country.  Mr.  L  N.  Jones  took  charge  as  above  stated,  with  W.  N.  Pick- 
erill  as  his  editor.  A  Mr.  Palmer  was  associated  with  him  a  short  time. 
At  the  end  of  the  year,  Mr.  Will  H.  Lawrence  having  returned,  he  again 
took  possession  from  March  5,  1874.  Mr.  Lawrence  continued  its  publi- 
cation until  December  9,  1875,  although  from  September  30,  1875,  to 
above  date,  it  was  again  in  Mr.  Jones'  hands,  as  Lawrence  was  on  a  visit 
to  New  Mexico.  On  December  9,  1875,  as  above  dated,  Mr.  Lawrence 
finally  closed  his  connection  with  the  Advocate  forever  and  sold  the 
same  to  L  N.  Jones  and  Samuel  B.  Orem.  These  gentlemen  took  charge 
and  for  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  Clinton  journalism  employed  a 
local  or  city  editor,  and  it  is  no  reflection  whatever  to  say  that  neither 
•before  or  since  has  the  local  columns  of  the  Advocate  sparkled  with 
such  life  and  light,  as  while  under  control  of  Mrs.  Kate  M.  Jones. 

Mrs.  Jones  had  been  connected  with  the  paper  for  many  years  and 
was  known  far  and  wide  as  a  "  lightning  compositor."  She  could  set  up, 
justify  and  correct  her  sticks,  from  16,000  to  18,000  ems  of  solid  nonpa- 
reil in  the  space  of  ten  hours,  and  did  set  up  1,922  ems  of  solid  nonpa- 
reil in  one  hour.  Perhaps  the  av^erage  citizen  does  not  know  how  fast 
work  that  is,  but  a  printer  and  those  connected  with  newspapers  know 
that  there  is  not  over  one  in  a  thousand  printers  who  can  perform  that 
feat.  To  an  outsider  it  can  be  explained  as  being  somewhat  of  the 
nature  of  a  railroad  train  going  so  fast  as  to  make  the  telegraph  poles 
assume  the  appearance  of  a  picket  fence  while  riding  along. 

The  firm  of  Jones  &  Orem  continued  until  February  8,  1877,  when 
Mrs.  Kate  M.  Jones  bought  Mr.  Orem's  interest,  and  the  firm's  name  was 
changed  to  I.  N.  Jones  &  Co.  This  continued  until  February  28,  1878, 
when  Mr.  Jones  having  been  confirmed  as  postmaster  of  Clinton  post 
office,  Mrs.  Jones  took  full  possession  of  the  office,  assuming  editorial  as 
well  as  proprietary  control.  This  continued  until  August  8,  1878,  when 
Mrs.  Jones  sold  the  office  to  W.  H.  and  J.  B.  Davis.  These  gentlemen 
remained  only  a  little  over  a  year,  and  then  sold  the  paper  to  O.  L.  and 
C.  H.  Newton  December  i,  1879.  Owing  to  ill  health  and  death  in  the 
family  of  one  of  the  proprietors,  they  only  conducted  the  paper  about 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  359 

nine  months,  when  they  sold  it,  August  19,  1880,  to  Mr.  S.  C.  Mace,  the 
present  proprietor,  who  has  kept  up  the  paper  to  its  previous  standard 
•of  excellence,  and  it  is  still  the  organ  of  its  party  in  this  section  of  the 
state.  Mr.  Mace  came  from  Illinois,  where  he  had  conducted  in  past 
years  the  Greenville  (Illinois)  Advocate  and  the  Belleville  Republican, 
and  was  also  connected  with  the  St.  Louis  Tribune. 

Mr.  Mace  has  a  model  office,  well  equipped  with  all  the  necessary 
material  for  a  first  class  newspaper  and  job  office,  with  a  power  press  and 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  little  steam  engines  to  be  found  anywhere. 
The  mechanical  department  is  under  the  charge  of  Mr.  T.  O.  Smith,  who 
fully  sustains  its  character  as  a  first  class  newspaper  and  job  office.  On 
January  29,  1883,  the  proprietor  of  the  Advocate  started  a  daily — a 
handsome  six  column  newspaper,  the  first  issued,  and  with  bright  prom- 
ises for  success. 

THE  DEMOCRAT. 

This  paper,  as  the  name  implies,  is  the  representative  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party  in  Henry  County.  It  first  threw  its  banner  to  the  breeze  in 
1868,  and  its  editor  was  Mr.  Joshua  Ladue.  The  paper  was  purchased 
by  W.  H.  Davis  in  the,  spring  of  1872,  who  began  to  improve  it,  and  give 
it  life.  He  purchased  a  power  press  in  June  1872,  and  adding  other  new 
material,  he  was  soon  in  possession  of  a  first  class  office.  He  was  an 
aggressive  editor  and  although  on  friendly  personal  terms  with  Mr.  Law- 
rence, of  the  Advocate,  the  political  spats  w^ere  often,  and  sometimes 
pretty  severe  on  both  sides."'  Mr.  Davis  continued  sole  proprietor  until 
1S74,  when  Mr.  William  T.  Thornton,  one  of  the  rising  young  men  of 
Clinton,  and  possessed  of  wealth,  united  with  Mr.  Davis,  and  the  firm  was 
Davis  &  Thornton.  This  continued  until  1876,  when  Mr.  Thornton  had 
been  elected  to  the  legislature,  and  Mr.  Davis,  wishing  to  try  his  fortune 
in  another  business,  the  office  was  sold  to  Mr.  Benjamin  R.  Lingle  and 
Mr.  Frank  Mitchell,  September  10,  1876. 

Mr.  Thomas  J.  Lingle  bought  his  brother  Benjamin's  interest  August 
28th,  1877,  the  firm's  name  remaining  the  same  until  1878,  when  George 
R.  Lingle  united  with  his  brother  Thomas,  by  purchasing  the  interest  of 
Mr.  Mitchell,  aud  the  firm's  name  was  changed  to  Lingle  Bros.  These 
gentlemen  are  still  editors  and  proprietors,  and  the  Democrat  is  on  this 
1st  day  of  January,  1883,  stronger  in  influence,  more  solid  financially, 
and  enjoying  a  greater  degree  of  prosperity  than  ever  before  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  paper.  It  has,  also,  its  power  press,  all  the  paraphernalia  of 
a  model  office,  is  published  in  its  own  building,  and  is  wielding  a  strong 
and  successful  influence  in  the  ranks  of  the  democratic  party.  Its  new 
office  is  situated  on  the  first  floor  of  the  new  Democrat  block,  and  is 
one  of  the  best  arranged  and  convenient  offices  in  the  state.  The 
Lingle  Bros,  attend  strictly  to  business,  overseeing  in   person  the  busi- 


360  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

ness  and  mechanical  departments,  as  well  as  the  editorial.  Their  suc- 
cess may  be  attributed  in  a  larjje  measure  to  this  close  attention  to 
business,  combined  with  a  practical  knowledge  of  it  in  all  its  parts,  and 
close  economy  in  its  management.  The  success  which  has  thus  far 
attended  their  efforts  is  well  deserved,  and  as  Clinton  shall  grow  in  pop- 
ulation and  wealth,  the  Democrat  will  enlarge  and  keep  step  to  the  music 
of  progress,  and  like  its  neighbor,  continue  to  be  an  institution  of  which 
the  people  of  Clinton  and  Henry  Counties  may  well  be  proud. 

THE   CLINTON   ENTERPRISE. 

This  paper  was  started  in  the  year  1872,  November  9th  of  that  year, 
and  was  under  the  charge  of  L.  G.  Schofield,  who  failed  to  make  it  a 
success.  He  published  it  about  a  year,  and  then  sold  out,  the  material 
becoming  the  property  of  Will  H.  Lawrence.  The  latter  took  the  mate- 
rial to  Fort  Worth,  Texas,  started  a  paper  and  sold  out  within  a  year. 

The  Southwest  Missouri  Look  Out  was  the  name  of  a  paper  which 
succeeded  the  Enterprise,  but  like  the  latter,  it  soon  climbed  the  golden 
stair.  Drs.  Birge  and  Miller  were  the  proprietors. 

CLINTON   NEWS. 

This  paper  first  came  into  existence  in  the  year  1873,  by  W.  S. 
Walker,  and  like  its  predecessor,  the  Enterprise,  failed  to  coin  ducats, 
and  succumbed  to  the  inevitable.  At  that  time  Clinton  was  too  small 
to  support  three  papers.  The  News  was  a  bright  sheet,  but  the  field  was 
occupied,  the  expenditures  exceeding  its  income  and  death  or  suspen- 
sion claimed  it  for  its  own.     Mr.  Walker  removed  to  California. 

CLINTON   INDEPENDENT. 

This  paper  had  a  fleeting  existence  of  a  little  less  than  two  years, 
and  as  its  name  indicates,  was  politically  independent.  It  was  a  seven 
column  folio  and  was  owned  and  edited  by  R.  F.  Stevenson.  It  was  a 
fair  local  paper  and  its  columns  showed  a  good  advertising  patronage, 
but  like  a  few  of  its  creed,  failed  to  strike  favorably  the  public  pulse,  and 
it  became  a  thing  of  the  past. 

THE   MESSENGER. 

This  paper  is  the  representative  of  the  Greenback-Labor  party  and 
otherwise  is  independent,  in  all  matters  of  local  importance.  The  first 
issue  of  the  paper  was  November  7,  1881,  by  W.  G.  Church  &  Sons,  and 
presents  a  neat  typographical  appearance.  It  is  a  seven  column  paper 
and  is  influential  in  the  field  of  politics,  in  the  faith  it  represents.  It  is 
outspoken  in  its  belief,  and  has  a  manly  independence  that  is  a  credit  to 
the  newspaper  profession. 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  361 

One  other  attempt  to  start  a  newspaper  was  made  by  C.  F.  Gates, 
and  called  the  Journal,  but  it  was  not  looked  upon  with  favor  even  at  the 
start,  and  it  required  but  a  few  months  to  place  it  on  the  suspended  list, 
as  that  of  the  dear,  departed  defunct.  It  existed  about  six  months,  but 
it  cannot  be  said  to  have  lived  at  all.  The  newspapers  have  a  number 
of  dead  to  the  account  of  Clinton,  but  it  may  be  said  that  those  which 
have  lived  were  the  survival  of  the  the  fittest.  The  newspaper  field  of 
Henry  County  is  now  filled,  and  all  are  worthy  representatives  of  their 
creeds  and  professions. 

BUSINESS   PROGRESS — FROM    1 874   TO    1 883. 

The  business  interests  of  Clinton  and  its  growth  the  past  nine  years,, 
may  be  seen  from  the  statement  given  below.  The  list  for  1874,  was 
made  out  April  ist,  and  that  of  1883,  on  February  1st.  The  increase  has 
been  as  marked  as  the  increase  of  population.  Still,  with  an  agricultural 
population  at  this  time  of  fully  20,000,  Clinton  could  as  well  sustain  5,000 
citizens  us  3,000. 

BUSINESS   DIRECTORY   OF   CLINTON,  APRIL  I,    1 874. 

2  Banks.  2  Lumber  Dealers. 

4  Butchers.  4  Merchant  Tailors. 

2  Bakeries.  i  Manufacturing  Confectioner. 

3  Boot  and  Shoe  Makers.  i  Manufacturer      Patent      Riding 
2  Boot  and  Shoe  Stores.  Plows. 

I  Clothing  and    Gents'  furnishing  2  Milliners. 

goods.  I  News  and  Book  Store. 

1  Confectionery.  2  Newspapers. 

4  Drug  Stores.  i  Photographer. 
9  Dry  Goods  Stores.                             3  Tobacconists. 

2  Dentists.  3  Tin  Stores. 

I  Furniture  Store.  3  Saddle  and  Harness  Makers. 

I  Gunsmith  and  Machinist.  2  Undertakers. 

13  Grocery  and  Provisions.  i  Carriage  Manufactory. 

1  Hotel.  2  Wagon  Manufactories. 
4  Hardware  and  Implements.  4  Blacksmiths. 

3  Jewelers.  i  Marble  Works. 

2  Livery  Stables.  .  Total,  88. 

BUSINESS   DIRECTORY,  FEBRUARY  I,  1883. 

3  Abstract  Offices.  2  Bakers. 

3  Agricultural  Warehouses.  i  Bed  Spring  Factory. 

3  Banks.  2  Broom  Factories. 


362 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 


3  Boot  and  Shoe  Stores. 

6  Blacksmith  Shops. 

2  Barber  Shops. 

3  Billiard  Halls. 

4  Boot  and  Shoe  Makers. 

7  Clothing  and  Gents'  Furnishing. 

4  Confectionery  Stores. 
9  Carpenters. 

5  Drug  Stores. 

9  Dry  Goods  Stores. 
2  Express  Ofifices. 

1  Elevator. 

2  Furniture  Stores. 

I  Feed  Stable  and  Yard. 

1  Gunsmith  and  Machinist. 

3  Grain  Dealers. 

12  Grocery  and  Provision  Stores. 

2  Hide  and  Fur  Dealers. 
5  Hotels. 

4  Hardware  and  Stove  Stores. 
2  Job  Printing  Offices. 

4  Jewelers. 

4  Insurance  Agents. 

2  Livery  Stables. 
I  Sale  Stable. 

5  Lumber  Dealers. 

3  Merchant  Tailors. 


6  Meat  Markets. 

1  Marble  Yard. 

4  Musical  Instrument  Dealers. 

2  Flouring  Mills. 

3  Millinery  Stores. 
I  Custom  Mill. 

1  Notion  Store. 

2  News  and  Book  Stores. 

3  Newspapers. 

2  Photograph  Galleries. 
I  Painting  and  Glazing. 
1  Produce  and  Commission. 

1  Queensware  Store. 

2  Restaurants. 

5  Real  Estate  Dealers. 

4  Tobacconists    and    Cigar    Manu- 

factories. 

3  Tinware  Stores. 

3  Saddlery  Hardware  and  Harness 

Stores. 

4  Sewing  Machine  Agencies. 

7  Wine  and  Beer  Saloons. 

1  Stone  Yard. 

2  Undertakers    and    Coffin    Ware- 

rooms. 
2  Wagon  and  Carriage  Manufacto- 
ries. 


PROFESSIONS. 


8  Physicians. 
2  Dentists. 
17  Lawyers. 


8  Preachers. 

I  Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court. 


THE  BANKS  OF  CLINTON— SALMON  .1-  SALMON,  BANKERS 


This  is  the  oldest  banking  institution  in  Clinton,  and  one  of  the 
pioneer  institutions  in  west  Missouri.  Even  its  present  quarters  put 
you  in  mind  of  olden  times.  There  is  a  musty  look  about  which  tells  of 
long  use  and  rather  cramped  quarters,  but  its  looks  indicates  solidity 
and  its  inside  business  docs  not  belie  its  looks.  It  is  run  b\-  business 
men  and  managed  by  shrewd  financiers. 

On  December  i,  1866,  Salmon  &  Stone  opened  a  banking  house 
u}K)n  the  public  'jquare  of  Clinton.     It  was  mixed  in  among  a  lot  of  law 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  363 

rookeries  that  even  the  staid  old  county  court  judges  couldn't  stand  any 
longer  and  they  ordered  them  to  leave,  and  not  stand  upon  the  order  of 
their  going  but  go  at  once.  For  a  week  or  so  Clinton  had  the  appear- 
ance of  a  moving  city,  and  she  more  than  doubled  her  stabling  facilities 
in  that  two  weeks.  Well  in  one  of  those  old  shells  the  now  famous 
banking  house  of  Salmon  &  Salmon  cut  both  its  wisdom  teeth  and  eye 
teeth.  They  had  an  old  iron  safe,  some  three  chairs,  a  pine  counter  and 
was  looked  upon  as  having  rather  a  stylish  outfit  in  those  days.  They 
have,  however,  outgrown  ali  that,  and  like  the  United  States  treasury  of 
the  present  time,  they  have  to  get  more  room  to  hold  their  money,  and 
so  the  old  safe  has  been  changed  for  a  vault,  a  late  style  of  safe  with 
time  locks. 

FH^M   AND   CAPITAL. 

The  firm  was  composed  of  George  Y.  Salmon,  Harvey  W.  Salmon 
and  DeWitt  C.  Stone.  The  capital  stock  was  $50,000  and  its  business 
opened  about  as  soon  as  its  doors.  Its  circle  of  depositors  was  not  con- 
fined to  Clinton  or  to  the  boundary  line  of  Henry  County,  but  was  the 
principal  banking  house  covered  by  four  counties.  The  business  of  the 
firm  increased,  and  it  remained  under  the  name  of  Salmon  &  Stone  for 
some  seven  years,  or  until  January  i,  1873,  when  DeWitt  C.  Stone,  retir- 
ing, his  interest  being  purchased  by  the  Messrs.  Salmon,  the  firm's  name 
was  changed  to  Salmon  &  Salmon,  the  partners  being  George  Y.  and 
Harvey  W.  Salmon,  brothers.  Mr.  D.  C.  Stone  removed  to  St.  Louis 
soon  after,  and  died  April  7,  1877. 

From  the  above  beginning  the  business  has  grown  and  prospered, 
and  what  it  is  and  how  it  has  advanced  may  be  gathered  from  the  fol- 
'lowing  financial  exhibit  of  the  bank  at  the  close  of  business  on  the  15th 
day  of  December,  1882,  as  given  for  publication: 

RESOURCES. 

Loans  undoubtedly  good  on  personal  or  collateral  security .  .$338,381    14 
Loans  and  discounts  undoubtedly  good  on  real  estate  secur- 
ity    28,750  00 

Overdrafts  by  solvent  customers 7-371  07 

Other  bonds  and  stock  at  their  present  cash  market  price  .  .  11,000  00 

Due  from  other  banks,  good  on  sight  draft 25,530  53 

Real  estate  at  present  cash  market  value 3,ooo  00 

Furniture  and  fixtures i,500  00 

Checks  and  other  cash  items 470  23 

Bills  of  national  banks  and  legal  tender  United  States  notes  24,000  00 

Silver  coin i.i49  35 

Total $44^152  32 


3^4  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

LIABILITIES. 

Capital  stock  paid  in ■ $   50,000  00 

Surplus  fund 40,000  00 

Undivided  profits 28,849  4^ 

Deposits  subject  to  draft  at  sight 257,370  84 

Deposits  subject  to  draft  at  given  dates 64,1 17  92 

Due  other  banks  and  bankers 814   15 


Total $441,152  32 

Its  average  deposits  now  reach  $400,000  a  year. 


FIRST   NATIONAL   BANK. 


This  bank  was  started  under  the  name  of  the  Clinton  Savings  Bank, 
October  5,  1871,  and  made  its  first  financial  statements  of  its  liabilities 
and  resources,  January  18,  1872.  This  statement  was  from  commencing 
of  business,  as  above  stated,  to  January  i,  1882,  and  was  as  follows  : 


LIABILITIES. 


Capital  Stock  paid  in $24,500  00 

Deposits  on  time 12,252   35 

Deposits  on  collection    1 1,626  02 

Interest  and  exchange 1,387  07 


$49,765  44 
RE.SOURCES. 

Bank  building  and  vault $   5,335  60 

County  warrants,  coin  and  stamps 338  33 

Licenses,  taxes  and  expenses 754  36 

Loans  and  discounts 30,360  82 

Due  from  other  banks 3,046  75 

Cash  on  hand 9.929  58 


$49,765  44 
The  bank  continued  in  business  as  a  savings  bank  until  February 
28,  1882.  William  H.  Cock  was  its  president,  and  C.  C.  Jones,  cashier. 
At  the  above  date,  or  on  March  i,  1882,  the  First  National  Bank 
opened  its  doors  to  the  public  as  successor  to  the  Clinton  Savings  Bank, 
with  a  paid  up  capital  of  $50,000,  William  H.  Cock  being  its  first  presi- 
dent, and  C.  C.  Jones  its  first  cashier.  It  had  a  fair  business  start  and 
has  steadily  grown  in  strength  and  in  the  confidence  of  the  business  com- 
munity. 

In  1875,  July  1st,  its  exhibits  of  liabilities  and  resources  were: 

RE.SOURCES. 

Loans  and  discounts $  49,885  60 

Overdrafts 420  8q 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  365 

U.  S.  bonds  to  secure  circulation $  50,000  00 

Other  stocks,  bonds  and  mortgages 18,148  26 

Due  from  approved  reserve  agents • 1,004  -i 

Due  from  other  national  banks 538  53 

Due  from  state  banks  and  bankers 2,490  23 

Real  estate,  furniture  and  fixtures 8.367  93 

Current  expenses  and  taxes  paid 1,005   80 

Premiums  paid 5,535  06 

Checks  and  other  cash  items 131   87 

Bills  of  other  national  banks 2,955  00 

Fractional  currency  (including  nickels) 55  47 

Specie  (including  gold  treasury  notes) 264  or 

Legal  tender  notes 5'500  00 

Redemption  fund  with  U.  S.  Treasurer,  5  per  cent,  of  circu- 
lation    2,250  00 

Due  from  U.  S.  Treasurer,  other  than  5  per  cent,  redemption 

fund ; 5,900  00 

Total $154,452  86 

LIABILITIES. 

Capital  stock  paid  in $50,000  00 

Surplus  fund I3,500  00 

Other  undivided  profits 8,222  64 

National  Bank  notes  outstanding 45,000  00 

Individual  deposits,  subject  to  check 19,873  90 

Time  certificates  of  deposit 7>042  85 

Due  to  state  banks  and  bankers 813  47 

Bills  payable 10,000  00 

Total 1 54.45 1  S6 

The  growth  of  the  bank  will  be  seen  from  the  above,  and  the  exhibit 
made  January  i,  1883,  which  is  here  given  : 

RESOURCES. 

Loans  and  discounts $122,398  94 

Overdrafts 2,448  25 

U.  S.  bonds  to  secure  circulation 50,000  00 

Other  stocks,  bonds  and  mortgages 1,871   40 

Due  from  approved  reserve  agents 7>^^7  73 

Due  from  state  banks  and  bankers , 81   66 

Real  estate,  furniture,  and  fixtures 27,55 1   03 

Current  expenses  and  taxes  paid 3-839  33 

Checks  and  other  cash  items 120  oo 

Bills  of  other  banks 7,000  00 

Specie 2,626  20 

Legal  tender  notes 6,ooo  00 

Redemption  fund  with  U.  S.  Treasurer  (5  per  cent,  of  circula- 
tion)    1,650  00 

Total 233,154  54 


366  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

LIABILITIES. 

Capital  stock  paid  in $  50,000  00 

Surplus  fund 3 5, 000  00. 

Undivided  profits 5.673  26 

National  Bank  notes  outstanding 45,000  00 

Individual  deposits  subject  to  check 58,038  42 

Demand  certificates  of  deposit 27,764  52 

Due  to  other  national  banks 2, 106  82 

Due  to  state  banks  and  bankers 4.571    52 

Notes  and  bills  re-discounted 5,000  00 

Total $233,154  54 

The  following  have  been  presidents  and  cashiers  of  the  bank  in  the 
order  named,  the  last  being  the  present  officers  of  the  bank: 

When  Organized — W.  H.  Cock,  president;  C.  C.  Jones  and  J.  M- 
Avery,  cashiers. 

A.  C.  Avery,  president;  W.  D.  Tyler,  cashier. 

J.  G.  Dorman,  president;  W.  M.  Doyle,  cashier. 

J.  M.  Avery,  president;  W.  D.  Tyler,  cashier. 

HENRY   COUNTY    BANK. 

This  is  comparatively  a  new  institution  for  public  favor,  having  been 
organized  in  April,  188 1,  but  did  not  get  ready  for  business  until  June  i, 
1881.  It  then  opened  its  doors  with  a  paid  up  capital  of  $25,000  and  all 
the  paraphernalia  of  a  banking  house  for  a  sound  and  progressive  bank- 
ing business.  Its  stockholders  and  directors  represent  some  of  the  most 
prominent  citizens  and  wealthy  and  active  business  men.  Its  first  pres- 
ident was  A.  P.  Frowein  and  W.  D.  Tyle"^,  cashier.  It  does  a  general 
banking  business  and  pays  special  attention  to  collections. 

Directors — James  Brannum,  G.  C.  Haysler,  J.  W.  Middlecoff,  S.  Blatt, 
A.  P.  Frowein,  S.  E.  Cheek,  M.  A.   Fyke,  A.  M.  Rhodes,  Joseph  White. 

Present  Officers — James  Brannum,  president;  A.  M.  Rhodes,  vice 
president;  A.  P.  Frowein,  cashier;  W.  B.  Calvird,  assistant  cashier. 

Its  liabilities  and  resources,  January  i,  1883,  were  as  follows: 

RESOURCES. 

Loans  undoubtedly  good  on  personal  or  collateral  security.  .$71,486  84 

Loans  and  discounts  undoubtedly  good  on  real  estate  security,  4,941   65 

Overdrafts  by  solvent  customers 2,681    1 1 

Due  from  other  banks,  good  on  sight  draft 95    10 

Furniture  and  fixtures ^,^33  39 

Checks  and  other  cash  items 229  00 

Bills  of  national  banks  and  legal  tender  United  States  notes,  15,001   00 

Gold  coin i.540  00 

Silver  coin 530  80 

Total $98,138  89 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  367 

LIABILITIES. 

Capital  stock  paid  in $25,000  00 

Surplus  funds  on  hand 3-500  00 

Undivided  declared  dividends 3-429  97 

Deposits  subject  to  draft  at  sight 40,395  40 

Deposits  subject  to  draft  at  given  dates H. i53  95 

Due  other  banks  and  bankers 1 1,659  57 

Total $98,138  89 

CLINTON   POST   OFFICE   FROM    1837   TO    1883. 

The  post  office  of  Clinton  was  opened  in  the  spring  of  1837,  and 
Benjamin  F.  Wallace  was  its  first  postmaster.  The  office  was  kept  in 
the  store  of  Wallace  Bros,  on  the  north  side  of  the  square,  and  on  the 
northeast  corner.  It  was  not  much  of  an  office  in  those  days,  the  salary 
for  the  first  ten  years  never  reaching  $100  per  annum,  and  the  first  few 
years  scarcely  amounted  to  anything.  The  postmasters  who  have  rep- 
resented this  office  are  here  given,  with  years  of  their  appointments: 

POSTMASTERS   OF   CLINTON. 

1837,  Benjamin  F. 'Wallace;  1847,  Asaph  W.  Bates;  1853,  Thomas 
H.  Rogers;  1857,  William  H.  Schroder;  i860,  John  Vance;  1861,  J.  G. 
Dorman;  1862,  Benjamin  Whiting;  1864,  Dr.  G.  M.  Britts;  1866,  Wil- 
liam Weaver;  1868.  Phillip  Zeal;  1872,  John  W.  Fyke;  1875,  Daniel  H. 
Sullivan;    1878,  I.  N.  Jones. 

The  growth  of  the  office  h^s  kept  pace  with  the  growth  of  the  city 
and  county,  and'  of  late  years  seems  to  have  rather  advanced  beyond 
that  point.  The  number  of  pieces  mailed  in  a  period  of  seven  days  in 
December,  1879,  was  4,865,  while  in  the  same  time  in  1880  was  8,418. 
Here  was  a  pretty  lively  gain  in  twelve  months,  being  nearly  75  per 
cent.  The  number  of  lock  boxes  in  1880  was  162,  and  call  boxes  214,  in 
use,  and  the  office  was  made  an  international  money  order  office  April 
1st,  1880.  Money  can  be  sent  through  this  office  to  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland,  Germany,  France  and  Algiers.  An  effort  was  made  by  the 
writer  to  get  later  statistics,  but  it  failed.     Why  he  knows  not. 

MANUFACTURES — WHAT  IT  OUGHT  TO  BE. 

Clinton  in  this  respect  is  rather  behind  the  age,  and  her  population 
can  only  increase  as  the  county  increases,  unless  there  is  an  effort  made 
to  build  up  manufactories.  These  bring  people,  consumption  is 
increased  and  production  is  advanced  in  a  corresponding  ratio.  This  is 
a  legitimate  enterprise  and  brings  wealth  to  the  county  and  people 
instead  of  carrying  it  sway.     It  enlarges  the  market  for  home  produc- 


368  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

tion,  and  the  skill  of  the  mechanic  is  added  to  the  cost  of  production, 
and  this  is  secured  for  home  benefit. 

The  first  steam  flouring  mill  in  Clinton  was  owned  by  William  W. 
Wall  &  Son,  and  was  called  the  Tebo  Steam  Mill.  It  commenced  oper- 
ation in  the  year  1858.  The  present  Tebo  Mill  is  something  of  a  con- 
trast to  the  mill  of  1858.  The  first  had  two  run  of  burrs,  both  for  custom 
work,  the  present  mills  would  hardly  care  to  run  in  that  style. 

TEBO  MILLS  OF  1883. 

The  mill  is  owned  by  James  Brannum,  and  was  erected  in  1868. 
Since  then  it  has  been  improved,  by  putting  in  place  the  latest  patents 
in  milling  machinery.  It  has  now  five  run  of  burrs  and  three  sets  of 
rolls  for  making  the  patent  flour.  It  is  exclusively  a  merchants  mill,  no 
custom  work  being  done.  Its  capacity  is  160  barrels  of  flour  every 
twenty-four  hours.  In  connection  with  the  mill  is  a  fine  wheat  elevator 
40x50  feet  in  size.  The  mill  proper  is  built  of  brick  and  stone,  40x60 
feet,  and  a  packing  addition  32x80  feet.  The  mill  complete  represents 
a  capital  invested  of  $50,000. 

CLINTON  MILLS. 

This  is  another  first-class  mill,  so  far  as  its  appointments  go.  It  is 
a  frame  structure  40x64  feet  in  size,  has  two  run  of  burrs,  and  like  the 
first  named  is  a  merchant's  mill.  It  was  erected  in  1867  by  J.  G.  Mid- 
delcoff,  who  is  still  its  proprietor.  The  mill  has  a  capacity  of  sixty  bar- 
rels of  flour  per  day,  and  is  represented  by  an  investment  of  $10, coo 
besides    working    capital. 

CIGAR   MANUFACTORIES. 

This  is  an  important  branch  of  business  in  Clinton  and  probably 
few  of  its  citizens  are  aware  of  the  number  of  cigars  manufactured  in 
their  own  city,  and  this  item  will  be  both  news  and  information  to  a 
large  number. 

ELK   CIGAR   FACTORY. 

This  is  the  oldest  establishment  in  Clinton  and  was  started  in  1874. 
This  factory  makes  nineteen  different  brands  of  cigars,  from  the  pure 
Havana  down  through  the  grades  to  the  common  cigar.  There  are 
employed  ten  to  fifteen  hands  the  year  'round  and  400,000  cigars  are 
turned  out  annually.     The  proprietor  is  John  G.  Thume. 

The  cigar  manufactory  of  Strong  &  Pechstein,  in  the  Democrat 
Block,  is  the  largest  manufactory  in  the  city.  They  employ  from  twenty 
to  twenty-five  hands,  run  sixteen  tables,  and  their  books  show  an  actual 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  369 

number  of  601,250  cigars  for  their  year's  work,  that  of  1882.  They  have 
some  thirty,  different  brands,  and  prices  range  from  $2.50  to  $65  per 
1,000.  They  commenced  business  in  1878,  and  their  sales  book  also 
showed  over  $600,000  sold  during  the  year.  They  have  some  $9,000 
invested  in  their  business  and  propose  to  turn  out  over  1,000,000  cigars 
for  1883,  January  showing  a  little  over  70,000  for  the  month. 

HUTCHINSON   &   KITCHEN, 

•manufacturers,  are  exclusively  in  the  line  of  cigar  manufacture.  They 
show  a  bona  fide  number  of  450,000  for  the  year  1882,  and  for  1883  pro- 
pose to  reach  fully  600,000  cigars.  They  invest  in  machinery  and  work- 
ing capital  some  $6,000.  They  make  some  fifteen  different  brands,  work 
•nine  tables  and  prices  range  about  the  same.  They  opened  business 
May  1st,  1881,  and  they  have  so  far  been  trying  to  keep  up  with  their 
■orders,  without  being  compelled  to  solicit. 

G.    D.    ELGES 

•is  the  manufacturer  of  fine  Havana  and  domestic  cigars,  and  while  not 
■doing  a  large  business  is  keeping  three  hands  steadily  employed,  and 
last  year  turned  out  125,000.  He  started  business  October  4th,  1880, 
and  has  put  about  $1,000  into  his  business.  Mr.  Elges  is  a  mechanical 
genius  and  has  invented  a  new  patent  cigar  mould,  which  saves  both 
time  and  money.  He  has  in  this  patent  invested  some  $1,500,  and  he  is 
now  manufacturing  a  large  number.  The  work  is  done  in  St.  Louis,  and 
ihe  is  likely  to  come  out  with  a  handsome  sum  of  money. 

GRAND   AGGREGATE. 

The  grand  aggregate  then,  is  in  round  numbers  1,576,250  cigars  man- 
ufactured in  Clinton  in  the  year  1882,  while  that  of  1883  is  likely  to 
■exceed  two  and  one-quarter  millions.  So  much  for  this  department  of 
manufactures,  and  it  is  a  pity  that  the  manufacturing  interest  of  Clin- 
ton is  not  more  varied  and  progressiv^e. 

CARRIAGE  AND  WAGON  MANUFACTURE. 

The  carriage  and  wagon  manufactory  of  Peter  Alfter  was  started 
in  January,  188 1.  Mr.  Alfter  carried  on  the  business  for  one  year,  when, 
on  January  i,  1882,  he  took  in  a  partner,  and  the  firm  since  then  has 
been  known  as  Alfter  &  Moser.  They  are  both  practical  mechanics  and 
make  a  specialty  of  carriages  and  wagons,  also  buggies,  and  have  in  con- 
nection a  large  repairing  department  and  blacksmithing.  They  have 
.$6,000   invested   and  their   sales    last   year   were  between  $10,000  and 


370  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  ', 

$12,000.     They  are  now  working  ten  hands,  and  the  demand   for  their 
work  will  compel  them  to  increase  this  number  the  present  year. 

JOHN   OECHSLI,  MANUFACTURER. 

This  gentleman  has  probably  the  largest  carriage  and  wagon  manu- 
actory  between  St.  Louis  and  Kansas  City  at  this  day,  and  yet  he 
started  in  1870  with  nominal  or  small  capital.  The  firm  name  was 
Oechsli  &  Kilmer  and  so  continued  until  January  i,  1882.  Since  that 
time  the  business  has  been  conducted  by  the  gentleman  whose  name 
heads  this  article  and  who  is  sole  proprietor.  This  business  is  not 
exclusively  given  to  fine  work  such  as  carriages,  buggies,  etc.,  which  he 
s  making  a  specialty,  but  his  farm  wagons,  plows  and  harrows  have  a 
wide  reputation  for  first-class  work  of  the  kind.  He  has  also  a  large 
blacksmith  and  repairing  shop  in  connection  with  his  work,  as  also  a 
paint  shop.  He  turns  out  his  work  complete.  He  has  a  working  and 
invested  capital  of  $10,000,  and  his  sales  for  1882,  reach  the  sum  of 
$22,000.  He  has  on  hand  from  sixteen  to  eighteen  men  constantly 
employed. 

There  are  several  other  large  blacksmith  shops  which  do  a  good 
business  of  ironing  of  wagons,  etc.,  besides  their  regular  work,  but  can 
scarcely  come  under  the  name  of  manufactories. 

ITEMS   OF   INTEREST. 

Ermie  A.  Nave,  now  Mrs.  Hall,  claims  to  have  been  the  first  child 
born  in  Clinton,  and  her  birth  is  given  as  February  12,  1834.  As  Henry 
or  Rives  County  was  not  then  known,  and  Clinton  itself  being  still  in 
the  womb  of  the  future,  it  is  safe  to  say  that  the  lady  is  not  so  old  by 
three  years  as  she  claims  to  be.  In  fact,  Mrs.  Hall  must  have  been  born 
in  1837,  and  without  doubt  was  the  first  child  born  in  the  city.  The 
third  room  of  the  celebrated,  of  that  day.  Nave's  Hotel,  on  Franklin 
Street,  has  been  credited  with  the  place  of  her  birth. 

They  have  a  place  on  the  west  side  of  the  town  called  *'  Lover's 
Leap."  All  first-class  towns,  with  hills  and  ravines  close  by,  have  a  Lov- 
er's Leap. 

The  Clinton  Silver  Cornet  Band  was  organized  in  1869  and  became 
quite  a  noted  band  of  musicians.  Their  second  set  of  instruments  cost 
$1,000.     It  flourished  for  about  six  years.     It  is  dead. 

August  22,  1872,  the  Adams  Express  Company's  office,  in  Lock's 
grocery,  was  robbed  of  $1,080.  The  thieves  got  in  through  the  cellar. 
No  recovery. 

A  hook  and  ladder  company  was  founded  in  Clinton  January  24, 
1873.     It  is  not  now  known  where  the  company  or  the  ladder  is. 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  37.! 

In  1872  Clinton  was  honored   by  having  one  of  her  citizens,  Hon. 
Harvey  W.  Salmon,  elected  treasurer  of  the  state. 

The  election  of  1874  resulted  in  a  general  assembly  which  again 
honored  Clinton  by  chosing  Hon.  Banton  G.  Boone  as  speaker  of  the  house. 
In  June,  1875,  on  the  28th,  H.  S.  Reynolds,  past  grand  master  of 
Illinois  and  then  grand  patron  of  this  state,  visited  Clinton  and  organ- 
ized a  chapter  of  the  Eastern  Star  Lodge  of  Masonry.  About  sixty-six 
wives  and  daughters  of  Masons  were  enrolled  as  members  of  Magnolia, 
No.  99,  next  to  the  largest  in  the  state.  The  officers  were:  B.  L.  Quarles, 
worthy  patron;  Mrs.  William  Thornton,  worthy  matron;  Mrs.  John  Fike, 
worthy  assistant  matron;  Mrs.  Peeler,  treasurer;  J.  N.  Cook,  secretary; 
Miss  Cora  Garth,  worthy  conductress,  and  Miss  Blanche  Stewart,  worthy 
associate  conductress. 

The  fire  of  November  19,  1876,  resulted  in  the  greatest  loss  of  any 
fire  the  city  ever  had.  It  destroyed  several  buildings  on  the  northeast 
corner  of  the  square,  east  side,  the  Fulkerson  &  Parks  building  being 
one  of  the  finest  in  the  city  and  three  stories  high.  Fulkerson  &  Parks 
lost  on  building  about  $15,000  and  on  drug  stock  $7,500,  insurance 
$15,800;  Dr.  Dimmitt,  surgical  instruments  and  library,  $800;  Clinton 
Cornet  Band,  instruments,  $300;  furniture,  etc..  Odd  Fellows,  insured, 
$500;  furniture,  etc.,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  $1,200,  insurance,  $800;  Heckles' 
saloon,  $300,  insured;  the  building  belonging  to  Dr.  Williams,  $500, 
insured  for  $300;  Samuel  Williams'  loss,  $500,  no  insurance.  Goods  in 
the  express  office  were  destroyed  upon  which  were  charges  amounting  to 
$75;  value  of  goods  not  known.  This  was  the  principal  damage.  The 
heat  broke  some  glass  and  other  light  damages  were  sustained,  but  not 
of  any  great  value.  Take  it  altogether  and  it  was  the  most  disastrous 
conflagration  that  ever  visited  Clinton  since  its  incorporation.  The  fire 
was  believed  to  have  been  the  work  of  an  incendiary. 

The  Clinton  Literary  Club  was  organized  in  the  fall  of  1876.  Pey- 
ton Parks  was  president;  Royal  J.  Burge,  vice  president;  S.  Sherman, 
secretary,  and  C.  C.  Dickinson,  treasurer.     It  has  ceased  to  exist. 

October  3,  1876,  John  Spranck,  a  German,  was  killed  by  the  cars 
near  the  residence  of  John  P.  Watkins. 

A  board  of  trade  v/as  organized  in  Clinton,  December  19,  1877. 
Judge  Dorman  was  made  chairman;  Jason  Blackford,  secretary.  Every- 
body who  had  a  spare  dollar  could  join.  Twenty-five  members  enrolled 
themselves.  Judge  Dorman  was  elected  president  and  C.  C.  Dickinson, 
secretary.     It  then  gradually  passed  out  of  existence. 

February  14,  1878,  the  people  of  Clinton  voted  upon  the  proposition 
to  become  a  city  of  the  fourth  class.  The  vote  stood  133  in  its  favor  to 
one  against. 

Asa  Smith,  a  cooper  by  trade,  while  going  to  his  dinner,  May  29, 
1878,  during  a  storm,  was  struck  by  lightning  and  killed. 


'•^Z  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

The  following  additions  to  the  town  and  city  of  Clinton,  have  been 
added  since  her  original  boundary  was  formed:  Smith  &  Sullivan's, 
Berry's,  Allen's,  Avery's,  Weaver's,  Vail's,  Berrigman's,  Cruce's,  Roger's, 
Davis',  Fair  Ground,  Railroad,  Williams'  ist  and  2d,  McLean's  ist  and 
2d,  Mean's  ist,  2d  and  3d,  and  Boyer's  ist,  2d  and  3d. 

On  the  night  of  September  4,  1881,  the  St.  Stephen's  Hotel  was 
burned.  It  was  an  old  landmark,  having  been  erected  in  1848,  by  Joseph 
Davis. 

About  2:30  o'clock  Thursday  morning,  December  28,  1882,  flames 
were  discovered  in  the  rear  portion — next  to  the  railroad  track — of  the 
frame  livery  stable,'  formerly  occupied  by  James  Duncan,  on  the  east  side 
of  the  square.  It  spread  with  great  rapidity,  and  the  entire  block  of 
frames  adjoining  on  the  south,  occupied  by  S.  Hirsch's  wool  and  hide 
house  and  saloon;  R.  H.  Allison  &  Co.'s  agricultural  implement  store;  J. 
C.  Seifred's  meat  market,  and  Irvin  Couse's  grocery  store,  were  destroyed. 
The  fire  was  the  work  of  incendiaries. 

The  old  Pollard  building,  owned  by  Messrs.  Frowein  Bros.,  was 
erected  about  forty  years  ago  for  a  hotel,  and  occupied  by  Bates,  Rogers, 
Bush,  Estes,  Pollard  and  Gilbert.  A  few  years  ago  it  was  remodeled, 
and  since  then  occupied  as  business  stands.  This  removed  another  of 
the  old  landmarks  of  the  city,  but  it  is  hardly  one  the  citizens  will  regret. 

In  February,  1883,  Clinton  voted  for  the  erection  of  gas  works  with 
but  one  single  vote  against  it,  so  that  the  summer  of  1883  will  see  the 
"Model  City"  lighted  by  gas.  In  the  early  fall  of  1882  a  time  ball  was 
established  in  Clinton,  and  her  people  since  have  run  their  business  and 
commerce  and  end  their  toil  by  true  time. 

The  spring  of  1883  will,  also,  commence  the  work  for  a  railroad  to 
Osceola,  in  St.  Clair  County,  the  business  men  of  Clinton  having  con- 
tributed the  depot  grounds  at  a  cost  of  $5,000.  If  the  road  is  finished 
to  Osceola  the  coming  summer,  the  merchants  and  business  men  have 
made  the  best  investment  of  their  lives. 

The  opening  of  the  year  1883  is  full  of  bright  future,  and  material 
progress  has  a  firm  foothold  in  Clinton  at  this  time.  A  commenable 
public  spirit  has  started,  and  none  too  soon.     Let  it  be  fostered. 

CLINTON'S   PRESENT   BOUNDARY. 

With  the  numerous  additions  to  the  City  of  Clinton,  her  boundary 
lines  have  been  frequently  changed.  At  this  time  the  city  limits  cover 
the  area  within  the  compass  of  one  and  a  half  miles  on  each  side,  or 
one  and  a  half  miles  square.     This  area  is  described  as  follows: 

The  east  half  and  the  east  half  of  the  west  half  of  section  3;  the 
west  half  and  the  west  half  of  the  east  half  of  section  2;  the  northeast 
quarter  and  the   east  half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section   10;  the 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 


373 


northwest  quarter  and  the  west  half  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section 
II,  all  in  township  41,  range  26. 

This  boundary  was  made  of  record  July  31st,  1881,  and  is  the  pres- 
ent area  of  the  city. 

DISTANCES. 

The  distrance  from  Clinton  to  Chicago  is  462  miles;  St.  Louis,  227; 
Kansas  City,  80;  Sedalia,  40;  Windsor  (County),  19;  Calhoun,  12;  Lewis 
Station,  7;  Ladue,  6;  Montrose,  12;  Appleton  City,  St.  Clair  County,  20; 
Osceola,  St.  Clair  County,  28.  This  is  by  railroad.  Two  points,  how- 
ever, are  not  yet  connected  at  the  distances  named.  The  first,  Kansas 
City,  and  the  other  Osceola,  but  are  likely  to  be  within  the  current  year. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

WINDSOR  TOWNSHIP. 

WITHIN  THE  REALMS  OF  CIVILIZATION— ITS  AREA— FIRST  SETTLERS-DEATH  BY  LIGHT- 
NING-PROGRESS—DARKNESS TO  LIGHT— ORGAN IZA1  ION— WORTH  REMEMBERING 
—COAL  FIELDS— BIG  COAL  BANKS— STONE  QUARRIES— HEALING  WATERS— TRANS- 
PORTATION-AN  OLD  LANDMARK  GONE- TENNESSEE  BAKER-THE  FIRST  BRICK 
RESIDENCE  IN  HENRY  COUNTY-ITS  DESTRUCTION  BY  FIRE. 

WITHIN   THE   REALMS. 

This  township  is  the  northeastern  one  of  the  county,  and  while  it  is 
mostly  composed  of  high,  rolling  prairies,  it  has  also  a  large  amount  of 
timber  which  line  the  banks  of  Tebo  Creek,  its  east  fork  and  their 
branches.  Tebo  Creek  itself  runs  due  south  within  less  than  half  a 
mile  of  its  western  border,  but  rises  in  the  north  part  of  Windsor  Town- 
ship, having  two  branches  that  unite  after  passing  some  two  miles 
through  the  northwest  corner,  just  over  the  line  in  Tebo  Township.  One 
large  branch  rises  in  the  center,  nearly,  of  the  township  and  empties 
into  Tebo  Creek  nearly  three  miles  from  its  southern  boundary. 

The  East  Fork  of  Tebo  Creek  rises  in  the  north  and  east  part  of  the 
township,  and  passing  south  along  its  eastern  border,  it  turns  west,  pass- 
ing clear  across  the  township  to  its  southwestern  corner,  within  about 
one  and  a  half  miles  of  its  southern  line. 

The  township,  as  can  be  seen,  has  plenty  of  wood  and  water,  and  is 
divided  into  about  three- fifths  prairie  and  two-fifths  wood  land.  Its  soil 
is  rich,  its  prairies  susceptible  of  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and  as  a 
stock  and  cereal  country  has  few  superiors.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north 
by  Johnson  County,  east  by  Benton  County,  south  by  Springfield,  and 
west  by  Tebo  Townships.  It  is  five  miles  wide  on  its  southern  side,  and 
on  its  north  side  it  is  six  miles  wide,  taking  in  one  square  mile  of  what 
should  be  Tebo  Township.  It  is  seven  miles  north  and  south.  It  com- 
prises a  congressional  township  of  thirty-six  square  miles,  and  has  an 
area  of  23,040  acres  of  land. 

When  the  county  was  organized,  the  present  Windsor  Township  was 
a  portion  of  Tebo,  the  latter  township  comprising  in  its  territory  one- 
fourth  of  the  county,  Windsor's  bounds  were  first  made  at  the  May  term 
of  the  county  court.  May  8,  1868.  Windsor  was  then  declared  a  voting 
precinct. 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  375 

FIRST   SETTLERS. 

Windsor  Township  was  one  of  the  first  settled  portions  of  Henry- 
County.  In  fact,  no  portion  of  the  county  can  claim  an  earlier  white 
man's  settlement,  and  on  Tebo  Creek  and  its  east  fork  were  first  found 
the  cabins  of  the  white  man.  They  roamed  the  woods  as  the  red  man 
did  before  them,  and  the  ring  of  the  woodman's  ax  and  the  sharp  crack 
of  his  rifle  soon  became  familiar  sounds  where  all  before  had  been  a 
wilderness  and  the  Indians  were  lord  of  all. 

Quite  a  number  of  settlers  came  in  the  year  1830,  and  while  pros- 
pecting parties  had  traversed  Henry  County  and  hunters  and  trappers  trod 
its  rich  prairies  and  hunted  in  its  wooded  dells  as  early  as  1828,  there  were 
no  actual  settlers  until  1830.  Old  Ben  Kimsey  and  John  Brummet  came 
in  1828,  but  they  staked  their  claim  just  over  the  line  in  Johnson  County, 
but  Thomas  Kimsey,  his  son,  located  a  little  further  south  and  found  a 
home  in  this  country  in  1830.  Kimsey  settled  on  section  i.  It  is 
hard  to  say  who  was  the  first  man  who  put  up  his  cabin.  Thomas  Mat- 
thew, James  Arbuckle  and  Isom  Brummet  all  came  the  same  year.  There 
were  no  less  than  seven  families  who  found  a  home  in  the  county  in 
1830.  The  Arbuckles  settled  just  west  and  southwest  of  Windsor.  In 
183 1  William  Ogan  settled  on  section  i,  John  Woodward  did   the  same. 

Thomas  Anderson,  the  first  blacksmith  in  Henry  County,  settled 
near  where  Windsor  City  now  stands. 

In  1832,  came  James  Woodward,  Amos  and  Benjamin  Goodin,  Isaac 
N.  Hughes,  Obediah  Austin,  Thomas  Parazette,  Robert  Gladden,  Joseph 
Bogarth,  Joseph  Means,  R.  S.  Means,  Colby  S.  Stevens,  and  in  1833,  W. 
H.  Ham,  Mrs.  J.  G.  Ogan,  and  others.  There  was  quite  a  number  followed 
in  1834,  '35,  '36,  '37,  '38  and  '39,  their  names  being  found  in  the  old  set- 
tlers' list  in  the  early  settlement  history. 

These  were  the  men  who  formed  the  pioneer  band  of  the  northeast, 
and  stamped  the  era  of  civilization  upon  the  broad  prairies  and  the  wooded 
bottoms  of  Windsor  Township,  and  laid  the  foundation  of  a  future  that 
has  since  blossomed  into  a  more  perfect  day.  Hunting  in  those  days 
was  both  a  pastime  and  a  necessity.  Game  was  plenty,  deer  and  turkey 
being  the  most  abundant,  but  wolves  were  also  thick,  and  night  was 
sometimes  made  melodious  by  their  howling,  and  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs 
seemed  to  think  that  around  the  cabin  of  their  owner  was  their  safest 
place. 

DEATH    BY   LIGHTNING. 

Probably  the  first  death  in  the  townshsp  and  county  was  that  of 
Joseph  Bogarth,  who  came  early  in  the  spring  of  1832.  Joseph  Means 
and  Joseph  Bogarth  had  been  some  distance  up  in  Pettis  County  on  busi- 
ness, and  on  their  return  while  crossing  the  prairies  north  of  Windsor 


376  HISTORY   01'    HENR\    COUNTY. 

were  overtaken  by  a  heavy  rain  storm.  Joseph  Bogarth  and  his  horse 
were  killed  by  lightning,  and  Mr.  Means  riding  by  his  side  struck  sense- 
less.    Whether  his  horse  had  been  hurt  he  did  not  know. 

When  Mr.  Means  recovered  his  senses  he  found  his  companion  dead 
and  also  his  horse,  while  his  own  horse  was  a  few  yards  distant,  quietly 
feeding  on  the  rich  prairie  grass.  He  managed  to  secure  it  and  ride 
home  and  give  the  sad  tidings  of  the  fate  of  his  companion. 

This  occurred  August  19,  1832,  and  Mr.  Bogarth  was  buried  about 
half  a  mile  southeast  of  Windsor  City.  Mr.  Means  was  some  weeks 
recovering  from  the  effect  of  the  lightning  stroke. 

PROGRESS. 

As  one  of  the  oldest  settled  portions  of  the  county,  Windsor  Town- 
ship continued  to  increase  in  population.  Its  broad  prairies  became  dot- 
ted with  farm  houses,  the  cattle  literally  roamed  its  thousand  hills,  and 
progress,  civilization  and  Christianity,  hand  in  hand,  welcomed  others 
and  gave  promise  of  future  wealth  and  contentment.  The  new  settlers 
coming  in  moved  further  south,  and  a  few  of  the  early  ones  had  reached 
the  banks  of  the  main  channel  of  Tebo  Creek,  then  known  as  Spring- 
field Township,  having  been  cut  off  of  Tebo  Township  in  May,  1834. 
The  country  for  miles  and  miles  south  and  west  was  a  beautiful  pano- 
rama of  nature,  such  as  delighted  the  eye  and  quickened  the  pulse  of 
those  who  gazed  upon  its  wild  beauties,  and  those  who  came  west  to 
make  their  homes  made  no  further  progress  towards  the  setting  sun. 
What  lay  before  them  satisfied  their  longings  and  desires,  and  this  Eden 
of  the  Southwest  was  quickly  peopled  by  those  who  not  only  compre- 
hended the  beauty  of  the  landscape,  but  were  aware  of  the  richness  of 
the  soil  which  required  but  a  modicum  of  labor  to  bless  them  with  an 
abundant  harvest. 

Henry  T.  Douglas  and  wife  came  in  1835,  the  former  from  Howard 
County,  Missouri,  the  latter  from  Lincoln  County,  Kentucky;  S.  S.  John- 
son, from  Woodson  County  Tennessee;  W.  R.  Taylor,  Jefferson  County, 
Kentucky,  and  R.  F.  Taylor,  Louisville,  Kentucky,  the  former  in  1838 
and  the  latter  in  1839;  Daniel  Palmer,  of  Garrett  County,  Kentucky;  B. 
F.  Williamson,  of  Tennessee,  and  others  settled  in  this  township  in 
1840.  From  this  time  until  its  organization,  in  the  year  1868,  as  above 
stated  Windsor  Township  increased  steadily,  but  in  the  census  of  1870 
it  was  enumerated  as  a  part  of  Tebo  Township.  Its  voting  precinct  was 
called  Bellemont,  and  was  so  known  in  i860,  at  which  time  it  was  one 
of  the  nine  voting  precincts  of  the  county. 

The  census  of  1870  and  1880  compared  shows  the  heaviest  popula- 
tion in  Windsor  Township,  while  a  part  of  Tebo  Township.  Of  course 
the  same  routine  of  pioneer  life  was  the  fate  of  the   earlier  settlers  of 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  377" 

Windsor.  Miles  had  to  be  traveled  to  reach  a  postoffice,  Boonville  and 
even  Mt.  Vernon,  on  the  Missouri  River  a  few  miles  below  Lexington,, 
in  Lafayette  County,  were  visited  for  supplies,  and  the  trade  was  deer 
and  coon  skins,  venison  hams,  honey,  now  and  then  a  wolf  skin,  andi 
they  got  everything  in  exchange  which  was  then  demanded  of  a  mer- 
chant suitable  to  a  pioneer's  life.  From  1840  to  i860  was  an  era  of  pros- 
perity, not  rapid,  but  none  the  less  sure  because  it  came  gradually,  by- 
honest  toil  and  economical  lives. 

DARKNESS   TO   LIGHT. 

Where  the  wild  game  once  roamed  free  and  undisturbed,  are  now 
being  filled  up  with  lowing  herds.  There  was  little  to  disturb  the 
monotony  of  pioneer  life,  or  the  onward  march  of  material  progress, 
until  the  dark  days  which  were  ushered  in  in  the  year  1861,  and  which 
culminated  in  this  township  as  with  others,  in  deserted  homes,  destruc- 
tion of  property,  loss  of  life  and  a  hatred  engendered  by  passion  and 
despair.  For  four  long  and  bitter  years,  bitter  in  the  sorrow,  the  troubles 
and  the  struggles  for  life,  the  people  found  no  advance  or  progress.  In 
many  cases  the  labor  of  years  had  been  swept  away,  and  when  peace 
once  more  found  a  resting  place,  desolation  had  marked  with  a  merci- 
less hand  almost  the  entire  country.  But  while  all  was  desolation 
around,  peace  gave  hope,  and  with  hope  came  courage,  and  the  people 
rallied  to  the  work  of  taking  unusual  care  of  what  was  left,  and  witb 
renewed  exertion  once  more  commenced  the  battle  of  life.  It  was  not 
long  before  strong  hearts  and  willing  hands  began  to  show  their  work,, 
and  hope  fluttered  with  joyous  wings  over  the  hearts  and  homes  of  the 
people.  The  people  of  Windsor  Township  were  showing  undaunted  cour- 
age and  unlimited  endurance,  and  her  rich  soil  gave  a  hearty  and  health- 
ful response  to  her  sons  of  toil. 

ORGANIZATION. 

While  the  town  was  really  bounded  by  imaginary  lines  as  a  voting 
precinct  her  true  and  present  organization  came  in  1873,  under  what  was- 
called  the  new  organization  law.  In  the  spring  of  that  year,  the  county 
having  been  divided  into  nineteen  municipal  townships,  Windsor  being 
one,  her  boundaries  were  described  as  follows,  and  was  called: 

NO.    I    WINDSOR. 

Composed  of  congressional  township  No.  43,  of  range  No.  24,  except- 
ing sections  Nos.  6,  7,  18,  19,  30  and  31,  in  said  township  and  range.  Also- 
including  sections  Nos.  31  to  36  inclusive,  in  congressional  township  No.. 
44  of  range  24. 


378  HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 

BANNER   TOWNSHIP. 

Politically  it  is  the  banner  Democratic  township  of  the  county, 
•giving  two-thirds  of  its  votes  to  the  Democracy  to  one-third  to  the 
Republicans. 

POPULATION. 

In  point  of  population  it  is  the  second,  Clinton  Township  only 
•exceeding  it.  In  comparison  with  that  township  it  shows  a  greater  agri- 
•cultural  population.  The  population  of  the  township  in  1880  was  exactly 
1,900.  including  the  town  of  Windsor  which  was  given  at  872.  There  is 
nothing  in  this  growth  and  position  that  Windsor  need  be  ashamed  of 
Still  had  the  capital  city  of  this  township  become  the  county  seat  of 
■"Meadow"  County,  just  to  what  her  growth  and  pride  would  have 
reached  at  this  day  would  be  hard  to  determine. 

WORTH    REMEMBERING. 

That  the  first  school  kept  in  this  township  was  in  the  fall  of  1833, 
and  the  first  teacher,  Colby  S.  Stevenson,  who  came  from  Christian 
County,  Kentucky,  and  was  one  of  the  two  first  justices  of  the  peace,  after 
the  organization  of  this  county,  for  Tebo  Township,  a  part  of  which 
Windsor  then  was.  It  was  an  old  deserted  cabin,  a  school  building 
proper  not  being  erected  until  1835.  This  cabin  was  on  Tebo  Branch, 
near  the  bank,  and  about  two  and  one-half  miles  south  of  the  present 
town  of  Windsor. 

The  first  preacher  was  a  Methodist  circuit  rider,  the  Rev.  Millice, 
who  preached  for  several  3^ears,  his  first  appearance  being  in  the  summer 
of  1832.  He  was  quite  a  favorite  of  the  old  pioneers,  and  they  always 
gave  him  a  hearty  welcome  when  his  rounds  brought  him  to  their  cabins. 

The  nearest  postofifice  was  Muddy  Mills,  that  was  some  miles 
beyond  the  present  site  of  Sedalia,  in  Pettis  County. 

William  Gladden,  who  came  in  183 1,  was  a  large  powerful  man,  a 
great  wrestler,  a  splendid  shot,  a  thorough  hunter,  and  like  all  large 
men  thoroughly  good  natured.  He  was  a  great  favorite  of  the  Indians^ 
being  more  than  a  match  in  the  above  feats  of  arms  and  strength  of  a.ay 
of  their  tribe.  He  was  called  "  Big  Man  Billy,"  and  had  lots  of  offers  to 
become  a  full-blown  Indian  chief  of  the  Shawnee  tribe.  He  declined 
their  seductive  offers,  but  was  always  on  friendly  terms  and  on  hunting 
■expeditions  an  Indiam  wigwam  was  as  likely  to  be  his  home  as  any 
place,  if  it  was  found  on  the  line  of  his  travel. 

The  first  doctor  who  practiced  his  profession  in  Henry  County  was 
probably  a  Dr.  Sappington,  of  Saline  County.  He  paid  visits  to  settlers 
as  early  as  183J,  but  the  first  resident  physician  was  Dr.  Thurston,  who 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  379 

settled  near  Calhoun  in  1835.  There  was  also  a  Dr  James  Hogan,  who 
settled  near  Calhoun  and  practiced  a  short  time  in  the  county  and  in 
the  township,  now  Windsor.  He,  however,  did  not  remain  long-,  but 
removed,  leaving  the  field  of  practice  to  Dr.  Thurston. 

The  first  school  house,  as  before  mentioned,  was  erected  in  the  fall 
of  1835,  and  the  winter  of  1835-36  a  three  months  school  was  taught. 
Thomas  Irason  was  the  teacher  and  it  being  a  subscription  school  he  got 
$1  per  scholar  and  "boarded  round."  This  was  not  making  a  fortune^ 
but  it  secured  a  living. 

The  first  child  born  in  Windsor  Township  was  a  negro  child,  a  girl, 
and  named  Julia  Ann  Sherman.  She  was  born  in  June,  1832,  and  is  now 
living  in  Windsor,  at  the  age  of  fifty-one  years.  The  father  of  the  child 
lived  to  be  105  years  old.  They  both,  also  the  mother,  belonged  to  the 
family  of  Robert  Means. 

The  first  store  patronized  by  the  people  of  Windsor  Township  was 
that  of  Hall  &  Fletcher's,  on  Tebo  Creek,  about  five  miles  from  Wind- 
sor City,  established  early  in  1835.  The  same  year  Fields'  store  was 
started  at  Gofif's,  and  was  in  full  blast  in  September,  at  the  time  of  the 
meeting  of  the  first  circuit  court  in  Henry  County,  which  was  held  at 
William  Goffs  house. 

The  first  horse  mill  was  started  in  1835,  and  a  water  mill  was  estab- 
lished on  Tebo  Creek  in  the  year  1842,  but  this  is  not  certain,  nor  could 
the  exact  location  of  the  mill  be  ascertained. 

The  first  town  or  village  located  in  Windsor  Township  was  in  the 
year  1855  and  called  Belmont,  and  was  founded  by  R.  F.  Taylor  and 
Mr.  Majors. 

COAL   FIELDS. 

While  much  has  been  said  of  the  richness  and  fertility  of  the  soil  of 
Windsor  Township,  and  the  fact  that  water  is  plentiful,  and  where 
streams  are  not  found  wells  can  be  dug  to  the  depth  of  from  fifteen  to 
to  fifty  feet  and  water  found  in  abundance,  and  therefore  is  a  good  stock 
raising  country,  yet  with  this  wealth  to  be  found  on  the  surface  there  is 
much  more  and  fully  equal  in  magnitude  under  the  surface  in  the  exten- 
sive coal  veins  which  underlie  almost  the  entire  township. 

The  best  and  it  is  believed  the  largest  veins  are  north  and  west  of 
Windsor,  but  with  the  exception  of  the  southeast  part  of  the  township, 
coal  can  be  found  in  almost  any  other  section.  Coal  is  found  on  sections 
3,  8,  13,  20,  28,  32,  33  and  35  in  township  43,  range  24,  and  on  sections 
34  and  35,  in  township  44,  range  24,  these  latter  beingthe  famous  mines 
once  owned  by  the  Pacific  Coal  Company,  so-called.  Then  there  was 
the  Osage  Mining  Company,  w^ho  worked  a  vein  within  one  mile  of 
Windsor  City.  This  Osage  Mining  Company  was  a  part  and  parcel  of 
the  Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas   Railroad  Company.     This   was  a  good 


38o  HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 

vein,  but  being  some  distance  from  their  railroad  they  sold  the  tract, 
consisting  of  ninety  acres  of  coal  land  for  $36,000.  There  was  rumored 
some  pretty  fine  work  by  the  Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas  Company. 
After  selling  this  tract,  they  opened  at  Lewis  Station,  a  mine  that  they 
had  previously  secured,  some  twelve  miles  from  Windsor,  on  their  line  of 
road.  They  sank  a  shaft  120  feet  deep  and  found  a  four  foot  vein  of  very 
good  steam  coal.  Previous  to  this  they  had  sunk  shaft  and  found  a  twenty- 
two  inch  vein,  about  four  miles  from  Calhoun,  but  they  left  it,  let  the 
lease  lapse,  and  opened  the  Lewis  Station  bank,  calling  it  the  Osage,  No. 
I.  The  railroad  company  then  raised  the  freight  on  coal  so  high,  it  is 
said,  that  the  company  who  purchased  the  coal  bank  at  $36,000  was 
compelled  to  quit  mining,  and  finally  sold  their  property  to  other  parties 
for  $12,000,  and  left  the  county  in  disgust.  This  latter  company  tried 
it  awhile,  and  they  too  quit,  and  at  this  time  a  solid  vein  of  coal,  only 
forty  feet  below  the  surface,  and  five  feet  thick,  lies  undeveloped,  to 
satisfy  the  rapacity  of  a  railroad  company  that  has  control  of  transport- 
ation. If  this  is  true,  and  it  is  scarcely  to  be  doubted,  for  it  is  common 
talk,  there  ought  to  be  a  way  to  prevent  this  discrimination,  which  vir- 
tually blocks  the  spirit  of  enterprise,  and  withholds  the  resources  of  a 
county  from  development  and  sale. 

The  shaft  near  Calhoun  is  now  being  worked  by  John  Gedway  and 
T.  C.  Morse,  but  filling  only  the  wants  of  a  local  trade. 

BIG   COAL   BANK. 

There  is,  about  three  and  one-half  miles  from  Windsor,  a  coal  bank 
by  the  above  name.  It  is  probably  one  of  the  most  valuable  mines  of 
bituminous  coal  in  the  state.  It  lies,  the  first  vein,  but  thirty  feet  below 
the  surface,  and  the  vein  is  five  and  one-half  feet  thick,  with  a  heavy 
slate  covering  sixteen  feet  in  thickness,  making  a  roof  self-supporting. 
This  vein  is  what  is  known  as  steam  coal,  and  is  of  a  first  quality  and 
burns  with  a  bright  clear  flame,  and  being  free  from  iron  makes  no 
clinkers.  This,  however,  is  not  the  most  valuable  part  of  this  wonderful 
mineral  development.  The  state  geologist  once  stated  there  were  two 
veins  of  coal,  one  underlying  the  other,  through  that  section,  but  gave 
as  his  opinion  that  there  was  quite  a  wide  space  between  the  veins,  and 
made  no  mention  that  the  lower  vein  was  of  a  different  quality.  When 
the  first  vein  was  struck,  and  five  and  one-half  feet  found  to  be  its  thick- 
n.ess,  no  further  attempt  was  made  to  reach  the  other  vein  or  examine 
it.  Five  and  a  half  vein  of  solid  coal  would  last  a  good  while,  as  it  was 
traced  for  a  good  distance. 

The  past  summer,  however,  W.  S.  Bray,  J.  H.  Haines  and  J.  Ellis 
formed  a  partnership  to  work  or  operate  the  "  Big  Coal  Bank."  At  the 
bank  and  where  the  vein  had  been  developed,  they  purchased  120  acres 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  38 1 

of  this  coal  land,  and  then  tracing  the  vein,  leased  of  other  owners  460 
acres  more  for  twenty  years,  with  right  of  renewal.  They  seem  to  think 
they  have  got  the  bulk  of  the  ground,  but  this  is  extremely  problemat- 
ical. That  they  have  covered  by  purchase  and  lease  a  very  valuable 
mineral  property  is  true  enough,  and  that  which  they  have  secured  lies 
nearest  to  transportation,  and  therefore  not  liable  to  much  opposition  is 
also  true,  but  the  veins  extend  far  beyond  and  some  day  will  be  found 
valuable,  and  means  of  transportation  furnished  to  meet  the  require- 
ments of  so  much  hidden  wealth  which  must  find  the  light  of  day. 
Even  railroad  magnates  will  have  to  bow  to  his  majesty,  for  coal  will  be 
king,  and  the  black  diamond  will  show  its  power. 

The  leasing  and  purchase  of  this  valuable  bed  of  coal  by  the  above 
named  gentlemen  was  not  on  account  of  that  five  and  a  half  foot  vein 
of  steam  coal.  On  clearing  away  the  debris,  preparing  to  mine  the  vein, 
they  cut  below  it  through  a  shale  or  slate  of  about  one  foot  in  thickness, 
and  just  below  that  they  again  struck  coal.    This  rather  surprised  them. 

They  investigated  a  little  further  and  it  soon  became  apparent  that 
it  was  an  entirely  different  kind  of  coal,  and  the  one  foot  of  shale  was  of 
a  uniform  thickness,  distinctly  separating  the  two  veins.  It  soon  became 
apparent  that  the  second  vein  was  the  one  spoken  of  by  the  geologist, 
but  instead  of  being  several  feet  below,  was  only  one  foot,  and  of  a  far 
more  valuable  quality,  being  no  more  nor  less  than  a  bona  fide  vein  of 
gas  coal,  six  feet  in  thickness,  and  apparently  following  in  its  course  the 
upper  vein.  This  fact  being  thoroughly  proven,  led  to  the  above  pur- 
chase and  lease,  and  the  present  year  this  mine  of  wealth  will  be  opened. 
Very  little  of  this  gas  coal  is  found  in  this  section  of  the  state,  and  the 
coal  so  far  mined  in  this  county  and  in  Bates  and  Vernon,  only  show 
steam  coal.  Here  there  is  a  vein  or  veins  of  coal  eleven  feet  six  inches 
in  thickness,  and  might  be  called  surface  mining,  as  the  bottom  of  the 
lower  strata  is  less  than  fifty  feet  below  the  surface.  Windsor  Township 
is  rich  alone  in  having  this  vein  within  her  borders,  and  yet  it  is  but  an 
item  of  her  wealth. 

STONE   QUARRY. 

On  section  32,  of  township  44,  range  24,  a  fine  stone  quarry  has  been 
found,  which  shows  a  splendid  quality  of  building  stone.  It  has  not  been 
worked  only  for  local  consumption,  as  it  is  some  distance  from  railroad 
transportation,  but  it  will  at  some  future  day  become  a  valuable  property 
to  its  owner, 

HEALING  WATERS. 

Henry  County  is  known  as  one  of  the  healthiest  portions  of  the  state 
of  Missouri,  but  that  an  additional  inducement  may  be  held  out  to  suffer- 
ing humanity,  she  has  her  celebrated  mineral  spring  of  crystal  healing 
water. 


382  HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 

On  section  29  in  Windsor  Township  will  be  found  a  chalybeate 
spring,  whose  waters  are  of  a  highly  medicinal  nature,  ranking  with 
some  of  the  noted  springs  of  Saline  County.  At  this  time,  beyond  the 
facts  above  stated,  the  spring  is  left  to  bubble  and  run  without  let  or 
hindrance.  So  far  the  people  of  Windsor  Township  feel  healthy  enough 
without  recourse  to  this  spring  to  give  them  life,  and  to  this  fact  may  be 
attributed  the  careless  indifference  to  this  fountain  of  health  lying  within 
their  border.  But  the  spring  is  there,  it  has  come  to  stay,  and  when 
called  upon  will  give  up  liquid  life  that  others  may  live. 

TRANSPORTATION. 

Windsor  Township  is  secure  in  her  transportation  facilities, -the  Mis- 
souri, Kansas  &  Texas  Railroad  entering  at  the  northeast  corner  of  the 
township,  and,  running  southwest,  leaves  the  township  about  one  and  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  from  its  southern  boundary.  This  leaves  no  part  of 
the  township  to  exceed  three  miles  from  the  road,  except  the  extreme 
southeastern  section  and  the  northwest  corner  of  the  township.  In  this 
respect  it  has  the  advantage  of  all  the  townships,  except  Clinton,  in  the 
county  at  this  date.  It  will  tiius  be  seen  that  Windsor  Township  has  all 
the  elements  of  mineral  and  agricultural  wealth.  It  is  the  home  of  cat- 
tle, sheep,  hogs,  horses  and  mules.  Blue  grass  is  indigenous  to  her  soil, 
transportation  at  hand,  and  man,  labor  and  judgment  alone  is  needed  to 
develop  her  magnificent  resources. 

AN  OLD  LAND  MARK  GONE. 

In  1856  a  gentleman  from  Tennessee  by  the  name  of  Baker,  com- 
menced the  erection  of  the  finest  residence  in  Henry  County.  It  was  a 
three-story  brick  residence,  placed  upon  a  rising  knoll,  which  gave  him 
a  maginificent  view  of  the  surrounding  country,  for  it  was  in  the  midst 
of  an  extensive  prairie  which  stretched  for  miles  and  miles,  and  its  sur- 
face rising  and  falling  in  gentle  undulation  like  the  swells  upon  the 
bosom  of  the  sea.  It  was  about  one  mile  from  the  town  of  Windsor- 
The  old  man  had  several  daughters  and  he  was  a  good  entertainer,  and 
his  home  was  known  far  and  near  for  the  great  hospitality  of  its  owner, 
and  the  lively  and  entertaining  ways  of  his  daughters.  Standing  as  it 
did,  upon  an  eminence,  it  became  a  guide  and  landmark  of  those  who 
traversed  the  vast  prairies,  for  roads  were  few  and  far  between  prior  to 
the  war,  and  the  castle  of  "Tennessee"  Baker,  as  he  was  called,  became 
the  beacon  light  of  the  traveler,  for  the  neighbor  who  perhaps  lived  ten 
or  twenty  miles  away.  On  the  night  of  December  14,  1877,  the  house 
took  fire  and  burned  to  the  ground,  little  being  saved.  It  was  the  first 
brick  residence  in  the  county  outside  of  Clinton. 


f 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 

CITY  OF   WINDSOR. 

WHEN  IT  WAS  FOUNDED— BY  WHOM— NAMING  THE  TOWN  AND  POSTOFFICE— A  FEW 
YEARS  L-VTER-IN  1870— THE  INCORPORATION  OF  WIND>^OR  TOWN— ELECTION  IN 
1873— TOWxN'  OFFICIALS  FROM  1873  TO  1878- CITY  OF  WINDSOR -FOURTH  CLASS— 
ELtClTON  OF  MAYOR  AND  ALDERMEN,  OCTOBER  15,  1S78-  CITY  OFFICERS  FROM' 
187S  TO  1883  — FINANCIAL  — CHURCHES  -  LAUREL  OAK  CEMETERY— LODGES  AND 
SOCIETIES— POSTMASTERS  OF  WINDSOR-OLD  SETTLERS  REUNION  AND  PICNIC- 
NEWSPAPERS-PUBLIC  SCHOOL— BUSINESS  INTERESTS-SAVINGS  BANK— MANUFAC- 
TORIES-ITEMS—GENERAL  NOTES-BIRD'S  EYE  VIEW. 

WHEN   IN   WAS   FOUNDED. 

R.  F.  Taylor,  the  founder  of  Windsor  first  located  in  1839,  on  sec- 
tion 5.  He  purchased  the  ground  upon  which  the  City  of  Windsor  now^ 
stands,  in  the  year  1852,  and  platted  the  town  three  years  after  in  1855. 
A  Mr.  Majors  also  joined  in  the  plat,  adding  a  portion  of  his  land  to 
that  of  Mr.  Taylor.  The  lots  sold  pretty  well  ranging  from  $5  to  $15 
per  lot,  according  to  location.  Some  going  even  higher.  Deer  were 
afterward  killed  within  the  limits  of  the  town  site.  But  this  did  not 
last  long.  The  ring  of  Tom  Anderson's  hammer  and  anvil,  while  music 
to  the  few  citizens,  was  not  to  the  wild  game  of  the  forests  and  prairie, 
and  they  soon  gave  it  a  wide  berth.  The  town  grew,  and  soon  addi- 
tions were  made.  Mr.  Taylor  added  two  additions,  Majors  one,  Foster 
added  two,  also,  and  Mercer's  Addition  will  be  found  within  its  present 
limits.  Windsor  City  at  this  time  covers  considerable  ground  and  will 
not  need  to  enlarge  itself  for  several  years  to  come.  It  is  now  one  mile 
by  one  and  a  quarter  miles  within  its  corporate  limits.  The  town  was 
gradually  improving  until  i860,  when  it  could  boast,  at  the  age  of  five 
years,  of  a  population  of  250  to  300.  The  war  "  left  its  traces  there," 
and  the  devastation  was  so  great  that  that  was  about  all  the  "harness"' 
that  was  left,  so  far  as  the  town  itself  was  concerned,  and  when  the  fear- 
ful conflict  was  ended  Windsor  had  but  little  to  brag  of  in  the  way  of 
business,  or,  in  fact,  anything  but  a  hopeful  future. 

The  town  was  first  called  Bellmont,  then  an  attempt  was  made  to 
call  it  Spring  Grove,  and  Mr.  Robert  D.  Means,  having  been  a  reader  of 
English  history  and  taking  a  fancy  to  the  name  Windsor,  in  reading  of 
Windsor  Castle,   he  urged  that  name.     The  majority  ruled  against  himi- 


384  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

and  the  town  was  called  Belmont,  but  as  there  was  a  post  office  already 
in  the  state  by  that  name,  they  let  Mr.  Means  have  his  way  in  naming 
the  post  office,  Windsor.  When  confusion  arose  from  a  town  by  the 
name  of  Belmont  in  one  part  ot  the  state,  and  a  post  office  in  another, 
the  postal  authorities  suggested  a  change.  Then  the  Spring  Grove 
champion  sprang  to  his  feet,  and  in  a  beautiful  speech,  which  called  forth 
the  highest  praise  named  the  town  Spring  Grove.  It  was  a  splendid 
effort,  but  unfortunately  for  the  Spring  Grove  advocate,  orator  and 
statesman,  there  seems  to  have  been  another  before  him,  and  Spring 
Grove  No.  2,  was  not  allowed  by  the  department.  It  was  Mr.  Robert 
Means'  time  now  to  act,  and  in  a  handsome  effort,  he  proved  that  there 
was  no  better  name  for  the  town,  as  well  as  the  post  office,  than  Wind- 
sor Castle,  but  being  anxious  for  harmony,  he  was  willing  to  compromise 
on  plain  "Windsor,"  leaving  off  the  "Castle"  in  the  name  of  the  town,  as 
it  had  been  in  the  post  office,  and  as  he  sat  down  said,  "there  isn't  much 
of  a  castle  in  looks,  about  these  log  cabins  and  frame  shanties,  anyhow." 
And  this  is  the  history  of  Belmont,  Spring  Grove  and  W^indsor,  in  naming 
the  "Future  Great"  of  Henry  County,  known  in  "Meadow"  County  his- 
tory as  the  "Battam." 

A   FEW   YEARS   LATER. 

Even  as  late  as  1867  Windsor  exhibited  unmistakable  signs  of  hav- 
ing passed  through  a  period  of  hard  times  and  depression.  It  had  the 
appearance,  in  some  places,  as  if  it  had  been  struck  with  a  mighty  cylone. 
and  the  debris  was  anything  but  a  hopeful  sight  to  an  enterprising  man- 
However,  dazed  as  they  were,  they  began  to  slowly  recover.  The  people 
were  not  dead,  and  in  1868  the  town  began  to  show  life,  and  a  spirit  of 
industry  began  to  assert  itself  By  the  year  1870  it  had  doubled  its 
population  over  that  of  1865,  having  about  550  within  its  corporate 
limits  and  boasting  of  the  following  array  of  business  houses  that  year, 
(1870):  Five  dry  goods  stores,  two  drug  stores,  two  hotels,  two  black- 
smith shops,  two  hardware  stores,  two  family  groceries,  two  millinery 
stores,  two  tin  shops,  two  shoe  shops,  one  harness  shop,  two  butcher 
shops,  one  feed  store,  two  lumber  yards,  three  wagon  makers,  two  paint 
shops,  one  land  agency,  two  lawyers,  three  physicians,  seven  preachers, 
two  churches  and  no  saloon. 

The  next  few  years  mark  a  steady  progress  both  in  population  and 
business,  until  the  people  began  to  feel  their  importance  in  no  small 
degree.  They  voted  solidly  to  make  their  fast  growing  village  an  incor- 
porated town,  and  about  this  time  (1873)  the  Meadow  County  craze  was 
having  full  swing. 

INCORPORATION   OF   WINDSOR. 

The  town  of  Windsor  presented  a  petition  to  the  county  court 
through  its  attorneys,  Messrs.  McBeth  and   Price  for  its  incorporation, 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  385 

with  memorandum  of  its  metes  and  bounds  and  police  regulation  as  the 
law  directs.     The  petition  was  granted,  as  follows: 

The  same  being  heard  by  the  court  and  being  fully  understood,  and 
the  court  being  satisfied  that  two-thirds  of  the  taxable  inhabitants  of 
the  town  of  Windsor,  within  the  metes  and  bounds  sought  to  be  incor- 
porated, have  signed  the  petition,  and  therefore  that  the  prayer  of  said 
petitioners  is  reasonable. 

It  is  therefore  ordered,  adjudged  and  decreed  and  the  court  doth 
declare  that  the  "  Town  of  Windsor,"  in  the  county  of  Henry  and  state 
of  Missouri,  and  the  territory  within  the  following  metes  and  bounds,  to 
wit: 

Being  in  sections  one  (i)  and  two  (2)  and  twelve  (12),  in  township 
43  of  range  24,  beginning  at  the  quarter  section  corner  between  sections 
I  and  2  in  township  43  of  range  24;  thence  east  20  chains  to  the  north- 
east corner  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section 
i;  thence  north  7  98-100  chains;  thence  south  76"  5'  east  4  77-100  chains; 
thence  north  36''  10'  east  i  52-100  chains;  thence  south  45''  east  7  chains; 
thence  south  yi"'  20'  east  3  34-100  chains;  thence  south  yf'  50'  east 
12  37-100  chains;  thence  north  47''  5'  east  8  70-100  chains;  thence  south 
39 '  50'  east  7  78-100  chains;  thence  south  3  50-100  chains;  thence  south 
24'  30'  west  6  73-100  chains;  thence  south  45''  west  8  34-100  chains; 
thence  south  23"  40'  east  18  47-100  chains  to  corner  of  lot  11  (VV.  May- 
er's estate);  thence  south  54"  west  4  82-100  chains;  thence  south  33"'  30' 
west  9  95-100  chains;  thence  south  20  chains;  thence  west  29  48-100 
chains;  thence  north  6  58-100  chains;  thence  north  44''  30'  west  29  60-100 
chains;  thence  north  26"  5'  east  13  85-100  chains;  thence  west  8  61-100 
chains;  thence  north  i  58-100  chains;  thence  east  3  16-100  chains;  thence 
north  15  55-100  chains;  thence  west  2  chains;  thence  north  i  chain; 
thence  east  2  chains;  thence  north  i  87-100  chains  to  place  of  begin- 
ning, be  and  the  same  is  hereby  duly  incorporated  under  the  name  and 
style  of  the  "  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Windsor." 

And  the  court  doth  further  appoint  and  designate  C.  C.  Morse,  J.  W. 
Gray,  W.  J.  Colbow,  W.  J.  Livingston  and  W.  B.  Pomeroy,  inhabitants 
and  householders  of  said  town,  as  a  board  of  trustees  of  the  "  Inhabit- 
ants of  the  town  of  Windsor,"  to  continue  in  office  as  such  trustees  until 
their  successors  are  elected  and  qualified. 

February  5,  1873. 

The  board  above  named  met  February  8th,  and  organized  by  select- 
ing W.  J.  Colbow  as  chairman,  and  appointing  Charles  A.  Clark,  clerk, 
and  A.  Cliff  Clark,  marshal. 

ELECTION  APRIL,  1873. 

The  law  required  a  town  election  in  April  following,  and  therefore 
the  above  officers'  terms  expired  when  a  new  board  was  elected.  The 
election  came  off  and  resulted  in  the  choice  of  the  following  named  gen- 
tlemen for  the  ensuing  official  year,  and  who  were  sworn  in  April  19,  1873: 

Board  of  Trustees — W.  J.  Colbow,  chairman;  M.  L.  Stafford,  W.  J. 
Livingston,  Robert  M.  Funk  and  J.  W.  Gray. 

25 


386  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

The  board  then  appointed  the  following  local  assistants:  Treasurer, 
Edwin  Bass;  clerk,  Terrall  Rainwater;  marshal,  Allen  Stewart;  assessor, 
James  Douglas;  collector,  W.  T.  Glover. 

On  October  i6,  1873,  Terrall  Rainwater  resigned  as  city  clerk,  and 
Thomas  W.Lovelace  appointed,  who  also  served  as  street  commissioner. 

OFFICERS   APRIL,  1874. 

Board  of  Trustees — W.  T.  Glover,  chairman;  Samuel  Schwab,  W.  J. 
Livingston,  Robert  F.  Steele  and  Robert  M.  Funk. 

There  was  in  the  town  treasury  at  the  opening  of  the  new  board, 
$74.82.  and  new  fiscal  year. 

Clerk — T.  J.  Lingle. 

Treasurer — J.  W.  Gray. 

Marshal  and  Street  Commissioner — G.  F.  Shook. 

Assessor  and  Collector — William  Goforth. 

OFFICERS   APRIL,    1875. 

W.  J.  Colbow,  chairman;  W.  J.  Livingston,  Samuel  Schwab,  Frank 
M.  Ham,  and  Robert  M.  Funk. 
Treasurer — W.  H.  Ham. 
Clerk— W.  S.  Shivel. 
Marshal  and  street  commissioner — N.  K.  Chapman. 

OFFICERS   APRIL,    1876. 

W.  J.  Colbow,  chairman;  W.  T.  Glover,  Robert  M.  Funk,  Frank  M. 
Ham,  E.  N  Jerome. 

Clerk— W.  S.  Shivel. 

Marshal  and  street  commissioner — R.  C.  Agee, 

Treasurer — W.  H.  Ham. 

OFFICERS   APRIL,    1 877. 

W.  J.  Colbow,  chairman;  W.  B.  Pomeroy,  B.  F.  Smith,  J.  C.  Beedy, 
J.  M.  Douglas. 

Clerk— W.  S.  Shivel. 

Treasurer — W.  H.  Ham. 

Assessor  and  collector — H.  C.  Churchill. 

Marshal  and  street  commissioner  -R.  C.  Agee. 

Attorney — R.  F.  Steele. 

The  tax  assessment  for  town  purposes  was  two  mills  and  the  poll 
$1.00. 

G.  L.  Neale  was  licensed  to  sell  wine  and  beer  for  six  months  from 
Jr.ne  6th,  1877,  on  the  payment  of  $100. 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  387 

Mr.  Steele  was  removed  from  the  office  of  prosecuting  attorney  at 
the  meeting  of  November  30th,  1877,  and  N.  K.  Chapman  appointed, 
aad  he  entered  into  a  contract  to  take  half  of  the  fines  collected  as  his- 
salary  as  such  prosecutor.  The  salary  for  1878  was  fixed  at  $50,  pay- 
able quarterly. 

OFFICERS   APRIL,    1 878. 

J.  C.  Beedy,  chairman;  H.  Harnsberger,  Elias  Hughes,  W.J.Liv- 
ingston and  Robert  M.  Funk. 

Clerk— W.  S.  Shivel. 

Attorney — N.   K.   Chapman,   for  one  month,   and   O.  L.  Smith  the- 
remainder  of  the  year. 

Marshal  and  street  commissioner — W.  J.  Smith. 

Assessor  and  collector — William  Mann. 

Treasurer — Robert  Ragan. 

CITY  OF  THE  FOURTH  CLASS. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  board  of  trustees,  held  August  6,  1878,  a' 
petition  was  presented  asking  for  the  organization  of  Windsor  as  a  city 
of  the  "fourth  class,"  and  for  an  election  to  test  the  feeling  of  the  people. 
The  council  reported  action  as  follows:  "  Be  it  enacted  by  the  board  of 
trustees  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Windsor,  that  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  town  of  Windsor,  be  declared,  from  and  after  the  adoption 
of  this  ordinance  by  a  majority  of  the  legal  voters  of  the  corporation  of 
Windsor,  organized  and  incorporated  under  the  provision  of  the  stat- 
utes of  Missouri,"  passed  and  approved  May  15,  1877,  and  entitled 
"An  act  for  the  government  of  cities  of  the  fourth  class." 

WINDSOR   CITY   ELECTION. 

The  election  came  off  October  15,  1878,  and  the  following  names 
composed  the  first  mayor  and  aldermen  of  the  city  of  Windsor,  the 
entire  straight  Democratic  ticket  was  elected:  James  M.  Burress  for 
mayor;  E.  N.  Jerome,  marshal;  aldermen,  First  Ward,  E.  Bass,  and  M.  A, 
Owen;  Second  Ward,  David  Black,  Frank  Ham;  Third  Ward,M.  L.  Stafford 
J.  C.  Beedy.  This  ticket  was  opposed  by  what  was  called  the  Citizens' 
or  Prohibition  ticket,  but  the  Democracy  won  in  the  "prohibition  strong- 
hold" by  a  majority  of  nearly  fifty.  O.  L.  Smith  was  appointed  clerk;: 
R.  O.  Ragan,  treasurer;  N.  K.  Chapman,  attorney;  O.  N.  Jerome,  street 
commissioner  and  marshal;  T.  O.  Williams,  collector.  The  first  Tues- 
day of  each  month  was  made  the  regular  time  of  meeting.  At  the 
regular  meeting,  October,  1878,  O.  L.  Smith  was  made  collector,  assum- 
ing the  duties  of  clerk  and  collector. 


388  1 1  IS  TORY   OK   HEiXRV   COUNTV. 

On  the  nth  of  March,  1879,  O.  L.  Smith,  resigned,  and  T.  O.  VVil- 
:liams  was  appointed  clerk  and  collector. 

OFFICERS,   1879. 

Mayor — Edwin  Bass. 

Aldermen — First  Ward,  R.  F.  Taylor,  one  year;  First  Ward,  M.  A. 
•Owens,  two  years,  chairman;  Second  Ward,  R.  Cahill,  two  years;  Second 
Ward,  F.  M.  Ham,  one  year;  Third  Ward,  M.  L.  Stafford,  one  year;  Third 
Ward,  J.  C.  Beedy,  two  years. 

Marshal — E.  N.  Jerome. 

Clerk— W.  S.  Shivel. 

Treasurer — R.  O.  Ragan. 

Assessor  and  Collector.— T.  O.  Williams. 

Mr.  Williams  served  as  clerk  of  that  term  and  the  next,  Shivel  not 
appearing  as  such,  and  at  the  June  term,  1879,  June  3d,  John  S.  Kelley, 
having  been  appointed,  entered  upon  his  duties  of  city  clerk,  June  17, 
1879. 

OFFICERS,  1880. 

Mayor — Edwin  Bass. 

Aldermen — First  Ward,  R.  F.  Taylor,  two  year's;  R.  M.  Majors,  one 
year;  M.  A.  Owens,  removed  from  the  city;  Second  Ward,  W.  H.  Crum  ; 
Third  Ward,  M.  L.  Stafford. 

OFFICERS,  1 88 1. 

Mayor — R.  F.  Taylor. 

Aldermen — First  Ward,  R.  W.  Majors,  chairman  of  the  board,  J.  B. 
Brame;  Second  Ward,  R.  Cahill;  Third  Ward,  B.  E.  DawSon. 

Marshal— John  W.  Hall. 
Treasurer— R.  O.  Ragan. 
'■Collector — James  D.  Baker. 
•Clerk — John  S.  Kelley. 

OFFICERS,  1882. 

"Mayor — A.  L.  Clinkinbeard. 

.Aldermen — First  Ward,  B.  F.  Smith;  Second  Ward,  W,  J.  Living- 
ston; Third  Ward,  F.  M.  Ham. 

Marshal— John  W.  Hall. 

Treasurer — R.  O.  Ragan. 

Collector^ — James  D.  Baker. 

Clerk — John  S.  Kelley. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting  of  the  city  council  July  6,  1882,  Mayor 
Clinkinbeard  resigned  his  office  of  mayor,  R.  Cahill  removed  from  the 
city  and  I.  E.  Sobey  was  elected  to  fill  his  unexpired  term.  Marshal 
Hall  also  resigned,  and  Samuel  W.  Majors  appointed. 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  389 

President  R.  W.  Majors,  of  the  city  council,  served  as  acting  mayor 
until  July  20,  1882,  when  W.  J.  Colbow,  having  been  elected  took  his 
seat.  At  the  retirement  of  Mayor  Taylor,  he  was  presented  with  a  gold' 
headed  cane  and  a  pair  of  gold  spectacles. 

FINANCIAL. 

In  April,  1874,  the  treasurer  of  the  town  of  Windsor,  Edwin  Bass^ 
made  a  statement  that  there  was  in  the  town  treasury  $73.81.  Fronn 
that  time  until  1880,  the  financial  exhibit  of  the  town  and  city  of  Wind- 
sor,  were  not  found  of  record.  Just  how  the  financial  affairs  were  con- 
ducted was  really  not  known,  and  what  became  of  the  funds  from  year 
to  year,  has  probably  never  been  fully  ascertained  or  explained.  There 
was  a  balance  in  the  treasury  reported  April  i,  1879,  o^  $85-54>  but  the 
treasurer  reported  a  city  indebtedness  of  nearly  $300. 

On  March  2,  1880,  John  S.  Kelly,  city  clerk  and  clerk  from  the  pre- 
vious June,  made  the  following  official  statement  of  the  city's  financies;: 

Received  from  all  sources $465   3^ 

Paid  city  indebtedness $279  96 

Current  expenses 96  47 

$376  45 

Balance  in  treasury $  88  95 

To  this  was  added  railroad  tax 855 

Judgment  in  favor  of  city I5  3<^ 

Total  on  hand .  $112  80 

The  balance  in  the  treasury  March  3,  1881,  was  $248.62,  and  on 
March  9,  1882,  $487.64.  The  city  is  out  of  debt  and  has  a  handsome 
balance  in  the  treasury,  which  is  being  used  for  street  and  other  improve- 
ments of  the  city.  As  now  managed  it  will  not  be  long  before  Windsor 
will  be  one  of  the  neatest  cities  in  the  state,  as  it  is  now  one  of  the  most 
growing  and  thriving. 

THE   FIRST   BAPTIST   CHURCH   OF   WINDSOR. 

Pleasant  Grove  Baptist  Church  was  one  of  the  first  church  organi- 
zations in  the  township,  dating  back  to  1853,  before  the  town  site  of 
Windsor  was  known.  It  was  really  organized  as  a  church  that  year, 
dating  from  October  29,  1853,  but  for  several  years  previous  meetings 
had  been  held  until  they  found  themselves  numerous  enough  to  have 
stated  preaching.  The  original  members  were  W.  A.  Gray,  B,  F.  Goodin,. 
David  Home,  W.  C.  P.  Caldwell,  Weeden  Major,  Nancy  Major,  William* 
Major,  Ann  Major,  John  L.  Major,  Eliza  A.  Major,  James  Major,  Martha 
Major,   Charles    Major,  W.  H.   Davis,  Wiley  Parker.      The  church  was 


390  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

removed  to  Windsor  in  1867,  and  called  the  First  Baptist  Church  of 
Windsor,  having  been  first  located  about  a  half  mile  southwest  of  Wind- 
sor, on  section  1 1. 

Previous  to  the  late  war,  from  1854  to  1856,  Rev.  W.  A.  Gray  had 
charge,  he  being  followed  by  Rev.  A.  D.  Landum  for  two  years,  and  Rev. 
Benjamin  F.  Goodin  from  1858  to  i860.  The  Rev.  W.  P.  C.  Caldwell 
and  Rev.  E.  W.  Kilbuck  each  served  a  short  term,  when  the  war  caused 
a  temporary  suspension.  It  did  not  fairly  regain  itself  until  its  removal 
to  Windsor  in  1867,  as  above  stated. 

The  Rev.  B.  F.  Lawler,  however,  took  charge  in  1865,  and  for  ten 
and  a  half  years  he  gave  earnest  and  faithful  work  to  build  up  his  church 
and  to  spread  its  influence  for  good  throughout  the  city  and  county. 
Under  his  administration  the  church  progressed,  and  in  1870  the  organ- 
ization erected  a  handsome  and  substantial  frame  church,  which  cost 
complete  some  $3,000.  In  1876  the  Rev.  D.  N  How  was  called  and 
remained  pastor  for  a  year  and  a  half,  or  to  January,  1878,  when  the 
present  able  divine,  the  Rev.  R.  H.  Harris,  was  called.  The  church  was 
dedicated  in  1870. 

There  is  a  flourishing  Sunday  School  attached  to  the  church,  which 
has  an  attendance  of  eighty  scholars  and  is  under  the  superintend- 
ency  of  W.  J.  Colbow.  This,  with  a  membership  of  150,  shows  that  it 
is  prosperous,  with  every  reason  to  believe  that  it  will  continue  so. 

The  Tebo  Baptist  Association  was  organized  at  this  church. 

THE   M.  E.  CHURCH 

of  Windsor  was  organized  in  the  year  1869  with  the  following  original 
members,  viz:  Ebenezer  Culver  and  wife,  John  Cole  and  wife,  Elisha 
Culver  and  wife,  Stephen  F.  Robinson  and  wife,  William  Huston  and 
wife,  Jacob  Haman  and  wife,  Joseph  L.  Dunn  and  wife,  Charles  Elliott 
and  Elizabeth  Elliott. 

The  Rev.  William  Powell  was  called  to  the  pastorate,  and  he  was 
followed  in  the  order  named  by  the  Revs.  E.  H.  Smith,  who  was  unfor- 
tunately killed  by  lightning  while  on  the  circuit  in  1871,  James  A.  Little, 
S.  Ing,  John  H.  Lutz,  R.  H.  Hanson,  John  H.  Gillispie,  A.  P.  Sallaway 
and  the  present  popular  and  able  pastor,  the  Rev.  William  DeMotte. 

The  present  place  of  worship  was  erected  in  the  fall  of  1870,  and  was 
•neatly  furnished  at  a  cost  of  $1,200.  It  is  a  frame  building.  Its  mem- 
bership is  forty-six.  One  of  the  most  flourishing  Sunday  Schools  in 
Windsor  is  a  part  of  the  work  of  this  church,  under  the  charge  of  N.  C. 
Keyes,  superintendent.  With  a  pleasant  parsonage  of  six  rooms,  and 
the  church  out  of  debt,  it  has  a  promising  and  useful  future. 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  39I 

WINDSOR   CONGREGATIONAL   CHURCH 

was  first  organized  August  8,  1868,  and  from  that  date  seems  to  have 
been  successful  in  building  up  a  strong  and  influential  congregation,  and 
a  pillar  in  the  Christian  world.  The  original  members  of  the  organiza- 
tion were  H.  P.  Sloan,  Samuel  Swisher,  Isaac  Pettijohn,  Miles  Caldwell^ 
I.  N.  Sanborn,  W.  B.  Pomeroy,  John  G.  Sloari,  Delia  Sloan,  Abby  Petti- 
john, Flora  A.  Sanborn,  Mary  L.  Sanborn,  Emma  G.  Pomeroy,  Mrs.  M. 
Caldwell,  Mrs.  S.  T.  Tate,  and  Mrs.  M.  A.  Swisher. 

The  church  has  grown  until  now  it  has  one  hundred  members,  and 
its  future  may  be  told  from  the  growth  of  the  city. 

The  year  following  its  organization,  the  church  erected  a  handsome 
edifice  and  finished  and  furnished  the  same  in  a  neat  and  substantial 
manner.     The  total  cost  was  $1,600. 

Its  first  pastor  was  the  Rev.  George  R.  Hewling,  who,  accepting 
another  call,  remained  but  a  few  months,  being  succeeded  by  the  Rev. 
John  M.  Bowers,  who  remained  in  charge  for  two  years.  At  the  close  of 
his  pastorate,  the  Rev.  John  G.  Bailey  was  asked  to  accept  the  pastorate, 
which  he  did  in  1872,  and  still  continues  earnestly  and  faithfully  in  the 
discharge  of  his  important  duties. 

It  has  grown  from  the  small  number  of  fifteen  to  one  hundred  mem- 
bers, and  not  only  this,  but  its  Sunday  School  is  large  and  flourishing, 
having  in  the  school  a  roll  of  one  hundred  pupils.  The  school  was  first 
placed  under  the  superintendency  of  John  H.  Knapp  and  has  been  regu- 
larly kept  since  it  started.  The  present  superintendent  in  charge  is  Mr. 
A.  C.  Gould,  and  he  is  faithfully  and  steadily  performing  his  work  of  love 
and  usefulness. 

At  this  time  the  church  and  school  are  in  a  flourishing  condition. 
It  has  grown  under  the  Rev.  Mr.  Barley's  charge,  and  is  still  so  pros- 
pering that  the  coming  summer  or  fall  (1883)  it  is  in  contemplation 
to  erect  a  more  commodious  edifice  to  meet  the  demand  for  more  room, 
the  present  church  being  too  small  to  comfortably  seat  the  regular  con- 
gregation. There  is  little  doubt,  but  Windsor  will  ere  a  year  passes  have 
a  beautiful  new  church  edifice  of  which  it  may  be  proud. 

M.  E.  CHURCH,  SOUTH. 

It  was  some  years  before  the  organization  that  preaching  was  first 
held  among  its  members.  For  a  number  ot  years  the  circuit  rider  or 
preacher  came  among  them  as  his  time  and  duties  called  him,  and  the 
original  members  of  the  church,  which  became  organized  in  1853,  had 
service  or  preaching  held  at  their  cabins.  The  Rev.  W.  W.  Jones  and 
Rev.  W.  Pitt  were  both  preaching  from  time  to  time  as  far  back  as  1840 
to  1845,  and  continued  to  do  so  up  to  nearly  the  time  of  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  church  in  the  year  1853. 


392  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

The  school  house,  erected  some  half  a  mile  west  of  the  present 
town  site  of  the  city  of  Windsor,  was  used  as  a  church  for  three  years 
after  its  organization.  The  church,  as  before  stated,  organized  in  1855 
under  the  name  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South,  and  the  orig- 
inal members  were.  Dr.  W.  T.  Thornton  and  wife,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Tay- 
lor, Mr.  and  Mrs.  Horning,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joseph  Means,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Benjamin  Williamson,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Bell,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel 
Duncan,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Baker,  Mrs.  Foster,  Mrs.  Beimers  and  Miss 
Baker. 

With  this  early  membership  the  church  has  grown  and  strengthened 
with  increasing  years,  until  at  the  present  time  it  numbers  something 
over  a  hundred  members,  and  its  influence  for  good  has  become  wide- 
spread and  with  increasing  lustre  from  year  to  year.  Its  first  pastor  at 
the  organization  at  the  old  school  house  was  the  Rev.  J.  M.  Kelley.  He 
officiated  there  only  one  year,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Joseph  Wood, 
and  the  latter  by  the  Rev.  Bond.  Then  came  the  dark  days  of  civil 
strife,  the  teachings  of  Christ  were  thrown  aside  and  fanatacism  and  the 
gospel  of  hate  held  undisputed  sway  and  ruled  the  hour.  It  was  not 
until  the  white-winged  angel  of  peace  had  once  more  settled  over  our 
broad  land,  did  the  church  hope  for  success,  or  men's  hearts  open  to  the 
teachings  of  Him  who  died  that  a  world  might  be  saved.  So  for  many 
years  church  progress  became  slow,  and  the  evils  which  were  engendered 
were  hard  to  eradicate  from  men's  minds. 

In  the  year  1875  the  Rev.  J,  M.  Kelley,  who  twenty-two  years  before 
had  been  their  first  pastor,  was  called  to  the  charge  and  under  his  min- 
istration the  church  once  more  started  into  life,  grew  and  prospered. 
For  nine  years  did  this  noble  follower  of  Christ  perform  his  duty,  hav- 
ing no  desire  but  to  perform  his  whole  duty  and  pray  that  his  labors 
might  be  crowned  with  success.  That  prayer  has  been  granted  and  he 
has  retired  from  the  charge  with  the  esteem  and  love  of  grateful  hearts. 

The  church  commences  the  new  year,  1883,  with  100  members,  and 
its  future  unclouded.  The  present  pastor  is  the  Rev.  Eugene  Springer, 
who  brings  to  his  work  a  strong  faith  and  a  willingness  to  labor.  The 
Sabbath  School  which  is  connected  with  the  church,  numbers  fifty  schol- 
ars, and  is  under  the  charge  of  James  Baker,  as  superintendent.  The 
church  building,  which  is  30x70  feet  in  size,  is  the  oldest  in  the  city,  hav- 
ing been  erected  and  dedicated  in  the  year  1856.  Its  cost  was  about 
$3,000.  With  the  parsonage  the  property  is  fully  worth  $4,000  at  this 
time. 

CHRISTIAN   CHURCH. 

The  members  of  this  denomination  of  the  Protestant  Church  found 
at  the  close  of  the  war  of  1861-65,  that  they  numbered  enough  to  form  a 
church  organization,  and  they  took  steps  to  carry  it  out.     The  result  was 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  395 

the  "  Christian  Church,"  of  Windsor,  which  has  been  and  is  now  one  of 
the  most  prosperous  churches  in  Windsor,  and  one  of  the  most  influen- 
tial for  good. 

Its  original  members  cannot  be  all  given,  but  the  following  were  a 
portion  of  those  who  joined  in  its  organization:  William  Steele,  Fannie 
Steele,  Mary  Shadburne,  William  Gilliland  and  wife,  H.  T.  Douglas,  Cath- 
erine Douglas,  Nancy  Douglas,  J.  M.  Douglas,  Warren  Goodin  and  wife, 
and  Daniel  Douglas  and  wife. 

The  church  has  grown  until  now  it  has  no  members.  The  congre- 
gation in  1874,  erected  a  neat  frame  chapel,  furnishing  the  same  neatly 
yet  substantially,  at  a  cost  of  $1,000. 

The  pastors  who  have  officiated  as  such  were  first,  Rev.  James  Ran- 
dall, then  the  Rev.  James  Sapington,  Rev.  Henry  Speed,  Rev.  Charles 
Patterson,  Rev.  N.  M.  Ragland,  and  the  present  and  past  year,  the  Rev. 
S.  K.  Hallam. 

It  has  the  largest  Sabbath  School  attendance  in  the  city,  having  116 
pupils  on  its  roll  of  membership.  This  is  under  the  very  successful  super- 
intendency  of  Dr.  B.  E.  Dawson.  At  this  time  there  is  nothing  to  dim 
the  brightness  of  its  future. 

MOUNT   ZION   CHURCH 

is  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  denomination,  and  was  organized 
April  15,  1855,  at  the  residence  of  Robert  D.  Means.  Those  who  joined 
in  the  organization  were,  R.  A.  Brame,  R.  D.  Means,  William  H.  Ham, 
Anna  Brame,  Susan  E.  Means,  Susan  Ham,  W.  R  Witten  and  wife,  Mrs. 
Sarah  D.  Means,  mother  of  R.  D.  Means,   and  Mary  E.  Brame,  daughter 

of  R.  A.  Brame. 

The  Rev.  Fines  Washington  organized  the  church,  and  the  Rev. 
James  Martin  was  secretary  and  first  pastor  of  the  church.  The  church 
organizatian  has  been  kept  up  with  varying  success,  but  still  holdmg 
fast  to  its  organization.  The  next  minister  was  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hogan, 
who  seemed  to  have  been  the  last  regular  pastor  of  the  church.  The 
church  at  this  time  has  no  stated  preacher  of  its  own.  Neither  is  it  yet 
provided  with  a  church  building,  but  the  members,  who  now  number 
forty,  have  hopes,  ere  long,  of  not  only  being  able  to  erect  a  comfortable 
church,  but  to  again  secure  a  regular  pastor. 

They  have  no  Sunday  School.  The  present  elders  of  the  church 
are  R.  A.  Brame,  R.  D.  Means,  and  William  H.  Ham. 

LAUREL   OAK   CEMETERY. 

This  is  a  handsome  piece  of  land  containing  some  six  acres,  regu- 
larly laid  out  in  lots,  sixteen  feet  square,  with  walks  of  three  feet  in  width, 
and  no  less  than  three  driveways  through  the  ground.     In  this  beautiful 


394  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

spot,  gently  undulating  is  Windsor's  "City  of  the  Dead."  Here  all  meet 
on  a  comnion  level,  and  all  will  rise  when  Gabriel's  trump  shall  sound. 
Bathed  in  the  soft  moonlight  it  is  indeed  an  enchanting  ground,  standing 
in  the  circle  which  has  been  laid  out  in  its  center,  and  a  beautiful  view 
can  be  had.  The  monuments  and  headstones  take  a  fantastic  shape  and 
imagination  seems  enthralled.  Here  they  rest,  where  the  grapes  grow, 
and  the  flowers  sing  a  soft,  low  requiem,  as  they  are  gently  wafted  by 
the  passing  breeze  over  their  lowly  head.  Yes,  Laurel  Oak  Cemetery  is 
a  beautiful  spot,  and  the  citizens  of  Windsor  City  have  taken  pride  in  its 
adornment. 

The  purchase  of  the  ground  was  made  and  a  company  incorporated 
April  29,  1872.  It  was  laid  out  and  surveyed  March  i,  1871,  by  J.  H. 
Knapp.  The  incorporators  were  W.  J.  Colbow,  T.  W.  McKinley,  B.  F. 
Williamson,  J.  R.  Chappel  and  Edwin  Bass;  the  latter  sleeping  his  last 
sleep  within  its  sacred  enclosure. 

AMERICAN   LEGION   OF    HONOR. 

This  lodge  was  organized  February  23,  1881,  and  the  members  initi- 
ated in  the  mysteries  of  the  order  by  Deputy  Supreme  Commander  J. 
M.  Burress,  at  their  place  of  meeting.  Good  Templars'  Hall. 

The  charter  members  were  R.  M.  Funk,  George  W.  Goodlet,  Isaac 
E.  Sobey,  I.  W.  Mitchell,  R.  O.  Ragan,  J.  M.  Burress,  E.  B.  Phillips, 
Wyatt  Simpson,  John  A.  Gedney,  S.  W.  Mitchell,  W.  H.  Walker,  F.  M. 
Ham,  John  A.  Calfee,  E.  D.  Stearns,  D.  L.  Daniels,  M.  V.  Beedy,  W.  M. 
Nelson,  John  Q.  Barnes,  W.  C.  Barnaman.  B.  W.  Huey,  J.  E.  Baugh, 
George  L.  Neale,  George  F.  Pickerill,  and  W.  H.  Ellis. 

The  following  officers  were  then  elected  and  duly  installed  :  R.  M. 
Funk.  C;  George  W.  Goodlet,  V.  C;  S  W.  Mitchell,  O.;  J.  M.  Bur- 
ress, P.  C;  Isaac  E.  Sobey,  Secretary;  I.  W.  Mitchell,  Collector;  R.  O. 
Ragan  Treasurer;  E^.  B.  Phillips,  C;  W.  H.  Walker,  G.;  Wyatt  Simpson, 
W.;  F.  M.  Ham,  S. 

Trustees — John  A.  Calfee,  John  A.  Gedney  and  D.  L.  Daniel. 

The  lodge  is  in  good  condition,  has  a  neat  and  handsome  furnished 
hall,  and  is  destined  to  grow  and  become  influential  for  good,  as  the  popu- 
lation of  the  city  increases. 

Present  officers,  1883 — Isaac  E.  Sobey,  C;  J.  H.  Hines,  V.  C;  B. 
W.  Huey,  O.;  R.  N.  Owsley,  Sec;  W.  H.  Walker,  Col.;  R.  O.  Ragan, 
Treas.;  E.  B.  Phillips,  C;  W.  M.  Nelson,  G.;  F.  M.  Ham,  W.;  W.  C. 
Barnaman,  S.  Trustees — Calfee,  Goodlet  and  Mitchell.  The  member- 
ship numbers  twenty-six. 

A.  O.  U.  \v. 

Amazon  Lodge,  No.  in,  was  established  on  February  27th,  1879,  by 
Brother  William  R.  Shern,  D.  W.  M.  W.,  and  with  the  following  charter 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  395 

members:  J.  B.  Brame,  P.  M.  W.;  John  A.  Calfee,  M.  W.;  R.  L.  Shad- 
burne,  G.  F. ;  J.  L.  Shelton,  O.;  George  L.  Neale,  Recorder;  H.  H.  Harns- 
berger,  Fin.;  George  J.  Shelton,  Receiver;  J.  D.  Melvin,  G.;  S.  B.  Baugh, 
I.  W.;  J.  W.  Taylor,  O..W. 

The  order  is  in  a  flourishing  condition,  and  numbers  January  1st, 
18S3,  thirty-five  members. 

Present  officers— W.  G.  Crum,  M.  W.;  J.  S.  Kelly,  F.;  A.  L.  Down- 
ing, O.;  George,  L.  Neale,  Recorder;  A.  L.  Clinkenbeard,  Fin.;  J.  H. 
Hines,  Receiver;  A.  E.  Bridges,  G.;  F.  M.  Ham,  I.  W.;  J.  W.  Mclntier, 
O.  W.;  George  J.  Shelton,  P.  M.  W. 

I.  O.  O.  F. 

The  lodge  of  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  was  instituted  at 
Windsor  May  20th,  1868,  by  the  R.  W.  G.  L.  of  Missouri,  with  the  fol- 
lowing officers  and  members,  viz:  S.J.  Colton,  N.  G.;  E.  N.  Jerome,  V. 
G. ;  Henry  Lip,  Treas.,  J.  M.  Burress,  Sec;  Joel  Beeler,  I.  G.;  E.  Lewis, 
W.  The  present  membership  of  the  lodge  numbers  twenty-three,  and 
the  present  officers,  January  ist,  1883,  are:  B.  W.  Huey,  N.  G. :  W.  E. 
Jerome,  V.  G.;  Jackson  Sympson,  Treas.;  J.  P.  Stewart,  Sec,  and  E.  N. 
Jerome.  W. 

GOOD   TEMPLAR   LODGE. 

This  lodge  was  organized  In  November,  1865,  by  William  Cotton. 
The  original  members  were  Robert  D.  Means,  John  Landman,  Silas 
Turner,  Joseph  Turner,  James  Turner,  William  Steele,  William  H.  Ham, 
L.  S.  Emett  and  his  two  daughters.  Holly  and  Ettie,  and  James  Good- 
win. The  order  has  built  a  fine  hall,  known  as  "Good  Templar  Hall,'' 
and  the  lodge  has  flourished  since  its  inception.  They  have  done  much 
good  both  by  precept  and  example,  and  now  number  a  few  over  lOO 
members.     The  future  of  the  order  is  very  bright  and  promising. 

A.  F.  &  A.  M. 

Windsor  Lodge  No.  29,  received  its  charter  June  2,  1866,  with  the 
names  of  the  following  gentlemen  embodied  thereon  as  charter  mem- 
bers: James  A.  Scribner,  Joseph  Fisher,  J.  A.  Hughes,  A.  M.  Mclntire, 
Jerry  Yancy,  Joel  Yancy,  William  Steele,  G.  Q.  Foster,  James  D.  Baker, 
R.  W.  Major,  H.  T.  Douglas,  James  C.  Caldwell  and  Perry  Wetzell. 

Officers:  James  A.  Scribner,  W.  M.;  Joseph  Fisher,  S.  W.;  J.  A. 
Hughes,  J.  W. 

The  order  has,  since  its  first  organization,  been  in  a  flourishing  con- 
dition, and  at  this  time  is  fully  up  to,  in  membership  and  influence,  the 
demand  upon  it.  The  future  is  certainly  one  of  brightness,  and  it  has 
now  become  powerful  for  good  in  the  community,  which  position  may  it 
long  continue. 


396  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

The  present  officers  are:  J.  W.  Brown,  W.  M.;  R.  C.  Ragan.  S.  W.; 
I.  E.  Sobey,  J.  W.;  R.  F.  Taylor,  Secretary;  R.  W.  Major,  Treasurer;  N. 
T  Gray,  S.  D.;  W.  Humphry,  J.  D.;  H.  T.  Douglas,  Tyler.  These  are 
the  officers  installed  for  the  year  1883. 

WINDSOR    POSTMASTERS. 

The  first  who  acted  as  postmaster  of  Windsor  was  Jefferson  Means.  I 
He  held  the  office  some  three  months,  from  August,  1852,  until  Novem-  cj 
ber,  18,  1852,  when  Richard  F.  Taylor,  who  had  been  appointed,  having  jij 
received  his  commission,  took  charge  of  the  office  and  held  the  same  i 
until  the  year   1862.  ' 

That  year  Mr.  King  became  postmaster,  or  rather  Mrs.  Egbert  King,  I 
and  she  took  the  postoffice  over  in  Pettis  County,  some  two  miles  from  j 
Belmont,  as  the  town  was  called,  and  kept  it  there  until  near  the  close  i 
of  the  war,  in   1865.  ; 

January  10,  1865,  Mr.  L.  S.  Emett  received  his  commission,  and  he  I 
lost  no  time  in  taking  possession  and  removing  the  office  back  to  Bel-  '. 
mont.  Mr.  Emett  received  a  salary  of  $170  from  January,  1866.  Mr.  i 
Emett  died  in  1872,  and  his  son,  Lewis  W.  Emett,  then  acting  as  deputy,  | 
continued,  his  mother  having  been  recommended  to  succeed  her  hus-  1 
band.  Mrs.  Mary  Emett's  commission  was  dated  September  7,  1874,  1' 
and  the  office  salary  from  1872  had  been  $540  per  year,  which  tells  the  jj 
growth  of  the  town  in  a  marked  degree. 

In  April,  1875,  Mr.  Walter  T.  Glover,  and  an  old  and  popular  citizen, 
received  his  commission  as  postmaster  of  Windsor,  and  is  still  holding  \\ 
the  position,  having  been  in  office  nearly  eight  years.      He  has  proven  an  | 
able,  prompt  and  accommodating  gentleman. 

OLD   settler's   REUNION   AND   TICNIC. 

The  largest  gathering  ever  seen  at  Windsor  was  on  the  i6th  day  of 
September,  1882,  when  some  3,000  people  gathered  together  for  picnic 
recreation  and  a  reunion  of  the  old  settlers  of  the  county,  and  some  join- 
ing them  over  the  line  from  Benton,  Pettis  and  Johnson  Counties. 

At  half  past  nine  the  Windsor  Cornet  Band  headed  the  procession, 
followed  by  the  order  of  the  Legion  of  Honor,  then  the  old  settlers, 
order  of  Good  Templars,  with  the  people  efi  masse,  stretching  out  nearly 
a  mile  behind.  After  marching  through  the  principal  streets  they  pro- 
ceeded to  Beaman's  Grove,  a  beautifully  shaded  lawn,  when  they  came 
to  order  under  the  direction  of  Col.  G.  W.  Goodlette,  the  marshal  of  the 
day,  who,  with  a  few  appropriate  remarks,  gave  way  to  the  introductory 
speech  of  the  mayor  of  Windsor,  which  was  received  with  applause.  It 
was  neat  and  appropriate  to  the  occasion,  and  introduced  the  orator  of 
the  day,  the  Hon.  John    I.  Martin,  deputy  grand  commander  of  the   A. 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  397 

L.  of  H.,  of  St.  Louis,  whose  eloquent  speech  was  preceeded  by  an  earn- 
est prayer  from  the  lips  of  the  Rev.  E.  B.  Phillips. 

The  speech  of  Mr.  Martin  was  a  literary  gem,  sparkling  and  elo- 
quent, with  a  fine  display  of  oratorical  power,  combined  with  a  voice  of 
great  volume  and  of  singular  sweetness.  He  was  listened  to  with  the 
deepest  interest,  and  his  peroration  was  a  splendid  effort,  which  went  to 
the  hearts  of  his  hearers. 

The  next  was  a  piece  appropriate  to  the  occasion,  well  delivered  by 
Mr.  Mack  Goodlett,  and  a  speech  by  the  eloquent  Colonel  P.  H.  Shel- 
ton,  closed  the  forenoon  proceedings,  and  dinner  was  announced,  and  it 
was  most  heartily  enjoyed.  Like  the  feast  of  old,  it  not  only  fed  the 
multitude,  but  there  were  basket  after  basket  full  still  left,  and  no  one 
was  turned  away  hungry. 

Colonel  William  H.  McLane,  of  Clinton,  and  Major  B.  F.  William- 
son made  speeches  after  dinner  full  of  the  reminiscences  of  olden  times, 
full  of  pathos  and  humor,  which  came  right  home  to  the  hearts  of  the 
■"  old  settlers." 

Mrs.  S.  A.  Brown  read  in  a  clear,  magnetic  voice  the  reminiscence 
of  "  Will  Carlton,"  and  some  excellent  music  was  rcRdered  by  Miss 
Tennie  Williamson,  J.  R.  Bush  and  J.  D.  Linsay.  Dr.  J.  W.  Gray  then 
stepped  forward  and  made  a  short  and  exceedingly  eloquent  speech, 
which  was  received  with  with  a  universal  expression  of  favor.  This 
closed  the  exercises  of  the  day,  and  the  multitude  dispersed,  feeling 
thoroughly  satisfied,  knowing  that  they  would  cherish  this  reunion  in 
their  hearts,  and  which  would  prove  to  them  a  pleasant  memory  for 
TTiany  long  years. 

NEWSPAPERS. 

The  Lingle  Bros,  commenced  the  publication  of  the  Windsor  Cou- 
rier in  the  year  1870  and  continued  about  four  years.  On  the  closing 
out  of  the  Courier  Messrs.  Hitchcock  &  Keyes  started  the  Helmet  in 
1874  and  continued  not  quite  two  years.  Upon  the  ruins  of  the  latter 
paper  Mr.  W.  H.  Walker  started  in  January,  1876,  the  present  Windsor 
Review,  which  commenced  its  eighth  volume  this  January,  1883,  in  a 
very  prosperous  manner.  It  is  ably  supported  by  the  Windsorites,  is 
one  of  the  brightest  rural  papers  in  the  state  and  ever  ready  to  sound  a 
bugle  note  in  praise  of  the  city  of  its  adoption.  May  its  future  prove 
as  prosperous  as  its  past  has  been  successful. 

WINDSOR   PUBLIC   SCHOOL. 

While  Windsor  Township  can  boast  of  having  one  of  the  two  first 
schools  taught  in  the  county,  Windsor  City  can  also  come  to  the  front 
with  the  fact  that  it  has  also  one  of  the  two  finest  brick  school  buildings 


398  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

in  the  county,  the  Clinton   Graded  School  building  only  exceeding  it  in 
cost  and  size. 

Windsor  City  was  only  a  village  of  two  years  of  age  when  Mr. 
Robert  D.  Means  and  a  few  other  enterprising  citizens  put  their  shoul- 
ders to  the  wheel  and  put  up  a  large  fine  log  school  house,  the  first 
named  furnishing  most  of  the  money  part. 

The  school  was  a  private,  or   subscription   school,    and   when    com- 
pleted Miss  Ann  Allen  took  possession  and  taught  the  first  school   and 
several  terms  after.     Mr.  George  N.  Pierce  became  the  second   teacher,     ijj 
The  school  house  was  used  as  a  church  for  several  years.  | 

The  history  of  the  Windsor  school  from  i860  to  1870  was  like  all  fl 
the  others  in  the  county.  Demoralization,  poverty,  destruction  of  prop- 
erty, having  caused  a  suspension,  and  required  years  for  recuperation.  \ 
In  fact  the  entire  state  succumbed,  and  even  the  state  school  fund  was  1 
withheld  for  several  years  after  the  war,  and  not  until  the  session  of  the  i 
general  assembly,  after  the  election  of  B.  Gratz  Brown  took  action,  was*  ] 
the  school  fund  replaced  which  had  been  wrongfully  perverted  in  pre-  i 
vious  years.  A  state  certificate  of  indebtedness  of  $900,000  was  voted  : 
to  reimburse  the  state  school  fund.  The  Windsor  school  began  about  J 
the  above  date  to  exhibit  new  life.  The  people  submitted  to  a  local  tax  l 
without  grumbling,  but  as  the  town  grew  rapidly  it  was  found  that  a  1 
large  building  was  a  necessity,  and  a  still  larger  one  would  be  in  demand  il 
in  the  near  future.  In  the  spring  of  1877  the  people  of  the  school  dis-  i- 
trict,  composing  the  town  of  Windsor,  voted  to  raise  $2,500  toward 
building  a  school  building  to  meet  the  wants  of  the  community.  In 
1878  they  voted  $1,000,  and  in  1879  $500  more  was  raised,  making  $4,000. 
The  school  board,  however,  had  appointed  a  building  committee,  and 
they  had  purchased  material  and  had  the  building  under  way,  so  that  it 
was  partly  occupied  in  the  winter  of  1878-79.  The  size  of  the  new 
school  building  was  34x60  feet,  with  a  vestibule  of  18x34  feet,  used  for 
school  purposes,  all  two  stories  high  and  divided  into  two  rooms  above 
and  below.  The  building  was  a  good  substantial  brick,  and  costing 
when  completed  and  furnished  $4,800. 

The  school  board  was  composed  of  the  following  named  gentlemen: 
W.  J.  Livingston,  president;  R.  R.  Majors  and  J.  C.  Beedy.  Mr.  N.  C. 
Keyes  was  clerk. 

In  1882,  the  demand  for  more  room  became  imperative,  and  a  second 
building  nearly  equal  to  the  first  in  size,  was  added  at  a  cost  of  $3,400. 
The  school  board,  through  their  building  committee,  took  pride  in  thor- 
ough work  at  a  reasonable  cost,  and  they  succeeded  in  erecting  for  less 
than  $10,000  a  school  building,  that  in  solid  work,  in  the  number  of  pupils 
it  will  seat,  and  in  its  handsome  and  substantial  finish,  cannot  at  this 
time  be  duplicated  for  much  under  $15,000. 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 


399 


The  district  contains  450  children  of  school  age,  an  enrollment  of 
380,  and  a  regular  attendance  of  something  over  300  scholars. 

The  present  board  of  trustees  are,  J.  C.  Beedy,  N.  L.  Stafford, 
George  J.  Shelton,  Robert  O.  Ragan  and  Samuel  Schwab.  Mr.  J.  P.  Allen 
is  secretary. 

The  present  corps  of  teachers  are,  Professor  W.  H.  Smith,  county 
superintendent  of  schools,  and  an  able  educator,  principal,  assisted  by 
Miss  Kate  Salmon,  Miss  Sally  Gray,  Mrs.  S.  A.  Brown,  Miss  Minnie 
Keisor  and  Miss  Ellen  Douglas.  The  school  opens  in  January,  1883, 
with  a  full  average  attendance,  and  every  evidence  of  present  and  future 
prosperity. 

WINDSOR'S   BUSINESS   INTERESTS. 


Bass  &  Kelly,  dry  goods. 

Schwab,  boots  and  shoes,  and  gro- 
ceries. 

Harnsberger  &  Ragan,  dry  goods. 

Livingston  &  Sons,  dry  goods. 

A.  L.  Clinkenbeard,  jeweler. 

Colbow  &  Lewis,  hardware. 

Gray  &  Son,  groceries. 

James  Douglas,  grain  dealer. 

W.  J.  Douglas,  groceries. 

Cannon  &  Keys,  groceries. 

Foster  &  Wall,  groceries. 

Wall  Bros.,  furniture. 

Melvin  &  Berry,  furniture. 

Smith    &   Funk,  drugs   and   medi- 
cines. 

H.  B.  McCleverty,  real  estate  dealer. 

Miss  Nannie  C.  Parks,  millinery.    . 

Miss  Jennie  Hooker,  millinery. 

John  Burnell,  millinery  goods. 

Delaney  &  Co.,  lumber  merchants, 
Isaac  E.  Sobey,  manager. 

W.  J.  Goforth,  architect  and  builder. 

E.  B.  Phillips,  carpenter  and 
builder. 

Neale  &  Huey,  photograph  gallery. 

S.  N.  Floyd,  confectionery. 

Baugh  &  Campbell,  billiard  hall. 

Mrs.  McGee,  boarding  house. 

Allen    &   Lindsay,    attorneys    and 
insurance  aeents. 


Parker  &  Son,  dry  goods  and  cloth- 
ing. 

H.  C.  Churchill,  drugs  and  medicines. 

Hines  &  Co.,  dry  goods. 

Shelton  &  Owsley,  groceries  and  pro- 
duce. 

Stafford  &  Livingston,  grain  dealers. 

A.  F.  Wyard,  harness  and  saddlery. 

N.  E.  Carpenter  &  Co.,  saddlery  and 
harness. 

L  W.  Mitchell,  groceries. 

Phillip  Stair,  hardware  and  stoves. 

Schwab,  Majors  &  Owens,  grain 
dealers. 

E.  H.  Mitchell,  news,  books  and  sta- 
tionery. 

Mrs.  Moser,  millinery  and  dress 
making. 

W.  H.  Ham,  real  estate  and  notary. 

Bailey,  Sanborn  &  Morse,  fruit  evap- 
orator and  fruit  dealers. 

J.  C.  Beedy,  lumber  merchant. 

J.  A.  Calfee,  grain  and  fruit. 

Arthur  M.  Morgan,  notion  store. 

Harris  Owens,  marble  yard. 

Withers  &  Wesner,  confectioners. 

O.  Smith,  restaurant. 

Shelton,  Strauss  &  Bass,  stock 
dealers. 

N.  K.  Chapman,  attorney. 

William  Tryon,  building  mover. 


400  HISTORY   OF    HKNRV   COUNTY. 

Waller  &  Black,  attorneys.  George  W.  Tryon,  insurance  agent. 

Dr.  G.  VV.  Givens.  Dr.  Benjamin  E.  Dawson. 

Dr.  Benjamin  F.  Smith.  Drs.  T.  G.  &  R.  L.  Shadburne. 

Dr.  John  B.  Brame,  dentist.  Dr.  Moser,  dentist. 

Bass   House,  James  H.  Bass,   pro-  Windsor  Hotel,  James  Swisher,  pro- 
prietor, prietor. 
William  Moreland,  meat  market.      Sylvester  Cotton,  meat  market. 
Berton    &   Collins,  livery  and  sale  Mr.  Richardson,  livery  stable. 

stable.  Whittaker  &  Smith,  barbers. 

C.  S.  Fogg,  shoe  shop.  William  Bull,  shoe  shop. 

Charles  Robinson,  novelty  shop.        G.  W.  Crawford,  painter  and  glazier. 
Addison  Cahill,  painter.  James  Gillum,  carpenter. 

John  Chambers,  carpenter.  Isaac  H.  Glassburn,  carpenter. 

Jackson  Sympson  &   Son,  fine  iron  Frank  M.  Ham,  blacksmithing. 
work  and  blacksmithing.  William  Barnaman,  wagon  maker. 

An  elevator  company  with  a  capital  of  $50,000  has  been  incorpor- 
ated, and  will  build  the  coming  spring  an  elevator  of  150,000  bushels 
capacity;  also  warehouse  50x100  feet,  and  all  necessary  machinery,  shell- 
ing attachment,  etc. 

WINDSOR   SAVINGS   BANK. 

This,  the  only  banking  institution  in  the  city,  received  its  charter 
January  17th,  1877,  and  in  the  following  February  opened  its  doors  for 
business.  Its  first  directory  and  list  of  officers  who  started  it  on  the  road 
of  financial  success,  were: 

Directors— J.  C.  Beedy,  V.  K.  Hines,  R.  W.  Major,  C.  C.  Morse, 
Emanuel  Wolf,  Henry  C.  Churchill,  R^  M.  Funk,  J.  H.  Hines,  W.  J.  Liv- 
ingstone, James  M.  Wall,  George  J.  5helton,  E.  J.  Grippen  and  J.  R. 
Chappell. 

Officers — J.  C.  Beedy,  prest.;  Emanuel  Wolf,  Sec;  R.  W.  Major, 
.cashier. 

The  stock  of  the  bank  is  mostly  owned  by  parties  in  and  near  town. 
Every  share  of  the  $50,000  capital  is  taken.  Recently  various  improve- 
ments have  been  made  in  the  building  owned  by  the  corporation,  and 
also  in  the  interior  arrangements  of  the  same.  A  fine  fire  and  burglar 
proof  vault  has  been  built  for  the  better  protection  of  the  money  and 
■valuable  papers.  This  vault  is  of  hard  brick,  built  in  with  cement,  and 
is  about  6x8  feet  on  the  inside.  It  is  provided  with  double  doors  made 
by  the  celebrated  Mosler  Safe  and  Lock  Company,  Cincinnati.  In  the 
vault  is  one  of  Hall's  burglar  and  fire  proof  safes,  with  two  combination 
locks.  We  believe  that  this  bank  is  absolutely  burglar  proof,  as  the 
vault  and  safe  combined  will  defy  all  the  assaults  that  may  be  made  upon 
•them.  Neither  is  it  possible  to  force  the  cashier  to  open  the  safe,  from 
■the  simple  fact  that  it  is  impossible  for  him  to  do  so  alone.     The  combi- 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  4OI 

nation  that  opens  the  doors,  of  which  there  are  four,  are  each  one  in 
possession  of  different  parties,  thus  rendering  it  impossible  for  any  one 
to  open  the  entire  set  alone.  An  addition  to  the  building  is  also  being 
built.  This  is  to  be  used  for  the  directors'  room,  and  will  be  quite  a  com- 
modious appartment,  being  sixteen  feet  long.  The  bank  has  been  a  suc- 
cess from  the  start  and  has  the  full  confidence  of  the  community.  Its 
last  financial  statement,  December  31st,  1882,  is  given  below: 

RESOURCES. 

Loans  undoubtedly  good  on  personal  or  collateral  security.  .$31,315  06 

Loans  and  discounts  undoubtedly  good  on  real  estate  security  11,129  80 

Overdrafts  by  solvent  customers 605  39 

United  States  bonds  on  hand 

Other  bonds  and  stocks  at  their  present  cash  market  price.  .  . 

Due  from  other  banks,  good  on  sight  draft . .  .  5,182   17 

Real  estate  at  present  cash  market  value i,372  05 

Furniture  and  fixtures 729  00 

Checks  and  other  cash  items 106  26 

Bills  of  National  Banks  and  legal  tender  United  States  notes  4.400  00 

Gold  coin 800  00 

Silver  coin 872  60 

Exchange  maturing  and  matured 


Total $56,512  >3 

LIABILITIES. 

Capital  stock  paid  in $15 ,000  00 

Surplus  funds  on  hand 12,658  JJ 

Undivided  declared  dividends 

Deposits  subj^t  to  draft — at  sight 26,156  16 

Deposits  subject  to  draft  at  given  dates 2,698  40 

Due  other  bands  and  bankers 

Expenses  now  due 


Total $56,5 1 2  33 

THE   WINDSOR   STEAM   FLOURING   MILLS 

•do  a  large  business,  grinding  some  60,000  bushels  of  wheat  annually, 
having  four  run  of  burrs,  and  also  grind  largely  of  corn,  the  brand  of 
meal  standing  A  i.  The  mills  were  erected  in  1872  and  are  now  owned 
by  Erastus  Weaver. 

THE   WINDSOR   CUSTOM   MILLS 

are  owned  by  W.  G.  and  E.  C.  Crum.  They  have  two  run  of  burrs,  and 
their  mills  are  furnished  with  all  late  improvements.  They  do  mostly  a 
custom  business,  but  still  do  a  large  exchange  business  in  flour  and  meal 
ifor  grain. 

36 


402  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

BRICKYARDS. 

W.  H.  Gray  has  a  fine  brickyard,  the  clay  around  Windsor  being  of 
a  fine  quality  and  making  a  bright  red  brick.  He  has  a  capacity  to 
make  anywhere  from  100,000  to  1,000,000  brick,  according  to  the  demand. 

W.  M,  Smith  is  similarly  situated  and  has  all  the  paraphernalia  of  a 
first-class  brickyard. 

These  gentlemen  also  make  the  pressed  brick. 

BROOM    FACTORIES. 

The  Star  Broom  Factory  was  started  early  in  the  fall  of  1882  by  Mr. 
L.  A.  Watson.  The  straw  or  brush  is  raised  in  the  county,  and  Mr.  Wat- 
son is  turning  out  some  fifty  dozen  brooms  per  week,  ranging  in  price 
from  $2  to  $3.25  per  dozen,  and  finds  his  chief  market  in  St.  Louis  and 
Kansas  City,  but  has  customers  in  nearly  all  the  towns  around. 

The  Pickerell  &  Douglas  Broom  Factory  also  opened  in  the  fall  of 
1882,  and  are  at  this  date,  January,  1883,  turning  out  from  forty  to  fifty 
dozen  per  week,  with  orders  increasing  on  them.  They  find  about  the 
same  market  as  the  first  named,  and  like  them  will  increase  their  facili- 
ties to  meet  the  demands  of  trade. 

This  closes  the  account  of  the  present  manufacturing  interests  of 
Windsor,  but  there  are  flattering  prospects  of  an  important  increase. 

ITEMS. 

There  are  sixty-three  business  houses  in  Windsor:  six  manufac- 
tories, one  bank,  two  hotels,  five  lawyers,  two  insurance  agents,  five 
physicians,  two  dentists,  one  Good  Templar  hall,  and  not  a  single  saloon, 
five  churches,  one  graded  school  building,  one  newspaper,  two  justices 
of  the  peace,  Squire  R.  F.  Taylor  and  Squire  William  Goodin.  The 
township  of  Windsor  has  eight  district  or  public  schools,  the  largest 
number  of  any  township  in  the  county. 

GENERAL  NOTES  FROM  THE  WINDSOR  REVIEW,  JANUARY,  1 883. 

The  Windsor  Savings  Bank  was  founded  in  the  winter  of  1877. 

In  its  seven  years  existence  the  Review  has  missed  one  is.sue, 
caused  by  death  in  the  family. 

Windsor  has  trebled  her  population  and  more  than  quadrupled  her 
valuation  in  seven  years. 

History  repeats  itself.  Seven  years  ago  W.  J.  Colbow  was  mayor 
of  Windsor,  a  position  he  again  holds. 

For  the  first  nine  months  the  Review  was  run  on  an  old-fashioned 
Novelty  press,  printing  one  page  at  a  time. 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  403 

Mr.  J.  W.  Agee  and  Miss  Ellen  Douglass  then  kept  the  village 
school — a  task  now  keeping  busy  six  good  teachers. 

Seven  years  ago  Windsor  thought  herself  well  supplied,  musically, 
with  two  pianos  and  a  few  organs.  Now  there  are  twenty-four  pianos 
in  town  and  an  organ  in  nearly  every  house. 

The  old  building  on  Main  Street,  east  of  W.  J.  Livingston's  resi- 
dence property,  now  used  as  a  dwelling,  is  the  first  store  house  put  up 
in  Windsor.  It  was  put  up  by  Mr.  R.  F.  Taylor,  still  a  resident  of  the 
town,  in  1853,  and  used  as  a  store  house  and  postoffice. 

Something  remarkable  is  that  in  the  seven  years  there  has  been  but 
one  fire  of  any  consequence  in  the  city  limits.     This  was  the  dwelling  of 
G.    L.   Neale  which  was  destroyed   in  the  fall   of  1880.     A   few   slight-^ 
blazes  have  at  times  startled  our  people  somewhat  but  not  as  much  as 
they  should  be. 

The  Windsor  Cornet  Band,  now  broken  up,  was  organized  in  Sep- 
tember, 1876,  and  composed  of  the  following  members:  W.  J.  Colbow, 
J.  Regal,  S.  Schwab,  N.  C.  Keyes,  J.  K.  Chambers,  D.  McGee,  E.  N. 
Jerome,  William  Moreland,  William  Major,  F.  C.  Livingston,  J.  S.  Dun- 
can, E.  R.  Glover,  W.  J.  Ham,  W.  H.  Walker. 

SHIPMENTS. 

The  following  is  a  statement  of  the  business  done  at  this  station, 
Windsor,  for  five  months,  from  August  i,  to  December  31,  1882: 

CAR   LOADS   FOR\VARDED. 

Apples 31 

Logs 6 

Coal 61 

Flax  Seed 47 

Wheat 3 

Oats 27 

Cattle 81 

Sheep 13 

Hogs 27 

Broom  Corn 118 

Scrap  Iron 2 

Lumber   i 

Corn 40 

Total 457 

TICKET   AND   FREIGHT   RECEIPTS. 

Amount  Ticket  Sales $  5.463  20 

Amount  Freight  Receipts 8,645  00 

Total $  14, 108  20 

J.  A.  FULTZ,  Agent. 


404 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY 
bird's   EYE   VIEW. 


Windsor  has  a  beautful  location  about  one  half  mile  from  the  rail- 
road depot,  on  rising  ground,  which  overlooks  a  vast  expanse  of  prairie 
in  all  directions,  richly  dotted  with  magnificent  farms,  neat  farm  houses 
and  well-  filled  barns.  It  is  something  worthy  of  notice,  for  it  tells 
plainly  of  an  energetic,  enterprising  and  moral  people.  Windsor 
is  settled  with  such,  and  with  her  handsome  High  School  building, 
some  splendid  residences  that  would  grace  a  city  counted  by  its  tens  of 
thousands  inhabitants,  and  many  fine  ones,  her  neat  churches,  and  fine 
brick  business  blocks,  Windsor  can  be  proud  of  all.  Thirty  years  ago 
where  all  this  stands,  a  city  of  enterprise,  deer  roamed  and  the  turkey 
could  be  found.  Wolves  howled  out  their  melodious  song,  and  all  these 
were  hunted  and  killed  where  to-day  civilization  has  planted  itself,  and 
material  progress  marks  an  era  of  its  own.  What  its  future  maybe,  none 
can  tell,  but  that  it  will  be  one  of  progress,  lighted  by  the  steps  of  a 
moral  and  Christian  people,  none  need  doubt,  and  to  that  which  we  be- 
lieve, will  be  its  course,  it  is  left  to  its  bright  future. 


CHAPTER   XXVIl. 

DEEPWATER  TOWNSHIP. 

WHEN  SETTLED— ITS  EARLY  PIONEERS-ITS  TERRITORY— DEEPWATER  ORGANIZED— 
ARRIVALS— POST  OFFICE— GERMANTOWN— WHEN  SETTLED— HOW  IT  GREW— ITS 
POPULATION-ITS  RANK— ITS  BOUNDARY  UNDER  THE  NEW  LAW— ITS  FIRST  ELEC- 
TION OF  OFFICERS— WHO  THEY  WERE- THE  CITY  OF  MONTROSE— ITS  FIRST  INCOR- 
PORATION AS  A  TOWN— THE  FIRES  OF  1872  AND  1875— AFTER  THE  FIRE— FINANCIAL- 
SOME  TOWN  OFFICERS— HOW  THE  MARSHAL  GOT  RICH— CITY  OF  MONTROSE— FIRST 
MAYOR— CHURCHES— SCHOOL  AND  LODGES-BUSINESS-SHIPPING-WILLIAM  TYREE, 
THE  OLD  PIONEER. 

WHEN   SETTLED. 

This  township  was  settled  in  1835  and  the  first  settler  was  a  man  by 
the  name  of  Morris.  He  settled  on  Deepwater  Creek  on  section  7. 
Another  by  the  name  of  Shelton  settled  about  two  miles  down  the  creek 
on  section  5-     These  were  the  first  two. 

The  Graggs  came  in  1837,  so  also  did  William  McCown.  John  C. 
Stone  came  in  1839,  but  late  in  the  year  William  Tyree,  the  oldest  man 
in  Henry  County,  now  living  at  the  age  of  ninety-two  years,  settled  on 
section  18.  Henry  Walbert  and  his  sister,  Elizabeth,  settled  on  section 
4.  John  Schmedding  lived  with  the  Walberts,  and  in  the  next  year, 
1840,  married  Elizabeth  Walbert.  The  marriage  ceremony  was  at  the  . 
residence  of  the  bride's  brother  and  was  performed  by  the  Rev.  Amasa 
Jones.     This  was  the  first  wedding  in  the  township. 

The  township  was  then  called  Grand  River,  but  an  influx  of  settlers 
in  1839  and  1840  caused  a  new  township  to  be  formed,  called  "Deepwa- 
ter." 

The  township  is  noted  for  its  beautiful  prairies,  high  and  rolling,  its 
wooded  streams,  rich  soil  and  its  productive  capacity.  It  lies  in  the 
extreme  southwest  corner  of  the  county,  and  fully  one-half  of  the  town- 
ship is  tributary  in  the  way  of  trade  to  Appleton  City  and  the  other  half 
to  Montrose.  A  branch  of  Deepwater  rises,  with  numerous  heads  fed 
by  springs,  in  the  west  and  southern  central  part  of  the  township,  and, 
running  east,  leaves  the  township  near  the  center  on  the  east  side. 

Main  Deepwater  enters  the  township  from  Bates  County  a  little 
over  three  miles  from  its  southern  border,  and  passes  through  to  the 
northwestern  part  of  the  township,  and,  with  its  branches,  gives  an 
abundance  of  water  for  all  farm  purposes.     The  stretch  of  prairie  which 


406         1  HISTORY   OF    HENR\    COUNTY. 

covers  two-thirds  of  the  township  in  a  body  running  from  the  northeast 
to  the  southwest,  sloping  from  the  divide,  both  eas^  and  west,  is  as 
pretty  i  piece  of  tillable  land  as  this  or  any  other  county  can  boast  of, 
and  is  free  from  the  hard  pan  which  underlies  so  much  of  the  prairie 
land  in  Uie  southeast  portion  of  Bates  County. 

Th^  township  is  now  six  miles  square,  being  a  congressional  town- 
ship, bi|t  when  taken  from  Grand  River  Township,  or  as  originally 
organized,  it  was  composed  of  all  of  the  present  townships  of  Deep- 
water,  Walker,  a  part  of  White  Oak,  all  of  Bear  Creek,  and  a  portion  of 
Davis,  Clinton  and  Fairview.  A  month  latter  the  line  was  changed, 
leaving  out  Clinton  and  Fairview.     It  was  a  pretty  good  sized  township 

and  remained  so  for  years.     Here  is  its  first  organization: 
1  * 

'    '  DEEPWATER. 

Thetownship  was  organized  in  July,  1840,  and  its  metes  and  bounds 
were  defined  with  the  following  order:  "Ordered  that  an  additional 
township  be  taken  off  of  Grand  River  Township  to  be  called  "Deep- 
water,"  as  follows:  Beginning  at  the  county  line  of  Van  Buren  County, 
(now  Cass)  on  the  divide  between  Grand  River  and  Deepwater;  thence 
down  said  divide  in  a  northeasterly  direction  to  the  range,  line  between 
25  and  26  (in  August  following  it  was  changed  to  range  line  between  26 
and  27);  thence  south  to  the  county  line;  thence  west  to  the  southwest 
corner  of  Rives  County;  thence  to  the  beginning." 

The  first  election  was  at  the  regular  annual  election  in  August. 
The  judges  were  John  C.  Stone,  Alexander  Gragg  and  William  McCown, 
and  the  election  precinct  was  the  house  of  Alexander  Gragg.  Who 
was  elected  or  to  what  offices  was  not  of  record.  Mr.  Alexander  Gragg, 
however,  was  appointed  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  the  township  on  the 
following  June,  1841. 

ARRIVALS. 

In  1842  quite  a  number  of  settlers  had  moved  to  the  township.  At 
that  time  Deepwater  was  the  principal  point  of  settlement  all  along  its 
banks,  and  much  of  which  is  now  Walker  Township,  was  located  with 
claims,  the  new  comers  following  the  stream,  sometimes  going  a  half  a 
mile  or  more  from  it,  but  keeping  water  and  timber  in  close  compan- 
ionship. In  1857  Dr.  Stewart  built  the  first  house  at  Germantown,  and 
Jacob  Goldsmith  had  the  first  store  there  the  same  year.  This  store 
was  in  a  little  frame  building  Dr.  Stewart  put  up  for  his  office  and  Mr. 
Goldsmith  moved  into  it.  The  doctor  then  put  up  a  larger  building  into 
which  Goldsmith  moved.  The  town  was  built  on  Mark  Stewart's  land. 
The  doctor's  residence  was  some  200  yards  from  the  place  where  this 
new  store  was  located,  and  Mr.  Goldsmith  boarded  with  the  doctor. 


.;        HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  407 

A  person  by  the  name  of  McClenhan  also  moved  there,.,  and  it 
became  quite  a  settlement  and  eventually  a  town.  John  H.{  Austin 
bought  a  lot  something  like  a  half  acre  in  1857  ^^^  P^id  $38  for'it. 

Deepwater  Post  Office  was  first  opened  at  John  C.  Stone's,  tn  1850- 
His  cabin  was  some  three  miles  east  of  Germantown,  on  sectior^  i.  He 
held  the  office  for,  some  five  years,  when  John  H.  Austin  took  it  to  his 
cabin,  on  section  34,  now  Walker  Township,  until  i860,  when  James 
Gates,  from  Kentucky,  took  it  and  located  it  at  his  cabin  on  sedtion  22, 
two  miles  north  of  Austin.  It  remained  there  two  years,  and  it  was 
returned  to  Mrs.  Austin's,  a  widow,  where  it  remained  late  in  1864.  The 
office  was  removed  to  Germantown,  with  Edwin  Taylor  as  the  first  post- 
master. He  was  at  the  time  a  mail  contractor  on  a  "  star  route,"  but  that 
was  a  good  many  years  ago,  before  "  Brady  and  Dorsey  "  had  kchieved 
greatness  and  notoriety.  The  post  office  was  still  called  Deepwater,  and 
its  name  was  really  never  changed.  The  office  was,  however,  discontin- 
ued. Germantown  is  now  dead,  but  it  had  once  a  living  history.  What 
was  death  to  Germantown  was  life  to  Montrose,  and  this  life  and  death 
was  caused  by  the  location  of  the  then  Tebo  &  Neosho  Railroad,  now  the 
Missouri,  Kansas  and  Texas  Division  of  the  Missouri  Pacific. 

William  Tyree  was  the  first  man  to  settle  on  the  open  prairie,  and 
it  took  six  yoke  of  oxen  to  break  them.  The  Indians  roamed  through 
the  country  for  several  years  after  the  white  settlers  made  it  their  home, 
but  they  were  never  troublesome. 

The  first  church  was  a  Catholic  Church,  built  on  Mr.  Schmedding's 
land,  about  one  and  a  half  miles  from  where  Germantown  was  afterwards 
located. 

Deepwater  Township  settled  up  steadily.  There  was  no  rush  of 
immigrants,  but  as  the  years  passed  by,  it  attracted  the  attention  of  pros- 
pectors, who  invariably  made  it  their  home  when  farming  was  their 
desire. 

VILLAGE   OF    GERMANTOWN. 

When  the  village  of  Germantown  started  in  1857  the  Catholics 
removed  their  church  there.  The  southwestern  portion  of  the  township 
did  not  settle  up  until  several  years  later. 

Germantown,  however,  became  quite  a  village,  and  it  was  the  busi- 
ness point  of  quite  an  extensive  scope  of  country.  The  settlers  on  the 
eastern  side  of  Bates  County  done  most  of  their  trading  there,  and  it 
probably  suffered  less  than  most  villages  during  the  civil  war.  There 
was  not  much — only  a  store  or  two  and  a  half  dozen  families — to  tempt 
the  cupidity  of  either  the  Jayhawkers  or  the  Bushwhackers.  Until  1870 
Germantown  seemed  to  have  a  bright  future,  but  the  location  of  the  rail- 
road three  miles  away  gave  it  its  death  blow. 


408  HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 

At  that  time,  1870,  the  village  had  three  general  stores,  one  furni- 
ture store,  two  grocery  stores,  one  drug  store,  two  blacksmith  shops  and 
one  saloon. 

When  Montrose  was  located  the  town  moved  bodily  over  to  the 
station  and  only  one  grocery  store  of  all  the  business  houses  remained, 
and  that  was  the  last  of  this  old  settler. 

The  Catholic  Church,  the  old  stone  church,  still  remains  there,  and 
has  since  been  enlarged  and  improved.  The  history  of  this  church  was 
promised  the  writer,  but  for  some  reason  has  never  come  to  hand, 
although  twice  sought.  This  may  also  be  said  of  the  Methodist  Church 
North,  Catholic  and  Baptist  Churches  of  Montrose.  The  "Stone  Chapel" 
was  organized  by  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  in  1866  at  Ger- 
mantown.  In  1869  the  name  was  changed  to  "Camp  Branch,"  and  in 
April,  1871,  to  the  Montrose  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church.  The 
building  at  Germantown  was  purchased  by  the  Catholic  congregation  at 
that  place,  and  this  is  the  church  which  was  added  to  and  otherwise 
improved. 

HOW   IT   GREW. 

Deepwater  under  its  old  boundary  of  three  or  four  of  the  present 
sized  townships,  improved  about  as  rapidly  as  any  section  of  the  county. 
It  was  the  second  township  in  point  of  population  in  the  county  in  1870. 
It  then  had  a  population  of  2,055.  At  the  census  of  1880  it  contained 
1,652  inhabitants,  after  a  territory  equal  to  three  congressional  town- 
ships had  been  taken  from  it.  It  is  now  fourth  on  the  list,  being  led 
first  by  Clinton,  then  Windsor  and  Tebo,  the  latter  having  but  seventy- 
three  greater  population.  In  1872  it  was  divided  into  two  voting  pre- 
cincts. In  1871  Montrose  was  founded,  and  in  1872  it  had  its  first  fire, 
on  the  night  of  September  14th,  burning  Chamberlain  &  Co.'s  agricul- 
tural warerooms — loss  $4,000;  Boyd  &  Bro.'s  dry  goods — loss  $5,000; 
the  city  scales  and  two  stacks  of  hay.  The  fire  was  supposed  to  have 
been  the  work  of  an  incendiary,  who  first  robbed  and  then  set  fire  to 
Boyd's  store.  Their  money  drawer  was  found  during  the  following  day 
in  Kerr's  lumber  yard,  minus  its  contents.  In  1873,  under  the  new  town- 
ship organization  law,  its  metes  and  bounds  were  thus  given: 

NO.    16,    DEEPWATER. 

Composed  of  all  of  congressional  township  No.  40,  of  range  No.  28. 
The  first  election  under  the  new  law  and  within  its  present  bounds, 
resulted  as  follows: 

Supervisor — M.  A.  Stewart. 
Clerk— W.  F.  Carter. 
Assessor — Van  Brown. 
Collector — Joseph  Patton. 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY.  4O9 

Constable — William  E.  Bundy. 

Justices  of  the  Peace — E.  Z.  Davis,  George  W.  Dunn. 

The  township  is  settling  quite  fast  and  its  capital  city,  Montrose,  is 
considered  one  of  the  growing  cities  of  the  county,  and  a  shipping  point 
of  considerable  importance.     Its  history  is  here  appended. 

TOWN   OF   MONTROSE. 

is  located  on  a  part  of  sections  13  and  14,  on  lands  of  Joseph  Patton 
and  D.  C.  Cross.  Mr.  Brad  Robinson  built  the  first  house  and  also  was 
the  first  merchant  in  the  place,  but  was  soon  followed  by  the  greater 
part  of  the  business  houses  of  GermanttDwn.  The  town  started  out 
with  quite  a  population,  receiving  most  of  the  inhabitants  of  German- 
town,  as  above  stated,  and  the  business  concentrated  at  that  point.  It 
fairly  started  in  1871  and  in  1872  was  well  under  way  as  a  thriving  town. 
It  continued  to  grow  until  the  night  of  March  24,  1875,  when  what  is 
known  as  the  "big  fire"  took  place  which  swept  Kansas  Avenue  from 
Fourth  Street  to  the  railroad,  the  main  business  block  of  the  city, 
destroying  eleven  business  houses  and  their  contents,  aggregating 
nearly  $75,000.  It  seemed  like  a  death  blow,  but  the  business  men  met 
their  fate  like  veterans  and  at  once  went  to  work  to  rebuild  their  waste 
places,  and  regain  their  fallen  fortune.  Just  one  year  before  the  town 
had  been  incorporated  and  the  records  of  the  year  were  burned.  The 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  records  were  destroyed,  and  the  post- 
office  lay  amidst  the  burning  ruins.  But  never  say  die  while  heart  and 
brain  and  willing  hands  were  left  and  Montrose  arose  from  her  ashes. 

INCORPORATION   OF   MONTROSE. 

The  petition  for  the  incorporation  of  the  "town  of  Montrose,"  was 
presented  to  the  court  for  action  July  23,  1874,  and  the  court  granted 
the  prayer  of  the  petitioners  the  same  day,  in  words  following: 

"Now  at  this  day  comes  Joseph  Capehart,  attorney  for  petitioners, 
and  presents  to  the  court  here  a  petition  signed  by  more  than  two-thirds 
of  the  taxable  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Montrose,  in  said  Henry  County, 
Missouri,  setting  forth  the  metes  and  bounds  of  their  town  and  com- 
mons, and  praying  that  they  may  be  incorporated,  and  a  police  estab- 
lished for  their  local  government,  and  for  the  preservation  and  regulation 
of  any  commons,  appertaining  to  such  town.  And  the  same  coming 
On  to  be  heard  by  the  court,  and  the  same  being  heard  and  fully  under- 
stood, and  the  court  being  satisfied  that  two-thirds  of  the  taxable  inhabi- 
tants of  said  town  of  Montrose,  within  the  metes  and  bounds  sought  to 
be  incorporated,  have  signed  the  petition  here  for,  and  that  the  prayer  of 
said  petitioners  is  reasonable.  It  is  therefore  ordered  adjudged  and 
decreed,  and  the  court  doth  declare  that  the  town  of  Montrose,  in  the 
county  of  Henry  and  state  of  Missouri,  and  the  territory  in  the  follow- 
ing metes  and  bounds,  to  wit: 


410  HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 

Commencing  at  the  southwest  corner  of  section  13;  (township  and 
range  not  stated);  thence  due  east  48^  yards  to  Mr.  Patton's  land;  thence 
north  96I  yards;  thence  east  lOif  yards;  thence  north  100  yards;  thence 
east  290  yards  to  the  quarter  section  line;  thence  north  on  said  line  660 
yards  to  the  half  mile  line;  thence  west  on  said  line,  crossing  into  section 
number  14,  880  yards;  thence  south  880  yards  to  section  23;  thence  south 
on  said  line  of  section  23,  220  yards;  thence  east  440  yards  to  section 
line  dividing  sections  23  and  22;  thence  on  said  line  220  yards  to  place 
of  beginning,  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  duly  incorporated  under  the 
name  and  style  of  the  '  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Montrose,'  and  the 
court  doth  further  appoint  and  designate  J.  G.  Thorton,  J.  D.  Cox,  W.  W. 
Childs,  W.  H.  Merrick  and  J.  B.  McKay,  inhabitants  and  householders 
of  said  town,  as  a  board  of  trustees  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of 
Montrose,  to  continue  in  office  as  such  trustees  until  their  successors  are 
elected  and  qualified." 

From  that  day  the  town  grew  and  prospered,  and  after  the  fire  again 
took  a  start,  which  it  has  kept  up,  and  it  still  maintains  itself  as  the  third 
business  station  on  the  road  in  the  county.  They  have  a  fire  about  once 
a  year,  but  the  one  of  1872,  and  that  of  1875,  are  the  only  ones  specially 
remembered. 

AFTER   THE   FIRE. 

The  board  of  trustees  met  March  30,  1875,  and  took  into  considera- 
tion the  general  situation.  They  caused  a  synopsis  of  the  records  of  the 
preceding  year  to  be  written  up  from  memory  so  far  as  possible,  to 
remedy  the  loss  by  fire. 

A  jail  was  built  for  $87  by  John  Culbertson,  and  a  public  well  was 
dug  by  the  city  and  a  force  pump  purchased  by  the  business  men  and 
property  holders.  The  pump  was  guaranteed  against  frost  and  $30  was 
paid  for  it,  but  it  froze  solid,  and  this  somewhat  disgusted  the  purchas- 
ers and  showed  them  how  far  a  pump  man  would  go  to  effect  a  sale  and 
a  sell. 

The  town  trustees  also  investigated  the  origin  of  the  "  big  fire,"  and 
summed  up  their  verdict  as  follows: 

"  That  the  fire  originated  in  the  post  office  through  the  use  of  a 
defective  stove." 

The  citizens'  verdict  was,  the  stove  was  attended  by  a  "  defective 
man,"  and  the  two  together  may  be  said  to  have  been  the  real  cause  of 
the  fire.  Like  almost  all  similar  cases,  the  "  two  defectives"  lost  a  good 
deal  less  than  anybody  else. 

FINANCES. 

The  board  of  trustees  also  examined  their  financial  standing  after 
the  fire,  and  their  statement  is  given  below: 

J.  Culbertson,  calaboose $  87  00 

W,  H.  Davis,  printing 23  oo 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  4II 

Trustee's  salary $  61  00 

Trustee  and  clerk  (both  one)    20  00 

Total  debt,  April  5,  1875    $191  00 

The  old  board  of  trustees  were  re-elected,  except  J.  D.  Cox,  who 
was  succeeded  by  William  F.  Carter,  but  there  were  a  dozen  changes  or 
so  during  the  year,  both  among  the  trustees  and  the  appointments  of 
the  board.     A  sort  of  a  chronic  fit  of  resignation  possessed  them. 

They  collected  a  tax  of  $q6,  and  the  old  board  of  trustees  who  held 
longest  deducted  $10  each  from  their  account,  and  two  others  who  had 
only  earned  some  $2  and  $3  each  contributed  this  sum  to  the  general 
fund  and  bankruptcy  was  driven  off.  There  were  some  few  changes  and 
resignations  in  1876,  but  not  so  bad  as  the  previous  year. 

The  most  serious  trouble  was  with  the  town  marshal.  This  official 
got  a  salary  the  first  year  of  $10,  and  having  commenced  to  build  a  fine 
residence  befitting  his  station,  he  found  himself  short,  and,  cormorant 
like,  wanted  his  salary  raised  He  did  not  plead  in  vain,  and  he  got 
$1.50  per  month  that  year,  that  of  1877. 

The  town  election  was  held  in  April,  1877,  and  the  following  consti- 
tuted the  board:  Joseph  Lennartz,  Chairman;  William  Drummond,  T. 
A.  Murray,  E.  Z.  Davis  and  Robert  Mesic. 

The  latter  also  clerk. 

T.  A.  Murray,  Treasurer. 

E.  Z.  Davis,  Collector. 

E.  B.  Suggs,  Marshal. 

William  M.  Kerr,  Assessor. 

1878. 

Trustees — E.  Z.  Davis,  J.  B.  Alspach,  William  J.  Strawn,  Thomas  A. 
Murray  and  Dr.  Charles  H.  Watkins. 
Charles  H.  Watkins,  Treasurer. 
E.  Z.  Davis,  Chairman. 
Thomas  A   Murray,  Clerk. 
William  J.  Strawn,  Assessor  and  Collector. 

1879. 

Elisha  Blew,  Chairman. 

C.  H.  Watkins,  Treasurer. 

O.  F.  Johnson,  Clerk. 

J.  B.  Alspatch  and  L.  P.  Klutts,  all  trustees. 

John  Howard,  Marshal 

In  1878  the  town  marshal  again  came  to  the  front  and  got  an 
increase  of  salary.  This  time  about  $30  per  year,  but  in  1879  the  board 
of  trustees  were  satisfied  that  he  was  accumulating  too  much  wealth, 


412  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

and  promptly  reduced  his  salary  to   $2  per  month,   allowing  him  the 

privilege  of  paying   his   own   board   and    washing,   as  usual.      Mr.  John 

Howard  was  the  marshal,  and  he  stuck  it   out  that  year,  but  in  1880  he 

closed  down  on  the  board,  and  demanded  $50  per  annum  or  no  marshal. 

He  got  it. 

1880. 

The  election  returns  were  as  follows,  for  trustees  : 

Elisha  Blew,  Chairman. 

John  Key,  Treasurer  and  Trustee. 

Henry  Walfert,  Collector  and  Trustee. 

O.  F.  Johnson,  Clerk  and  Trustee. 

J.  J.  Knowlton,  Trustee. 

John  Howard,  Marshal, 

The  meetings  of  the  board  that  year  were  about  half  the  time  signed, 
O.  F.  Johnson  &  Co.,  clerk,  getting  his  clerkship  slightly  mixed. 

The  year  188 1  opened  with  some  real  progress.  Many  good  build- 
ings were  erected,  and  the  fire  of  six  years  before,  if  not  forgotten,  at 
least  was  not  thought  of,  only  in  connection  with  a  little  more  prudence 
and  caution.  The  finances  of  the  town  began  to  improve,  the  marshal's 
salary  was  raised  to  $10  per  month,  in  lieu  of  $10  per  annum,  the  salary 
of  its  first  year.  The  new  board  was:  James  Lennarts,  chairman;  Leon- 
ard Bell,  J.  W.  Dawson,  Vincent  Gwynn,  and  George  W.  Dunn,  the  lat- 
ter being  also  clerk.    This  was  another  year  of  resignations  and  changes. 

FINANCIAL. 

Taxes  received  for  the  year  ending  April  5,  1882 $446  70 

On  hand,  April  188 1 99  40 

Total $546  10 

Paid  out 496  37 

Balance $49  73 

TRUSTEES,    1882. 

J.  J.  Knowlton,  J.  B.  Alspach,  W.  I.  Strawn,  J.  H.  Vicars  and  George 
W.  Dunn. 

James  H.  Vicars,  Chairman. 

G.  W.  Dunn,  Clerk. 

J.  J.  Knowlton,  Treasurer. 

W.  I.  Strawn,  Collector,  and  elected  Marshal  at  $16  per  month. 

A  petition  was  presented  to  the  board  of  trustees  at  their  June 
meeting,  1882,  to  submit  to  the  citizens  the  proposition  to  form  a  city  of 
the  fourth  class.     It  was  favorably  acted  upon,  and  the  town,  July  24th, 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  413 

divided  into  two  wards.  The  election  came  off  September  4th,  1882, 
and  carried  pretty  unanimously.  A  ticket  for  mayor  and  councilmen 
was  put  forth,  and  elected  at  the  same  time.  The  ticket  which  gave  the 
first  offices  of  the  city  government  was  as  follows: 

CITY   OFFICERS   ELECTED. 

George  W.  Dunn,  Mayor. 

Aldermen — J.  W.  Murfield,  J.  B.  Alspach,  A.  E.  Daswell  and  Joseph 
Lennartz. 

A.  E.  Daswell,  President. 

T.  C.  Linn,  Clerk. 

H.  S.  Marvin,  Treasurer. 

W,  C.  McDonnell,  Marshal  and  Street  Commissioner. 

Salary  mayor $  50 

Each  alderman 25 

Clerk 50 

Marshal 300 

The  first  meeting  of  the  city  council  was  September  12th,  1882. 

CHURCHES. 

The  first  church  erected  in  Montrose  was  the  Baptist  Church,  it 
being  removed  from  Germantown  almost  bodily  in  1871.  This  same 
church  was  blown  down  in  1882,  when  a  heavy  wind  storm  passed  over 
the  city.  It  has  been  again  rebuilt,  and  a  very  neat  place  of  worship  is 
furnished  the  congregation.  There  is  a  Catholic  Church,  put  up  a  few 
years  since.     This  is  not  a  large,  but  pleasantly  located  church. 

The  Methodist  Church  has  no  church  edifice  of  its  own,  but  is  in  a 
flourishing  condition  with  strong  hopes  of  being  able  to  erect  a  church 
before  many  months  have  passed.  The  promises  of  a  more  extended 
history  of  these  churches  have  failed  to  reach  the  writer. 

FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH 

was  established  in  1871,  the  Rev.  Benjamin  F.  Powelson  being  its  first 
pastor.  He  was  followed  by  Rev.  William  Newton  in  1873;  Rev.  R. 
Dodd,  in  1874;  Rev.  James  Watkins,  in  1879,  and  the  present  pastor  is 
the  Rev.  James  Allen.  The  church  has  a  membership  of  forty-five  and 
has  a  handsome  church  building  erected  at  a  cost  of  $1,400. 

CUMBERLAND   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH 

was  erected  in  1872  at  the  cost  of  $1,500.  The  church  has  been  stead- 
ily growing  since  its  organization.      At   the   "  big  fire  "  in  March,  1875, 


414  HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 

the  church  papers  and  records  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  J.  G.  Thornton, 
clerk  of  the  session,  were  burned  with  his  store  and  contents.  The 
membership  of  the  church  at  the  time  was  sixty-one,  and  the  board  of 
elders  were  James  Patten,  J.  G.  Thornton,  Adam  Shamberger  and  James 
Gilbert. 

Board  of  Deacons — Robert  Mesic,  Isaac  Langley,  and  E.  Z.  Davis. 

The  church  was  dedicated  July  ii,  1876,  and  the  dedication  sermon 
was  by  the  Rev.  Moad,  of  Clinton. 

JANUARY     1883. 

Deacons — Isaac  Langley,  Hugh  Patton. 
Elders — J.  V.  Ingles,  Joseph  Patton,  James  Gilbert  and  J.  G.  Thorn- 
ton, j 
Its  membership  now  numbers  105.                                                                   d 

,i 

M.  E.  CHURCH,   .SOUTH.  i 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South,  numbers  a  membership  of      ' 
thirty,  with  a  large  attendance.     The  denomination  are  now  erecting  a      : 
handsome  and  substantial    place    of  worship,    which   is  expected  to  be      ' 
fully  completed  first  of  April.  Finished  the  cost  will  be  $2,000,  and  when 
furnished  something  over  that  sum.     The  church  was  organized  in  1876, 
and  its  first  pastor  was  the  Rev.  R.  H.  Shafer,  and  followed  in  the  order 
named  by  the  Rev.  Bathurts,  T.  D.  Payree,  and  S.  P.  Sicloll.  The  present 
pastor  is  the  Rev.  Mr.  Briggs.  i 

EDUCATIONAL   INTERESTS.  i 

] 

The  first  school  taught  under  the   auspices  of  the  Montrose  School       ! 
Board  was  in  1870  in  an  old  house  in   the   woods,  one  mile  south  of  the 
town.     A  Mr.  Black  was  the  teacher. 

In  1871,  Mr.  Ching  taught  in  a  house,  which  stood  near  the  present  \ 
site  of  the  depot.  He  also  taught  a  term  in  the  Baptist  Church.  The 
building  was  destroyed  by  the  cyclone  in  April  1882.  In  the  winter  of 
1872,  a  Mr.  Wheeler  and  Miss  Ada  Taylor  taught  in  a  warehouse,  near 
the  English  House.  Mr.  Wheeler  was  discharged  on  account  of  intem- 
perance. The  Presbyterian  Church  was  the  next  building  used  as  a 
school  room,  Mr.  Powelson  and  Mattie  Parks  being  employed  as  teachers 
In  1873,  the  present  building  was  erected  by  Mr.  Culbertson,  of  Illinois- 
Mr.  Hanna  was  the  first  teacher,  and  he  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Powel- 
son again,  assisted  by  Miss  Effie  May.  He  was  employed  again,  but 
taught  but  a  short  time,  there  being  some  dissatisfaction.  Mr.  Parks 
finished  the  term  and  continued  in  the  school  for  three  years.  In  1879,  Mr, 
Head  was  employed  with  Miss  Mary  Gathright  as  assistant,  but  the  former 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  41$ 

only  a  short  time,  Mr.  Milton  completing  the  term.  The  latter  was  fol- 
lowed by  W.  H.  Smith,  who  succeeded  in  grading  the  school  and  secured 
the  adoption  of  the  rules  and  course  of  study.  He  was  succeeded  by  J.  M. 
Thompson,  and  in  1882  Mr.  J.  Meyers,  with  M.  T.  Lyim,  and  Miss  O. 
M.  Gorham  were  employed.  Mr.  Meyers  was  discharged  at  the  end  of 
three  months,  he  being  the  fifth  teacher  discharged  from  the  Montrose 
schools  in  a  space  of  ten  years.  The  school  is  at  present  under  the  man- 
agement of  G.  K.  Madison. 

The  district  was  extended  in  1878,  to  include  some  contiguous  ter- 
ritory. 

The  enumeration  for  the  last  three  years  has  been  in  1880,  192 
scholars,  in  1881,  200,  and  in  1882,  216. 

The  school  building  is  a  large 'two  story  frame  building,  two  rooms 
above  and  two  below,  with  a  vestibule.  It  is  not  yet  quite  finished,  but 
to  this  time,  $1,800  have  been  expended.  To  complete  it  as  it  is  intended, 
will  require  nearly,  if  not  quite,  $500  more.  It  is  situated  on  a  hand- 
some lot,  and  convenient,  being  centrally  located  in  the  city. 

In  addition  to  the  graded  school  there  are  five  other  public  schools 
in  the  township,  all  in  a  progressive  condition. 

A.  O.  U.  w. 

Beacon  Lodge,  No.  148,  was  organized  in  Montrose,  August  11,  1879,. 
with  the  following  charter  members:  E.  W.  Berry,  J.  J.  Knowlton,W.  R. 
Smoot,  James  Bennett,  H.  W.  Fennimore,  Al.  Booher,  D.  C.  Cross,  G. 
W.  Dunn,  O.  D.  Allison,  William  Drummond,  A.  E.  Daswell,  Andrew 
Wall,  Charles  H.  Watkins,  William  Johnson,  William  Clagan,  Seth  Cald- 
well, Sol.  Kahn,  Mathias  Hagman,  Matthew  Mitchell,  Louis  Hutchinson, 
William  Vance,  Peter  Niggly,  G.  W.  Kountz,  J.  O.  Clark,  L.  P.  Slaughter. 

OFFICERS. 

E.  W.  Berry,  M.  W.;  J.  J.  Knowlton,  P.  M.  W.;  W.  R.  Smoot,  G.; 
H.  W.  Fennimore,  F.  S.;  Andrew  Wall,  Receiver;  A.  E.  Daswell, 
Recorder;  James  Bennett,  Foreman;  D.  C.  Cross,  Overseer;  William 
Drummond,  I.  W.;  Al.  Booher,  O.  W.;  Charles  H.  Walkins,  E.  P. 

The  Beacon  Lodge  united,  or  amalgamated,  on  August  11,  1882, 
with  St.  Clair  Lodge,  No.  104,  of  Appleton  City.  The  membership  at 
Montrose  is  eighteen.  Election  for  officers  of  the  order  took  place  at 
Appleton  City,  January  3,  1883.  A  further  report  of  the  order  will  be 
found  in  the  history  of  Appleton  City,  in  another  part  of  this  work. 

In  1880  a  paper  was  started,  called  the  Montrose  Village  News  but 
it  was  published  but  some  three  or  four  months  and  then  suspended. 
Doubtless  the  town  would  support  a  weekly  paper,  giving  good  evidence 


4l6  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

of  ability  to  publish  local  news.     It  would  prove  of  great  value  to  the 
town. 

ITS  SHIPPING  INTERESTS. 

The  following  shows  the  shipments  from  Montrose  from  September 
1881  to  September  1882,  just  one  year.  It  is  a  handsome  showing  and 
and  taken  by  A.  E.  Das  well  from  the  books: 

No.  Cars. 

Cattle • 223 

Hogs 145 

Horses 2 

Sheep 4 

Flax  seed   71 

Wheat 25 

Oats 16 

Corn 5 

Broom  corn 19 

Iron 2 

Household  goods 5 

Machinery i 

Total 518 

Station  receipts  from  freight  and  tickets  $36,000  per  year. 

MONTROSE  BUSINESS  HOUSES. 

J.  K.  Whitehead  &  Son,  hardware,  J.  G.  Thornton,  druggist. 

implements  and  furniture.  Dr.  Schilling,  M.  D.  and  surgeon. 

G.   W.    Dunn,    lawyer,    real    estate  W.  A.  Campbell  &  Bro.,  shoe  shop. 

and  insurance  agent.  Wright  &  Coles,  dry  goods  and 
O.  F.  Johnson,  hardware  and  furni-  clothing. 

ture.  W.  E.  Ford,  barber. 

R.  A.  Guynn,  druggist.  T.  M.  Miller,  butcher. 

L.  P.  Klutts,  harness  shop.  Dorman  &  Son,  dry  goods. 

R.  D.  Coleman,  confectioner.  P.  Applenalp,  saddlery. 

Mrs.  W.  Balderson,  millinery.  T.  M.  Miller,  groceries. 

Misses  Feland,  dressmakers.  Mrs.  A.Gardner,  milliner  and  dress- 

F.  M.  Curtis,  groceries.  maker. 

H.  S.  Marvin,  banker.  J.  H.  Vickars,  real  estate  agent. 

George  Coleman,  notion  house.  J.  B.  Mackay,  druggist. 

William  Kloer,  blacksmith.  V.  Moseman,  wagon  maker. 

Dr.    E.    S.    Moad,    physician    and  Dr.  C.    H.   Watkins,   physician   and 

surgeon.  surgeon. 

D.  B.  Watts,  photographer.  D.  M.  Giltner,  barber. 

J.  W.  Murfield,  confectioner.  J.  Emert,  watchmaker. 

Misses  Sparks  &  Tucker,  milliners.  Baum  Bros.,  dry  goods  and  clothing. 

G.  A.  Van  Hall,  saloon.  Sol.  Kahn,  dry  goods  and  clothing. 


■HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  417 

O.  F.  Johnson,  grain  dealer.  J.      D.      Erhart,      restaurant      and 
S.  Paxton,  grain   dealer  and  eleva-  baker. 

tor.  S.  Pettit,  hotel. 

Ed.  Taylor,  liveryman.  W.  Y.  English,  hotel. 

S.  Paxton,  miller.  J.  J.  Knowlton,  miller. 

J.  J.  Knowlton,  lumber  yard.  Blew  Bros.,  lumber  yard. 

W.  A.  Best,  wagon  maker.  W.  H.  Balderson,  blacksmith. 

BANKING   HOUSE   OF    H.    S.    MARVIN   &   CO. 

The  following  is  a  statement  of  the  financial  condition  of  the  bank 
at  the  close  of  business  on  the  15th  day  of  December,  1882: 

RESOURCES. 

Loans  undoubtedly  good  on  personal  or  collateral  security..  .$  3,471   65 

Due  from  other  banks  good  on  sight  draft 5,323  02 

Furniture  and  fixtures 584  25 

Checks  and  other  cash  items loi  00 

Bills  of  national  banks  and  legal  tender  United  States  notes,  2,374  00 

Gold  coin 25  00 

Silver  coin 605  93 

Total $12,484  85 

LIABILITIES. 

Capital  stock  paid  in $  5,000  00 

Undivided  profits 27  33 

Deposits  subject  to  draft,  at  sight 7,257  52 

Deposits  subject  to  draft,  at  given  dates 200  00 

Total $12,484  85 

It  is  mentioned  previously  that  the  Baptist  Church  was  destroyed 
by  a  wind  storm  in  1882.  This  storm  also  destroyed  the  Campbellite 
Church,  the  business  house  of  Mr.  Gragg  and  two  residences,  one  o^ 
which  was  completely  destroyed,  no  portion  being  found.  This  was  the 
most  violent  storm  ever  experienced  by  the  city. 

In  closing  the  history  of  Deepwater,  we  cannot  do  better  than  to 
give  a  short  biographical  sketch  of  Mr.  William  Tyree,  one  of  its  earl- 
iest settlers  and  the  oldest  man  now  living  in  Henry  County,  who  will 
reach  the  age  of  ninety-two  years  on  June  10,  next.  Not  only  this  but 
he  is  a  remarkable  man,  and  his  health  and  strength  is  wonderful  for 
one  of  his  years.  The  article  is  taken  from  the  Henry  County  Demo- 
crat of  August,  1882. 

William  Tyree  was  born  in  Amherst  County,  Virginia,  June  10,  1791. 
He  was  taken  to  Tennessee  while  yet  an  infant,  grew  up  there,  and  about 

27 


4l8  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

1820  was  married  to  Anna  Manning.  His  family  was  one  of  the  three 
families  who  moved  to  Cooper  County,  Missouri,  in  1829.  In  those  days 
emigrants  often  carried  all  their  effects  on  horseback  and  moved  that 
way.  Mr.  Tyree  once  saw  a  woman  leading  a  cow  on  which  were  packed 
her  bed  and  two  children.  But  this  party  of  emigrants  had  quite  an 
aristocratic  outfit.  They  made  up  a  four-horse  team,  attached  it  to  a 
large  wagon  to  haul  the  goods  and  feeble  ones  of  the  party.  They  num- 
bered twenty-one  persons  in  all.  Mr.  Tyree  had  $2  left  when  he  reached 
Missouri. 

After  two  years'  residence  in  Cooper  County  Mr.  Tyree  moved  to 
Johnson  County  and  lived  there  until  1839,  when  he  moved  to  the  south- 
west part  of  Henry  County  and  settled  on  the  south  side  of  Deepwater 
in  what  is  now  section  18,  township  40,  range  28.  He  set  up  a  black- 
smith shop,  it  being  the  only  one  for  an  unknown  distance  southwest  ol 
Clinton.  The  houses  of  those  days  were,  of  course,  without  windows,  as 
glass  was  very  scarce.  They  were  log  cabins  with  puncheon  floors  and 
roofed  with  shakes. 

Provisions  were  plenty,  as  deer,  turkeys,  wild  honey  and  wild  fruit 
were  abundant.  Stock  lived  the  greater  part  of  the  year  on  the  range, 
and  what  grain  was  needed  was  easily  raised.  Hogs  would  multiply  and 
grow  fat  on  the  mast  alone.  They  kept  sheep,  raised  flax  and  cotton 
and  manufactured  all  their  wearing  apparel.  To  be  sure,  their  market 
was  not  very  good,  but  that  mattered  little,  as  they  raised  all  they 
needed,  and  taxes  were  low.  The  greed  for  the  almighty  dollar  was  not 
so  universal  as  now.  People  were  all  sociable,  and  a  friendly  spirit 
existed  among  the  pioneers. 

Mr.  Tyree  divided  his  time  between  farming,  blacksmithing  and 
hunting.  He  has  killed  and  brought  home  five  deer  in  a  day.  One  fall 
he  killed  five  bucks  before  he  missed  a  shot.  People  came  great  distances 
to  his  shop  to  get  plows  made  and  sharpened.  He  made  a  plow  for  a 
man  named  Gilbert  that  turned  a  furrow  two  feet  wide,  and  as  he  was 
plowing  with  it  on  the  south  side  of  Osage  River,  three  miles  below 
Papinville,  he  brought  to  light  a  ton  of  iron  that  had  been  buried  by  a 
mission  party,  who  had  there  met  with  Indian  troubles  some  years  before 
Harmony  Mission  was  established.  Mr.  Tyree  bought  considerable  of 
the  iron  at  five  cents  per  pound.  There  were  some  guns  with  it  ruined 
by  rust,  but  the  iron  was  of  excellent  quality. 

Scmedding  at  Germantown,  two  miles  away,  was  the  nearest  neigh- 
bor in  Henry  County.  Hiram  Snodgrass,  over  in  Bates,  was  only  a  quar- 
ter of  a  mile  away.  There  were  only  fifteen  or  twenty  houses  in  Clin- 
ton. 

On  account  of  so  much  sickness  in  the  family,  Mr.  Tyree  in  a  few 
years  moved  away  from  the  creek  to  the  high  prairie,  near  where  he  now 
lives,  three  miles  southwest  of  Montrose,  and  that  immediate  neighbor- 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  419 

hood  has  ever  since  been  his  home.  Plenty  of  Indians  were  about,  but 
they  gave  the  settlers  no  trouble. 

When  the  civil  war  came  on  Mr.  Tyree  favored  the  south,  but  the 
family  were  not  unanimous,  as  one  son,  William,  went  into  the  Confed- 
erate army,  and  one,  Levi,  into  the  home  guards.  Being  seventy  years 
old  at  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  he  did  no  military  duty. 

He  yet  retains  his  faculties  to  a  remarkable  degree,  shoots  his  rifle 
with  the  same  unerring  aim  as  of  old  and  does  not  use  glasses  to  aid  his 
sight.  Three  years  since  he  got  a  ten  dollar  prize  at  the  fair  at  Apple- 
ton  City  for  presenting  the  scalps  of  ninety  rabbits  killed  by  himself  A 
few  weeks  since  he  walked  four  miles  to  the  timber,  cut  and  split  eighty- 
eight  rails,  and  walked  back,  reaching  home  at  four  o'clock.  He- 
remarked  to  the  reporter  that  he  could  easily  have  made  out  the  lOO,. 
but  for  the  walk  that  tired  him.  He  challenges  any  man  living  who  is 
over  seventy  years  old  to  compete  with  him  in  shooting,  walking,  and 
rail  making.  As  he  was  ninety-one  June  10,  1882,  this  is  offering  heavy 
odds.     Mrs.  Tyree  died  March  3,  1875-     They  raised  six  children. 

The  first,  Elizabeth,  is  now  Mrs.  Stewart,  who  lives  in  north  Mis- 
souri. The  second,  Levi,  lives  near  his  father.  The  third,  William,  was 
killed  in  the  southern  army.  The  fourth,  Joseph,  lives  with  his  father, 
Jerry  and  Francis  were  both  killed  by  lightning. 


CHAPTER  XXVllI. 

TEBO,  SHAWNEE  AND  FIELDS'  CREEK  TOWNSHIPS. 

TEBO— HISTORIC— PIONEERS  OF  1830  TO    1835— THE    NORTH    CAROLINA    COLONY— POPULA- 
TION AND  BOUNDARY THE  OLD  SETTLERS  OF  TEBO— CALHOUN— BOUNDED  IN  1836 

—  AMBITIOUS-ITS  FIRST  SETTLERS,  STORES.  ETC—INCORPORATION  OF  CALHOUN— 
THE  GREAT  FIRE— HANDSOME  LOCATION— POSTMASTERS— BUSINESS- PROFESSIONS. 
SHAWNEE— THE  GARDEN  SPOT  OF  HENRY  COUNTY— ABOUT  i83i-THE  NAME— SHAW- 
NEE MOUND— CHURCHES,  SCHOOL  AND  BUSINESS-HUNTINGDALE— WHEN  FOUNDED 
PRESENT  BUSINESS— THE  CHURCHES  OF  THE  TOWNSHIP— LODGES-  ITS  HOUNDARY. 
FIELDS'  CREEK— ITS  METES  AND  BOUNDS-AREA  IN  ACREb— ITS  STREAMS,  PRAIRIES 
AND  WOOD  LANDS-EARLY  PIONEERS-IHE  FIRST  STORE— ONE  OF  THE  NORTH 
CAROLINA  COLONY— OTHER  SETTLERS -CHURCHES,  SCHOOLS  AND  SOCIETIES-ITS 
POPULATION  IN  1880 

TEBO   TOWNSHIP. 

This  township  is  historic.  It  once  composed  all  of  Johnson  and 
Henry  Counties  and  took  in  half  of  St.  Clair,  but  in  May,  1834,  it  was 
turned  into  Springfield  Township  by  the  Lafayette  County  Court,  and  it 
remained  Springfield  until  May  5th,  1835,  when  the  first  county  court, 
sitting  at  Henry  Avery's,  changed  it  back  to  Tebo  and  gave  it  a 
boundary  which  covered  one-fourth  of  the  present  county  of  Henry.  It 
was  one  of  the  four  original  townships,  of  which  Rives,  now  Henry,  was 
composed.  The  first  settler  was  Henry  Avery,  July  lOth,  183 1,  settling 
on  section  10.  It  is  hardly  necessary  to  follow  in  detail  the  rise,  pro- 
gress and  the  settlement  of  the  township.  Being  one  of  the  original 
four,  much  of  its  history  will  be  found  in  the  pages  of  the  old  settlers, 
and  in  the  official  part  of  Henry  Count}^  history. 

There  were  the  Barkers,  Wades,  Averys,  Palmer,  Nash,  Fields, 
Wileys,  Askins  and  a  few  others,  who  gave  to  Tebo  a  solid  advance  in 
prosperity,  and  led  the  van  of  civilization  in  Henry  County.  It  is  one 
•of  the  largest  townships  in  the  county  as  now  formed,  covering  an  area 
■of  nearly  seven  miles  square,  one  section  in  the  northeast  corner  being 
taken  off  and  placed  in  Windsor  Township.  This  gave  it  forty-eight 
sections  of  land,  or  30,720  acres. 

Coal  crops  out  in  eight  sections,  but  veins  underlie  nearly  the  whole 
township.  Tebo  Creek  and  its  branches,  west  branch  of  Tebo  and  Little 
Tebo  Creek,  with  their  small  tributaries,  just  cover  the  whole  township. 
Innumerable  springs  are  found  and  water  is  everywhere  that  it  is  wanted. 
Timber  in  abundance  lines  the  streams,  and  prairies  spread  themselves 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  42 1 

over  the  remaining  portion  of  the  township.  It  is  a  big  stock  country, 
for  the  grasses  grow  indigenous.  Water  abundant,  corn  a  great  crop, 
would  give  it  the  home  of  the  stock  raiser,  unless  he  wanted  to  go  to 
Texas  and  purchase  a  whole  county. 

The  first  election  ever  held  in  the  county  was  in  this  township,  in 
August,  1832,  at  Alfred  Askins'  house.  The  second  was  at  Avery's.  The 
third  was  at  the  house  of  Colby  S.  Stevenson,  at  the  August  election, 
1S36. 

Addison  Young  was  the  first  preacher,  but  both  Henry  Avery  and 
Colby  S.  Stevenson  were  ministers.  The  first  school  was  taught  by  Mr. 
Stevenson,  a  private  one,  in  the  southeast  portion  of  the  township  in  an 
old  log  hut.  In  1835  a  log  school  house  was  erected,  and  the  school 
was  largely  attended  for  those  days.  The  house  was  built  in  section  16 
on  the  farm  owned  now  by  Dr.  John  Bronaugh,  and  was  first  taught  by 
Benjamin  L.  Durrett. 

The  scholars  who  attended  the  first  school  were,  J  T.  Barker,  Eliza 
Ann  Barker  (now  Mrs.  Covington),  R.  L.  Avery,  William  L.  Avery,  P. 
G .  Avery,  Robert  Wade,  Pleasant  Wade,  Fennel  Wade,  John  Wiley,  Rob- 
ert Brummet  and  Alexander  Brum.met,  the  last  two  children  of  John 
Brummet,  who  lived  in  Johnson  County,  about  half  a  mile  from  the 
county  line.  They  came  about  five  miles.  There  were  other  scholars 
to  the  number  of  thirty  in  all,  and  one  dollar  per  scholar  was  charged  for 
their  tuition. 

NORTH  CAROLINA  COLONY. 

There  was  little  to  mar  the  serenity  of  the  people  in  those  early 
days.  Settlers  came  in  slowly  and  staked  their  claims,  ready  to  pur- 
chase when  the  land  came  into  market,  which  it  did  in  1838.  The  larg- 
est arrival,  and  which  created  a  small  ripple  of  excitement,  was  the  North 
Carolina  Colony.  They  came  from  Rockingham  County,  North  Caro- 
lina, and  some  were  formerly  Marylanders.  The  colony  halted  at  Sardis 
Church,  and*  from  there  they  scattered,  but  mostly  settling  in  Henry 
County.  The  arrivals  were  Richard  Wall  and  family.  Mason  C.  Fewell 
and  family,  Benjamin  Wall  and  family,  Dr.  R.  Z  R.  Wall  and  family,  Wil- 
liam Howerton  and  family,  John  C.  Stone  and  family,  A.  Potts  and  fam- 
ily, Isaac  Monday  and  family,  Mrs.  Sarah  Lindsay  and  family. 

Of  these  Benjamin  and  Dr.  R.  Z.  R.  Wall,  went  over  the  line  and 
settled  in  Johnson  County.  Isaac  Monday  made  Jackson  County  his 
home  a  few  weeks  later.  Richard  Wall  settled  in  Big  Creek  Township, 
A.  Potts  in  Walker,  John  C.  Stone  in  Deepwater,  William  Howerton  and 
Mason  C.  Fewell,  remaining  in  Tebo,  Mrs.  Sarah  Lindsay  and  her  sons, 
in  Fields'  Creek.  This  colony  arrived  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Sardis  Bap- 
tist Church,  November  22,  1839,  and  by  spring  were  all  located  as  above. 
This  colony  has  left  its  mark  in  the  early  history  of  the  county.     They 


422  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

came  with  some  means  and  were  able  to  take  up  a  good  deal  of  land  and 
they  did  so,  the  descendants  of  the  Walls  and  the  Lindsays  owning 
thousands  of  acres  at  this  day  of  some  of  the  richest  of  Henry  County 
land.  They  came  in  wagons  the  whole  distance,  and  crossed  from  Ken- 
tucky into  Illinois  September  20,  1839,  ^"^1  were  then  two  months  and 
two  days  reaching  the  Sardis  Camping  ground. 

rorULATION,  ETC. 

In  1850,  Tebo  Township    then   still   one-fourth  of  the  county,  had 
1,164  in  population,  and  in  i860  boasted  of  the  number  of  2,407.     In  1870 
this  had   still  increased,  although  partly  curtailed,  3,308,  including  the 
town  of  Calhoun,  its   capital  city.     In    1873,  its  present   boundary  was    \ 
defined  and  the  population  in   1880  was    1,725,  which  also  included  the    \ 
town  of  Calhoun.  The  district  was  No.  2,  and  the  township  called  "Tebo,"     \ 
and  its  boundaries  were  given  as  follows  :  ] 

"Composed  of  all  of  congressional  township  No.  43,  of  range  No.  25, 
and  sections  Nos.  31  to  36,  inclusive,  in  congressional  township  No.  44, 
of  range  No.  25,  and  sections  Nos.  6,  7,  18,  19,  30  and  31,  in  township  No. 
43,  of  range  No.  24."  \ 

This  as  stated  is  its  present  boundary,  and  its  area  is  given  above. 
The  township  has  been  a  progressive  one  and  has,  agriculturally  speak- 
ing, held  its  own.  i 

In  1878  the  following  article   was  printed  in   the  Clinton  Advocate     ! 

and  will  prove  of  interest  :  | 

1 

THE   OLD   SETTLERS   OF   TEBO.  i 

Clinton,  Missouri,  May  5,  1878.  \ 

North  of  the  village  of  Calhoun   in  this,  Henry  County,  there  is  an  | 

area  of  country  that  is  at  once   beautiful  to  the  eye.       It   is  undulating  \ 
prairie,  interspersed  with  timber  along  the  many  branches  of  the  Tebo. 

The  soil  is  rich  and  productive  for  grain  raising,  pasturage,  all  kinds  of  ; 

grasses,  fruits  and  vegetables,  is  unsurpassed   in   this  western   country,  j 

and  is  one  of  the  most  delightful  regions  for  the  abode  of  man.     This  ' 

section  was  settled  some  forty  odd  years   ago,   by   rather   a  remarkable  | 
class  of  men,  of  a  lively  temperament,  richly  endowed  with  micntal  and 

[personal  advantages;  kind  and  hospitable,  anticipating  all  the  wants   of  j 

a  visitor  or  stranger,  the  old  settlers  of  this  section  were  far  above  the  1 

average  of  pioneers.     All  were  well  to  do  and  independent,  but  none  of  j 

them  very  rich.    There  were,  some  ten  or  fifteen  years  ago.  Judge  Berr}-,  ' 
Major  Wall,   William   Wall,    Dr.    James  Wall,   William    Fewell,  M.  C. 

Fewell,   Drury  Palmer,   R.  Allen,   Judge  Avery,  J .    C.    Vanhoy,   Green  1 

Avery,  Elijah  Wiley,  Daniel   Hastings,  Mark  Finks,  Dr.  Thornton   and  { 

A.  Askins,  who  have  all  "gone  to  that  bourne  from  whence  no  traveler  j 
returns."     Who  can  fill  their  places.^      There   are  left   behind,   Peyton 

Parks,  A.  C.    Legg,  Seymour  Stone,  Colonel  G.  W.  Squires,  John  Lit-  ; 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  423 

tlepage,  William  Bricker,  Jeff  Bronaugh,  and  others,  who,  in  the  course 
of  nature,  must  soon  follow.  Can  their  places  be  supplied?  We  see 
all  around  us  our  good  citizens  falling  one,  by  one,  like  leaves  in  autumn. 
■In  the  district  referred  to  there  are  many  buildings,  fruit  and  shade  trees 
and  shrubs,  that  were  built  and  planted  by  the  hands  of  those  that  have 
passed  away  They  stand  as  monuments  of  taste  and  industry  to  the 
early  settlers.      The  poet  said' 

"  Alone  I  walked  the  ocean  strand, 
A  pretty  shell  was  in  my  hand; 
I  stopped  and  wrote  in  the  sand 

My  name,  the  day,  the  year.  > 

Onward  from  the  beach  I  passed, 
A  lingering  look  behind  1  cast, 
I  saw  the  waves  come  rolling  high  and  fast, 
They  washed  my  lines  away." 

AN  OLD  SUBSCRIBER. 

This  list  is  worthy  of  record,  and  the  township  speaks,  in  its  great 
development,  of  the  character  of  its  early  settlers. 

One  other  thing  to  be  added  to  this  are  its  schools.  Tebo  Town- 
ship has  seven  district  schools,  and  the  houses  are  of  a  neat  and  sub- 
stantial character.  There  is  but  one  township  which  has  a  larger  number^ 
Windsor,  which  has  eight.  The  township  is  growing  steadily,  both  in 
population  and  wealth,  and  will  always  stand  among  the  leading  town- 
ships of  the  county  in  its  stock  and  cereal  productions  and  in  the  moral, 
intellectual  and  enterprising  character  of  her  prosperous  citizens. 

HICKORY  GROVE   CHURCH. 

The  Hickory  Grove  M.  E.  Church  was  organized  August  16,  1874, 
by  the  Rev.  John  A.  Murphy,  whose  earnest  endeavor  and  active  work 
became  a  success.  The  original  members  were:  Theressa  J.  Anderson, 
Andrew  J.  Bailey,  John  Wilson,  Mary  S.  Bailey,  Martha  Crabtree,  Mary 
A.  Dickey,  William  G.  Dickey,  Harriet  Wilson,  Rev.  Robert  H.  Lee, 
Susan  Lee,  Brunetta  Lee,  John  Noble,  Elizabeth  Noble,  Lou  Wilson, 
Narcissa  A.  Wilson,  John  Wiley,  Cynthia  Wiley,  William  Coppage  and 
wife,  John  W.  Coppage,  Leonora  A.  Coppage,  L.  J.  Coppage  and  John 
W.  Wilson  class  leader. 

The  church  has  increased  in  influence  and  also  steadily  increased  in 
membership,  which  now  numbers  eighty.  The  Rev.  John  A.  Murphy, 
who  was  so  instrumental  in  its  organization,  took  charge  of  the  infant 
congregation.  He  was  followed  in  the  order  named  by  the  following 
earnest  workers  in  the  cause  of  the  church,  viz:  Rev.  B.  Margison,  Rev. 
Thomas  Wallace,  Rev.  Wilber  L.  King,  Rev.  J.  P.  Cobb,  Rev.  J.  J.  Hill, 
Rev.  J.  J.  Keller,  Rev.  William  S.  Woodward,  Rev.  Wilber  L.  King  with 
Rev.  N.  M.  Dowdy  as  assistant,  and  at  present  the  Rev.  John  Y.  Busby 
and  Rev.  A.  L.  Huston. 


424  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

They  have  built  themselves  a  neat  frame  church,  plainly  but  com- 
fortably finished,  at  a  cost  of  $600.  As  before  remarked,  the  church  is 
prospering,  and  in  connection  therewith  they  have  a  flourishing  Sunday 
School  numbering  some  fifty  pupils.  It  is  under  the  superintendency  of 
Alma  Houts,  who  has  given  his  earnest  supervision  to  the  good  work. 

SARDIS-BETHLEHEM, 

The  Sardis-Bethlehem  Old  School  Baptist  Church  were  united  May 
19,  1866,  but  the  old  "Sardis  Baptist  Church"  of  Tebo  Township  is  one 
of  the  old  landmarks  of  Christianity,  like  the  early  settlers  the  pioneer 
of  churches  of  Henry  County. 

The  early  settlers  of  that  township  were  its  first  members,  and  they 
were  of  that  good  old  stock  who  labored  with  both  hands  and  hearts, 
and  the  dawn  of  civilization  was  lighted  on  its  way  by  the  Christian 
example  and  fortitude  of  as  noble  a  band  of  pioneers  as  ever  blazed  the 
path  of  progress  for  generations  to  follow. 

WHEN   ORGANIZED. 

The  Sardis  Baptist  Church  was  organized  on  May  4,  1839,  ^^^  ^^ 
old  log  school  house  on  Tebo  Creek  was  their  first  place  of  worship,  and 
in  all  respects  it  was  a  primitive  one,  but  looks  had  little  to  do  with 
those  who  came  together  to  worship  the  name  of  the  Lord. 

Nature  itself,  its  prairies  and  the  woodlands,  the  shaded  rills  and 
rippling  brooks  all  told  of  the  great  Jehovah  who  reigned  on  high,  and 
man  could  find  a  place  to  worship  if  his  heart  was  in  the  work.  In  the 
summer  the  trees  of  the  forest  shaded  many  an  assembly  who  had 
gathered  together  to  commune  in  the  spirit  and  hear  the  word  of  God. 

Among  the  original  members  of  this  church  were  the  following" 
familiar  names  of  the  old  pioneers  of  Tebo,  viz:  Elder  Henry  Avery, 
John  W.  Williams,  John  Brummet,  Benjamin  G.  Parker,  Valentine  Bell, 
and  sisters  Susan  Hudson  and  Nancy  Williams.  Mrs.  Williams  is  the 
only  one  of  this  band  of  worshippers  at  this  date  and  is  the  widow  of 
Major  John  W.  Williams  whose  name  is  mentioned  above.  There  are 
at  present  forty-three  members  belonging  to  the  church.  In  1839  Rev. 
Henry  Avery  and  Rev.  James  Fewell  were  joint  pastors  and  they  were 
followed  by  Rev.  William  C.  Garrett,  Rev.  James  Warder,  Rev.  C.  M. 
Reed,  and  Rev,  J.  E.  Goodson,  present  pastor.  In  1856  a  frame  church 
was  built  at  a  cost  of  $600  and  is  still  in  use.  The  church  has  steadily 
grown  with  the  growth  of  the  neighborhood  and  stands  now  as  a 
landmark  of  olden  times  and  a  link  connected  with  the  generation  of 
to-day. 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  425 

CALHOUN. 

This  is  one  of  the  old  settled  towns  in  the  county,  in  fact  was  located 
about  the  time  Clinton  was,  and  was  the  latter's  rival  for  the  county 
seat.  When  Henry,  or  Rives,  County  was  organized  then  came  the 
county  seat  question  and  as  there  were  no  houses  o*r  cabins  either  at 
Clinton  or  Calhoun,  it  seemed  to  the  Tebo  and  Springfield  Township 
settlers  that  they  had  a  chance  for  the  prize,  as  Goff' s  was  soon  after  the 
county  seat.  It  was  more  than  likely  that  Calhoun  would  have  secured 
the  prize,  as  at  that  time  about  415  of  the  settlers  lived  north  of  Grand 
River,  but  for  one  fatal  effect,  it  was  too  far  from  the  center  of  Rives 
County,  as  organized  by  the  general  assembly.  Even  Benjamin  and 
Thomas  Wallace  wanted  it  at  their  store,  about  a  mile  north  of  the 
present  location,  but  the  commissioners  having  found  the  center  stake 
they  located  it  as  near  to  it  as  possible. 

LOCATED   IN    1835. 

James  Nash  located  the  present  town  of  Calhoun  in  1835,  but  there 
was  nothing  really  done  until  the  next  year,  when  the  county  commis- 
sion began  to  look  around  for  a  location  for  the  county  seat  of  Rives. 
Mr.  James  Nash  then  stepped  forward  and  secured  the  services  of  John 
S.  Lingle  to  lay  out  his  town,  named  it  after  South  Carolina's  great 
statesman,  John  C.  Calhoun,  and  finished  up  by  donating  two  acres  for  a 
public  square.  This  was  received  by  the  town  of  Calhoun,  and  the 
square  was  promptly  laid  out  enclosing  about  one  acre  and  wide  streets 
on  each  side  of  it,  and  thus  it  stands  to  this  day.  The  location  not  being 
central  enough  to  secure  the  seat  of  justice,  the  Calhounites  made  no 
further  effort  after  the  location  was  made.  They  had  not  progressed  so 
far  as  their  later  neighbor,  in  trying  to  make  a  county  for  themselves. 
No,  Calhoun  is  not  Windsor. 

However,  as  soon  as  Calhoun  was  laid  out  the  rush  from  Goff's,  the 
then  county  seat,  took  place  at  once.  James  Fields,  who  had  a  store  at 
Goff's,  and  one  of  the  first  in  the  county,  moved  to  Calhoun  and  put  up 
the  first  house  within  its  classic  limits.  Hall  and  Gletcher,  William  and 
John  Goff  all  got  there  and  established  business  in  the  winter  of  1836-7. 
Fields,  Hall  and  Fletcher  opened  each  a  general  store,  and  the  Goffs  a 
grocery.  Then  in  the  summer  came  Mr.  McCormick,  who  opened  a  dry 
goods  and  grocery  store.  These  were  the  first  buildings  erected.  James 
Fields  built  his  cabin  just  under  the  hill  in  the  Tebo  bottoms,  north 
of  town.  The  Goffs  remained  at  their  old  home,  coming  to  town 
to  do  business.  The  fall  of  1837  and  the  following  winter  brought  others, 
and  although  it  was  not  the  county  seat,  it  did  a  good  deal  more 
business. 


426  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

The  town  plat  covered  forty  acres,  as  laid  out  by  Mr.  Nash.  There 
were  never  any  particular  sales  of  lots.  James  Gladden  owned  several 
and  Henry  D.  Lewis  the  same.  The  first  lot  sold  that  there  is  any 
account  of  was  purchased  by  Benjamin  L,  Duriett,  who  taught  the  first 
school  in  the  new  school  house  in  1835,  and  he  bought  it  of  H.  D.  Lewis 
for  $18  cash,  May  11,  1837;  it  was  lot  fourteen.  Then  on  June  12,  1837, 
James  W.  Fields  bought  lots  three  and  ten,  for  which  he  paid  James 
Gladden  $25  cash  in  hand.  The  record  of  other  sales  could  be  given, 
but  these  were  the  first  of  record. 

The  first  tavern  license  was  granted  to  John  Taylor,  who  paid  $20 
license,  November,  1845,  and  the  first  saloon  to  Matthew  Arbuckle,  in 
February,  1846.  The  first  postofifice  in  the  county  was  at  Goff 's,  from 
1835  to  1837,  when  William  Goff  gave  it  up,  and  James  Fields  was 
appointed  postmaster  and  the  ofHce  moved  to  Calhoun.  The  Clinton 
postoffice  was  established  the  same  time. 

The  first  election  at  the  town  of  Calhoun  was  in  1844,  the  county 
court  ordering  the  August  election  of  that  year  to  be  held  then. 

Dr.  W.  Thornton  was  the  first  physician,  settling  in  the  county  in 
1835,  and  at  Calhoun  soon  after  it  was  laid  out. 

The  fall  of  1837  the  citizens  secured  a  teacher  for  the  winter  nn  the 
person  of  Miss  Lucy  McCord,  whe  taught  two  or  three  terms. 

Calhoun  has  had  a  few  additions,  Mr.  Squires  laying  out  two,  but 
it  won't  need  any  more  at  present. 

It  was  not  until  1857  that  Calhoun  was  made  into  a  separate  school 
district,  when  by  order  of  the  county  court  in  June  of  that  year  it  was 
so  designated,  and  the  incorporators  were  W.  S.  Holland,  D.  H.  Pigg.  L 
R.  Dupree,  James  A.  Tutt,  G.  W.  Smith,  E.  R.  Givens  and  Thomas  Sal- 
lee,  and  the  town  was  organized  for  school  purposes,  the  incorporators 
meeting  June  6,  1857,  ^or  that  purpose.  In  1861  the  district  was  enlarged 
by  adding  the  east  half  of  section  6  to  its  boundary. 

While  there  had  been  preaching  at  the  houses  of  the  settlers,  there 
was  no  stated  preacher  at  Calhoun  for  a  number  of  years. 

The  civil  war  then  coming  on,  Calhoun  felt  its  effects,  and  like  other 
towns  took  years  to  recover  from  that  blow. 

In  1866  she  took  a  start  and  began  to  show  signs  of  a  waking  up, 
the  country  around  being  rich,  and  the  farmers  recovering  also  from  the 
shock  of  the  civil  war,  began  to  trade  at  the  old  place.  New  business 
houses  went  up  and  those  already  there  weie  filled  with  goods,  and  by 
1870  very  much  of  the  old  time  trade  had  been  regained  and  the  future 
wore  a  promising  outlook. 

INCORPORATION   OF   CALHOUN. 

The  town  having  become  ambitious,  her  citizens  concluded  that  its 
incorporation  would  be  a  good  step  toward  achieving   future  greatness, 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  427 

and  they  presented  their  wishes  to  the  county  court  of  Henry  County 
February  10,  1870.  Upon  the  reception  of  their  petition  the  following 
order  was  placed  of  record: 

"  Whereas,  A  petition  was  this  day  presented  to  the  court  signed  by 
sundry  citizens  of  the  town  of  Calhoun,  in  the  county  of  Henry,  pray- 
ing to  have  the  said  town  incorporated  and  setting  forth  the  metes  and 
bounds  thereof,  and  it  appearing  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  court  that 
two-thirds  of  the  taxable  inhabitants  of  said  town  have  signed  said  peti- 
tion, and  also  that  the  prayer  in  said  petition  is  reasonable,  it  is  there- 
fore ordered  by  the  court  that  the  inhabitants  of  said  town  of  Calhoun 
be  declared  to  be  incorporated  within  the  metes  and  bounds  as  set  forth 
in  said  petition,  to  wit: 

Beginning  at  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  No.  36,  township  43,  of  range  25,  running 
north  320  rods;  thence  east  320  rods;  thence  south  320  rods;  thence 
west  to  the  place  of  beginning,  and  to  be  known  and  styled  by  the  name 
and  style  of  the  "Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Calhoun."  And  the  court 
doth  hereby  appoint  Tower  Thomasson,  Joseph  Hairrell,  J.  W.  Minish, 
William  Gutridge  and  F.  J.  Agnew  as  a  board  of  trustees  for  said  town, 
according  to  the  statutes  in  such  cases  made  and  provided. 

This  seemed  to  give  new  life  and  the  citizens  went  to  work  to  build 
up  a  town. 

The  great  industry  of  Calhoun  is  her  pottery  business.  The  clay 
is  of  fine  quality  for  earthen  ware  and  she  ships  an  immense  quantity 
annually.  She  has  now  six  potteries  in  full  blast,  and  jugs  of  all  sizes, 
crocks,  also,  and  milk  pans,  and  in  fact  every  description  of  earthen  ware 
is  manufactured  here  and  shipped  by  the  car  loads. 

In  1874  a  union  church  was  erected  costing,  including  furniture  and 
all  complete,  not  far  from  $1,500.  The  Methodist,  Baptist  and  Pres- 
byterian were  the  three  denomination  which  took  part  in  its  construc- 
tion.    This  is  yet  the  only  church  building  in  the  town. 

The  school  house  is  a  neat  frame  building  and  very  well  furnished. 

It  has  a  two-story  brick  hotel,  which  is  one  of  the  best  buildings  in 
the  town,  and  quite  a  fine  number  of  new  brick  business  houses  have 
been  erected  since  the  great  fire  of  1877. 

THE   GREAT   FIRE. 

The  "  Great  Fire,"  so-called,  which  took  place  on  Monday  night, 
December  3d,  1877,  was  a  sad  blow  to  her  enterprising  business  men, 
who  suffered  by  the  calamity,  and  to  the  whole  town. 

It  was  discovered  about  fifteen  minutes  before  eleven  o'clock,  by 
James  Hahn  from  his  residence.  Alarm  was  given,  and  citizens  rushed 
to  the  scene.  The  fire  was  then  burning  briskly  in  the  southeast  corner 
of  the  Grange  store,  where  it  is  supposed  to  have  originated.  The  build- 
ings being  old    and  dry  as    tinder    wood,    were    consumed  very  rapidly. 


428  HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 

rendering  the  stocks  of  merchandise  contained  in  them  almost  a  total 
loss.  The  entire  block  was  consumed,  consisting  of  four  buildings,  in 
which  business  was  done  by  Henry  Slack  on  north  corner,  the  Grange 
store  next,  then  J.  O.  Edmonson  and  James  Finks  on  the  south  corner 
of  the  block. 

LOSSES. 

Mr.  Slack's  loss  was  about  $  1,000;  $50  in  merchandise  and  books 
saved.  No  insurance.  Building  belonged  to  Mrs.  S.  P.  Harper,  not 
insured. 

Grange  Store,  owned  principally  by  Judge  Wood,  R.  Z.  Fewell, 
Max  McCann,  and  Drury  M.  Palmer.  Estimated  loss,  $4,000.  Insured 
for  $3,000;  occupied  Masonic  Hall  building,  which  was  a  total  loss;  no 
insurance. 

J.  O.  Edmonson  occupied  his  own  building;  insured  for  $1,000;  his 
stock  was  quite  large,  on  which  he  had  $1,000  insurance.  He  saved  part 
of  his  stock,  but  probably  lost  from  $4,000  to  $5,000. 

Col.  Jim  Finks  lost  nearly  his  entire  drug  stock — loss  about  $2,000. 
Insurance  expired  a  few  days  before.  The  building  belonged  to  John 
Gutridge.     Not  insured. 

This  conflagration  obliterated  the  principal  business  block  of  the 
town. 

A   PROMINENT   SITE. 

Calhoun  is  very  handsomely  located  between  the  branches  of 
the  Tebo  Creeks.  West  Tebo  rising  on  one  side  and  Tebo  Creek  on 
t'he  other,  and  though  not  exactly  in  the  forks  of  these  streams,  is  beween 
them,  and  they  almost  touch  the  town  limits  on  both  sides.  On  the 
east  side  there  is  a  stretch  of  bottom  land,  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
wide,  but  on  the  west  she  lies  on  the  bluffs  overlooking  the  stream,  per- 
haps a  quarter  of  a  mile  away.  She  lies  on  the  top  of  this  divide,  the 
land  sloping  both  ways  to  the  streams  on  each  side  of  her.  From  her 
eyrie,  thus  perched  upon  a  hill,  she  has  a  splendid  view  to  the  north  of 
her;  but  all  around,  except  that  one  point  of  the  compass,  she  is  barred 
from  an  extensive  view  by  the  heavily  wooded  banks  of  the  streams  just 
mentioned,  they  coming  together  about  two  and  a  half  miles  south  of 
the  town,  and  about  one  mile  between  the  streams.  It  is  high  and  healthy 
and  very  pleasant  places  for  residences  are  found  all  over  the  city.  The 
principal  business  is  done  around  the  square,  with  a  few  business  houses 
on  the  first  block  leading  from  the  square  to  the  depot.  The  potteries 
are  on  that  street,  or  some  three  of  them,  and  one  near  the  station.  The 
principal  hotel  is  also  on  this  street,  between  the  square  and  the  depot. 

Calhoun  has  been  growing  of  late,  and  the  last  two  years  has  shown, 
more  solid  advancement  than  for  any  previous  five  years.     It  has  some 


HISTORY   OF    HENRV   COUNTY.  429 

very  good  brick  blocks,  and  her  potteries  draw  a  large  trade.  Her  popu- 
ulation  in  1880  was  492,  and  at  this  time  will  not  vary  much  from  600. 

POSTMASTERS. 

1837,  James  W.  Fields;  1846,  Matthew  Arbuckle;  1856,  John  A. 
Bushnell;  1858,  James  A.  Tutt;  1861,  Edwin  Taylor;  1862,  Isaac  W- 
Minis;  1869,  Samel  Jennings;  1872,  R.  A.  Michael;  1875,  Joseph  Ryan; 
1877,  N.  H.  Tillman;   1879,  Charles  E.  Gunn,  present  postmaster. 

The  silver  cornet  band  of  Calhoun  is  one  of  its  institutions,  and  the 
band  is  noted  for  rendering  excellent  music,  and  is  called  upon  from  far 
and  near  when  good  music  is  wanted.  It  was  first  organized  in  1869,  and 
is  an  honor  to  Calhoun  aiid  the  county. 

BUSINESS    HOUSES. 

J.  O.  Edmondson,  general  store.  J.  W.  Gutridge,  general  store. 

J.  W.  Keyser,  general  store.  Charles  E.  Gunn,  general  store. 

John  R.  Pigg,  general  store.  C.  Harryman,  groceries. 

M.  C.  Fewell,  groceries.  Dennis  Maher,  groceries. 

H.  Slack,  groceries.  J.  Keyser,  groceries. 

Max  McCann,  drugs  and  medicines.  W.  H.  Gutridge,  drugs  and  medicines. 

Colbow  &  Lewis,  hardware  Mclntyre   &    Butler,    hardware  and 

Edmondson    &   George,   hardware,  furniture. 

saddlery  and  groceries.  Kinsinger  &  Gunn,  grain  dealers. 

McNeece  Bros.,  grain  dealers.  Aurand  &Delany,  lumber  merchants. 

H.  Slack,  coal  dealer.  Kinsinger    &     Goodrich,     Calhoun 
Mrs.  Bettie  Palmer,  millinery.  steam  flouring  mills. 

H.  S.  Thomas,  music  store.  Mrs.  M.  Harper,  dress  making. 

Mrs.  Snell,  dress  making.  J.  W.  Morris,  photographer. 

Haines  &  Askins,  stock  dealers.  D.  H.  Pigg,  saw  mill. 

Mrs.  Holcomb,  boarding.  Calhoun  House,  W.  F.  Doty,  prop'r. 

Isaac  W,  Minis,  barber  shop.  Adam  Schramm,  barber  shop. 

James  Trinnear,  shoe  shop.  T.  J.  Harryman,  meat  market. 

Joseph  Cease,  bakery.  Hill  &  Sons,  blacksmithing. 

O.  Reeves,  blacksmithing.  C.  A.  Hill,  wagon  maker. 

Morgan  &  Laughlin,  brick  yard.  R.  W.  Hendrix,  brick  yard. 
John    Medberry,    livery    and    sale  John  Huffman,  broom  factory. 

stable.  N.  Snell,  carpenter  and  builder. 

James  W.  Burke,  saloon.  Reeves  &  Kirkpatrick,  pottery. 

Amelia  Rabine,  pottery.  Dawson  &  Son,  pottery. 

G.  A.  Jegglin,  pottery.  Damron  &  Miller,  pottery. 

Underwood  &  Son,  pottery.  R.  Trevey,  physician. 

J.  W.  Gra\-,  physician.  John  H.  Bronaugh,  physician. 


430  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

G.  W.  Holcomb,  physician.  Charles  Harryman,  physician. 

J.  W.  Thomas,  veterinary  surgeon.    T.  O.  Williams,  attorney. 

SHAWNEE  TOWNSHIP. 

is  the  north  central  township  of  the  county,  and  steps  to  the  front  as 
the  handsomest  body  of  land  in  Henry  County.  It  is  one  vast  beauti- 
ful prairie,  fringed  here  and  there  with  lines  of  timber  that  relieves  the 
eye  and  gives  zest,  when  passed,  to  another  and  still  another  wide 
expanse  of  gently  undulating  prairie  as  beautiful  to  the  sight,  and  as 
picturesque  in  appearance  as  the  fondest  artist  of  nature  could  wish. 
Spotted  here  and  there  over  this  magnificent  landscape,  lies  well  culti- 
vated fields,  luxuriant  homes  and  handsome  dwellings,  which  at  once 
stamp  upon  the  passing  stranger  the  fact  that  the  residents  of  these 
beautiful  lands  are  an  intelligent  and  energetic  people  who,  knowing 
that  labor  and  wealth  go  hand  in  hand,  put  their  head  and  hands  to 
intelligent  work,  and  then  assume  the  comforts  and  pleasures  that  wealth 
brings  them  with  a  generous,  but  not  lavished  manner. 

Shawnee  Township  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Johnson  County,  on 
the  east  by  Tebo  Township,  on  the  south  by  Fields'  Creek,  and  on  the 
west  by  Big  Creek  Township.  It  is  seven  miles  in  extent,  north  and 
south,  and  six  in  width,  having  forty-two  sections  of  land,  being  all  of 
congressional  township  No.  43,  of  range  26,  and  one  mile  on  its  north 
border  of  congressional  township  44  of  the  same  range.  It  is  one  of 
largest  townships  in  the  county,  and  has  an  area  of  26,880  acres  of  land. 
Honey  Creek  rises  in  the  northern  and  western  part  of  the  township, 
Cottonwood  in  the  center,  and  Fields'  Creek  in  the  south  and  the  head 
waters  of  Little  Tebo  in  the  southeast.  All  these  streams  rise  within 
its  border  but  assume  no  size  of  any  moment  until  they  pass  beyond  its 
limits.  These  streams  and  their  numerous  small  heads  show  innumer- 
able small  and  never  failing  springs  of  crystal  water,  and  this  is  what 
gives  it  the  character  not  only  as  one  of  the  best  cereal  raising  town- 
ships in  the  county  but  it  is  also  unsurpassed  for  stock. 

The  people  of  the  township  have  coined  wealth  from  these  high, 
rolling  and  well  drained  prairies,  and  the  gently  sloping  woodlands  on 
the  banks  of  the  creeks. 

ABOUT    183  I. 

Shawnee,  or  the  present  township  of  that  name,  was  one  of  the 
early  settled  portions  of  the  county.  Ezekiel  Blevins  first  settled  in  the 
township  in  183 1,  and  Preston  R.  Blevins  was  born  in  the  township  the 
following  year.  He  is  now  a  resident  of  Davis,  or  Blevins,  Township, 
and  a  prominent  citizen  of  the  county.  George  W.  and  Pleasant  Walker 
settled  on  the  Blevins  place  in  1833,  having  first   settled   on  section  16, 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  43 1 

Fields  Creek  Township  in  1832,  and  bought  out  Ezekiel  Blevins  the  next 
year. 

Much  of  the  early  history  of  this  township  is  embodied  in  that  of 
the  old  settlers  in  the  first  few  chapters  of  this  history.  The  Walkers 
were  believed  to  be  the  wealthiest  settlers  that  had  come  to  the  county 
in  those  pioneer  times.  On  section  4  of  this  township  was  where  Little- 
berry  Kimsey  located  the  first  water  mill  in  Henry  County.  Samuel 
Cox,  of  Virginia,  settled  on  section  24  in  1832.  Alfred  Kimsey,  from 
Tennessee,  came  in  1833;  Benjamin  Barker,  another  old  settler,  staked 
his  claim  in  1832,  and  around  these  old  pioneers  clustered  others;  but  all 
have  left  the  stamp  of  their  energy  and  enterprise  upon  their  descend- 
ants, and  so  "Old  Shawnee"  stands  out  as  a  "beautiful  monument"  of 
an  enterprising  and  moral  people. 

THE   NAME. 

While  under  the  jurisdiction  of  Lafayette  County,  Shawnee  Town- 
ship was  first  known  as  Tebo  and  Davis  Townships,  being  divided  on 
range  line  26.  This  was  in  1830,  and  wholly  in  Tebo  Township,  Lafa- 
yette County,  in  1832.  It  remained  Tebo  until  May,  1834,  when  it  was 
called  Springfield  Township,  the  line  being  on  its  west  border. 

In  the  spring  of  1835  Rives  County,  now  Henry,  having  organized* 
the  county  court  made  four  townships,  and  the  dividing  line  between 
Big  Creek  and  Tebo,  the  names  given  the  two  northern  townships,  was 
again  range  line  26,  and  Shawnee  was  once  more  divided  half  and  half, 
one  part  being  in  Big  Creek  and  the  other  Tebo.  It  came  into  exist- 
ance  in  1873,  being  one  of  the  group  made  under  the  provision,  of  the 
new  township  organization  law. 

The  school  of  those  days  and  the  early  preachers  are  chronicled  in 
the  early  settlement  or  pioneer  history.  At  this  time  Shawnee  Town- 
ship has  five  public  schools,  all  in  a  flourishing  condition.  The  first  post 
office  in  the  township  was  Shawnee,  established  about  i860.  This  was 
nearly  three  miles  west  of  the  present  village  of  Shawnee  Mound.  The 
postmaster  was  William  Gillespie,  and  the  post  office  was  kept  at  his 
house.     He  continued  postmaster  during  the  war. 

SHAWNEE   MOUND. 

After  the  late  civil  war  the  postoffice  called  Shawnee  was  removed 
to  its  present  location  and  called  "  Shawnee  Mound."  Its  first  postmas- 
ter was  Frank  Crook.  He  was  followed  by  D.  B.  Lambert,  and  the  latter 
succeeded  by  Edward  Reynolds,  the  present  postmaster. 

Shawnee  Mound  is  not  a  city.  It  would  not  under  any  circumstan- 
ces be  taken  for  Kansas  City,  or  even  Clinton,  the  "  Model  Town,"  but 
notwithstanding  it  has  one  general   store,  the  firm  being  Walls  &  Rey- 


432  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

nolds;  one  hardware  store,  Moore  &  Elliott,  proprietors,  and  one  black- 
smith shop,  by  S.  H.  Elliott.  This  constitutes  its  business  interests. 
Two  physicians  are  located  here.  Dr.  B.  B.  Barr  and  Dr.  J.  W.  Bronaugh, 
and  their  circuit  extends  over  a  good  portion  of  Johnson  County  and 
Tebo  and  Big  Creek  Townships,  as  well  as  Shawnee.  They  hold  a  cen- 
tral position,  and  being  eminent  in  their  profession  they  hav^e  an  extended 

practice. 

CUMBERLAND    PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

The  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  of  Shawnee  Mound,  was 
organized  in  September,  of  the  year  1869.  Quite  a  number  gathered  to 
secure  this  organization,  and  its  first  members  were,  Mary  Moore,  James 
Kimsey,  Mary  J.  Guion,  Elizabeth  Ann  and  Jane  Sharp,  Ida  Snyder, 
Mary  Wade,  F.  W.  Crooks,  Ellen  Thrasher,  George  M.  Casey.  P.  W. 
Moore,  Arminta  Kissell,  L.  Friland  and  Emeline  Hinton.  It  was  long 
.after  ihe  organization  of  the  church  that  active  steps  were  taken  to 
secure  the  erection  of  a  church  edifice,  and  in  1871,  they  had  succeeded 
■in  building  a  very  substantial  place  of  worship,  frame,  at  a  cost  of  $1,900. 
The  church  has  steadily  grown  in  membership  and  influence,  and  is  in  a 
favorable  position  for  future  growth  and  earnest  work  in  the  cause  it 
advocates.  The  present  membership  numbers  sixty-five,  and  the  follow- 
ing have  been  active  pastors  of  the  church  since  organized,  viz:  Rev. 
Benjamin  F.  Thomas,  Rev.  Finice  King,  Rev.  Y.  W.  Whitsit,  Rev.  J.  C. 
Littrel  and  Rev.  J.  H.  Houx. 

The  Sabbath  School  is  in  a  flourishing  condition  and  now  has  on  its 
roll  106  scholars.     The  superintendent  is  Mr.  Jacob  Wolff 

On€  of  the  schools  of  the  township  is  located  here,  and  with  these 
<:onveniences  and  the  rich  country  around  Shawnee  Mound  may  yet 
become  a  city  of  the  fourth  class. 

THE    CAPITAL. 

Huntingdale  may  be  thus  designated,  perhaps  being  in  reality  the 
largest  village  in  the  township.  Like  Shawnee  Mound  it  is  not  an  exten- 
sive city,  but  it  is  an  enterprising  little  village  of  perhaps  at  this  time, 
•one  hundred  inhabitants.  It  was  first  made  a  voting  precinct  November 
II,  1865,  when  it  was  so  designated  by  the  county  court,  the  polls  being 
removed  from  Kimseyville.  It  was  then  a  portion  of  Big  Creek  Town- 
ship, or  rather  was  within  the  limits  of  that  township.  It  is  rather  pleas- 
antly located  on  the  prairies,  with  a  sweeping  view  north,  south  and 
east,  while  on  the  west  the  belt  of  timber  which  lines  Cottonwood 
Branch  breaks  into  view  in  that  direction.  The  first  house  built  in  what 
is  now  Huntingdale,  was  by  Aaron  Kahn,  in  the  year  1855,  and  he  also 
located  his  store  there,  and  was  its  first  merchant.  The  first  physician 
was  Dr.  Royston. 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  433 

Its  first  postmaster  Benjamin  Quarles,  now  the  efficient  county  clerk 
of  the  county.  Then  followed  in  the  order  named  :  William  Swindle, 
George  Royston,  David  Urie,  and  V.  J.  Moore,  the  present  postmaster. 

BUSINESS. 

Mr.  V.  J.  Moore  is  the  merchant  of  the  village  and  keeps  a  stock  of 
general  merchandise  which  means  every  kind  of  business  but  a  drug 
store. 

Mr.  E.  W.  Drake  has  the  last  named  business  in  charge  and  keeps 
a  full  supply  of  drugs  and  medicines. 

A.  Bahing,  blacksmith  shop. 

William  Cheesman,  wagon  manufacturer. 

Joseph  Winkler,  saw  mill. 

S.  G.  Ingram  and  J.  F.  Crew,  carpenters. 

The  medical  profession  is  represented  by  Drs.  E.  C.  and  W.  P.  Roy- 
ston, old,  able  and  extensive  practitioners. 

MT.    ZION   BAPTIST   CHURCH. 

The  organization  of  this  church  was  effected  in  1855  and  was  the 
first  church  at  Huntingdale.  The  members  who  formed  the  church  were 
James  Potts,  William  Molton,  Granville  Cross,  F.  C.  Brown,  Isaac 
Anderson,  James  Ross,  Lemuel  Page,  Aaron,  John  and  Reuben  Morgan, 
James  William  and  Henry  Page.  The  church  has  been  a  successful  one 
and  has  grown  steadily  with  the  growth  of  the  town  and  county.  It  has 
now' a  membership  of  eighty-two,  and  can  well  be  said  to  be  in  a  flour- 
ishing condition. 

Its  pastors  have  been  the  following  in  the  order  named  :  Revs. 
William  White,  James  Teas,  Adams,  William  Oden,  James  Woods,  Kil- 
patrick,  O.  Tompkins,  Thomas  Briggs,  A.  M.  Cockrell,  John  Denton,  and 
the  present  pastor  is  the  Rev.  Samuel  Victors. 

The  church  building  at  Huntingdale  is  a  union  church,  erected  in 
the  year  1870,  at  a  cost  of  of  $1,800.  It  is  a  frame  edifice,  plainly  but 
neatly  finished  and  furnished,  and  is  used  by  two  other  denominations. 

M.  E.  CHURCH,  SOUTH. 

This  church  was  organized  in  1869  by  a  few  devoted  spirits,  who 
felt  anxious  for  a  church  organization  of  their  own.  The  first  members 
were  D.  Mclntyre  and  wife,  Eliza  Royston  and  John  Huston  and 
wife.  The  organization  soon  attracted  others  and  the  church  has  grown 
and  prospered  and  has  at  this  time  a  membership  of  forty,  with  earnest 
attending  congregations.     The  meetings  are  held    in  the  Union  Church. 

The  pastors  who  have  officiated  are,  first  the  Rev.  J.  B.  Woodridge, 


434  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  i 

Rev.   William   Pitts,   Rev.    Murphy,   Rev.    M.   Margison,   Rev.    Williair.  | 
King,  Rev.  Peter  Cobb,  Rev's  Busby  and  Houston. 

I 
M.    E.    CHURCH.  1 

The  Huntingdale  M.  E.  Church  was  located  in  the  town  in  the  year 
1871,  and  started  out  with  a  fair  number  to  effect  its  organization.  The 
members  were  J.  R.  McMillon,  L.  Cook;  M.  A.  Waugh,  William  Paul,  D.^ 
F.  Leek,  E.  Barnum,  D.  King,  P.  Gilbert,  W.  J.  McFarland,  A.  C.  Comer.j 
Rev.  J.  S.  Nelson,  Rev.  Henry  A.  Tolan.  The  church  has  grown  andi 
prospered,  and  has  increased  its  membership  in  the  twelve  years  past  to 
160  members.  It  has  and  is  doing  an  important  work,  and  its  influence 
is  widespread  and  constantly  increasing.  j 

The  clergymen  who  have  officiated  as  pastors  are  the  following: j 
Rev's  W.  H.  Van  Winkle,  Samuel  Jones,  John  H.  Gillispie,  E.  A.  Porter,: 
H.  H.  Dunlavy,  A.  L.  Walker  and  G.  A.  Deitrich.  This  denomination! 
also  worships  in  the  Union  Church.  ' 

I.  O.  O.  F.  I 

Carrsville  Lodge  No.  281,  was  organized  at  Carrsville  June  7,  1873, 
with  the  following  charter  members:  J.  S.  Barnhill,  H.  C.  Ragland,  L.  A.j 
Wisley,  Luther  Cook,  J.  D.  Dean  and  T.  J.  Carr.  It  remained  at  Carrs-' 
ville  until  1877,  when  it  was  removed  to  Huntingdale.  They  own  aj 
good  frame  hall  over  Moore's  store  and  it  is  handsomely  furnished.  Its- 
present  officers  are:  F.  M.  Anderson,  N.  G.;  Labe  Walker,  V.  G.;  E.  D.| 
Webb,  Secretary.     It  has  a  membership  of  fifty. 

This  about  finishes  the  history  of  the  township,  and  below  will  bej 
found  its  boundary  and  number,  as  entered  of  record:  I 

NO.  3,  SHAWNEE. 

"  Composed  of  all  of  Congressional  Township  No.  43  of  range  No., 
26,  and  sections  Nos.  31  to  36,  inclusive,  in  Congressional  Township  No. 
44  of  range  26."  , 

When  the  enterprise  of  its  citizens  is  added  to  its  magnificent 
domain,  its  wealth  of  fertile  soil,  the  value  of  its  blooded  stock  and; 
annual  increase  of  its  cereal  productions,  it  is  easy  to  see  that  Shawnee 
Township  will  hold  her  advanced  position  against  all  comers.  ; 

fields'   creek   township — ITS    METES   AND   BOUNDS.  ] 

i 
The  boundary  of  this   township  is  easily  defined,  it  being  officia\\y> 

given  as  being  "composed  of  Congressional  Township  No.  42  of  rangd 

No.  26."  ; 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  435 

When  Rives  County,  now  Henry,  was  first  organized  it  was  divided 
into  four  townships,  and  the  territory  now  comprising  Fields'  Creek  was 
divided  in  the  center  on  range  line  26,  one-half  being  in  Grand  River 
and  the  other  half  in  Springfield  Township.  It  remained  thus  until  i860, 
when  it  became  a  part  of  and  was  included  in  Grand  River  Township,  as 
it  was  that  year  organized  and  boundaries  defined.  It  was  a  part  of  that 
township  until  the  great  change  of  townships  in  1873  under  the  new 
township  law,  when  it  first  came  into  being  and  was  known  as  "  Fields* 
Creek"  Township,  with  its  boundaries  as  above  given.  Grand  River 
Township,  which  up  to  that  time  and  from  the  date  of  the  organization 
of  the  county  had  been  one  of  the  municipal  divisions  of  the  same,  was 
blotted  from  the  map  and  its  northern  portion  or  most  of  it  given  to  this 
township. 

AREA   21,000   ACRES. 

While  so  far  as  the  township  of  Fields'  Creek  was  a  new  township, 
and  is  at  this  time  but  ten  years  of  age,  the  township  was  one  of  the 
earliest  settled  portions  of  the  county.  It  is  six  miles  wide  from  east  to 
west,  and  five  and  a  half  from  north  to  south,  taking  in  on  its  northern 
border  a  portion  of  the  fractional  township,  which  is  a  trifle  less  than 
half  a  mile  wide  and  running  from  east  to  west  across  the  county.  It 
has  an  area  of  21,000  acres,  mostly  prairie  land,  which  will  equal  in  pro- 
ductive quality  any  other  portion  of  Henry  County.  The  township  is 
pretty  well  supplied  with  timber,  a  fine  forest  lining  the  banks  of  Fields' 
Creek  and  Town  Creek.  Still  in  the  matter  of  fuel  it  is  well  supplied, 
for  its  coal  veins  which  underlie  its  surface  will  probably  not  be 
exhausted  for  ages  to  come.  The  prairies  are  of  a  rich  and  mellow  soil, 
not  rolling,  but  undulating  sufficient  for  drainage  purposes,  and  slope 
from  the  divide  near  the  center  of  the  township  toward  the  creeks  above 
mentioned,  which  travers,  from  north  to  south,  the  eastern  and  western 
sides  of  the  township.  Fields'  Creek  was  first  named  "  Lake  Creek," 
after  one  of  its  first  settlers,  George  W.  Lake,  and  is  still  the  name  found 
on  the  map  of  the  government  survey.  But  the  citizens  got  to  call- 
ing it  Fields'  Creek,  after  Mr.  Joseph  Fields,  the  first  settler  who  located 
on  its  banks  in  section  10.  The  stream  enters  the  township  near  the 
center  from  the  north,  running  southwest  for  nearly  three  miles,  then 
south,  passing  into  Clinton  Township,  and  empties  into  Grand  River. 
It  has  several  small  branches  that  waters  the  southern  and  northwestern 
portions  of  the  township.  Town  Creek  takes  its  name  from  Clinton. 
This  stream  rises  in  the  northeastern  part  of  Fields'  Creek  Township, 
and  its  three  branches  unite  and  run  nearly  due  south,  passing  near  Clin- 
ton and  emptying  into  Fields'  Creek  about  one-fourth  mile  from  Grand 
River.  In  speaking  of  going  to  Clinton  the  people  always  called  it 
going  to  "Town,"  and  the  name  was  thus  given  the  stream.     The  town- 


43^  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  i 

ship  itself,   like   the   creek  of  the   same  name,  was   named  after  Sheriff  ( 
Fields. 

Mr.  Joseph  Fields  was  one  of  its  first  settlers,  and  came  early  in  the  : 
year  1832.  He  was  afterwards  the  first  sheriff  of  the  county,  receiving  j 
'Jiis  commission  from  Governor  Dunklin,  and  was  dated  August  4,  1835.  j 
Mr.  Fields  in  the  following  March,  1836,  was  killed  by  his  horse  falling  j 
on  him.  While  going  from  Clinton  to  his  home,  his  horse  stepped  into  1 
quite  a  deep  hole,  which  threw  it  and  Mr.  Fields,  the  horse  being  on  top.  '. 
He  was  found  completely  paralyzed,  and  died  from  his  injuries.  The  1 
year  183 1,  George  W.  Lake  came  and  drove  his  stake  on  section  20.  He  j 
was  the  first  settler  in  the  township,  and  a  prominent  citizen  of  the  ; 
■county  for  many  years.  Then  there  was  William  and  Isaac  Swift,  men  j 
of  energy  who  settled,  the  former  on  section  33,  and  the  latter  on  section  , 
17.  They  were  soon  followed  by  Joel  Milton,  on  the  same  section,  and  , 
Peter  Huntsman,  on  section  19.  John  F.  Sharp  settled  on  section  23,  ; 
and  was  afterwards  county  judge  and  county  seat  commissioner.  These  j 
pioneers  all  came  from  Virginia.  In  1834,  Nathan  A.  Fields,  brother  of  i 
Joseph,  settled  on  section  31.  He  was  appointed  deputy  sheriff  by  his  ] 
brother,  and  his  appointment  was  approved  by  Judge  Charles  H.  Allen,  of 
the  Sixth  Judicial  Circuit,  on  September  23,  1835,  and  he  was  acting  sheriff 
from  the  death  of  his  brother  until  the  August  election  in  1836,  when 
Robert  Allen  succeeded  as  the  first  elected  sheriff  of  Henry  County.         I 

Mr.  Nathan  A.  Fields   is  now  the  oldest   living  settler  of  the  town- 
ship, and  bears  his  years  well.  I 

The  first   school  house  built  in  the  township  was  in  the  fall  of   1835,  ' 
and  was  a  joint  effort  of  the  neighbors.      The  school  was  a  subscription 
school,  and  was  situated  on  section  16.     The  ne.xt  school  of  note  was  in  ! 
1854,  when  a  school  building  for  its  use  was  erected  on  section  19,  and 
used  both  for  a  church  and  school.  1 

In  the  spring  of  1836,  Thomas  B.  and  Benjamin  F.  Wallace  came  to  | 
the  township,  and  settled  on  section  35,  about  one  mile  north  of  Clinton,  j 
but  before  the  county  seat  was  laid  out.  They  built  themselves  a  log  j 
store  room  and  opened  the  first  store  in  Fields'  Creek  Township,  and  j 
■probably  the  last  also.  They  remained  there  until  the  county  seat  was  I 
located,  when  they  removed  to  Clinton.  At  the  time  they  started  there 
were  four  other  stores  in  the  county.  Fields'  Creek,  being  near  the 
county  seat,  which  is  just  over  her  border  on  the  south,  remains  an  agri-  > 
cultural  township. 

The  same  year,  1836,  a  saw  mill  was  built  on  I''ields'  Creek  by  ' 
Thomas  Swift  and  son,  and  was  on  the  south  line  of  section  20,  where 
the  creek  crosses  that  line.  It  was  used  quite  a  number  of  years.  There 
was  quite  a  number  of  settlers  came  in  during  the  years  from  1837  to 
1840,  and  quite  a  large  quantity  of  land  pre-empted.  A  Mr.  Brown,  who 
settled  in  the  township  in  1835,  sold  his  claim  to  Mr.  Swift  in  1S37.    Mr. 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  437 

Swift's  wife  was  the  sister  of  Chief  Justice  Taney,  of  the  United  Statesf- 
Supreme  Court. 

In  1839,  quite  a  large  colony  from  Rockingham  County,  North 
Carolina,  arrived  in  Henry  County,  and  camped  on  section  3,  in  Tebc 
Township,  near  where  the  Sardis  Church  and  school  house  in  that  town- 
ship now  stands.  The  names  and  destination  of  this  colony  will  be  found 
in  the  records  here  given  of  Tebo  Township.  From  that  point  they 
scattered.  Mrs.  Sarah  Lindsay,  of  Fields'  Creek  Township,  was  one  of 
this  colony,  and  she  had  her  family  with  her.  Mrs.  Lindsay  settled  ons 
section  10.  They  came  in  wagons  across  Kentucky  and  Illinois,  via  St. 
Louis,  and  arrived  at  their  camping  ground,  as  above  stated,  September 
20,  1839.  Mrs.  Lindsay  and  sons  on  selecting  the  homes  on  section  10, 
prepared  arrangements  for  the  pre-empting  and  entering  of  a  large 
quantity  of  the  fertile  prairies  of  Fields'  Creek  Township,  and  her  sons 
attended  to  it.  They  succeeded  admirably  in  securing  a  large  body  of 
valuable  land.  These  farms  lie  in  sections  8,  9,  10  and  fractional  sectioR^' 
3,  with  small  tracts  in  other  sections. 

CHURCHES   AND   SCHOOLS. 

The  Methodists  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Fields  Settlement  united' 
together  and  put  up  a  church  in  the  year  1857.  It  was  not  an  expensive 
structure,  but  cost  in  the  neighborhood  of  $600.  It  was  called  the 
Methodist-Episcopal  Church  South.  It  was  located  on  section  10,  and! 
the  original  members  were  James  Lindsay  and  wile,  James  Lottspiech, 
wife  and  children,  Mrs.  F.  Adamson,  Rev.  Durant  and  wife,  and  a  few- 
others  whose  names  were  forgotten. 

The  first  minister  was  the  Rev.  Durant,  and  he  was  followed  in  1858^ 
by  Rev.  J.  Headly.  The  latter  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Henry  Webster 
in  1859  and  by  the  Rev.  J.  C.  Thompson  in  i860.  At  the  close  of  the 
latter's  ministration,  or,  rather  the  following  year,  owing  to  the  effect  of 
the  civil  war,  church  matters  were  brought  to  a  stand  and  preaching  sus- 
pended. It  was  not  again  organized  until  1865,  when  the  Rev.  Warren? 
Pitts  was  called  to  the  pastorate  and  remained  an  earnest  worker  for 
three  years. 

A  call  was  then  made  in  1868  on  the  Rev.  J.  B.  H.  Woodbridge, 
who  accepted  the  charge  and  held  it  until  1873.  He  was  followed  by  the 
Rev.  Murphy  in  1873,  and  the  latter  by  Rev.  Marvanson  in  1875,  whose 
services  were  retained  only  one  year.  The  church  had  grown  smaller, 
many  of  its  first  members  had  passed  to  a  happier  home,  others  had 
removed  and  the  church  finally  closed  up  at  the  end  of  the  last  men- 
tioned year.  The  building  still  stands,  but  only  a  wreck,  for  it  is  sadly 
out  of  repair.  Its  resurrection  is  not  expected.  Its  membership  never 
exceeded  twenty 


438  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

The  old  school  house  on  section  i6,  which  was  erected  in  1835,  is 
not  now  in  existence,  but  others  have  taken  its  place.  There  are  quite 
a  number  now  living  in  the  township  who  received  the  rudiments  of  their 
education  at  the  old  log  school  house,  and  it  has  a  firm  and  cherished 
hold  in  their  memories.  There  are  now  four  schools  in  Fields'  Creek 
Township,  as  reported  by  the  superintendent,  and  they  are  all  well 
attended  with  an  average  of  six  months  schooling  a  year.  The  teachers 
the  present  year  are  especially  able,  and  the  progress  of  the  pupils  is 
rapid.  The  rising  youths  are  intent  on  culture  and  have  had  the  good 
taste  to  form  literary  and  debating  societies.  The  Young  American 
Club  hold  their  meetings  at  the  school  house  in  school  district  No.  i,  a 
really  fine  building,  and  an  honor  to  the  county  as  well  as  the  district. 
The  president  of  this  society  in  1870  was  Jesse  Sharp,  and  A.  C.  Comer 
was  the  secretary,  E.  M.  Morton,  who  taught  the  school  that  winter, 
was  the  editor.  The  debating  club  at  the  Comer  School  still  exists,  or 
rather  it  is  generally  organized  each  winter.  The  winter  of  1882-83 
finds  it  promptly  "  on  deck,"  and  its  meetings  are  not  only  spirited  but 
show  no  small  talent  for  oratory  among  its  debators. 

The  Evening  Star  literary  society  is  another  which  is  well  advanced 
and  if  regularly  conducted  will  show  steady  improvement.  As  there 
are  quite  a  number  of  talented  members  connected  with  this  society 
they  should  see  to  it  that  it  shall  not  be  surpassed  by  any,  either  at 
home  or  abroad. 

Taking  it  altogether  Fields'  Creek  Township,  in  the  richness  of  its 
soil,  in  wealth  according  to  population,  and  in  the  brightness  of  its 
future  prospects,  will  compare  favorably  with  its  sister  township,  for  all 
of  which  her  citizens  have  cause  to  be  proud.  The  population  of  the 
township  in  1880  was  852. 


""^51/ '"^^  \3^ 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 


BOGARD,    BIG   CREEK,    HONEY   CREEK,    AND    WHITE   Ox\K 

TOWNSHIPS. 

BOGARD-THE  NORTHWEST-ORGANIZED  1857  AND  1873-IT  HAS  30,155  95-100  ACRES  OF 
LAND-ASA  HENDRICKS  ITS  FIRST  SETTLER-MRS.  MARV  TAYLOR,  FIRST  CHILD 
BORN  IN  THE  TOWNSHIP— LAKES— URICH-LOCATION— SETTLEMENT  AND  BUSI- 
NESS—SCHOOLS  AND  CHURCHES— POLITICAL— POPULATION-BIG  CREEK— TOWN- 
SHIPS 44  AND  43,  RANGE  27—26,880  ACRES— ITS  STREAMS  AND  WOODLANDS— ITS 
ORIGINAL  BOUNDARY— EARLY  SETTLERS,  i83i-A  GRAND  OLD  TOWNSHIP— NOKRIS 
FORKS-CHURCHES,  SCHOOLS  AND  LODGES-HONEY  CREEK— BOUNDARY— SMALL 
SETTLEMENT— POPULATION— SLOW  OF  GROWTH-ITS  PIONEERS— SCHOOLS— WANT 
OF  PROGRESS— WHITE  OAK— THE  SMALLEST  TOWNSHIP— GOOD  LAND  AND  WATER 
PLENTY— SETTLED   IN   1838— COAL— CYCLONE— SCHOOLS— POPULATION. 

BOGARD  TOWNSHIP. 

This  township  lies  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  county  and  was 
first  organized  as  such  at  the  August  term,  1857.  ^^^  described  as  fol- 
lows: 

"Ordered  that  all  that  portion  of  the  county  lying  between  Grand 
River  and  Big  Creek,  in  Henry  County,  Missouri,  be  declared  a  separate 
township  lor  all  municipal  purposes,  and  that  the  house  of  Asa  Hen- 
dricks be  designated  as  the  voting  precinct,  and  the  same  be  known  by 
the  name  of  Bogard." 

This  boundary  gave  it  a  sort  of  triangle,  and  at  the  same  time  extend- 
ing into  a  portion  of  what  are  now  White  Oak,  Honey  Cr^ek  and  Big 
Creek  Townships,  and  what  was  formerly  apart  of  Big  Creek  Township, 
when  the  county  was  first  divided  ihto  municipal  divisions.  May  5,  1835. 

The  township,  with  some  few  changes  remained  as  above  described, 
until  the  new  township  went  into  effect  in  1873,  when  Bogard  Township, 
as  one  of  the  nine  which  then  composed  the  municipal  divisions  of  the 
county  was  changed.  Instead  of  being  one  of  the  nine,  it  was  then  made 
one  of  nineteen,  and  its  boundaries  were  described  as  follows,  being 
known  as  No.  5  : 

Composed  of  all  of  congressional  township  No.  43,  of  range  28,  and 
sections  Nos.  31  to  36,  inclusive,  in  congressional  township  No.  44,  of 
range  28;  also  embracing  all  of  the  territory  north  of  the  south  half  of 
sections  Nos.  7,  8,  9.  lO,  11,  and  12,  in  township  No.  42,  of  range  28. 

This  gives  it  a  trifle  over  seven  and  four-fifths  miles  in  extent,  north 
and  south,  and  six   miles  east  and    west,  with  an  area  of  30,155  95-100 


440  HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 

acres,  the  principal  part  of  which  is  as  handsome  a  body  of  prairie  land 
as  can  be  found  in  the  county.  Grand  River  touches  its  southern  border, 
and  Knob  Creek  and  its  main  branch,  Black  Oaks  and  other  streams 
emptying  into  Grand  River,  waters  its  southern  part.  Big  Creek  from 
the  northeast  waters  the  northern  part  and  on  these  streams  and  branches 
will  be  found  all  of  the  timber  supply.  There  has  been  very  little  coal 
yet  found  in  the  township,  except  on  sections  22,  15,  10,  and  13,  and 
while  there  may  be  some  small  veins  in  other  sections,  so  long  as  wood 
is  cheap  it  will  not  pay  to  work  them.  The  old  Shawnee  Trail  passed 
through  this  township,  and  the  tribe  had  a  few  wigwams  on  the  banks  of 
Big  Creek,  while  serving  them  as  a  hunting  ground. 

ITS   FIRST   SETTLER. 

Asa  Hendrick,  of  Brown  County,  Kentucky,  was  the  first  white  man 
known  to  have  built  his  cabin  in  the  township.  He  settled  on  the  east 
half  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  16,  and  also  staked  out  his  claim 
on  the  northwest  quarter  of -section  15.  He  came  in  the  spring  of  1837, 
built  his  cabin  and  planted  a  patch  of  corn,  kept  his  rifle  loaded  and  laid 
in  his  supply  of  meat  for  winter  use.  His  nearest  neighbor  was  Judge 
Smith,  living  nearly  four  miles  distant,  nearly  due  west  in  Cass  County. 
Judge  Smith  at  that  time  was  plain  Mr.  Smith,  and  a  pioneer  like  him- 
self. His  neighbor  on  the  north  was  Mr.  Jonas  Turner,  who  lived  in 
Johnson  County.  This  continued  until  fall,  when  John  Scroggs  and 
Joshua  Page  moved  into  the  township.  This  latter  was  a  minister  of  the 
Christian  Church,  and  preached  the  first  sermon,  and  afterward  many 
others  in  the  township,  at  an  old  log  school  house  that  was  reared  as  an 
educational  institute  in  the  year  1838.  Miss  Mary  Page,  now  Mrs.  Tay- 
lor, was  born  in  1838,  and  the  first  white  child  born  in  the  township. 

The  school  house  above  referred  to  opened  as  a  school  in  the  winter 
of  1838-9,  and  Rev.  Joshua  Page  was  the  first  teacher.  Settlers  came  in 
from  nearly  everywhere,  and  in  this  respect  Bogard  has  the  most  cosmo- 
politan citizens  of  the  world,  who  at  last  found  homes  in  the  county. 

Not  only  are  the  states  and  Europe  well  represented,  but  a  large 
immigration  from  Canada  have  found  homes,  and  their  cabins  and  dwell- 
ings now  dot  many  beautiful  prairie  sites  of  this  rich  township.  Agri- 
culturally speaking,  it  is  one  of  the  best  in  the  county. 

Its  market  now  is  more  at  Holden  than  at  Clinton,  but  while  good 
roads  last  the  county  seat  has  the  preference.  There  are  three  small 
bodies  of  water  in  the  township,  which  have  been  designated  lakes. 
Those  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  township,  on  sections  i  and  2,  being 
called  Horseshoe  and  Goose  Lakes  respectively,  and  the  one  in  the 
southwest  corner,  found  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  7,  township 
42,  range  28,  called  Little  Lake. 


HISTORY    OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  44I 

There  never  have  been  any  towns  or  villages  in  the  township  unless 
Urich,  first  known  in  iS/t,  may  be  called  such.  It  is  located  on  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  22,  and  being  centrally  located,  may  be 
termed  the  capital  of  Bogard  Township  and  its  only  village  and  post 
office. 

URICH. 

Urich  is  located  on  the  southeast  corner  of  section  22  and  was 
founded  in  April,  1871,  by  H.  C.  McDonnell,  and  H.  C.  McDonnell  &  Co. 
built  the  first  house  at  the  above  date.  In  the  spring  of  1872  they  opened 
a  very  general  stock  of  merchandise,  and  being  the  first  and  only  store 
in  the  township,  they  did  a  good  business  with  the  rich  farming  com- 
munity by  which  they  were  surrounded.  A  tew  more  settled  that  year, 
and  in  the  following  year  they  sold  out  to  T.  W.  Wells. 

Mr.  Wells  became  the  first  postmaster,  and  has  held  it  to  1883,  being 
succeed  by  Browning  Stewart  the  present  year.  Mr.  H.  D.  Rogers  started 
the  first  blacksmith  shop;  William  Green,  carpenter,  and  J.  W.Jones,  M. 
D.,  was  the  first  physician.  Twelve  years  later,  January  i,  1883,  the 
business  directory  of  Urich  reads  as  follows: 

J.  A.  Wells  &  Son,  general  merchandise. 

Miller  Bros.,  general  merchandise. 

F.  C.  Tisdale  &  Co.,  general  merchandise. 

Stewart  &  Co.,  drugs. 

J.  J.  Miller,  hotel. 

O.  E,  Wallace,  physician. 

John  Powers,  physician. 

John  Hisey,  blacksmith  shop. 

Ed.  Murphy,  blacksmith  shop. 

They  have  a  very  neat  and  comfortable  school  house,  which  has  also 
been  used  for  church  purposes  for  several  years,  and  they  have  now  five 
school  districts  in  the  township,  each  with  a  good,  comfortable  frame 
house,  and  all  the  necessary  furniture  for  primary  teaching.  Schools  are 
kept  up  some  six  months  in  the  year,  and  are  well  attended,  the  number 
of  pupils  being  fully  up  to  the  average.  The  township  improved  quite 
rapidly  during  the  years  1870  and  1871,  and  increased  its  population. 
Over  5-000  acres  of  fine  prairie  land  was  fenced  and  placed  under  culti- 
vation in  the  former  year  alone. 

The  little  towns  of  Wadesburg  and  Grant,  just  over  the  line  in  Cass 
County,  were  quite  well  patronized  before  Urich  came  into  being  on 
account  of  a  steam  saw  and  grist  mill,  besides  a  union  church  which  was 
occupied  alternately  by  the  Methodists,  Presbyterians,  Baptists  and 
Christians,  and  was  built  by  them,  and  these  little  towns  have  yet  some 
trade  from  the  west  side  of  Bogard  and  White  Oak.  They  were  founded 
about  1867  or  1868.     However,   when   Urich  was  founded  it  secured   the 


442  HISTORY   OF    HENR\    COUNTY. 

trade  and  still  holds  more  of  it  than  either  Holden  or  Clinton.      The 

town  will  grow  and  thrive  and  in    1890  will   be  dignified  by  having  its 

population  given,  and  finding  itself  with  a  local  habitation  and  a  name 

in  the  records  of  the  census  of  that  year.     A  coal  bank   lies   within   a 

half  mile  of  the  town  on  section  22,  and  others  will  be  found  on  sections 

10,  13  and  15,  and  perhaps  in  other  places.     Urich   is   not  destined  to 

want  for  fuel. 

CHURCHES. 

The  oldest  church  is  the  Urich  Baptist  Church,  which  was  organized 
many  years  since  and  was  known  as  Mount  Pleasant  Church,  and  was 
located  in  the  southwest  corner  of  the  township  on  Knob  Creek.  It 
was  removed  to  Urich  in  1875,  and  they  worshipped  at  the  school  house 
house  above  mentioned  for  two  years.  In  1877  they  erected  their  pres- 
ent handsome  little  church  at  a  cost  of  $1,200.  The  church  has  always 
been  well  attended  and  prosperous  and  has  at  this  time  a  membership 
of  sixty-five.  Its  pastors  have  been  in  the  order  named  :  Revs.  Obe- 
•diah  Tompkins,  A.  M.  Cockrell,  Thomas  Briggs,  I.  Tompkins  and  John 
L.  Uenton. 

CHRISTIAN   CHURCH 

was  organized  February  3,  1877,  at  the  Urich  School  House,  called  by 
the  name  of  Miller  School  House.  Its  first  members  were  :  J.  A.  Wells, 
P.  A.  Wells,  G.  T.  Watkins,  A.  M.  Watkins,  William  Briscoe,  Fannie 
Briscoe,  J.  J.  Corwine,  Amanda  Corwine,  Mary  Corwine,  Jennie  Robinson 
and  Nancy  Lotspeich. 

Those  who  have  officiated  as  ministers  are,  first,  the  Rev.  Ragland, 
Rev.  Cunningham,  Rev.  Mathews,  and  the  Rev.  J.  A.  Elliott.  The  pres- 
ent membership  is  twenty-eight.  In  the  year  1880  they  erected  a 
church  edifice,  frame,  at  a  cost  of  $1,200  and  is  neatly  and  plainly  fur- 
nished. Their  membership  is  small,  but  they  make  up  in  zeal  and  their 
meetings  are  well  attended.  They  hope  to  profit,  both  by  deeper  inter- 
est in  church  affairs,  which  seems  to  be  growing,  and  by  the  new  comers 
to  their  faith. 

Brushy  Church  was  organized  by  S.  Brown,  in  February,  1877.  The 
names  of  the  original  members  are  as  follows:  John  Mickelberry, 
.Sarilda  Mickelberry,  Joseph  Gerard,  Melvina  Gerard,  Henry  Eller,  Levina 
EUer,  Jefferson  Burke,  G.  I.  Burke,  Fredrick  Walby,  Fredrick  Seigle, 
Charles  Seigle,  Augustus  Walby,  Martha  Walby,  Ann  Roads,  Hannah 
Roberts. 

The  names  of  pastors  up  to  this  date  are,  Rev.  S.  Brown,  Rev.  Jos- 
eph Timmons,  Rev.  J.  R.  Evans,  Rev.  W.  P.  Bowman. 

The  church  was  built  in  i88o,  and  cost  $1,200.  The  present  mem- 
bership numbers  seventy.  A  Sabbath  School  conducted  by  Daniel  Gar- 
rison, superintendent,  is  connected  thereto;  number  of  pupils,  sixty. 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  443 

POLITICAL. 

The  first  voting  precinct  in  the  township  was  at  the  house  of  Asa 
Hendricks,  and  remained  there  for  several  years.  When  its  boundaries 
were  defined  under  the  new  organization  law,  the  voting  place  was 
removed  from  Hendricks'  to  school  house  No.  2.  about  one  mile  west. 
The  township  is  republican  by  from  thirty  to  forty  majority,  it  giving 
the  county  ticket  an  average  of  thirty-eight  republican  nnajority.  For 
justice  of  the  peace  it  elected  one  democrat  and  one  republican.  Its 
local  vote  will  be  found  in  the  chapter  devoted  to  elections  of  1880  and 
1882,  which  is  given  at  125  republican  to  8y  democratic  votes  in  the 
township. 

POPULATION. 

The  population  of  Bogard  Township  in   1870  was    1,1 1? 

In  1880 1,195 

Increase 78 

This  would  show  a  gain  of  only  seventy-eight,  but  in  the  census  of 
1870  was  included  all  the  territory  between  the  forks  of  Grand  River 
and  Big  Creek  to  the  Cass  and  Johnson  County  line.  Much  of  this  ter- 
ritory was  taken  from  her  by  the  new  organization  law,  which  is  now  its 
prescribed  bounds. 

With  her  fertile  prairies  and  enterprising  and  industrious  popula- 
tion, Bogard  will  grow  and  prosper.  It  is  an  agricultural  township,  with 
so  little  waste  land  as  to  be  almost  imperceptible,  and  it  requires  but 
work  and  intelligent  cultivation  to  make  it  the  garden  spot  of  Henry 
County. 

Let  the  hands  of  industry,  culture  and  progress  guide  her,  and  her 
future  is  not  doubtful. 

BIG    CREEK   TOWNSHIP. 

This  is  one  of  the  north  border  townships,  having  Johnson  County 
on  the  north,  Shawnee  Township  on  the  east,  Honey  Creek  on  the  south 
and  Bogard  Township  on  the  west.  It  lies  principally  in  township  43  of 
range  27,  but  has  on  its  northern  border  a  strip  one  mile  wide  added  to 
it  from  township  44  of  the  same  range,  the  sections  being  from  31  to  36 
of  the  last  township  inclusive.  This  gives  it  a  dimension  of  seven  miles 
north  and  south  and  six  east  and  west.  It  has  forty-two  sections  of  land, 
or  an  area  of  26,880  acres. 

Honey  Creek  and  its  branches  waters  the  entire  east  side,  while  Big 
Creek  does  the  same  for  the  west.  The  branches  from  these  two  streams 
reach  to  the  center  of  the  township,  so  that  with  the  numerous  springs 
it  is  abundantly  watered,  and  its  timber  supply  sufBcient  for  all  practical 
purposes,  its  timber  belt  lying  along  its  running  streams. 


444  HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 

It  is  among  the  largest  townships  in  the  county,  and  ranks  with  the 
best  in  the  richness  which  characterizes  the  soil  of  its  magnificent  prai- 
ries and  the  depth  of  the  alluvial  deposits  found  in  the  bottom  lands  of 
its  creeks  and  streams. 

ORIGINAL   BOUNDARY. 

Big  Creek  was  one  of  the  four  townships  organized  when  Henry 
County  put  on  the  robes  of  official  life  and  secured  a  local  habitation 
and  a  name  (Rives)  among  her  sister  counties  in  the  state.  It  then  was 
composed  of  about  one-fourth  of  the  county,  its  west  line  being  Cass 
and  Bates  Counties,  Johnson  County  on  the  north,  range  line  26  for  its 
eastern  border  and  township  line  42  being  its  southern  limit. 

This  gave  it  all  of  Bogard,  Big  Creek,  half  of  Shawnee,  Honey 
Creek  and  White  Oak,  and  one-quarter  of  Fields  Creek.  This  was  in 
May,  1835.  This  line,  however,  was  changed  a  few  years  afterward,  in 
1840,  as  follows: 

"  Ordered,  that  Big  Creek  Township  be  altered  as  follows:  Beginn- 
ing north  at  a  point  opposite  Huntly's  mill  on  Grand  River;  thence  fol- 
lowing the  divide  between  the  waters  of  Honey  and  Lake  Creeks,  to  the 
county  road  leading  from  Clinton  to  Warrensburg;  thence  along  said 
road  to  the  county  line  of  Johnson  County,  including  Childers  in  said 
township,  and  that  the  above  boundary  along  the  road  be  the  eastern 
boundary  of  said  township." 

Its  first  voting  precinct  was  at  the  house  of  Thomas  Kimsey,  at  the 
August  election,  1836.  In  1858  the  Kimsey  School  House  was  desig- 
nated as  its  voting  place,  and  that  was  afterward  changed  to  Kimseyville. 
November  i  ith,  1S65,  the  county  court  ordered  the  voting  precinct  to  be 
removed  from  Kimseyville  to  Huntingdale. 

EARLY   SETTLERS. 

Littleberry  Kimsey  came  in  1830,  so  did  Abner  Martin  and  his  two 
sons,  George  W.  and  Baker  Martin  and  George  Bounds  in  183 1,  Wil- 
liam H.  Anderson,  Major  Isaac  Anderson  and  Esau  Prewitt  in  1832,  and 
the  latter  settled  on  section  13,  as  also  Daniel  Chitwood,  a  son-in-law  of 
Prewitt's.  In  November,  1833,  Abner  Martin  died,  the  first  death  in  the 
township,  and  his  two  sons  and  George  Bounds  were  made  administra- 
tors, and  the  appraisers  of  the  estate  were  William  H.  Anderson,  Esau 
Prewitt  and  Littleberry  Kimsey.  Then  later  came  Henry  Lotspeich. 
1835,  William  F'ox,  William  Bidwell,  John  Swift,  Joe  and  P^dward  Ander- 
son and  others.  While  this  was  one  of  the  first  settled  townships  in  the 
county,  and  as  Davis  Township  and  then  Tebo,  while  under  the  juris- 
diction of  Lafayette,  it  did  not  settle  fast  from  1835. 

The  immigrants  located  nearer  to  the  county  seat,  within  striking 
distance  of  a  place  of  trade.     Still,  take  the  township  of  Big  Creek  as  it 


HISTORY   OF    HENKV   COUNTY.  445 

now  stands,  and  it  is  certainly  a  splendid  body  of  land,  rich  in  all  that 
pertains  to  cereal  productions  and  the  prolific  yield  of  grapes.  It  is  like 
some  others  purely  agricultural,  having  a  couple  of  post  offices  and  a 
store  or  two.  The  people,  while  patronizing  those  stores  to  a  certain 
extent,  do  their  largest  trade  at  Holden.  The  county  seat  is  of  course 
attractive,  and  official  business  calls  them  there,  but  the  best  roads  run 
to  Holden,  and  in  bad  weather  it  leads  in  che  trade.  Norris  Forks  is  at 
present  little  besides  a  post  office,  but  it  is  centrally  located,  and  is  des- 
tined to  become  quite  a  village  when  the  thousands  of  acres  of  land  now 
idle  and  unproductive  shall  be  populated  with  an  enterprising  and  pro- 
gressive farming  community.  This,  and  this  only,  is  what  is  needed  to 
make  Big  Creek  one  of  the  richest  agricultural  townships  in  the  county. 
With  a  steady,  but  not  rapid  increase.  Big  Creek  gained  in  population 
and  wealth,  and  is  fairly  prosperous  at  the  present  time. 

The  Big  Creek  of  to-day  has  been  largely  shorn  of  her  proportions 
of  earlier  days.  In  1873,  the  county  was  reorganized  in  townships,  mak- 
ing nineteen,  when  before  there  only  been  nine.  In  this  new  arrange- 
ment Big  Creek  was  composed  as  follows: 

NO.   4.    BIG   CREEK. 

"Composed  of  congressional  township  No.  43,  of  range  No.  27,  and 
sections  Nos.  31  to  36  inclusive,  in  township  No.  44,  of  range  27." 

This  is  her  present  dimensions  and  is  blest  with  a  moral  and  enter- 
prising population  of  about  1,200.     In  1880  the  population  was  1,038. 

In  the  cause  of  education  she  is  fairly  prosperous  and  has  fine 
school  buildings  to  accommodate  the  growing  youths  or  children  of 
school  age.  A  more  perfect  account  of  the  schools  of  Henry  County 
will  be  found  in  the  school  history  in  another  part  of  this  work. 

The  settlers  of  this  township,  like  all  of  the  pioneers,  had  their  ups 
and  downs  of  life,  of  troubles,  trials  and  vexations,  and  from  the  wild 
region  of  half  a  century  ago,  now  stands  noble  farm  houses,  and  civ- 
ilization has  marked  it  for  its  own.  This  is  Big  Creek  Township  of 
to-day. 

NORRIS   FORKS. 

The  village  of  Norris  Forks  lies  in  the  southwest  corner  of  section 
10  and  is  the  only  village  in  the  township,  if  it  can  be  called  such.  It 
is  surrounded  by  a  rich  agricultural  country  and  in  a  well  to  do  farming 
community.  It  took  a  start  in  the  world  in  the  spring  of  1875,  in  the 
erection  of  a  store  house  by  Mr.  B.  T.  Moore.  The  first  residence  was 
put  up  by  Mr.  Nathan  Moore,  son  of  the  first  named.  Dr.  L.  A.  Wisely 
built  and  started  a  drug  store,  and  in  1879  J.  A.  Overby  put  up  another 
business  house,  making  three  in  all.  Its  first  ph\-sician  was  Dr.  T.  T. 
Thornton. 


446  HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 

Norris  Forks  was  a  necessity,  and  it  is  now  a  great  convenience  to 
the  neghboring  country.     While  the  past  eight  years  of  its  existence  has 
not  given  it   the  position  of  a  city  of  even  the  fourth  class,  there  is   no     ] 
reason  to  doubt  that  in  time  it  will  reach  that  postion.     When  Big  Creek 
Township  shall  have  more  of  its  rich  soil  under  cultivation,  and  becomes     | 
more  densely  populated,  the  central  position  of  Norris  Forks  will  give  it     i 
a  healthy  growth,  and  a  prosperity  befitting  its  surroundings.  -^ 

UNION   CHURCH. 

i 
The  Carrsville  Union  Church  is  located  on  section  13,  township  43, 

of  range  27,  near  Petersburg,  and  is   owned   by  the  Baptist,  Reformers, 

Methodists  and  Presbyterian  denominations,  and  its  total  membership  as 

above  is  about  one  hundred. 

The  Rev.  A.  M.  Cockrell,  Baptist,  was  the  first  pastor,  and  others  have 

held  since.     The  church  was  erected  by  the  above  denominations  jointly     | 

in  1880,  and  cost  $700.     It  is  a  frame  structure  plainly  built  and  neatly     | 

furnished.     The  church  is  gradually  growing   and  its  influence  for  good     ] 

increasing.  i 

I.  O.  O.  F  3 

I 

Laurel  Lodge,  No.  402,  was  organized  February  22,   188 1,  the  anni-     i 
versary  of  the  birth  of  the  Father  of  his  Country,  so-called,  at  Norris,     j 
Big  Creek  Township.     Its  charter  members  were  :  L.  A.  Wisely,  C.  F. 
Altman,  N.  Kizer,  R.  E.  Mansfield,   J.  W.  Gilliam,  J.  B.  Dunham  and  J.     | 
W.  Victor.  , 

Officers— C.  F.  Altman,  N.  G.;  J.  B  Dunham,  V.  G.;  R.  E.  Man.sfield, 
Sec;  L.  A.  Wisely,  Per.  Sec;  J.  W.  Victor,  Treas. 

The  order  has  found  a  pleasant  field  for  its  labor,  and  it  is  slowly 
but  steadily  gaining  in  growth  and  influence,  and  is  likely  to  continue 
on  the  road  of  successful  lodges.  The  officers  elected  and  installed  for 
the  year  1883  are  as  follows:  M.  R.  Gillette,  N.  G.;  W.  A.  Stansberry, 
V.  G.;  C.  M.  Morgan,  Secretary;  R.  E.  Mansfield,  Per.  Secretary;  Milo  ! 
Spaulding,  Treasurer. 

A.  F.  &  A.  M.  . 

Agricola  Lodge  No.  343,  of  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  is  one  of  the  most  pros-     ! 
perous  lodges  in  the  county.     It   is    located  at   Petersburg,    Big   Creek 
Township  and  its  charter  was    granted   October   12,    1870.     Its   charter     i 
members  were,  J.  H.  Webster,  W.  M.;  L.  P.  Beatty,  S.  W;  M.  R.  Gillette, 
J.  W. ;  D.  C.  Mclntire,  Treasurer;  E.  S.  Campbell,  Secretary;  J.  B.  How- 
erton,  S.  D.;  A.  J.  Dunham,  J.  D;  A.  M.  Butcher,  Tyler;  and  G.  W.  Beck, 
J.  H.    McCann,    George   W.    McKee,  and  several   others   as    members.      ! 
They  have  a  neat  hall,  some  36x40  feet  in  size,  frame,  which  was  put  up     1 
at  a  cost  of  $700.     It  is  all  paid  for  and  the  hall  is  handsomely  furnished. 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  44/ 

It  has  a  membership  of  fifty-eight,  with  money  in  the  treasury  and 
loaned  out.  It  promptly  acts  out  the  tenets  of  its  faith,  contributes  to 
deeds  of  charity  and  takes  care  of  the  welfare  of  its  members. 

Its  present  officers  are:  S.  M.  Lane,  W.  M.;  L.  P.  Beatty,  S.  W.;  J, 
W.  Lane,  J.  W.;  N.  D.  Lane,  Treasurer;  P.  D.  Lane,  Secretary;  J.  B. 
Howerton,  S.  D.;  S.  M.  Thompson,  J.  D.;  J.  C.  Gilliam,  S.  S.;  P.  H.  How- 
erton,  J.  S.;  T.  W.  Dean,  chaplain,  W.  A.  McMahan,  Tyler. 

HONEY   CREEK   TOWNSHIP. 

Honey  Creek  when  laid  out  under  the  new  township  organization 
law  should  have  made  Grand  River  its  southern  boundary,  but  the  county 
court  thought  otherwise,  and  the  result,  although  going  by  section  and 
quarter  section  lines,  crosses  Grand  River  no  less  than  eight  times.  The 
township  contains  a  little  less  than  twenty-eight  and  a  half  sections  of 
land.     In  area  it  has  i8,ii6|  acres. 

It  is  nearly  all  prairie;  the  timber  there  is  lying  on  the  north  side  of 
Grand  River  and  on  Honey  Creek,  which  divides  the  township  nearly  in 
the  center  from  about  one  and  one-fourth  mile  of  its  northern  border,, 
running  almost  due  south,  emptying  in  Grand  River. 

Honey  Creek  waters  its  northeastern  section,  and  Big  Creek,  com- 
ing down  from  the  northwest,  unites  with  Honey  Creek,  when  it  forks 
near  the  north  line  of  the  township. 

This  is  the  most  thinly  populated  township  in  the  county,  having  in 
1880  but  480,  and  probably  does  not,  January,  1883,  exceed  500.  The 
township,  though  the  land  is  fertile,  has  exhibited  less  enterprise  than 
any  other  township  in  the  county,  even  according  to  its  population. 
Certainly,  its  thrift  has  not  been  proverbial.  There  is  considerable  of 
the  land  in  the  township  owned  by  non-residents,  which  will  account  in 
a  measure  for  its  slow  progress. 

While  there  may  be  coal  in  the  township,  none  has  yet  been  devel- 
oped. Its  agricultural  resources  are  equal  to  any,  and  needs  but  enter- 
prising and  active  settlers  to  make  it  one  of  the  most  productive  town- 
ships in  the  county. 

SCHOOLS. 

In  1878,  it  had  three  school  districts,  and  it  now  has  four,  and  they 
are  all  well  attended.  The  township  had  but  a  few  settlers  up  to  1840, 
and  since  then  it  has  improved  rather  slowly.  John  Dixon  was  one  of 
the  first  settlers  in  the  township,  and  probably  the  second  water  mill  in 
the  county  was  put  up  by  him.  This  mill  was  in  operation  in  the  fall 
and  winter  of  1838-9.  It  was  largely  patronized,,  persons  coming  from 
twelve  to  fifteen  miles  as  customers.     Its  present  boundary  is  given: 


448  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  ,; 

NO.  7,  HONEY  CREEK.  fj 

"  Commcncinf^  at  the  southeast  corner  of  section  number  36,  in  con-  ' 
gressional  township  number  42,  of  range  27,  and   running  from  thence 
north  to  the   northeast   corner  of  fractional   section   number    i,  in   said 
township  and  range;  from  thence  west  to  the  northwest  corner  of  frac- 
tional section  number  6,  in  said  township  and  range;  from  thence  south  ; 
to  the  northwest  corner  of  section  number   30;  from  thence  east  to  the  i 
northeast  corner  of  said  section;  thence  south  to  the  southwest  corner  ' 
of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  number  29;  thence  east  to  the  north-  | 
east  corner  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  number  29;  thence  south  j 
to  the  southwest  corner  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  number  29;  ■< 
thence  east  to  the  southeast  corner  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  1 
number  28;  thence  south  to  the  center  of  section  number  33;  thence  east  J 
to  the  northeast  corner  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  number  34; 
thence  south  to  the  southeast  corner  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  , 
number  34;  thence  east  to  the  place  of  beginning."  j 

I 

■| 

NOT   FLATTERING.  1 

Here   is   really   a   good   township  of  land,   well   watered,  good  and     ' 
healthy  climate,  and  why  is  it  that  it  ranks  as  one  of  the  least  energetic 
townships  in  the  county,  with  little  encouragement  in  the  future.^  There 
is   something  wrong  somewhere,  and   the   few  citizens    that    now    live    1 
within  its  border  should  find  out  what  that  wrong  is  and  apply  a  remedy 
at  once.     Without  one  single  exception  it   ranks  in  population,  wealth,     i 
energy  and  material  progress,  at  the  very  bottom  of  the  ladder.     With     | 
the  exception  of  having  a  well  watered  stock  and  grain  township  and  a    , 
•rich  soil,  Honey  Creek  has  little  to  be  proud  of.  ' 

i 

WHITE   OAK    TOWNSHIP. 

This  township  lies  on  the  western  border  of  the  county,  its  western    i 
border  being  Bates  County.     It  is  the  smallest  township  in  the  county,    ' 
embracing  but  twenty-seven  sections  of  land  or  an  area  of  17,280  acres. 
Its  boundary  is  as  follows: 

"Composed  of  congressional  township  No.  42,  range  No.  28,  e.xcept 
so  much  territory  as  lies  north  of  the  north  line  of  the  north  half  of 
sections  No.  7,  8,  9,  10,  11  and  12,  in  said  township  and  range.  May, 
1873." 

Grand  River  passes  through  the    northeastern   portion  of  the  town- 
ship, and  White  Oak  Creek,  which  rises  just  south  of  the  southwest  cor-    ; 
ner  of  the  township,  runs  from   southwest  to    northeast  and  empties  in 
■Grand  River.  j 

Grand  River  also  passes  west,  through  the  northern  tier  of  sections,    ' 

and   this,   with  White  Oak  Creek   and    its  branches,   waters   the    town-    ] 

1 
ship.     The  land  is  good,  three-fourths  being  prairie  with  an  abundance    j 

of  timber  along  Grand  River  and  the  ocher  streams.       In  quality  of  soil    I 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY.  449 

and  richness  of  production  it  is  up  to  the  average  in  the  county.  It  has 
no  town  or  village  within  its  limits,  being,  as  far  as  settled,  purely  agri- 
cultural. It  has  one  post  office,  Lucas,  located  in  the  extreme  south- 
west corner  of  section  twenty-one.  It  was  not  settled  until  1838,  and 
patronized  a  town  called  Grantville,  in  Cass  County,  by  those  who 
lived  on  its  western  side.  This  town  lays  northwest  of  the  township 
and  but  a  little  way  from  the  line.  Coal  has  been  found  in  sections  35 
and  36,  in  the  southeast  corner  of  the  township,  but  there  is  doubtless 
a  good  deal  of  coal  in  this  township.  There  is  not,  however,  any  devel- 
opment of  the  "black  diamond"  at  present  and  probably  will  not  be 
for  years  to  come.  The  township,  while  being  the  smallest  in  size  in 
the  county,  ranks  second  from  the  bottom  according  to  population,  lead- 
ing Honey  Creek  Township  eighty-five  in  the  census  of  1880,  which 
gave  White  Oak  a  population  of  1565,  and  may  possibly  have  600  at  this 
writing,  January,  1883.  It  was  declared  a  voting  precinct  May  8,  1868, 
and  it  might  be  said  that  this  was  the  first  recognition  of  the  township 
of  White  Oak.  Its  boundary  now  is  as  given  on  the  first  page  of  its 
history.  * 

WIND   STORM. 

Quite  an  incident  occurred  on  August,  21,  1873,  when  a  violent 
wind  storm  lifted  the  house  of  Martin  W.  Cox  completely  from  its 
foundation,  carried  it  some  sixteen  feet  and  set  it  down  again  right  side 
up.  Not  a  dish  was  broken  or  one  of  the  family  hurt.  The  house  was 
allowed  to  remain  right  where  the  storm  left  it. 

The  school  districts  in  this  township  number  three.  No.  i  being 
located  on  section  21,  near  its  north  line;  No.  2  on  section  26,  on  the 
southeast  quarter;  and  No.  3  on  section  29,  on  the  north  side  of  the 
northwest  quarter.  They  are  all  frame  buildings,  comfortably  finished 
and  furnished. 

The  township  has  suffered  a  good  deal  from  its  non-resident  land 
owners.  At  one  time  nearly  half  of  the  township  was  in  their  possession. 
To  a  large  extent  the  land  was  held  and  is  now  held  at  too  high  a  figure 
to  bring  immigration.  It  has  no  towns  of  its  own  and  its  distance  to 
market,  combined  with  high  prices  of  its  land  has  retarded  its  growth 
to  a  very  great  extent.  When  its  land  owners  show  a  disposition  to  take 
a  fair  price  for  their  holdings,  White  Oak  will  take  a  start  and  progress 
will  mark  her  pathway. 


29 


CHAPTER   XXX. 

WALKER,  DAVIS  AND  PRES.  BLEVINS  TOWNSHIPS. 

WALKER— WHEN  BORN— ITS  AREA— WHEN  SETTLED— DR.  AMASA  JONES— SOME  FAMILY 
HISTORY-FIRST  SCHOOL  AND  CHURCH— ITEMS— CHURCHES— IN  MEMORIAM— REV. 
A.  SPRAGUE— DAVIS-  WHEN  LOCATED  — AREA  AND  POPULATION  —  STREAMS, 
PRAIRIES  AND  WOODLAND— SCHOOLS  AND  SOCIETIES— LADUE— ITS  BIRTH— BUSI- 
NESS IN  1872— CHURCH-SCHOOL— BUSINESS  OF  18S3— DAVIS  TOWNSHIP  FIRST  SET- 
TLERS—HER GROWTH  AND  PR  )SPERITY— "PRES.  BLEVINS"— A  DISCOVERY-NEW 
TOWNSHIP— IT  WILL  NOW  BE  KNOWN— GOV.    BLEVINS— HIS  POWERS,  ETC. 

WHEN   IT   WAS   BORN. 

This  township  came  into  existence  in  the  spring  of  1873.  It  was 
originally  a  part  of  Grand  River  until  1840,  and  then  became  a  part  of 
Deepwater  until  the  date  above  given,  of  its  organization,  which  is  given 
as  follows: 

NO.  15,  WALKER. 

"Composed  of  all  of  congressional  township  No.  41,  of  range  No.  28." 
It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  White  Oak,  east  by  Davis,  south  by 
Deepwater,  and  west  by  the  Bates  County  line,  and  being  a  congres- 
sional township  is  six  miles  square,  with  an  area  of  23,040  acres  of  pretty 
good  land,  about  two-fifths  of  which  is  timber.  The  timber  mostly  lies 
in  the  south  half  of  the  township.  The  banks  of  Deepwater  are  heavily 
wooded,  while  Brushy  Branch,  Grand  Daddy's  Branch,  and  Camp  Branch, 
show  a  large  supply  of  timber.  Deepwater  lies  upon  its  southern  bor- 
der, covering  about  two-thirds  of  the  distance,  where  Brushy  Branch 
empties  in  it.  after  passing  through  nearly  the  whole  of  the  west  side. 
Grand  Daddy's  Branch  rises  in  the  north  and  passes  through  the  center, 
while  Camp  Branch  waters  the  entire  eastern  side.  It  is  one  of  the  best 
watered  and  wooded  townships  in  the  county.  There  has  been  a  fine 
coal  vein  found  on  section  16,  but  has  not  been  developed.  There  is 
undoubtedly  plenty  of  coal  to  be  found  in  the  township,  there  being 
plenty  of  indications. 

It  had  a  population  in  1880  of  1,102,  which  is  exclusively  a  farming 
community,  there  being  no  towns  in  the  township.  It  was  during  the 
Grange  movement  one  of  the  strongest  in  favor  of  it  in  the  county,  the 
farmers  of  the  township  believing  in  the  principles  of  the  Grange  or 
Patrons  of  Husbandrx-. 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY.  45  f 

WHEN   SETTLED. 

The  first  white  man  who  located  in  the  township  was  an  old  man  by 
the  name  of  Greenup  and  he  came  in  1835.  He  did  not  have  many 
nei^^hbors.  The  nearest  was  two  miles  and  the  next  five.  He  belonged 
to  the  pioneer  stock,  loved  a  frontier  life  and  was  not  satisfied  when  set- 
tlers began  to  locate  all  around  him,  as  they  were  doing  in  1837  and 
1838. 

In  the  spring  of  the  latter  year  Dr.  Amasa  Jones,  a  prominent 
preacher,  who  had  been  connected  with  Harmony  Mission  since  182 1, 
came  through  that  part  of  the  county,  and  was  so  pleased  with  Green- 
up's place,  who  had  settled  on  section  34  near  the  banks  of  Deepwater, 
that  he  offered  to  purchase  his  claim.  In  fact,  Greenup  seeing  him  so 
pleased,  offered  to  sell,  and  he  was  at  once  taken  up,  just  what  he  had 
been  wanting  for  a  year  or  so.  Dr.  Jones  was  about  the  first  settler  of 
the  township,  with  the  exception  above  mentioned.  He  had  a  large 
family,  and  on  his  locating  he  was  soon  followed  the  same  year  by  John 
H.  Austin,  a  teacher  at  Harmony  Mission. 

Dr.  Jones  on  leaving  the  mission  had  taken  his  family  with  him,  and 
one  of  them  was  named  Miss  Jane  M.  Jones.  Mr..  Austin  secured  him- 
self a  quarter  section  of  land  adjoining  the  doctor's,  and  then  invited 
Miss  Jones  to  become  the  mistress  of  his  cabin,  and  so  early  in" the  year 
1839,  Miss  Jane  M.  Jones  became  Mrs.  Austin,  the  ceremony  being  per- 
formed by  her  father.  The  writer  of  this  history  called  to  see  this  old 
lady,  who,  though  nearly  seventy  years  of  age,  was  in  good  health  with 
all  her  faculties  seemingly  unimpaired.  This  was  the  first  marriage  in 
the  township,  and  was  considered  quite  an  event  at  the  time,  but  the 
wedding  trip  was  short,  her  new  home  being  only  about  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  from  her  father's.  They  didn't  go  off  on  the  cars,  neither  was  her 
new  home  a  brown  stone  front,  with  a  mortgage  attachment,  but  the  old 
lady  said  "  that  she  didn't  see  how  she  could  have  been  any  happier  than 
she  was."  After  twelve  years  of  wedded  life  John  H.  Austin  passed  to 
his  eternal  home.  Mrs.  Austin,  still  his  widow,  at  three  score  years  and 
ten,  is  calmly  waiting  to  meet  him,  who  had  her  first  and  only  love,  upon 
the  golden  shore.  May  she  meet  him  to  part  no  more  when  He  shall  call 
her  home. 

Both  Dr  Jones  and  Mr.  Austin  settled  on  section  34.  A  Mr.  James 
Gates  settled  on  section  22.  A  portion  of  the  Gragg  family,  Mr.  M. 
Gragg  and  Robert  Gragg,  also  settled  in  this  township  in  1839.  George 
Cowen  and  Joe  Harness  settled  the  same  year.  Quite  a  number  of  set- 
tlers came  in  1840,  1841  and  1842,  so  that  in  the  latter  year  there  was 
quite  a  large  settlement  along  the  banks  of  Deepwater,  on  Camp  Branch 
and  on  Brushy  Branch. 


452  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

FIRST   CHURCH   AND   SCHOOL. 

The  first  church  organization  was  the  summer  of  1840,  under  the 
lead  of  Dr  Jones.  A  meeting  was  held,  as  many  others  before  had 
been,  under  the  spreading  branches  of  a  tree,  and  there  a  church  was 
organized,  with  five  members  besides  the  doctor,  of  the  Old  School  Pres- 
byterian denomination.  Two  years  after,  in  1842,  Dr.  Jones  built  a 
church  of  adobe  brick  on  his  farm,  and  this  was  not  only  the  first  church 
in  Walker  Township,  but  in  the  western  part  of  Henry  County.  And, 
perhaps,  as  a  building  purely  for  church  purpose,  the  first  really  in  the 
county.  School  houses  and  churches  had  been  the  rule.  This  church 
was  a  leading  church  for  years.  The  doctor  preached  constantly,  but 
did  not  confine  his  labors  to  this  church  alone,  but  the  "  good  word  "  was 
carried  by  him  from  cabin  to  cabin  in  all  that  country  round. 

The  first  school  taught  in  the  township  was  in  the  year  1845  in  a 
log  school  house,  located  on  Dr.  Gates'  farm,  and  built  by  him.  It  was 
taught  by  a  young  lady  from  "  York  State,  '  Miss  Cynthia  Robards  by 
name,  now  wife  of  Dr.  Toucey,  of  Bates  County.  She  taught  a  four 
month's  term  with  twenty  scholars,  and  gave  satisfaction.  The  first  who 
received  a  United  States  patent  for  land  was  Dr.  Jones,  in  1843. 

All  the  lumber  used  in  the  township  was  hauled  from  Booneville,  but 
it  must  be  admitted  that  very  little  was  hauled.  They  did  get  some, 
however,  and  also  four-light  window  sash.  But  the  sturdy  fashion  was 
puncheon  floors,  clapboard  doors  and  mud  and  st^ck  chimneys. 

The  grangers  of  this  township  believe  in  education,  and  they  have 
six  district  schools  within  the  township.  They  are  all  frame  houses. 
and  six  months  schooling  is  taught  annually.  The  attendance  is  above 
the  average. 

OLD   TIME    LEADERS. 

The  next  preacher  after  Dr.  Jones  was  the  Rev.  William  Loor,  of 
the  M.  E.  Church.  Dr.  Jones,  as  was  stated,  was  a  doctor  as  well  as 
preacher,  and  following  him  was  Dr.  M.  A.  Stewart,  who  was  county 
judge  in  1873  to  1881.  The  third  doctor  was  Dr.  Gates,  and  the  fourth, 
Dr.  Walker. 

The  first  mill  in  the  township  was  the  Huntley  Mill,  on  Grand  River, 
It  was  not  in  the  township,  but  it  was  the  mill  the  settlers  of  the  town- 
ship patronized.  A  saw  mill  by  horse  power  also  was  kept  up  for  two 
years,  by  Mr.  M.  Gragg. 

The  first  justice  of  the  peace  was  John  H.  Austin,  in  1839,  and  he 
also  was  the  first  constable  of  the  township.  The  next  justice  was  Alex- 
ander Gragg,  of  Deepwater  proper.  Walker  being  a  portion  of  the  tov'n- 
ship.     This  is  in  1842. 


HISTORY   OF    HENRV   COUNTY.  453 

MARRIAGES,  BIRTHS,  DEATHS. 

The  first  death  was  that  of  Peg^y,  the  wife  of  Robert  Gragg,  who 
died  the  year  they  came,  in  1838,  of  cancer,  and  was  buried  in  Camp 
Branch.  The  second  death  was  that  of  William  Gragg,  son  of  Robert, 
in  1839,  thus  losing  wife  and  son  within  about  a  year.  The  son's  age  was 
about  thirty  years. 

The  first  marriage  was  that  above  stated  of  Mr.  Austin  and  Miss 
Jones.  The  second  was  that  of  Miss  Walbert,  but  was  within  the  pres- 
ent town  of  Deepwater.  The  third  was  in  the  winter  of  1839,  being  that 
of  Miss  Elanda  Gragg  and  George  Cowan;  fourth  that  of  Mary  Ann 
Gragg  and  William  B.  Poage.  The  former  by  Esquire  Bedwell,  and  the 
latter  by  Dr.  Jones.  They  were  sisters  of  the  Rev.  R.  M.  Gragg.  The 
latter  were  married  May  9,  1844.  In  1845,  Robert  Gragg  and  Miss  Peggy 
Gragg  were  married,  the  latter  his  cousin.  These  were  the  early  mar- 
riages. 

M.   E.    CHURCH. 

The  Brushy  M.  E.  Church  was  organized  in  October,  1866,  and 
located  on  Brushy  Creek,  on  north  half  of  the  west  half  of  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  29.  The  class  was  organized  by  the  Rev.  Jesse 
Bright,  at  the  Adobe  Church,  the  old  church  erected  by  Dr.  Jones.  The 
original  members  were:  Jacob  Covey  and  wife  (class  leader),  Joshua 
Covey,  Priscilla  Hunt,  Verlinda  Hart,  Sarah  B.  and  Mary  E.  Hart,  Mrs. 
Paralia  Walker,  Mrs.  Laura  Covey,  and  Mrs.  Melinda  Covey.  After  the 
organization  the  congregation  Vv'orshipped  at  the  Brushy  Creek  school 
house,  but  a  few  steps  from  where  the  church  now  stands,  until  they 
erected  their  present  church  edifice  in  1872.  The  building  is  frame  and 
cost  $800.  The  church  was  never  dedicated,  probably  through  neglect. 
There  is  at  present  a  membership  of  140,  but  at  the  time  the  church  was 
built  there  were  95  members.  Death  and  removals  have  been  the  cause 
of  some  changes.  The  first  pastor  was  the  Rev.  Robertson,  the  Rev.  T. 
S.  Bennefield  three  years,  and  then  the  Rev.  A.  Warren,  two  years, 
under  and  during  whose  ministry  the  church  was  erected;  in  1874,  Rev. 
A.  Anderson,  three  years;  1877,  Rev.  T.  S.  Bennefield,  one  year;  Rev.  H. 
H.  Dunlavy,  two  years;  in  1880  Rev.  J.  R.  Criss,  who  died  December  7, 
1880,  and  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  J.  R.  Reader,  temporarily,  until 
March  1881,  when  they  secured  the  Rev.  Isaac  N.  Entwisle  for  one  year; 
he  was  then  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Thomas  Pingrey,  who  still  retains 
pastorate. 

The  principal  incident  connected  with  the  church  was  the  revival 
of  October,  1880,  under  the  charge  of  the  Rev.  J.  R.  Criss.  The  meet- 
ing continued,  resulting  in  forty  conversions  and  thirty  accessions  to 
the  church.  Three  camp  meetings,  all  largely  attended,  were  held  in 
186S,  1869  and  1871. 


454  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

CAMP   BRANCH    M.  E.  CHURCH. 

This  church  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  township,  having  been  organ- 
ized as  far  back  as  1850.  The  original  members  were  Malcolm  Gragg 
and  wife,  Robert  M.  and  Nicholas  Long  and  wife,  Allen  Ing  and  wife, 
Ellis  White  and  wife  and  Jonathan  Smith  and  wife.  The  church  grew 
and  had  a  membership  of  forty.  They  have  no  church,  but  use  the 
school  house  in  their  neighborhood.  Those  who  have  officiated  as  pas- 
tors are  the  following,  in  the  order  named:  Rev.  Jonathan  Smith,  Rev. 
Ellis  White,  Rev.  R.  M.  Gragg  and  Rev.  William  Kinney.  Present  mem- 
bership, forty. 

The  township  at  this  time  is  settling  slowly.  Along  its  creeks  and 
branches  are  found  the  largest  farms,  leading  out  and  taking  in  much  of 
the  rich  and  fertile  prairies.  There  is  a  large  amount  of  excellent  farm- 
ing land  to  be  had  cheap,  and  few  persons  can  find  a  better  location  than 
there  is  in  this  township.  The  lands  are  low  in  price,  market  is  con- 
venient and  school  and  churches  at  hand,  which  is  enough  to  show  that 
it  is  and  will  be  a  desirable  settlement  for  farmers. 

The  man  who  more  than  others  stamped  his  individuality  upon  the 
people  of  the  township,  as  also  of  Deepwater,  was  Dr.  Amasa  Jones,  the 
eminent  Presbyterian  divine.  We  can  close  this  article  with  no  better 
reading  than  a  short  biographical  sketch  of  this  early  pioneer. 

IN   MEMORIAM. 

Amasa  Jones  was  born  at  Rindge,  Cheshire  County,  New  Hamp- 
shire, April  28,  1796,  and  died  at  Deepwater,  Henry  County,  Missouri, 
April  17,  1870.  His  father's  name  was  Asa  and  his  mother's  Mary.  He 
was  one  of  a  large  family,  nearly  all  of  whom  have  preceded  him  to  the 
world  of  spirits.  He  remembered  his  Creator  in  the  days  of  his  youth 
and  in  early  life  became  a  follower  of  Jesus.  The  consecration  of  him- 
self to  the  service  of  his  Master  was  whole-hearted.  In  answer  to  the 
inquiry,  "  Lord,  what  wilt  Thou  have  me  to  do.-*"  God  spread  out  before 
him  the  mission  field.  In  his  endeavors  to  discern  the  indications  of 
Providence  to  duty  he  was  made  to  behold  the  broad  field  for  Christian 
enterprise  among  the  benighted  heathens  of  all  nations  of  the  earth. 
These  researches,  laying  the  foundation  of  characteristic  benevolence 
and  self-denying  toil,  resulted  in  the  resolve,  "  Here  am  I,  Lord,  send 
me."     He  desired  to  teach  the  heathen  and  to  lead  them  to  Christ. 

On  February  15,  1821,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Roxana  Stearns,  of 
Ashburnham,  Worcester  County,  Massachusetts.  In  a  few  days  after- 
wards he  set  out  with  a  number  of  others  to  go  to  a  mission  field  of  the 
then  Far  West  by  an  overland  route,  there  being  then  but  few  facilities 
for  traveling.  He  came  out  under  the  auspices  of  the  American  Board 
of  Foreign  Missions,  and  became  an  assistant  missionary  at  the  Har- 
mony Mission,  a  station  established  on  the  Marais  des  Cygnes,  about 
three  miles  from  its  mouth,  and  in  the  extreme  western  part  of  the  then 
new  state  of  Missouri. 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  455 

This  was  then  the  home  of  the  Osage  Indians.  His  labors  there 
were  principally  in  the  school.  His  letters  spread  upn  the  pages  of  the 
Missionary  Herald,  of  the  years  1825  and  1835,  inclusive,  amply  testify 
to  his  devotion  to  the  cause  of  civilizing  and  christianizing  the  Indians. 
He  attained  to  other  spheres  of  usefulness.  He  devoted  much  of  his 
time,  spared  from  the  school,  to  the  study  of  theology.  It  seemed  nec- 
essary for  him  to  study  medicine  also.  Dr.  W.  N.  Belcher,  now  in  New 
York,  was  for  six  years  the  physician  of  the  station.  But  his  health  fail- 
ing, he  was  required  to  quit  the  post.  Foreseeing  this  step,  and  know- 
ing Mr  Jones'  general  adaptation  to  the  work,  Dr.  Belcher  recommended 
that  he  prepare  himself,  and  he  studied  medicine  under  the  doctor  for 
some  time.  But  the  taking  care  of  souls  was  a  higher  sphere  of  life  and 
duty  for  him.  He  was  ordained  and  set  apart  to  the  ministry  of  the  gos- 
pel at  Harmony  Mission,  October  12,  1830,  by  the  Arkansas  Presbytery, 
having  been  licensed  to  preach  a  few  years  before.  He  ever  had  a  real- 
izing sense  of  the  grave  responsibilities  of  the  office.  But  his  soul  was 
fired  with  fresh  hopes  and  nobler  aspirations.  But  as  the  white  man 
advanced  the  red  man  receded,  and  in  1835,  the  Harmony  Mission  Sta- 
tion was  abandoned.  The  old  site  is  still  discernible  near  Papinville,  Bates 
County.  Dr.  Jones  moved  with  his  family,  his  wife  and  two  daughters, 
Mary  and  Jane,  to  Deepwater,  then  in  Rives  County,  where  he  procured 
a  tract  of  land  and  opened  a  settlement.  A  church  was  soon  organized 
and  he  took  charge  of  it  as  pastor,  and  continued  so  till  July,  1867,  when 
Rev.  B.  F.  Powelson  was  associated  with  him.  He  preached  the  word 
in  many  places  throughout  this  region,  and  the  old  settlers  can  well  tes- 
tify to  his  attachment  to  the  croSs  of  Christ  and  zeal  for  the  glory  of  God. 
He  went  about  doing  good,  and  was  successful  in  winning  many  souls  to 
Christ.  He  was  quite  successful  in  the  practice  of  medicine,  and  con- 
tributed much  towards  ameliorating  the  sufferings  of  mankind. 

He  was  an  earnest,  self  sacrificing,  indefatigable  laborer  in  his  Mas- 
ter's vineyard.  He  sought  not — desired  not — compensation  for  his  toil, 
from  among  the  stores  of  earth.  His  practice  as  a  physician,  and  the 
results  of  his  own  ingenuity  and  industry  secured  for  himself  and  family 
a  comfortable  living  and  ample  provision  for  old  age. 

He  was  a  student  all  his  life — assiduous  and  unrelaxing  in  his  efforts 
in  early  life,  and  determined,  fixed  ever  in  his  purpose,  to  acquaint  him- 
self with  the  movements  of  mankind,  in  the  various  spheres  of  life,  and 
specially  to  keep  himself  posted  in  regard  to  the  progress  of  the  church 
of  Christ.  He  was  a  close  reader,  and  though  he  had  never  seen  the 
great  improvements  of  the  age,  remaining  at  his  post  on  the  frontier, 
yet  he  had  a  fair  knowledge  of  these  things,  and  his  descriptions  of  them 
were  astonishingly  accurate.  His  independence  of  mind  and  originality 
of  thought,  shaped  and  drawn  out,  no  doubt  by  necessity,  were  evi- 
denced in  quite  a  number  of  productions,  material  and  immaterial.  He 
looked  with  favor  upon  the  progressive  spirit  of  the  age.  But  he  set  his 
face  against  countenancing,  in  any  way,  the  great  evils  of  the  world.  He 
refused  to  enter  upon  any  compromise  with  intemperance,  profanity  or 
Sabbath  breaking.  He  was  unflinching  in  his  devotion  to  the  great  prin- 
ciples of  Christianity,  and  sought  in  every  conceivable  way  the  establish- 
ment and  perpetuity  of  truth,  and  the  maintenance  of  the  right.  He 
labored  among  all  classes  faithfully  for  the  sowing  of  the  precious  seed, 


456  HISTORY    OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

for  the  culture  of  the  tender  vines,  and  for  the  maturity  of  the  fruits  of 
the  Spirit. 

He  oftentimes  seemed  impatient  in  sickness— desiring  to  be  in  his 
place  with  God's  worshippers,  and  fearing  lest  his  absence  should  prove 
a  hindrance  to  the  cause  of  Christ.  His  zeal  thus  carried  him  some- 
times beyond  the  capabilities  of  the  flesh.  The  last  Sabbath  he  spent 
on  earth  was  one  of  special  exertion  and  anxiety  to  him.  It  was  the 
Sabbath  preceding  the  meeting  of  his  own  Presbytery  and  a  neighbor- 
ing Presbytery  among  his  people.  He  wanted  the  people  to  be  inter- 
ested in  these  things.  He  longed  for  this  meeting.  He  wished  to  see 
the  last  vestige  of  separation  carried  away,  and  the  two  branches  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  inseparably  united.  He  longed  to  greet  the  breth- 
ren once  more,  and  congratulate  them  on  the  acccomplishment  of  so 
noble  a  work.  As  Simeon  to  see  Christ,  so  he  longed  to  see  the  run- 
ning together  of  these  kindred  streams.  He  was  desirous  to  share  with 
his  people  the  promised  feast  of  love  and  joy.  He  attended  ser- 
vices in  the  morning,  and  a  prayer  meeting  in  the  evening,  where  he 
made  an  earnest  appeal  to  sinners  to  come  to  Christ.  In  his  last  days, 
the  lew  appeals  he  attempted  were  exceedingly  earnest.  The  fire  glowed 
fervently  on  the  altar  of  his  love.  His  soul  yearned  for  the  salvation  of 
those  who  surrounded  him.  His  conversation  indicated  a  ripening  for 
heaven  and  glory.  For  many  months  he  seemed  to  be  amid  the  scenes 
of  the  Delectable  Mountains  and  the  land  of  Beulah.  He  was  near 
Christ,  and  could  well  call  upon  his  friends  to  come  to  him.  And  yet  his 
soul  longings  were  "  Nearer  my  God  to  thee." 

While  subject  to  temptation  and  danger,  he  kept  his  armor  on,  and 
when  death  came  it  thus  found  him.  His  last  foe  was  conquered;  and  he 
breathed  his  last  breath  out  sweetly  reposing  on  the  bosom  of  the  Con- 
queror—  Him  whom  he  delighted  to  serve  while  upon  the  earth — Him, 
who  called  him  to  come  up  higher — Him,  whom  he  now  adores  with  the 
hosts  of  heaven.  Jesus  called  him.  He  was  ready — willing  to  go.  His 
longings  had  been  satisfied  beyond  expectation.  The  latest  intelligence 
assured  him  that  the  ark  of  the  covenant  was  being  carried  forward,  that 
his  youngest  granddaughter  was  singing  a  song  of  praise  to  Christ's 
redeeming  love, and  that  his  brethren,  in  the  glorious  light  of  the  re-united 
church,  had  seen  each  other  face  to  face,  and  sung,  as  they  emerged  from 
the  shadows  of  separation, "Blest  be  the  tie  that  binds  our  hearts  in  Chris- 
tian love,  etc."  His  face  seemed  radiant  in  the  light  of  his  triumph.  The 
conflict  was  over.  Victory  blazed  out  upon  the  banner  of  his  faith.  VIC- 
TORY made  resplendid  the  cross,  and  rendered  altogether  lovely  the  dying 
Savior.  He  triumphed  in  him  who  burst  the  gates  of  death.  It  was 
enough.  "Lord,  now  lettest  thou  thy  servant  depart  in  peace,  according 
to  thy  word;  for  mine  eyes  have  seen  thy  salvation."  And  heaven 
opened  its  portals.     He  is  gone! — 

"  Gone  to  begin  a  new  and  happier  story, 

The  bitterer  tale  of  earth  now  told  and  done. 
These  outer  shadows  for  that  inner  glory 

Ex;hanged  forever — O  thrice  blessed  One!  " 

The  earthly  Sabbath,  gave  place  to  the  eternal  Sabbath.  He  sleeps? 
— "  not  dead,  but  sleepeth." 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  45/ 

"  He  is  not  tasting  death,  but  taking  rest, 

On  the  same  holy  couch  where  Jesus  lay. 
So  soon  to  awake  all  glorified  and  blest, 

^Vhen  day  has  broke  and  shadows  fled  away. 

The  funeral  services  were  held  in  the  Adobe  Church,  (a  building- 
the  deceased  had  erected  during  his  life,)  in  the  morning  of  the  i8th, 
the  room  being  crowded  to  its  utmost  capacity.  Rev.  Mr.  Paige,  of 
Springfield,  delivered  a  sermon,  and  was  followed,  in  brief  and  touching- 
addresses  by  Rev.  Mr.  Brown,  of  Neosho,  and  Rev  Mr.  Requa,  of  Lone 
Oak,  and  a  contemporary  with  Mr.  Jones  among  the  Indians.  The 
corpse  was  taken  from  the  church  to  its  place  of  burial,  one  mile  east  of 
Germantown,  preceded  by  the  members  of  the  Osage  and  Southwest 
Missouri  Presbyteries  and  followed  by  a  large  concourse  of  friends. 

"  And  I  heard  a  voice  from  heaven  saying  unto  me,  write,  blessed 
are  the  dead,  which  die  in  the  Lord  from  henceforth;  yea  saith  the 
Spirit,  that  they  may  rest  from  their  labors;  and  their  works  do  follow 
them."  '        '  B.  F.  P. 

Germantown,  Mo.,  April  28,  1870. 

DAVIS   TOWNSHIP. 

This  township,  so  far  as  the  quality  of  the  soil  is  concerned,  and  its 
magnificent  landscape,  is  the  equal  of  any  township  in  the  county. 
From  a  prominent  point  on  what  is  called  "Mound  Prairie,"  can  be  seen 
one  of  the  prettiest  sights,  both  as  regards  the  beauty  of  the  landscape 
and  the  richness  of  the  waving  grain  in  the  summer  season.  This  tells 
of  a  soil  of  surpassing  richness  and  a  population  of  enterprising  people. 
There  is  not,  perhaps,  as  much  thrift  in  the  southern  part,  but  the  land 
is  fertile,  and  its  future  need  not  be  uncertain. 

There  is  undoubtedly  an  abundance  of  coal  in  the  township,  but  it 
is  scarcely  developed  at  all.  In  1877  and  1878  a  mine  was  worked,  and 
probably  is  now,  but  not  much  beyond  home  consumption.  Coal  has 
cropped  out  on  sections  21  and  22,  and  there  are  indications  in  quite  a 
number  of  other  places,  so  that  on  the  question  of  fuel  there  is  no  cause 
for  alarm  for  several  generations  to  come. 

AREA   AND   POPULATION. 

In  1873  the  county  court  gave  this  as  the  boundary  of  the  township: 

NO.    14,    DAVIS. 

"  Composed  of  all  of  congressional  township  No.  41,  range  No.  27." 
At  the  same  time  they  defined  the  bounds  of  Honey  County,  follow- 
ing, or  nearly  so,  the  line  of  Grand  River.  In  doing  this  they  left  out 
all  of  sections  30,  31  and  32,  all  of  33  except  the  northeast  quarter,  the 
southwest  quarter  of  29,  and  the  south  half  of  section  34  in  township 
42,  range  27. 


< 

458  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

This  ought  to  have  been  added  at  the  time  to  Davis  Township,  but 
it  was  not,  and  if  it  has  not  been  added  since,  there  are  about  four  and  a 
half  sections  of  land  which  may  have  a  tangible  existence,  but  has  no 
name.  This  spot  will  be  named  and  treated  at  the  end  of  this  sketch. 
It  has  not,  however,  interfered  with  the  progressive  spirits  living  there 
in  a  corner  by  themselves,  barred  on  two  sides  by  Grand  River  and  the 
other  two  sides  by  township  lines. 

If  this  territory  belongs  to  Davis  Township  and  it  was  so  intended 
probably,  if  not  so  stated,  the  township  has  a  landed  area  of  25,920 
acres,  mostly  prairie  land,  watered  by  Grand  River  on  its  northeastern  and 
northern  border,  and  on  the  south  by  Deepwater  Creek.  Of  the  five  small 
branches  that  empty  in  Grand  River  and  rise  within  the  township  Elm 
Branch  and  Fishing  Hollow  are  the  two  largest,  but  are  still  small 
streams.  Camp  Branch  empties  into  Deepwater  in  the  southwest  cor- 
ner of  the  township,  and  Willow  Branch  and  one  other  near  the  center. 
The  township  is  fairly  watered,  has  but  little  timber,  lying,  what  there 
is,  principally  on  Grand  River  and  Deepwater. 

Its  population  in  1880  was  1,074,  o(  which  140  was  claimed  by 
LaDue,  a  railroad  station  in  the  southeast  corner  of  the  township. 

SCHOOLS,  ETC. 

The  township  is  divided  into  six  school  districts,  with  a  good  and 
substantial  frame  school  building  in  each  district.  At  the  Willow  Branch 
School  House,  sub-district  No.  3,  located  on  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  29,  there  has  been  for  quite  a  number  of  winters  a  debating 
school  or  society  kept  up,  called  the  Willow  Branch  Debating  Club. 
This  is  a  feature  to  be  commended  and  worthy  of  emulation  by  other 
schools  throughout  the  county. 

LADUE. 

is  situated  on  the  M.  K.  &  T.  division  of  the  Missouri  Pacific  Railroad, 
and  both  in  name  and  location  is  unfortunate.  While  the  name  is  not 
regarded  with  any  great  degree  of  favor  by  the  people  of  Henry  County, 
its  location  being  nearly  midway  between  Clinton,  the  count}'  seat,  and 
the  enterprising  town  of  Montrose,  its  business  is  called  away  by  these 
towns,  but  it  is  a  good  deal  more  than  a  flag  station  on  the  line  of  road. 
The  report  that  the  conductors  on  the  road  say  that  when  a  man  stops 
ofif  at  this  station  that  he  is  a  fugitive  trying  to  hide,  or  a  lunatic,  is  not 
true  so  far  as  the  writer  can  ascertain.  Two  conductors  have  at  least 
denied  the  soft  impeachment  on  being  interrogated.  They  both,  how- 
ever, would  wind  up  their  remarks  with,  "But,"  with  a  look  so  expressive 
and  at  the  same  time  so  terrible  that  our  investigations  went  no  farther. 
Yet  this  town,  or  \'illage,  had  in  1872:   one  dry  goods  or   general  store, 


I 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  459 

Kepsby  Gragg,  Wright  «&  Co.,  one  of  whom  was  postmaster;  one  grocery 
and  provision  store;  one  blacksmith  and  wagon  shop;  one  cooper  shop; 
one  boarding  house;  one  saloon  and  eight  dwelling  houses. 

CHRISTIAN   CHURCH. 

This  church  was  organized  in  1866,  in  Davis  Township,  and  some  of 
the  original  members  were  William  Davis  and  wife,  and  four  of  their 
children,  Henry  Settles.  William  Briggs  and  his  wife  Rebecca,  Albert 
Briggs  and  his  wife  Lucy,  Dr.  A.  P.  Bowman  and  wife.  When  LaDue 
became  located,  the  church  was  removed  to  that  place,  and  is  now  known 
as  the  "  LaDue  Christian  Church."  In  1878,  a  neat  and  substantial  frame 
church  building  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $850,  and  this  congregation  has 
a  pleasant  place  of  worship.  The  pastors  have  been  Rev.  J.  W.  Kellar 
and  Rev.  William  Bridge,  and  they  have  been  mostly  transient,  Rev.  W. 
P.  Dorsey  the  last.  The  church  has  now  eighty  members.  Elders, 
Henry  Settles,  Dr.  A.  P.  Bowman  and  William  Davis. 

One  of  the  most  pleasing  and  instructive  incidents  of  the  church  was 
a  public  debate,  on  the  part  of  the  church- by  the  Rev.  W.  P.  Dorsey,  and 
his  opponent  the  Rev.  Williams,  of  the  Baptist  denomination.  It  came 
off  in  August,  1882,  and  lasted  a  week.  The  church  is  exercising  a 
strong  influence  for  good  which  is  constantly  extending. 

1883. 

Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  LaDue  lies  between  two  good  busi- 
ness points,  it  is  gradually  growing,  and  its  business  more  rapidly  than 
its  population.  The  fact  is,  the  country  is  rich  around  it,  and  the  farmers 
in  good  circumstances.  Then  the  business  men  are  energetic,  and  don't 
propose  to  be  undersold  by  anybody.  This  fact  being  pretty  well  known 
it  has  secured  a  handsome  trade.     There  are  in  LaDue: 

R.  M.  Bolton,  drugs  and  medicines. 

S.  H,  Jones  &  Son,  drugs  and  medicines. 

Smith,  Steck  &  Co.,  general  store. 

G.  F.  Rock,  general  store. 

E.  L.  Fahnestock,  general  store. 

One  stock  dealer. 

Dr.  Joseph  Noble. 

One  good  school  building. 

The  Christian  Church. 

It  is  quite  a  shipping  point,  hogs,  cattle,  corn  and  flaxseed  being 
the  leading  articles,  while  hides,  tallow,  provisions,  etc.,  fill  up,  in  all, 
over  100  car  loads  per  annum. 


460  HISTORY    OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  J\ 

The  first  store  started  in  LaDue  was  by  Joshua  Gates  in  the  fall  of 

1870.     He  was  followed  by  Claiborn  Dowell  with  the  first  residence.    In  ! 

virtue  of  having  a  store  Joshua  Gates  became  the  first  postmaster.     He  ' 

was  followed  the  next  year  by  H.   M.  Wright,  who  only  held    it  a  short  . 
time,  and  Mr.  A.  E.  Gragg  took  it  of  Gragg,  Wright  &   Go.      In  1873  it 

was  turned  over  to  Mr.   E.   L.   Fahnestock,   who  has  retained   it  since,  I 

being  the  present  postmaster  of  the  town.  j 

In  1880  LaDue  had  a  population  of  140  and  it  will  now  reach   200.  j 

It  is  not  expected  to  become  a  very  large  town,  but  as  a  railroad  station  i 
and  trading  point  it  will  prove  a  great  convenience  and  is  likely  to  hold 

its  own.  J 

WHEN    LOCATED.  * 

The  town  was  laid  out  on  the  land  of  William  Davis  in  the  year  j 
1870,  and  has  about  eighty  acres  in  the  town  plat.  The  growth  of  the  I 
town  has  been  since  the  arrival  of  the  railroad.  ! 

THE   FIRST   SETTLER.  ] 

The  first  settler  in  Davis  Township  was  Ezekiel  Blevins,  who  really  j 
settled  in  our  new  township,  "  Pres.  Blevins."  He  located  on  section  ! 
32,  removing  from  section  16,  Shawnee  Township,  where  he  had  settled 
in  1832,  and  sold  his  claim  in  1833.  R.  P.  Blevins,  called  "  Pres."  Blev- 
ins, was  a  shouting  infant  less  than  six  months  old,  and  is  to-day 
the  oldest  male  child  born  in  Henry  Gounty.  Others  soon  followed  and 
the  north  half  of  Davis  Township  and  along  the  banks  of  Grand  River 
some  of  the  earliest  and  best  of  the  old  pioneers  located,  and  they 
stamped  the  native  energy  and  integrity  of  their  character  upon  their 
descendants.  Davis  Township's  prosperity  lies  in  the  energies  of  her 
sons,  the  land  is  there  beautiful  to  the  eye,  and  labor  will  make  it  blos- 
som like  the  rose. 

"PRES.  blevins"  TOWNSHIP — A  NEW  DISCOVERY. 

A  new  discovery  has  brought  to  Henry   Gounty  another  township. 
Having  found  four  and  one-half  sections  of  land  without  a   local   habi- 
tation, or  a  name,  but  surrounded  on   all   sides   by  municipal   divisions, 
the  writer  has  given  it  the  name  of  "Pres.   Blevins"  township,    after   the     | 
first  white  male  child  born  in   Henry  Gounty,  Preston   Blevins,  and    also 
rom  the  fact  that  he  is  one  of  the  largest  land  owners  in  the  new  town- 
ship, as  well  as  an  honored  and  well  known  citizens  of  Henry  Gount}-. 
Davis  Township,  as  will  be  seen  iw  the  foregoing  pages,   was  made  by 
the  county  court  in   1873  the  size  of  a  congressional  township,  while     1 
Honey   Greek  Township  followed,   a   measure,   the   windings   of  Grand     ! 
River,  leaving  the  southwest  corner  without  being  defined. 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 
IT   WILL   NOW   BE   KNOWN. 


461 


The  good  citizens  of  "  Pres  Blevin "  supposed  they  belonged  to 
Davis,  but  it  is  not  so  recorded,  or  was  not  January  ist,  1883,  and  it  has 
been  outside  the  pale  of  legal  civil  life  for  all  these  years.  Having  found 
it  and  christened  it,  it  will  now  be  known  as  "  Pres.  Blevins."  It  is 
bounded  on  the  north  and  east  by  Grand  River  and  Henry  Creek;  south 
by  Davis  and  west  by  White  Oak  Townships.  It  has  four  and  one-half 
sections  of  splendid  prairie  land,  except  that  which  lies  on  Grand  River, 
which  is  well  wooded.  Is  has  both  wood  and  water  in  abundance,  and 
about  as  live  and  energetic  a  farming  population  as  any  township  in  the 
county. 

GOVERNOR   BLEVINS. 

There  is  no  government  land  in  the  township,  or  any  legal  govern- 
ment for  that  matter,  but  R.  P.  Blevins  is  hereby  appointed  "  governor," 
until  such  time  as  his  successors  shall  be  elected  and  qualified,  with  full 
power  to  act  and  to  send  for  persons  and  papers. 


CHAPTER  XXXI.  J 

1 

OSAGE,  FAIRVIEW  AND  BEAR  CREEK  TOWNSHIPS.  \ 

OSAGE— THE    GREAT    SOUTHEAST— WHO    SETTLED    IT— OSAGE    TOWNSHIP    IN    1858 -CONS-  j 
VILLE— nS  TWIN  SISTER— METES  AND  BOUNDS  IN  1858  AND  1873— CORN  AND  STOCK—  i 
POPULATION— FIRE  AT  BROWNINGTON-CHURCHES— SCHOOL— BUSINESS.   FAIRVIEW 
—CENTRAL  LOCATION-ITS  STREAMS— WOOULAND-THE  FAMOUS 'I' EN  MILE  PRAIRIE 
—ORIGINALLY— THE    ORGANIZATION   OF    1873— OLD   SEI'TLERS-ITS    COAL    FIELDS- 
RAILROAD  FACILITIES— SCHOOLS  AND   CHURCHES.     BEAR    CREEK— METES,  BOUNDS  j 
AND   AREA— WATER   AND   TIMBER— GAME— WHEN  ORGANIZED-SCHOOL-OLD    SET-  j 
TLERS-  PROGRESS— ITS  FUTURE.  ] 

THE   SOUTHEAST.  ;! 

The   first  settlement  in   Osage  Township  was  in  1835.     To  be  sure,  ! 

this  settlement  was  neither   large  or  extensive  nor  did  it  grow  rapidl}'.  1 

Captain   Royster,  now  deceased,  Alexander  Bowles  and   Whit.  Mulhol-  ^ 

land — these  were  all  that  can  be  named  of  the  settlers  who  came  in  1835,  j 

but   there   was   George    Bowles,  William   Stewart,  David    White,  Mont-  ' 

gomery  Wright,  John  Johnson  and    Reuben  Good,  who  came  in  1836-7.  < 

James  Smith  came  in  the  latter  year,  while  Overton  Parks  was  a  settler  | 
of  1835  or  the  spring  of  1836,  and  John  Thornton  in  1837  or  1838.  These 
were  the  principal  early  settlers. 

At   this   time   Osage  was  a  part   of   Springfield   Township,  and    it  I 

remained  such  until  1858.     Judge   Hillegas,  who  was  county  judge  for  a  ] 

number  of  years,  settled  in  this  township  in  1856.  I 

In  1858,  as  above  mentioned,  the  county  court  created  Osage  Town-  , 

ship  and  gave  it  the  following  metes  and  bounds:  I 

"Ordered,  That  a  municipal  township  be  established  within  the  fol-  ] 

lowing  boundaries,  to  wit:  ! 

Beginning  at  a  point  on  Grand  River,  where  the  county  line  between  ' 

Benton    and    Henry  intersects  said  river;  thence  south  to  the  corner  of  I 

the  county;  thence  west  along  the  county  line  dividing   Henry  and   St.  ! 

Clair  Counties  to  where  the  range  line  between  ranges  26  and  27  inter-  i 

sects  the  county  line;  thence   north   along   said   range   line  to  where  it  j 
intersects  Deepwater  Creek;  thence  east  down  the  main  channel  of  said 

Deepwater  Creek  to  where  it  intersects  Grand   River;  thence  down  the  1 

middle  of  the  channel  of  said  river  to  place  of  beginning.  . 

And   that    the   house   of    George    W.    Bowles    be    constituted    and  ' 

declared  the  voting  precinct  of  said  township,  and   that   said   township  ; 
be  known  and  called  by  the  name  of  Osage  Township  and  that  the  same 
be  certified  forthwith." 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  463 

This  was  at  the  May  term  of  the  county  court,  and  the  first  election 
was  the  annual  August  election  of  that  year. 

The  first  ferry  across  Grand  River  was  kept  by  John  T.  Thornton, 
who  was  born  in  Virginia  in  the  year  1800,  and  who,  coming  to  Missouri, 
settled  in  Osage  Township,  Kenry  County,  a  few  miles  below  Browning- 
ton,  in  i<S39.  This  has  since  been  known  as  "  Thornton's  Ferry."  Mr. 
Thornton  has  been  deaf  and  blind  for  thirty  years,  is  now  eighty-three 
years  old,  and  lives  with  his  widowed  daughter,  Mrs.  A.  R.  Everett,  in 
Brownington.  He  has  been  a  noble,  self-sacrificing  pioneer,  known  only 
to  be  respected  by  all.  He  loves  to  talk  over  the  reminiscences  of  the 
past,  for  those  associations  and  their  recollections  are  vivid  to  him  even 
now. 

The  second  ferry  in  the  township  was  kept  by  David  White,  at  the 
crossing  of  Grand  River,  near  Brownington,  and  was  called  "  White's 
Ferry,"  When  Consville  was  laid  out,  in  1867,  by  Captain  J.L.  Consollis, 
the  ferry  was  still  called  White's  Ferry. 

CONSVILLE. 

In  the  laying  out  of  this  village  the  name  of  Consville  was  given  it, 
as  was  also  the  postoffice  and  Capt.  Consollis  became  the  first  postmas- 
ter. He  put  up  the  first  store  and  was  the  first  merchant,  keeping  what 
was  called  a  general  stock,  and  doing  considerable  business  from  the 
north  as  well  as  from  the  south  of  Grand  River.  After  the  war  the  vot- 
ing precinct  was  changed  from  the  Widow  Bowles,  George  W.  having 
died,  to  the  house  of  John  Mohervies. 

r 
BROWNINGTON. 

The  town  of  Brownington  was  first  located  in  the  year  1869,  and 
joined  that  of  Consville  and  was  laid  out  by  William  M.  Doyle.  This  gen- 
tleman moved  a  store  building  upon  the  location  and  opened  the  first  store. 
He  had,  however,  a  partner,  Mace  Avery,  and  the  firm  was  Doyle  & 
Avery.  Mr.  James  Comer  put  up  the  first  residence  and  moved  therein 
and  was  the  ''oldest  inhabitant."  The  same  year  a  school  house  was 
erected,  which  was  also  the  church  of  the  place.  This,  however,  was  a 
subscription  school  at  first.  It  was  made  a  public  school,  by  purchase, 
in  the  winter  of  1870-71,  and  Miss  Mattie  Parks  was  the  first  teacher. 
The  first  school  was  taught  by  Miss  Kate  Watkins,  on  the  completion 
of  the  school  house  in  the  winter  of  1869-70.  This,  as  we  said  before, 
was  a  private  or  subscription  school. 

METES  AND  BOUNDS. 

In  organizing  Osage  Township  its  metes  and  bounds  included  all 
of  the  present  township  of  Fairview.  its  western   line  being  range  line 


464  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

between  26  and  27.  running  to  Deepvvater  Creek;  thence  following  that 
Creek  to  Grand  River  and  down  that  river  to  the  Benton  County  line. 
When  the  county  court  reorganized  the  county  in  1873  Fairview  Town- 
ship was  taken  off  of  Osage  and  the  latter  was  left  with  the  following 
dimensions: 

NO.  19  OSAGE. 

"Composed  of  so  much  of  township  No.  40  of  range  No.  25,  as  lies 
on  the  right  bank  of  Grand  River,  except  the  territory  laying  north  of 
the  line  running  east  and  west  through  the  center  of  section  No.  7,  and 
the  west  half  of  fraction  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  No.  8,  in 
said  township  and  range.  Also  all  of  township  No.  40  of  range  No.  24, 
laying  south  of  Grand  River  and  north  of  the  Osage  River." 

This  boundary  breaks  it  up  into  many  fractional  sections,  but  it  has 
in  round  figures  a  trifle  over  forty-seven  sections,  or  about  30,200  acres 
of  land.  It  is  rather  a  rough  township  with  hills  and  bluffs  along  the  J 
Grand  River  and  on  the  Osage,  in  the  southeast.  In  the  south  and  ^ 
southeastern  part  it  reaches  into  a  fine  prairie,  and  for  a  stock  township 
it  is  not  excelled  in  the  county.  Sheep,  cattle  and  hogs  cannot  find  a  1 
better  country,  go  where  you  will.  It  is  largely  devoted  to  cattle  and  j 
hogs  and  should  be  to  sheep.  The  soil  along  the  bottoms  is  very  deep  \ 
and  very  rich,  and  the  prairies  are  fully  up  to  the  average.  Corn  is  the  \ 
staple  crop.  The  settlers  are  in  need  of  a  little  more  energy  and  pride.  ; 
A  good  many  live  in  cabins  that  are  simply  a  disgrace,  and  it  is  not  j 
necessary,  in  a  large  number  of  cases.  In  fact  they  have  means  to  build  1 
comfortable  houses,  and  it  is  not  to  the  credit  of  some  of  them  in  ignor- 
ing both  comfort  and  looks  for  the  sake  of  the  almighty  dollar.  j 

POPULATION — FIRE.  '  \ 

The  population  of  Osage  Township  in  1870  was  828.  This  also  ^ 
included  Fairview  Township.  In  1880,  the  census  showed  a  gain  of  ; 
nearly  200,  after  the  township  of  Fairview  was  taken  off,  it  having  a  1 
population  of  1,010.  This  is  as  rapid  an  increase  as  any  agricultural  . 
township  in  the  county,  showing  that  it  has  been  recognized  as  a  good 
stock  country,  and  a  corn  growing  district  unsurpassed.  j 

On  Sunday  night  April  11,  1875,  the  largest  fire  ever  experienced  in      ^ 
Brownington    occurred.       It  was  discovered    about    four  o'clock  in   the 
morning,  and  was  in  the  large  dry  goods  store  of  Robert  Redding.     The      [ 
post  office  was  kept  in  the  same  building,   and  the  loss  in  stamps   was 
about  $90,  besides  all  the  fixtures  belonging  to  the  office.   Mr.  Redding's      ; 
loss  was  considerable,  though  an  insurance  of  $3,725  was  carried  by  him      ; 
on  his  stock.     There  is  considerable  coal    in  the  township,    and  quite      I 
considerable  is  being  mined,  that  is  for  home  consumption.     When  the 
railroad  from  Clinton  to  Osceola  shall  have  been  completed  to  Brown- 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY  COUNTY.  465 

ington,  these  mines  will  be  valuable.  The  Hobbs'  coal  bank  is  now  being 
worked  on  section  30,  about  one  and  a  half  miles  southwest  of  the  town 
of  Browning.  The  developments  of  this  wealth  will  add  much  to  the 
advancement  of  the  township,  as  well  as  its  little  but  enterprising  capi- 
tal— Brownington.  Something  may  be  gathered  of  the  stock  interest, 
and  corn  raising  by  the  following  item  taken  from  a  correspondent's 
letter  to  the  Clinton  Democrat.     It  says: 

T.  H.  Atkins  and  O.  M.  Potts  have  purchased  from  Peeler  &  Kirk- 
ley  104  head  of  cattle,  average  weight  1,200  pounds,  and  upwards  of  150 
head  of  hogs,  average  275  pounds.  The  purchasers  will  ship  the  best 
of  the  hogs  and  feed  the  remainder  for  the  June  market.  They  have 
about  8,000  bushels  of  corn  on  hand  which  they  will  feed.  .The  sale 
aggregates  a  total  of  about  $7,500.  This  is  a  sample  of  what  the  stock- 
men are  doing  in  good  old  Osage. 

BROWNINGTON. 

This  village,  as  before  stated,  was  first  settled  in  1869,  although  it 
may  be  stated  as  being  settled  in  1837,  ConsolHs  being  its  founder,  as  at 
this  day  the  two  places  are  one.  It  lies  south  of,  and  about  one-half 
mile  from  Grand  River,  and  is  directly  on  the  line  of  the  Clinton  & 
Osceola  Railroad,  which  is  expected  to  be  completed  to  the  latter  town 
during  the  present  year,  1883,  and  will  probably  become  the  largest  and 
most  important  station  on  the  line  of  the  road  between  the  points  named. 
It  had  in  1880,  a  population  of  251,  and  now  numbers  fully  300,  if  not 
over. 

CHURCHES — BUSINESS. 

The  Brownington  Presbyterian  Church  was  first  organized  in  1873 
but  the  church  was  not  erected  in  the  village  until  1880.  They  now  have 
a  neat  frame  structure,  erected  in  the  last  named  year  at  a  cost  of  $1,000, 
being  30x40  feet  in  size,  and  substantially  but  plainly  furnished.  Its  first 
preacher  was  the  Rev.  J.  F.  Watkins,  and  has  a  membership  of  about 
sixty. 

BUSINESS   INTERESTS. 

Doyle  &  McFarland,  general  merchandise. 

O.  M.  Potts,  general  merchandise. 

Sheldon  &  Payne,  general  merchandise. 

Ellington  &  Bros.,  drugs  and  groceries. 

A.  H.  Camp,  shelf  and  heavy  hardware. 

J.  J.  Stevens,  drugs  and  medicines. 

Henry  C.  Bowles,  Brownington  Hotel. 

Peeler  Bros.  &  S.  L.  Kirkly,  stock  dealers. 

Dr.  Taylor,  Dr.  Hardeman,  Dr.  Stevens,  Dr.  McGlade. 

30 


466  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COJNTY.  I 

MT.    ZION    M.    E.    CHURCH.  j 

On  the   southern   section   line   between  sections  25   and  36,  being^ 

however,  on  section  25,  Mt.  Zion  M.  E.  Church  is  located,  within  about  , 

a  mile  of  the  St.  Clair  County  line,  and  in  township  40  of  range  25,  and  | 

a  little  over  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  range  line  between  25  and  24. 

It  is  the  oldest  church  in  the  township,  and  first  organized  way  back  in  ! 

the  fifties.     Not  all  of  the  original  members  can  be   given,  but  the  fol-  \ 

lowing  are  among  those  who  first  joined:     J.  A.  Gilkey  and  wife,  D.  S. 

Walker  and  wife,   David   Walker  and   wife,  Judge  J.  Hillegas  and  wife,  ' 

Henry  Hubbard  and  wife,  Sol.  Breitenstein  and  wife,  M.  J.  Hillegas  and 

wife,  John  Morewise   and  wife,  Jesse   Sheppard  and    wife,  and  Linsey  1 

Retting.      The  members   at  last  raised   a    subscription    of  $1,000  and  ; 

erected  their  church  edifice  on  the  spot  above  described,  in  1872.     It  is  j 

30x40  feet  in  size,  and  a  good,  comfortable  place  of  worship.  The  church  j 

is  still  well  attended  by  good  sized  congregations,  and  is  in  a  good  con-  1 

dition  and  exercises  a  strong  moral  influence  for  good.     Its  first  pastor  ' 

was  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wendall. 

SCHOOLS. 

When  first  organized  into  school  districts  Osage  was  given  one  in 
each  congressional  township  of  which  it  is  composed,  being  parts  of  1 
township  40,  of  ranges  24  and  25.  In  1878  it  boasted  of  six  public  | 
schools  and  in  1883  it  has  twelve.  In  educational  matters  it  is  up  fully  i 
with  the  most  advanced  of  her  sister  townships,  and  if  they  take  but  ' 
little  pride  in  dwelling  houses,  they  are  strongly  in  favor  of  educational 
progress  and  are  ready  to  meet  the  expense  promptly  and  cheerfully.  ' 

With  a  full  average  attendance  and  a  six  months  term,  the  children     ! 
of  school  age  are  rapidly  advancing  in  their  studies.     The  future  of  the     : 
township  in  its  educational  facilities  is  assured  and  when  a  railroad  shall     ■ 
pass  through  her  territory,  so  that  her  people  will  have   transportation 
to  the  outside  world  and  can  speak  by  the  electric  wires,  Osage   Town-     ' 
ship  will  develop  rapidly,  and  her  advance,  progress  and   material  pros- 
perity is  likely  to  astonish  her  municipal  sister,  and  here  she  is  left  until 
the  day  of  resurrection  shall  come,  and  she  stands  forth  disenthralled. 

FAIRVIEW    TOWNSHIP,  ' 

is  one  of  the  center  townships  of  the  county,  east  and  west,  its  southern 
border  lies  on  the  St.  Clair  County  line,  and  is  in  size  a  congressional 
township  of  six  miles  square,  excepting  a  portion  of  its  northeastern  and  ^ 
northern  border  caused  by  the  sinuous  course  of  Deepwater  Creek,  | 
which  takes  off  two  and  three-fourths  sections  of  land,  making  its  area  ^ 
21,280  acres.  It  is  at  least  four-fifths  prairie,  with  quite  a  heavy  body  of  ' 
timber  on  the  banks  of  Deepwater,  which  flows  through  and  along  its  j 
nortbet-n  border.  ' 


HISTORY   OP^    HENRY   COUNTY.  467' 

Cooper  Creek  flows  in  from  the  center  of  the  south  part  of  the  town- 
ship, and  with  Coal  Branch  waters  the  eastern  portion.  Minson  Creek 
rises  in  the  south  center  and  runs  north,  and  Marshall  Creek,  the  largest, 
comes  in  on  the  west  about  two  and  a  half  miles  from  its  south  line,  and 
running  northeast,  empties  into  Deepwater.  White  Oak  Branch  is  in 
the  northeast  corner. 

With  these  streams  there  is  plenty  of  water  for  all  farm  and  stock 
purposes,  but,  with  the  exception  of  Marshall,  none  of  the  branches 
amount  to  much. 

ORIGINALLY. 

While  the  county  was  under  the  civil  jurisdiction  of  Lafayette 
County,  Fairview  Township  was  a  part  of  Springfield  Township  of  the 
latter  county.  When  Rives,  now  Henry,  County  was  organized  the 
township  was  divided  on  range  line  26,  one-half  being  in  Grand  River 
Township  and  the  eastern  half  in  Springfield,  as  named  by  the  Rives 
County  Court. 

The  "Ten  Mile  Prairie,"  so  called,  starts  in  this  township,  which  is 
noted  for  its  baautiful  undulating  surface,  the  luxuriant  growth  of  its 
grasses,  the  depth  and  richness  of  its  soil  and  its  prolific  yield. 

The  township  came  into  being  in  the  great  division  of  the  county 
in  1873,  when  nine  townships  were  made  nineteen.  Its  boundaries  are 
described  below: 

NO.   18,  FAIRVIEW. 

"  Composed  of  all  of  Congressional  Township  No.  40  of  range  No. 
26,  excepting  the  east  half  and  northwest  quarter  of  section  No.  i,  and 
the  north  half  of  sections  Nos.  2,  3  and  4,  and  lot  No.  2  of  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  No.  5,  and  lot  No.  2  of  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  No.  6,  and  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  No.  12  in  said  town- 
ship and  range." 

OLD   SETTLERS. 

The  township  was  not  settled  as  early  as  the  more  northern  or  east- 
ern portions  of  the  county.  Albert  Dunning  and  James  McNew,  who 
came  in  1839,  seem  to  have  been  the  first  settlers,  or  among  the  first. 
There  were  a  large  family  of  the  Dunnings  and  they  followed  Albert  the 
next  year  and  in  1841.  They  were  Truman  Dunning,  Young  Dunning 
and  Henry  Dunning  and  families.  Robert  McFarland  came  in  the  fifties, 
and  so  did  William  McKee,  Thomas  Hamilton  and  A.  Cleveland,  John 
Tade,  Daniel  and  Joseph  Rhodes  and  James  Cook.  They  settled  on  and 
represented  nearly  all  parts  of  the  township.  There  are  no  towns 
or  villages  in  the  township,  and  it  had  a  farming  population  in  1880  of 
848.  There  has  been  some  new  settlers  siixre  then  and  the  township  at 
this  time  has  probably   1,000  in  population.      It  is  certainly  one  of  the 


468  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  '^ 

best  agricultural  townships  in  the  county  and  when  the  new  railroad  to 
Osceola  is  built,  will  not  be  far  off  from  a  station.      Its  northwest  por-     | 
tion  is  but  from  two  to  five  miles  from  LaDue  Station,  while  Browning- 
ton,  within  a  mile  of  its  central  eastern  portion,  will  give  railroad  facil-     ' 
ities  to  the  entire  east  side,   from  one  to  four  miles,  or  fully   half  of  the     1 
township.  I 

Coal  has  been  found  on  sections  12  and  13  and  at  other   places,  and     ' 
Coal    Branch   was  given  the  name   in  the   southeast,   because   of    coal 
exposure.     Undoubtedly  the  east  half  of  the  township  is  well  underlaid     i 
with  coal,  and  it  is  claimed  with  veins  from  six  to  twelve  feet   in  thick-     ; 
ness,  but  as  yet  is  undeveloped. 

SCHOOLS   AND   CHURCHES.  .  j 

They  have  one  Dunkard  or  German  Baptist  Church,  located  on  sec-     j 
tion  6,  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  township,  the  other  denominations     | 
in  the  township  have  the  use  of  the  school  house  for  service.  The  Dunk-     I 
ard  Church   was  built  in  1879,  but    was  organized  several  years  before. 
The  members  of  the  church  united  for  its  erection,  and  is  a  neat  and     | 
plain  place  of  worship.     Its  pastors  have  been  Rev.  J.  Studebaker  and    J 
Rev.  Jacob  Fahnestock.     The  church  is  in  a  flourishirg  condition.  There 
are  six  districts  or  public  schools  in  the    township,    which  is  about  the     ^ 
average  in  the  county.    They  are  all  well  attended,  with  yearly  advance-     ; 
ment,  very  plainly  to  be  seen.     The  average  attendance    being  nearly     j 
forty  to  the  school.     The  future  of  the   township   looks   favorable  for  a     | 
good  immigration,  and  it  needs  but  earnest  hearts  and  willing  hands  to     ' 
return  fourfold  to  its  industrious  inhabitants.     In  the  future  aggregate  of 
agricultural  wealth,  according  to  her  population,  Fairview  will  not  be     1 
behind  her  municipal  sisters. 

BEAR   CREEK   TOWNSHIP. 

This  township  is  No.  17,  of  the  series  of  nineteen  townships  organ- 
ized in  1873,  which  now  constitutes  the  municipal  divisions  of  Henry 
County.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Davis,  and  east  by  Fairview 
Townships.  On  the  south  is  St.  Clair  County,  and  west,  Deepwater 
Township.  It  has  thirty-six  sections  of  land,  being  a  congressional 
township,  six  miles  square,  or  an  acreage  23,040  acres. 

Bear  Creek  is  the  principal  stream  within  its  border.  It  flows  in  on 
the  west  side,  near  the  center,  north  and  south,  passing  diagonally  and 
with  a  sinuous  course  towards  the  northeast  corner,  where  it  empties 
into  Deepwater,  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  from  its  eastern  bound- 
ary, and  near  the  northern  line  of  the  township.  Deepwater  touches  the 
northeast  corner  of  the  township.  Marshall  Creek  passes  from  west  to 
east,  clear  across  its  southern  side.  These,  with  Trap  Branch,  which  flows 
into  Marshall  Creek,  constitute  its  water  privileges. 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  469 

Springs  also  abound,  and  water  can  be  had  almost  anywhere  at  a 
depth  of  from  twelve  to  forty  feet. 

Timber  is  abundant  on  Bear  Creek,  while  a  plentiful  supply  of  fuel 
can  be  had  from  Marshall  Creek  and  Trap  Branch.  Along  Bear  Creek 
the  land  is  broken,  and  there  are  a  few  places  not  easy  of  cultivation,  but 
the  bottom  lands  are  rich,  with  a  soil  so  deep  as  to  be  comparatively 
inexhaustable.  The  prairies  are  rolling  rather  than  undulating,  with 
some  level  stretches,  and  again  rising  to  a  height  that  gives  a  beautiful 
view  of  the  surrounding  country. 

Its  description  as  given  by  the  county  court  is: 

NO.   17,  BEAR   CREEK. 

"  Composed  of  all  of  congressional  township.  No.  40,  of  range  27," 
and  this  is  still  its  proportions.  In  1880,  it  had  a  population  of  817,  and 
has  slowly  increased  the  past  three  years.  It  is  a  good  stock  township, 
especially  in  its  northern  and  southern  portions,  and  there  is  no  better 
corn  land  than  the  lands  of  Bear  Creek,  lying  upon  the  divide  between 
Bear  Creek  and  Marshall  Creek.  The  Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas  Rail- 
road runs  about  three  and  three-quarter  miles  through  the  northwestern 
part  of  the  township.  Montrose  is  its  principal  post  office,  though  the 
northeastern  portion  go  to  LaDue. 

SCHOOLS,  ETC. 

This  township,  also,  has  six  school  districts,  with  good  school 
buildings  in  all  of  them.  They  assess  no  taxes  except  in  an  occasional 
demand,  the  township,  county  and  state  school  fund  being  found  suffi- 
cient for  school  purposes.  The  average  school  term  is  from  four  to  six 
months,  with  a  good  average  attendance.  A  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  is  located  on  Bear  Creek,  section  10,  and  on  the  northwest  quar- 
ter. It  has  been  organized  a  number  of  years,  but  the  present  church 
was  not  erected  until  188 1,  at  a  cost  of  about  $1,500,  its  first  pastor  being 
the  Rev.  King.  It  is  exercising  a  large  influence  for  good,  and  has  every 
prospect  of  increasing  in  membership  and  spreading  a  strong  moral  and 
christian  example  over  a  large  extent  of  country. 

Bear  Creek  Township  has  no  village  or  post  office  within  its  borders. 
Cereals  and  stock  raising  is  the  business  of  its  population. 

OLD   SETTLERS. 

It  was  settled  in  1838  by  a  few  enterprising  spirits,  and  it  was  not 
long  before  others  followed.  The  Teays,  Gutridges,  Fahnestocks,  Kings, 
Stillwells,  Brownings  and  Eppersons  were  among  those  who  settled  up 
its  valuable  lands.     In   those  early  days  Bear  Creek  Township  proved 


470  HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 

one  of  the  best  for  game  in  the  whole  southern  part  of  the  county.  Bear 
Creek  bottoms  seem  to  be  fairly  alive  with  game.  The  prairies  would 
be  full  during  the  day,  and  at  night  the  wooded  bottom  lands  would  be 
their  haunts.  The  musical  howl  of  the  wolf  was  almost  of  nightly 
occurrence.  Bears  were  often  found,  but  the  wild  turkeys  were  found  in 
droves.  The  early  pioneer  found  little  trouble  to  supply  his  winter's 
meat. 

There  are  very  few  more  productive  townships  in  the  county  than 
Bear  Creek,  and  what  it  needs  are  men  of  brains  and  brawn  to  settle 
her  prairies  and  woodland,  and  make  what  is  now  waste  land  a  land  of 
increased  productiveness  and  wealth. 

M.  E.  CHURCH,  SOUTH. 

This  church  is  one  of  the  early  organizations  of  the  county,  dating 
back  to  1842,  some  forty-one  years  ago.  It  was  not  a  large  congrega- 
tion that  inaugurated  the  church,  but  they  were  earnest  workers  in  the 
good  cause.  Not  all  of  the  original  members'  names  can  be  remem- 
bered now,  but  among  them  were  Alexander  Gragg  and  wife,  Macon 
Gragg  and  wife,  Peter  Strieker  and  wife,  John  Gragg  and  wife,  Samuel 
Dickinson  and  wife,  George  and  Elizabeth  Gutridge,  Bluford  Marchant 
and  wife,  Mrs,  Clayton,  James  E.  Taylor  and  wife,  Ferdinand  Somers 
and  wife,  James  Wilson  and  wife  and  Samuel  McAhee  and  wife.  The 
church  has  not  very  rapidly  progressed,  and  while  it  does  not  number  a 
very  large  membership,  yet  is  strong  and  steady  in  the  faith  and  spread- 
ing surely,  if  slowly,  an  influence  for  good.  Under  the  earnest  work  of  its 
present  pastor,  the  Rev.  Briggs,  of  Barton  County,  it  will  continue  to 
■exercise  a  spirit  of  brotherly  love  and  true  Christianity  in  its  sphere. 

Their  church  building  is  an  old  one  now,  having  been  erected  in 
1855.     The  building  is  45x35,  frame,  and  cost  $700.     It  is  substantially 

finished.     The  first  preacher  was  the  Rev. McDaniel,  and  its  first 

presiding  elder,  Rev.  Jamison.  This  record  shows  that  all  through  the 
troubles  and  trials  of  years  it  is  yet  a  beacon  light  to  earthl}-  mortal, 
.showing  them  the  true  path  which  leads  to  life  everlasting. 


CHAPTER    XXXIL 


LEESVILLE,  SPRINGFIELD,  DEER  CREEK  AND  BETHLEHEM 

TOWNSHIPS. 

LEESVILLE— A  TOWNSHIP  OF  1873 -ITS  BOUNDS— PIONEERS  OF  1835  TO  1840— COAL  AND 
STONE— CENTENNIAL  1876— PIONEER  HISTORY— OLD  TIME  IMPLEMENTS— THE  FIRST 
CHURCH— SCHOOLS,  ETC.— TOWN  OF  LEESVILLE-WHEN  FOUNDED  AND  BY  WHOM- 
CENTENNIAL  ADDRESS-1876  TO  1883— LODGES— COLESBURG— ITEMS— SPRINGFIELD— 
BEFORE  IT  WAS  A  COUNTY— THE  METES  AND  BOUNDS  OF  i860  AND  1873- ITS  EARLY 
SEITLERS— MT.  OLIVET  CHURCH— SCHOOLS— POPULATION— COAL— STONE  —  DEER 
CREEK-FIRST  SETTLEU— THE  NEW  COUNTY  SEAT— GOFF'S— STORES-  POSTOFFICE— 
THE  FIELD  OF  COAL-POPULATION,  SCHOOL  AND  CHURCHES-LEWIS  STATION- 
FIRST  BUILDING— BUSINESS-SHIPPING— POSTMASTERS— BETHLEHEM  -ORGANIZA- 
TION-AREA FINE  FARMS-EARLY  SETTLERS-ITS  CHURCHES-THEIR  PROGRESS- 
ITEMS  OF  INTEREST— ONWARD— SCHOOLS— ITS  BOUNDARY. 

LEESVILLE   TOWNSHIP. 

This  is  one  of  the  largest  townships  in  the  county,  lying  on  the 
eastern  border,  joining  Benton  County.  It  is  very  irregular  in  its 
southern  boundary,  being  separated  from  Osage  Township  by  Grand 
River, 

NO.   II,  LEESVILLE. 

"Composed  of  all  of  congressional  township  No.  41,  of  range  No. 
24,  and  all  of  congressional  township  No.  40,  of  range  No.  24,  lying 
north  of  Grand  River." 

This  boundary  was  established  when  the  new  township  organiza- 
tion law  went  into  effect  in  1873.  This  gives  it  an  area  of  a  little  over 
forty-six  and  a  half  sections  of  land  or  29,773  41-100  acres  of  land.  The 
central  and  southern  portion  is  a  splendid  prairie,  while  the  north  and 
along  the  west  side  is  hilly  and  wooded.  Tebo  Creek  waters  the  north- 
ern portion  of  the  township  from  west  to  east  and  has  four  small 
branches,  which  are  not  large  enough  to  be  named.  Grand  River,  as 
above  mentioned,  is  its  southern  line,  well  wooded  and  rather  rough 
with  Cedar  Creek  as  its  principal  tributary,  running  several  miles  from 
northwest  to  southeast  and  flowing  into  Grand  River.  According  to 
population  it  is  one  of  the  wealthiest  townships  in  the  county  and  one 
of  the  oldest  settled.  It  belongs  to  the  era  of  1835  and  many  of  its  cit- 
izens are  known  in  the  official  record  of  the  county.  While  its  agri- 
cultural resources  are  the  equal  of  any  so  far  as  its  lands  have  been 


472  HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 

improved,  it  has  other  means  of  wealth  in  its  extended  coal  fields  and 
stone  quarries.  In  the  northeast  part  of  the  township  coal  underlies 
nearly  all  of  it,  and  veins  of  excellent  coal  are  known  to  exist  in  sections 
8,  17  and  18,  but  it  is  probably  not  too  much  to  say  that  one-third  of  the 
township  is  thus  favored.  Stone  quarries  of  an  excellent  building  stone 
crop  out  all  over  the  township.  A  saw  and  grist  mill  is  found  on  sec- 
tion 4  and  a  saw  mill  on  section  i.  Its  principal  resources  are  now  corn 
and  stock.  Cattle  and  hogs  are  staple  articles  of  production  along  with 
corn. 

EARLY   PIONEERS. 

In  the  southern  part  of  the  township  was  the  Parks'  Settlement, 
which  might  be  said  to  have  been  the  first,  but  was  so  soon  followed  by  La- 
bon  Pigg  and  others,  that  they,  too,  claim  to  be  among  the  first.  B.  D. 
Parks  settled  on  section  33,  Labon  Pigg  on  section  32,  John  A.  Pigg,  on 
section  21,  but  removed  to  section  20.  Then  John  Parks,  Reuben  Parks, 
William  Parks,  Benjamin  Putnam  and  Pattison  Gordon,  who  settled  on 
section  15,  all  came  in  1835,  and  all  settled  in  the  south  central  and 
western  portions  of  the  township.  For  awhile  Chesley  Jones,  who  came 
in  183 1  or  1832,  Joseph  Potter  in  1833,  but  Chesley  Jones  lived  in  Spring- 
field. Thomas  Jones  also  lived  in  the  township  in  1836,  and  settled  on 
section  26,  but  removed  in  1837  to  Springfield  Township.  John  Ander- 
son, in  the  fall  of  1835,  and  that  fall  and  winter  came  J.  P.  Turner,  James 
Y.  Parks,  David  Logan,  William  Witherspoon  and  Jesse  Bunch.  The 
last  named,  while  given  as  coming  that  year,  must  have  come  in  1833 
or  1834,  but  did  not  find  just  where  he  settled.  There  were  quite  a  num- 
ber came  in  1837.  John  Potter  settled  on  section  3.  John  Anderson  on 
section  2,  David  Collins  on  section  10.  Cornelius  East,  Thomas  Stewart, 
F.  and  Drury  Reaves  and  Andrew  Sisk,  were  among  the  arrivals.  When 
the  year  1838  is  reached,  that  old  pioneer  preacher,  Rev.  Daniel  Briggs, 
came  and  settled  on  section  10,  and  organized  the  Tebo  Church  and  was  a 
man  of  mark,  who  left  the  impress  of  his  strong,  rugged  nature  upon  the 
social  and  religious  character  of  the  people.  Richard  James,  Sr.,  S. 
Peeler,  James  and  John  Carleton,  are  among  those  who  located.  Henry 
L.  Pigg  and  James  W.  Pigg,  who  afterwards  removed  to  the  township, 
were  born  on  section  25,  in  Tebo  Township.  David  Collins  also  came 
in  1838.  Thomas  and  Robert  Briggs  came  with  their  father,  Daniel  W. 
R.  Radford,  James    H.  Renfro,  and    Talbert  Kellsy  completing  the  list. 

CENTENNIAL   CELEBRATION,    LEESVILLE,  JULY   4,  1 876. 

The  following  is  taken  from  the  address  read  at  the  centennial  cele- 
bration at  Leesville,  July  4,  1876,  giving  an  account  of  the  early  settle- 
ment of  that  township,  and  the  quaint  dresses  worn  and  tools  used  in 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY.  475 

pioneer  days.  The  address  was  prepared  by  a  committee,  the  following 
constituting  its  members,  viz:  James  D.  Acock,  James  Carleton  and 
Thomas  Briggs,  and  from  it  has  been  selected  such  extracts  as  would 
bear  upon  the  early  history  of  the  township. 

WEARING   APPAREL. 

In  those  days  the  wearing  apparel  of  the  old  pioneer  was  similar  to 
that  worn  by  our  first  parents  in  the  Garden.  Pants,  hunting  shirts  and 
moccasins,  made  of  well  dressed  buckskin,  the  border  of  which  was  always 
adorned  with  a  beautiful  fringe  of  the  same  material,  a  cap  made  of  a 
fox  or  coon  skin,  with  a  tail  suspended  as  an  ornament,  and  thus  in  his 
native  garb  would  those  hardy  and  industrious  pioneers  go  forth  to  earn 
an  honest  livelihood  by  the  sweat  of  his  brow.  The  females,  wives  and 
mothers,  likewise  prided  themselves  in  their  skill  in  manufacturing  their 
own  dresses,  from  the  cotton  or  flax  spun  and  wove  by  their  own  hands. 

On  the  farm  was  the  old  Gary  plow,  with  its  famous  wooden  mould 
board,  as  our  main  dependence,  with  paddle  attached  to  remove  the  dirt 
which  would  accumulate  on  the  mould  board.  The  old  bar  shear  was 
commonly  used  in  breaking  the  prairie  sod,  to  which  would  be  five  or  six 
yoke  of  oxen.  The  single  shovel  plow  was  also  used,  but  especially  the 
weeding  hoe,  which  was  thought  indispensable  for  every  plowing  of  the 
corn,  and  was  called  the  "Old  Standby." 

The  old  style  wagon,  with  its  wooden  spindle  and  its  heavy  iron 
and  woodwork,  were  the  only  wagons  in  use.  The  mills  used  were 
horse  mills,  one  being  in  Springfield  Township,  and  one  in  Benton 
County.  These  were  both  draft  mills,  and  we  can  testify  from  personal 
experience  that  with  two  good  horses  they  would  grind  a  grist  of  one 
and  a  half  bushels  of  corn  in  two  and  one-half  hours.  Going  to  mill 
mill  was  considered  a  day's  work.  The  pioneers  denied  that  they  ever 
balanced  their  sack  on  their  horses  back  with  a  stone  in  one  end  and 
corn  in  the  other.  We  could  write  many  pleasing  incidents  with  regard 
to  the  old  relics  of  the  past,  but  we  forbear=  "  Peace  to  their  memory." 
Roads  they  had  none,  and  schools  were  few  and  of  a  primitive  grade. 
In  1840  there  was  not  a  church  in  the  township.  But  times  have  changed 
and  a  better  day  has  dawned.  The  old  log  school  house  with  its  pun- 
cheon floor  and  seats  have  given  way  to  our  modern  school  houses, 
with  all  the  comforts  and  paraphernalia  of  advanced  progress,  with 
competent  teachers  and  tuition  free  to  all. 

OLD   TIME   IMPLEMENTS. 

The  old  Gary  and  bar  shear  plow  has  given  way  to  the  improved 
plow  of  the  present  day;  the   old  single  shovel  to   the  sulky  riding  and 


474  HISTORY   Ol"    HENR\    COUNTY. 

walking  cultivators;    the  reaping   hook,   scythe   and  cradle  to  the  har- 
vester and  the  combined  reapers  and  mowers. 

The  improvements  for  the  household  is  no  less  wonderful.  Our 
mother,  wife  and  daughter  have  given  up  the  old  hand  loom,  flax  and 
cotton  spinning  wheels  for  more  modern  manufacture,  and  the  needle 
and  thimble  for  the  marvelous  sewing  machine.  The  wash  board,  which 
has  broken  so  many  constitutions  is  fast  giving  way  to  labor  saving 
machines.  The  old  style  cooking  by  the  open  fire  place,  in  bake  ovens, 
skillets  and  frying  pans  is  past,  and  the  beautiful  and  handy  cooking 
stove  now  graces  our  kitchens.  To  look  back  to  the  primitive  style  of 
living  of  the  old  pioneer,  the  labor  which  had  to  be  performed,  and  this 
era  of  mechanical  invention  that  assists  the  laboring  men  and  women  of 
the  present  day,  we  can  well  express  our  feelings  in  words  of  love  and 
praise  of  our  lot,  while  our  thoughts  revert  to  our  fathers  and  mothers 
and  the  labor  of  their  hands  which  was  so  well  and  nobly  performed. 

This  township,  while  known  as  Grand  River  Township,  was  the  first 
in  the  county  to  ask  the  county  court  not  to  grant  a  dramshop  license  in 
the  township.  The  petition  was  presented  to  the  county  court  May  26, 
1853,  and  granted  by  the  court. 

In  the  early  days  Warsaw,  Benton  County,  was  their  principal  trad- 
ing point  until  Leesville  started  in  1854.  When  they  first  went  to  the 
latter  place  Warsaw  itself  could  boast  of  but  one  store.  This  was  espe- 
cially the  case  of  those  settlers  who  lived  south  and  east,  even  to  the 
to  the  north  line  of  the  township.  A  few  settlers  who  lived  on  the  west 
side  patronized  Hall  &  Ketcham,  on  Tebo  Creek,  and  also  [ames  Fields, 
at  Goff's,  and  the  Goff  post  office  was  one  of  the  institutions  they  also 
patronized,  although  correspondence  was  not  brisk  at  twenty-five  cents 
for  each  letter.  Still,  a  post  office  was  a  great  convenience,  if  they  did 
not  use  it  often;  when  they  did  want  it  they  wanted  it  as  bad  as  any- 
body. 

THE   P'IRST   CHURCH. 

The  first  church  in  the  township  was  the  Tebo  Baptist  Church,  loca- 
ted on  section  10.  It  was  the  work  of  Daniel  Briggs  and  a  few  earnest 
men  and  women,  to  whom  the  solitude  of  the  vast  wilderness  and  their 
own  preservation  from  danger  caused  them  to  look  to  Him  as  their  pre- 
server, and  were  anxious  to  rear  a  temple,  even  if  only  a  primitive  one, 
that  they  might  worship  him  in  spirit  and  in  truth. 

Among  the  original  members  were  Daniel  Briggs  and  wife,  Caroline 
Butler,  William  Butler,  John  Anderson,  Mary  Putnam,  Robert  Briggs 
and  Zachariah  Fewell.  The  building  was  of  logs  and  erected  in  1841, 
and  this  was  their  only  church  building. 

In  1855  they  put  up  a  neat  frame  church,  26x40  feet,  at  a  cost  of 
some  $600.  Mr.  Daniel  Briggs  was  its  first  pastor  and  remained  so  until 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  475 

his  death,  which  took  place  December  24,  1863.  Its  second  pastor  was 
another  pioneer,  the  Rev.  William  A.  Gray,  and  he  was  followed  by  the 
Rev.  J.  L.  Briggs.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  Thomas  Briggs  who  has 
served  since  1871.  The  present  membership  is  112,  and  the  church  is 
progressive. 

SCHOOLS  AND  POPULATION. 

Leesville  Township  has  six  school  districts  and  each  have  a  good 
frame  school  house  with  such  necessary  fixtures  as  to  give  a  thorough 
education  so  far  as  the  grade  extends.  In  fact  Leesville  is  fully  up  in  her 
educational  facilities  with  her  sister  townships. 

In  population  she  is  only  exceeded  by  four  townships  in  her  agri- 
cultural population,  having  1,253,  with  about  seventy  of  that  in  the 
town  of  Leesville.  Her  soil  is  rich  enough  to  attract  immigration,  and 
she  should  make  an  effort  to  increase  it.  More  settlers  means  less  tax- 
ation and  greater  prosperity. 

TOWN   OF   LEESVILLE. 

The  town  was  laid  out  by  A.  J.  Lee  and  John  French,  in  the  year 
1854.  It  was  stated  that  French  built  the  first  store  and  Lee  the  first 
house  for  a  residence,  but  while  French  helped  Lee  it  was  Lee's  building 
and  he  occupied  it  as  the  first  merchant.  He  also  became  first  post- 
master and  for  want  of  a  better  name  called  it  Tebo,  after  the  township 
of  a  few  years  back.  At  the  organization  of  the  county  it  was  Springfield. 
The  next  residence  was  built  by  Dr.  Hill,  who  thus  claims  to  have  been 
the  first  physician;  the  second  or  near  the  same  time  was  Dr.  Lansdown. 

The  same  year  A.  Dempsey  built  a  residence  and  a  blacksmith  shop 
and  opened  business,  much  to  the  gratification  of  the  farmers  around. 
There  was  but  little  to  increase  the  growth  of  the  town  for  several  years, 
the  population  growing  only  as  the  country  around  demanded  it.  D.  B. 
Reavis'  was  the  first  family  in  town,  and  the  second  building,  the  Lee 
store  being  first.  Reavis  had  a  horse  power  saw  mill,  and  after  sawing 
enough  for  his  own  dwelling  sawed  the  lumber  for  A.  J.  Lee's  house. 
These  two  buildings  are  still  standing,  old  landmarks  of  pioneer  times 
and  primitive  style  of  architecture. 

The  first  school  was  taught  by  Robert  Briggs  in  185  [.  It  was  not 
in  Leesville,  but  near  the  Tebo  church.  There  was  no  school  in  Lees- 
ville until  a  few  years  later. 

The  post  office  remained  at  Tebo  until  1857,  when  the  name  of  the 
town  having  been  settled,  the  name  was  changed  to  Leesville,  and  Mr. 
Lee  remained  postmaster  until  he  closed  out  his  business  in  i860,  and 
was  followed  by  William  L.  Pigg. 


476  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

From  the  centennial  address,  1876,  we  give  an  amusing  account 
of  the  effort  to  give  the  town  a  name,  and  some  of  the  names  offered 
seem  to  relate  to  the  pioneer's  hard  lot.     The  following  is  the  article: 

CENTENNIAL   ADDRESS    1876. 

In  the  year  1854  D.  B.  Reavis  put  up  a  circular  saw  mill  near  where 
the  old  carding  machine  now  stands,  and  shortly  afterwards  sold  to 
Andrew  Jackson  Lee  one  acre  of  land,  and  he  erected  the  building  now 
occupied  by  J.  R.  Baugh  as  a  drug  store  for  a  store,  and  for  many  years 
sold  goods  in  the  same.  Not  long  after  he  also  erected  the  house  now 
occupied  by  Mr.  Sweitzer  for  a  residence,  and  the  following  year  the 
place  was  laid  off  into  town  lots  and  sold  to  the  highest  bidder.  The 
town  improved  rapidly  and  gained  considerable  notoriety  and  import- 
ance. 

As  the  village  was  nameless  the  citizens  got  together  and  decided 
to  give  it  a  name.  One  proposed  "  Centreville,"  another  "  Starvation 
Point,"  (this  man  had  gone  without  his  dinner),  another  "  Pinch-him- 
slyly,"  still  another  "  Hardscrabble,"  and  again  "  Nigger  Head,"  but  at 
last  we  settled  unanimously  on  the  name  of  "  Leesville,"  after  its  illus- 
trious founder.  Before  the  coming  of  the  late  war,  it  was  thought  by 
some  if  we  could  secure  a  railroad,  and  have  people  and  houses  enough, 
Leesville  would  soon  compete  with  St.  Louis  and  other  large  cities.  But 
alas,  the  cruel  war  and  other  essential  matters,  prevented  Leesville  from 
becoming  a  great  city. 

In  1870,  the  town  had  two  dry  goods  stores,  one  drug  store,  two 
blacksmiths  and  wagon  makers,  and  a  few  other  business  houses.  They 
have  a  large  school  house,  built  in  i860,  which  will  seat  some  300  people. 
The  first  teacher  was  Dr.  Raum  Travis.  They  have  no  church  building, 
but  the  school  building  above  mentioned  is  used  for  church  purposes. 
They  have  four  denominations,  viz:  Campbelite,  Methodist,  Baptist  and 
New  Light.  The  school  of  Leesville  is  in  a  flourishing  condition  at  this 
time,  and  has  an  enrollment  of  130  pupils  Leesville  is  only  about  one 
and  a  half  miles  from  the  Benton  County  line,  and  she  has  considerable 
trade  from  that  section  of  country.  Notwithstanding  we  still  have  left 
two  full  dry  goods  stores,  whose  shelves  are  well  filled  with  seasonable 
goods,  a  flourishing  drug  store,  two  blacksmith  shops,  one  wagon  shop, 
a  boot  and  shoe  shop,  and  last,  though  not  least,  two  physicians,  that 
can  easily  cure  all  the  aches  and  pains  that  flesh  is  heir  to.  A  statistical 
table  of  the  town  would  show  about  the  following  facts: 

Store  houses  and  shops 9 

School  houses  and  family  residences 20 

Families 19 

Number  of  inhabitants 70 


I 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  477 

From  this  it  can  be  easily  seen  there  is  yet  some  room  for  growth 
and  improvement. 

ITS   BUSINESS   AND    LODGES. 

In  1868  F.  G.  Reavis  built  two  stores  and  did  business  in  Leesville 
for  two  years  and  then  sold  out. 

Anderson  &  Scully  keep  a  heavy  stock  of  merchandise  of  all  kinds, 
being  known  as  a  general  store,  and  have  been  at  it  for  the  past  ten 
years. 

Winchel  Skeek  keeps  dry  goods  and  groceries,  and  has  been  there 
two  years. 

J.  H.  Baugh  &  Brother,  drugs,  one  year,  and  now  postmaster.  They 
have  two  blacksmith  shops,  with  a  wagon  and  repair  shop  connected 
with  one  of  them. 

In  1880  Leesville  was  given  a  population  of  seventy,  and  that  won't 
vary  much  from  the  present  number.  The  town  boasts  of  one  lodge  of 
which  the  following  is  given  as  its  position  at  this  time: 

A.    F.   &   A.    M.— LEESVILLE   LODGE    NO.   406, 

was  established  October  16,  1872,  on  which  day  its  charter  was  dated. 
Its  charter  members  were  Bird  D.  Parks,  William  Collins,  Richard  Hud- 
son, C.  A.  James,  Robert  O.  Ragan,  Paton  B.  Logan,  John  Venlemans, 
Jesse  R.  Halford,  James  W.  Harvey,  H.  H.  Hamberger,  William  Parks, 
and  R.  D.  Lawler. 

Its  first  officers  were:  Bird  D.  Parks,  W.  M.;  John  Venlemans,  S.  W.; 
William  Collins,  J.  W. ;  H.  H.  Hamberger,  Treasurer;  William  P.  Baker, 
Secretary;  Robert  O.  Ragan,  S.  D.;  S.  B.  Parks,  J.  D.:  Peter  B.  Logan, 
Tyler. 

The  present  officers  are:  John  Venlemans,  W.  M.;  William  Parks, 
S.  W.;  S.  B.  Parks,  J.  W.;  C.  Anderson,  Treasurer;  W.  T.  Hill,  Secretary; 
W.  D.  Banks,  S.  D.;'s.  H.  Randall,  J.  D.;  John  Hall,  Tyler. 

COLESBURG. 

This  little  village  was  first  settled  in  1859,  ^^^  went  for  sometime 
by  the  name  of  Cole's  store.  He  closed  his  business  in  1861,  and  J.  D. 
Galbreath  occupied  the  same  building  until  1867.  Jesse  Halford  was 
the  first  postmaster  and  the  postoffice  was  called  Galbreath.  This  did 
not  happen  until  1867.  The  next  building  was  a  drug  store,  and  was 
kept  by  Dr.  J.  H.  Bronaugh,  now  of  Calhoun,  who  was  the  first  physi- 
cian as  well  as  druggist.  George  Nyrup  opened  the  first  blacksmith 
shop  in  1859.  The  town  has  not  grown  much  of  late  years  but  it  holds 
the  trade  of  the  country  around. 


478  HISTORY  OF   HENRY    COUNTY.  "; 

The  name  of  the  post  office  was  changed  in  1880,  from  Galbreath  to    j 
Colesburg,  and  is  thus  known.     The  business  of  the  little  village  is  car- 
ried on  by 

Duden  Brothers,  general  merchants.  1 

Mock  &  Owens,  drugs  and  medicines.  ] 

Jesse  Halford,  blacksmith. 

Duden  Brothers,  blacksmiths.  i 

John  Davis,  wagon  maker  and  repairer.  ] 

Its  present  physician  is  Dr.  W.  C.  Bromfield.     The  country  around    I 

is  pretty  well  settled,  and  while  it  is  not  likely  to  become  a  large  village,    1 

will  always  be  a  convenience,  and  will  therefore  be  sustained,  and  grow    | 

as  the  county  is  more  heavily  settled.  ■; 

ITEM.  i 

A  lightning  cure  was  said  to  have  taken  place   at  Leesville  Town,    ' 

September  11,  1880.     An  old  man  by  the  name  of  J.  D.  Alcott,  who  had 

been  unable  to  walk  for  a  long  time,  was  struck  by  an  electric  current    | 

during  the  storm  of  that  day  and  completely  restored.     This  is  vouched 

for.  I 

SPRINGFIELD   TOWNSHIP.  ,1 

i 
This  is  one  of  the  original  townships,  having  been  first  named  in  the    ' 

year  1834,  in  May  of  that  year,  and  it  then  covered   considerable  more 
territory  than  that  which  is  alloted  to  her  at  this  day.     It  then  extended    ' 
to  Johnson   County  on  the  north,  and  the    Osage  River  on  the  south,    i 
When  Rives  County  was  organized,  the  county  court,  at  its  first  session,    | 
made  Springfield  one  of  the  four  townships  in  the  county,  and  it  covered    I 
one-fourth  of  the  territory  of  the  county,  the  southeast  quarter,  but  con-    1 
gressional  township  line  No.  42,  was    its  north  boundary,  which    only    j 
gave  her  half  of  her  present  territory,  although  extending  south  to  the 
county  line.     The  other  half  of  her  present  territory  was  in  Tebo  Town- 
ship.  Her  western  boundary  was  range  line  No.  26,  which  separated  her 
from   Grand  River  Township.     This  remained  until   May  2,    1836,   one 
year  lacking  three  days,  when  the   boundary  between    Grand  River  and     1 
Springfield  Townships  was  altered  as  follows: 

"Instead  of  running  to  the  center  of  range  26,  that  the  same  run  on 
the  dividing  ridge  between  the  waters  of  Grand  River  and  Tebo."  j 

Just  where  that  line  ran  was  never  put  on  a  map.  ' 

The  first  electioi.  in  Springfield  Township  was  in  August,  1836,  and     i 
the  voting  place  was  the  house  of  Abraham  Banta. 

There  was  little  or  no  change  in  township  matters  until   1842.     On     , 
June  6  of  that  year  some   more  territory  was   added   instead   of  being 
taken  off,  as  in  the  first  case.     The  change  was  as  follows : 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  479 

"Ordered,  that  the  following  territory  be  added  to  Springfield 
Township  in  this  county;  commencing  at  Bennett  Harralson's;  thence 
to  the  head  of  Cedar  Creek;  thence  down  said  creek  to  its  mouth; 
thence  south  to  the  county  line  between  Henry  and  St.  Clair  Connties."^ 

In  i860,  August  10,  another  change  took  place,  Osage  Township 
being  organized  chat  date.  The  southern  portion  of  what  was  then 
Springfield  Township  was  given  to  the  new  division  thus  formed. 

METES   AND   BOUNDS   OF    1860. 

Quite  a  number  of  changes  were  made  in  the  township  lines,  two 
more  townships  being  made  out  of  the  existing  territory.  Springfield 
Township  was  then  cut  down  to  the  following  : 

"  Beginning  at  the  northeast  corner  of  section  24,  township  42,  of 
range  24;  thence  south  on  the  county  line  between  Henry  and  Benton 
Counties  to  the  middle  of  the  channel  of  Grand  River;  thence  up  the 
middle  of  the  main  channel  of  said  river  to  the  section  line  dividing 
sections  14  and  15.  in  township  40,  of  range  25;  thence  north  on  said 
section  line  to  the  northwest  corner  of  section  23,  in  township  42,  range 
25;  thence  east  on  said  section  line  to  the  beginning." 

This  included  half  of  the  present  Springfield  Township,  all  of  Lees- 
ville  Township,  two  miles  wide  off  the  east  side  of  Bethlehem  or  twelve 
sections,  and  six  sections  off  of  the  present  township  of  Deer  Creek. 
This  was  the  last  change  until  the  grand  transfiguration  scene  of  1873, 
caused  by  the  great  upheaval  of  the  new  township  organization  law, 
when  the  county  court  made  nineteen  municipal  divisions  out  of  the 
previous  nine,  and  all  the  boundaries  were  changed.  The  new  township 
of  Springfield  under  the  change  was  easily  described.     It  ran  thus: 

NO.    10,    SPRINGFIELD. 

"Composed  of  congressional  township  No.  42  of  range  No.  24." 
This  is  the  Springfield  Township  of  to-day;  has  an  area  of  thirty- 
three  sections  of  land,  or  21,120  acres,  and  is  six  miles  east  and  west  by 
five  and  one-half  north  and  south,  having  the  fractional  sections  on  her 
northern  border.  Its  southwestern  and  western  portion  is  watered  by 
Tebo  Creek,  which  flows  from  north  to  south,  and  causes  this  portion  of 
the  township  to  be  well  wooded,  and  is  also  rolling,  or  even  hilly. 
Barker's  Creek,  which  rises  in  the  northeast,  runs  diagonally  across  the 
county  in  a  southwestern  direction,  and  empties  into  Tebo  Creek  about 
two  and  a  quarter  miles  of  its  western  border.  It  waters  the  central 
part  of  the  township,  and  has  numerous  branches,  fed  by  springs. 

Nearly,  if  not  quite,  one-third,  of  the  township  is  wooded  and  the 
other  two-thirds  prairie.  After  getting  out  of  the  bottom  lands,  the 
hills  are  light  in  soil  and  a  good  deal  of  stone  is  found.     Stone   is   also 


480  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

found   on   the   prairies.     These   latter  are  rich  generally,  and  with  the 

bottom  lands  it  can  be  said  that  about  three-quarters  of  the  township  is 

rich  arable  land. 

EARLY   SETTLERS,  ETC. 

Springfield  was  one  of  the  early  settled  townships,  for  quite  a  num-  j 

ber  coming  in  from  the  north  selected   their  homes  as  far  south  as  the  ; 

waters  of  Tebo.     That  stream  and  Barker's  Creek  were  among  the  first  ' 
settled.      Among  the  first  settlers  and  the  first  was  Philip  Cecil,  who 
came  from  Virginia  and  settled  on  section  34  in  the  year  1835.    Bennett 

Harralson  and  Cyrus  V.  Robinson  came  the  same  year.     William  A.  ' 

Gray  settled  on  section  15  in  1836.     Abraham  and  Henry  Banta  settled  j 

on  section  33  the   same  year.     Joseph  Gray,  father  of  W.  A.,  came  in  : 
1836.     That  year  also  showed   the   loss  of  its  pioneer  settler,    Philip 

Cecil,  who  died  that  year.     The  first  election  in  the  township  was  held  • 

at  the  house  of  Abraham  Banta.  W.  J.  Collins  was  also  a  settler  of  1835,  : 

but  he   first  located  in  what  is   now  Leesville  Township,  and  in   1837  ^ 

removed  to  Springfield  Township.    The  Trollingers,  who  settled  on  sec-  ^ 

tion  34,  were  a  large  family,  as  well  as  the  Guyes,  who  pre-empted  nearly  ■ 

all  of  section  28.     Elberton  Guye  and  the  rest  settled  in  the  years  1837  ; 

and  1838.     Hamilton  and  Madison  Fewell  came  in  1838;  the  latter  set-  i 

tied  on  section  36.    William  Chandler  came  the  same  year.     There  were  ' 
a  few  others  who  came  between  1835  and  1838,  but  not  many,  probably 
not  over  a  score  of  families,  had  settled  in  the  township  up  to  1840. 

The   Rev.  W.  A.  Gray  and  Philip  W.  Cecil,  son  of  Philip,  who  died 

in  1836,  are  still  living.  Dr.  Gray  on  his  own  homestead,  and  Cecil  on  i 

that  of  his  father's,  to  which  he  fell  heir.  .  1 

The  first  school  was  taught  in  the  township  in  the  winter  of  1838-9,  ; 

and  W.  A.  Gray  was  the  teacher.  Of  course  it  was  a  subscription  school.  • 

MT.    OLIVET   CHURCH.  I 

This  church  was   first  organized  in  1844,  and  its  founder  might  be  j 

said  to  be  the  Rev.  William  A.  Gray.     Mr.  Gray  had  taught  school  sev-  : 
eral  years,  but  he  had  desired  to  take  an  active   part  in   church  affairs. 
He  was  ordained  a  minister  either  in  1843  or  1844,  and  soon  commenced 

to  have  a  church  organization.     To  accomplish  this  a  church  was  needed,  ' 

and  he  soon  had  the  neighbors  interested.     Philip  Cecil  and  other  neigh-  j 

bors  took  hold,  and  they  had  a  log  church,  and  with  a  whip  saw  sawed  out  = 

the  lumber  for  the  inside  finish.     Before  the  year  1844  ended,  the  church  \ 

was  completed  and  organization  effected  by  the  Rev.  P.  C.  Caldwell,  of  i 

Johnson  County,  and  the  Rev.  William  A.  Gray,  the  latter  being  installed  1 

as  its  first  pastor.  | 

The  original  members  were  Rev.  William  A.  Gray  and  wife,  Mary,  j 

Joseph   Gray,  father  of  William  A.;  George  Rank  and   his  wife,  Mary;  ] 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  481 

Henry  Banta  and  his  wife,  Mary,  making  the  seven  constituent  members 
of  Mt.  Olivet  Baptist  Church.  From  this  small  beginning,  Mt.  Olivet 
has  grown  to  be  one  of  the  largest  and  most  influential  churches  for  good 
in  the  entire  county.  It  has  now  a  membership  of  168,  and  has  been 
under  the  continued  pastorate  of  the  Rev.  William  A.  Gray  for  nearly 
forty  years.  Here  is  indeed  a  record  of  "  Well  done  good  and  faithful 
servant  of  the  Lord." 

The  old  log  church  also  served  as  a  school  house  for  a  number  of 
years.  In  1852  another  church  was  erected,  30x36  feet,  which  remained 
as  such  until  the  year  1874,  when  the  present  frame  church  was  com- 
menced, and  finished  the  following  year.  This  is  a  plain,  substantial 
building  36x54  feet  in  size,  neatly  furnished,  all  costing  $2,000.  In  con- 
nection with  the  church  they  have  a  flourishing  Sunday  School,  under 
the  superintendency  of  John  J.  Slapper,  with  an  average  attendance  of 
thirty-six  scholars. 

This  church,  like  most  others,  felt  the  evils  arising  from  the  civil  war, 
and  found  itself  at  the  end  of  that  unfortunate  struggle  badly  rendered 
and  broken.  It  was  then  that  earnest  work  was  demanded,  and  that  the 
spirit  of  christian  brotherhood  should  be  r.evived.  To  accomplish  this 
the  eloquent  pastor  called  a  series  of  meetings  to  re-unite  the  scattered 
fragments,  and  bring  unity  and  peace,  where  all  was  chaos.  This  was 
accomplished  and  a  new  era  inaugurated  that  has  proven  the  value  of 
the  work  then  performed.  The  church  became  again  thoroughly  united, 
harmony  existed,  and  some  fifty  candidates  came  forward  at  the  close  of 
these  meetings,  and  presented  themselves  for  baptism.  Since  then  the 
church  has  grown  and  prospered,  and  may  its  aged  pastor  live  still 
many  more  years  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  his  good  work.  The  church  is 
to-da)^  strong  in  its  good  work,  and  its  future  is  as  bright  and  promising 
as  even  its  aged  servant  could  wish. 

SCHOOLS   AND    POPULATION. 

There  are  five  public  schools  in  the  township  and  all  well  attended. 
The  school  year  runs  from  five  to  six  months  with  a  full  average  attend- 
ance. In  the  school  history  of  Henry  County,  chapter  twelve,  will  be 
found  the  financial  condition  of  the  township  school  fund  and  the  amount 
expended  each  year  since  its  districts  have  been  formed. 

The  population  of  Springfield  Township  was,  in  1880,  941.  This, 
was  under  its  present  territory.  It  is  exclusively  an  agricultural  town- 
ship and  does  not  have  even  a  post  office  within  its  border. 

STONE   AND   COAL. 

It  does  not,  however,  rely  upon  agriculture  for  its  future  prosperity. 
The  township   is  bountifully  supplied   with   coal   but  at    present   is  not 

31 


482  HISTORY   OK    HENRY   COUNTY. 

mined.     It  has,  also,  a  splendid  article  of  building  stone,  and    a  quarry 
of  white  marble,  which  is  capable  of  a  high  finish. 

Coal  is  found  on  sections  8,  15,  18,  21  and  25,  where  it  has  cropped 
out,  but  the  north,  middle  and  west  portions  are  underlaid  with  coal,  the 
veins  running  from  twenty-two  inches  to  four  feet  in  thickness. 

The  stone  quarry  is  on  section  20,  and  the  marble  quarry  on  section 
8.     They  have  a  saw  and  grist  mill  on  section  12. 

Springfield  won't  turn  out  as  much  arable  land  as  some  townships, 
but  when  its  full  resources  are  developed,  it  will  be  found  that  her  mate- 
rial wealth  is  not  behind  her  more  pretentious  sisters.  Still,  to  develop 
their  resources,  require  work  and  energy  and  of  these  qualities  the  peo- 
ple are  blest  with  and  the  future  is  not  uncertain.  Calhoun,  Leesville, 
and  Fort  Lyons,  in  Benton  County,  are  the  principal  post  ofifices  used 
by  the  people. 

DEER   CREEK   TOWNSHIP. 

This  township  is  one  of  the  central  townships  of  the  county,  and  in 
the  second  tier  of  townships  from  the  Benton  County  line.  As  earh*  as 
1833  there  was  here  and  there  a  settler.  Howell  Lewis,  an  old,  respected 
and  prominent  citizen  of  the  county  settled  there  in  1836.  William 
Goff,  who  settled  on  fractional  section  one,  was  tne  first  settler  in  the 
township  in  1833,  and  the  first  postmaster  in  the  county,  in  1835,  and 
until  the  spring  of  1837.  John  and  E.  Goff,  his  sons,  came  with  him. 
C.  C.  Bronaugh  also  settled  in  this  tovvnship  a  few  years  later  and  was, 
like  Mr.  Goff,  a  county  judge  for  a  number  of  years.  Deer  Creek  has  a 
history  in  the  fact  that  one  of  her  citizens  was  first  county  judge;  that 
the  first  circuit  court  was  held  within  her  limits;  the  first  postoffice  as 
well  as  postmaster  located  there,  is  credited  also  with  the  first  county 
treasurer,  and  that  her  later  county  judge,  Judge  Bronaugh,  was  one  of 
the  ablest  and  best  judges  that  Henry  County  could  boast  of  The 
Wileys  also  settled  in  this  township  and  their  progressive  spirit  has 
marked  an  era  of  enterprise  in  the  township.  Another  prominent  set- 
tler, who  came  in  1836,  was  John  S.  Lingle;  he  settled  on  section  9,  and 
is  the  father  of  the  Lingle  Brothers,  of  the  Democrat.  Deer  Creek  was 
formerly  a  portion  of  Tebo  and  of  Springfield  Townships,  and  was 
organized  under  its  present  name  and  boundary,  under  the  new  town- 
ship organization  law  of  1872.  It  was  not  organized  however,  until  1873, 
and  the  following  was  the  order  under  which  it  became  one  of  the 
municipal  divisions  of  the  county. 

NO.   9.      DEER   CREEK. 

"Composed  of  congressional  township  No.  42,  of  range  No.  25." 
The  township  is  six   miles   east  and    west   by   five  and  a  half  miles 
north  and  south,  a  fraction  less  of  this  distance  on  the  west  side,  it  hav- 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY.  483 

ing  on  its  north  border  a  portion  of  the  fractional  section  which  crosses 
the  county.  This  gives  it  about  thirty-two  and  three-quarters  sections 
of  land,  or  an  acreage  of  20,960  acres.  It  is  mostly  prairies  with  con- 
siderable wood  land  along  the  Little  Tebo  Creek,  and  its  branches,  which 
water  the  eastern  and  northern  part  of  the  township,  with  Nelson  Creek 
on  the  southeast  and  Deer  Creek  in  the  west  and  southwest.  These 
streams  give  it  an  abundance  of  water  for  farm  and  stock  purposes,  and 
wood  is  plenty. 

ITS   COAL   FIELDS. 

Deer  Creek  Township  or  the  north  central  part  of  it  is  an  immense 
coal  field,  and  the  "black  diamond"  is  being  mined  by  several  companies, 
three  of  which  are  located  at  Lewis  Station,  and  names  found  in  the  busi- 
ness directory  of  that  town.  Besides  these  the  railroad  company  have 
been  mining  for  years,  and  have  made  Lewis  a  coaling  station  on  their 
road.  The  coal  fields  are  an  important  element  of  her  prosperity.  For 
awhile  the  railroad  company  were  the  only  persons  engaged  at  this 
point  in  mining,  but  a  few  years  ago,  say  three  or  four,  another  party 
took  hold,  and  now  the  coal  shipments  will  probably  reach  200  cars  per 
month,  from  Lewis  Station.  December,  1882,  there  were  shipped,  139 
cars  of  500  bushels  each,  of  bituminous  coal,  and  in  January,  1883,  will 
exceed  145  car  loads.  Coal  veins  ranging  from  two  feet  to  four  feet  and 
six  inches  in  thickness,  are  found  on  sections  4,  9,  10,  11,  16,  22,  and  23. 
Shafts  have  been  sunk  and  mining  operations  are  going  on  principally 
on  sections  9,  10,  and  16. 

The  sections  which  have  been  mentioned  is  where  the  coal  has 
cropped  out  and  veins  exposed,  but  coal  underlies  fully  one-half  of  the 
township  and  will  prove  a  source  of  unceasing  wealth,  for  it  may  be  said 
to  be  inexhaustible. 

As  a  cereal  growing  township  Deer  Creek  will  hold  its  own,  and  as 
a  corn  raising  district  it  steps  lively  to  the  front.  At  the  village  of  about 
200  souls,  all  told,  there  has  been  10,000  bushels  of  corn  delivered,  and 
this  in  the  face  of  the  fact  that  cars  could  not  be  had  for  shipment.  A 
large  pait  of  the  crop  finds  a  market  at  Clinton,  probably  fully  three- 
fourths. 

It  is,  of  course,  a  good  stock  district,  and  grasses  are  all  of  very 
healthy  and  heavy  growth.  Taking  it  all  together.  Deer  Creek  with  its 
grand  expanse  of  prairies,  its  abundance  of  wood  and  water,  the  rich- 
ness of  its  soil  and  its  vast  mineral  wealth,  those  who  have  made  it  their 
home  need  not  envy  any  other  people  for  the  wealth  of  their  surround- 
ings. 

In  1880  Deer  Creek  Township  had  a  population  of  I,i2i  souls.  This 
was  the  first  census  taken  since  its  organization.  It  has  probably  now- 
many  more. 


484  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

The  township  is  divided  into  four  school  districts,  in  each  of  which 
is  a  good  frame  school  building,  and  all  are  furnished  with  the  educa- 
tional facilities  demanded  for  the  advancement  of  the  scholars. 

There  is  a  fine  stone  quarry  on  section  26,  and  probably  others  in 
the  township,  but  there  is  very  little  demand. 

The  Bronaugh  Church  is  located  on  section  26,  and  there  is  a  union 
church  at  Lewis  Station,  and  one  also  at  Calhoun,  which  lies  within  a 
half  a  mile  of  its  northeast  border.  Clinton,  which  lies  only  two  miles 
from  its  southern  and  southwestern  borders,  receives  many  of  her  peo- 
ple at  its  churches. 

Deer  Creek  has  but  one  town  or  village  within  its  border,  Lewis 
Station,  a  description  of  which  is  here  given. 

LEWIS   STATION. 

At  this  time,  January,  1883,  Lewis  Station,  still  largely  resembles 
what  its  name  implies,  a  railroad  station.  It  has  reached  a  population 
of  probably  200,  all  told,  but  this  is  no  criterion  of  the  business  of  the 
place,  for,  notwithstanding  its  size,  it  is  a  healthy,  progressive  infant, 
verging  into  boyhood,  with  manhood  easil}-  discernible  in  the  not  far 
distant  future. 

The  town  was  laid  out  on  the  land  of  Howell  Lewis,  who  platted 
forty  acres  for  a  town  to  be  known  as  "  Lewis."  The  word  "  station  " 
has  been  added,  but  does  not  belong  to  the  name  of  the  village.  The 
forty  acres  was  the  northeast  quarter  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section 
16,  township  42,  of  range  25.  The  town  sits  in  a  small  valley,  the  hills, 
with  the  exception  of  an  opening  in  the  southwest,  completely  surround- 
ing it.  A  branch  of  the  Little  Tebo  touches  its  southern  limits  and  flows 
eastwardly,  while  Little  Tebo  itself  comes  down  from  the  north  and 
passes  it  on  the  east  side  nearly  a  mile  distant,  its  fringes  of  trees  hid- 
ing the  high  and  rolling  prairies  beyond. 

As  laid  out  there  were  eighty-four  lots.  Near  the  center,  east  and 
west,  is  the  depot  of  the  Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas  Railroad. 

FIRST   BUILDING — BUSINESS,    ETC. 

The  first  building  erected  was  a  granary,  by  J.  A.  Good  and  Son. 

The  first  dry  goods  store  was  that  of  A.  B.  Griffith  &  Co. 

The  first  postmaster  was  John  T.  Middelcoff,  in  1871. 

The  first  school  was  taught  by  Miss  Theo.  Miller. 

Their  first  minister  was  the  Rev.  J.  F.  Robb.  of  the  M.  E.  Church 
South. 

This  is  the  starting  point,  with  only  a  half  dozen  dwellings  in  the  vil- 
lage in  1872. 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY.  485 

There  was  very  little  increase  for  a  number  of  years.  The  railroad 
company  doing  a  mining  business,  and  the  stopping  of  the  trains  at  the 
station,  became  a  convenience  to  the  farmers  around.  The  past  five 
years  has  made  a  decided  change,  and  the  year  1882  showed  more 
impro\^ements  than  any  time  since  it  was  founded.  It  is  now  composed 
of  some  as  live  and  energetic  men  as  can  be  found  in  the  county,  and 
they  propose  to  make  Lewis  one  of  the  best  business  towns  in  the  county, 
and  they  are  very  likely  to  succeed. 

The  following  are  the  prominent  business  firms  of  the  town: 

R.  S.  Cramer,  dry  goods,  etc. 

J.  A.  Good  &  Sons,  grain  dealers. 

Foote  Bros.,  grain  dealers. 

Dr.  William  Young,  physician. 

Miss  Mary  Oliver,  school  teacher. 

J.  C.  Fleming,  station  agent. 

Lewis  Co-operation  Coal  Company,  L.  W.  Good,  president. 

American  Coal  Company,  Thompson  Bros.,  managers. 

R.  S.  Cramer  &  Co.  Coal  Mine,  Hugh.Reid,  manager. 

All  these  mines  are  being  heavily  worked,  and  are  but  a  short  dis- 
tance from  the  station,  the  latter  company  but  a  quarter  of  a  mile.  The 
price  of  coal  throughout  the  county,  on  the  line  of  the  road,  is  eight 
cents  per  bushel  at  the   mines,  or  ten  cents  delivered   at  the   town  or 

station. 

POSTMASTERS. 

1871,  John  T.  Middelcoff;  1873,  William  M.  Davidson;  1875,  H.  P. 
Good;  1875,  Wflliam  H.  Lewis;  1876,  David  Justice;  1877,  D.  T.  Terry.; 
1878,  R.  S.  Cramer,  still  postmaster  1883. 

SHIPMENTS. 

Cars. 

October,     1882  —Coal 113 

Iron I 

November,  1882 — Coal 94 

Broom  corn i 

Oats I 

December,  1882— Coal I39 

•     Corn 6 

January,     1883    — Coal 145 

Corn 17 

Oats ., ■ I 

Hogs 4 

Sheep I 

Cattle 2 

At  the  depot  awaiting  shipment  there  are  8,000  bushels  of  corn. 
The  history  of  this   township  is  closed  with  the  following  extract 
from  the  Windsor  Review  of  December,  1882: 


486  HISTORY  OF  iiexrv  county. 

It  may  be  of  interest  to  the  general  public  to  know  that  the  nearest 
living  relative  of  George  Washington  is  a  resident  of  Henry  County. 
This  is  Uncle  Howell  Lewis,  of  Lewis  Station,  whose  grand  mother  was 
an  own  sister  to  the  immortal  George. 

HE'lhLEIlEINI    TO\VN.SHIP. 

This  township  is  one  of  the  nineteen  evolved  from  the  law  of  1873 
but  in  its  primitive  days  it  was  a  part  of  Grand  River  Township,  which 
took  in  the  southeast  quarter  of  Henry  County  as  its  metes  and  bounds. 
It's  a  pretty  name,  and  it  has  a  pretty  good  quality,  as  well  as  quantity, 
of  land  within  its  border,  having  in  round  numbers  about  forty-two  sec- 
tions ot  land,  with  an  acreage  of  26,880  acres,  the  larger  portion  of  which 
is  prairie.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Deer  Creek,  on  the  east  by 
Leesville,  south  by  Grand  River,  which  separates  it  from  Osage  Town- 
ship, and  west  by  Clinton.  There  is  a  fine  body  of  timber  on  the  banks 
of  Grand  River,  and  there  is  more  or  less  on  the  branches  of  Grand 
River,  Dillon,  Dumpling  and  Sparrowfoot  Creeks,  which  waters  the 
eastern  portion  of  the  township.  There  are  some  of  the  finest  prairie 
farms  in  the  state  in  this  township,  and  is  strictly  speaking,  the  home  of 
a  thoroughly  agricultural  people. 

EARLY   SETTLERS. 

James  Anderson  settled  on  section  35  in  1836,  and  Mr.  Anderson 
put  up  the  first  horse  mill  in  the  township  in  the  fall  of  1836.  Thomas 
Keeney  came  in  1836;  then  came  Major  M.  S.  Peeler,  in  1837,  and  he 
settled  on  section  i,  of  township  40,  range  25.  Bird  D.  Parks  came  in 
1838,  but  he  properly  belongs  to  Leesville  Township,  where  he  located, 
but  he  taught  a  school  the  winter  of  183S-39,  in  an  old  log  cabin  belonging 
to  Mr.  Palm  and  known  as  Palm  Grove,  which  had  been  vacated. 
There  was  quite  a  large  attendance  and  among  the  children  and  youths 
who  attended  were:  Samuel  and  Peyton  Parks,  Nancy  and  Reuben 
Wade,  Man  C.  Parks,  Elizabeth  A.  Jones  afterwards  Major  Peeler's  wife, 
Thomas  Metcalf,  Isabella  Metcalf,  David  and  Benjamin  Wilson,  William, 
Eliza,  Polly  and  Peyton  Logan.  The  parents  of  all  these  children  lived 
in  the  neighborhood  in  both  townships,  that  is  Bethlehem  and  Lees- 
ville. The  Parks  all  in  the  latter  township,  with  Peeler,  Wilson  and 
Logan  in  Bethlehem.  Irvin  Sisk  was  another  who  came  among  the  first 
settlers. 

In  1840  James  Anderson  removed  from  the  township  and  took  his 
horse  mill  with  him,  but  the  same  year,  or  early  in  1841,  Major  Peeler 
started  another,  and  the  old  pioneer  fairly  smiled  at  his  good  fortune. 
The  capacity  of  the  mill  was  fifteen  bushels  of  corn  a  day.  Their  near- 
est trading   point   was   Warsaw,  or  rather  a  good   many  went  there  to 


HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  487 

trade  the  first  two  years,  during  1837  and  1838.  When  Clinton  got  fairly 
started  the  county  seat  became  their  place  of  business.  From  1840 
to  1850  the  section  of  what  is  now  Bethlehem  Township  received  its  full 
share  of  the  increase  of  population,  and  since  then  it  has  steadily 
increased.  While  not  the  largest  township  in  the  county,  it  has  the 
largest  agricultural  population.  Taking  out  the  population  of  the  towns, 
there  is  no  other  township  that  can  show  its  population  of  1,380,  which 
was  given  in  the  census  of  1880. 

CHURCHES. 

Its  people  are  moral  and  they  have  an  abiding  faith  in  religious 
teachings.  The  Baptist  denomination  leads  all  others  in  the  township, 
and  they  have  two  churches,  one  called  the  Mount  Hope  Baptist  Church, 
situated  on  the  west  half  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  25,  and  the 
Bethlehem  Baptist  Church,  on  the  west  side  on  section  30  and  on  the 
east  half  of  northeast  quarter.  These  churches  are  largely  attended. 
The  latter  church  just  completed  in  December,  1882,  a  new  church  edi- 
fice at  a  cost  of  $1,000.  It  is  plainly  but  neatly  finished  and  furnished, 
and  what  is  better,  it  is  all  paid  for.  It  was  dedicated  December  31, 
1882,  and  the  following  account  of  the  interesting  event,  taken  from  the 
Clinton  Advocate,  is  here  appended: 

"Elder  W.  S.  Weir  conducted  the  service  of  song.  A  brief  history  of 
Bethlehem  Church  was  prepared  by  Deacon  A.  Vickers,  and  read  by  the 
pastor.  The  dedicatory  sermon  was  preached  by  the  pastor,  S.  M.  Vic- 
tor, from  the  text  found  in  Heb.  viii  5.  The  subject  was,  '  The  Jewish 
Tabernacle,  a  type  of  the  Gospel  church.'  The  attendance  was  very 
good  for  an  inclement  day,  and  the  service  pleasant  and  profitable. 

We  subjoin  a  brief 

HISTORY   OF    BETHLEHEM   CHURCH. 

This  church  was  organized  on  the  6th  of  September,  1854,  at  the 
residence  of  Mr.  James  Lee,  in  Bethlehem  Township,  Henry  County, 
Missouri.  Elder  Peter  Brown  and  W.  P.  Wright  organized  the  church 
'with  eight  members.  In  March,  1855,  the  Lord's  Supper  was  observed 
for  the  first  time  by  this  church,  J.  James  and  A.  Vickers  serving  as  dea- 
cons. In  1856  the  first  church  house  was  erected  and  used  by  this  church 
until  the  present  new  house  of  worship  was  built  in  1880.  Eld.  Peter  Brown 
was  the  first  pastor.  Since  that  time  the  church  has  had  the  services  of 
the  following  pastors:  C.  J.  Teas.W.  A.  Gray,  A.  D.  Landrum,  B.F.  Lawler, 
Thomas  Briggs,  R.  D.  Lawler  and  S.  M.  Victor.  The  first  Sunday  School 
was  organized  in  this  church  in  1859,  and  Dr.  P.  S.  Jennings  was  superin- 
tendent. The  war  interrupted  the  meetings,  and  there  was  a  period  of 
about  two  years  in  which  no  meeting  was  held.  After  the  war,  the 
church  was  revived,  and  held  its  meetings  on  down  to  the  present  time. 
During  the  history  of  twenty-eight  years  the  church  has  received  into 
its  membership  by  baptism  172,  by  letter,  57;  total  229.     Greatest  num- 


488  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

ber  received  by  baptism  in  any  one  year  was  in  1879,  which  was  51; 
next  greatest  number  received  by  baptism  in  any  one  year  was  33.  in 
1882,  the  present  membership  is  133.  As  far  as  can  be  ascertained  this 
body  has  contributed  to  the  mission  work  of  Tebo  Baptist  Association, 
before  the  war  $19;  since  the  war,  $176;  total  $195.  The  history  of  the 
finances  of  this  church  is  not  given  here,  but  only  the  contribution  to  one 
object.  The  Lord  has  greatly  prospered  the  people  at  Bethlehem,  and 
they  feel  that  the  "Lord  has  done  great  things  for  us,  whereof  we  are 
glad." 

The  names  of  the  original  members  were  James  Lee,  John  Lee, 
Jacob  Shanks,  Mrs.  Shanks,  Joseph  Shanks,  Neoma  Lee  and  V.  Han- 
cock. It  was  not  long  before  quite  a  number  joined  the  above  list  and 
their  names  were  John  James  and  wife,  George  French  and  wife,  A. 
Vickers,  wife  and  daughter.  Mr.  Vickers  became  the  first  clerk  and 
served  for  two  years.  The  present  deacons  are  W.  Crews  and  A, 
Vickers. 

The  Sunday  School,  which  is  in  a  healthy  condition,  numbers  sixty- 
five  pupils.  P.  S.  Jennings  was  its  first  superintendent,  and  D.  Majors 
is  the  present  superintendent. 

Mr.  A.  Vickers  donated   four  acres   of  ground   for   the  church    and 

cemetery.     During  the  war  services  were  discontinued  for  twenty-five 

months. 

SURPRISE   CUMBERLAND   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

The  Surprise  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized 
November,  1854,  in  Bethlehem  Township,  on  section  2,  being  located  in 
the  southeast  quarter  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  section,  in  town- 
ship 40,  of  range  25.  The  original  members  were  Lucinda  Gilliam, 
Elizabeth  Parks,  James  Smith,  Mary  Smith,  Hugh  B.  Witherspoon 
and  Sarah  A.  Quick. 

The  church  has  steadily  progressed  and  is  to-day  strong  in  the  faith. 
Its  present  membership  is  44.  In  the  year  1881  they  raised  the  funds  to 
build  a  church,  and  they  had  the  same  completed  the  following  year.  It 
is  a  comfortable  frame  building  and  cost  the  sum  of  $800. 

The  following  ministers   have  been   successively  in   charge  in   the  ^ 
order  mentioned.     Revs.  J.  H.   Houk,  W.  W.  Suddeth.  B.   F.  Thomas, 
H.  R.  Smith,  Y.  W.  Whitset,  P.  McCluney,  and   the   present   pastor,  the 
Rev.  C.  J.  Bowers. 

ITEMS   OF   INTEREST. 

A  Sunday  School  with  an  enrollment  of  fifty  scholars  and  under 
the  superintendency  of  Mr.  Hugh  B.  Witherspoon,  is  conducted  is  con- 
nected with  the  church  and  is  conducted  in  a  manner  worthy  of  all 
praise.  The  land,  one  acre,  upon  which  the  church  is  located,  was  the 
gift  of  Mr.  H.  B.  Witherspoon.  From  1862  to  1865  church  services  were 
suspended. 


HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY.  489. 

ONWARD. 

There  has  been  little  to  change  the  current  of  the  people's  thoughts. 
They  are  still  primitive  in  their  views  and  feelings;  the  fashions  of  the 
day,  or  the  rush  and  josting  of  neighbor  or  friend  to  get  rich,  have  little 
impression  upon  them.  So  far  as  wealth  is  concerned,  they  are  mostly 
in  a  good  financial  condition,  and  improving  their  store  for  a  rainy  day 
from  year  to  year.  They,  having  plenty  of  this  world's  goods,  and  being, 
of  prudential  habits,  there  is  little  to  trouble  them. 

.SCHOOLS. 

The  schools  of  the  township  are  six  in  number,  with  an  average  of 
each  school  year  of  six  months  teaching.  These  schools  are  located  on 
sections  5,  11,  17,  26  and  29,  in  township  41,  of  range  25,  and  on  section 
II,  of  township  40,  of  same  range.  The  school  houses  are  all  frame 
buildings,  and  are  arranged  for  the  best  possible  comfort  of  the  pupil  and 
his  educational  progress. 

The  official  boundary  of  the  township,  as  organized  in  1873,  and 
which  continues  to  be  its  true  metes  and  bounds,  reads  as  follows: 

NO.   12,  BETHLEHEM. 

Composed  of  all  of  congressional  township  number  41,  of  range 
number  25,  except  the  west  half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section, 
number  31,  and  the  west  half  of  section  number  31,  of  township  num- 
ber 41,  of  range  number  25.  Also,  all  of  township  number  40,  of  range 
25,  which  lies  on  the  left  bank  of  Grand  River. 


BIOGRAPHICAL, 


^t^^-^.^'i^^^^^:-;— ^T 


CLINTON  TOWNSHIP. 


JUDGE    E  P  H  R  A  ni    ALLISON,  5 

J 
dealer  in  dry  goods,  clothing,  millinery,  carpets,  etc.,  is  a  native  of  Cooper     J 

County,  Missouri,  and  was  born  November  27,  1835.   His  father,  Thomas     , 
Allison,  was  born  in  North  Carolina  October  27,  1800,  but  removed  with     j 
his  father,  Ephraim,  to  Cooper  County,  Missouri,  while  yet  a  boy,  being     | 
raised  among  the  pioneers  of  that  county.    He  was  there  married  to  the 
mother  of  our  subject.  Miss  Lydia  Jones,  who  was   born   in   Kentucky     ' 
August  18,  1802.     She  had  come  with  her  parents  to  Cooper  County  in     ; 
18 1 2,  and   was   in    the   fort    near   Booneville   when  the  famous  General     ! 
Cooper  was  killed.    They  resided  in  Cooper  till  1846,  in  which  year  they     I 
removed  to  Saline  Count}-,  Missouri,  and  in  1852  to  Henry  County,  Mis- 
souri.    Here  Thomas  Allison  resided  till  1862;  then  returned  to  Saline     { 
County   and    there   died   in    February,  1865.     His  widow  is  still  living.     ; 
Ephraim  at  the  commencement  of  the  war  enlisted  for  the  Confederate     ' 
cause  in  Captain  Owens'  companj-  of  Missouri  State  Guards,  serving  till 
their  disbandment,  six  months  later.     Then   he  enlisted  in  Companj'  I, 
Sixteenth  Missouri  Regiment,  and  served  actively  till  the  spring  of  1863, 
but  continued  with  the  command  till  the  close  of  the  war,  at  which  time     ' 
(1865)  he  was  in  Texas.     Remaining  in  Madison  County.  Texas,  till  the     , 
spring  of  1867,  he  soon  returned  to  Saline  County,  Missouri,  and  remained 
there  till  the  fall  of  1868,  when  he  came  to  Clinton  and  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business.     This  he  continued  till  the  spring  of  187c.  closed  out     | 
his  grocery  stock  and  with  T.  Draffcn  as  a  partner  embarked  in  the  dry 
goods  trade.     After  one  month  Mr.  Draffen  died,  and  Mr.  Allison  con- 
ducted   the   business   alone   for  six  months,  when  in  July  following  the     ! 
firm  became  Allison   &  Piper.     This  partnership  existed  till  the  spring 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  49I 

of  1878,  when  Mr.  Piper  retired  from  the  firm.  Mr.  A.  is  now  carrying  a 
very  heavy  stock  of  goods  and  is  doing  a  successful  business.  In  Novem- 
ber, 1872,  he  was  elected  Treasurer  of  Henry  County,  and  served  in  that 
capacity  from  January,  1873,  to  January,  1877,  and  in  the  latter  year  he 
was  elected  one  of  the  county  judges  under  the  old  township  organiza- 
tion, serving  one  year.  Then  his  services  were  done  away  with  by  the 
new  county  organization,  which  reduced  the  bench  to  three  judges.  In 
1880  he  was  elected  presiding  judge  of -the  county  court  and  filled  this 
honorable  position  very  acceptably  till  January,  1883.  Mr.  A.  was  united 
in  marriage  May  28,  1868,  to  Miss  Ruth  McCarty,  a  native  of  Saline 
County,  Missouri.  They  have  four  children:  Charlie  S.,  Mary  L.,  Anna 
M.  and  Nellie.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order  and  also  belongs 
to    the  Baptist  Church. 

WILLIAM  H.  ALLISON, 

County  Recorder  and  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Allison  &  McCarty, 
dealers  in  dry  goods,  clothing,  boots  and  shoes,  etc.,  owes  his  nativity 
to  Cooper  County,  Missouri,  where  he  was  born  May  14th,  1842.  When 
he  was  at  the  age  of  7  years  his  parents  removed  to  Saline  County,  Mis- 
souri, where  they  resided?  till  1853,  in  that  year  coming  to  Henry  County. 
Here  William  was  reared  in  the  occupation  of  farming,  and  here  he 
continued  to  reside  till  the  comm.encement  of  the  war,  when  he  enlisted, 
in  1861,  in  Captain  Owens'  Company,  of  the  Missouri  State  Guards,  serv- 
ing till  their  disbandment,  six  months  later.  Then  he  enlisted  under 
Colonel  Jackson,  and  was  shortly  taken  prisoner  by  the  Federals  in 
Saline  County,  Missouri,  and  was  held  as  such  in  St.  Louis,  Mis- 
souri, Alton,  Illinois,  and  Johnson  Island,  Ohio,  spending  in  those 
prisons  in  all  twenty-six  months.  He  was  then  exchanged,  and 
some  time  afterward  was  discharged.  Keturning  to  Missouri  he 
spent  the  winter  of  1865  in  Saline  County.  The  following  spring 
he  went  to  Montana  Territory,  and  was  there  engaged  in  the 
stock  business  for  three  years,  when  he  came  back  to  Clinton,  and  in 
1869  he,  with  Mr.  Terry,  embarked  in  the  grocery  business.  In  1875, 
closing  out  his  grocery  trade,  he  commenced  selling  dry  goods,  and  in 
August,  1882,  Mr.  McCarty  became  a  member  of  the  firm.  In  1882  Mr. 
A.  was  elected  County  Recorder,  and  entered  upon  the  duties  of  that 
office  January  i,  1883.  He  was  married  November  7th,  1869,  to  Miss 
Mollie  E.  Sparks,  of  Kentucky.  They  have  three  children.  Earl,  Lester 
and  Frank.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  and,  also,  of  the  A.  O.  U. 
W.  fraternities. 

PETER  ALFTON, 

of  the  firm  of  Alfton  &  Moser,  extensive  carriage  manufacturers,  was 
born  February  8,  1852,  in  Moniteau  County,  Missouri,  and  was  reared  in 


492  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

his  native  county  until  fifteen  years  of  age.  Then  he  went  to  California, 
Missouri,  and  was  engaged  in  working  at  the  wheelwright  trade,  with  -f 
Hanin  &  Martin  for  four  years.  In  1881,  he  came  to  Clinton,  Missouri,  ] 
and  was  in  the  employ  of  Oechsli  &  Kilmer,  till  1877,  when,  with  Mr.  ] 
Majors  as  partner,  he  embarked  in  carriage  manufacturing.  In  Novem-  ,< 
ber,  1880,  he  withdrew  from  this  firm  and  established  his  present  busi-  | 
ness,  which  he  managed  alone  till  January,  1882,  when  Mr.  Moser  became  :; 
associated  with  him.  They  are  doing  a  large  business,  and  keep  a  repos-  ' 
itory  well  filled  with  work  of  their  own  manufacture.  They  also  have  a  I 
large  custom  trade  on  repair  work.  Mr.  A.  was  married  May  18,  1873,  ] 
to  Miss  Emma  L.  Major,  a  native  of  Ohio.  They  have  two  children:  | 
Bertie  and  Glenn.  He  is  a  member  of  both  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  A.  O.  U.  t 
W.  fraternities.  1 

REV.  HENRY  AVERY.  I 

Among  the  early  pioneers  of  this  county  there  are  none  who  were 
better  known  or  whose  memory  is  more  favorably  cherished  than  the  1 
subject  of  this  sketch.  He  was  born  in  Roane  County,  Tennessee,! 
October  18,  1793,  and  was  the  son  of  Peter  Avery,  who  emigrated  to' 
Tennessee  at  an  early  day.  The  youth  of  Heriry  was  spent  on  a  farm 
until  the  war  of  1812,  when  he  enlisted  and  served  as  a  private;  he  also  j 
served  in  the  war  against  the  Seminole  Indians  under  General  Jackson,  1 
and  was  promoted  for  meritorious  conduct.  He  vvas  married  on  the  25th  S 
of  November,  1819,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Green,  of  White  County,  Ten-"' 
nessee.  In  1830  he  emigrated  to  Missouri,  and  after  spending  a  season  ] 
in  St.  Louis  County  continued  his  course  westward  and  raised  a  crop  in 
Morgan  County,  and  thence  moved  to  what  is  now  Henry  County,  in  j 
July,  1831,  and  was  one  of  the  first  to  identify  himself  with  the  interests  i 
of  the  county.  He  made  his  permenent  settlement  in  Tebo  Township! 
March  18,  1832,  and  engaged  successfully  in  agricultural  pursuits.  Hej 
was  probably  the  first  man  in  the  county  who  broke  prairie  and  put  in  a^ 
crop,  and  he  erected  the  first  hewn  log  house  in  the  county,  which  is  - 
still  standing,  and  a  cut  of  which  is  to  be  seen  elsewhere.  In  this  house  1 
the  first  white  child  of  the  county,  Susan  Jane  Avery,  (now  Mrs.  William 
H.  Roberts,  of  Clinton,)  was  born.  He  was  the  first  justice  of  the  peace  i' 
of  the  county,  and  the  first  term  of  the  county  court  was  held  in  his  ^ 
house  on  May  4  and  5,  1835,  when  the  county  first  had  a  separate  organ- 
ization. The  pioneer  store  in  the  county  was  erected  and  opened  on  ; 
his  premises  by  Stephen  Clark.  In  his  religious  preferences  he  was  an  , 
old  school  Baptist,  and  in  1826  united  with  the  Big  Fork  Church  in  Ten-  | 
nessee.  After  his  removal  to  this  county  he  became  a  constituent  mem-  1 
ber  of  High  Point  Church,  Johnson  County,  in  1832,  and  in  the  following  i 
spring  he  was  ordained  a  preacher  by  a  Presbytery  consisting  of  Elders! 
J.  Warder,  J.  White,  Thomas  Ricketts  and  William  Simpson.     From  this  j 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  493 

time  until  his  death,  though  called  an  Old  School  Baptist,  he  was  a 
great  missionary,  working  hard  on  his  farm  most  of  the  time  and  spend- 
ing often  from  Friday  until  Monday  preaching  the  Gospel  in  all  the  sur- 
rounding country  without  fee  or  reward;  going  east  at  times  as  far  as 
St.  Louis,  and  west  beyond  the  state  limits,  preaching  to  the  Indians. 
Through  industry  and  strict  economy  he  gained  a  competency.  His 
house  was  the  home  of  many  a  weary  traveler,  and  in  it  elections,  courts 
and  preaching  were  held.  He  held  a  public  debate  with  Elder  Joshua 
Page,  a  Campbellite  in  Henry  County,  the  first,  perhaps,  held  as  far 
west,  in  1842.  He  had  a  good  English  education  and  his  preaching  was 
plain,  faithful  and  earnest,  at  the  same  time  pathetic  and  persuasive,  and 
he  might  in  truth  be  styled  one  of  the  old  fashioned  preachers  and 
teachers,  laboring  as  Paul  did,  with  his  own  hands  for  a  support,  and  the 
local  poet  might  have  said  of  him  as  it  did  of  one  who  labored  with  him 
in  the  early  days  of  his  ministry: 


How  often  it  is,  as  in  church  I  am  sitting, 

My  mind  wanders  back  to  ihe  days  of  my  youth, 
And  faces  and  forms  before  me  are  flitting 

Of  those  who  then  preached  the  plain  gospel  of  truth. 
In  fancy  I  see  the  old  pious,  good  teacher, 

Who  urged  me  the  way  of  salvation  to  know; 
The  face  and  the  form  of  the  pioneer  preacher 

Who  preached  on  the  Border  a  long  time  ago. 
The  plain,  simple  preacher,  the  good,  honest  preacher, 

The  old-fashioned  preacher  of  long  time  ago. 


How  often  I  think  of  his  true  self  denial, 

And  often  contrast  him  with  men  of  to  day; 
Through  heat  and  through  cold,  though  great  was  the  trial, 

He  toiled  in  the  vineyard,  not  asking  for  pay. 
The  widow,  the  orphan,  the  poor  and  the  needy, 

In  sickness  and  sorrow  had  reason  to  know, 
In  all  their  afflictions  that  none  were  so  speedy. 

Relief  and  assistance  on  them  to  bestow, 
As  the  plain,  earnest  preacher,  the  good  Baptist  preacher, 

The  old-fashioned  preacher  of  long  time  ago. 


But  few  of  those  old-fashioned  preachers  still  linger, 

But  few  now  remain,  and  those  few  are  ignored 
For  men  of  more  learning,  and  scorn  with  his  finger 

Oft  points  at  the  men  who  so  much  have  endured. 
More  talented  men  are  the  bread  of  life  breaking, 

And  their  words  of  instruction  more  fluently  flow; 
But  are  they  more  useful,  or  more  sin  forsaking, 

Than  the  plain,  simple  preacher  of  long  time  ago? 
The  plain,  humble  preacher,  the  well-meaning  preacher, 

The  old-fashioned  preacher  of  long  time  ago. 


I 


494  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

When  now  on  the  Sabbath  the  old  church  I  visit 

And  his  plain  admonitions  no  longer  I  hear, 
'Tis  strange,  passing  strange,  can  you  tell  me  why  is  it 

His  words  to  my  mind  will  so  often  occur. 
While  eloquent  men,  in  language  quite  burning,  \i 

Are  preaching  the  gospel  of  peace  and  of  truth,  i 

The  mind  is  so  vagrant  it  still  will  be  turning  •  i 

To  the  plain,  humble  preacher  I  heard  in  my  youth? 
The  plain  gospel  preacher,  the  pioneer  preacher,  i 

The  old-fashioned  preacher  I  heard  in  my  youth.  i 

I 

They  say  that  the  age  and  the  world  are  progressing;  ; 

The  old-fashioned  preachers  are  needed  no  more; 
That  men  of  more  polish,  more  learning  possessing. 

Must  now  take  the  places  of  those  gone  before. 
Ah,  well!     With  the  world  I  must  not  be  contending; 

Perhaps  it  is  so;  but  there's  one  thing  I  know — 
While  the  greatest  D  D'.-  are  their  tenets  defending, 

I  think  of  the  preacher  of  long  time  ago. 
The  hard  working  preacher,  the  plain,  simple  preacher, 

The  old  fashioned  preacher  of  long  time  ago. 

Mr.  Avery  died  September  26,  1845,  surrounded  by  his  family  to 
whom  he  spoke  loving  words,  and  after  sending  affecting  messages  to 
his  ministerial  brethren  and  others  with  whom  he  had  been  intimate  as  | 
a  co-laborer.  The  last  words  he  was  heard  to  utter  were,  "  I  have  fought  J 
a  good  fight,"  and  peacefully  fell  asleep.  Three  sons,  R.  L.  Avery,  now  i 
residing  on  the  old  homestead,  J.  C.  Avery  and  J.  M.  Avery,  of  Clinton,  ■ 
and  two  daughters,  Mrs.  Nancy  A.  Fewell  and  Mrs.  William  H.  Roberts,  | 
still  survive  him. 

ANGUS  CLARK  AVERY.  I 

t 
One   of  the   leading   citizens   of  Henry  County,   and   one  who   has   > 
attained  a  well  merited  prominence,  is  he  whose  name  beads  this  sketch.    | 
He  was  born  in  Henry  County  (then  Rives),  January  26,  1836,  and  with    | 
probably  one  or   two   exceptions,  is   the   oldest   man   now  living,  born    I 
within  the  limits  of  the  county.       His  father,  Henry  Avery,  whose  biog-    \ 
raphy  appears  elsewhere,  was  born  in    Roane  County,  Tennessee.      His    j 
mother's    maiden     name    was    Elizabeth    Green,    a    native    of   White 
County,  Tennessee.     The  Avery  family  are  of  English  origin   and  the 
earliest  known  progenitor,  Christopher  Avery,  emigrated  from  Great  Brit- 
tain  and  settled  in  Connecticut  in  early  colonial  days,  and  their  descend-    j 
ants  took  an  active  part  in  the   war  for  independence,  no  less  than  nine    j 
of  that  name  being  killed  and  five  wounded  at   the  battle  of  Fort  Gris-    i 
wold,    on   Groton    Heights,   September  6,    1781.      Four  of  this   number    ! 
were  commissioned  officers.       Groton   Monument,  commemorating  this  }i 
conflict,  stands  on  ground  once  a  part  of  the  Avery  estate.     The  mater- 
nal ancestry  were  also  of  English  descent  and  settled  in  Virginia  at  an  \  1 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  495. 

early  day,  and  were  related  to  General  Nathaniel  Green,  of  Revolu- 
tionary fame.  John  Green,  the  grandfather,  moved  to  White  County,. 
Tennessee,  and  became  a  Baptist  minister  and  died  at  an  advanced  age 
in  1850.  Angus  C.  Avery  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  received  his  primary 
education  in  the  schools  of  the  neighborhood  in  ^vhich  he  lived.  He 
then  entered  Union  Hill  Academy,  White  County,  Tennessee,  and  after 
preparing  himself  for  one  year,  became  a  student  of  Burritt  College^ 
Tennessee,  where  he  remained  two  years.  He  then  returned  to  Mis- 
souri and  attended  the  State  University  at  Columbia  for  one  year  but 
subsequently  returned  to  Burritt  College,  where  he  was  graduated  July 
3,  1858,  and  was  honored  by  being  appointed  valedictorian  of  the  class. 
The  same  year  he  entered  the  law  department  of  Cumberland  Univer- 
sity, Tennessee,  and  was  graduated  in  the  spring  of  i860,  and  admitted 
to  the  bar  by  Judge  Caruthers  of  the  supreme  court.  Returning  to 
Clinton,  he  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  until  the  courts 
were  suspended  in  consequence  of  the  war.  He  then  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  the  real  estate  business  in  which  he  has  since  been  actively 
engaged,  and  at  the  present  time  he  is  one  of  the  largest  land  owners  as 
well  as  tax  payers  of  the  county.  He  has  always  shown  a  worthy  public 
spiritedness  and  every  good  cause,  calculated  to  be  of  lasting  benefit  to 
the  city  or  county,  receives  his  hearty  support.  In  railroad  matters  he 
has  been  specially  active  with  others  in  reviving  the  enterprise  of  build- 
ing the  Tebo  &  Neosho  Railroad,  a  charter  for  which  was  granted  prior 
to  iS6obut  abandoned  on  account  of  the  war.  This  road,  after  many 
difficulties,  was  completed  and  is  now  known  as  the  Missouri,  Kansas  & 
Texas  Railroad.  He  was  one  of  the  largest  contributors  and  the  watch 
word  of  the  company  was  "  economy."  The  company  records  will  show 
that  though  entitled  to  a  salary,  he  served  without  compensation,  even 
for  expenses,  for  several  years  as  a  director,  traveling  by  his  own  private 
conveyance  from  Sedalia  on  the  east  to  Fort  Scott  on  the  west,  attend- 
ing meetings  of  the  board  and  using  his  influence  for  the  undertaking 
until  it  was  completed.  The  first  mile  of  the  road  was  graded  on  his 
land  through  which  he  gave  the  right  of  way.  He  was  one  of  the  orig- 
inators of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Clinton  and  has  served  its  interest 
as  president  and  director.  In  educational  matters  he  has  always  taken 
a  deep  interest.  In  his  religious  preference  he  is  a  Baptist  and  holds 
the  position  of  deacon,  and  has  served  as  superintendent  of  the  Sabbath 
School  for  seven  years.  He  is  one  of  the  trustees  of  William  Jewell 
College  at  Liberty,  Missouri,  and  contributed  largely  to  its  endowment. 
He  is  also  on  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Southern  Baptist  Theological 
Seminary,  located  at  Louisville,  Kentucky.  The  Baptist  Church 
edifice  in  Clinton  is  due  largely  to  his  munificence,  as  is  also  the  useful- 
ness of  its  church  organization.  For  the  past  twenty  years  he  has  taken 
the  most  advanced  position  in  favor  of  temperance  and  prohibition.    Ncv 


^9^  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNl  Y.  ' 

one  in  the  past  has  so  thoroughly  canvassed  against  saloons  in  Clinton,  i 

In  all  places  and  under  all  circumstances  he  is  loyal  to  truth,  honor  and  ; 

right,  and  richly  merits  the  esteem   in    which  he  is  held.       He  was  mar-  ' 

ried  July  3,  i860,  to   Miss   Rhoda  Dodge,   daughter  of  William   H.  and  j 

Catherine  Dodge,   of^  Cumberland   County.   Tennessee,   originally   from  ^ 

New  York.     Their   family   consists  of  eight  children:     August  D.,  Wil-  •  ; 

liam  H.,  Howard  G.  and  Herbert  D.  (twins),  Angus  B.,  Clara   B.,  Rhoda  ' 
E.  and  Walter  W.     Lost  owe  daughter  in  infancy,  Elizabeth  K. 

■JOHN  M.  AVERY.  i 

! 

Of  the  early  settlers   of  Henry  County,  Missouri,  no  name  is  more     I 
familiar  than  that  of  Henry  Avery,  a  brief  sketch  of  whom  appears  else-     : 
where.     James  M.,  his  son,  the  president  of  the  First  National  Bank  of    ' 
Clinton,  was  born  in  Henry  County  June  /th,    1838.     His  early  life  was     : 
spent  on  his  father's  farm,  and  from  1853  until   1856  he  was  a  student  in     \ 
Murritt  College,  Spencer,  Tennessee.     After  leaving  college  he  returned     ; 
home   and   resumed   farming  until  the    outbreak    of  the   war,    when   he     j 
engaged  in  the  horse  and  mule  trade,  and  continued  this  business  until     i 
1865.     He  then  embarked  in  the  mercantile  business  in  Clinton,  in  com-    i 
pany  with  Mr.  Doyle,  the  firm  name  being  Avery  &  Doyle.     He  was  one    i 
of  the  organizers  of  the  Clinton  Savings  Bank  in  1870.     This  bank  was 
succeeded  in  February,  1872,  by  the  First  National  Bank,  and  for  nearly    \ 
two  years  Mr.  Avery  was  cashier.     In  1S75  he  commenced  the  banking    ; 
business  in  Moberly,  Missouri,  the  firm  being  Avery  &  Wbolfolk,  and  here 
he  continued  until  1879,  when  he  returned  to  Clinton.     In  1881  he  was 
elected  vice  president  of  the  First  National   Bank,  and  in   1882  became 
its  president.     He  was  married  June  i6th,  1865,  to  Miss  Sallie  M.  Wool- 
folk,  a  native  of  Missouri.     They  have  a  family  of  four  children:     Ella 
C,  Charles  H.,  Mary  B.  and  Frank  M.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Avery  are   mem- 
bers of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  Mr.  A.  holds  the  office  of  deacon. 

JOHN  N.  BARLOW, 

of  the  firm  of  Bolinger  &  Barlow,  grocers,  owes  his  nativity  to  Belmont 
County,  Ohio,  where  he  was  born  October  5,  1842.  He  there  grew  up 
and  received  his  education,  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years  he  moved 
to  Warren  County,  Illinois,  where  he  was  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits 
at  Berwick  for  about  two  years.  He  was  subsequently  interested  in  busi- 
ness at  Burlington,  Iowa,  till  the  fall  of  1862,  when  he  came  to  Calhoun 
Henry  County,  as  sutler's  clerK  with  the  First  Iowa  Regiment.  After 
remaining  there  a  short  time  he  was  occupied  in  the  same  business  at 
Clinton,  Missouri,  and  also  as  clerk  for  Mr.  Rogers  till  1S63,  when  he 
returned  to  Bloomington,  Ohio.     After  remaining   there   eight    months, 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  ^  497 

he  again  came  to  Clinton,  in  April,  1864,  and  for  the  following  eighteen 
months,  gave  his  attention  to  mercantile  pursuits.  In  April,  1866,  he 
was  appointed  county  clerk,  and  held  that  office  by  appointment  and 
election  till  January,  1871,  then  serving  as  deputy  county  clerk  till  Jan- 
uary, i875-  ^n  1876  he  was  elected  constable  ot  this  township  and  served 
two  years.  In  the  fall  of  1877,  he  with  Mr.  Plumer  commenced  in  the 
grain  business,  and  in  February  1879,  he  became  deputy  postmaster, 
which  position  he  held  till  September,  1880,  then  embarking  in  the  gro- 
cery business.  Mr.  Barlow  was  united  in  marriage  January  i,  1862,  to 
Miss  Ellen  A.  Whitenack,  a  native  of  Illinois.  They  have  one  child, 
Johanna  P. 

ANDREW  BIFFER, 

dealer  in  furniture,  etc.,  is  a  native  of  Germany  and  was  born  October 
30,  1841.  He  was  there  reared  and  educated,  and  according  to  the  laws 
of  that  country,  enlisted  when  twenty  years  of  age  in  the  army  for  five 
years.  In  December,  1865,  he  emigrated  to  America,  and  after  a  resi- 
dence in  New  York  City  of  two  months  he  went  to  Louisville,  Kentucky,  • 
remaining  for  three  months.  Later  he  was  a  resident  of  Belleville.  Illi- 
nois, for  six  months,  and  upon  going  to  Ouincy,  Illinois,  was  engaged  at 
the  trade  of  cabinet  making.  After  residing  there  nearly  one  }'ear  he 
came  to  Kirksville,  Missouri,  in  February,  1871,  and  embarked  in  the 
furniture  business,  continuing  with  great  success  till  June.  1S80,  when  he 
established  his  present  furniture  store  in  Clinton.  He  carries  a  large 
stock  of  goods  in  his  line,  and  is  doing  about  the  principal  share  of  trade 
at  this  place.  Mr.  Biffer  was  married  October  10,  1870,  to  Miss  Kath- 
arine Frazier,  a  native  of  Missouri.  They  have  two  children,  Anna  and 
Mary.     He  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows'  fraternity. 

ALBERT  J.  BLACKFORD. 

dealer  in  millinery  ajid  fancy  dry  goods,  was  born  in  Hancock  County, 
Ohio,  August  10,  1844.  He  made  his  home  there  till  1859.  ^vhen  he 
removed  to  Clinton,  DeWitt  County,  Illinois,  engaging  in  the  printing 
trade  in  the  Transcript  office.  He  remained  a  "  typo"  on  that  paper  till 
1862.  Then  he  enlisted  in  the  United  States  Army,  Company  F,  107th 
Regiment  Illinois,  and  served  through  General  Sherman's  Atlanta  cam- 
paign, and  vvith  General  Thomas  through  his  Tennessee  campaign,  and 
was  mustered  out  as  captain  of  his  company,  at  Springfield,  Illinois,  in 
July,  1865  He  then  returned  to  Clinton.  Illinois,  and  embarked  in  the 
dry  goods  business,  the  firm  being  Taylor  &  Blackford.  They  continued 
business  until  Mr.  Blackford  came  to  this  city,  in  1872.  He  has  a  large 
and  well  selected  stock  of  goods  and  is  enjoying  a  liberal  patronage.   He 

was  united   in   marriage   May  4,  1862,  to   Miss    Mary  E.  Taylor,  of  Ohio 

33 


498  ^  HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 

birth.  They  have  one  child,  Charlie  T.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O. 
F.  and  also  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

GEORGE  H.  BLAKEMORE, 

dealer  in  hardware  and  agricultural  implements,  a  native  of  Augusta 
County,  Virginia,  was  born  July  22.  1842.  His  father,  William  C.  Blake- 
more,  was  also  born  in  that  county,  as  was  his  mother,  Mary  A.  (New- 
man) Blakemore.  They  were  reared  and  married  there,  the  former  dying 
in  1859,  and  the  latter  in  1848.  George  was  brought  up  as  a  farmer's 
boy,  and  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  that  period.  When  twenty-one 
years  of  age  he  emigrated  to  Pettis  County,  Missouri,  and  engaged  in 
the  tinner's  trade,  which  he  thoroughly  learned,  till  the  fall  of  1859,  when 
he  came  to  Clinton,  Misssouri.  Here  he  embarked  in  business,  handling 
stoves  and  tinware,  under  the  firm  name  of  Blakemore  &  Co.  In  1862, 
on  account  of  the  war,  he  went  to  Adams  County,  Illinois,  and  gave  his 
attention  to  farming,  going  thence  in  a  year  to  Idaho  City,  Idaho  Terri- 
tory. For  a  short  time  he  was  engaged  there  in  mining,  and  later  fol- 
lowed that  business  through  Washington,  Monlanaand  Oregon  Territo- 
ries for  twenty-eight  months.  In  July,  1866,  he  returned  to  Clinton,  and 
worked  at  his  trade  with  Houx  &  Bigsby,  for  eight  months,  they  closing 
out  to  Kimbrough  &  Bro.  After  that  time  he  remained  with  this  firm 
as  a  jour  workman  till  1S71,  then  becoming  a  partner  in  the  concern, 
which  was  known  as  Kimbrough  &  Co.  They  were  in  business 
together  until  September,  1878,  when  Mr.  K.  sold  his  interest  to  Mr. 
Blakemore,  who  has  since  continued  the  business.  He  was  united  in 
marriage  January  15,  1861,  to  Miss  Mary  F.  Ragland,  a  native  of  Mis-  , 
souri.  They  have  three  children:  Nathaniel  J.,  George  O.  and  Jene  A. 
Mr.  B.  is  a  member  of  the  M   E.  Church  South. 

S.  BLATT, 

proprietor  of  livery,  feed  and  sale  stable.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born  in  Henry  County,  Ohio,  October  13,  1846.  When  he  was  nine 
years  of  age  his  father's  family  removed  to  Woods  County,  Ohio.  Left 
an  orphan  in  his  fourteenth  year,  he  was  compelled  to  obtain  a  living  for 
himself,  which  he  did.  Remaining  in  Woods  County  till  1867,  he  then 
went  to  Dubuque,  Iowa,  where  he  had  relatives  living,  with  whose  assist- 
ance he  was  enabled  to  take  a  course  of  study  at  Bailey's  Commercial 
College  of  that  city,  which  he  attended  nine  months.  Previous  to  this 
time,  however,  while  in  Ohio  he  attended  in  1866  the  Spencer  Commer- 
cial College  at  Cleveland.  He  was  subsequently  for  a  time  engaged  in 
school  teaching,  and  in  the  fall  of  1868  he  returned  to  Ohio  and  resided 
there  till  the  fall  of  1869,  when  he  located  in  Missouri  and  embarked  in 
stock  dealing.      In  tlie  spring  of  1870  he  came  to  Clinton,  Missouri,  and 


I 


I 


BlOGRAnnCAL.  499 

established  himself  in  the  hotel  business,  in  what  was  then  the  St.  Ste- 
phens House,  continuing  therein  till  the  fall  of  1872.  Then  he  was 
elected  constable  of  what  then  included  eight  townships,  the  office  at 
that  time  being  a  very  profitable  one.  This  position  he  filled  (having 
been  re-elected  several  times)  till  resigning  it  in  1877.  In  July,  1875,  he 
commenced  the  livery  business  on  the  south  side  of  the  square,  where  he 
remained  till  December,  1877.  Then  Mr.  Hormeyer  became  a  partner 
with  him,  and  they  conducted  the  establishment  till  March,  1878,  when 
they  bought  the  stock  of  the  other  stable  then  here,  managing  them 
both  till  the  fall  of  1881,  at  which  time  they  disposed  of  their  livery 
business.  Mr.  B.  then  built  his  large  sale  stable  on  Main  Street,  where 
he  now  buys  and  sells  exclusively.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  mule  buy- 
ing.and  feeding  for  the  market.  Since  December,  1882,  he  has  been  a 
partner  with  Mr.  Duncan  in  the  livery  trade  below  the  Jordan  House, 
where  they  have  a  well  equipped  stable.  In  1879  l^c  was  elected  mayor 
of  this  city  and  was  its  first  ma}'or  under  the  new  cit\'  charter.  He  dis- 
charged the  duties  of  that  office  for  two  years.  Mr.  Blatt  was  married 
October  i,  1868,  to  Miss  Frances  J.  Shaw,  a  native  of  Delaware  County, 
Iowa.  They  have  two  children,  Rufu§  E.  and  Henry  S.  He  is  a  niem- 
ber  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  fraternity  and  of  the  encampment  of  that  order, 
and  has  held  all  the  offices  within  the  gift  of  the  lodge. 

WILSON  H.  BLEDSOE, 

of  the  firm  of  Bledsoe  &  Lane,  grocers,  came  originally  from  Taylor 
County,  Kentucky,  where  he  was  born  February  15,  1844.  He  was  reared 
in  the  counties  of  Washington  and  Marion,  and  in  August,  1861,  at  the 
age  of  seventeen,  he  enlisted  in  Company  A,  Second  Kentucky  Cavalry, 
United  States  Army,  and  served  till  December,  17,  1864,  having  par- 
ticipated in  the  battles  of  Stone  River,  Perryvale,  Kentucky,  Shiloh  and 
Chickamauga.  He  was  captured  at  the  time  of  McCook  and  Stone- 
man's  raid  through  Georgia,  and  was  a  prisoner  at  Andersonville  for 
three  months,  and  then  while  on  the  way  to  Charleston,  made  his  escape 
when  near  the  mouth  of  the  Edisto  River,  and  was  taken  aboard  a  man- 
of  war  in  that  vicinity.  Finally  he  made  his  way  to  New  York,  and  in 
a  short  time  returned  to  his  command;  receiving  his  discharge  at  Nash- 
ville, Tennesse.  He  then  went  to  Green  County,  Kentucky,  where  he 
remained  one  year,  and  from  there  to  Jeffersonville,  Indiana,  where  he 
remained  till  February,  1868.  Coming  to  Clinton  he  was  engaged  in 
blacksmithing  till  May  188 1,  after  which  he  embarked  in  the  grocery 
business  with  his  present  partner.  Mr.  Bledsoe  was  married  October  30, 
1870,  to  Miss  Emma  Burton,  a  native  of  Missouri.  They  have  three 
children:  Inez,  Iva,  and  an  infant.  Mr.  B.  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
order  and  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  has  been  a  representative  of  the  latter  order 


500  .  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

to  the  grand  lodge  of  the  state.     For  one  term   he  belonged  to  the  city 

council. 

WILLIAM  W.  BOLINGER, 

jeweler,  and  a  member  of  the  grocery  house  of  Bolinger  &  Barlow,  was 
born  in  Clinton  County,  Pennsylvania,  October  30th,  1834.  He  was 
reared  in  the  occupation  of  farming,  being  educated  in  the  schools  of 
his  native  county.  When  19  years  of  age  he  began  the  jewelry  trade 
at  Jersey  Shore,  and  remained  there  for  three  years,  then,  in  1856,  going 
to  Kendall  County,  Illinois,  where  he  stopped  six  months,  and  thence  to 
Jackson,  Michigan.  After  seven  months  time  spent  in  that  city  he 
returned  home  and  resided  at  his  birthplace  one  year.  Going  again  to 
Kendall  County,  Illinois,  he  stayed  nine  months,  and  after  a  short  resi- 
dence in  Jersey  County,  went  to  Leavenworth,  Kansas.  Two  m'onths 
after  he  returned  to  Jerseyville,  Illinois,  and  in  one  month  went  back 
home,  where  he  stopped  till  the  spring  of  1865.  Coming  westward  he 
stopped  in  Princeton,  Illinois,  for  five  months,  and  from  there  to  Jersey- 
ville, where  he  mae  his  home  till  February,  1868.  Then  he  came  to 
Clinton,  Missouri,  and  began  the  jewelry  business,  at  which  he  has  since 
been  engaged.  In  September,  1880,  he  commenced  in  the  grocery  busi- 
ness with  the  present  manager  of  the  firm,  Mr.  Barlow.  Mr.  Bolinger 
was  married  August  15th,  1859,  ^o  Miss  Lallie  Loudou,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania. They  have  three  children,  Thaddeus  S.,  William  P.  and  an 
infant.  Mr.  B.  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  fraternity  and  of  the 
encampment  of  that  order.  He  also  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
and  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  orders.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  city  council 
lor  four  vears. 

MARCUS  L.  BONHAM, 

proprietor  of  Oak  Hill  Nursery,  was  born  in  Blount  County,  Tennessee, 
February  20,  1836.  At  the  age  of  four  years  he  was  taken  by  the  family 
to  Henry  County,  Indiana,  where  he  was  reared  and  received  his  educa- 
tion, following  from  his  twentieth  year  the  occupation  of  school  teach- 
ing. This  profession  he  continued  for  five  }'ears,  and  about  the  year 
i860  he  became  engaged  in  the  photographic  business.  For  two  years 
he  gave  his  attention  to  this  art,  then  resuming  his  farming  operations, 
till  March,  1866,  at  which  time  he  moved  to  Carroll  County,  Missouri. 
After  residing  there  for  two  years  he  went  to  Newton  County,  and  in  one 
year,  or  the  spring  of  1869,  came  to  Henry  Count}-  and  established  the 
present  Oak  Hill  Nursery.  He  has  twent)--one  acres  of  land  well  adapted 
for  his  business,  and  he  raises  all  varieties  of  trees,  plants,  etc.,  which 
thrive  in  this  locality,  and  he  supplies  mostK"  our  home  market.  Mr. 
Bonham  was  married  November  23,  1862,  to  Miss  Margaret  Hendricks, 
a  native  of  Indiana.  They  have  five  children  :  Franklin  M.,  Lyton  L., 
Josephine  E.,  Maude  and  Margaret  hi.  I 


BIOGRAPrllCAL.  50I 

JOSEPH  F.  BOYD, 

farmer,  section  31.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  native  of  Warren 
County,  Missouri,  and  was  born  December  13,  1836.  His  father,  William 
Boyd,  was  born  in  Lincoln  County,  Missouri,  November  18,  1809,  and 
moved  to  Warren  County  in  1833;  he  married  Nancy  A.  Jorney,  origin- 
ally of  St.  Charles  County.  They  reared  six  children,  Joseph  being  the 
eldest.  William  Boyd  died  in  September,  1864,  and  his  wife's  death 
occurred  in  1850.  Young  Boyd  grew  up  and  was  educated  in  the  county 
of  his  birth,  and  there  followed  farming  till  the  spring  of  1857.  In  that 
year  he  came  to  Henry  Count}',  Missouri,  settling  on  the  farm  where  he 
now  lives.  He  has  240  acres  of  fine  land  and  the  improvements  upon  it 
are  excellent.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  a  company  of  volunteers  under 
Captain  Bovven,  and  in  September  of  1862  the  company  was  changed  to 
Company  K,  Sixteenth  Missouri  Regiment;  he  served  with  that  regi- 
ment till  the  battle  of  Helena,  Arkansas,  in  July,  1863,  when  he  was  cap- 
tured by  the  Federals  and  held  a  prisoner  at  Alton,  Illinois,  till  exchanged 
near  Richmond,  Virginia,  in  February,  1865.  He  then  obtained  a  fur- 
lough, and  while  in  Arkansas  peace  was  declared,  and  in  May,  1865,  he 
returned  home.  Mr.  B.  was  united  in  marriage  January  3,  1856,  with 
Miss  Elizabeth  Adkins,  a  daughter  of  John  W.  Adkins.  They  have  fi\e 
children  living:  Nancy  A.,  William  F.,  Lucy  E.,  Sallie  E.  and  John  N. 
Mr.  B.  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order.  He  held  the  office  of  justice 
of  the  peace  of  Clinton  Township  for  one  year,  having  then  resigned 
the  position. 

JAMES  BRANNUM, 

proprietor  of  Tebo  Mills,  was  born  in  St.  Clair  County,  Illinois,  August 
I2th,  1833,  and  was  the  son  of  William  J.  Brannum,  a  native  of  South 
Carolina,  who  came  to  Illinois  in  183 1.  He  married  Miss  Sarah  Power, 
who  was  born  in  Wayne  County-,  Missouri.  James  was  reared  on  a  farm 
in  his  native  county,  and  received  a  good  common  school  education. 
When  seventeen  years  of  age  he  began  the  milling  trade  with  his  father, 
who  was  then  in  that  business,  and  continued  it  for  five  years.  Subse- 
quently he  became  interested  in  merchandising  at  Fayetteville,  Illinois, 
where  he  remained  for  three  and  one-half  years,  then  (1864)  removing 
to  Nashville,  Illinois,  where  he  conducted  a  general  store  under  the  firm 
name  of  Brannum  &  Elhannon.  They  did  business  together  till  1868, 
and  Mr.  B.  closing  out  his  interests  there  came  to  Clinton,  Missouri,  and 
with  Mr.  Rehl  as  a  partner,  built  a  portion  of  his  present  mill.  This 
partnership  existed  till  1879,  when  Mr.  B.  purchased  Mr.  Rehl's  interest 
in  the  mill  and  has  since  managed  the  same.  In  1878  he  engaged  in  the 
dr}^  goods  business,  the  firm  being  Brannum  &  Son,  and  in  1879  disposed 
of  it  to  J.  M.  Weidemeyer.     They  same  year,  1879,  ^^  commenced  buy- 


502  HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 

ing  grain,  and  has  continued  it  when  the  seasons  warrant  him  in  so 
doing.  He  was  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Henry  County  Bank,  at  the 
time  of  its  organization,  and  in  October,  1881,  he  was  elected  president, 
which  position  he  now  holds.  He  was  united  in  marriage  June  8th,  1854, 
with  Miss  Mary  A.  D.  Pulliam,  by  which  union  he  has  one  child,  Jeffer- 
son D.  Mrs.  B.  died  May  9th,  1862.  He  was.  again  married  May  7th, 
1863,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Land,  a  native  of  Illinois.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren, James  W.  and  Henry  L.  He  was  a  member  of  the  school  board 
from  1875  to  1878,  and  in  1882  he  was  re-elected  a  member  of  the  board. 
He  belongs  to  the  Masonic  order,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  connected 
with  the  M.  E.  Church. 

J.  H.  BRITTS,  M    D 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  came  from  a  long  and  honorable  line  of 
ancestry.  The  sketch  of  his  father.  Dr.  George  Britts,  a  prominent 
physician  of  Henry  County,  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work.  The  maiden 
name  of  his  mother  was  Mary  Jane  Rogers.  The  former  was  a  native 
of  Virginia,  born  September  4,  i8i2,.and  the  latter  was  born  in  Win- 
chester, Kentucky,  November  27,  1820.  Their  marriage  occurred 
December  10,  1835,  at  Montgomery  County,  Indiana.  John  Henry,  their 
oldest  child,  was  born  November  i,  1836,  and  was  named  for  his  grand- 
father. In  184?  the  famil}'  emigrated  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  and 
settled  at  first  in  Calhoun  and  lived  there  until  the  summer  of  1843,  then 
coming  into  Clinton  .  Here  young  John  attended  his  first  school,  taught 
by  a  preacher  named  Turner  in  a  house  on  the  south  side  of  Franklin 
Street  and  a  short  distance  from  the  square,  opposite  \V.  Bozarth's  black- 
smith shop.  At  this  time  there  was  no  school  building  and  but  few 
dwellings  in  Clinton,  the  open  prairie  coming  up  to  the  south  side  of 
the  square  and  it  was  no  unusual  thing  to  see  a  drove  of  wild  deer  pass  |; 
within  sight  of  the  court  house.  In  1843  the  family  returned  to  Indiana. 
It  will  be  remembered  that  this  was  the  year  of  the  great  overflow,  and 
the  journey  from  Missouri,  as  usual,  was  begun  overland,  but  the  high 
water  rendered  it  impracticable,  and  a  steamboat  was  taken  at  Roche- 
port,  Missouri,  for  Evansville,  Indiana.  At  the  latter  place  whilst  making 
the  landing,  young  Britts  reaped  the  reward  of  having  learned  to  swim. 
Falling  overboard,  unobserved,  he  was  enabled  to  get  ashore  unaided 
and  alone,  though  much  to  his  disgust  in  having  spoiled  a  pair  of  new 
shoes  purchased  for  him  in  St.  Louis. 

After  his  return  to  his  native  state  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
boyhood  days  in  attending  the  public  schools  of  the  state,  working  on 
the  farm  and  in  the  shop  in  the  interval  between  school  terms.  His 
father  not  considering  himself  able  to  send  him  to  college,  he  was  com- 
pelled to  make  the  best  use  possible  of  the  means  within  his  reach. 
When    nineteen   years   old   he  taught  one  term  of  a  public  school  near 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  503 

Ladoga.  Having  already  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  with  his 
grandfather,  Dr.  Henrj'  Rogers,  all  his  available  spare  time  was  given  to 
this.  In  the  year  of  1857,  with  his  father's  family,  he  again  emigrated 
to  Missouri,  and  continued  the  study  of  medicine  with  his  uncle,  Dr.  John 
A.  Rogers,  at  Clinton,  and  in  the  winter  of  1857-8  attended  a  course  of 
lectures  at  St.  Louis  Medical  College,  and  the  following  year,  1859,  set 
up  for  himself  at  Austin,  Cass  County,  Missouri,  where  two  years  of  hard 
work  were  sacrificed,  except  the  experience  thus  brought  by  the  event 
that  followed. 

The  war  broke  out  with  all  the  fury  that  characterized  it  on  the  bor- 
der. There  was  no  middle  ground  for  any  person  at  all  prominent,  and 
he  at  once  set  about  organizing  a  company  for  state  service  for  six 
months  enlistment  and  was  commissioned  captain  by  Governor  C.  F. 
Jackson,  his  company  being  Company  B,  of  Edgar  V.  Hurst's  Regiment, 
Captain  Frank  Cockrell  commanding  Company  A  in  the  same  regiment. 
This  regiment  was  in  General  Rain's  Division,  Missouri  State  Guards, 
and  took  part  in  the  engagements  at  Carthage,  Wilson  Creek  and  Lex- 
ington. The  six  months  term  of  service  expiring,  in  connection  with 
Colonel  Hurst  he  at  once  commenced  to  recruit  a  new  command  in  Cass 
and  Bates  Counties,  with  headquarters  on  Cove  Creek.  While  on  a  visit 
from  this  point  to  his  home  Col.  Hurst  was  captured  by  some  Kansas 
troops  and  killed.  Dr.  Britts  at  once  proceeded  with  part  of  his  com- 
mand, mostly  them  that  were  with  him  in  the  state  service,  to  Spring- 
field, Missouri,  where,  on  the  loth  day  of  February,  1862,  a  company  of 
fifty- three  men  were  organized  for  the  Confederate  army  and  he  was 
chosen  captain  by  acclamation;  Philip  W.  Fulkerson  was  elected  first 
lieutenant;  Robert  Rennick,  second  lieutenant;  and  Aaron  Patton, 
third  lieutenant;  John  Hamilton  was  appointed  orderly. 

This  company  remained  a  part  of  Waldo  P.  Johnson's  Battalion  till 
4th  day  of  April,  1862,  when  the  Fourth  Regiment  of  Infantry  was  organ- 
ized, McFarlane,  colonel,  and  Waldo  P.  Johnson,  lieutenant  colonel,  when 
Dr .  Britts  was  offered  the  place  of  major,  or  that  of  surgeon  .  He  chose 
the  latter  on  account  of  the  advantages  it  would  offer  in  the  line  of  his 
chosen  profession,  and  from  this  on  he  in  that  capacity  followed  the  for- 
tunes of  his  regiment,  afterwards  consolidated  with  the  First  Missouri 
Infantry,  Amos  Riley,  colonel,  through  many  bloody  engagements  east 
of  the  Mississippi  River,  up  to  the  siege  of  Vicksburg.  There  he  was 
promoted  to  brigade  suigeon,  which  position  he  only  filled  a  few  days, 
till  he  was  severely  wounded  on  the  night  of  the  9th  of  June,  1863,  at  the 
city  hospital,  whilst  in  the  line  of  duty.  A  15-inch  shell  from  the  Porter 
Mortar  Fleet  came  through  the  building  and  exploded  in  the  room  occu- 
pied by  the  hospital  staff.  As  it  happened  at  the  time,  none  were  in  the 
room  except  himself  and  a  Dr.  Taylor,  who  escaped  unhurt  through  the 
door  before  the  explosion.  Dr.  Britts,  who  v/as  held  down  for  a  time  b}-  the 


504  HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 

lath  and  plaster  torn  loose  from  the  ceiling,  was  not  so  fortunate,  and 
did  not  escape  in  time.  He  lost  his  right  leg,  and  was  otherwise  severely- 
wounded  in  the  lungs  and  left  knee,  and  crushed  by  the  explosion  so  that 
it  seemed  incredible  that  any  one  could  escape  alive.  But  a  splendid 
constitution  and  the  kind  care  of  his  comrades  brought  him  through,  so 
that  he  was  enabled  to  again  return  to  duty  as  hospital  surgeon  at  Mont- 
gomery, Alabama,  the  iSth  of  November  following,  and  finally  surrend- 
ered with  the  last  of  the  Confederates  at  Atlanta,  Georgia,  May  13,  1865. 

Early  in  August  of  the  same  year,  1865,  he  returned  to  Clinton,  Mis- 
souri, coming  by  way  of  Mobile,  New  Orleans  and  St.  Louis,  and  resumed 
the  practice  of  medicine  and  surgery  in  co-partnership  with  Dr.  P.  S.  Jen- 
nings, which  firm  has  continued  up  to  the  present  time.  In  1866  he 
received  a  diploma  and  adeundem  degree  from  the  Missouri  Medical  Col- 
lege. As  a  surgeon  Dr.  Britts  enjoys  a  good  reputation.  In  the  war  he 
was  a  bold  operator  and  an  efficient  officer;  was  noted  for  his  mechanical 
skill  in  adopting  the  limited  means  within  his  reach  to  the  requirements 
of  his  patients;  would  cut  unsparingly  when  necessary,  but  was  always 
conservative  in  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and  was  the  means  of  sav- 
ing many  a  wounded  soldier  his  limbs,  which  others  less  conservative 
might  have  sacrificed.  As  soon  after  his  return  to  Clinton  as  he  could 
establish  himself  in  practice  he  married  on  the  ist  day  of  November, 
1865,  Miss  Annie  E.  F.  Lewis,  daughter  of  Robert  Lewis.  Mrs.  Britts 
was  born  June  18,  1839,  i"  St.  Louis  County.  Missouri,  her  grandparents 
having  settled  in  Bonhomme  Bottom  as  early  as  181 1.  Her  family  is 
related  to  familiar  names  in  the  early  history  of  Missouri,  many  of  which 
were  among  the  first  settlers  of  the  Mississippi  Valley,  as  the  Bacons, 
Longs,  Bates  and  Woodsons. 

Their  union  has  been  blessed  with  six  children,  all  girls,  five  of  whom 
are  living:  Mary  Britts,  born  September  5,  1866;  Lucy  Britts,  born 
November  i,  1867,  died  May  30,  1872,  Eugene  Salmon  Britts,  born  Sep- 
tember 18,  1870;  Louisa  Lewis  Britts,  born  June  6,  1875;  Annie  Alice 
Britts,  born  September  15,  1876,  and  Edith  Scott  Britts,  born  September 
13,  1878.  In  politics  Dr.  Britts  is  a  Democrat;  since  his  enfranchisement 
in  1872,  he  has  been  an  active  worker  for  the  success  of  his  party,  though 
never  an  aspirant  for  any  office  till  the  present  year,  1882,  when  he 
received  the  Democratic  nomination  for  the  office  of  state  senator.  Six- 
teeth  District,  composed  of  the  counties  of  Bates,  Cass  and  Henry.  There 
were  three  candidates:  Judge  J.  N.  Ballard,  of  Bates;  Mr.  Charles  W. 
Sloan,  of  Cass,  and  Dr.  John  H.  Britts,  of  Henry.  Each  county  had  five 
delegates  and  cast  the  Hancock  vote  of  1880,  for  their  choice:  Bates, 
2,929;  Cass,  2,769;  Henry,  2848.  The  convention  was  held  at  the  city  of 
Butler,  August  i,  1882,  and  after  a  contest  of  three  days  and  375  ballots 
cast  and  no  choice,  Mr.  Charles  Sloan,  of  Cass  .County,  withdrew,  and 
on  the  577th  ballot,  Dr.  Britts  was  nominated,  and  at  the  following  elec- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  $0$ 

tion  in  November  defeated  his  opponent,  a  Republican,  Mr.  H.  J.  Doolay, 
3,129  votes,  and  took  his  seat  in  the  Thirty-Second  General  Assembly, 
at  Jefferson  City,  January  3,  1883. 

JOHN  H.  BROWN. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  and  was 
born  August  18,  1821.  At  the  age  of  six  years  he  was  taken  by  his 
parents  to  Franklin  County,  Massachusetts,  and  after  two  years  to  Berk- 
shire County,  where  they  remained  till  1833.  Then  they  removed  to 
Hoosac  Falls,  New  York,  and  two  years  later  went  to  Cohoes  Falls,  here 
residing  till  1839.  After  living  in  Columbus,  Ohio,  till  1845,  they  set- 
tled in  Logan  County,  Ohio.  John  had  followed  from  boyhood  the  car- 
penter's trade,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty  he  began  contracting  and 
building.  In  1857  he  left  Logan  County,  Ohio,  and  removed  to  Kansas, 
and  in  1858  (May)  he  came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  where  he  at 
once  engaged  in  contracting  and  building.  In  the  spring  of  1862  he 
went  to  Edgar  County,  Illinois,  but  in  1866  returned  to  Clinton,  Mis- 
souri, and  was  a  prominent  contractor  here  till  1872.  Since  that  year 
he  has  followed  the  same  business  through  different  parts  of  Texas.  In 
1881  he  built  and  managed  the  Lindsay  House,  at  Gainsville,  Texas,  and 
also  managed  at  that  time  the  Laclede  Hotel,  of  that  city,  closing  it  out 
after  one  year.  From  that  time  on  he  has  been  proprietor  of  the  Buck- 
ley House,  at  Sherman,  Texas.  Mr.  Brown  was  united  in  marriage 
October  7,  1845,  to  Miss  Lucinda  Weaver,  of  Ohio.  They  reared  one 
child,  Estella.  Mrs.  B.  died  in  June,  1854.  He  was  again  married  in 
November,  1857,  to  Miss  Jane  Boyd,  a  native  of  Licking  County,  Ohio. 
They  have  three  children:  Hattie,  Jennie  and  Jesse,  and  an  adopted 
daughter,  Ida  M.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  fraternity  and  also 
belongs  to  the  Christian  Church. 

WILLIAM  B.  CALVIRD, 

assistant  cashier  of  the  Henry  County  Bank,  is  a  native  of  Franklin 
County,  Missouri,  and  was  born  November  18,  1843,  being  the  son  of 
Thomas  Calvird,  a  Kentuckian  by  birth,  who  was  married  in  that  state 
to  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Brown,  whose  maiden  name  was  Peters,  and  a  native 
of  Virginia.  They  reared  seven  children,  of  whom  William  is  the  eldest. 
In  1850,  the  family  having  lived  in  Franklin  County  some  years,  returned 
to  Daviess  County,  Kentucky,  where  they  resided  for  four  years,  subse- 
quently moving  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri.  There  our  subject  was 
brought  up,  residing  in  the  locality  till  1862,  when  he  went  to  Pettis 
County.  He  was  there  engaged  in  various  branches  of  trade,  and  in 
1870  he  came  to  Clinton  and  embarked  in  the   hotel  business  which  he 


506  HISTORY    OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 

continued  until  he  was  appointed  deputy  sheriff  of  Henry  County,  in 
1873.  After  serving  three  years  as  such  he  was  elected  sheriff  of  the 
county  in  1876,  and  after  one  term  was  re-elected  and  served  till  Janu- 
ary, 1 88 1.  From  that  time  he  was  occupied  in  clerical  work  in  the 
recorder's  office  till  December  10,  1881,  when  he  became  bookkeeper 
and  assistant  cashier  of  the  Henry  Count}-  Bank.  This  office  he  now 
holds.  Mr.  Calvird  was  married  April  27,  1867,  to  Miss  Sarah  J,  Pol- 
lard, a  native  of  this  state.  They  have  one  child,  John  H.  Mr.  C.  is  a 
member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F,  fraternity  and  has  held  all  the  offices  within 
the  subordinate  lodge. 

WILLIAM  H.  CARPENTER, 

of  the  firm  of  Carpenter  &  Kratz,  lumbermen,  was  born  in  Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania,  June  9,  1837.  When  eight  years  of  age  he  was  taken  by 
the  family  to  Center  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  there  reared.  When 
fourteen  years  old  he  was  apprenticed  to  his  uncle,  John  Harris,  and  with 
him  learned  the  tanner's  trade,  at  which  he  worked  three  years.  Return- 
ing to  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  he  attended  school,  and  was  a  student 
at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war.  In  1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  first  three 
month's  call,  and  after  that  term  had  expired,  re-enlisted  as  a  private  in 
Company  D,  Ninety-First  Pennsylvania  Regiment.  He  arose  from  the 
ranks,  and  when  mustered  out  at  the  close  of  the  war,  held  the  commis- 
sion of  captain  of  his  company.  After  the  disbandment  of  the  troops 
he  held  a  position  in  the  quartermaster's  department.  After  that  depart- 
ment ceased  its  work,  he  went  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  where  he  arrived 
in  the  spring  of  1867.  There  he  resided  till  1870,  then  came  to  Clinton, 
Missouri,  and  managed  a  lumber  yard  for  Andrew  &  McElvain,  till  1873. 
Purchasing  the  business  of  his  former  employers,  he  continued  it  alone 
till  March,  1878,  when  the  firm  became  Carpenter  &  Raymond.  This 
partnership  existed  till  March,  1879,  they  disposing  of  the  business  to 
S.  A.  Brown  &  Co.,  who  retained  the  services  of  Mr.  Carpenter,  as  their 
manager,  till  January  1883,  when  with  Mr.  Kratz,  he  bought  the  interest 
of  Brown  &  Co.  Mr.  C.  was  united  in  marriage  February  2,  1868,  to 
Miss  Ester  Malvin,  a  native  of  Missouri,  they  have  three  children:  Wil- 
liam H.,  Jr.,  Jennie  E.  and  Anna  L.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity and  also  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

JAMES  A.  CARLISLE, 

coal  merchant  and  proprietor  of  Bridges'  Coal  Mine,  came  originally 
from  Frederick  County,  Maryland,  where  he  was  born  February  14,  1830. 
He  was  there  reared  to  manhood  and  received  his  education,  and  in  1847 
he  began  learning  the   carpenter's  trade,  at  which  he  was  engaged  until 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  507 

1853.  In  that  year  he  removed  to  Berkeley  County,  Virginia,  and  in 
1865,  to  Wayne  County,  Indiana,  there  residing  till  April,  1869.  He 
then  came  to  Johnson  County,  Missouri,  and  in  May,  1869,  to  Clinton, 
where  he  commenced  work  at  his  trade.  In  1873,  he  started  in  the  lum- 
ber business,  the  firm  being  Aurand  &  Carlisle,  which  he  continued  till 
1879,  then  disposing  of  his  interest  to  his  partner.  Finally  he  gave  his 
attention  to  farming.  In  February,  1869,  he  purchased  the  property 
known  as  Bridges'  Coal  Bank,  and  upon  it  he  has  developed  a  thirty-six 
inch  vein  of  fine  coal.  He  also  owns  700  acres  around  his  mine,  most  of 
which  is  coal  land,  but  is  also  fine  farming  land,  for  which  purpose  he 
now  uses  it.  It  is  located  in  the  southwest  portion  of  Clinton  Township. 
Mr.  Carlisle  was  united  in  marriage  March  16,  1852,  to  Miss  Mary  E. 
Houser,  a  native  of  Maryland.  They  have  three  children  living:  Fan- 
nie M.,  Sallie  R.  (twins),  and  Mollie  L.  In  1861,  Mr.  C.  enlisted  in 
Company  G,  Seventh  Virginia  Cavalry,  and  was  a  participant  in  many 
of  the  hard  fought  battles  in  Virginia.  He  served  till  parolled,  April  12^ 
1865.     He  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 

HENRY  S.  CHAPPELIER, 

dealer  in  boots  and  shoes,  is  a  native  of  Muskingum  County,  Ohio,  and 
was  born  February  i,  1841.  At  the  age  of  ten  years  his  father's  family 
removed  to  Platte  County,  Missouri,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated. 
In  1861  he  went  to  Clinton,  Illinois,  and  there  enlisted  in  1862,  in  Com- 
pany E,  Sixty-eighth  Illinois  Regiment,  serving  in  that  company  for 
four  months.  Returning  to  Clinton  he  enlisted  in  Company  D,  Seven- 
teenth Illinois  Regiment,  and  remained  in  action  till  mustered  out  as 
first  lieutenant  of  that  company  in  1865.  After  his  discharge  he  went 
back  to  Clinton,  and  resided  there  until  1870,  when,  upon  going  to 
Farmer  City,  Illinois,  he  was  engaged  in  the  boot  and  shoe  business 
until  August,  1 88 1.  At  this  time  he  came  to  Clinton,  Missouri,  and 
established  his  present  business.  He  has  a  fine  and  complete  stock  of 
goods  and  is  doing  a  satisfactory  business.  Mr.  Chappelier  wes  married 
September  14,  1869,  to  Miss  Clara  E.  Evans,  of  Bloomington,  Illinois. 
They  have  three  children:  Louis  S.,  Clarence  E.,  and  Alice  L.  Mr.  C, 
is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  is  a  Knight  Templar. 

SILAS  E.  CHEEK, 

dealer  in  real  estate  and  loan  agent,  etc.,  was  born  in  Mason  County, 
Illinois,  August  6,  1854.  He  was  reared  to  manhood  and  was  educated 
in  his  native  county,  spending  his  youthful  days  in  the  occupations  of 
farming  and  clerking.  In  1871  he  emigrated  to  Merrick  County, 
Nebraska,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  for  one  year,  but  after  that 


508  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

time  he  returned  east  and  settled  in  Clinton,  Missouri.  For  two  years 
he  pursued  a  course  of  study  under  C.  C.  Dickinson,  and  then  till  1875, 
was  interested  in  clerking.  Going  west  again  to  Tyler,  Texas,  he  resided 
there  one  year,  but  then  retraced  his  steps  to  Clinton,  Missouri, 
embarking  in  the  real  estate  and  loan  business.  Mr.  Cheek,  was  mar- 
ried November  9,  i88i,to  Miss  Bettie  P.  Karsner,  a  native  of  Kentucky. 
Mr.  C.  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  also  of  the  Knights 
of  P}'thias.     He  is  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Henry  County  Bank. 

WILLIAM  H.  COCK, 

of  the  firm  of  VV.  H.  Cock  &  Co.,  extensive  dealers  in  dry  goods,  cloth- 
ing, boots,  shoes,  carpets,  etc.,  is  a  native  of  Rutherford  County,  Ten- 
nessee, and  was  born  in  Murfeesborough,  July  9,  1829.  His  parents, 
Archibald  and  Mary  (Bradley)  Cock,  were  also  born  in  that  state  and 
were  there  married  in  1820.  They  reared  thirteen  children.  The  mother 
died  in  August,  1859,  and  the  father  is  now  living  in  this  county. 
William  resided  at  his  birthplace  till  nine  years  of  age,  when  the  family 
removed  to  Christian  County,  Kentucky,  there  residing  till  T839.  In 
that  year  they  settled  in  Benton  County,  Missouri,  and  in  1848  went  to 
Quincy,  Hickor}^  County,  where  our  subject  was  engaged  as  clerk  in  a 
general  store,  with  A.  Trippett.  A  short  time  afterward  he  took  a  stock 
of  goods  which  he  managed  for  Mr.  T.,  at  Hermitage,  Missouri,  they 
doing  business  at  that  point  till  185 1,  when  they  removed  the  goods  to 
Osceola,  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  where  he  remained  till  1853,  and 
then  became  a  partner  with  Mr.  Trippett,  in  a  store  at  Howard's  Mills, 
Missouri.     In  1856  he  came  to  Clinton,  Missouri,  and  resumed  his  busi- 

'  ness,  continuing  it  till  the  commencement  of  the  war.  in  1861.  Then  he 
retired  from  active  business  life.  In  1866  he  again  engaged  in  the  dry 
goods  trade,  the  firm  being  then  known  as  W.  H.  Cock  &  Co.,  and  they 
carried  it  on  successfully  till  1869,  when  Mr.  Cock  embarked  in  farming, 
at  which  he  is  still  largely  interested.  In  1871,  he,  with  others,  organ- 
ized what  is  now  the  First  National  Bank  of  this  city,  and  was  its  first 
president,  holding  this  position  till  1875,  when  he  resigned.     For  about 

'  one  year  he  gave  his  attention  to  the  live  stock  commission  business,  at 
St.  Louis,  Missouri.  In  1876  he  returned  to  Clinton,  and  buying  a 
stock  of  goods,  again  commenced  selling  dry  goods.  In  1878  the 
firm  became  W.  H.  Cock  &  Co.,  and  they  now  carry  a  large  stock  of 
goods  and  are  one  of  the  most  solid  houses  of  Clinton.  Mr.  C.  was 
married  July  21,  1853,  to  Miss  Eliza  L.  Hancock,  of  this  state.  They 
have  three  children:  Jessie',  Arthur  and  Daisey.  Mr.  C.  was  a  member 
of  the  legislature  from  this  county  in  1878.  In  1872  he  was  collector  of 
Henry  County,  serving  in  that  official  capacity  for  one  year.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  he  and  his  wife  belong  to  the 
Christian  Church. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  509 

WILLIAM  A.  DAVIDSON,  M.  D., 

a  native  of  Jefferson  City,  Missouri,  was  born  October  11,  1850.  His 
father,  A.  M.  Davidson,  was  an  early  pioneer  of  that  city,  settling  there 
in  1834.  He  was  a  Virginian  by  birth  and  was  married  in  that  state  to 
the  mother  of  our  subject.  Miss  Matilda  Hite,  a  daughter  of  Major  Hite, 
of  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  They  reared  six  children.  Mrs.  D.'s  death 
occurred  in  October,  1854.  William  was  then  sent  to  his  uncle,  J.  S. 
Davidson,  at  Frederick,  Virginia,  with  whom  he  remained  till  eight 
years  old.  Returning  to  his  father,  who  then  resided  in  Saline  County, 
Missouri,  he  stayed  with  him,  attending  school  till  fifteen  years  of  age, 
after  which  he  went  to  Collinsville,  Illinois,  and  clerked  in  a  drug  store 
with  Dr.  A.  M.  Rowell.  Here  he  continued  to  stop  till  1866,  and  during 
that  time  was  a  student  of  medicine  under  the  doctor.  In  1866  he 
again  returned  to  Saline  County,  Missouri,  and  for  a  term  of  six  months 
attended  Pritchett  Institute  at  Glasgow.  In  1867  he  retraced  his  steps 
to  Illinois  and  engaged  with  his  brother  in  the  drug  business,  and  in  the 
meantime  studied  his  profession  for  one  and  a  half  years.  In  1869  he 
once  more  took  up  his  location  at  Jefferson  City,  making  his  home  there 
for  six  months.  In  1870-1  he  attended  a  course  of  lectures  at  the  St. 
Louis  Medical  College  of  St.  Louis.  In  the  fall  of  1871  he  came  to  Clin- 
ton, Missouri,  and  was  occupied  in  practice  here  till  the  fall  of  1872, 
when  he  again  attended  during  1872-3  the  St.  Louis  Medical  College. 
Graduating  at  the  expiration  of  that  term,  he  then  returned  to  Virginia, 
where  he  visited  till  January,  1874.  He  subsequently  lived  in  Jefferson 
City  for  six  months;  then  came  to  Clinton,  Missouri,  and  resumed  the 
practice  of  medicine.  In  the  spring  of  1877  he  went  to  Johnston,  Mis- 
souri, where  he  practiced  till  the  spring  of  1881,  when  he  once  more 
made  this  city  his  home  Here  he  now  enjoys  a  lucrative  practice.  Dr. 
Davidson  was  married  September  15,  1873,  to  Miss  Anna  N.  Kimbrough, 
a  daughter  of  J.  S.  Kimbrough,  of  Clinton.  The  doctor  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  order.     In  1876  he  held  the  office  of  county  coroner. 

JOHN  H.  DOANE, 

of  the  firm  of  Brannum  &  Doane,  grain  dealers,  is  a  native  of  Penob- 
scot, Count)^  Maine,  and  was  born  April  21,  1835.  He  resided  on  a 
farm  in  the  county  of  his  birth  until  reaching  manhood,  and  there 
received  a  good  common  school  education.  When  about  twenty-one 
years  of  age  he  went  to  Hennepin  County,  Minnesota,  and  engaged  in 
the  lumber  business  at  Minneapolis,  at  which  point  he  remained  for  four 
years.  Returning  east,  for  eighteen  months  he  resided  in  Boston,  Mas- 
sachusetts. In  September,  1869,  he  came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri, 
and  for  one  year  was  occupied  in  the  handling  of  lightning  rods.     After 


510  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

this  time  he  resumed  farming  and  successfully  followed  it  till  the  fall  of 
1879,  '^vhen  he  embarked  in  the  grain  business,  which  he  has  continued 
more  or  less  since.  In  the  fall  of  1882  the  firm  of  Brannum  &  Doane 
built  the  elevator  where  they  now  do  such  an  enterprising  business.  Mr. 
Doane  has  a  fine  farm  in  this  county  of  160  acres,  well  improved.  He 
was  married  in  June,  1858,  to  Miss  Sarah  A.  Turner,  a  native  also  of 
Maine.  They  have  two  children:  Charles  H.  and  Lola.  He  was  once 
alderman  of  Clinton,  and  also  for  one  term  township  assessor. 

J.  G.  DORMAN 

was  born  in  Bourbon  County,  Kentucky,  July  17,  1818.  His  father,  Mat- 
thew Dorman,  was  born  on  the  eastern  shore  of  Maryland,  and  is  of 
Scotch  ancestry.  He  was  Hy  occupation  a  farmer.  His  mother's  maiden 
name  was  Atlanta  Barnes,  a  native  of  Virginia.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  principally  reared  in  Gallatin  County,  Kentucky,  and  his 
early  education  was  obtained  at  the  primitive  log  school  house,  a  dis- 
tance of  three  miles  from  his  father's  dwelling.  The  monotony  of  his 
daily  duties  on  the  farm  became  irksome  and  in  a  desire  for  a  change  he 
quit  farming,  and  for  several  years  "  ran  "  the  western  rivers.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1849,  ^^  started  from  Quincy,  Illmois,  for  the  Pacific  Coast  by 
water;  he  was  wrecked  in  the  Caribbean  Sea  and  driven  into  the  port  of 
Balize,  Honduras.  Resuming  his  journey  he  finally  arrived  on  the  coast 
of  California,  remaining  for  a  short  time  and  then  returned  to  his  home 
in  Quincy.  In  1852  he  was  married  to  Mrs.  Udolpha  F,  Eagle,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Miller.  By  this  union  there  are  six  children:  Charles 
D.,  William  H.,  George  H.,  Oscar,  Emma  K.  and  Ollie  V.  Mrs.  Dor- 
man  has  one  son  by  a  former  marriage,  J.  E.  Eagle,  associated  with  Mr. 
Dorman  in  selling  goods  at  Montrose.  In  1855  Mr.  D.  removed  to  Henry 
County  and  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  and  at  one  time  his  house 
was  the  only  business  house  of  any  importance  in  the  county.  In  i860 
he  was  elected  one  of  the  county  judges.  In  1872  he  was  called  upon  by 
the  Democracy  of  the  county  to  accept  the  nomination  for  the  position 
of  member  of  the  lower  house  of  the  twenty-seventh  general  assembly, 
which  nomination  he  accepted  and  was  subsequently  elected  by  a  large 
majority.  As  a  member  of  the  legislature  he  was  industrious  in  the 
interests  of  his  constituents;  closely  attentive  to  all  business  before  the 
house  and  prompt  in  his  attendance;  jealous  of  the  interest  of  the  peo- 
ple in  the  expenditure  of  the  public  funds  and  honest  in  the  discharge  of 
every  duty.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  First  National  Bank 
and  for  a  time  held  the  position  of  president.  In  politics  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat and  is  radical  in  his  enforcements  of  the  Jeffersonian  test  for  office. 
Is  he  honest .''  Is  he  capable  .'*  He  is  a  man  of  liberal  views  and  sound 
judgment. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  51I 

JOHN  A.  DRIGGS, 

owes  his  nativity  to  Monroe  County,  Ohio,  where  he  was  born  January 
28,  1843.  He  was  there  reared  and  educated,  following  in  his  youth  the 
occupation  of  farming,  at  which  he  was  engaged  at  the  commencement 
of  the  war.  He  then  enlisted,  in  1861,  in  Company  E,  Sixty-second  Ohio 
Regiment,  and  served  till  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  Virginia,  where  he 
was  wounded  in  one  of  the  lower  limbs,  which  maimed  him  for  life.  From 
that  time  till  he  was  discharged,  June,  1865,  he  was  in  the  hospital  at 
Fort  Monroe  and  Camp  Dennison,  Ohio,  receiving  his  discharge  from 
the  latter  place.  In  1865,  he  returned  home,  and  was  occupied  in  mer- 
chandising at  Ozark,  Ohio,  till  1869.  In  May  of  that  year  he  came  to 
Clinton,  and  in  1870  was  elected  circuit  clerk,  serving  for  four  years  in 
a  very  acceptable  manner.  Then  for  one  year  he  was  interested  in  the 
insurance  business,  after  which  he  embarked  in  the  furniture  trade,  con- 
tinuing it  till  18S0.  Mr.  D.  was  married  October  16,  1873,  to  Miss  Estella 
Brown,  a  native  of  Ohio.  They  have  one  child,  Eva  M.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  A.  O.  U.  W.  fraternities,  and  also  of  the  K.  of  P.  He 
an  i  his  wife  belong  to  the  M.  E.  Church.  In  1874,  Mr.  Driggs  was  a 
member  of  the  city  council  of  Clinton. 

DANIEL  S.  DUDEN, 

dealer  in  groceries,  queensvvare,  boots,  shoes  and  tinware,  was  born  in 
Licking  County,  Ohio,  January  10,  1840.  He  was  reared  and  educated 
in  his  native  county,  and  his  father  being  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  the  son 
was  brought  up  in  that  occupation  and  followed  it  till  the  breaking  out 
of  the  war.  Then  he  enlisted  in  1861  in  Company  E,  Twentieth  Ohio 
Infantry  Regiment,  and  after  two  and  a  half  years  of  hard  service  with 
that  regiment  he  was  discharged,  but  re-enlisted  as  a  veteran  in  Com- 
pany A,  Fifth  Regiment  Heavy  Artillery,  and  held  the  commission  of 
second  lieutenant.  He  was  mustered  out  May  20,  1866,  as  captain  of  the 
company,  having  been  a  participant  in  many  engagements,  among  them^ 
those  of  Fort  Donelson,  Shiloh,  Corinth,  Middlesburg  (Virginia),  Vicks- 
burg  and  Champion's  Hill.  Three  wounds  were  received  by  him  at  dif- 
ferent times  during  his  service,  in  the  neck,  in  the  hip  and  the  fleshy 
portion  of  the  leg.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  came  to  Henry  County, 
Missouri,  and  was  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  dealing  till  1870,  and 
from  then  to  1874  he  was  occupied  in  various  branches  of  business.  In 
the  spring  of  1874  he  commenced  the  grocery  business,  in  which  he  is 
still  engaged.  Mr.  Duden  was  united  in  marriage  December  4,  1864,  to 
Miss  Helen  J.  Drum,  a  native  of  New  York.  They  had  three  children: 
Flavia  L.,  Grant  and  Bessie  M.  '  Mrs.  D.'s  death  occurred  April  4,  1875. 
He  was  again  married   July  18,  1876,  to- Miss  Lucy  A.  Browning,  of  Illi- 


512  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

nois.  They  have  three  children:  Susan  G.,  George  B.  and  Lucy  E.  Mr. 
D.  is  a  member  of  the  present  town  board  of  aldermen.  He  belongs  to 
the  K.  of  P.  order. 

NATHANIEL  H.  DUFF, 

brick  manufacturer  and  contractor  and  builder,  was  born  in  Washington 
Count}',  Virginia,  February  25th,  1843.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm, 
receiving  his  education  from  the  schools  of  that  county,  and  in  1858  he 
began  the  trade  of  brick  laying,  at  which  he  was  engaged  at  Taylorville, 
Tennessee,  at  the  commencement  of  the  war.  In  July,  1861,  he  enlisted 
in  company  H,  Thirty-seventh  Virginia  Regiment,  and  served  till  the 
close  of  the  war,  then  returning  home.  After  a  short  visit  he  went  to 
Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  remained  six  months,  and  soon  located  in 
Clay  County,  Illinois,  where  he  was  occupied  in  working  at  his  trade  for 
one  year.  Moving  to  Sedalia, 'Missouri,  he  resided  there  till  June,  1868, 
at  which  time  he  came  to  Clinton,  and  here  he  has  since  been  a  promi- 
nent contractor  in  brick  work,  besides  being  largely  interested  in  the 
manufacture  of  brick.  Mr.  Duff  was  married  November  3d,  1870,  to 
Miss  Lulu  Messick,  a  native  of  Kentucky.  They  have  three  children, 
Alice,  Lillie  and  an  infant.  Mr.  D.  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  fra- 
ternity of  Clinton. 

JAMES  DUNCAN, 

a  member  of  the  firm  of  Duncan  &  Blatt,  liverymen,  is  a  native  of  Clinton 
County,  Illinois,  where  he  was  born  July  22,  1837.  He  there  passed  his 
youth  till  thirteen  years  old,  when  the  family  removed  to  St.  Clair  County, 
Illinois,  where  he  was  reared  to  manhood.  He  has  made  the  stock  busi- 
ness his  occupation  through  life,  especially  horse  and  mule  trading.  In 
the  fall  of  1865  he  came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  and  was  engaged  in 
farming  till  1876,  when  with  E.  Curtis  he  embarked  in  the  livery  busi- 
ness. Mr.  C.  remained  a  partner  in  the  concern  for  two  years,  and  after 
Mr.  Duncan  had  conducted  the  stable  alone  a  short  time,  the  firm  became 
Duncan  &  Curtis,  (J.  Curtis)  which  partnership  existed  for  one  year. 
Blatt  &  Homeyer  then  bought  Mr.  Curtis'  interest  in  the  firm,  and  they 
were  together  for  six  months  when  Mr.  D.  retired.  After  that  time  till 
February,  1881,  he  was  for  a  while  in  and  out  of  the  livery  business  with 
different  men.  and  part  of  that  period  was  occupied  in  buying  hogs.  In 
February,  1882,  he  purchased  the  stock  of  Stevenson's  livery  stable,  which 
he  operated  alone  till  Mr.  Blatt  became  associated  with  him  in  Novem- 
ber, 1882.  They  now  do  a  fine  business,  and  as  they  make  a  specialty  of 
having  conveyances  suitable  for  commercial  men,  are  having  the  greater 
part  of  the  business  in  that  line  here. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  513 

WILLIAM  C.  EDMONSTON, 

owes  his  nativity  to  McDonough  County,  Illinois,  where  he  was  born 
August  II,  1839.  His  father,  William  Edmonston,  was  a  North  Caroli- 
nian by  birth,  and  removed  to  Indiana  at  an  early  day,  and  was  also  an 
old  settler  of  Illinois,  having  gone  to  that  state  from  Indiana.  The 
mother  of  our  subject,  whose  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Royce,  was 
born  in  Indiana,  and  was  there  reared  and  married.  The  former  was  a 
member  of  the  Illinois  Legislature  from  McDonough  County,  from  1830 
to  1840.  His  death  occurred  in  Cooper  County,  Missouri,  October  18, 
1871,  and  his  widow  died  February  22,  1876.  In  1845,  William  C.  with 
his  parents  emigrated  to  Reynolds  County,  Missouri,  where  he  remained 
till  1853,  then  moving  to  Bates  County.  He  lived  on  a  farm  there  till 
1861,  and  then  enlisted  in  Company  D,  of  Colonel  Peyton's  Regiment 
Missouri  Cavalry,  and  served  ti.U  paroled  at  Shreveport,  Louisiana,  June 
7,  1865.  Returning  to  Missouri  he  settled  in  Clinton,  and  was  engaged 
in  the  mercantile  business  as  clerk  for  two  years.  He  then  located  at 
Warrensburg,  Missouri,  and  after  six  months  of  business  life  there,  again 
came  to  Clinton,  for  the  tollowing  six  months  being  book  keeper  in  Sal- 
mon &  Salmon's  Bank.  After  this  time  he  gave  his  attention  to  farming 
till  1872,  when  he  embarked  in  the  stock  and  grain  trade  in  Clinton.  In 
this  he  was  interested  until  elected  circuit  clerk  in  1874,  which  office  he 
filled  most  acceptably  till  1879,  ^^^  during  1878-80,  he  was  county  asses- 
sor of  the  county.  Mr.  Edmonston  was  united  in  marriage  August  17, 
1871,  with  Miss  Anna  A.  Elliston,  a  Kentuckan  by  birth.  The}'  have 
three  children:  Eugene  L.,  Mary  E.  and  Kate. 

HERMAN  P.  FARRIS, 

of  the  firm  of  Brinkerhoff  &  Farris,  real  estate  dealers,  abstract  of  title 
and  loan  agents,  owes  his  nativity  to  Logan  County,  Ohio,  where  he 
was  born  December  25th,  1858.  When  nine  months  old  he  was  taken 
by  the  family  to  Douglass  County,  Kansas,  where  they  resided  till  1S67, 
then  coming  to  Henry  County,  Missouri.  Herman  was  here  reared  and 
educated.  In  1872  he  began  learning  the  printing  trade  in  the  office  of 
the  Northwestern  Enterprise,  and  after  working  one  year  there  at  the 
case  he  entered  the  land  office  of  Brinkerhoff  &  Smith.  He  was 
emploj-ed  as  clerk  in  that  office  till  xA,pril,  1878,  and  then  for  about  one 
year  he  was  occupied  in  various  branches  of  business  in  Colorado  and 
southwest  Kansas.  Returning  here  in  1879  ^^  resumed  his  old  position 
and  continued  there  till  May,  1882,  when  he  became  associated  with 
Mr.  Brinkerhoff,  and  now  has  the  entire  management  of  their  office  at 
Clinton.  Mr.  Farris  was  married  April  26th,  1S80,  to  Miss  Adda  Win- 
ters, a  daughter  of  Hon.  J.  R.  Winters,  formerl}-  of  Hannibal,  Missouri. 

33 


514  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

They  have  one  child,  Sarah  O.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  F.  are  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church. 

ALEXANDER  P.  FERGUSON, 

boot  and  shoe  maker.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  native  of  Erie 
County,  New  York,  and  was  born  August  6,  1828.  He  there  grew  up  to 
learn  the  occupation  of  farming,  and  at  fifteen  years  of  age  engaged  at 
the  trade  of  shoe  making  which  he  has  made  his  lifelong  business.  In 
September,  1849,  he  went  to  Cincinnati,  and  from  that  time  until 
1868  he  worked  at  his  chosen  calling  in  various  places,  among  which  are 
Louisville  and  Lexington,  Kentucky,  LidianapoHs,  Indiana,  Georgetown, 
Blue  Lick  Springs  and  Frankfort,  Kentucky,  and  LaFayette,  Indiana; 
then  he  returned  to  Frankfort  and  subsequently  located  again  in  LaFay- 
ette, where  he  resided  until  1858,  with  the  exception  of  short  intervals 
spent  in  Holly  Springs  and  Oxford,  Mississippi.  Removing  to  Mid- 
dlesport,  Illinois,  he  remained  until  October,  1866,  thence  to  Jerseyville 
and  later  to  Whitehall,  Illinois,  and  in  May,  1868,  he  came  to  Clinton, 
Missouri,  and  has  since  been  a  resident  of  the  city.  Mr.  Ferguson  was 
married  August  10,  185 1,  to  Miss  Martha  Warts,  whose  death  occurred 
April  24,  1852.  He  was  again  married  August  26,  1858,  to  Miss  Ada- 
line  Buchannon.  By  this  union  there  are  two  children  living  :  Ida  E. 
and  Alexander  G.  This  wife  died  October  9,  1880.  Mr.  F.  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  order  and  also  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 

ALBERT  P.  FROWEIN, 

cashier  of  the  Henry  County  Bank,  was  born  in  the  Rhein  Province,  Ger- 
many, March  14,  1837.  His  parents,  John  P.  and  Anna  M.  (Winklemann) 
Frowein,  were  also  natives  of  Germany,  and  were  there  married  and  are 
still  residents  of  that  country.  Albert  was  reared  in  his  native  country 
till  seventeen  years  of  age,  when  he  emigrated  to  America,  landing  in 
New  York.  There  he  remained  for  ten  months,  after  which  he  moved 
westward  and  tor  three  years  was  engaged  in  clerical  work  in  the  city 
of  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  In  1858  he  went  to  Warrensburg,  Missouri,  and 
was  a  prominent  merchant  of  that  city  till  1866,  when  he  came  to  Clin- 
ton, and  with  his  brother  embarked  in  the  dry  goods  business.  To  this 
industry  he  devoted  his  time  until  April,  1881,  and  then  with  others 
organized  the  Henry  County  Bank,  he  being  elected  their  first  president. 
He  has  since  been  prominently  identified  with  that  institution,  but  still 
retains  his  interest  in  the  firm  of  Frowein  Bros.  Mr.  F.  was  married  in 
1863  to  Miss  Augusta  J.  Muller,  of  Missouri.  They  have  three  children: 
Arnold  P.,  Eugene  C.  and  Augusta.  From  1861  to  1866  Mr.  F.  was  post- 
master at  Warrensburg,  Missouri,  and  from  1874  to  1S78  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  school  board  of  this  city.  He  belongs  to  the  Masonic  order 
and  is  also  connected  with  the  Lutheran  Church. 


BIOGRAPIIICAL.  '  515, 

ADAM  M.  FULKERSON, 

of  the  drug  establishment  of  Fulkerson  &  Parks,  came  originally  from 
Ohio  County.  Ohio,  having  been  born  January  17,  1843.  He  resided 
there  till  1855,  when  the  family  removed  to  Cass  County,  Missouri,  which 
was  their  home  till  the  spring  of  1856.  Going  to  Kansas  they  settled 
about  twenty  miles  above  Osawatomie,  but  five  months  later  were 
obliged  to  leave  on  account  of  the  border  troubles.  Returning  to  Cass 
County,  Missouri,  they  located  two  and  a  half  miles  west  of  Dayton,  and 
there  Adam  spent  his  time  in  farming,  till  the  breaking  out  of  the  war. 
He  enlisted  in  June,  1861,  in  Company  E,  of  Hurst's  Regiment,  and 
served  with  that  company  till  January,  1S62,  when  he  joined  Company 
E,  Fourth  Missouri  Infantry.  After  the  second  battle  of  Corinth,  Mis- 
sissippi, he  was  transferred  to  Company  E,  First  Missouri  Regiment, 
and  served  till  the  surrender  of  Vicksburg,  when  he  was  paroled.  On 
his  way  north  he  was  captured  by  General  Steele,  and  held  a  prisoner  at 
Alton,  Illinois,  till  peace  was  declared.  As  soon  as  released  he  went  to 
Kentucky,  and  there  remained  till  September,  1866,  when  he  came  to 
Clinton  and  engaged  in  the  drug  business.  In  April,  1869,  he  with  Mr.  Ben- 
jamin established  a  drug  house,  and  the  firm  continued  as  Fulkerson  & 
Benjamin  till  August,  1869,  when  it  became  Fulkerson  &  Allen.  In  Janu- 
ary, 1873,  was  again  changed,  this  time  to  Fulkerson  &  Parks.  They  carry 
a  varied  and  complete  line  of  goods,  and  are  doing  a  remunerative  busi- 
ness. Mr.  F.  was  married  November  24,  186S,  to  Miss  Allie  Parks,  a 
daughter  of  Judge  Parks,  of  Clinton.  They  have  two  children  living: 
Henry  and  Charles.  Mr.  F.  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order  and  also 
belong  to  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 

CHARLES  GEBHERDT, 

stone  mason  and  contractor  of  stone  work,  is  a  native  of  Germany,  and 
was  born  February  7,  1843.  He  grew  to  manhood  and  was  educated  in 
his  native  country.  His  father  being  a  stone  mason  by  trade,  Charles 
was  also  brought  up  to  the  same  occupation  under  the  instruction  of  the 
senior  Gebherdt.  In  December,  1866,  he  emigrated  to  America,  and 
finally  settled  in  Mt.  Vernon,  Indiana,  where  he  was  engaged  in  stone 
masoning  till  June,  186S.  He  then  came  to  Clinton,  Missouri<and  since 
his  arrival  here  has  done  most  of  the  stone  work  on  the  better  class  of 
buildings,  and  he  is  considered  one  of  the  best  masons  in  this  vicinity. 
Mr.  G.  has  a  fine  sand  stone  quarry  one-fourth  of  a  mile  west  of  this 
city,  where  he  has  a  vein  of  rich  stone  six  feet  in  thickness,  and  of  the 
best  quality.  He  uses  it  only  in  cut  work.  He  was  united  in  marriage 
February  16,  1869,  to  Miss  Anna  Schmidt,  also  of  Germany.  Mr.  G.  is 
a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 


5l6  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

FRANCIS  M.  GOODMAN, 

bookkeeper  of  the  Tebo  Mills,  was  born  in  Green  County,  Indiana,  Jan- 
uary 29th,  1 841.  His  father,  John  Goodman,  was  also  a  native  of  that 
state,  and  his  mother,  Jerusha  Benefield  Goodman,  was  born  in  Hamil- 
ton Count}-,  Ohio,  and  was  a  descendant  of  [ohn  Benefield,  a  soldier  of  the 
revolutionary  war,  and  one  of  the  framers  of  the  constitution  of  that 
state.  They  reared  seven  children,  of  whom  Francis  was  the  youngest. 
His  father's  death  occurred  July  26th,  1858,  but  his  mother  is  still  living. 
In  1845  the  family  removed  to  St.  Clair  County,  Illinois,  where  our  sub- 
ject grew  up  on  a  farm,  receiving  a  good  education.  When  in  his  eigh- 
teenth year  he  engaged  in  bookkeeping,  and  was  so  employed  when  the 
war  brought  business  to  a  close.  In  August,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany K,  117th  Illinois  regiment,  and  participated  in  thirty-eight  engage- 
ments, serving  till  mustered  out  of  service  in  August,  1865.  After  his 
discharge  he  returned  home  to  St.  Clair  County,  Illinois,  and  shortly 
took  a  course  of  commercial  study  at  Jones'  College,  of  St.  Louis,  Mis- 
souri. Later  he  became  interested  in  school  teaching,  which  profession 
he  followed  till  1877,  when  he  went  to  Washington  County,  Illinois. 
There  he  gave  his  attention  to  farming  till  July,  1880.  when  he  came  to 
Clinton  and  accepted  a  position  as  bookkeeper  for  J.  Brannum,  of  the 
Tebo  Mills,  in  which  he  is  now  engaged.  Mr.  Goodman  was  married 
April  6th,  1871,  to  Miss  Martha  J.  Grain,  a  native  of  Illinois.  They  have 
an  interesting  family  of  four  children,  Maude,  Arthur,  Frank  and  Mary. 

JOHN  B.  HANCOCK, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  3,  was  born  in  Owen  County,  Kentucky, 
November  20,  1831,  and  was  a  son  of  George  W.  and  Jane  (Settles)  Han- 
cock. The  former  was  a  carpenter  and  farmer  by  occupation  ard  a  native 
of  Virginia.  The  latter  was  a  Kentuckian  by  birth.  J.  B.  was  the  old- 
est of  a  famil}'  of  three  children.  His  youth  was  spent  on  the  farm  and 
in  his  father's  mill,  and  he  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools 
of  Kentucky.  In  November,  1854,  he  came  to  Henry  County  and  entered 
the  milling  business  at  Clinton,  continuing  it  for  five  years.  In  1861  he 
enlisted  in  Captain  Stone's  company,  in  which  he  remained  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  He  was  in  the  battles  of  Springfield  and  Cross  Har- 
bor, and  at  the  battle  of  Springfield  was  wounded  in  the  arm  and  abdo- 
men. After  being  confined  in  the  hospital  a  short  time  he  was  sent 
home.  In  1855  he  had  entered  320  acres  ot  land  in  this  county,  and 
after  returning  from  the  war  he  began  to  improve  this  tract.  He  has 
since  followed  farming  and  milling,  and  now  owns  485  acres  of  good 
land,  which  he  has  well  improved.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
Church.  October  13.  1S67.  ]Mr.  Hancock  was  married-to  Mrs.  Mary  Snow- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  51/ 

den,  a  daughter  of  William  Herrigton      She  was  born  in  Henry  County, 

Missouri,  October  3,  1841.  They  have  five  children  living:   Mary,  George, 

Josie  P.  and  Clement  E.,  twins,  and  Mary.     They  lost  two,  Rosy  L.  and 

Norman. 

CHARLES  H.  HAYSLER, 

of  the  firm  of  Haysler  Bros.,  dealers  in  harness,  saddles,  saddlery  hard- 
ware, sportsmen's  goods,  etc.,  came  originally  from  Saxony,  Germany, 
where  he  was  born  January  16,  1842.  When  fifteen  years  of  age,  in 
company  with  his  brothers,  he  emigrated  to  America,  settling  in  Cooper 
County,  Missouri,  where  he  began  the  trade  of  harness  making  with  C. 
Vose,  of  Boonville,  Missouri.  He  remained  under  his  instruction  for 
two  years.  The  war  then  coming  on,  he  enlisted  February,  1862,  in 
Company  C,  Fifth  Missouri  Regiment,  with  which  he  served  till  mus- 
tered out  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  in  March,  1865.  After  this  time  he 
located  in  Leavenworth,  Kansas,  and  was  engaged  in  working  at  his 
trade  till  May,  1867,  when  he  returned  to  Boonville,  Missouri,  and  estab- 
lished himself  in  the  hardware  and  tinware  trade.  Upon  doing  busi- 
ness one  year  he  came  to  Clinton,  Missouri,  and  with  his  brother,  Ernest 
C,  embarked  in  their  present  business.  They  carry  by  far  the  largest 
and  best  stock  of  goods  in  their  line  in  Southwest  Missouri,  and  are 
known  as  courteous,  honest  and  excellent  business  men.  Mr.  Haysler 
was  united  in  marriage  October  26,  1868,  with  Miss  Elizabeth  M.  Hum- 
brock,  a  native  of  Missouri.  They  have  two  children  :  Hattie  O.  and 
Morris  C.     They  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church, 

GUSTAVE  C.  HAYSLER 

is  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Haysler  &  Sherpy,  dealers  in  hardware,  stoves,, 
queensware,  etc.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Saxony,  Ger- 
many, September  18,  1846.  He  resided  there  till  fourteen  years  of  age, 
when  with  his  brothers  he  left  his  native  home  for  America,  finally  set- 
tling at  Glasgow,  Missouri.  Here  he  was  engaged  at  the  trade  of  tinner 
with  J.  R.  Carson,  under  whom  he  worked  for  four  years,  and  subse- 
quently he  followed  his  trade  at  various  places.  In  1867,  he  returned  to 
Boonville,  Missouri,  and  embarked  in  the  hardware  business,  the  firm 
being  Haysler  &  Leober,  and  continuing  it  till  March,  1870.  Coming  to- 
Clinton  he  helped  to  establish  his  present  large  business.  Messrs.  Hays- 
ler &  Sherpy  have  one  of  the  finest  hardware  stores  in  the  state,  and 
carry  a  stock  of  $12,000  worth  of  goods.  They  occupy  one  large  double 
store  room,  and  their  store  has  the  appearance  of  a  large  wholesale 
establishment.  Mr.  H.  was  married  May  12,  1870,  to  Miss  Josephine 
Humbrock,  a  native  of  Missouri.  The  have  two  children:  Arthur  E.  and 
Florence  A.  He  is  a  member  of  the  L  O.  O.  F.  fraternity,  and  alsc 
belongs  to  the  Encampment. 


5l8  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

NICHOLAS   HINDERER, 

manufacturer  of  plows,  harrows  and  other  ag^ricultural  implements,  was 
born  in  Columbus,  Ohio,  May  27,  1841.  He  was  there  brought  up  and 
acquired  an  education,  and  in  1859  began  learning  the  trade  of  plow- 
making  in  the  manufactory  of  Roberts  &  Taylor,  with  whom  he  worked 
till  1 861.  Then  he  enlisted  in  Company  B,  Second  Ohio  Regiment,  U. 
S.  A.,  and  served  with  that  company  three  months,  when  he  joined  (in 
February,  1864)  Company  D,  i86th  Ohio  Regiment.  He  was  in  action 
till  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  at  Lexington,  Kentucky, 
in  August,  1865.  Returning  to  Columbus,  Ohio,  he  entered  the  employ 
of  Gibbon  &  Dieur,  plow  manufacturers,  and  remained  with  them  for 
seven  years.  In  187 1  he  came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  and  was 
engaged  in  farming  till  1875,  in  which  year  he  established  his  present 
factory.  Although  the  plow  factory  run  by  Mr.  H.  is  yet  comparatively 
in  its  infancy,  it  bids  fair  to  become  one  of  the  leading  industries  of 
Clinton.  Work  of  their  manufacture  already  has  a  preference  over 
other  makes  in  this  market,  or,  in  fact,  wherever  they  are  sold.  Mr. 
Hinderer  was  married  in  April,  1863,  to  Miss  Christena  H.  Staley,  a 
native  of  Germany.  They  have  two  children,  George  N.  and  Emma. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  fraternity. 

JAMES  I.  HINKLE, 

farmer  and  stock  dealer,  section  29,  came  originally  from  Jackson  County, 
Missouri,  where  he  was  born  August  29,  1855.  He  was  reared  to  man- 
hood and  educated  in  his  native  county,  following  from  his  boyhood 
■days  the  occupation  of  farming.  In  the  fall  of  1861  he  removed  to  Knox 
County,  Indiana,  and  was  continuously  engaged  in  milling  for  six  years. 
In  the  fall  of  1867  he  returned  to  Jackson  County,  and  in  October,  1868, 
came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  and  resided  with  his  uncle,  John 
Hinkle,  till  October,  1876.  Then  he  settled  where  he  now  resides.  He 
has  an  excellent  farm  of  220  acres,  all  of  which  is  well  fenced  and 
improved.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  the  stock  business  and  in  this  indus- 
try has  been  very  successful.  Mr.  Hinkle  was  united  in  marriage  Octo- 
ber 5,  1876,  to  Miss  Henrietta  J.  Adkins,  a  daughter  of  Henry  G.  Adkins, 
who  was  an  old  settler  of  Henry  County.  They  have  two  children, 
Louisa  P.  and  Ruby  K.  Mr.  H.  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity. 
He  is  the  present  chairman  of  the  school  board  of  his  district. 

GEORGE  S.    HOLLIDAY, 

abstract  and  real  estate  agent,  owes  his  nativity  to  Maucoupin  County, 
Illinois,  having  been  born  at  Carlinville,  October  12,  1854.  He  was 
brought  up  in  his  native  county  and   received   his   education  from  the 


I 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  519 

Blackburn  University  of  Carlinville,  of  which  school  he  was  a  pupil  for 
five  years.  In  1875  he  began  the  study  of  law  with  William  R.  Welch, 
remaining  with  him  until  February,  1877,  when  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  of  that  state.  In  1879  he  engaged  in  the  abstract  of  title  business 
which  he  continued  at  Carlinville  till  November,  iSSi.  Coming  to  this 
city  he  resumed  the  same  calling  here.  He  has  a  complete  and  authen- 
tic set  of  abstract  books,  and  having  the  entire  confidence  of  the  public, 
is  doing  a  good  business. 

THOMAS  HOPGOOD, 

contracting  painter,  was  born  in  County  Kent,  England,  April  19th, 
1835.  He  was  raised  to  manhood  and  received  his  education  in  his  native 
county,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  began  learning  the  trade  which  he  now 
so  successfully  follows,  serving  an  apprenticeship  of  five  years.  When 
twenty-one  years  of  age  he  left  England  for  America,  and  settling  in 
Kendall  County,  Illinois,  in  June,  1859,  worked  at  his  trade  there  till 
July,  1861.  He  then  went  to  Alton,  Illinois,  and  enlisted  in  Company 
K,  Twentieth  Illinois  Volunteers,  with  which  he  served  for  three  years. 
He  was  later  employed  as  clerk  in  the  Government  Medical  Purveyor's 
office  at  Memphis,  Tennessee,  till  August,  1865,  when  he  returned  to 
Kendall  County.  After  a  stay  of  two  weeks  h?  retraced  his  steps  to 
Memphis,  and  there  gave  his  attention  to  painting  till  November,  1865, 
when,  with  M.  F.  Ball  as  a  partner,  he  embarked  in  the  grocery  business, 
continuing  in  that  line  till  September,  1866.  He  was  then  appointed  a 
member  of  the  metropolitan  police  force,  but  upon  serving  one  year 
resigned  and  came  to  Clinton,  Missouri,  in  June,  1867.  Here  he  was 
occupied  in  painting  till  September,  1872.  After  residing  in  several 
cities  for  short  periods  he  finally  settled  in  Sedalia,  Missouri,  where 
he  remained  three  years,  then  went  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  There  he 
resided  four  years,  then  took  a  short  trip  through  Colorado  looking  for 
a  suitable  location,  but  not  finding  it,  in  August,  1879,  he  returned  to 
Clinton,  Missouri.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  actively  engaged  at  his 
trade.  Mr.  Hopgood  was  married  March  20th,  1867,  to  Miss  Mary  F. 
Curry,  a  native  of  Indiana.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Honor, 
and  also  belongs  to  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

AMBROSE  B.  HOPKINS, 

sheriff  of  Henry  County,  and  of  the  firm  of  Page  &  Hopkins,  proprietors 
of  the  Co-operative  Store,  was  born  in  Clinton  County,  Kentucky,  April 
25,1841.  His  parents,  George  W.  and  Sarah  (Looney)  Hopkins,  were 
also  natives  of  that  state;  the  former  was  born  in  August  1799,  and  the 
birth  of  the  latter  occurred  in  July,  1805=     They  reared  eleven  children, 


520  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

of  whom  Ambrose  was  the  eighth.  His  father  died  in  September,  1867, 
and  his  mother  in  July,  1865,  both  in  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  whither 
they  had  moved  in  1851.  It  was  in  that  county  that  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  grew  up  and  was  educated,  following  from  his  youth  agricultural 
pursuits.  When  the  late  war  broke  out  he  enlisted  in  May,  1861,  in  Cap- 
tain Cushaw's  Company,  Missouri  State  Guards,  and  after  their  disband- 
ment  enlisted  in  the  regular  Confederate  service,  in  Company  E.  Fourth 
Missouri  Infantry,  which,  after  the  battle  of  Corinth,  Mississippi,  was 
consolidated  with,  and  subsequently  known  as  the  First  Missouri  Regi- 
ment. He  served  till  taken  prisoner  at  Vicksburg,  in  July,  1863,  and  he 
was  on  parole  till  November,  1863,  when  he  was  exchanged.  He  then 
joined  General  Price's  command,  and  continued  with  the  same  until  pa- 
roled at  Shreveport,  Louisiana.  Returning  to  Missouri  he  settled  in  Henry 
County.  In  April,  1867,  he  became  engaged  in  merchandising  at  Brown- 
ington,  this  county,  and  continued  the  business  till  September,  1880,  and 
in  the  following  November  he  was  elected  sheriff  of  the  county,  and  was 
again  re-elected  to  that  office  in  November,  1882.  From  1870  to  1880,  he 
held  the  position  of  county  assessor.  In  1872  and  until  1876,  he  was 
constable  of  Osage  Township,  and  during  the  last  two  years  of  that  time 
was  township  collector  as  well.  Mr.  Hopkins  was  married  October  29, 
1871,  to  Miss  Martha  Ellington,  a  native  of  Illinois.  They  have  two 
children  living;  Gracie  I.,  and  Nathan.  Mr.  H.  is  a  man  well  fitted  for 
his  position  and  thus  far  in  his  official  career  has  given  universal  satis- 
faction, discharging  his  duties  with  credit  to  himself  and  the  people  who 
elected  him. 

GEORGE  R.  JACKSON, 

gunsmith  and  dealer  in  sportsman's  goods,  is  a  native  of  Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  born  November  7,  1839.  I"  1842,  with  his 
parents,  he  removed  to  Jerseyville,  Illinois,  where  he  passed  his  youth 
and  received  his  education.  In  1859,  he  began  the  trade  of  machinist  in 
the  shop  of  George  Wharton,  and  remained  therein  for  one  year.  Then 
for  a  like  period  he  worked  at  the  gunsmith  trade,  and  upon  going  to 
Litchfield,  Illinois,  gave  his  attention  to  wagon  making  till  1862.  In 
that  year  he  enlisted  in  Company  H,  Ninety-seventh  Illinois  Regiment, 
serving  till  July,  1865,  when  he  was  mustered  out  at  Washington,  D.  C. 
Returning  to  Jerseyville,  he  resumed  the  trade  of  machinist  for  nine 
months,  after  which  time  he  established  a  gun  repair  shop  in  that  city, 
and  conducted  it  for  six  months.  He  then  went  to  Charleston,  Illinois, 
and  was  in  the  same  business  till  April,  1867,  when  he  came  to  Clinton, 
Missouri,  and  started  his  present  successful  business.  He  carries  a  full 
line  of  sportsman's  goods,  and  does  all  kinds  of  repairing  on  guns  and 
light  machinery.  Mr.  Jackson  was  married  December  6,  1866,  to  Miss 
Kate  Wilson,  originally  from  Illinois.     They  have  six  children:     Hattie  ' 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  521 

W.,  Nellie  B.,  Mary  S,  Kate  L.,  RoUand  F.  and  Robert  E.  Mr.  J.  has 
been  a  city  alderman,  haviiiej  served  three  different  terms. 

SAMUEL  JONES,  M.  D., 

a  native  of  Harrison  County,  Ohio,  was  born  April  26,  1826.  His  father, 
James  Jones,  came  originally  from  Delaware,  but  was  reared  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. His  mother,  formerly  Susan  Dickerson,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania 
and  grew  up  in  Ohio.  Samuel  was  the  third  of  nine  children.  He 
passed  his  youth  and  early  manhood  in  the  county  of  his  birth,  and  was 
educated  in  the  West  Bedford,  Ohio,  academy.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  under  Dr.  R.  N.  Waddell,  of  Nash- 
ville, Ohio,  with  whom  he  remained  as  student  for  two  and  one-half 
years,  and  for  the  following  eighteen  months  he  was  engaged  in  practic- 
ing under  that  gentleman.  In  1856-57  he  attended  a  course  of  lectures 
at  the  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  Medical  College,  from  which  institution  he 
graduated  in  the  spring  of  1857.  Becoming  occupied  in  the  practice  of 
medicine  at  Lithopolis,  Ohio,  he  stayed  for  ten  months,  going  thence  to 
Utica,  Ohio,  where  he  resided  till  April,  1866.  He  then  came  to  Clin- 
ton, Missouri,  and  continued  his  practice  here  till  1873,  when  he  was 
ordained  a  minister  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  For  two  years  he  had  charge 
of  the  Huntingdale  circuit,  and  for  one  year  following  held  the  Browns- 
ville, Missouri,  circuit.  Later  on  his  charge  was  the  Aullville  and 
Dunksville  circuit  for  one  year,  and  the  next  year  he  was  assigned  to 
the  Brownsville  and  Aullville  circuit.  Finally  he  received  the  Clinton 
circuit  for  a  like  period.  Owing  to  his  wife's  ill  health  he  was  obliged 
to  give  up  active  duty  in  the  church,  and  for  that  reason,  in  1878  he 
resumed  the  practice  of  medicine  in  this  city.  Dr.  Jones  was  married 
April,  1846,  to  Miss  Sarah  A.  Brown,  a  native  of  Ohio.  They  had  one 
child,  George  B.  Mrs.  Jones'  death  occurred  July  9,  1849.  ^^  was 
again  married  February  14,  1850,  to  Miss  Mary  Johnston,  also  of  Ohio. 
They  have  four  children:  Robert  E.,  James  O.,  Thomas  H.  and  Edward 
L.  W.  The  Doctor  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  he  has 
for  a  term  of  four  years  served  Henry  County  as  coroner. 

L  N.  JONES, 

owes  his  nativity  to  Illinois.  He  served  in  the  Federal  army  for  four 
years,  during  the  late  war,  and  on  June  14,  1872,  came  to  Henry  County,. 
Missouri,  and  was  identified  with  the  Clinton  Advocate  as  publisher  and 
proprietor  until  March,  1878.  He  was  appointed  postmaster  at  Clinton 
by  President  Hayes  and  was  re-appointed  in  1882.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  Masonic  fraternities. 


522  HISTORY   OF    IIENRV   COUNTY. 

ALBERT  JUDGE, 

grocer,  was  born  in  Baltimore,  Maryland,  November  30,  1836,  while  the 
family  were  in  that  city  as  refugees  from  Charleston,  South  Carolina, 
which  at  that  time  was  stricken  with  yellow  fever.  They  returned,  how- 
ever, to  Charleston  shortly  after  the  birth  of  Albert.  His  father,  James 
Judge,  a  native  of  England,  was  there  raised,  and  in  1830  he  emigrated 
to  America.  After  a  limited  residence  in  New  York  City  he  went  to 
Florida,  resided  there  one  year,  and  thence  to  Charleston,  South  Caro- 
lina, where  he  was  engaged  in  merchandising  till  1844.  Then,  with  his 
family,  he  removed  to  St.  Charles  County,  Missouri,  of  which  county  he 
was  a  prominent  farmer.  During  the  late  war  he  was  much  abused  by 
the  Federals  for  being  a  Southern  sympathizer,  and  was  held  a  prisoner 
from  the  spring  of  1864  till  December,  1865,  at  different  times  in  the 
prisons  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  Alton,  Illinois,  and  Jefferson  City,  Mis- 
souri, besides  being  fined  $10,000  and  having  his  property  confiscated. 
He  is  now  deceased.  Albert's  mother,  formerly  Mary  A.  French,  was 
also  born  in  England  and  there  married  Mr.  Judge.  Her  death  occurred 
while  on  a  visit  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  in  November,  1864.  Young  Judge 
grew  up  on  a  farm  in  St.  Charles  County,  Missouri,  and  attended  during 
1855-6-7  the  Urbana  University.  After  returning  home  he  continued 
farming  and  also  merchandising  to  some  extent  till  1866,  at  that  time 
coming  to  Henry  County.  Here  he  still  resumed  farming  till  August, 
18S0,  when  he  engaged  in  his  present  business,  the  firm  being  Vandiver 
■&  Judge.  They  were  associated  together  till  April,  188 1,  when  the  name 
became  Judge  &  Comer,  so  remaining  for  eight  months.  Since  that  time 
Mr.  Judge  has  been  alone  in  the  business.  His  stock  of  goods  is  very 
complete,  and  the  large  patronage  he  is  receiving  is  a  sufficient  guaran- 
tee of  the  success  of  his  business.  He  was  united  in  marriage  April  22, 
1862,  to  Miss  Kate  Gaiter,  of  St.  Charles  County,  Missouri.  They  have 
three  children:  William  A.,  Carrie  B.  and  Charles  E.  Mr.  J.  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  order. 

HARRY  KEMP, 

is  a  prominent  architect,  contractor  and  builder  of  Clinton.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch,  originally  from  England,  was  born  August  8,  1848.  He 
passed  his  youthful  days  there,  and  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years  was 
apprenticed  to  the  carpenter  trade  in  London,  where  he  worked  till  May, 
1867.  The  latter  part  of  the  time  he  was  foreman  of  the  wood  working 
machinery  of  the  shop.  While  learning  his  trade  he  attended  the  night 
sessions  of  the  famous  Kensington  School  of  Art,  and  took  a  thorough 
course  in  geometry  and  architecture.  In  May,  1867,  he  emigrated  to 
Quebec,  Canada,  but  a  few  days  later  went  to  Hamilton,  Canada,  where 
he    labored  till   the    fall  of   1869.     Going  to    DuQuoin,  Illinois,  he  was 


L  P.IOGRArHICAL.  523 

engaged  in  bridge  building  with  the  Cairo  Short  Line  Railroad  for  two 
months.  Subsequently  he  became  located  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  where 
he  hlled  a  like  position  with  the  Missouri  Pacific  Railroad,  and  after  a 
short  time  with  that  company,  he  moved  to  Jefferson  City.  There  with 
J.  H.  McAdow  as  a  partner,  he  embarked  in  contracting  and  building, 
doing  business  till  1876.  In  June,  1877,  he  came  to  Clinton,  Missouri, 
where  he  has  since  followed  contracting.  He  is  recognized  here  as  a 
leading  mechanic,  and  many  good  buildings  of  his  construction  in  Clin- 
ton attest  that  fact.  Mr.  Kemp  was  married  May  3.  1874,  to  Miss  Min- 
nie McAdow,  a  native  of  Ohio.  They  have  three  children:  Emma  E., 
Minnie  K.  and  Nellie  A.  Mr.  K.  is  a  member  of  the  Cumberland  Pres- 
byterian Church.  He  is  prominent  in  the  Sunday  School  of  that  church, 
and  is  the  present  superintendent. 

JOHN  S.  KIMBROUGH, 

stock  dealer,  was  born  in  Louisa  County,  Virginia,  July  5th,  1819.  His 
parents,  John  and  Katharine  Boxley  Kimbrough,  were  both  Virginians 
b)'  birth.  When  John  was  an  infant  they  removed  to  Warren  County, 
Kentucky,  where  he  w  as  brought  up  and  educated,  and  from  his  four- 
teenth year  clerked  in  a  general  store  at  Bowling  Green,  Kentucky.  In 
October,  1839,  they  came  to  Springfield,  Missouri,  where  his  father  died 
in  September,  1840.  At  his  death  his  family  was  left  with  very  limited 
means,  and  their  support  devolved  upon  John.  Notwithstanding  this 
heavy  burden  his  energy  was  equal  to  the  emergency,  and  he  fulfilled 
his  duty  nobly.  His  mother's  death  occurred  in  the  fall  of  1861.  In  1841 
Mr.  K.  engaged  in  blacksmithing  at  Springfield,  Missouri,  which  he  fol- 
lowed successfully  for  eight  years.  Then  in  1849  he  embarked  in  mer- 
chandising and  general  trading  in  stock,  etc.,  which  occupied  his  atten- 
tion till  December,  1861.  By  this  time  he  had  acquired  quite  a  fortune, 
but  was  ruined  by  the  war,  and  retreated  with  General  Price  to  Arkan- 
sas on  his  move  through  Missouri.  In  the  spring  of  1862  he  settled  in 
Fayetteville,  Arkansas,  residing  there  till  the  winter  of  1862,  when  he 
returned  to  Springfield,  Missouri.  Here  he  remained  till  the  spring  of 
1863,  and  then  went  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  for  a  short  time.  In  the  fall 
of  1863,  he  resumed  merchandising  at  Columbia,  Missouri,  and  so  con- 
tinued for  nearly  two  years.  In  the  spring  of  1865  he  started  from  St. 
Louis  with  a  stock  of  goods,  by  water,  to  Montana  Territory,  and  upon 
arriving  there  became  interested  in  business  at  Helena.  In  December, 
1865,  leaving  his  business  with  a  trusted  clerk,  he  returned  to  Columbia, 
Missouri,  by  the  overland  route  to  visit  his  family.  Going  again  to  Hel- 
. ena  in  the  spring  of  1866  he  continued  to  do  an  extensive  business  till 
the  fall  of  1866,  when  he  closed  out  his  interests  there  and  retraced  his 
steps  to  Columbia,  Missouri.     In  the  spring  of  1867  he   bought  another 


524  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

stock  of  goods  at  St.  Louis,  which  he  shipped  by  water  to  Houston, 
Texas,  but  in  the  following  July  was  compelled  to  give  up  his  trade  there 
on  account  of  the  yellow  fever  epidemic.  Returning  to  Missouri  he  set- 
tled near  Sedalia,  and  buying  a  farm  of  i,i6o  acres  in  that  county, 
engaged  in  farming.  In  January,  1868,  he  traded  his  farm  for  a  large 
stock  of  goods  in  Sedalia,  and  was  a  prominent  merchant  in  that  city 
for  two  years.  In  1870  he  came  to  Clinton,  Missouri,  and  started  in  the 
hardware  and  implement  business,  at  which  he  remained  occupied  till 
1878.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  farming  and  stock  dealing.  He  has 
a  fine  farm  in  Fairview  Township  consisting  of  1,405  acres,  upon  which 
he  feeds  an  average  of  150  head  of  cattle  per  year.  He  is  also  inter- 
ested in  the  Coushou  cattle  ranch  in  Texas.  Mr.  Kimbrough  was  mar- 
ried in  December,  1845,  to  Miss  Linna  Wear,  a  native  of  Tennessee. 
They  had  three  children.  Pleasant  W.,  Katherine  and  Anna  N.  Mrs.  K. 
died  December  19th,  1862.  He  was  again  married  in  May,  1864,  to  Miss 
Ellen  M.  Graham,  of  New  Jersey.  They  have  five  children,  John  S. 
Joseph  B,,  Laura  G.,  Linna  and  Henry  S.  Mr.  K.  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  order,  and  belongs  to  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 

HOWARD  KITCHEN, 

of  the  firm  of  Hutchinson  &  Kitchen,  m.anufacturers  of  the  famous 
"Hutch  and  Kitch"  Cigars,  are  the  most  extensive  cigarmakers  in  this 
city,  and  are  now  working  fifteen  hands  and  manufacturing  15,000  cigars 
per  week.  The  business  was  established  by  this  firm  in  May,  1881,  and 
their  goods  are  in  such  a  demand  that  they  can  hardly  keep  up  with 
their  orders.  Howard  Kitchen  is  a  native  of  Hickory  County,  Ohio, 
and  was  born  December  6,  1859.  When  he  was  five  years  old,  his  parents 
removed  to  Jefferson  City,  Missouri,  where  they  resided  till  1867,  then 
coming  to  Henry  County,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated.  In  1876 
he  began  the  trade  of  cigar  making  with  W.  Winzenberger,  remaining 
in  his  employ  for  two  years.  He  continued  working  at  that  trade  in  dif- 
ferent shops  in  this  city  till  May,  188 1,  when  he  engaged  in  his  present 
business.     Mr.  K.  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

HENRY  A.  KRATZ, 

dealer  in  lumber  and  contractor  and  builder,  owes  his  nativity  to  Ger- 
many, where  he  was  born  November  5,  1843.  When  he  was  four  }'ears 
old  his  parents  emigrated  to  America  and  finally  settled  in  Marion 
County,  Missouri,  and  it  was  here  that  Henry  was  reared  to  manhood 
and  educated.  When  about  eighteen  years  of  age  he  began  learning  the 
carpenter  trade  and  continued  it  till  1862,  when  he  enlisted  in  Compain- 
I,  Thirt}'-third  Missouri   Regiment,  United  States  Army,  with  which  he 


I 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  52$ 


served  till  June  6,  1864.  At  that  time  he  was  wounded  at  Lake  Chicot, 
Arkansas,  and  was  confined  in  different  hospitals  till  June,  1865,  when 
he  was  discharged.  Returning  home,  he  was  actively  engaged  at  his 
trade  till  March.  1871.  Going  to  Vicksburg,  Mississippi,  he  resided  there 
four  months;  then  came  to  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  where  he  remained 
till  October,  1871,  and  thence  to  Clinton.  Here  he  resumed  contractmg 
and  building,  and  in  February,  1881,  he  connected  the  lumber  business 
with  his  former  occupations  and  took  in  a  partner,  the  firm  being  known 
as  Kratz  &  Scott.  They  did  a  large  and  profitable  business  till  Febru- 
ary, 1882,  since  which  time  Mr.  K.  has  been  alone.  He  was  married 
June  5.  1867,  to  Miss  Emma  E.  Rohrer,  a  native  of  Ohio.  They  had  two 
children,  Arthur  W.  and  Gertrude  E.  Mrs.  K.'s  death  occurred  June  12, 
1869  He  was  again  united  in  marriage  August  4,  1880,  to  Mrs.  M.  S. 
(Smith)  Henry.  They  have  one  child,  Anna  L.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
I.  O.  O.  F.  fraternity  and  also  belongs  to  the  M.  E.  Church. 

PROFESSOR  E.  P.  LAMKIN 

was  born  in  1837,  near  Jefferson  City,  Cole   County,  Missouri,  where  his 
father,  Josiah  R.  Lamkin.  a  Kentuckian  by  birth,  and  a  thrifty  farmer, 
has  resided  since  1824.     This  industrious  father,  after  training  his  son  m 
the  varied  occupations  of  farm  life,  provided  for  sending  him  to  the  State 
University  at  Columbia,  Missouri,  where  he  graduated  in  1858,  under  the 
presidency  of  that  thorough  educator,  W.  H.  Hudson.  Three  years  later 
he  received  his  degree  of  A.  M.  from  'President  B.  B.  Minor.     Mr.  Lam- 
kin had  not  obtained  his  diploma   before  he  was   solicited  to  accept  a 
place  which  he  entered  upon  in   October,  after  resigning  a  position   in 
the  state  geological  survey,  under  Professor  G.  C.  Swallow,  that  of  pro- 
fessor of  mathematics  in   Mt.  Pleasant  College,  of  HuntsviUe,  Missouri. 
He  was  connected  with  this  school   until  1864,  having  in  the  meantime, 
owing  to  previous  engagements,  declined  the  principalship  of  the  normal 
department  of  the  State  University.     The  war  having  virtually  closed 
Mt   Pleasant  College,  Mr.  L.  opened  a  private  school  in  Jefferson  City, 
which  was  eminently  successful.  Since  that  time  he  has  had  a  number  of 
important  educational  trusts.     In  1870,  he  was   in  charge  of  the  public 
schools  in  Jefferson  City;  in  187 1,  he  founded  Boonville  Male  Academy; 
in  1873   he  was  again  superintendent  of  the  Jefferson  City  public  schools; 
then. .in  1875,  superintendent  of  public   schools  in  California,  Missouri; 
acrain    in  1877,  he  was  elected  to  take  charge  of  the  Jefferson  City  school, 
but  resigned  the  offer,  in  order  to  take  charge  of  the  Synodical  Female 
College,  of  Fulton,  Missouri,  being  associated  with  Rev.  B.  H.  Charles. 
After  remaining  there  two  years,  he  disposed  of  his  interest  to  his  part- 
ner  Mr    Charles,  and   then  came  to  Clinton.     For   tvvo   years  he    had 
charge  of  the  public  schools  here,  after  which  he  became  connected  with 


526        ,  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

Clinton  Acadiny.  To  this  his  zeal,  energies  and  experience  are  now- 
given,  with  the  hope  of  making  it  the  crowning  effort  of  a  life  devoted 
to  the  cause  of  education. 

BERRYMAN  H.  LAND,  M.  D. 

Among  the  medical  practitioners  of  this  county,  who  are  deserving 
of  more  than  a  mere  mention  in  a  work  of  this  kind,  is  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  He  is  a  native  of  Sparkingburg  District,  South  Carolina, 
and  was  born  January  21,  1828.  His  parents,  James  and  Charlotte 
(Coleman)  Land,  were  also  Virginians  by  birth.  In  183 1  the  family 
removed  to  Pickens  County,  Alabama,  and  it  was  there  that  Berryman 
spent  his  boyhood  days,  being  reared  in  the  occupation  of  farming.  At 
the  age  of  nineteen  years  he  removed  to  St.  Clair  County,  Illinois,  and 
for  the  succeeding  two  and  a  half  years,  was  a  student  of  the  Lebanon 
(Illinois)  College.  In  1849,  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  E. 
P.  Bland  and  in  the  term  of  1856  and  1857,  he  graduated  at  the  Missouri 
Medical  College,  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  Returning  to  St.  Clair  County, 
Illinois,  he  practiced  his  profession  there  till  November,  1865,  when  he 
came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri.  In  1868  he  settled  at  Clinton  and 
here  has  since  been  a  successful  practitioner.  The  doctor  was  married 
July  18,  1S49,  to  Miss  Nancy  J.  Outhouse,  originally  from  Illinois.  They 
had  one  child,  James  F.  Mrs.  Land's  death  occurred  March  18,  1854, 
He  was  again  married  June  6,  1856,  to  Angeline  Latham,  a  native  of 
Alabama.     He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order. 

SAMUEL  M.  LANE, 

a  member  of  the  enterprising  grocery  house  of  Bledsoe  &  Lane,  is  a 
native  of  Muskingum  County,  Ohio,  and  was  born  March  12,  i860.  His 
father,  Samuel  M.  Lane,  was  born  in  Ohio,  and  his  mother,  Jane  (McDon- 
ald) Lane,  a  native  of  Virginia,  was  reared  in  Ohio,  where  they  were 
married.  The  family  consisted  of  seven  children,  of  whom  Samuel  was 
the  sixth.  He  grew  to  manhood  and  was  educated  in  his  native  county, 
spending  his  youthful  days  on  a  farm.  In  March,  1880,  he  went  to  Sul- 
livan County,  Missouri,  but  after  remaining  there  a  short  time  took  a 
trip  west  for  his  health,  in  a  wagon.  He  returned  to  northwest  Missouri 
by  way  of  Kansas,  and  after  a  short  visit  in  Sullivan  County,  came  to 
Clinton  in  September,  1880.  In  September,  18S1,  he  engaged  in  his 
present  business.  Mr.  Lane  was  united  in  marriage  October  10,  1882,  to 
Miss  Sallie  Lindsay,  of  Henry  County,  Missouri. 

LINGLE  BROS. 

are  editors  and  publishers  of  the  Henry  County  Democrat.  This  firm 
is  composed  of  G.  R.  and  Thomas  J.  Lingle.     Their  father,  John  S.  Lim- 


I 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  527 

gle,  is  a  native  of  Dauphin  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  the  name  of  their 
mother  when  married  was  Elizabeth  Leach.  George  R.  was  born  in  Ben- 
ton County,  Missouri,  November  19,  1842.  He  was  reared  principally  in 
that  county,  and  learned  the  "  art  preservative  of  all  arts  "  in  the  office 
of  the  Southwest  Democrat  in  Warsaw,  where  he  lived  until  1861.  Going 
to  Warrensburg,  he,  in  connection  with  J.  W.  Wolf,  published  the  Mis- 
souri State  Sentinel,  a  paper  strongly  advocating  state  rights.  After  a 
few  months  he  abandoned  this  enterprise  and  returned  to  Warsaw.  In 
August,  1864,  he  went  to  Sedalia,  Missouri,  and  the  same  month  com- 
menced the  publication  of  the  Sedalia  Advertiser,  the  first  regular 
printed  newspaper  in  that  place.  After  publishing  it  for  three  or  four 
months  Colonel  Jeff  Thompson  came  in  on  a  raid  and  thus  cut  off  the 
supply  of  paper.  The  following  year  the  office  was  sold  to  James  Magan, 
who  commenced  editing  the  Sedalia  Times,  which,  after  clianging  hands 
and  consolidating  with  other  papers,  became  the  Eagle-Times,  this  paper 
suspending  in  January,  1883.  In  1864  Mr.  L.  was  interested  in  the  Inde- 
pendent and  remained  connected  with  it  until  1867,  when  it  was  burned 
out.  The  Sedalia  Democrat  was  built  upon  its  ruins  the  following  year 
as  a  joint  stock  company,  Mr.  Lingle  being  one  of  the  original  directors. 
One  year  later  he  sold  his  interest  and  made  his  home  in  Windsor  for  a 
time,  then  once  more  returning  to  Sedalia.  He  filled  the  position  of 
reporter  and  foreman  on  the  Democrat  until  1879,  when  he  purchased  an 
interest  with  his  brother  in  the  Henry  County  Democrat.  Mr.  Lingle 
was  married  November  2,  1S72,  to  Miss  Ella  Withers,  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky.    They  have  two  children,  Leslie  and  Grace. 

Thomas  J.  Lingle  was  also  born  in  Benton  County,  Missouri,  Janu- 
ar)^  8,  1846,  and  here  spent  his  youthful  days  at  various  occupations.  In 
1864  he  went  to  Sedalia  and  became  connected  with  his  brother  in  the 
Independent  Press,  which  was  burned  out  in  1867.  From  here  he 
removed  to  a  farm  near  Windsor  in  Henry  County.  After  farming  two 
years  he  published  the  Windsor  Courier,  a  paper  strongly  advocating 
the  Meadow  County  organization.  Mr.  Lingle  buil't  the  first  two-story 
brick  business  house  in  Windsor,  and  for  a  time  he  was  engaged  as  a 
notary  public  and  in  settling  war  claims  against  the  state.  He  then 
returned  to  Sedalia  and  became  local  editor  and  foreman  of  the  Demo- 
crat, afterwards  purchasing  an  interest,  and  later  was  business  manager. 
In  1877  he  sold  out  and  came  to  Clinton  and  purchased  the  Henry  County 
Democrat.  In  1878-9  Mr.  L.  served  as  assistant  chief  clerk  of  the  state 
legislature.  He  was  married  in  1867  to  Miss  Lou  M.  Kelly,  of  Warsaw, 
Benton  County.  They  have  a  family  of  five  children:  Edward  R.  P., 
Ormsby  K.,  Daisy  W.,  Charles  R.  and  George  C. 


528  HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 

JOHN  S.  LINGLE, 

one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Henry  County,  was  born  in  Dauphin  County, 
Pennsylvania,  November  13,  181 1.  His  father,  Simon  Lingle,  was  also 
a  native  Pennsylvanian,  and  by  occupation  a  saddler.  The  maiden  name 
of  his  mother  was  Susan  Story,  of  the  same  county  and  state.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  notice  received  a  thorough  practical  education  in  the  state 
of  his  birth,  and  engaged  in  several  occupations,  but  mainly  as  book- 
keeper for  an  iron  foundry.  In  1836  he  came  west  and  settled  on  sec- 
tion 9,  now  embraced  in  Deer  Creek  Township,  Henry  County,  Missouri, 
where  he  was  occupied  in  agricultural  pursuits,  and  at  the  same  time 
dividing  his  time  between  teaching  and  surveying.  He  assisted  in  the 
government  survey  of  two  southern  townships  in  Henry  and  one  in 
Benton  County.  He  then  removed  to  Benton  County,  and  after  farm- 
ing several  years  went  to  Warsaw,  where  he  was  long  employed  as  sales- 
man and  bookkeeper  for  James  Atkisson,  and  while  in  his  employ  was 
clerk  on  the  steamboat  Thomas  L.  Crawford,  which  made  regular  season 
trips  on  the  Osage  River.  He  was  elected  county  treasurer  for  several 
terms  as  an  old  line  Whig.  In  1865  he  removed  to  Sedalia,  where  he 
was  employed  as  salesman  and  bookkeeper  for  mercantile  firms,  and 
which  is  yet  his  home.  Although  beyond  his  seventy-first  year  he  is 
in  moderately  vigorous  health,  can  read  ordinary  print  without  the  use 
of  glasses,  and  yet  attends  closely  to  business.  He  has  been  a  life-long 
member  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  south.  Mr.  Lingle  was  twice  married; 
first  in  1836,  in  Howard  County,  Missouri,  to  Miss  Mary  Fox,  who  died 
in  1839,  leaving  one  son  whose  death  occurred  when  about  grown.  His 
second  marriage  was  in  1841,  in  Benton  County,  to  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Leach,  who  had  one  son,  he  became  editor  of  the  Southwest  Democrat, 
Warsaw,  and  in  1861  was  killed  at  Cole  Camp.  Mrs.  Lingle  died  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1862,  leaving  seven  children,  five  sons  and  two  daughters:  George 
R.,  Thomas  J.,  James  H.  and  Washington  P.,  of  Clinton;  Benjamin  R., 
of  Windsor;  Mary  S.,  now  Mrs.  R.  E.  Hastie,  and  Roseanna,  now  Mrs. 
James  A.  Hudson,  of  Sedalia. 

JAMES  T.  McKEE, 

proprietor  of  the  Post  Office  Bookstore,  was  born  in  Darke  County, 
Ohio,  April  i,  1845.  He  was  brought  up  in  the  occupation  of  farming, 
.and  received  his  education  from  the  schools  ot  his  native  county.  When 
twenty-one  years  of  age  he  became  engaged  in  school  teaching,  which 
profession  he  successfully  followed  till  1867.  Coming  to  Henry  County, 
Missouri,  he  continued  that  profession  for  one  year.  In  July,  1868,  he 
was  made  deputy  postmaster,  and  held  this  position  till  September,  1872. 
In  July,  1871,  while  yet  in  the  office,  he  established  his  present  business. 


BIOGRAPrilCAL.  529 

conducting  it  in  connection  with  his  official  duties,  till  1872.  Since  that 
time,  however,  he  has  given  it  his  entire  attention.  He  carries  a  com- 
plete stock  of  goods  here,  and  is  doing  a  large  share  of  the  business  in 
his  line  in  Clinton.  In  March,  1877,  he  established  a  branch  store  in 
McLeansboro',  Illinois,  the  firm  there  being  J.  T.  McKee  &  Co.,  and  in 
March,  1882,  he  established  another  branch  store  at  Murphysboro',  Illi- 
nois, under  the  firm  name  of  McKee  Brothers.  Mr.  McKee  was  married 
April  10,  1873,  to  Miss  Mary  Ricketts,  a  native  of  Ohio.  They  have 
three  children:  Ralph  H.,  Inez  L.,  and  Romney.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
K.  of  P.,  and  both  Mr.  and  Mrs  McK.  hold  micmbership  in  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church. 

WILLIAM  McKINNEY, 

farmer,  section  13,  was  born  in  Licking  County,  Ohio,  July  17,  1834.  His 
father,  Joseph  McKinney,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  July  6,  i8or,  and 
emigrated  to  Licking  County,  Ohio,  when  thirteen  years  of  age.  He 
was  there  reared  and  there  married  the  mother  of  William,  then  Miss 
Elizabeth  Hopper,  who  was  born  in  Virginia.  She  had  moved  to  Lick- 
ing County  while  quite  young.  After  leading  a  useful  and  honest  life, 
Mr.  Joseph  McKinney  passed  away  July  26,  1868.  His  widow  is  still 
living.  William  grew  up  and  was  educated  in  his  native  county,  spend- 
ing his  boyhood  days  in  tilling  the  soil.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  began 
teaching  school,  which  occupation  he  continued  to  follow  during  school 
term  for  nine  years.  He  then  emigrated  by  team  to  Henry  County, 
Missouri,  settling  on  his  present  place.  His  landed  estate  consists  of 
over  782  acres  of  choice  land,  the  most  of  which  is  well  fenced  and 
improved.  He  is  largely  interested  in  stock  dealing  and  feeding,  and 
every  winter  feeds  for  market  a  large  number  of  cattle.  He  was  united 
in  marriage  September  9,  1S66,  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Rhyne,  a  native  of 
Ohio.  They  have  three  children:  Delia  D.,  Willie  E.  and  Bertha  M.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity. 

WILLIAM  H.  McLANE, 

a  native  of  Cape  Girardeau  County,  Missouri,  was  born  July  6,  18 16.  His 
father,  John  McLane,  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  about  1773,  and  came 
to  Missouri  in  1810;  he  married  Miss  Lydia  Lawrence,  who  was  also  born 
in  North  Carolina,  in  1773.  They  reared  eight  children,  of  whom  Wil- 
liam was  the  youngest.  John  McLane  died  in  1848,  his  wife's  death 
having  occurred  in  1844.  Young  McLane  was  brought  up  in  the  county 
of  his  birth,  and  when  a  youth,  was  engaged  in  flatboating  produce  down 
the  river  to  New  Orleans,  that  then  being  quite  an  industry.  In  1838, 
he  embarked  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Appleton,  Missouri,  which  he 
continued  for  twenty-five  years.     In   August,    1861,   he  enlisted  in  the 


530  HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 

Federal  service  in  Company  A,  Fifty-Sixth  Missouri  Regiment,  and 
arose  from  the  ranks  to  the  position  of  colonel  of  that  regiment.  Toward 
the  close  of  the  war  he  was  given  the  command  of  the  Eighth  Missouri 
Regiment,  and  was  its  colonel  when  mustered  out  in  June,  1865.  He 
then  returned  home,  and  in  the  spring  of  1866,  came  to  Clinton,  Mis- 
souri, where  he  has  since  been  a  prominent  and  enterprising  citizen.  He 
is  one  of  the  largest  farmers  in  this  county,  and  has  1,000  acres  of  well 
improved  land.  His  fine  brick  residence  in  the  city  was  erected  at  a 
cost  of  $14,000.  Mr.  McLane  was  united  in  marriage  in  June,  1846,  to 
Miss  Eliza  Moore,  of  Missouri.  They  have  four  children:  Mary,  Isabella 
(dead),  Lydia  and  Kate.  In  1868  Mr.  McL.  represented  Henry  County, 
in  the  state  legislature,  and  served  for  a  term  of  two  years  with  honor  to 
himself  and  with  credit  to  the  county.  From  1872  to  1877,  he  served  as 
deputy  United  States  marshal,  resigning  the  position  in  the  latter  year. 

S.  C.  MACE, 

editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Clinton  Advocate,  was  born  in  Monroe 
County,  Illinois,  September  29,  1836,  his  parents  being  John  and  Mary 
(McFarland)  Mace.  When  eighteen  years  of  age  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
removed  to  St.  Clair  County,  Illinois,  and  followed  agricultural  pursuits 
there  for  seven  years,  then  changing  his  residence  to  Bond  County, 
where  he  served  as  deputy  circuit  clerk.  In  1865,  he  commenced  his 
journalistic  experience,  and  was  connected  with  the  Greenville  Advo- 
cate for  eight  years,  and  the  succeeding  two  years  was  engaged  in  mer- 
cantile pursuits.  He  soon  returned  to  St.  Clair  County,  going  thence  to 
St.  Louis,  where,  in  connection  with  L.  W.  Revis,  he  started  the  Tribune, 
a  three  cent  morning  paper,  but  owing  to  poor  management  it  proved 
unsatisfactory  financially,  and  he  returned  to  Illinois.  After  living  in  St. 
Clair  and  Bond  Counties,  he  in  August,  1880,  came  to  Clinton,  Henry 
County,  Missouri,  and  purchased  the  Clinton  Advocate,  which  he  has 
since  published.  Politically  he  is  a  staunch  Republican,  and  his  paper 
is  the  faithful  exponent  of  Republican  doctrine  for  Henry  County.  Mr. 
Mace  was  married  in  December,  1863,  to  Mrs.  Mary  Wait  Simonds,  of 
Bond  County,  Illinois. 

CHARLES  M.  MAJORS, 

blacksmith  and  carriage  manufacturer,  was  born  in  Adams  County, 
Indiana,  May  i,  1851.  His  youth  was  divided  between  working  on  a 
farm  and  attending  the  common  schools  of  that  county.  In  1870  he 
came  to  Clinton,  Missouri,  and  was  engaged  in  various  kinds  of  labor 
till  the  spring  of  1872,  when  he  began  learning  the  blacksmith  trade 
with  Oschsli  &  Co.  He  continued  with  them  till  March,  1875,  then  went 
west  and  during  nine    months   worked    a   short   time  in   various   places 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  53 1 

through  Colorado,  Wyoming  and  Dakota.  Returning  to  Missouri  he 
followed  his  trade  at  Carthage  for  seven  months,  and  upon  again  coming 
to  Clinton  worked  for  his  former  employer  till  March,  1879.  Then  with 
Mr.  Alfter  he  became  interested  in  the  blacksmith  and  carriage  business, 
this  partnership  existing  till  November,  188 1,  when  the  firm  became 
Majors  &  Arnold,  who  continued  the  business  till  November,  1882. 
Since  that  time  Mr.  M.  has  been  alone  in  business.  He  enjoys  a  large 
jobbing  trade,  besides  manufacturing  a  great  many  carriages  and  bug- 
gies. He  occupies  a  good  brick  building  and  carries  a  complete  supply 
of  new  work.  He  was  married  June  18,  1876,  to  Miss  Amantha  Arnold. 
They  have  one  child,  Earl.     He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  fraternity. 

WILLIAM   MESSICK, 

liveryman,  is  a  native  of  McComb,  Illinois,  and  was  born  May  12,  1859. 
When  he  was  two  years  old  his  parents  came  to  Henry  County,  Mis- 
souri, settling  in  Clinton,  and  it  was  here  that  William  was  reared  and 
educated.  In  1873  he  entered  the  employ  of  S.  Blatt,  with  whom  he 
remained  until  September,  1880,  when  he  engaged  in  the  livery  busi- 
ness. He  is  now  enjoying  a  most  liberal  and  successful  trade,  having 
twenty-eight  rigs  and  thirty-seven  head  of  horses,  constituting  about  as 
well  an  equipped  stable  as  there  is  in  Clinton.  Mr.  Messick  deserves 
great  credit  for  making  himself  what  he  now  is.  Starting  in  life  with 
nothing,  he  has  worked  himself  up  by  hard  labor  to  his  present  posi- 
tion. 

JOHN  G.  MIDDELCOFF, 

proprietor  of  Clinton  Mills,  was  born  in  Mason  County,  West  Virginia, 
October  5,  1829.  His  parents,  Jacob  and  Sarah  (Wilson)  Middelcofif, 
were  also  natives  of  Virginia  and  were  married  in  that  state.  They 
raised  a  family  of  eight  children,  of  whom  John  was  the  fourth  child. 
His  father  died  in  September,  i860,  and  his  mother's  death  occured  seven 
days  later,  both  dying  in  Henry  County,  Missouri.  John  G.  passed  his 
youth  and  early  manhood  in  his  native  county  till  his  twentieth  year, 
when  he  engaged  in  river  engineering.  This  profession  he  followed  on 
the  Cumberland  and  Ohio  Rivers  till  1855.  Coming  to  Henry  County, 
Missouri,  he  was  interested  in  farming  for  one  year,  after  which  he  gave 
his  attention  to  a  saw  mill  till  1867,  when  he  built  a  small  flouring  mill. 
To  this  he  has  since  added  from  time  to  time,  and  it  is  now  known  as 
the  Clinton  Mills.  His  flour  has  an  excellent  reputation,  and  he  has  a 
large  and  constantly  increasing  demand  for  his  product.  Mr.  M.  was 
married  January  9,  1856,  to  Miss  Sallie  A.  Watkins,  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia. They  have  four  children:  William  F.,  Edward  L.,  Rose  and  Cath- 
erine.    Mr.  M.  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  city  council,  and  his  influ- 


532  iIISTORV   OF    IIENRV   COUNTY. 

ence  is  ever  on  the  side  of  the  rif^ht.  He  is  a  mcinber  of  the  Masonic 
order  and  is  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

SAMUEL  A.  MILTON, 

surgeon  dentist,  owes  his  nativity  to  McDonough  County,  Illinois,  where 
he  was  born  January  13,  1847.  While  Samuel  was  an  infant,  the  family 
removed  to  Hancock  County,  Illinois,  and  it  was  in  that  locality  that  he 
was  reared  and  educated,  with  the  exception  of  a  commercial  course 
taken  at  Mussleman's  College,  at  Quincy,  Illinois.  When  nineteen  years 
of  age,  he  began  school  teaching  in  Mercer  County,  Missouri,  teaching 
there  eight  months,  and  for  the  following  two  years,  he  taught  at  his 
home,  during  a  portion  of  which  time  he  studied  dentistry  with  his 
brother.  In  187 1,  he  came  to  Clinton,  Missouri,  and  resumed  his  dental 
studies  under  his  brother,  George  W.  Milton,  and  after  completing  his 
studies  became  a  partner  with  him.  In  1874  he  purchased  his  brother's 
interest.  During  the  term  of  1879-80,  he  attended  a  course  of  lectures 
and  graduated  at  the  Philadelphia  Dental  College.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Missouri  Dental  Association.  Dr.  Milton  was  married  September 
13,  1881,  to  Miss  Susie  Parks,  daughter  of  Judge  Parks,  of  Clinton.  They 
have  one  child,  Louise  A.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  of  the 
encampment  of  that  order,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  connected  with  the 
Baptist  Church. 

REV.  GRANVILLE  L.  MOAD,  M.  D., 

pastor  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  was  born  in  Cole  County, 
Missouri,  August  5,  1827.  His  father,  James  Moad,  a  native  of  Tennes- 
see, came  to  Missouri  in  18 18,  and  married  Mrs.  Rebecca  Pauley,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Linville.  The  former  died  in  October,  1856,  and  the 
latter  the  month  previous.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  on  a 
farm  in  his  native  county,  and  had  an  uneventful  life  until  war  was 
declared  against  Mexico.  He  enlisted  in  1846,  in  Company  F,  (Captain 
Parson's  Company,)  of  Colonel  Doniphan's  Regiment,  and  served  until 
mustered  out  at  New  Orleans,  in  June,  1847.  He  then  returned  to  his 
hoine  in  Cole  County,  Missouri.  Having  in  early  life  united  with  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  and  joining  the  New  Lebanon  Pres- 
bytery in  April,  1848,  he  was  licensed  by  that  body  to  preach  the  gospel 
iTi  1849,  '^"^^  assigned  to  the  circuit  then  including  Cole,  Moniteau  and 
Miller  Counties.  After  one  )-ear  he  was  transferred  to  the  Saline  and 
Pettis  Circuit,  and  upon  preaching  in  this  field  for  one  year,  in  October, 
1850,  he  became  a  student  in  Chapel  Hill  College,  and  pursued  his  stud- 
ies in  that  institution  two  and  a  half  years.  In  the  fall  of  1853,  he  was 
ordained  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ  at  Mt.  Vernon,  Missouri. 
He  was  then  engaged  for  a  time  in  missionar}' work  in  different  counties 


BlOGRArUICAL.  533 

of  Missouri.  In  1854,  he  accepted  a  call  from  the  New  Lebanon  Church, 
at  New  Lebanon,  Missouri,  and  remained  its  pastor  until  the  fall  of  1857. 
Removing  to  Platte  City,  he  took  charge  of  the  church  at  that  place,  and 
lived  there  until  November,  1866.  During  this  time  he  had  been  read- 
ing medicine,  and  in  1863-4,  he  attended  the  St.  Louis  Medical  College, 
at  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and  in  connection  with  his  duties  as  pastor  of  the 
Platte  City  Church,  also  practiced  medicine.  From  November,  1866,  till 
December,  1870,  he  was  a  resident  of  Leavenworth,  Kansas.  He  then 
returned  to  the  county  of  his  birth,  and  preached  and  practiced  his  pro- 
fession for  one  year.  In  1872,  he  received  a  call  to  his  present  pastorate, 
which  has  been  one  of  peace  and  prosperity.  In  1878-9,  he  again  attended 
the  St.  Louis  Medical  College,  and  was  graduated  from  that  institution 
in  the  spring  of  1879,  since  which  time  he  has  devoted  himselt  to  the 
treatment  of  the  eye,  doing  only  an  office  practice,  and  he  has  attained 
to  a  well  merited  success  as  a  skillful  oculist.  Dr.  Moad  was  married 
August  4,  1S53,  to  Miss  S.  E.  Sanders,  a  native  of  this  state.  They  have 
two  sons:  William  R.,  a  practicing  physician,  and  Ewing  S.  He  is  a 
Knight  Templar  in  the  Masonic  order. 

H.  MONTGOMERY, 

of  the  firm  of  Zener  &  Montgomery,  was  born  in  Waukegan,  Lake 
County,  Illinois,  February  nth,  1853,  and  is  the  son  of  James  and  Sarah 
Montgomery,  nee  Talmage.  In  1854  the  family  removed  to  Floyd 
County,  Iowa,  and  in  1857  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  living 
there  until  i860,  when  they  returned  to  Iowa.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
remained  in  that  state  until  after  the  close  of  the  war  and  then  returned 
to  Missouri,  and  in  1868  to  Clinton.  Besides  being  proficient  in  his 
business  he  is  a  practical  naturalist,  taxidermist  and  mineralogist,  and 
has  a  large  collection  of  prepared  skeletons  of  animals  in  general,  and 
many  stuffed  birds,  monstrosities  and  other  specimens  suitable  for  pre- 
servation, bottled  in  liquids,  too  numerous  to  mention.  He  also  has  a 
fine  collection  of  minerals  and  old  coins  of  every  description.  He  is 
laying  the  foundation  for  a  museum,  etc.  He  is  an  active  member  in 
the  Masonic  fraternity. 

MILO  C.  MOORE, 

of  the  firm  of  Moore  &  Rogers,  brick  manufacturers  and  contractors,  is 
a  native  of  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  where  he  was  born  December  2, 
1847.  He  was  bought  up  to  manhood  and  obtained  his  education  in  the 
couHty  of  his  birth,  following  from  boyhood  the  occupation  of  farming. 
He  was  there  engaged  in  that  occupation  till  October,  1865,  when  he 
came  to  Henry  County.  Missouri,  settling  near  Huntlngdale.  There  he 
was  also  interested  in  farming  till    1874,  at  which  time  he    returned  to 


534  HISTORY  oi"  henr\  county. 

Macoupin  County,  Illinois.  After  living  there  seven  months  he  again 
became  located  in  this  county,  and  farmed  till  March,  1881,  when  he 
settled  in  Clinton,  Missouri,  embarking  with  Mr.  Rogers  in  the  manu- 
facture of  brick.  They  have  a  yard  north  of  town  where  they  have 
facilities  for  manufacturing  a  large  number  of  brick  during  the  coming 
year.  They  have  increased  their  business  to  some  extent  over  that  of 
last  year.  Mr.  M.  was  united  in  marriage  March  10,  1875,  to  Mrs. 
Nancy  A.  Barker,  whose  maiden  name  was  Paul. 

EDWARD  Y.  NICHOLS.  M.  D., 

is  a  native  of  Franklin  County,  Vermont,  and  was  born  June  27th,  1829. 
He  was  reared  at  his  birthplace,  receiving  his  education  from  the  Bakers- 
field  (Vermont)  Academy,  and  in  185 1  he  began  the  study  of  medicine 
under  Dr.  B.  S.  Nichols,  of  White  Hall,  New  York.  After  one  year's 
course  with  that  physician  he  continued  his  studies  under  Dr.  T.  B. 
Nichols,  of  Crown  Point,  New  York,  remaining  with  him  for  three  years, 
and  during  this  time  he  attended  lectures  for  two  terms  at  the  Casselton 
Medical  College,  Nevv  York,  from  which  he  graduated.  Going  to  New 
York  City  he  attended  the  medical  term  of  1854-5  in  the  New  York 
Medical  College.  He  then  came  west  and  began  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine at  Union,  Henry  County,  Illinois,  remaining  there  eight  months, 
when  he  removed  to  Mason  County,  Illinois.  After  following  his  pro- 
fession in  that  vicinity  till  1864,  he  located  at  Pekin,  Illinois,  and  was 
there  interested  in  the  drug  business  together  with  his  practice.  In  1877 
he  came  to  Clinton,  Missouri.  Dr.  Nichols  was  married  July  30,  1856, 
to  Miss  Permillia  A.  Cheek,  a  native  of  Kentucky.  They  have  six  child- 
ren, William  E.,  Nellie  P.,  Charles  H.,  Francis  Y.,  Arthur  L.  and  Frede- 
rick C.     The  doctor  is  a  member  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church. 

CLARENCE  L.  ORTH, 

produce  commission  merchant,  an  enterprising  citizen  of  Clinton,  owes 
his  nativity  to  Van  Buren  County,  Iowa,  where  he  was  born  October  r, 
1847.  He  there  passed  his  younger  days  on  a  farm,  and  obtained  a  good 
education  from  the  schools  of  that  county.  In  1869  he  went  to  Bloom- 
field,  Iowa,  where  for  three  years  he  followed  the  produce  commission 
business.  Then  for  six  months  he  did  business  at  Chariton,  Iowa,  and 
upon  going  to  Leon,  of  that  state,  was  in  the  produce  business  for  two 
and  a  half  years.  Subsequently  he  became  located  in  Chillicothe,  Mis- 
souri, where  he  did  a  large  and  successful  business  till  1880.  Then  he 
came  to  Clinton,  Missouri,  and  in  September  of  that  year  established 
himself  as  a  commission  merchant,  on  the  east  side  of  the  square.  In 
May,  1 88 1,  he  occupied  his  present  building,  near  the  depot,  where  he 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  535 

now  does  busines.  Besides  handling  produce  he  is  interested  in  various 
other  enterprises,  among  which  may  be  mentioned  the  cooper  and  ice 
trades,  manager  of  the  broom  factory,  and  city  agent  for  a  cracker  manu- 
factory. Mr.  O.  was  united  in  marriage  August  24,  1878,  to  Miss  Lucy 
Harper,  a  Missourian  by  birth.  They  have  two  children:  Estella  and 
Fannie. 

BENJAMIN  L.  OWENS, 

section  12.  Among  the  prominent  and  successful  men  of  this  county 
may  be  mentioned  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He  is  a  native  of  Lafay- 
ette County,  Missouri,  and  was  born  March  8,  1824.  His  father,  Abel 
Owens,  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  and  settled  near  the  present  site  of 
Lexington,  Lafayette  County,  in  18 18.  His  mother,  formerly  Elizabeth 
Gooch,  also  came  originally  from  the  same  state.  They  reared  a  family 
of  eight  children,  of  whom  Benjamin  was  the  youngest.  His  father  died 
in  1834,  and  his  mother's  death  occurred  April  9,  1873.  Benjamin  L. 
was  a  resident  of  Lafayette  County  till  thirteen  years  of  age,  when  he 
removed  to  Platte  County,  Missouri,  there  being  brought  up  among  the 
pioneers.  In  the  spring  of  1846  he  enlisted  for  the  Mexican  war  with 
Captain  Owens'  company,  of  Colonel  Price's  regiment,  with  which  he 
served  fourteen  months.  He  was  then  paroled  and  returned  to  Platte 
County,  and  after  a  short  residence  there  came  to  Henry  County,  Mis- 
souri, in  the  tall  of  1847,  settling  after  a  time  on  Honey  Creek.  Here  he 
farmed  till  1853,  and  in  that  year  moved  on  his  present  place.  His 
■estate  consists  of  700  acres  of  well  improved  land,  and  he  is  one  of  the 
largest  and  most  successful  stock  dealers  and  feeders  in  the  county. 
Mr.  Owens  was  married  April  24,  1849,  to  Miss  Francis  J.  Sweeney,  a 
daughter  of  Jonathan  Sweeney,  who  came  from  Kentucky  to  Henry 
County  in  1840,  and  died  where  he  had  settled,  May  28,  1852.  They 
have  six  children  living.  Ermine,  Walter  E.,  Nora  L,  George  H.,  and 
Maude  and  Fred,  twins.  Mr.  O.  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order,  and 
also  belongs  to  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church.  In  1873  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  county  court,  serving  in  that  position  for  four 
years. 

DAVID  B.  PAGE, 

a  member  of  the  establishment  of  Page  &  Hopkins,  proprietors  of  the 
Co-operative  Store,  is  a  native  of  Delaware  County,  Ohio,  where  he  was 
born  July  26,  1840.  He  was  reared  and  educated  in  the  county  of  his 
birth,  spending  two  years  as  a  student  of  Wesleyan  University,  at  Del- 
aware, Ohio.  When  twenty  years  of  age  he  went  to  Philadelphia,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  from  1862  till  1867  was  engaged  as  clerk  in  the  wholesale 
willow  ware  house  of  Roe,  Enston  &  Co.  Then  he  retraced  his  steps  to 
Ohio  and  after  one  year's  residence  there,  removed  to  Marshall  County, 


536  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

Illinois,  where  he  remained  till  the  winter  of  1871.  At  this  time  he 
came  to  Clinton,  Missouri,  and  was  interested  in  coal  speculation  for 
two  years.  In  1873,  he  established  the  nursery  business  near  Clinton, 
but  in  the  spring  of  1875  went  to  Joplin,  Missouri,  and  for  two  years 
was  occupied  there  in  mining  and  speculating  in  mining  property. 
Returning  to  Clinton  he  accepted  a  clerkship  with  the  Frowein  Bros,  till 
they  sold  out  to  Snyder  &  Boyse.  He  was  then  retained  by  the  new 
firm,  with  whom  he  remained  till  September,  188?,  when  he  and  Mr. 
Hopkins  embarked  in  their  present  business.  Mr.  Page  was  married 
May  30,  1866,  to  Miss  May  Marton,  of  Ohio.  They  have  five  children  : 
Bessie  M.,  Ariedue,  Herbert  M.,  Christina  and  Ralph  E.  They  are 
members  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

FOUNTAIN  R.  PIPER, 

of  the  firm  of  Piper  Brothers,  dealers  in  dry  goods,  clothing,  boots  and 
shoes,  hats,  caps,  etc.,  is  a  native  of  Saline  County,  Missouri,  and  was 
born  July  31,  1846.  He  was  reared  to  manhood  and  educated  in  the 
county  of  his  birth  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years  became  engaged  in 
clerking  with  the  firm  of  Gorham  &  Seige,  of  Marshal,  with  whom  he 
remained  two  years.  Then  for  several  years  he  clerked  at  different 
times  for  a  number  of  firms  in  that  city.  In  1864  he  embarked  in  busi- 
ness at  Arrow  Rock,  Missouri,  where  he  remained  till  1870,  then  coming 
to  Clinton  and  entering  as  a  partner  with  E.  Allison,  in  the  dry  goods 
business.  The  firm  was  then  known  as  Allison  &  Piper  till  1878,  when 
he  retired  and  established  the  present  business,  which  he  continued 
alone  till  July,  1881,  when  his  brother,  R.  H.  Piper,  became  associated 
with  him.  They  carry  a  full  stock  of  goods  and  are  doing  a  remunera- 
tive business.  Mr.  Piper  was  married  November  13,  1873,  to  Miss  Sallie 
R.  McMahan,  of  Saline  County,  Missouri.  They  have  two  children. 
Fountain,  Jr.,  and  Jessie  M.  Mr.  P.  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  fra- 
ternity, of  this  city. 

EMERY  O.  PRICE, 

county  treasurer,  was  born  in  Washington  County,  Virginia,  November 
29,  1840.  His  parents,  Robert  M.  and  Jane  (Diskman)  Price,  were  both 
natives  of  Virginia  and  were  there  brought  up  and  married.  They 
raised  a  family  of  ten  children,  of  whom  Emery  was  the  fourth.  He 
passed  his  youth  and  was  educated  in  the  county  of  his  birth,  residing 
there  till  the  commencement  of  the  war,  when  he  enlisted  in  April,  1861, 
in  Company  I,  Forty-eighth  Virginia  Infantry,  and  served  till  July  12, 
1863.  On  that  day  he  received  a  wound  in  the  arm  at  the  battle  of  Get- 
tysburg, compelling  its  amputation,  and  as  soon  as  his  health  would  per- 
mit he  returned  home.  He  remained  there  till  1867,  and  in  that  year 
came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  and   engaged  in  farming,  which  occu- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.      .  537 

pation  he  continued  until  elected  county  treasurer,  assuming  the  duties 
of  that  office  January,  1879.  He  has  twice  been  re-elected  to  fill  the 
same  position,  a  sufficient  guarantee  of  his  popularity  and  qualification. 
Mr.  Price  was  married  July,  1867,  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Houston,  a  native  of 
\^irginia.  She  died,  leaving  two  children,  Walter  L.  and  Callie  W.  Mr. 
P.  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  also  the  encampment.  He  belongs 
to  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  fraternity  and  is  connected  with  the  Christian  Church. 

BENJAMIN  L.  OUARLES, 

County  Clerk,  is  a  native  of  Overton  County,  Tennessee,  and  was  born 
May  6,  1826.  In  1835  he  removed  with  the  family  to  Monroe  County, 
Missouri,  where  he  was  reared  to  manhood  and  educated,  spending  his 
time  when  not  attending  school  in  his  father's  store.  In  185 1  he  engaged 
in  the  mercantile  business  for  himself  at  Madison,  Missouri,  where  he 
did  a  successful  business  for  two  and  one-half  years.  In  1854  he  came 
to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  and  until  1859  farmed  and  taught  school.  In 
that  }'ear  he  was  elected  county  clerk,  serving  in  that  office  for  two 
years,  and  then  he  enlisted,  in  1862,  in  the  confederate  army  in  Com- 
pany K,  second  Missouri  Cavalry.  That  company  acted  as  General 
Price's  body  guard  during  the  war.  In  June,  1865  he  returned  to  this 
city  and  was  occupied  in  clerking  till  the  fall  of  1869,  when  he  embarked 
in  business  for  himself  He  remained  in  trade  until  elected  county  clerk, 
in  1874,  serving  four  years.  In  1879  he  was  appointed  to  fill  out  an 
unexpired  term  as  circuit  clerk,  and  at  the  close  of  that  term,  in  1880, 
was  elected  to  that  office,  and  served  till  January  i,  1883.  At  the  elec- 
tion in  November,  1882,  lie  was  elected  again  for  the  third  time  to  the 
office  of  county  clerk,  and  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  position  in 
January  following.  Mr.  Ouarles  was  united  in  marriage  May  3,  1849.  to 
Miss  Sarah  E.  Young,  a  Kentuckian  by  birth.  Her  death  occurred  in 
1852.  He  was  again  married  March  17,  1853,  to  Miss  Emily  Swindell,  a 
native  of  Monroe  County,  Missouri.  They  have  five  children,  Martha 
P.,  Mary  R.,  John  A.,  James  E.  and  Berilla  M.  Mr.  Q.  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  fraternity. 

JUDGE  ALNEY  M.  RHOADS, 

section  2,  was  born  in  Muhlenburg  County,  Kentucky,  January  11,  1S21. 
His  father,  Jacob  Rhoads,  also  a  native  of  that  state,  was  born,  Febru- 
ary 10,  1786,  while  his  mother,  formerly  Elizabeth  Ripple,  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  October  29.  1788.  They  were  married  in  Kentuck}^  and 
were  blessed  with  nine  children,  of  whom  Alney  was  the  eighth.  The 
senior  Rhoads  died  in  1858,  and  his  widow's  death  occurred  in  i860. 
The  family  had  removed  to  Edgar  County,  Illinois  when  our  subject  was 
quite  young,  and  it  was  there  that  he  was  reared  and  educated.     He  fol- 


538  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

lowed,  from  boyhood,  agricultural  pursuits.  In  April,  1854,  he  came  to 
Missouri,  settling  in  Pettis  County,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  till 
the  winter  of  that  year.  He  then  came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  and 
the  spring  following,  or  in  1855,  moved  his  family  and  located' where  he 
now  resides.  He  has  412  acres  of  fine  land,  most  of  which  is  fenced, 
and  his  improvements  generally  are  excellent.  Mr.  R.  was  married 
October  13,  1841,  to  Miss  Susan  Dickson,  a  native  of  Ohio.  They  have 
had  nine  children,  two  of  whom  are  now  living  :  Elizabeth  and  Jacob. 
Those  deceased  are  :  John  F.,  Clarinda  J.,  Jackson,  Minerva  P.,  Rebecca 
E.,  Lydia  A.  and  Mary  A.  In  i860  Mr.  Rhoads  was  elected  justice  of 
the  peace  of  Clinton  Township  and  served  till  1863,  when  he  was 
appointed  county  judge.  He  continued  to  serve  in  that  capacity  till 
1865  when  he  resigned.  Shortly  afterward,  however,  he  was  appointed 
public  administrator  of  the  county,  remaining  in  that  office  for  two  years. 
In  1872  he  became  a  director  and  stockholder  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Clinton,  and  was  identified  with  the  institution  till  April,  1880. 
He  then  became  a  stockholder  in  the  Henry  County  Bank,  and  in  June, 
1881,  was  elected  its  vice  president. 

SAMUEL  RICE, 

farmer,  section  4,  came  originally  from  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  where  he 
was  born  June  29,  1834.  His  father,  Simon  Rice,  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania and  moved  to  Ohio  in  18 15.  His  mother,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Barbara  Yager,  was  a  native  of  France,  and  went  to  Ohio  when 
eight  years  of  age.  They  were  married  in  Wayne  County,  and  there 
reared  ten  children,  of  whom  Samuel  was  the  third  child.  The  death  of 
Simon  Rice  occurred  in  November,  1862,  and  his  widow  passed  away 
November  3,  1881.  Young  Rice  reached  his  manhood  and  was  educated 
in  his  native  county,  and  followed  farming  for  a  livelihood  till  1861, 
when  he  engaged  in  the  carpenter  trade.  This  he  continued  for  two 
years,  then  resuming  his  farming  operations.  In  February,  1876,  he 
came  to  Henry  County,  and  settled  in  the  neighborhood  of  where  he 
now  resides.  He  has  a  well  improved  farm  of  150  acres  of  land,  and  is 
widely  known  as  being  one  of  our  most  progressive  farmers.  Mr.  Rice 
was  married  December  27,  1871,  to  Miss  Rebecca  McClarren,  of  Penn- 
sylvania. They  have  two  children,  Frederick  W.  and  Willard  S.  They 
are  members  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church. 

J.  A.  ROGERS,  M.  D., 

was  born  in  Winchester,  Kentucky,  March  29,  1818,  being  the  son  of  Dr. 
Henry  Rogers,  a  prominent  physician,  also  a  native  of  Kentucky.  The 
maiden  name  of  his  mother  was  Betsy  Reed,  born  in  the  same  state.    J. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  539 

A.  was  reared  in  Kentucky  until  sixteen  years  of  age,  then  removing 
with  his  parents  to  Indiana.  Having  decided  on  the  profession  of  his 
father  as  his  occupation  during  life,  he  at  once  commenced  preparing 
himself  for  the  practice  of  medicine  under  the  care  of  his  father.  He 
attended  lectures  at  the  Lexington  Medical  College  and  began  the  active 
duties  of  his  profession  at  Parkersburg,  Indiana,  and  there  married  Miss 
Catherine  A.  Gorman  April  3,  1839;  she  is  a  sister  of  General  Willis 
Gorman.  Dr.  R.  lived  here  until  1842,  when  he  came  to  Missouri  and 
settled  in  Henry  County  southeast  of  Clinton  in  what  was  then  known 
as  the  Parks  neighborhood.  After  a  short  time  he  located  in  Clinton  and 
continued  to  practice  medicine  until  his  death,  which  occurred  April  22, 
1861.  He  left  six  children:  Betty,  who  married  George  Royston,  since 
deceased;  Willis  G.;  Irene,  now  Mrs.  B.  G.  Boone;  Dora,  now  Mrs.  P.  F. 
Thornton,  of  Nevada;  John  A.,  Jr.,  and  Alice,  now  Mrs.  Burton,  of 
Nevada. 

JOHN  H.  ROYSTON, 

is  the  present  popular  county  assessor,  and  no  one  among  the  old  set- 
tlers and  prominent  citizens  of  this  county  is  more  worthy  of  mention  in 
its  history  than  he.  A  native  of  Caroline  County,  Virginia,  he  was  born 
May  12,  1827,  his  parents,  Thomas  and  Susanna  (Thornton)  Royston, 
also  being  Virginians  by  birth.  They  were  there  reared  and  married, 
and  in  September,  1839,  removed  to  Monroe  County,  Missouri,  where 
John  was  engaged  with  his  father  in  farming  till  April,  1841.  They  then 
came  to  Henry  County,  subsequently  locating  on  a  farm.  Mr.  Royston's 
death  occurred  in  this  county  in  185 1,  his  wife  died  in  Monroe  County 
in  June,  1841.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  continued  to  till  the  soil  here 
till  1847,  when  he  went  to  Lexington,  Missouri.  Here  for  two  years  he 
worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade.  In  the  spring  of  1849  he  took  a  trip  to 
California,  and  was  occupied  in  mining  and  prospecting  till  May,  1852. 
Arriving  here  again  July,  1852,  he  resumed  farming,  which  he  continued 
(with  the  exception  of  short  periods  when  occupied  at  carpentering),  till 
elected  to  the  office  of  county  assessor.  In  1882  he  was  re-elected  to  fill 
that  office  for  the  present  term.  Mr.  R.'s  family  still  reside  on  a  farm 
which  he  owns  in  Deer  Creek  Township.  He  was  married  September 
5,  1855,  to  Miss  Rachael  K.  Harris,  of  Missouri.  They  have  seven  child- 
ren living:  Mollie  S.,  George  H.,  J.  Anna,  Grace  D.,  Thomas  W.,  John 
H.,  and  Mora  L.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Royston  are  members  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church. 

RICHARD    RUSSELL, 

farmer,  section  5,  was  born  in  Cambridgeshire,  England,  Jul}^  7,  1838, 
being  a  son  of  William  and  Rebecca  (Gifford)  Russell,  also  natives  of 
England.     The  former  was  born  in  1817,  and  died  in  1872,  while  the  lat- 


540  HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 

ter  was  born  in  iSi",  and  died  in  1844.  They  had  a  family  of  four  chil- 
dren. Richard  Russell  immigrated  to  America  when  about  nineteen 
years  of  age,  and  became  located  in  Painesville,  Ohio,  subsequently  com- 
ing to  Sedalia,  Missouri,  at  that  time  being  in  possession  of  only  five  dol- 
lars. He  remained  in  that  city  about  one  and  a  half  years,  occupied  in 
contracting,  and  from  there  came  to  his  present  location  September  15, 
1867.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  about  500  acres  of  fine  land,  well  improved. 
February  17,  1867,  Mr.  Russell  was  married  to  Miss  Rebecca  Bailey,  a 
native  of  Putnam  Count}',  Indiana,  born  August  9,  1844.  Her  parents 
were  S.  S.  and  Eliza  Bailey,  Kentuckians  by  birth.  Her  father  was  born 
in  1817,  and  her  mother  in  1816.  They  had  a  family  often  children.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Russell  have  four  children:  George  S.,  born  November  4,  1871; 
Franklin  J.,  born  September  27,  1873;  William  T.,  born  January  15,  1874, 
and  Rosa  May,  born  March  3,  1879.  ^^i"-  and  Mrs.  R.  are  members  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church.  The  former  is  a  Mason  in  good  stand-  [ 
ing,  belonging  to  Tebo  Lodge,  at  Clinton.  Mi.  Russell's  brother,  Gifford 
Russell,  a  farmer  of  this  township,  was  also  born  in  Cambridgeshire,  Eng- 
land, August  21,  1S41,  and  in  1859,  immigrated  to  America,  settling  at 
Painesville,  Ohio.  In  1S67,  he  came  to  Missouri,  and  afterwards  took  up 
his  residence  in  Henry  County. 

HARVEY  W.  SALMON 

was  born  January  26,  1839,  in  Greenville  District,  South  Carolina.  His 
father,  Ezekiel  J.  Salmon,  was  a  native  of  the  same  place,  and  by  occu- 
pation a  farmer.  He  removed  to  Missouri  in  1839  and  settled  near  Ver- 
sailles, in  Morgan  County,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  and  stock 
raising.  H.  W.  spent  his  early  life  on  his  father's  farm,  attending  school 
until  thirteen  years  of  age,  when  he  commenced  his  mercantile  experi- 
ence as  a  clerk  in  a  store  in  Versailles,  Morgan  County.  In  1859  '""^ 
embarked  in  business  with  his  brothers  in  that  city,  and  continued 
therein  until  May  13,  1S61.  The  great  civil  war  was  then  being  waged 
and  the  Salmon  brothers  espoused  the  confederate  cause,  locked  their 
store  doors,  leaving  their  stock  of  goods  to  the  chance  of  the  times,  and 
enlisted  in  the  southern  army.  Harvey  volunteered  in  Company  F, 
Robert  McCullough's  regiment,  and  participated  in  the  battles  of  Car- 
thage, Wilson  Creek,  Dry  Wood  and  Lexington.  The  following  October 
he  was  commissioned  captain.  In  November,  1861,  the  term  of  enlist- 
ing having  expired,  he  returned  to  Morgan  County  on  recruiting  service, 
and  was  there  taken  prisoner  and  confined  ten  months  in  St.  Louis, 
Alton  and  Johnson's  Island.  He  was  then  exchanged  and  joined  Briga- 
dier-General Parsons  in  Arkansas,  and  served  on  his  staff  as  chief  of  , 
ordnance  until  the  close  of  the  war.  After  the  surrender  he  returned  to 
St.  Louis,  and  in  November,  18G6,  came  to  Clinton  and  commenced  withj 


BIOGRAPHICAL:  54I 

his  brother,  G.  Y.  Salmon,  and  D.  C.  Stone  in  the  banking  business.  In 
1871  he  and  his  brother  purchased  the  interest  of  D.  C.  Stone  in  the 
Clinton  Bank,  and  have  since  conducted  the  business,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Salmon  &  Salmon.  In  1872  Mr.  S.  was  elected  state  treasurer, 
and  while  occupying  the  office  reduced  the  state  debt  over  $1,000,000,  a 
fact  for  which  men  of  all  parties  in  Missouri  have  given  him  great  credit, 
his  financial  ability  resulting  in  so  great  a  good  Governor  Woodson,  in 
one  of  his  messages  to  the  legislature,  stated  he  was  worthy  of  high 
commendation  for  the  honesty,  perseverance  and  energy  with  which  he 
had  transacted  the  arduous  duties  of  his  office.  He  was  married  Novem- 
ber 16,  1 87 1,  to  Miss  Kate  Kimbrough,  a  daughter  of  J.  S.  Kimbrough, 
one  of  Henry  County's  prominent  citizens.  Their  family  consists  of 
four  sons  and  one  daughter.  No  man  in  the  county  has  a  more  honora- 
ble business  record,  and  none  are  more  deserving  of  the  success  which 
has  crowned  his  efforts.  ,3 

G.  Y.  SALMON.  M.  D. 

There  is  no  man  in  Henry  County  who  is  more  generally  known 
than  Dr.  Salmon.  He  was  born  in  South  Carolina,  June  27,  1827.  In 
1840  his  father  removed  to  Morgan  County,  Missouri,  and  settled  in 
Versailles.  Young  Salmon  early  commenced  the  the  study  of  medicine 
with  Dr.  J.  B.  Thurston,  and  attended  lectures  at  the  medical  depart- 
ment of  the  university  at  Louisville,  Kentucky.  In  1847  he  embarked 
in  the  active  duties  of  his  profession  in  Clinton,  Henry  County,  Missouri, 
and  until  the  outbreak  of  the  war  had  a  large  and  successful  practice. 
He  was  then  engaged  in  handling  live  stock  for  several  years,  and  in 
1866,  in  company  with  D.  C.  Stone,  he  started  in  the  banking  business, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Salmon  &  Stone.  In  1871,  together  with  H.  W. 
Salmon,  his  brother,  he  purchased  Mr.  Stone's  interest,  the  firm  becom- 
ing Salmon  &  Salmon,  and  no  establishment  in  southwestern  Missouri 
have  a  more  enviable  reputation.  Mr.  S's  success  in  life  is  due  to  the 
care  with  which  he  has  superintended  and  directed  the  most  minute 
details  of  business,  and  the  close  attention  he  has  given  to  any  enter- 
prise with  which  he  has  been  connected.  Since  1847  he  has  been  closely 
identified  with  the  interests  of  Clinton.  Dr.  Salmon  married  Miss  E. 
M.  Marvin,  daughter  of  Rev.  L.  C.  and  Maria  (Moores)  Marvin.  By 
this  union  there  are  seven  children,  four  daughters  and  three  sons. 

JOHN  SHOBE. 

Prominent  among  the  men  of  this  county  who  have  made  a  way  for 
themselves  unaided  through  life  and  who  will  long  be  remembered  as 
successful  business  men  is  John  Shobe.  He  was  born  in  Warren  County, 
Kentucky,  January  7,  1S39.      His  father,  Absalom  Shobe,  was  a  native  of 


542  HISTORY    OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 

Howard  County,  Virginia,  born  September  8,  1803,  who  when  fourteen 
years  old  removed  with  the  family  to  Warren  County,  Kentucky,  where 
he  was  reared,  and  married  Miss  Jane  Dunn.  She  was  also  born  and 
raised  in  that  county.  They  had  a  family  of  eight  children,  John  being 
the  third.  They  are  still  living  at  their  old  home.  Ouf  subject  was  care- 
fully brought  up  in  the  occupation  of  farming  and  stock  dealing,  at 
which  he  was  engaged  till  the  fall  of  1865.  Then  he  embarked  in  the 
livery  business  at  Glasgow,  Kentucky,  continuing  it  till  March,  1868, 
when  he  removed  to  Pettis  County,  Missouri.  Here  he  once  more  gave 
his  attention  to  farming  and  stock  raising,  and  in  October,  i86g,  he  came 
to  Clinton,  Missouri,  and  with  S.  K.  Williams  as  a  partner  started  in  the 
grocery  business.  That  not  being  suited  to  his  energetic  disposition,  he 
disposed  of  his  interest  therein  in  1874,  and  with  W.  H.  Cock  became 
occupied  in  the  stock  business.  Mr.  C.  remained  as  a  partner  for  two 
years,  after  which  time  I.  M.  Johnston  became  associated  with  him.  This 
partnership  has  existed  at  intervals  ever  since.  Mr.  S.  owns  a  fine  body 
of  land  in  Bethlehem  Township  of  410  acres,  which  is  well  improved. 
On  this  he  feeds  annually  a  large  number  of  cattle  and  hogs.  He  was 
married  December  7,  1865,  to  Miss  Henrietta  Wooten,  a  native  of  Bar- 
ren County,  Kentucky.  They  have  three  children:  Mary  E.,  Anderson 
and  Absalom.     They  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church 

JOSIAH  SIMONS, 

contractor  and  builder,  a  native  of  Stark  County,  Ohio,  was  born  June 
10,  1833,  and  there  spent  his  boyhood  days.  His  father,  being  a  carpen- 
ter by  trade,  the  son  was  brought  up  to  learn  that  occupation,  which  he 
has  followed  since  of  sufficient  age  to  do  the  work.  At  the  age  of  seven- 
teen he  left  his  home  and  until  1867  was  engaged  at  his  chosen  calling 
in  various  cities  of  Ohio,  Indiana  and  Illinois.  In  that  year  (1867)  he 
came  to  Clinton,  Missouri,  and  soon  became  a  prominent  contractor  and 
builder,  and  did  a  large  business  here  till  1875.  Going  to  Wills  County, 
Indiana,  he  made  his  residence  there  about  two  years,  when  he  returned 
to  Clinton  in  1877  and  resumed  his  former  occupation.  He  has  built 
many  of  the  prominent  buildings  here,  among  which  may  be  mentioned 
Haysler's  hardware  store,  Biffin's  furniture  building  and  the  Hickler 
House.  Mr.  Simons  was  married  April  22,  1859,  to  Miss  Jane  Straw,  of 
Ohio..  They  have  three  children  living:  Harrison  J.,  Elizabeth  E.  and 
Rose  B.  In  1862  Mr.  S.  enlisted  in  Company  B.,  Ninety-ninth  Ohio 
Regiment,  serving  till  August,  1865.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
order  and  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  is  also  connected  with  the  M.  E. 
Church. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  343 

ERNEST  W.  SNYDER, 

real  estate,  loan  and  insurance  agent,  was  born  in  Saxony,  Germany, 
March  28,  1838.  When  twelve  years  of  age,  he  with  his  parents  emi- 
grated to  America,  and  settled  in  Nicholas  County,  West  Virginia,  where 
they  resided  three  years,  removing  thence  to  Luzerne  County,  Penn- 
sylvania. There  our  subject  was  brought  up  and  educated,  and  there  he 
resided  until  1857.  Coming  to  Missouri,  he  located  in  Franklin  County, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  blacksmithing.  In  the  spring  of  1858  he 
returned  to  Pennsylvania,  and  after  a  short  visit  went  to  Will  County, 
Illinois,  and  became  occupied  in  farming.  In  the  spring  of  1859,  he 
removed  to  Cumberland  County,  Tennessee,  and  continued  agricultural 
pursuits  till  November,  1863.  Then  he  settled  in  Louisville,  Kentucky, 
remained  one  year,  subsequently  went  to  Goodlettsville,  Tennessee,  and 
farmed  near  that  town  till  the  spring  of  1866,  when  he  took  up  his  loca- 
tion in  Nelson  County,  Kentucky.  After  one  year's  residence  there,  he 
came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  and  followed  farming  about  a  year. 
In  1868  he  engaged  in  his  present  business.  Mr.  Snyder  was  married 
March  28,  1861,  to  Miss  Gertrude  De  LaVergle,  a  native  of  New  York. 
They  have  seven  children:  Anna  A.,  Charles  L.,  George  R.,  Ernest  P., 
Louie  B.,  Walter,  and  Gertrude  M.  Mr.  S.  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 
and  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  fraternities,  and  also  belongs  to  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  In  1870,  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  of  this  township, 
and  served  in  that  office  for  five  years.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
city  council  one  term. 

CHARLES  H.  SNYDER, 

of  the  firm  of  Snyder  &  Boyes,  dealers  in  groceries,  owes  his  nativity^  to 
Dresden,  Germany,  where  he  was  born  October  31,  1839.  At  the  age  of 
ten  years,  he  with  his  parents,  immigrated  to  America  and  settled  in 
Nicholas  County,  West  Virginia,  where  they  resided  for  four  years,  then 
going  to  Scranton,  Luzerne  County,  Pennsylvania.  He  attended  for 
three  years  the  Wyoming  Seminary,  from  which  he  graduated.  He  later 
attended  H.  G.  Eastman's  Business  College,  then  at  Oswego,  New  York, 
and  also  graduated  there  in  February,  1858,  after  a  two  years'  course. 
Entering  the  employ  of  the  Lackawanna  Iron  Company,  of  Scranton, 
as  clerk,  he  remained  for  six  months,  and  then  went  to  Cumberland 
County,  Tennessee,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  mercantile  trade  till 
the  spring  of  1861.  At  that  time  he  enlisted  in  the  state  militia,  and  was 
elected  captain  of  Company  D,  Thirty-sixth  Tennessee  Volunteer  Regi- 
ment, and  after  their  disbandment  in  the  fall  of  1861,  he  went  to  Somer- 
set, Kentucky,  and  enlisted  in  Company  D,  Second  Tennessee  Volunteer 
Regiment^  serving  till  1864,  when  he  was  discharged.  He  then  became 
employed   by  the  Louisville   &   Nashville   Railroad   Company,  as   book 


544  HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 

keeper  at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  continuing  to  fill  the  position  till  1868. 
In  this  year  he  came  to  Clinton,  Missouri,  and  established  the  first  lum- 
ber yard  after  the  war,  which  he  conducted  till  1870.  That  year  he  was 
elected  county  clerk,  and  held  the  office  till  January,  1S75.  After  this  he 
was  interested  in  different  lines  of  business  till  August,  1880,  when  with 
Mr.  Boyes  he  started  in  the  grocery  business.  Mr.  Snyder  was  united 
in  marriage  March  26,  1861,  with  Miss  Mattie  Boyes,  a  native  of  New 
York.  They  have  three  children:  Amelia  J.,  Charles  W.  and  Mattie  C. 
Mr.  S.  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  Encampment  of  that  order, 
and  belongs  also  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  A.  O.  U.  VV. 

DR.  WILLIAM  T.  THORNTON. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  on  the  first  day  of  Ma\-.  1806, 
in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  state  of  Virginia.  His  family  were  among 
the  earliest  settlers  in  Virginia.  The  dwelling  upon  the  family  home- 
stead was  built  from  bricks  that  were  brought  from  England  by  his 
grandfather.  It  was  to  this  same  house  that  Stonewall  Jackson  was  con- 
veyed after  receiving  his  mortal  wound  on  the  field  of  Chancellorsville; 
there  it  was  where  this  great  leader  closed  his  earthly  career.  When  the 
thirteen  colonies  proclaimed  their  independence  of  the  mother  country, 
Charles  Thornton,  the  father  of  William  T.  Thornton,  joined  the  Army 
of  the  Revolution,  and  became  a  captain.  In  the  year  181 1,  Captain 
Charles  Thornton  removed  from  Virginia  to  Oldham  Count}-,  Kentucky, 
taking  with  him  his  family.  At  the  time  of  his  settlement  there  Ken- 
tucky was  a  wilderness  and  infested  with  Indians,  who  were  so  bad  that 
the  settlers  were  obliged  to  build  block  houses  and  keep  guards  con- 
stantly posted,  in  order  to  protect  themselves,  and  their  property.  It 
was  here,  amid  the  wilds  of  Kentucky,  that  William  T.  Thornton  was 
reared.  When  becoming  of  sufficient  age,  he  went  to  Cincinnati  to  be 
educated,  where  he  graduated  in  the  profession  of  medicine,  about  the 
year  183 1.  Shortly  afterward  Dr.  Thornton  removed  to  Jacksonville, 
Illinois,  and  there  began  the  practice  of  his  profession.  When  he  had 
succeeded  there  in  establishing  himself  in  his  profession,  he  returned  to 
Louisville,  Kentucky,  to  marry  Caroline  V.  Taylor,  a  daughter  of  Major 
William  Taylor,  of  the  Continental  Army.  She  bore  him  seven  children, 
three  of  whom  died  in  early  childhood,  the  other  four  are  still  living. 
The  eldest,  Paul  V.  Thornton,  is  the  president  of  the  Thornton  Bank- 
ing Company  of  Nevada,  Missouri,  and  is  now  Residing  in  Austin.  Texas. 
The  second  son,  William  T.  Thornton,  is  a  practicing  lawyer  in  Santa 
Fe,  in  the  territory  of  New  Mexico.  The  youngest  son,  James  T.  Thorn- 
ton, and  his  daughter,  Carrie  V.  Stone,  and  her  husband,  reside  near 
Waco,  Xexas,  engaged  in  stock  raising.  In  the  year  1839  Dr.  Thornton, 
sn  company  with  his  eldest  brother,  Fitz  Hugh  Thornton,  removed  from 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  545 

Jacksonville,  Illinois,  to  the  state  of  Missouri,  and  settled  at  what  is 
no'.v  known  as  Thornton's  Ferry,  on  Grand  River,  in  Henry  County. 
There  he  remained  a  few  years,  when  he  removed  to  Calhoun,  in  which 
place  he  continued  in  the  practice  of  his  professsion,  until  about  the 
year  1846,  when  he  gave  up  the  practice  and  purchased  a  large  farm  on 
the  Tebo;  the  same  farm  that  is  now  owned  by  Dr.  Barbour.  There  he 
continued  to  live  until  the  close  of  the  year  1865,  devoting  his  time  to 
agriculture  and  to  the  breeding  of  stock,  in  which  pursuits  he  took  great 
delight,  amassing,  by  his  industry  and  systematic  labor,  a  very  com- 
fortable fortune;  being,  in  fact,  at  the  beginning  of  the  war,  one  of  the 
largest  land  and  slave  owners  in  Western  Missouri.  His  stock  was 
prized  throughout  his  whole  region.  He  particularly  interested  himself 
in  the  raising  of  horses  and  cattle,  and  in  breeding  fine  stock.  It  was 
one  of  his  delights  to  aid  and  to  contribute  to  the  displays  that  were 
made  at  the  agricultural  and  mechanical  fairs  of  central  Missouri,  vis- 
iting annually  the  fairs  held  at  Brownville,  Georgetown,  Warrensburg, 
Cold  Camp,  Clinton,  Harrisonville,  and  other  points,  and  always  taking 
pleasure  in  contending  for  the  premiums  offered  by  those  associations. 
As  a  physician,  William  T.  Thornton  ranked  among  the  best  of  the 
state,  and  long  after  he  quit  the  practice,  was  consulted  by  the  leading 
physicians  in  important  cases  occurring  in  the  vicinity  in  which  he  lived. 
He  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  South,  and  took 
great  interest  in  the  prosperity  and  success  of  this  denomination.  In 
politics  he  was  a  Whig,  but  never  at  any  time  aspired  to  any  office,  or 
sought  political  preferment.  Dr.  Thornton  was  three  times  married. 
His  second  wife,  Miss  Elizabeth  Fewell,  lived  but  a  few  years  after  her 
marriage.  His  third  wife,  Mrs.  Maria  Atkinson,  formerly  a  Miss  Wil- 
liams, who  was  a  daughter  of  General  Samuel  Williams,  of  the  war  of 
18 12,  and  is  a  sister  of  John  S.  Williams,  better  known  as  Cerragoda 
Williams,  and  who  at  present  represents  Kentucky  in  the  United  States 
Senate.  She  now  resides  at  Clinton,  in  Henry  County,  the  place  which 
Dr.  Thornton  made  his  home  after  the  war.  Like  most  of  the  large 
slave  owners.  Dr.  Thornton  suffered  greatl}'  by  the  war.  Not  only  was 
his  estate  wasted,  his  stock  stolen,  and  his  home  made  desolate,  but 
throughout  the  greater  portion  of  those  sad  four  years  he  was  a 
refugee.  When  the  war  closed  there  was  little  that  was  left  to  him 
about  his  old  home.  His  slaves  were  liberated,  most  of  his  horses  and 
cattle  had  been  seized  by  the  marauders  belonging  to  the  armies  of  the 
contending  sections.  The  surplus  money  which  he  had  gradually  accu- 
mulated through  his  }-ears  of  toil,  had  been  expended  in  maintaining 
himself  and  family  through  the  years  of  strife,  but  still  at  its  close  he 
was  enabled,  by  the  sale  of  his  real  estate  and  of  what  personal  property 
that  was  left  to  him,  to  realize  enough  to  enable  him  to  live  comfortable 

during  the  remainder  of  his  life,  and  to  give  to  his  children  a  good  start 

35 


546  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

in  business.  On  the  27th  day  of  December,  1874,  Dr.  Thornton  departed 
this  life,  at  his  residence  in  Clinton,  in  the  sixty-ninth  year  of  his  age^ 
beloved  by  his  children  and  relatives  and  regretted  by  his  friends. 

JOHN  G.  THUME, 

cigar  manufacturer,  was  born  in  Saxony,  Germany,  March  22,  1833.  He 
spent  his  youthful  days  and  received  his  education  from  the  schools  of 
that  country,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years  was  apprenticed  to  learn 
the  shoe  making  trade,  at  which  he  served  till  twenty-one  years  old. 
He  then  emigrated  to  America  and  settling  in  Trumbull  County,  Ohio, 
was  engaged  at  his  trade  at  Mineral  Ridge  up  to  1866,  when  he 
removed  to  Franklin  County,  Missouri.  There  he  gave  his  attention  to 
the  occupation  of  farming  for  three  years.  In  1869  he  came  to  Clinton 
and  resumed  shoe  making  on  the  corner  where  he  now  has  his  factory. 
He  thus  remained  for  three  years,  then  for  the  following  three  years  was 
interested  in  the  liquor  business.  In  1874  he  began  the  manufacture 
of  cigars.  He  now  makes  on  an  average  35,000  cigars  per  month, 
besides  doing  a  good  retail  business  in  cigars  and  tobacco.  Mr.  Thume 
was  married  April  22,  1854,  to  Miss  Sophia  W.  Grossie,  a  native  of 
Germany.  They  have  eight  children:  John  H.,  Sophia,  Clara,  Anna, 
Emma,  Oscar,  Minnie  and  George. 

JULIUS  C.  TUSSEY, 

photographic  artist,  is  a  native  of  Davie  County,  North  Carolina,  and 
was  born  November  23,  1856.  He  was  there  reared,  and  while  a  youth 
was  engaged  in  clerking.  In  1873  he  went  to  Boonville,  Missouri,  and 
began  learning  the  profession  of  photographing  in  the  gallery  of  W.  H. 
Peters.  After  one  year's  time  he  bought  his  preceptor's  gallery  and  con- 
tinued the  business  in  that  city  till  July,  1878,  when  he  came  to  Clinton, 
Missouri.  Here  he  established  a  gallery,  and  in  January,  188 1,  sold  it  to 
his  brother  and  purchased  Mr.  Cory's  photographing  business.  This  he 
has  since  managed.  He  has  the  best  fitted  gallery  in  this  city,  and  his 
reputation  as  a  fine  and  experienced  operator  is  widely  and  favorably 
known.  Mr.  Tussey  was  united  in  marriage  October  25,  1877,  to  Miss 
Anna  Simes,  originally  from  Ohio.  They  have  two  children,  George  V. 
and  Lulu.     They  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

W.  D.  TYLER, 

cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Clinton,  is  a  native  of  New  York 
and  was  born  November  17,  1830.  His  father,  William  Tyler,  was  born 
in  Massachusetts,  while  his  mother  came  originally  from  New  York. 
William  D.  was  the  second  child  of  a  family  of  four.     He  was  reared   in 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  547^ 

the  state  of  his  birth,  receiving  his  education  at  Geneseo  Academy. 
When  twenty-three  years  of  age  he  removed  to  Rock  County,  Wiscon- 
sin, and  after  a  residence  in  that  state  of  one  year  he  located  in  Bloom- 
ington,  Illinois,  and  for  several  years  was  occupied  in  the  hardware  busi- 
ness. In  1864  he  went  to  DuQuoin,  Illinois,  where  he  held  the  position 
of  superintendent  of  a  coal  company.  In  1867  he  came  to  Clinton  and 
was  a  contractor  on  the  Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas  Railroad  for  two 
years.  In  1870  he  was  elected  recorder  of  Henry  County  and  filled  this 
office  very  acceptably  four  years.  In  1872  he  was  elected  assistant  cash- 
ier of  the  First  National  Bank  and  remained  identified  with  this  insti- 
tution until  188 1,  when  he  became  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Henry 
County  Bank,  and  its  managing  official  and  cashier  until  December  lOy 
1 88 1,  when  he  again  became  associated  with  the  First  National  Bank 
and  elected  to  his  present  position.  Mr.  T.  has  been  twice  married,  first 
May  28,  1861,  to  Miss  Adelaide  Wariner,  a  native  of  Illinois;  she  died 
February  22,  1880,  leaving  one  son,  Paul.  His  second  marriage  occurred 
October  25,  1882,  to  Miss  C.  S.  Jones,  of  Columbus,  Ohio.  Mr.  Tyler  is 
a  member  of  both  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  A.  O.  U.  W.  fraternities.  In  edu- 
cational matters  he  has  taken  a  deep  interest  and  has  served  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  school  board  for  fourteen  years,  part  of  the  time  as  president 
of  the  school  board.     In  1882  he  was  elected  mayor  of  this  city. 

SAMUEL  VAIL, 

farmer  and  brick  manufacturer,  section  9,  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  was 
born  June  15,  1846.  When  he  was  five  years  old  his  parents  removed  to 
Winneshiek  County,  Iowa,  where  he  grew  up  and  was  educated,  being 
reared  in  the  occupation  of  farming.  There  he  continued  the  same  till 
1866.  In  the  spring  of  that  year  he  located  in  Clarke  County,  Missouri, 
where  he  resided  till  the  fall  of  1867.  Coming  to  Henry  County,  Mis- 
souri, he  settled  west  of  Clinton,  and  in  1869  engaged  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  brick,  which  he  now  continues  in  connection  with  farming.  He 
has  a  good  farm  of  170  acres  of  land,  well  fenced  and  otherwise  improved, 
Mr.  Vail  was  married  December  24,  1875,  to  Miss  Susan  Bodkins,  also  of 
Ohio.  They  have  two  children,  Mollie  V.  and  Charles  E.  They  are 
members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 

DOMINICK  VENLEMANS, 

proprietor  of  Johnson's  Mill  on  section  23,  was  born  in  Belgium, 
February  5,  1829,  At  the  age  of  seven  years  he  came  with  his 
parents  to  America,  and  finally  settled  in  Louisiana.  After  a  residence 
there  of  five  years,  in  1841,  he  came  to  Cooper  County,  Missouri,  where 
he  was  engaged  in  mill  wrighting  and  farming  till   188 1,  then  purchas- 


548  IIISTORV   OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 

ing  the  Johnson  Mill,  which  he  has  since  successfully  conducted.  It  is 
one  of  the  oldest  mills  in  the  county,  having  been  built  by  John  Nave 
in  1841.  It  passed  into  the  hands  of  J.  A.  Rogers  in  1854,  who  ran  it 
till  1858,  when  R.  J.  Jackson  took  charge.  He  continued  as  proprietor 
till  1880,  and  after  a  time  it  fell  to  its  present  owner.  Mr.  V.  was  mar- 
ried January  17,  1855,  to  Miss  Sarah  F.  Gordon,  who  was  born  in  Henry 
County,  Missouri.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Patterson  Gordon,  an  old 
pioneer  and  prominent  in  the  early  settlement  of  the  county.  They 
have  three  children,  Mary  E.,  Anna  L.  and  William  L.  They  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Catholic  Church. 

STEPHEN  VVALKLEY, 

section  4,  was  born  in  Genesee  County,  New  York,  July  4,  18 17.  He 
passed  his  younger  days  and  was  educated  in  that  county,  following  agri- 
cultural pursuits  as  his  occupation.  In  October,  1844,  he  removed  to 
Dodge  County,  Wisconsin,  where  he  was  engaged  in  land  speculating 
and  farming.  He  made  this  his  home  till  1865,  but  during  his  residence 
there,  in  1856,  he  came  to  Missouri,  and  purchased  large  tracts  of  land 
in  several  counties  of  this  state.  In  1865,  he  moved  to  Henry  County, 
settling  in  Clinton,  where  he  was  occupied  in  the  real  estate  business 
and  money  loaning  till  1872.  Then  he  located  on  one  of  his  farms,  and 
has  since  been  actively  devoted  to  farming.  He  lived  on  different  estates 
in  this  county  till  1879,  when  he  moved  to  his  present  place.  He  here 
has  550  acres  of  well  improved  land,  and  also  120  acres  of  excellent  land 
in  St.  Clair  County.  Mr,  Walkley  was  married  May  22,  1S73,  to  Miss 
Mary  E.  Wilson,  a  native  of  Ohio.  They  have  two  children:  William  W. 
and  Stephen  A. 

FRANK  S.  WARE, 

is  the  popular  collector  of  Henry  Count)^  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born  in  Woodford  County,  Kentucky,  December  3,  1844.  His  father, 
H.  P.  Ware,  and  his  mother,  (formerly  P^liza  J.  Watkins)  were  Ken- 
tuckians  by  birth,  and  were  married  in  that  state.  They  reared  four 
children,  of  whom  Frank  was  the  second  child.  When  he  was  eight  years 
old  the  family  went  to  Henry  County,  Tennessee,  where  they  resided  till 
1858,  then  removing  to  Calhoun,  Henry  County,  Misssouri.  At  the  age 
of  sixteen  years  Frank  was  engaged  as  clerk  with  his  uncle,  then  a  mer- 
chant at  Calhoun,  and  continued  in  that  capacity  till  1862,  when  he  went 
to  Sedalia,  Missouri.  He  gave  his  attention  to  various  branches  of  trade, 
and  in  1870  he  came  to  Clinton,  Missouri,  and  in  1875  was  appointed 
deputy  collector  of  the  county.  After  serving  in  that  position  for  six 
years  he  was  elected  collector  in  1881,  and  entered  upon  the  duties  of 
this  office  in  March  following,  and  in  November,  1882,  he  was  re-elected 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  549 

to  the  same  office.  Mr.  Ware  was  married  September  15,  1881,  to  Miss 
Jennie  S.  Salmon.  They  have  one  child,  Louise.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  I.  O.  O.  F.  fraternity. 

WILLIAM  G.  WATKINS, 

dealer  in  organs,  sewing  machines,  etc.,  was  born  in  Mason  County,  West 
Virginia,  March  14,  1833.  He  was  reared  at  his  birth  place  and  his 
early  life  was  that  of  a  farmer's  boy.  He  came  to  Henry  County  in  1853 
and  for  two  years  followed  farming,  then  being  engaged  in  manufactur- 
ing lumber  and  running  a  saw  mill  until  the  outbreak  of  the  war.  He 
was  one  of  the  first  in  Henry  County  to  offer  his  services  to  the  south, 
enlisting  in  Captain  Owens'  Company  of  Missouri  State  Guards.  After 
serving  six  months  he  joined  Shelby's  command  and  was  commissioned 
captain.  He  was  authorized  to  recruit  a  company,  and  while  operating 
in  Saline  County  was  arrested  and  taken  to  St.  Louis  and  confined  in 
prison,  and  afterwards  tried  by  a  military  commission  for  being  found 
within  the  lines  of  the  regularly  organized  forces  of  the  United  States, 
and  having  in  his  possession  and  person  commissions  and  pretended 
authority  to  recruit  for  the  armies  of  the  so  called  Confederate  States, 
of  which  commissions  the  following  are  copies: 

Camp  Hindman,  Mo.,  September  9,  1862. 
Captain  W.  G.  Watkins  is  hereby  authorized  to  recruit  a  company 
of  cavalry  for  the  army  for  three  years,  or  during  the  war,  to  consist  of 
eighty  able  bodied  and  well  mounted  men,  and  to  furnish  transportation 
and  subsistence  for  the  same,  and  to  report  to  these  headquarters  when- 
ever required.  (Signed)         J.  V.  COCKERELL, 

Colonel  Commanding  C.  S.  A. 

Headquarters  Jackman's  Partisans,  November  24,  1862. 
Captain  Watkins;  Sir: — In  pursuance  of  an  order  from  Major 
General  Hindman,  commanding  the  trans-Mississippi  district,  and  Col. 
Waldo  P.  Johnson,  recruiting  officer  of  the  state  of  Missouri,  you  are 
hereby  authorized  to  enlist  and  swear  into  service  of  the  Confederate 
States  for  three  years,  or  the  war,  one  company  of  men  to  serve  as  cav- 
alry and  comprise  a  part  of  my  independent  regiment,  now  being  raised 
to  operate  in  the  state  of  Missouri,  and  to  report  to  these  headquarters 
as  soon  as  practicable.  S.  D.  Jackman, 

Colonel  Commanding. 

The  commission  having  materially  considered  the  evidence  in  the 
case,  sentence  the  prisoner  to  be  shot  to  death  at  such  time  and  place 
as  the  general  commanding  the  department  may  direct.  The  findings 
and  sentence  of  the  commission  in  this  case  was  approved  by  the  proper 
commanders  and  forwarded  for  the  action  of  the  president  of  the  United 
States.  The  sentence  has  been  approved  and  will  be  carried  into  effect 
September  23,  1864,  at  St.  Louis,  under  the  direction  of  the  provost 
marshal  general.     He  made  his  escape  from  the  prison  and  thus  thwarted 


•550  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

'the  sentence  of  the  military  commission.  He  rejoined  his  command  at 
Batesville,  Arkansas.  He  continued  in  active  service  until  the  surren- 
der, in  1865.  He  returned  to  Missouri  and  for  one  year  was  interested 
in  farming  and  milling,  then  he  came  to  Henry  County,  \vhich  has  since 
been  his  home,  excepting  a  period  of  five  months  in  Texas.  In  1876 
the  firm  of  Watkins  Brothers  embarked  in  the  general  merchandise  bus- 
iness and  continued  therein  until  March,  1883.  Mr.  Watkins  married 
Miss  Mary  H.  Spencer,  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  in  May,  1867. 

JOHN  M.  WEIDEMEYER, 

of  the  firm  of  Weidemeyer  &  Son,  dealers  in  dry  goods  and  groceries, 
came  originally  from  Charlottsville,  Virginia,  where  he  was  born  January 
[O,  1834.  When  two  years  old  he  was  taken  by  his  parents  to  New  York 
City,  where  they  lived  for  two  years,  then  removing  to  Boonville,  Mis- 
souri. After  a  residence  there  of  two  years,  in  1840,  they  came  to  Osce- 
ola, Missouri,  and  there  John  M.  was  reared,  receiving  his  education  from 
the  schools  of  Boonville,  Missouri.  His  father,  John  F.  Weidemeyer,  a 
native  of  Virginia,  was  there  brought  up  and  married  to  Miss  Lucinda 
Draffen,  who  was  also  born  in  that  stare.  The  former  was  at  one  time  a 
prominent  man  in  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  and  for  fourteen  years  was 
its  treasurer.  He  is  now  a  resident  of  Anderson  County,  Texas,  and  for 
the  past  fourteen  years  has  been  the  treasurer  of  that  county.  Mrs.  W. 
died  in  1854.  When  not  attending  school  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
engaged  as  clerk  in  the  store  of  his  father,  and  in  1859,  ^^  became  a 
partner  in  the  business.  In  1861,  he  organized  a  company  of  cavalry, 
.and  served  with  Colonel  McGowen's  Regiment  Missouri  State  Guards, 
holding  a  commission  as  captain  of  his  company.  The}-  disbanded  in 
the  fall  of  that  year.  He  was  commissioned  captain  of  Company  K, 
-Sixth  Missouri  Regiment,  and  participated  in  the  battles  of  Corinth, 
Mississippi,  Pea  Ridge,  through  Hord's  campaign,  Atlanta,  and  was 
paroled  at  Mobile,  Alabama,  in  1865.  He  then  settled  in  Palestine, 
Texas,  and  gave  his  attention  to  the  stock  business  a  short  time,  when 
he  was  occupied  in  merchandising  for  brief  periods  in  various  cities.  In 
August,  1869,  he  came  to  Clinton,  Missouri,  and  embarked  in  the  gro- 
cery business,  the  firm  then  being  Yeater  &  Co.  After  doing  business 
together  for  three  years,  Mr.  W.  purchased  the  stock  and  continued 
alone  till  his  son  became  associated  with  him  in  June,  1881.  Mr.  Weid- 
meyer  was  married  November  12,  1856,  to  Miss  Lelia  V.  Coutchfield,  of 
Missouri.  They  have  eleven  children:  Mattie  W..  Charles  P.,  William 
E.,  Lelia  V.,  Anna  M.,  Aggetha  L.,  Mary  E.,John  M..  Jewell  L.,  Gabriel. 
They  are  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presb\-terian  Church. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  551 

ASA  R.  WILDER, 

dealer  in  agricultural  implements  and  of  the  firm  of  Wilder  &  Fenn, 
hardware  merchants,  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  was  born  in  Lorain  Count}^, 
March  14,  1840.  He  grew  up  there  where  he  also  attended  school,  com- 
pleting his  education  at  the  Baldwin  University,  of  Berea,  Ohio,  in  i860 
and  1861.  He  enlisted  in  Company  H,  Forty-First  Ohio  Infantry,  U.  S. 
A.,  and  served  till  the  battle  of  Corinth,  Mississippi,  in  1862,  and  was 
confined  to  a  hospital  till  discharged  in  May  1863.  Then  he  returned  to 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  became  engaged  in  clerical  work  with  the  whole- 
sale hardware  firm  of  J.  L.  Wayne  &  Co.,  with  whom  he  remained  till  the 
fall  of  1865.  He  later  accepted  a  similar  position  with  J.  H.  Lewis  & 
Co.,  of  that  city,  and  in  the  fall  of  1866,  they  opened  a  branch  house  at 
St.  Louis,  Missouri,  of  which  they  gave  Mr.  Wilder  the  management. 
After  serving  the  firm  one  year  in  that  capacity,  he  represented  their 
interests  as  a  commercial  traveler.  In  January,  1869,  he  came  to  Clinton, 
and  established  the  present  business.  The  firm,  then  known  as  Wilder 
&  Co.,  did  business  till  the  spring  of  1874,  when  it  was  known  for  one 
year  as  Wilder  &  Winslow.  In  January,  1875,  it  become  Wilder  &  Fenn. 
Mr.  Fenn  has  an  interest  only  in  the  hardware  department.  Mr.  Wilder 
manages  alone  the  implement  department.  They  carry  a  good  stock  in 
their  line  and  are  popular  and  successful  merchants.  Mr.  W.  was  married 
July  16,  1866,  to  Miss  Ella  E.  Bernard,  a  native  of  England,  but  who  was 
reared  in  New  York.  They, have  four  children:  Carrie  E.,  Sadie,  Lotta 
L.  and  Charles  T.  Mr.  W.  ^s  a  prominent  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 
fraternity,  and  has  held  all  the  offices  within  the  gift  of  his  lodge.  He 
is  now  its  district  deputy.      He  also  belongs  to  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 

CHARLES  C.  WILLIAMS,  M.  D., 

dealer  in  drugs,  medicines,  books,  stationery,  etc.,  was  born  in  Wheel- 
ing, Ohio  County,  West  Virginia,  June  22,  1822.  His  parents,  Joseph 
and  Hester  Williams,  were  natives  of  Berks  County,  Pennsylvania,  and 
moved  to  Virginia  at  an  early  day.  In  1830  they  went  to  Harrison 
County,  Ohio,  where  Charles  was  reared  to  manhood,  receiving  his  edu- 
cation from  the  Allegheny  College  of  Meadville,  Pennsylvania.  In  1849 
he  began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  H.  T.  Grier,  of  Bellsville,  Ohio, 
under  whom  he  was  a  student  for  three  years.  The  latter  part  of  that 
time,  however,  he  attended  a  course  of  lectures  of  the  Sterling  Medical 
College,  and  also  during  the  term  of  1854-5,  at  the  close  of  which  he 
graduated.  In  March,  1856,  he  located  in  Atchison  County,  Missouri, 
and  began  the  practice  of  medicine  and  there  resided  till  1867,  U'hen  he 
came  to  Clinton  j?nd  continued  his  practice  for  one  year.  In  1868  he 
purchased  a  half  interest  in  the  drug  store  of  Estes  &  Stone,  buying  the 


552  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

interest  of  the  latter  (the  firm  was  then  known  as  Estes  &  Williams), 
and  two  years  later  he  became  sole  proprietor  and  has  since  successfully 
controlled  the  business.  Dr.  Williams  was  united  in  marriage  in  185S 
to  Miss  Barbara  A.  McNeal,  a  native  of  Tennessee.  They  have  seven 
children:  Charles  V.,  Barton  P.,  Harry  M.,  Clinton  C,  Lillie  P..  Albia 
and  Maude.  Dr.  W.  held  the  office  of  coroner  of  Henry  County  for  two- 
years. 

JOSEPH  H.  WILLIAMS, 

insurance  and  real  estate  agent  and  representative  of  the  London  and 
Lancashire  Insurance  Company,  Fire  Association  of  Philadelphia,  Phoe- 
nix of  London,  National  of  Hartford,  Boston  Underwriters,  and  others, 
owes  his  nativity  to  Cooper  County,  Missouri,  where  he  was  born  March 
13,  1849.  He  was  reared  to  manhood  and  educated  in  his  native  county, 
and  when  eighteen  years  of  age  entered  the  mercantile  world  in  the 
capacity  of  clerk  in  a  Boonville  grocery  house.  There  he  was  engaged 
till  1876,  after  which  he  gave  his  attention  to  school  teaching  for  one 
year.  Subsequently  he  held  the  principalship  of  the  school  at  Malta 
Bend,  Saline  County,  Missouri,  for  two  years.  After  this  time  he  taught 
school  in  that  neighborhood  till  December,  1879,  when  he  came  to  Clin- 
ton. He  filled  a  position  with  BrinkerhofT  &  Co.  for  some  time,  and  ir* 
1881  was  appointed  deputy  circuit  clerk  under  Mr.  Quarles.  He  con- 
tinued to  discharge  the  duties  of  that  office  till  January,  1883,  and  while 
holding  it  in  August,  1880,  with  Mr.  Wright,  he  became  interested  in 
the  insurance  business.  Six  months  lat^r  he  purchased  Mr.  Wright's 
interests,  and  from  that  time  has  been  alone  in  the  business.  Since 
relieved  of  his  duties  as  deputy  circuit  clerk  he  has  devoted  his  entire 
energy  to  the  insurance  business,  in  which  he  is  very  successful.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  fraternity,  and  also  belongs  to  the  Presby- 
terian Church. 

JAMES  WOODS, 

harness  maker,  came  originally  from  Greene  County,  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  was  born  March  9,  1841.  He  lived  there  till  four  years  old,  at 
which  time  his  parents  removed  to  Ritchie  County,  West  Virginia,  where 
he  was  reared  and  educated.  He  was  engaged  in  farming  till  July,  1861; 
then  enlisted  in  Company  K,  Third  Virginia  Infantry,  United  States 
Army,  with  which  he  served  till  November,  1863.  He  was  wounded 
above  the  knee  at  the  battle  of  Droupe  Mountain,  and  a  short  time  after- 
ward was  taken  prisoner  by  the  Confederate  forces  and  held  as  such  till 
liberated  by  the  Federals  in  December,  1863.  He  was  then  taken  to 
Beverly  Hospital  and  remained  therein  till  September,  1S65,  when  he 
returned  home.  In  1866  he  was  elected  treasurer  of  Ritchie  County, 
discharging  the  duties  of  that   office  till  June,  1S68,  when  he  resigned 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  553 

and  came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri.  After  farming  for  one  year  he 
learned  tl>e  harness  trade  with  William  Hoppe,  remaining  with  that 
gentleman  till  September,  1872.  He  followed  the  same  trade  with  dif- 
ferent firms  in  the  city  till  October,  1877.  In  the  spring  of  1878  he  went 
to  Waterloo,  Iowa;  resided  there  till  October  of  that  year;  then  returned 
here  and  in  December,  1878,  embarked  in  his  present  business.  Mr. 
Woods  was  married  October  17,  1870,  to  Miss  Maggie  Flanaghan,  a 
native  of  Virginia.  They  have  one  child,  Kate.  In  1877  he  held  the 
office  of  clerk  of  Clinton  Township.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Baptist  Church. 

■  MELVIN  L.  ZENER, 

of  the  firm  of  Zener  &  Montgomery,  druggists,  was  born  in  Vermillion 
County,  Indiana,  December  29,  1843.  He  was  educated  in  his  native 
county,  and  spent  his  boyhood  days  on  a  farm,  remaining  engaged  in 
farming  and  saw  milling  till  1865.  He  then  began  learning  the  drug  busi- 
ness at  Terre  Haute,  Indiana,  continued  it  for  two  years  and  subse- 
quently occupied  his  time  in  different  ways  till  1871,  when  he  came  to 
Missouri,  embarking  in  the  drug  trade  at  Brownsville.  In  this  city  he 
did  business  till  1874,  then  established  a  drug  store  in  Humansville, 
Polk  County,  which  he  conducted  till  1877.  Coming  to  Clinton  he 
started  in  his  present  business,  and  was  alone  till  1880,  when  H.  Mont- 
gomery became  a  member  of  the  firm.  Mr.  Zener  was  united  in  mar- 
riage October  8,  1872,  to  Miss  Ann  E.  Cormack,  a  native  of  Indiana. 
They  have  three  children,  Mary  E.,  Myrtle  E.  and  Herbert.  Mr.  Z.  is  a 
member  of  Clinton  Lodge  No.  481,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  Delphian  Lodge 
No.  34,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  also  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  and  his  wife 
belong;  to  the  M.  E.  Church. 


WINDSOR    TOWNSHIP. 

JOHN  BAKER, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  was  born  in  Anderson  County,  Tennessee,  in 
February.  1811.  His  father,  Christopher  Baker,  was  born  in  1799,  in 
North  Carolina,  and  married  Miss  Sally  Kelly,  who  was  born  in  1802,  in 
Virginia.  They  were  married  in  1820,  in  East  Tennessee,  and  by  this 
union  had  seven  children,  of  whom  John  is  the  only  surviving  child.   His 


554  IlISTOKV    OF    HEXRV    COUNTY. 

mother  died  in  Tennessee  after  havang  suffered  intensely  for  fifteen  years, 
and  her  husband  died  from  the  effects  of  a  fall  not  long  before  the  civil 
war.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  August  12,  183 1,  to  Miss 
Eleanor  Graves,  of  Knox  County,  Tennessee.  To  them  were  born  eight 
daughters  and  four  sons:  Polly  Ann  (who  married  Adolph  Pulaski,  of 
Henry  County,  Missouri,  and  now  a  resident  of  Windsor);  Louisa  (who 
married  Henry  Pulaski,  of  Henry  County);  W^illiam  Kelsaw  (died  in 
185  i);  Sopha  Jane  fwife  of  John  Carman,  of  Benton  County,  Missouri); 
Christopher  A.  (who  married  Miss  Mary  Hart,  of  Benton  Count}-;  they 
have  three  daughters  living;  he  is  a  member  of  the  Missionary  Baptist 
Church);  John  Jefferson  (who  married  Miss  Harriet  Hunt,  of  Henry 
County);  Harriet  (now  Mrs.  Jacob  Wright,  of  Bates  County);  Nancy  F. 
(wife  of  William  Allen,  of  Benton  County);  Sarah  (who  married  Isaiah 
Swisher,  of  Pettis  County),  and  Missouri  (who  married  James  Swisher, 
of  this  county.  Mr.  Baker  emigrated  from  Tennessee  to  Henry  County, 
Missouri,  in  1835,  entering  at  first  160  acres  of  land,  and  later  80  acres 
more.  He  then  bought  160  acres,  to  which  he  soon  added  100  acres,  and 
subsequently  he  purchased  another  40  acres.  He  and  his  son  Christo- 
pher own  jointly  200  acres  on  section  12.  They  are  both  Republicans 
politically. 

DR.  JAMES  K.  BARBER, 

farmer  and  stockraiser  was  born  in  Montour  County,  Pennsylvania,  June  I 
20,  1836,  and  was  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Mar)' (Henderson)  Barber,  both 
of  whom  were  natives  of  Columbia  County,  Pennsylvania,  where  they 
also  died.  They  were  married  in  1821,  and  by  this  union  had  eight 
children,  of  whom  six  are  living — three  sons  and  three  daughters.  For 
three  years  James  K.  Barber  was  a  student  at  the  McCowansville 
Academy,  of  Pennsylvania,  his  preceptor  being  S.  S.  Shadelin.  Subse 
quently  he  entered  the  medical  college  of  Jefferson,  same  state,  the 
faculty  being  composed  of  R.  M.  Huston,  professor  of  materia  medica. 
Professor  Charles  Meigs,  of  obstetrics;  Professor  Thomas  Mutter,  of  sur- 
gery; Professor  J.  Paneost,  of  anatomy;  Professor  Rolby  Dungleson,  of 
physiology,  and  Professor  Charles  Bache,  ot  chemistry.  He  graduated 
in  1849,  ^"<^  in  185 1,  commenced  practicing  at  Mansfield,  Ohio.  His 
5-ounger  brother,  Daniel  A.  Barber  was  born  in  April  15,  1838,  in  Colum- 
bia County,  Pennsylvania.  He  received  a  good  common  education  and 
supplemented  this  with  one  year's  attendance  at  the  institution  known 
as  the  Jersey  Shore  Academy.  Upon  leaving  their  native  state  these 
brothers  emigrated  first  to  Illinois,  coming  thence  to  Henry  County, 
Missouri,  about  the  year  1869,  and  for  fourteen  years  they  have  been 
recognized  as  among  the  foremost  men  of  the  community.  They  jointly 
own  970  acres  of  land,  well  adapted  to  grazing  and  stock  purposes,  and 
their  average  product  of  corn,  120  acres,  is  fed  to  a  large  drove  of  cattle. 


•   BIOGRAPHICAL.  555 

They  handle  hogs  and  Cotswold  sheep  extensively,  and  are  acknowledged 
leaders  in  the  stock  industry  here.  Their  farm  is  undulating,  well 
watered,  and  the  buildings  upon  the  place  are  not  to  be  excelled.  Dr- 
Barber  had  a  lucrative  practice  in  Mansfield,  Ohio,  and  for  fifteen  years 
was  a  skilled  practitioner  of  decided  ability,  but  since  residing  in  this 
county.  ha5i  found  but  little  time  to  follow  this  profession,  his  attention 
being  devoted  to  his  landed  property.  In  politics  he  is  Republican. 
Daniel  A.  Barber  was  married  October  lO,  1870,  to  Miss  Sarah  E.  Mar- 
tin of  Henr}'  County.  They  have  one  child,  a  son.  In  his  political 
preferences  he  is  democratic. 

EDWIN  BASS, 

deceased,  was  born  in  Boone  County,  Missouri,  February  23,  1827.  His 
father,  Lawrence  Bass,  originally  from  Baltimore,  Maryland,  moved  to 
Tennessee  and  then  to  Boone  County,  Missouri.  His  mother  was  for- 
merly Nancy  Patten,  of  North  Carolina.  They  were  married  in  Nash- 
ville, Tennessee.  Edwin  was  the  twelfth  of  a  family  of  ^"hirteen  child- 
ren. After  working  faithfully  on  his  father's  farm  until  seventeen  years 
of  age,  and  attending  school  winters,  he  entered  a  store  in  Nashville, 
Missouri,  where  he  acquired  a  knowledge  of  general  trade,  and  after 
remaining  here  for  three  years  or  more  he  left  and  obtained  a  situation 
on  a  Missouri  River  boat  as  clerk,  which  position  he  held' for  one  sea- 
son. He  then  opened  a  store  in  Nashville,  but  soon  sold  out,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1850  started  a  store  in  Claysville,  Boone  County.  His  busi- 
ness was  carried  on  very  successfully  until  the  fall  of  1865,  when  he 
came  to  Windsor  and  before  long  he  was  a  leading  merchant  and  one  of 
the  most  respected  citizens  here.  He  married  Miss  Mary  Jane  Spencei 
in  January,  1856.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Perry  Spencer,  of  Boone 
County,  who  was  born  in  Maryland.  Her  mother's  maiden  name  was 
Eliza  Jane  Wiseman,  daughter  of  James  Wiseman,  of  Virginia.  She 
died  in  1845.  Edwin  Bass,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  died  at  his  home 
October  15,  1882.  Politically  he  was  a  Democrat,  and  an  examplary 
member  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  south.  In  1865,  upon  removing  his  family 
to  Windsor,  he  purchased  the  hotel  property,  now  known  as  the  Bass 
house,  from  Samuel  Duncan.  In  the  same  year  he  opened  a  store  under 
the  firm  name  of  Bass  &  Major,  on  the  place  where  the  present  brick 
structure  now  stands.  In  1866  or  1867,  he  purchased  the  entire  stock 
and  store  and  in  1868  he  sold  the  stock  to  Aaron  Saunders,  who  failed, 
and  he  was  obliged  to  re-purchase  it.  In  the  fall  of  1868  he  disposed  of 
the  stock  of  goods  to  the  Tryon  Brothers,  who  occupied  the  house  until 
1869.  During  the  seasons  of  1868-9  ^^  employed  much  of  his  time  in 
improving  a  new  farm,  two  miles  east  of  Windsor,  which  he  owned  at 
the  time  of  his   death.      In  the  spring  of  1869  he  again  engaged  in  the 


556  HISTORY   OF    HENR\'  COUNTY. 

mercantile  business,  under  the  firm  name  of  A.  J.  Bass  &  Co.  A.  J. 
Bass  sold  his  interest  eighteen  months  later,  and  the  new  firm  was 
formed  by  Edwin  Bass  and  J.  S.  Kelly,  Bass  &  Kelly.  Under  this  new 
management  business  prospered,  and  in  1874  they  erected  the  present 
two  story  brick  store,  24x70,  which  is  a  fine  building.  Mr  Bass  was  a 
life  long  Christian,  his  membership  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
south,  commencing  from  his  early  boyhood.  He  was  a  zealous 
worker,  always  active  in  the  local  organizations,  where  he  made 
his  home,  as  church  steward  and  Sunday  School  superintendent.  He 
contributed  liberally  to  all  church  work  and  the  spread  of  the  gospel. 
He  was  a  friend  to  the  poor  and  bestowed  charity  upon  those  in  need, 
and  in  his  death  the  county  lost  one  of  its  most  esteemed  men,  and 
Windsor  one  of  its  most  valued  citizens.  Edward  Spencer,  brother  of 
Mrs.  Bass,  came  to  Windsor  in  1870,  and  has  since  made  his  home  with 
his  sister.  He  was  born  in^Boone  County  in  1825.  He  learned  the  car- 
penter's trade  in  youth,  and  has  ever  done  much  in  the  building  line. 
Since  coming  to  this  place  he  has  spent  much  of  his  time  in  the  store. 

JAMES  HARVEY  BASS, 

stock  dealer  and  proprietor  of  the  Bass  House,  was  born  in  Howard 
County,  Missouri,  in  June,  1834.  His  father,  George  P.  Bass,  who  was 
born  in  Nashville,  Tennessee,  died  in  Howard  County  in  1863.  He  came 
to  Boone  County  as  an  early  pioneer  and  established  a  tannery,  which 
he  carried  on  for  many  years.  The  mother  of  James,  formerly  Susanna 
M.  Wiseman  and  a  native  of  Kentucky,  is  now  living  in  Boone  County. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  raised  on  a  farm  and  received  a  common 
school  education,  and  learned  the  plastering  trade.  He  worked  some  on 
the  farm  and  at  plastering  in  the  fall  seasons,  and  in  1861  he  became  a 
member  of  the  Home  Guards.  Coming  to  Henry  County  in  1867,  he 
settled  twelve  miles  west  of  Windsor  on  a  farm,  working  the  farm  and 
also  doing  the  plastering  for  the  country  around  about.  He  married 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  (Woolfolk)  Wall  December  16,  1868.  She  had  two  sons 
by  her  first  husband,  Eugene  E.  and  Julius  F.  Julius  F.  married  Miss 
Katie  Burress,  of  Windsor,  July  8,  1882.  Mrs.  Bass'  first  husband,  Julius 
F.  W^all,  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Lone  Jack  August  16,  1862.  He  was 
with  Colonel  Cockrell's  regiment.  Her  father,  Charles  T.  Woolfolk,  was 
born  in  Virginia,  but  was  raised  in  Kentuck}'.  His  father  was  John 
Woolfolk,  a  Virginian  by  birth  and  of  English  descent  and  a  soldier  in 
the  revolution.  Her  mother  was  originally  Polly  A.  Payne,  of  Ken- 
tucky. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bass  have  four  daughters:  Katie  Woolfolk,  Sallie 
P.,  Mary  Ella  and  Bessie  Lewis.  In  1869  Mr,  Bass  commenced  the  stock 
business  and  has  made  it  his  principal  occupation  since  then.  In  1876 
he  went  to  Texas  with  his  family  and  started  a  sheep  ranche  in  Comanche 


BieGRAPHICAL.  557 

County  with  his  brother,  Lawrence.  They  continued  it  for  four  years. 
Selling  out,  he  returned  to  his  farm  near  Windsor,  but  soon  disposed  of 
this  and  moved  into  town.  As  the  stock  business  was  his  favorite  call- 
ing, he  immediately  commenced  operations  in  company  with  Jacob 
Strauss,  and  since  that  time  they  have  been  the  leading  buyers  in  town. 
They  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church  and  he  belongs  to  the  Masonic 
fraternity.  Mr.  Bass  has  been  a  very  fortunate  business  man  and  accu- 
mulated a  large  property.  He  is  liberal  in  the  support  of  schools, 
churches  and  the  different  enterprises  of  the  city.  Mrs.  Bass  has  charge 
of  the  hotel  and  is  proving  herself  to  be  a  most  capable  and  energetic 
woman. 

JOHN  CREIGHTON  BEEDY. 

Mr.  Beedy  is  of  English  extraction,  the  families  of  both  his  parents 
having  emigrated  to  America  from  that  country  and  settled  in  New 
Hampshire  before  the  revolutionary  war.  Jeremiah  Beedy,  his  grand- 
father, was  born  in  New  Hampshire  and  was  a  soldier  during  the  revo- 
lution, and  after  that  event  continued  his  chosen  avocation  until  his 
death.  His  son  John  was  born  in  Gilmanton,  New  Hampshire,  in  1800, 
and  settled  in  Bolton,  Vermont,  while  a  }-oung  man,  where  he  pursued 
the  labors  of  an  agriculturist  until  185 1.  During  this  time  he  took  an 
active  part  in  local  and  state  politics,  filling  various  official  positions  and 
serving  two  years  in  the  lower  house  of  the  state  assembly.  He  then 
moved  to  Montpelier,  Vermont,  where,  after  a  useful  and  honorable  life, 
he  died  in  1873.  He  married  Betsey  L.  Fifield,  daughter  of  Samuel 
Fifield,  who  came  from  England  and  located  upon  a  farm  in  New  Hamp- 
shire. They  had  six  children,  all  of  whom  are  now  living.  Their  son 
John  C.  was  born  in  Bolton,  Chittenden  County,  Vermont,  July  21,  1834, 
and  until  his  seventeenth  year  attended  the  public  schools  in  Bolton. 
Upon  his  parents  removing  to  Montpelier  he  was  placed  in  the  academy 
in  that  city,  where  he  remained  until  he  was  twenty  years  of  age.  After 
working  a  year  at  home  upon  his  father's  farm  he  turned  his  steps  toward 
the  great  west,  and  came  to  Janesville,  Wisconsin,  and  taught  school 
one  year.  For  the  next  two  and  a  half  years  he  was  engaged  in  the 
lumber  business,  first  for  his  uncle  and  afterward  for  a  Milwaukee  firm. 
At  the  expiration  of  that  period  he  went  to  St.  Louis  and  was  employed 
as  traveling  salesman  for  his  uncle  in  the  lumber  trade,  and  going  to 
Syracuse,  Missouri,  he  continued  it  for  two  years.  He  then  located  in 
Sedalia,  Missouri,  and  in  two  years  sold  out  his  lumber  interests  and 
commenced  general  trading  and  supplying  government  stores.  In  com- 
pany with  McKay,  Hood  and  McAllister,  of  St.  Louis,  he  contracted  to 
supply  the  hospitals  at  Vicksburg  and  interior  points  with  provisions 
and  stores.  In  1863,  in  company  with  Thomas  McAllister,  he  estab- 
lished the  wholesale  grocery  house  of  J.  C.  Beedy  &  Co.  at  New  Orlerns, 


558  HISTORY    OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

engaging  also  in  cotton  and  sugar  growing,  and  in  general  speculation. 
He  was  with  General  Banks  in  1864  on  his  memorable  Red  River  expe- 
dition, buying  and  shipping  cotton.  In  the  spring  of  1866  the  grocery 
firm  of  J.  C.  Beedy  &  Co.  disposed  of  their  stock,  and  he  devoted  him- 
self exclusively  to  cotton  planting  for  two  seasons.  Returning  to  Mis- 
souri he  embarked  quite  extensively  in  farming  operations  in  Johnson 
County,  which  he  continued  until  1869,  when  resuming  his  old  business, 
he  opened  a  lumber  yard  in  Knob  Noster,  which  he  closed  after  one 
year's  trade.  Then  he  established  yards  in  Clinton  and  Windsor,  soon 
disposing  of  the  former,  but  continuing  the  latter  until  1874,  when  he 
accepted  the  general  management  and  agency  of  the  Eau  Claire  Lum- 
ber Company,  St.  Louis.  Remaining  in  charge  only  one  year  he  returned 
to  Windsor,  where  he  is  now  engaged  in  the  lumber  trade.  Since  com- 
ing here  he  has  taken  large  contracts  for  the  United  States  mail  service, 
in  company  with  Morse  &  Hines,  of  Windsor.  In  1877  he  organized, 
together  with  Mr.  C.  C.  Morse  and  others,  the  Windsor  Savings  Bank, 
with  a  capital  of  $50,000,  and  since  that  time  he  has  been  president  of 
the  bank  corporation.  Mr.  Beedy  is  a  Democrat,  and  takes  quite  an 
active  part  in  local  politics  and  in  all  municipal  and  educational  affairs. 
He  has  been  a  member  of  the  city  council,  and  was  one  of  the  school 
board  who  built  the  school  buildings  which  does  the  city  so  much  credit. 
He  has  also  served  the  city  as  its  mayor.  He  married  Miss  Ellen  Vic- 
toria, daughter  of  Joel  and  Charlotte  (Colyer)  Goldsburg,  of  Barre,  Ver- 
mont, October  23,  1867.  He  has  three  children,  Lula  Annette,  Nellie 
and  John  Goldsburg.  Mr.  Beedy  has  contributed  generously  to  the 
building  and  support  of  the  various  churches  erected  in  Windsor.  In 
1876  he  went  to  the  centennial  and  took  an  extended  tour  through  the 
eastern  states,  visiting  the  principal  cities  and  places  of  interest.  He  is 
a  good  financier,  a  man  of  progressive  ideas,  and  liberal  in  devising  for 
the  interests  of  the  community  in  which  he  lives,  and  has  done  much  to 
develop  the  trade  of  his  town  and  county.  He  is  a  man  of  fine  physi- 
cal appearance,  social  and  pleasant  in  his  address,  is  just  in  the  prime  o( 
manhood,  full  of  life  and  business  energy,  and  has  acquired  a  handsome 
property.  He  is  one  of  the  firm  who  built  the  fruit  evaporater  in  Wind- 
sor in  1882.  He  is  also  associated  with  Mr.  Gorham  in  developing  a 
vein  of  coal  on  the  latter's  farm,  equaling,  if  not  surpassing,  in  quality 
any  yet  found  in  the  county. 

JOHN  BAKER  BRAME 

was  born  in  Mecklenburg  County,  Virginia,  September  6,  1840.  His 
father,  John  Brame,  was  born  in  the  same  place  and  has  lived  there 
since.  He  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Smith  of  that  cx)unty,  who  died  in 
1874.     The  subject  of  this  sketch  educated  himself  especially  for  a  pro- 


«k 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  559 

tession.  In  the  winter  ot  i860  he  attended  the  dental  college  at  Balti- 
more, Maryland,  remaining  there  until  the  spring  of  1861.  The  war 
cloud  broke,  studies  were  at  an  end,  and  he  entered  the  Confederate 
army  in  May,  joining  the  Third  Virginia  Cavalry  under  Colonel  Owens, 
of  Virginia.  He  served  in  the  army  of  the  Potomac  and  participated  in 
all  the  memorable  battles  fought  by  General  Lee,  gaining  distinction  as 
a  brave  soldier.  He  went  home  on  a  furlough  to  get  horses  one  week 
before  Lee's  surrender,  so  that  the  war  closed  while  he  was  at  home. 
He  again  took  up  his  dental  studies,  and  in  September,  1865,  he  emi- 
grated to  Missouri,  and  settled  in  Windsor,  where  he  opened  a  dental 
office  in  the  town  and  for  many  years  was  the  only  one.  His  excellent 
training  while  at  the  college,  together  with  his  experience,  fitted  him 
admirably  for  the  duties  of  his  profession.  He  commenced  without 
means  and  with  but  a  few  dental  tools,  but,  endeavoring  to  do  the  best 
he  could,  soon  had  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  his  work  was  appre- 
ciated, and  he  is  now  established  in  a  very  prosperous  business.  He 
married  Miss  Rettie  F.  Taylor,  November  24,  1867.  She  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  Richard  F.  Taylor,  of  Windsor,  and  Ann  (Fitz  Hugh)  Taylor,  a 
Kentuckian  by  birth.  They  have  two  children  :  Frank  Lee,  aged  four- 
teen, and  Paul  Hampton,  aged  four  years.  The  doctor  is  a  Democrat  in 
his  political  views.  He  joined  the  Baptist  Church  when  he  was  thirteen 
years  old,  and  in  1867  preferring  the  Christian  Church,  he  became  con- 
nected with  it,  and  is  one  of  its  zealous,  devoted  members.  He  belongs 
to  the  order  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  and  the  Farmers'  and  Mechanics'  Insur- 
ance Association.     He  is  one  of  the  aldermen  of  the  city  government. 

WILLIAM  H.  BURTON, 

of  the  firm  of  Burton  &  Collins,  proprietors  of  livery,  sale  and  feed  stable^ 
was  born  in  Cooper  County,  Missouri,  November  7,  1853.  His  father, 
Emerson  Burton,  was  born  in  Kentucky.  After  living  in  Howard  and 
Cooper  Counties  for  many  years,  he  moved  in  1868,  into  Henry  County 
and  bought  a  farm.  His  mother's  maiden  name  was  Martha  Reed,  of 
Cooper  County.  They  had  nine  children,  of  whom  William  is  the  third 
child.  He  bought  a  farm  and  worked  it  for  several  years,  and  Novem- 
ber 16,  1879,  he  came  to  Windsor  and  started  the  livery  business.  He 
has  a  good  stable  with  fine  horses  and  carriages,  and  is  doing  a  satisfac- 
tory business.  He  married  Miss  Amanda  Collins  in  1866.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  Dillard  Collins,  of  Cooper  County,  but  who  came  originally 
from  Montgomery  County,  Kentucky.  Her  mother  was  formerly  Har- 
riet Jones,  born  in  Alabama.  They  have  one  child,  Jessie  Lee,  born  in 
1878.  Mr.  Burton  is  a  genial  man,  affable  to  those  with  whom  he  comes 
in  contact,  and  is  making  a  success  of  his  business.     ^ 


56o  HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 

LYMAN  BURTON, 

farmer  and  stock  dealer  was  born  March  2,  1832,  in  Bethlehem,  Litch- 
field County,  Connecticut,  where  he  received  a  good  practical  English 
education.  His  father,  Daniel  B.  Burton  was  a  miller  by  occupation, 
but  afterwards  became  a  farmer.  He  was  born  April  14,  1787,  in  Con- 
necticut, and  on  April  25,  182 1,  married  Miss  Zeririah  H.  Hayes,  who 
was  born  October  6,  1792,  in  the  same  state.  They  had  seven  children, 
and  all  are  living:  Elam  B.,  born  September  20,  1822  ;  Jesse  B.,  born 
March  5,  1825;  Hester  K.,  born  December  14,  1826;  Mary  Z.,  born 
August  5,  1828  ;  Henrietta  S.,  born  September  25,  1830  ;  Lyman,  born 
March  2,  1832;  Nathan  B.,  born  March  16,  1835.  With  the  exception  of 
two  these  children  still  reside  in  their  native  state,  Hester  E.,  who  mar- 
ried S.  M.  Churchill,  of  Connecticut,  lives  in  State  Center,  Marshall 
County,  Iowa.  Lyman  Burton  emigrated  from  the  state  of  his  birth  in 
the  spring  of  1855,  at  the  age  of  twenty-three,  to  Dunleith,  Jo.  Daviess 
County,  Illinois.  He  was  there  engaged  as  section  foreman  on  the  Illi- 
nois Central  Railroad,  for  twelve  years.  He  married  Miss  Isabel  T, 
McCallen,  on  November  28,  i860,  and  they  have  had  five  children:  Ida 
E.,  born  November  29,  1862,  and  died  September  20,  1865,  of  typhoid 
fever;  Ada  S.,  born  November  15,  1865;  Ernest  R.,  born  March  22,  1867; 
Wilfred  L.,  born  June  13,  1869;  Frank  McCallen,  born  January  14,  1876. 
In  the  fall  of  1872,  Mr.  B.  removed  from  Tonica,  LaSalle  County,  Illinois, 
to  Moberly,  Missouri,  remaining  there  for  nearly  seven  years,  when  he 
changed  his  locality  to  Henry  County,  on  April  i,  1880.  Here  he  pur- 
chased eighty-four  acres  of  land  and  became  occupied  in  agricultural 
pursuits.  He  enlisted  April  6,  1865,  in  Company  C,  Sixty-Fourth  Illinois 
Infantry  Veteran  Volunteers,  Captain  William  Zuel,  commanding,  and 
served  one  year,  when  he  was  regularly  discharged  at  North  Louisville. 
Kentucky.  He  is  a  man  of  generous  impulses,  and  genial  in  his  manners. 
His  political  sentiments  are  strongly  Republican. 

MOSES  CARLE, 

was  born  December  7,  18 14,  in  Fayette  County,  Pennsylvania,  where  in 
youth  he  received  a  good  education.  His  father,  William  Carle,  a  black- 
smith and  farmer  by  occupation,  was  born  October  i,  1789,  in  New  Jer- 
sey, while  his  mother,  Sarah  Dulaney,  was  born  September  18,  1786,  in 
Fayette  County,  Pennsylvania.  They  were  married  in  1808,  and  to  them 
were  born  five  children,  four  sons  and  one  daughter,  but  only  two  are 
living:  Mary  was  born  March  27,  1809;  John,  born  December  27,  i8ri; 
Moses,  born  December  7,  18 14;  Thomas,  born  June  11,  18 18,  and  Albert 
G.,  born  April  20,  1822.  William  Carle  emigrated  with  his  parents  in 
an  early  day  from  New  Jersey,  to  Fayette  County,  Pennsylvania,  where 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  561 

he  was  reared  to  manhood.  His  son,  Moses,  commenced  lite  for  himself 
at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years.  He  was  married  January  4,  1838,  to 
Miss  Eliza  Jane  Bunker,  of  the  same  county  as  himself,  and  by  this  mar- 
riage there  are  six  children,  four  daughters  and  two  sons.  In  1842,  he 
removed  to  Ohio,  and  there  bought  170  acres  of  land,  remaining  upon  it 
for  two  years.  At  this  time  he  sold  his  farm  and  located  on  property 
which  he  had  purchased,  embracing  land  and  a  saw  mill.  Three  years 
after  he  disposed  of  that,  and  renting  a  farm,  for  several  years  was 
■employed  in  farming.  In  1865,  he  bought  another  estate  in  the  same 
county,  and  making  improvements  lived  upon  it  for  six  years,  when  he 
again  sold  out.  In  1872,  he  came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  at  first 
buying  forty  acres,  but  from  time  to  time  he  has  added  thereto  until  now 
he  has  140  acres  under  good  improvement.  He,  in  connection  with  his 
son,  G.  B.  Carle,  is  successful  in  his  farming  operations,  and  also  in  the 
stock  industry,  they  raising  fine  blooded  hogs  of  the  Jersey  breed.  In 
1849,  Mr.  Carle  having  received  a  commission  as  captain,  organized  a 
company  intended  for  the  Mexican  War,  but  was  never  called  into  actual 
service.  He  was  also  the  enrolling  officer  during  the  civil  war  of  1861, 
though  never  engaged  as  a  soldier  on  account  of  age.  Religiously  he  is 
a  Methodist,  and  in  politics  a  Democrat.  George  B.  Carle,  his  eldest 
son,  enlisted  July  24,  1862,  in  Company  K,  Ninetieth  Ohio  Infantry  Vol- 
unteers, Captain  Morris  Rowe  commanding,  as  private,  and  served  for 
three  years  in  that  capacity.  He  was  regularly  discharged  June  20,  1865, 
at  Camp  Denison,  Ohio. 

RICHARD  FILMORE  COLLINS 

was  born  in  Choctaw  County,  Alabama,  June  25,  1857,  and  is  the  third 
son  of  a  family  of  eight  children.  He  was  brought  up  to  study  and  work 
on  a  farm  and  in  a  tannery,  his  father,  Dellard  Collins,  who  had  a  boot 
and  shoe  store,  also  carrying  on  a  large  tannery.  In  1869  the  father 
moved  to  Missouri  and  settled  in  Cooper  County,  where  he  still  resides. 
In  1879  Richard  F.  came  to  Windsor  with  his  brother-in-law,  W.  H.  Ber- 
ton,  and  together  they  engaged  in  the  livery  business.  Dick,  as  he  is 
familiarly  called,  is  an  exemplary  young  man,  of  good  habits  and  attends 
strictly  to  his  business. 

JORDON  R  CHAPPELL. 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  was  born  September  3,  1831,  in  Otsego  County. 
New  York.  His  father,  Elijah  Chappell,  was  born  March  8,  1788,  in 
Lebanon,  Connecticut,  and  was  the  son  of  Oliver  and  Eunice  Chappell. 
His  mother,  formerly  Betsey  Newcomb,  was  born  September  12,  1792, 
in  the  same  locality.     They  were   married   December  13,  1813.  and  had 

m 


562  HISTORY   Ol"    HENR\    COUNTY. 

eleven  children,  of  whom  five  sons  and  one  daughter  survive.  Their 
first  child,  Henry,  was  born  January  10,  18 15,  in  Otsego  County,  New 
York,  and  died  at  the  age  of  three  years.  Thadeus  was  born  Septem- 
ber 16,  1818,  and  married  Catherine  E.  Martin,  of  Montezuma,  New 
York,  October  3,  185  i.  Henry  was  born  June  20,  1820,  but  died  at  an 
early  age.  Ruth  E.  was  born  November  8,  1821,  and  now  resides  at 
Windsor.  Solomon  N.  was  born  August  16,  1823;  October  3,  185 1,  he 
married  Miss  Ester  A.  Dyer,  of  Port  Byron,  New  York.  Oliver  was 
born  August  i,  1825,  and  died  at  the  age  of  ten  months.  Maxamilla,  the 
second  daughter,  was  born  February  19,  1827,  and  married  Henry  E. 
Baker,  of  Poughkeepsie,  New  York,  October  3,  1848.  She  died  Sep- 
tember 3,  1849.  Sumner  E.  was  born  December  8,  1828,  and  married 
Miss  Cordelia  Baker,  of  Poughkeepsie,  New  York.  Jordon  R.  Chappell, 
the  ninth  child  and  seventh  son,  was  born  September  3,  1831,  in  Otsego 
County,  New  York.  He  received,  during  his  childhood,  an  ordinary  edu- 
cation, and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  in  1849,  he  entered  the  Auburn 
Academy,  New  York,  his  preceptor  being  Prof  Hopkins,  which  school 
he  attended  for  a  term  of  two  years.  He  then  entered  Hamilton  Col- 
lege, Clinton,  New  York,  where  he  remained  for  four  years,  graduating 
in  the  class  oi  '55-  He  was  engaged  in  teaching  for  some  years,  and 
previous  to  going  to  Michigan  was  elected  school  commissioner  at  the 
age  of  twenty-five,  in  Auburn,  New  York.  Removing  with  his  par- 
ents from  Otsego  to  Mentz,  Cayuga  County,  they  remained  there  until 
1856.  They  then  sold  their  farm  of  132  acres  and  emigrated  to  Ontwa, 
Cass  County,  Michigan,  where  they  bought  396  acres.  Elijah  Chappell 
died  December  12,  1858,  and  his  widow  died  in  March  of  1870.  J.  R. 
Chappell  was  married  December  i,  1859,  to  Miss  Sophronia  M.  Phelps,  of 
Homer,  Cortland  County,  New  York.  Their  only  child,  Charles  J.,  was 
born  August  31,  1866,  in  Cass  County,  Michigan.  Mr.  C.  bought  forty 
acres  of  land  while  in  Cass  County,  and  in  addition  held  an  undivided 
interest  in  the  homestead.  Disposing  of  his  property,  he  removed  from 
Michigan  in  1867,  and  made  his  home  in  Windsor  Township,  Henry 
County,  Missouri,  near  the  city  of  Windsor.  He  first  bought  160  acres 
where  he  still  resides,  and  has  been  steadily  improving  his  farm  an<i 
increasing  in  wealth.  He,  his  wife  and  son  are  members  of  the  Seventh 
Day  Adventists  Church,  of  Sedalia,  Missouri.  St.  Clare  Chappell,  his 
youngest  brother,  with  whom  he  is  associated,  was  born  September  30, 
1840,  in  Cayuga  County,  New  York.  Commencing  life  for  himself  at  the 
age  of  twenty-one  years,  he  left  Michigan,  and  returning  to  his  native 
place,  engaged  with  an  older  brother  as  hotel  clerk.  After  six  years  he 
bought  an  interest  in  the  business,  remaining  as  partner  for  one  year. 
August  I,  1866,  he  married  Miss  Sarah  L.  Phelps,  of  Cortland  Count}-, 
New  York.  In  November,  1867,  he  emigrated  to  Missouri,  and  joined 
his  brother,  J.  R.,  buying  1 20  acres  adjoining  him,  and  then  uniting  their 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  565 

interests,  which  for  fifteen  years  have  been  one.  They  own  680  acres  of 
fine  farming  and  grazing  land,  and  both  residences,  are  on  section  35, 
They  make  the  raising  of  fine  stock  a  specialty.  In  politics  he  is  Dem- 
ocratic. Mrs.  Chappell  is  a  member  of  the  Congregational  Church,  of 
Windsor. 

NELSON  KNIGHT  CHAPMAN, 

attorney-at-law,  notary  public,  etc.,  was  born    in   Henry   County,  Ken- 
tucky, in  1839,  his  parents  being  William  Chapman,  a  native  of  Virginia^ 
and  Nannie  (Knight)  Chapman,  originally  from  North  Carolina.     They 
came  to  Missouri  in  1842  and  settled  in  Morgan  County,  where  William 
bought  a  farm  and  brought  up  his  family.    Nelson's  early  advantages  for 
acquiring  an  education  were  very  limited,  though  his  zeal  for  books  was 
great.     He  early  went  to  learn  the  wagon  and  carriage  trade,  and  during^ 
this   time  continued   studying.     He  became  a  soldier  early  in  the  war, 
joining  the  First  Missouri  Infantry,  State  Service.  When  his  time  expired 
he    enlisted    in    Captain    Chapman's    (his  brother)   company  of  cavalry,. 
Shelby's  Brigade.     He  remained  through  the  war;  was  taken  prisoner  in 
May  in  Greene  County,  Missouri,  court-martialed   for   being  a  spy   and 
duly  condemned  to  be  shot  the  following  August  at  Lebanon,  Missouri, 
some  distance  from  the  prison.     He  was  shackled  with  a  chain  fourteen 
inches  in  length  about  his  ankle  and  placed  in  a  double  wagon  to  ride  to- 
the  place  of  execution.     Halting  once  for  the  night,  while  the  guard  was 
asleep  at  the  end  of  the  wagon    he   escaped  at  the  front  end,  and  made 
his  way  into  some  brush  and  hid  under  an  old  log.     A  long  search  was 
made  for  him,  but  he  could  not  be  found.  The  train  left  with  other  pris- 
oners, and  he  for  several   nights   wandered   around  and  at  last  found  a 
blacksmith  shop,  and  with  the  sledge  hammer  and   cold  chisel  relieved 
himself  and   made  his  way  home,  in   Morgan    County,  where  he   found 
protection.   Injustice  to  Mr.  Chapman  it  is  proper  to  say  here  that  Gen- 
eral Sanborn,  in  command  of  the  Federals,  was  opposed   to  the  finding 
of  the  court  martial  and  would  have  reprieved  him  could  an  order  have 
reached   him..     In  1871  he  came  to  Windsor  and  opened  a  wagon  shop, 
working  during  the  days  and  studying  law  evenings.     He  carried  on  his 
shop  until  1875,  studied  until  1878  and  was  then  admitted  to  the  bar  by 
Judge  Foster  P.  Wright.     He  immediately  started  an  office  and  now  has 
built  up  a  hne  practice.     Colonel  Boone,  of  Clinton,  rendered  him  valu- 
able advice  and  aid  during  his  studies,  and  in  his  practice  he  finds  in  him 
a  valuable  friend.     He  married  Miss  Mary  Jane  Hall  in  1863.     She  died 
June  I,  1881,  leaving   five  children:     Jennie  Lee,  Mabel  Gray,  Claudius 
Eugene,  Annie  E.  and  Charles   Henry.     His  second  wife  was  Miss  Ella 
Evans,  whom  he  married  May  3,  1882.     She  was  born  in  Louisville,  Ken- 
tucky.    Politically,  Mr.  C.  is  a  Democrat.     He  belongs  to  the   Baptist 
Church.     He  is  now  city  attorney  of  Windsor.' 


564  rllSTORV   OF    IIKNRV   COUNTY. 

HENRY  C.  CHURCHILL, 

druggist,  and  dealer  in  druggists  sundries,  was  born  in  Union  Count}-, 
Kentucky,  in  1845,  and  was  the  son  of  Colonel  A.  L.  Churchill,  of  Louis- 
ville, Kentucky.  His  grandfather  was  one  of  the  original  owners  of 
Louisville.  His  mother  was  formerly  Rebecca  Catlett,  daughter  of 
George  Catlett,  of  Virginia.  Col.  Churchill  came  to  Missouri  in  1866, 
and  settled  in  Johnson  County,  on  a  farm.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
received  an  excellent  education  at  the  St.  Mary's  College,  in  Kentucky-, 
and  learned  the  drug  business  in  his  native  state,  with  his  Uncle  Catlett. 
He  then  farmed  for  three  years  in  Johnson  County,  and  subsequently 
took  charge  of  a  stock  of  goods  for  his  father.  In  1871  he  came  to 
Windsor  and  entered  into  the  hardware  business  for  three  years.  In 
1875  he  bought  a  drug  store  of  W.  B.  Pomeroy,  which  was  the  first  one 
started  in  town,  and  has  since  done  a  good  business.  In  his  political 
preferences  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  religiously  a  Baptist.  He  is  an  active 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  He  is  a  director  of  the  bank,  and 
one  of  the  charter  members  of  the  State  Pharmacuetical  Society,  and  a  del- 
egate to  the  legislature  to  get  an  act  passed  for  the  benefit  of  the  drug- 
gists. He  married  Miss  Virginia  Owsley,  in  November,  1866.  She  died 
June  24.  1879,  leaving  three  children:  Amsted  Ludwell,  Eliza  and  Flor- 
ence. Her  father,  John  N.  Owsley,  was  born  in  Boone  County,  Missouri,  his 
father  having  come  from  Kentucky.  Her  mother,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Susan  Enlow,  was  born  in  Christian  County,  Kentucky.  For  his 
second  wife  he  married  Miss  Missouri  Campbell,  daughter  of  A.  S. 
Campbell,  of  Circleville,  Ohio,  on  October  19,  i88r.  Mr.  Churchill  is 
one  of  the  leading  business  men  in  the  city,  and  has  advanced  ideas  in 
regard  to  improvements  and  enterprises  tending  to  build  up  Windsor. 

ANDREW  L.  CLINKINBEARD, 

jeweler  and  watchmaker,  was  born  in  Clark  County,  Kentucky,  in  1840, 
his  father,  John  Clinkinbeard,  who  was  born  in  Clark  County,  having 
died  there  in  1870,  aged  seventy-seven  years.  His  mother  was  formerly 
Sally  Strode,  a  Kentuckian  by  birth;  she  died  in  1866.  Young  Andrew 
was  brought  up  on  a  farm,  receiving  a  common  education.  He  was 
for  many  years  engaged  in  the  insurance  business,  in  which  he  succeeded 
in  building  up  a  good  calling,  connecting  himself  at  times  with  other 
agencies,  and  various  branches  of  business.  He  came  to  Brownville, 
Salem  County,  Missouri,  in  1874,  and  in  1877  had  learned  his  trade  there. 
In  1881  he  moved  to  Windsor  and  started  a  fine  jewelry  store,  and  being 
an  excellent  workman  is  doing  a  good  business.  He  married  Miss  Lilla 
C.  Fagan,  in  October,  1873.  Her  parents  were  Thomas  and  Caroline 
(Rees)    Fagan,   both   natives   of  Kentucky.     Mr.   and  Mrs.  C.  have   two 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  565 

children:  Fagan  and  Andrew  L.  He  has  frequently  held  positions  cf 
trust  and  responsibility,  and  discharged  his  duties  satisfactorily  to  all. 
He  belongs  to  the  Christian  Church  and  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 

B.  F.  CRANDALL, 

was  born  at  Crystal  Lake,  Illinois,  May  25,  1838,  and  was  the  son  of 
Beman  Crandall,  who  was  born  near  Hartford,  Connecticut,  in  October, 
1795,  emigrating  from  his  native  state  with  his  parents  about  the  year 
1801,  and  settling  near  Syracuse,  New  York.  He  m.arried  Miss  Polly 
Tuttle,  who  was  also  born  near  Hartford  about  the  year  1802,  and  she 
likewise  went  with  her  parents  and  settled  near  Syracuse.  They  were 
married  about  the  year  1822,  and  had  ten  children,  eight  sons  and  two 
daughters,  seven  of  whom  are  still  living.  The  senior  Crandall  was 
among  the  early  pioneers  of  Northern  Illinois,  having  moved  to  that 
state  from  New  York  about  the  year  1832,  when  he  located  in  what  is 
now  Mc Henry  County,  at  Crystal  Lake,  which  town  was  founded  by  him. 
He  was  president  of  the  Virginia  settlement,  an  organization  made  up 
by  the  earliest  settlers  for  their  own  government  and  protection,  that 
portion  of  the  state  being  unorganized  at  that  time,  which  office  he  held 
until  McHenry  County  was  organized,  when  he  was  elected  the  first 
magistrate.  This  position  he  held  successively  for  twenty-five  years. 
Emigrating  to  Missouri  in  October,  1859,  he  settled  in  Saline  County, 
where  he  resided  for  two  years,  when  the  civil  war  breaking  out,  he 
abandoned  the  farm  and  returned  to  Illinois,  where  he  lost  his  wife  in 
1864.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he  again  came  to  Missouri,  and  made 
his  home  with  O.  A.  Crandall,  Esq.,  of  Sedalia.  He  is  still  residing  in 
Missouri  with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  William  Parsons,  at  Blackburn,  Saline 
County,  and  now  at  the  ripe  age  of  eighty-eight,  is  active  in  mind  and 
body,  and  a  fair  specimen  of  the  hardy  American  pioneer.  B.  F.  Cran- 
dall was  the  youngest  of  seven  sons.  He  commenced  his  early  educa- 
tion at  Crystal  Lake,  Illinois,  in  an  old  log  house,  and  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enteen left  school  with  a  fair  English  education.  He  came  to  Missouri 
with  his  father's  family,  and  was  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising 
until  1862,  when  owing  to  the  civil  war,  he  discontinued  it  and  engaged 
as  a  clerk  in  the  commissary  department  under  Captain  J.  E.  Howard, 
chief  commissary  of  the  Central  District  of  Missouri.  In  1864,  he  went 
to  Lotiisiana,  and  was  interested  in  the  culture  of  cotton  for  five  years. 
In  1868,  he  returned  to  Missouri  and  commenced  the  study  of  law  with 
Crandall  &  Sinnett,  of  Sedalia,  Missouri,  and  after  a  thorough  course  he 
was  admitted  to  the  bar,  practicing  in  all  the  courts  of  the  state.  Not 
suited  with  the  profession  he  turned  his  attention  to  a  mercantile  life, 
in  which  business  he  embarked  in  i87i,and  this  he  has  steadily  pursued. 
He  is  now  in  the  employ  of  Albert  Mayer  &  Bros.,  of  Cincinnati,  looking 


566  HISTORY   OP^   HENRY    COUNTY. 

after  their  interests  west  of  the  Mississippi.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republi- 
can. He  was  married  January  I2,  1870,  to  Miss  Jessie  Hopkirk,  of  Wind- 
sor, Missouri.  They  had  three  children:  Clarence  H.,  Edward  Oscar, 
and  Nellie  Josephine.  The  former  two  died  in  infancy.  Nellie  J.  is  now 
a  bright  little  girl  of  six  years. 

Walter  Hopkirk,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Crandall,  was  born  February  18, 
182 1,  in  Melrose,  Roxburghshire,  Scotland.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  years 
he  emerged  from  the  schools  with  not  only  a  good  English  education, 
but  as  a  classical  scholar.  His  father,  William  Hopkirk,  a  shoemaker  by 
trade,  was  born  December  25,  1780,  and  worked  at  his  trade  for  the  most 
of  his  life.  His  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Isabella  Home,  was 
born  in  1782  in  Hornecliffe,  England,  being  the  last  in  the  line  of  lineal 
descendants  of  the  house  of  Home.  They  were  married  in  1804  and  had 
■eight  children,  four  of  whom  are  living.  Both  of  his  parents  died  in 
Scotland.  Mr.  Hopkirk  emigrated  from  his  native  country  to  America 
in  1837.  On  arriving  here  he  apprenticed  himself  to  the  cabinet  trade, 
serving  five  years  in  Steubenville,  Ohio.  He  afterward  worked  at  the 
same  place  as  a  journeyman  for  eight  months  and  then  went  to  Burling- 
ton, Iowa,  where  he  worked  as  a  journeyman  for  one  year  and  six  months. 
Next  he  removed  to  Bonaparte,  on  the  Des  Moines  River,  and  was  there 
established  in  business  for  eight  years.  December  25,  1858,  he  married 
Miss  Mary  E.  Moffitt,  of  Lexington,  Iowa.  They  had  six  children,  five 
of  whom  are  still  living,  two  sons  and  three  daughters.  He  remained  at 
Bonaparte  for  three  years  after  their  marriage,  when,  in  1851,  he  joined 
a  company,  and,  taking  the  overland  route,  went  to  California.  He  was 
engaged  in  mining  for  four  years,  when  he  returned  to  his  family,  who 
had  accompanied  his  wife's  father  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  where 
they  bought  landed  property. 

WILLIAM  G.  CRUM, 

of  the  firm  of  Crum  Brothers,  proprietors  of  the  Windsor  Custom  Mills, 
was  born  in  Greenup  County,  Kentucky,  in  1839,  his  parents  being 
Thomas  and  Wilmoth  Ann  (Dickson)  Crum,  Virginians  by  birth.  The 
former  was  a  farmer  and  brick  mason  by  occupation.  In  1857-8  the 
family  came  to  Missouri,  and  settled  in  15enton  County,  bought  a  farm 
and  improved  it,  and  made  it  their  permanent  home.  The  mother  died 
in  1864  and  the  father  in  April,  1880.  In  January  1876,  William  G. 
Crum  came  to  Windsor,  and  having  learned  the  milling  business  in  Lin- 
coln, Missouri,  he  at  once  went  to  work  in  the  Windsor  Mills,  and 
remained  for  three  years.  In  1879,  the  Crum  Brothers  built  their  present 
mill  and  have  since  operated  it.  The  mill  has  two  run  of  stone,  a  fine 
engine,  and  is  run  to  its  full  capacity.  Mr.  C.  married  Miss  Patience  Gib- 
son in  February,   1861.      Her  father,   Hawkins  Gibson  was  born  in  Ken- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  567 

tucky,  as  was  also  her  mother,  formerly  Sally  Bradley.  Their  family 
consists  of  Thomas  H.,  Sally  Ann,  Elizabeth,  Virginia  P.,  Emma  Bell, 
Willie  G.  and  William  Henry.  John  Calvin  died  in  1871.  Mr.  Crum,  in 
his  political  affiliations  is  a  Democrat.  He  is  an  active  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church,  and  belongs  to  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  fraternity. 

ELIJAH  CALVIN  CRUM, 

miller,  who  with  his  brother,  Willam  G.,  owns  the  Windsor  Custom 
Mills,  was  born  in  Greenup  County,  Kentucky,  January  13,  1841,  and 
came  ro  Windsor  in  1877.  He  learned  the  milling  business  in  his  own 
mill.  He  married  Miss  Mary  E.  Estes  January  14,  1862.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  Jackson  Estes,  of  Louisville,  Kentucky,  and  Abigal  Cravens 
(Jackson)  Estes,  who  was  born  in  Georgia.  They  have  three  children: 
Millie,  George  Ernest  and  Mary  Abigal.  Mr.  Crum  in  his  religious  pref- 
erences is  a  Baptist.  He  is  an  industrious  man  and  has  made  the  mill- 
ing business  a  constant  study,  understanding  all  its  details.  He  takes 
great  delight  in  fulfilling  his  duties  as  a  christian  and  good  neighbor. 

W.  H.   DAVIS 

was  born  in  Maryland,  November  23,  1841,  and  was  the  son  of  John 
Davis,  Esq.  The  maiden  name  of  his  mother  was  Alice  Robinette.  The 
former  came  with  his  parents  to  Lexington,  Missouri,  in  1852,  and  was 
there  reared  to  manhood,  being  educated  at  the  Masonic  College  in 
Lexington.  He  learned  the  printing  business  and  after  the  close  of  the 
war  established  a  paper  at  Warrensburg  known  as  the  Warrensburg 
Journal,  (now  the  Journal-Democrat).  In  1869  he  came  to  Clinton  and 
purchased  the  Henry  County  Democrat,  which  he  conducted  until  1876, 
then  selling  out  and  once  more  returned  to  Warrensburg.  Here  he  con- 
tinued his  journalistic  enterprise,  going  thence  to  Saline  County,  where 
he  published  the  Saline  County  Democrat  until  he  moved  to  his  farm  near 
Windsor.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  engaged  in  farming  and  stock 
raising.  Mr.  Davis  was  married  in  1878  to  Miss  A.  Garton,  a  native  of 
Pettis  County,  Missouri.  They  have  two  children  Walter  G.  and  an 
infant. 

WILLIAM  D.  DIXON 

was  born  December  8,  1832,  in  Greenup  County,  Kentucky,  his  parents 
being  William  and  Unity  Dixon,  nee  Hackworth.  The  former,  who  dur- 
ing life  was  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising,  was  born  in  1791  in 
Bedford  County,  Virginia,  and  the  latter  was  born  in  the  same  county  in 
1793.  They  were  married  in  the  year  18 18  and  had  six  children,  five  of 
whom  are  living.  In  1827  they  emigrated  to  Catlettsburg,  then  Greenup, 
but  now  Boyd  County,  Kentucky,  and  remained  there  until  1865,  com- 


568  HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 

ing  thence  to  Henrj'-  County,  Missouri,  with  their  son,  William  D.,  with 
whom  they  remained  until  their  death.  Mrs.  Dixon  died  in  July  of  1869, 
after  an  illness  of  several  years,  and  her  husband  died  ip  February  of 
1873.  William  D.  Dixon  married  Miss  Susan  McDaniel,  daughter  of 
John  C.  McDaniel,  of  Henry  County,  Missouri.  By  this  marriage  there 
were  seven  children,  four  daughters  and  three  sons,  of  whom  six  remain. 
The  second  child,  a  daughter,  died  of  severe  burns.  Mrs.  D.  departed 
this  life  March  7,  1871,  and  on  December  7,  1881,  he  married  Mrs.  Zana 
M.  Muse,  widow  of  Joseph  E.  Muse,  of  Christian  County,  Missouri.  They 
have  one  child,  a  daughter.  Mr.  Dixon  in  1859  took  charge  of  the  farm 
of  John  C.  McDaniel,  near  Windsor,  upon  which  he  remained  until  after 
the  war,  when  he  bought  forty  acres  of  land  and  continued  farming  until 
1873.  Since  that  time  he  has  followed  brickmaking.  He  has  disposed 
of  his  property  recently  with  the  intention  of  removing  to  Holden,  John- 
son County,  there  to  engage  in  the  manufacture  of  brick  upon  a  large 
scale.     Politically,  he  is  a  Democrat. 

HENRY  T.  DOUGLAS, 

was  born  July  30,  1825,  in  Howard  County,  Missouri,  and  was  the  son  of 
James  and  Eleanor  (Moore)  Douglas,  the  former  born  in  Madison  County, 
Kentucky,  January  1785,  and  the  latter,  also  a  Kentuckian  by  birth, 
born  November  19,  1792.  They  were  married  in  1804,  and  were  the 
parents  of  five  sons  and  four  daughters,  and  of  this  number  two  children 
are  now  living.  In  1804  they  emigrated  from  Kentucky  to  St.  Louis 
County,  Missouri,  going  thence  to  Howard  County,  and  for  years  they 
were  compelled  to  seek  protection,  more  or  less,  in  Fort  Kincaid,  on 
account  of  Indian  hostilities.  When  these  troubles  ceased  Mr.  D.. 
obtained  a  small  farm,  commenced  its  cultivation  and  remained  in  that 
county  until  1835,  when  he  sold  out,  removing  with  his  family  to  Rives 
County.  He  at  first  took  up  a  claim  near  the  present  site  of  Windsor, 
but  sold  to  John  Woodard  who  still  owns  it.  Subsequently  he  pur- 
chased a  claim  of  160  acres,  where  he  remained  till  his  death,  which 
occurred  April  20,  1854,  after  an  illness  of  fourteen  days.  His  widow 
died  November  21,  1865.  Henry's  primary  education  commenced  at  the 
age  of  ten  years,  under  the  tutorship  of  Colby  Stephenson,  in  Rives 
(now  Henry)  County,  Missouri,  he  attending  one  term,  of  three  months 
only,  and  his  next  tutor,  Amos  H.  Goodin,  also  taught  for  three  terms; 
he  attended  one  term,  of  about  three  months,  under  Cyrus  P.  Arbuckle, 
and  one  term  in  the  school  of  Charles  SnelHng.  In  1852  he  received 
his  first  deed,  or  patent,  for  forty  acress  of  land,  on  section  36.  This  he 
sold  in  1865,  to  John  Woodard.  He  is  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  at  which 
occupation  he  worked  for  several  years,  both  in  Calhoun,  Henry  County, 
and  Jefferson  Township,  Johnson  County,  from  1845  to  1857.     In  1857  he 


BIOGRAPrllCAL.  569 

sold  his  farm  of  120  acres,  in  Johnson  County,  going  to  Windsor,  for 
the  purpose  of  erecting  a  grist  and  saw  mill,  in  company  with  his  brother, 
Daniel  M.  Douglas,  and  that  mill  they  conducted  for  three  years,  or 
until  the  opening  of  the  war.  In  1870  he  purchased  thirty  acres  on  sec- 
tion 36,  this  township,  where  he  now  resides.  April  3,  185  i,  he  married 
Miss  Catherine  P.  Painter,  daughter  of  George  VV.  and  Lucretia  Painter, 
the  former  a  native  of  Germany,  and  the  latter  of  Lincoln  County,  Ken- 
tucky. Mr.  Painter  died  March  29,  1835,  and  his  widow  in  the  year 
of  1838.  By  this  union  there  have  been  thirteen  children:  L.  E.,  born 
September  30,  1852,  has  been  engaged  in  teaching  for  ten  years,  and  is 
now  one  of  the  corps  of  teachers  in  the  Windsor  school;  Mary  E.  born 
January  3,  1854,  married  George  W.  Jackson,  of  Windsor,  April  6,  18S2; 
Frances  J.,  born  September  29,  1855,  married  James  H.  Ogan,  of  Pettis 
County,  Missouri;  George  W.,  born  February  22,  1857,  resides  in  this 
township;  James  M.,  born  May  14,  1859,  died  October  13,  of  the  same 
year;  Otis  F.,  born  September  6,  i860,  is  now  residing  in  Stone  County, 
Missouri,  engaged  in  teaching  and  the  improvement  of  a  new  farm  of 
120  acres,  owned  by  the  family;  John  W.,  born  September  7,  1863;  Sarah 
C,  born  March  26,  1865;  Henry  T.,  Jr.,  born  March  7,  1867;  Almira  B., 
born  March  14,  1869;  Newton  G.,  born  September  2,  1872,  and  Daisy  D, 
born  November  14,  1874.  Mr.  Douglas  was  the  second  assessor  in  this 
township,  serving  for  three  years.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  order  for  thirty-two  years.  August  30,  1872,  Mr.  Douglas  met 
with  quite  an  accident,  which  nearly  cost  him  his  life.  Engaged  in  run- 
ning an  engine,  an  explosion  occurred,  by  which  he  was  terribly  muti- 
lated, in  body  and  in  limb.  Since  his  recovery  his  lodge.  No.  29,  of 
Windsor,  has  constantly  made  him  tyler.  Himself,  wife  and  three 
daughters,  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church  at  Windsor,  he  having 
been  connected  therewith  for  forty-one  years.  His  political  views  are 
Democratic. 

WILLIAM  L.  DUNCAN 

was  born  February  18,  1828,  in  Boone  County,  Missouri,  twelve  miles 
south  of  Columbia.  His  father,  Samuel  Duncan,  a  farmer  by  calling,  was 
born  in  South  Carolina,  October  23,  1801,  while  his  mother,  formerly 
Pardee  Bass,  was  born  September  10,  1816,  in  Nashville,  Tennessee. 
They  had  four  daughters  and  two  sons,  of  whom  there  are  living  three 
daughters  and  two  sons.  When  a  child  Samuel  Duncan  emigrated  from 
his  native  state  with  his  parents  to  Kentucky,  locating  near  Lexington. 
His  wife  had  gone  from  Tennessee  to  Boone  County,  Kentucky,  while 
•yet  quite  young,  and  there  they  were  married.  In  an  early  day  he  was 
engaged  in  distilling  in  Boone  County  for  several  years,  when  he  bought 
a  farm  of  over  200  acres  and  turned  his  attention  to  farming  until  1853. 
Then  he  disposed  of   his   farm   and   came   to   Henry  County,  Missouri, 


570  HISTORY  OF  hp:nrv  county. 

where  he  purchased  a  tract  of  6oo  acres  near  Windsor.  Here  he  remained 
until  the  spring  of  1870,  bought  village  lots  in  Windsor,  built  a  residence 
and  lived  in  the  town  until  his  death,  October  30,  1882.  His  widow  is 
still  a  resident  of  that  place.  William  L.  Duncan  received  a  good  edu- 
cation in  youth,  and  in  1853  came  to  Henry  County  with  his  parents. 
At  the  outbreaking  of  the  war  he  enlisted  as  one  of  the  Windsor  Guards 
under  Captain  Gibbons  and  joined  the  army  of  Price  at  Jefferson  City, 
and  for  two  years  served  as  one  of  his  body  guards.  He  was  at  that 
time  discharged  on  account  of  disability  and  went  to  Bloomfield,  Nelson 
County,  Kentucky,  where  he  stayed  until  January,  1866.  He  was  mar- 
ried January  3,  1866,  to  Miss  Sarah  A.  McClaskey,  of  Nelson  County, 
Kentucky.  They  have  had  two  sons  and  a  daughter,  only  one  of  whom, 
a  son,  is  living  and  now  residing  with  his  parents.  On  coming  to  Henr\- 
County  Mr.  Duncan  commenced  farming  with  his  father  and  continued 
with  him  for  several  years,  when  he  returned  to  Kentucky  and  engaged 
in  milling  with  the  father-in-law.  After  a  few  years  he  returned  to 
Windsor  and  again  resumed  farming.  For  two  years  he  remained  at 
Windsor,  when  he  went  to  Texas,  but  in  one  year  retraced  his  steps  to 
Missouri,  embarking  in  the  hotel  business  at  Windsor  in  1874,  being  in 
charge  of  the  Bass  House  for  one  year.  After  a  year  of  agricultural 
pursuits  he  began  keeping  hotel,  this  time  the  Windsor  House,  for  one 
year.  He  next  engaged  in  general  merchandising  at  Windsor  for  two 
years.  He  went  to  Colorado  on  a  prospecting  tour,  but  soon  came  back, 
and,  purchasing  a  part  of  the  old  homestead,  settled  down  to  farming, 
in  which  he  is  still  interested.  He  has  a  good  farm  on  the  line  of  the 
Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas  Railway.  He  is  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  Si  A. 
M.  order  and  is  also  connected  with  the  M.  E.  Church  South.  Politically, 
he  is  a  Democrat. 

JOEL  H.  DUVALL, 

a  native  of  Woodford  County,  Kentucky,  was  born  October  22,  1834,  in 
which  county  his  lather,  Jonathan  C.  Duvall,  was  also  born,  on  July  16, 
1803.  He  was  a  stone  mason  by  trade,  and  this  in  connection  with  farm- 
ing he  has  followed  nearly  all  his  life.  January  19,  1834,  he  married 
Miss  Elizabeth  Roberts,  who  was  born  November  12,  18 10,  in  Montgom- 
ery County,  Kentucky.  They  were  the  parents  of  five  children,  four  of 
whom  survive.  In  the  spring  of  1835,  he  removed  to  Marion  County, 
Missouri,  and  from  that  time  until  1858,  was  located  in  different  parts  of 
the  state,  but  in  September  of  the  latter  year,  he  came  to  Henry  County, 
purchasing  440  acres  of  land  in  Tebo  (now  Windsor)  Township.  .  Here 
he  and  his  wife  now  reside,  surrounded  by  plenty,  and  in  the  enjoyment 
of  excellent  health.  They  are  members  of  the  Mt.  Olivet  Baptist  Church. 
Joel  H.  Duvall  received  a  good  education  in  youth,  and  on  August  10, 
1862,  enlisted  in  Company  K,  of  the  Missouri   State   Militia,  under  Wil- 


EiOGRArriiCAL.  571 

Ham  Weaver,  captain,  and  A.  C.  Marvin,  colonel,  both  of  this  county. 
After  serving-  a  year  the  company  disbanded,  and  he  re-enlisted  in  the 
First  Missouri  Cavalry,  serving  in  that  capacity  during  the  remainder  of 
the  war.  He  obtained  his  discharge  July  ii,  1865,  at  Benton  Barracks, 
then  returning  home.  Mr.  D.  was  married  February  5,  1856,  to  Miss 
Mildred  A.  Willingham,  of  Mexico,  Audrain  County,  Missouri.  They 
have  had  eight  children,  six  sons  and  two  daughters,  all  living.  The 
younger  two  are  twins,  Eddie  and  Freddie,  whom  it  is  difficult  for  even 
their  parent-,  to  distinguish,  only  as  they  respond  to  their  respective 
names.  The  eldest  daughter,  Sarah  E.,  born  March  18,  1858,  in  Calla- 
way County,  Missouri,  was  married  to  John  T.  Withers,  of  this  county, 
September  19,  1877,  and  they  one  have  son  and  one  daughter  living,  one  son 
having  died.  Mrs.  W.  is  a  member  of  the  Mt.  Olivet  Church.  Robert 
K.  Duvall,  the  eldest  son,  was  born  January  16,  i86c.  He  married  Miss 
Belle  Pickerell,  of  this  county,  March  3,  1879,  ^'""^  to  them  have  been 
born  two  children,  a  son  and  daughter.  Mrs.  D.  is  connected  with  the 
Christian  Church  of  Hayden's  Grove.  Mr.  Joel  Duvall  owns  104  acres 
of  land  in  fine  cultivation,  and  has  given  some  attention  to  the  raising 
of  broom  corn,  with  satisfactory  results.  He  also  raises  stock,  and  is 
one  of  the  progressive  farmers  of  his  township.  Himself,  wife  and  one 
daughter  hold  membership  in  the  Mt.  Olivet  Baptist  Church.  Politi- 
cally he  is  a  Greenbacker. 

GASNER  OUARLES  FOSTER 

was  born  in  Rockingham  County,  Virginia,  December  22,  18 10,  being 
the  son  of  Robert  Foster,  who  was  born  near  Richmond,  Virginia.  He 
learned  the  mason's  trade  while  young,  and  in  183 1  removed  to  Missouri, 
settling  in  Callaway  County.  He  came  to  this  county  in  1854,  and  died 
at  the  house  of  his  son  February  12.  1859.  aged  ninety  years,  three 
months  and  twelve  days.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Jane  Fox 
Ouarles,  of  Virginia,  had  died  in  Callaway  County  in  1832.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  the  third  of  a  family  of  five  children,  of  whom  one  is 
living  in  Oregon,  one  in  Calloway  County  and  one  deceased.  After  loca- 
ting in  Callaway  County,  April  13,  183 1,  he  worked  with  his  father  at  the 
mason's  trade,  both  laying  brick  and  stone  and  plastering.  They  con- 
tracted for  building  many  large  buildings,  and  worked  on  the  state  peni- 
tentiary, etc.  In  April,  1848,  he  came  to  Henry  County,  and  settled  one 
and  a  half  miles  northeast  of  Calhoun,  where  he  improved  a  farm  which 
he  now  owns.  In  1856  he  moved  into  Windsor  took  up  his  location  on 
a  farm,  a  part  of  which  has  been  added  to  the  city.  He  gave  the  M.  E. 
Church,  South,  and  also  the  M.  E.  Church,  the  lots  upon  which  their 
churches  were  erected.  He  has  now  one  hundred  acres,  well  improved, 
with  a   o-ood   residence   and   other  buildings,   after    having  sixty  acres 


572  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

included  in  the  city.  He  married  Miss  Minerva  Pinkstons  in  1836. 
She  was  born  January  10,  18 IQ,  and  was  the  daughter  of  Isham 
Pinkston,  of  Warrensburg.  She  died  October  13,  1852,  and  left 
seven  children  :  John  William,  Benjamin  Franklin,  Elizabeth  Vir- 
ginia, Ann  Amanda,  Minerva,  Elmira,  Gazner  Pinkston  and  Martha 
Frances.  January  3,  1854,  he  married  for  his  second  wife,  Mrs.  James 
A.  Crumley,  formerly  Miss  J.  D.  Baker.  Mr.  Crumley,  her  first  husband, 
died  March  1853.  Mrs.  Foster  died  September  9,  1869.  His  third  wife 
was  Miss  Martha  Wiley,  whom  he  married  March  7,  1871.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  Abraham  Wiley,  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  this  county, 
he  having  come  into  the  county  with  John  Willson,  and  living  near  him 
all  his  days,  Mr.  Foster  politically  is  a  Democrat.  He  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  and  was  one  of  its 
elders.  He  also  has  for  many  years  been  a  Mason.  He  started  in  life  a 
poor  boy,  and  the  fine  property  which  he  has  now  obtained  is  the  result 
of  hard  labor,  much  economy  and  excellent  management.  He  has  been 
a  liberal  giver  for  the  building  and  maintenance  of  churches  and  schools, 
and  has  gained  a  lasting  reputation  among  all  classes  of  people  where 
he  has  lived  so  long.  His  farm  contains  400  acres  of  valuable  land.  Gas- 
ner  P.  Foster,  the  sixth  child  in  this  family,  was  born  in  Henry  County 
in  1849,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-one,  he  left  home  and  completed  his 
education  at  the  Hannibal  Commercial  College  in  1874.  He  returned 
and  clerked  for  six  months  and  then  rented  a  farm,  which  he  worked  until 
the  fall  of  1881.  Then  he  formed  a  partnership  with  William  Mclntire  in 
the  grocery  business.  In  January  Mr.  Mclntire  sold  out  to  W.  A.  Brain,, 
who  in  turn  sold  out  to  Shelton  &  Owsley.  Mr.  F.  soon  started  business 
again  with  Mr.  Stewart,  who  sold  to  Mr.  E.  H.  Wall,  and  the  firm  of  Fos- 
ter &  Wall  are  now  enjoying  a  liberal  patronage.  He  married  Miss  Bet- 
tie  Withers,  in  1874.  She  is  the  daughter  of  J.  C.  Withers.  They  have 
one  child  living,  Maud,  who  was  born  January  13,  1880.  He  belongs  to 
A.  O.  U.  W. 

JACOB  A.  FULTS, 

agent  and  telegraph  operator  at  Windsor  Station,  was  born  in  Washing- 
ton Court  House,  Fayette  County,  Ohio,  March  6,  185 1.  His  parents, 
Simon  and  Sarah  Fults  nee  Bush,  who  were  born  in  Fayette  County, 
Ohio,  came  to  Missouri  and  settled  in  Windsor  in  1869.  They  had  nine 
children,  of  whom  Jacob  is  the  oldest.  He  received  an  excellent  educa- 
tion and  in  the  fall  of  1875  he  learned  the  art  of  telegraphy.  His  first 
office  was  at  Green  Ridge,  where,  by  his  faithfulness  and  attention  to 
business  he  won  the  confidence  of  the  company,  and  now  has  the  satis- 
faction of  knowing  that  his  services  are  appreciated.  He  has  been  sta- 
tioned at  Walker,  Pilot  Grove,  Madison  and  other  places,  and  lastly  at 
Windsor,  and  has  been  in  the  employ  of  the    Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  573 

Railroad  for  seven  years.  His  books  and  exhibits  are  systematical,  neat 
and  correct  and  in  his  intercourse  with  the  business  men  he  is  oblig- 
ing and  courteous  to  all.  He  married  Miss  Florence  Sheble,  of  Green 
Ridge,  in  1876,  December  24.  She  is  the  daughter  of  M.  Sheble,  origi- 
nally of  Noble  County,  Ohio.  Her  mother  was  formerly  Rhoda  Brown, 
from  Ohio.  By  this  happy  union  they  have  one  child,  Ethel  Welton, 
born  November  17,  1878. 

ROBERT  MARTIN  FUNK, 

of  the  firm  of  Smith  &  Funk,  druggists,  was  born  in  Hardin  County, 
Kentucky,  March  30,  1822.  His  father,  Alexander  Funk,  who  was  born 
in  Kentucky,  died  in  August,  1856.  His  mother,  formerly  Sarah  Wat- 
ters,  came  to  Missouri  in  1857  with  her  son  Robert  M.  She  is  yet  living, 
vigorous  and  hearty  for  one  of  her  age.  now  being  eighty-four  years  old. 
They  had  nine  children  of  whom  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  oldest. 
He  came  here  in  1857  and  settled  on  a  farm  where  he  remained  until 
1872,  then  moving  into  Windsor  and  engaging  in  the  livery  business  for 
two  years.  Selling  out  he  entered  into  the  drug  trade  with  Dr.  Smith, 
and  has  since  made  the  business  a  study  in  all  its  details  and  has  become 
a  thoroughly  competent  druggist.  With  Dr.  Smith  he  is  having  a  very 
large  and  profitable  patronage.  He  lives  with  a  married  sister,  Mrs. 
Molly  J.  Shivell,  wife  of  Dr.  Shivell.  Mr.  F.  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  and  a  man  whose  judgment  is  good  on  all  important  ques- 
tions. He  has  accumulated  a  fine  property  and  is  a  leading  citizen  of 
this  place. 

GEORGE  WASHINGTON  GIVENS, 

physician  and  surgeon,  was  born  in  Pulaski  County,  Missouri,  in  T837, 
and  resided  there  until  1861,  living  during  this  time  in  five  different 
counties,  but  never  having  moved.  The  county  is  now  Laclede.  His 
father,  Alexander  Givens,  who  was  born  in  Ireland,  came  to  this  state 
in  an  early  day,  and  on  January  ii,  184^,  he  died.  He  married  Clarissa 
Harlow  Cornwell,  of  Kentucky,  who  died  in  1863.  George  grew  up  on 
a  farm,  not  having  very  good  opportunities  for  acquiring  an  education 
when  young;  yet  he  was  a  close  student  at  home,  and  at  the  age  of  nine- 
teen he  entered  the  Lebanon  Academy  and  commenced  a  course  of 
study  which,  with  teaching  school  during  vacations,  has  resulted  in  his 
obtaining  an  excellent  education  by  his  own  exertions.  From  his  mother 
he  received  five  dollars,  with  which  he  started  out  in  life.  He  read 
medicine  with  Horton  &  Glover  and  also  with  Dr.  S.  W.  Wood,  and 
and  attended  lectures  in  1861  and  then  was  appointed  assistant  surgeon 
in  the  Confederate  army.  He  remained  till  the  close  of  the  war  and 
was  mustered  out  at  Shreveport,  Louisiana.     Coming  to  Texas,  he  prac- 


574  HISTORY    OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 

ticed  his  profession  for  two  years  and  then  moved  to  Benton  Count}-, 
Missouri.  In  1S75  he  attended  his  second  course  of  lectures  at  the  Mis- 
souri Medical  College  at  St.  Louis,  where  he  graduated  in  1872  with 
great  credit.  He  came  to  Windsor  in  April,  1875,  and  commenced  prac- 
tice here,  and  has  since  met  with  good  results.  He  has  a  magnificent 
residence  and  office  and  everything  about  him  that  is  desirable  for  a 
home.  He  became  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  in  1871,  and  feeling 
it  to  be  his  duty  to  enter  the  ministry,  he  was  accordingly  ordained 
December  29,  1879.  He  has  been  preaching  at  the  Mt.  Olivet  Church, 
and  for  the  last  year  has  supplied  the  pulpit  at  Fort  Harmony  Church. 
He  married  Miss  Susan  Sophia  Spencer  in  June,  1867.  She  died  March 
9,  1870.  His  second  wife  was  Elizabeth  Davidson,  whom  he  married 
March  10,  1874,  in  Benton  County.  She  died  June  17,  1875.  She  was  a 
most  estimable  woman  and  her  loss  was  deeply  felt  by  many.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Emma  V.  Dick  for  his  third  wife  April  16,  1879.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  John  W.  Dick,  of  Benton  County,  who  died  in  188 1.  Her 
mother  was  born  in  Virginia,  as  was  also  Mr.  Dick  and  Emma.  They 
have  two  children,  Mary  Susan  and  John  Dick.  The  doctor  was  super- 
intendent of  public  schools  in  Laclede  County  and  was  elected  coroner 
of  Benton  County. 

WALTER  T.  GLOVER, 

postmaster  of  Windsor,  was  born  in  Indiana  Territory,  May  21,  1816. 
William  Glover,  his  father,  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  was  born  in  Virginia 
in  1783.  During  the  latter  years  of  his  life  he  was  a  prominent  member 
of  the  county  court  of  Barren  County,  Kentucky.  He  died  at  the  age 
of  eighty-eight.  The  mother  of  Walter  was  formerly  Charity  Wilson, 
born  in  Virginia.  They  moved  to  Kentucky  and  thence  to  Indiana. 
When  our  subject  was  two  years  old  his  father  removed  to  Barren 
County,  Kentucky,  where  he  was  raised  to  manhood  on  a  farm,  receiv- 
ing a  limited  education.  In  1846  he  went  to  Hancock  County,  Illinois, 
and  bought  a  farm,  upon  which  he  remained  until  1868.  Selling  out  he 
came  to  Missouri,  and  located  in  Windsor,  Henry  County,  and  subse- 
quently entered  into  the  drug  business  with  W.  B.  Pomery,  his  son-in- 
law.  Thus  he  remained  occupied  until  1875,  when  he  was  appointed 
postmaster,  which  position  he  has  held  since,  giving  general  satisfaction. 
Mr.  Glover  married  Miss  Agnes  Ray,  in  1838.  She  was  the  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Mary  (Bullock)  Ray,  both  Kentuckians  by  birth.  Her 
grandmother,  Hannah  Clark,  was  a  sister  of  Gov.  Clark,  of  Kentucky, 
one  of  the  most  able  men  of  the  state,  and  his  sister  was  noted  for  her 
womanly  wisdom  and  superior  talents.  Her  husband  was  Edward  Bul- 
lock. By  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Glover  they  have  four  children 
living:  Mary  E.  (Mrs.  Lewis  Chandler,  of  Butte  County,  California); 
Emma  G.,  (wife  of  W.  B.  Pomeroy,  of  W^indsor,  who  died  November  29, 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  375 

1879);  Susan  Emitt,  (Mrs.  Joshua  Hitchcock,  of  Illinois,  who  died 
December  9,  1872);  William  Walter,  of  Fort  Scott,  (married  Lillie  Hurl- 
burt,  January  2,  1876);  Edward  Ripley,  (now  in  the  express  business  in 
Denison,  Texas);  and  Alice,  born  November  2,  1854,  and  died  Febru- 
ary, 1856.  Mr.  Glover  in  his  political  affiliations  is  a  staunch  Republican^ 
and  is  a  substantial  member  of  the  Congreg-ationalist  Church.  He  is  a 
quiet,  unassuming-,  intelligent  man,  having  the  entire  confidence  of  the 
community  and  discharges  his  duties  in  a  manner  which  elicits  praise 
from  all. 

Wn^LIAM  GOFORTH, 

carpenter,  architect  and  builder,  and  patentee  of  the  celebrated  window 
frame  and  sash  cord  fastener,  and  other  valuable  articles,  was  born  in 
Fulton  County,  Illinois,  April  8,  1836.  His  father,  Rev.  John  Goforth,  of 
the  Baptist  Church,  in  Fulton  County,  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  and 
married  Miss  Rhoda  Powell,  a  native  of  Tennessee.  In  1857,  the  family 
moved  to  Bremer  County,  Iowa.  In  1853,  William  commenced  to  learn 
his  trade,  in  which  he  has  become  very  proficient.  In  1857,  he  came  to 
Missouri,  and  settled  in  the  southeastern  part  of  Henry  County,  and 
started  a  small  store,  but  after  a  time  he  sold  out  and  went  to  Osceola, 
St.  Clair  County,  opening  a  shop  and  engaging  in  building.  In  August, 
1862,  he  enlisted  in  the  Confederate  army  and  remained  until  the  close 
of  the  war.  Commencing  at  the  battle  of  Lone  Jack  he  saw  very  hard 
service  all  through  the  war,  being  for  the  most  of  the  time  in  General 
Parson's  command.  In  1865,  he  came  to  Windsor,  where  he  has  been 
occupied  in  building  and  maturing  several  useful  patents.  In  1874,  he 
patented  a  serviceable  chair,  which  is  coming  into  general  use.  He  also 
patented  a  useful  wind  engine,  and  a  bed  spring  and  a  washer.  His  win- 
dow frame  and  sash  cord  fastener  is  being  used  a  great  deal,  and  he 
anticipates  making  several  other  important  improvements.  He  married 
Miss  Susan  C.  Moran  December  28,  1858.  She  died  February  13,  1877, 
leaving  three  children:  Lenora  Elenor,  Minnie  Gray,  and  Eva  Willis- 
tena,  who  died  when  three  years  old.  One  died  in  infancy.  October  30, 
1879,  he  married  Miss  Christina  V.  Henry,  daughter  of  George  Henry,  of 
English  parentage,  and  Hannah  (-Hughes)  Henry,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  Ohio.  By  this  union  they  have  one  child,  Carlass.  Mr.  G.  in 
his  political  views  is  a  Democrat.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Churchr 
and  also  belongs  to  the  Masonic  lodge.  He  has  been  the  architect  and 
builder  of  some  of  the  finest  residences  and  buildings  in  the  town  and 
county. 

GEORGE  WASHINGTON  GOODLETT, 

an  enterprising  citizen  of  this  vicinity  was  born  February  20,  1830,  in 
Nashville,  Tennessee.    His  father,  Adam  Gibb  Goodlett.  a  physician,  sur- 


576  HISTORY    OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 

geon  and  planter,  was  born  in  1782,  in  Orange  County,  Virginia.  We  here 
give  his  obituary  notice  as  taken  from  a  Nashville  paper  :  "  Died,  at  his 
farm  in  Rutherford  County,  Tennessee,  on  the  17th  inst.,  in  the  sixty- 
ninth  year  of  his  age,  of  affection  of  the  heart,  Dr.  Adam  Gibb  Goodlett 
formerly,  and  for  over  thirty  years,  a  successful  physician  of  this  city. 
He  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  born  in  178?,  in  Orange  County,  but 
received  his  education  in  Lexington,  Kentucky.  He  was  for  more  than 
forty  years  engaged  actively  in  the  duties  of  his  profession,  and  was  for 
nine  years  a  surgeon  in  the  United  States  army,  serving  a  part  of  the 
time  in  the  Fourth  but  chiefly  in  the  Seventh  Regiment  of  Infantry. 
His  commission  bore  date  February  10,  1812.  He  was  present  and 
actively  employed  during  the  battle  of  New  Orleans.  Although  differ- 
ing in  political  opinions  with  General  Jackson,  their  frequent  correspon- 
dence evinces  sincere  attachment  to  each  other  personally.  Dr.  Good- 
lett was  at  one  time  in  the  regiment  with  President  Taylor  and  General 
Jessup.  He  enjoyed  the  warm  friendship  of  Generals  Wilkinson  and 
Gaines  while  they  lived.  During  a  brief  visit  to  Washington  last  year 
his  general  health  was  much  improved  by  a  renewed  intercourse  with 
his  old  brother  officers,  to  whom  he  felt  much  attached.  For  General 
Jessup,  in  particular,  he  retained,  to  the  last,  sentiments  of  regard.  Pre- 
vious to  the  last  war  with  Great  Britain,  he  was  offered  a  commission  in 
the  line,  but  declined  it,  at  the  request  of  General  Wilkinson,  who  per- 
suaded him  that  there  would  be  no  war.  When  the  army  was  reduced 
at  the  termination  of  the  war,  he  was  the  only  surgeon  that  was  retained 
in  the  southern  division  of  the  army.  He  soon  after  bore  dispatches 
from  the  government  to  our  ministers  in  England  and  France,  and  spent 
sometime  in  visiting  the  hospitals  of  Europe.  He  retired  from  the  army 
and  settled  in  this  citj^  (Nashville)  in  1817  or  1818.  He  seemed  to  have 
a  presentment  of  dying  and  for  several  weeks  talked  calmly  and  seemed 
fearless  in  the  contemplation  of  death,  as  a  christian,  confident  of  the 
power  and  willingness  of  Almighty  God  to  save.  He  was  for  thirty 
years  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  this  city,  and  although 
he  died  as  he  most  wished,  suddenly  and  without  pain,  he  leaves  his 
friends  full  of  assurance  in  his  inheritance  of  a  crown  of  eternal  life. 
He  left  an  affectionate  wife  who  had  stood  by  him  in  prosperity  and 
adversity,  with  all  that  devotion  of  which  woman  alone  is  capable,  and 
also  five  sons  to  mourn'  his  loss.  November  26,  18 18,  he  married  Miss 
Charlotte  Phanuel  Campbell,  who  was  born  in  1790,  in  Virginia.  By  this 
union  there  were  six  children,  five  sons  and  one  daughter,  five  of  whom 
are  still  living.  The  daughter  died  in  infancy."  In  his  youth  George 
W.  Goodlett  acquired  a  good  English  education,  and  subsequent!}"  com- 
menced the  study  of  law  1  intending  to  make  the  law  his  profession)  in 
Nashville,  Tennessee,  his  preceptor  being  John  A.  Goodlett,  his  brother 
.and  guardian.     This  he  continued  for  three  years  at   Nashville,  when  he 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  577 

went  with  his  brother  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  prior  to  leaving  his  native  state,  but 
resumed  his  studies  while  in  St.  Louis  for  several  years,  although 
engaged  in  practice.  In  1854  he  was  admitted  to  partnership,  and 
practiced  in  connection  with  his  brother  until  the  commencement  of  the 
civil  war.  At  its  opening  in  186 1  he  enlisted  as  a  private  under  General 
F.  M.  Cockrell,  with  whom  he  remained  until  after  the  battle  of  Lexing- 
ton, Missouri.  He  was  then  sent  on  important  business  by  General 
Sterling  Price  to  General  Sidney  Johnson,  then  at  Columbus,  Kentucky, 
and  from  there  went  to  Memphis,  Tennessee,  and  joined  General  D.  M. 
Frost's  brigade,  as  major.  He  returned  to  Springfield,  Missouri,  and 
after  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge  the  whole  command  went  to  Corinth,  Mis- 
sissippi. He  was  in  the  battle  of  Farmersville,  near  Corinth,  and  after 
the  retreat  of  the  army  to  Tupelo,  Mississippi,  he  visited  Richmond, 
Virginia,  with  General  Price,  when  he  received  a  commission  as  colonel. 
Going  to  Missouri  he  raised  a  company  known  as  Colonel  G.  W.  Good- 
lett's  Regiment,  and  joined  General  William  Wheeler's  command  in 
Northern  Mississippi.  He  was  engaged  as  a  scouting  officer  during  the 
remainder  of  the  war,  until  the  final  surrender  in  Georgia  near  Rome. 
He  was  tendered  the  office  of  state  treasurer  in  1861,  while  at  Memphis, 
Tennessee,  by  Governor  Clayborne  F.  Jackson,  but  declined  to  accept, 
choosing  to  fight  at  the  head  of  his  command.  We  here  give  his;  res- 
ignation as  sent  to  General  D.  M.  Frost,  (tendered  on  account  of  an 
insult  offered  him  by  that  general  at  Sand  Hill  Prairie,  Arkansas.) 
"Although  I  now  resign  my  commission,  I  do  not  yet  resign  the  cause 
of  liberty.  My  glittering  sword  shall  yet  carve  my  way  to  future  glory, 
which  shall  mark  my  general's  neglect,  and  when  this  frail  body  shall 
put  on  its  last  habiliments,  its  spirit  shall  wing  its  way  to  yon  region 
above,  in  passing  the  pale-faced  moon,  PU  hang  my  hat  on  brilliant 
Mars,  and  hail  each  superlative  star;  and  when  I  arrive  at  the  portals  of 
Heaven's  high  chancery,  FU  demand  of  the  attending  angel  to  usher  me 
into  the  presence  of  my  superior,  General  Washinton." 

Mr.  Goodlett  was  married  December  26,  1865,  to  Miss  Ada  E.  Cook, 
originally  of  Covington,  Kentucky,  and  widow  of  A.  B.  Cook,  an  attorney 
of  Springfield,  but  born  in  Fort  Defiance,  Ohio.  They  have  two  children: 
Mark  P.  and  Stella  E.,  the  former  attending  school  at  Windsor,  and  the 
latter  at  St  Louis.  Mr.  G.  commenced  business  at  the  close  of  the  war 
under  adverse  circumstances,  but  with  a  determination  to  succeed.  Pur- 
chasing property  in  St.  Louis,  he  soon  sold  it  at  a  large  advance,  and  for 
eight  years  thereafter  was  occupied  in  conducting  a  1-ucrative  real  estate 
business.  He  then  took  a  half  interest  in  a  steam  boat  running  in  behalf 
of  the  Southern  trade,  but  after  a  year  turned  his  attention  to  his  farm  in 
Windsor  Township,  Henry  County,  which  he  had  purchased  in  1866.  He 
now  has  a  fine  farm  of  nearly  500  acres   of  land,  to   which  he  has  given 


578  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

his  supervision  since  1876,  and  upon  the  place  are  good  buildings.  He 
also  raises  fine  stock  to  some  extent.  His  house  his  well  furnished,  and 
his  library  is  one  of  the  best  to  be  found  in  the  county.  In  his  manner 
he  is  modest  and  unassuming,  and  very  hospitable.  He  is  much  inter- 
ested in  educational  afTairs,  and  has  frequently  been  solicited  to  become 
a  candidate  for  ofificial  honors,  but  has  as  often  declined  with  the  excep- 
tion of  school  offices.  He  is  a  member  of  the  A.  L.  H.  Grand  Council, 
No.  434,  Windsor,  of  which  he  is  commander.  Religiously  he  is  a  Unit- 
arian, and  politically  a  Democrat.  Both  the  families  of  Campbells  and 
Goodletts  trace  their  genealogy  to  the  nobility. 

JAMES  W.  GOODIN, 

was  born  December  27,  1839,  '"  Windsor,  Henry  County,  Missouri,  his 
education  being  such  as  he  acquired  in  good  English  schools.  His  father, 
Amos  H.  Goodin,  was  born  October  18,  1804,  in  Kentucky,  and  was  for 
many  years  a  teacher  in  this  county.  In  1824,  he  married  Miss  Marga- 
ret Warren,  who  was  born  August  9,  1803,  in  that  state.  They  had 
eleven  children:  Jefferson  W.,  born  July  16,  1825,  and  died  January  22, 
1858;  Thomas  C,  born  December  23,  1827,  and  in  1857  married  Miss 
Susan  C.  Harlan,  of  Otterville,  Cooper  County;  John  J.,  born  July  12, 
1829;  Joseph  B.,  born  May  28,  1831,  and  married  Miss  Sarah  A.  Patrick, 
of  Johnson  County,  Missouri,  Mrs.  J.  B.  Goodin  died  in  August,  1874, 
and  Mr.  G.  was  married  again  in  1880;  Mary  E.,  born  February  3,  1833, 
married  James  D.  Baker,  of  Henry  County,  in  1853,  Mrs.  Baker  died  May 
26,  1861;  Margaret  J.,  who  was  born  August  28,  1835,  married  James  E. 
Tindall,  of  this  county,  in  1854;  Sarah  A.,  was  born  September  24,  1837, 
and  is  now  the  wife  of  George  W.  Sacry,  of  California;  James  W.,  our 
subject,  married  Miss  Olivia  A.  Buchanan,  of  Windsor,  Missouri;  Wil- 
liam O.  born  July  16,  1842,  died  August  2,  1857;  Robert  H.,  born  May  2, 
1844,  died  September  28,  1861;  Melissa  P.,  born  August  26,  1868,  mar- 
ried William  H.  Sallee,  of  Callaway  County,  April  18,  1875.  Amos  H. 
Goodin  and  wife  have  for  eight  years  been  residents  of  Lakeport,  Lake 
County,  California,  and  are  well  preserved  in  years.  About  the  year 
1808,  they  had  each  accompanied  their  parents  to  Boone  County,  Mis- 
souri, from  Kentucky,  thence  to  Saline  County,  in  1826,  and  finally  in 
183 1,  to  Henry  County,  where  they  made  their  home  until  departing  for 
California  in  187s.  He  was  for  many  years  one  of  the  heaviest  property 
holders  in  the  county,  owning  for  a  long  time  as  many  as  1,000  acres  in 
a  body.  He  was  also  for  years  an  educator  here.  James  W.,  having  been 
an  early  resident  of  this  community,  has  seen  much  of  the  county's 
growth,  and  well  recollects  when  deer  roamed  over  the  present  site  of 
Windsor.  Upon  the  outbreak  of  the  war  of  1861,  he  enlisted  on  May  10, 
as  a  private   in   the  Windsor  Guards,  under  Captain   John  W.  Gibbons, 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 


579 


whose  company  was  attached  to  General  Sterling  Price's  command, 
and  served  during  the  war,  or  for  more  than  four  years,  receiving  his 
regular  discharge  at  Shreveport,  Louisiana,  in  June,  1865.  He  bought 
his  first  farm  of  forty  acres  in  White  Township,  Benton  County,  in  1867, 
disposing  of  it  in  1871,  and  purchasing  eighty  acres  in  this  township,  in 
1873.  He  now  owns  here  160  acres,  and  a  two-thirds  interest  in  145 
adjoining,  and  is  quite  an  extensive  raiser  of  stock.  In  1876,  he  was 
elected  township  collector,  and  the  year  following  magistrate,  but 
declined  to  fill  this  latter  position.  He  belongs  to  Windsor  Lodge,  No. 
29,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  G.  are  both  connected  with  the  Christ- 
ian Church.     Politically  he  is  Democrat. 

WILLIAM  S.  GOODIN 

was  born  in  Windsor,  Henry  County,  Missouri,  January  23,  1855,  being 
the  son  of  Warren  Goodin,  a  farmer  and  stock  raiser  by  occupation,  who 
was  born  January  8,  1824,  near  Marshall  in  Saline  County,  Missouri.  His 
mother,  formerly  Elizabeth  Gilliland,  was  born  February  8,  1832,  in  Cum- 
berland County,  Virginia.  They  were  married  June  10,  1847,  and  had 
eight  children,  five  sons  and  three  daughters,  four  of  whom  are  still  liv- 
ing, three  sons  and  one  daughter.  Benjamin  F.,  the  eldest,  was  born 
October  25,  1849,  in  Windsor,  and  was  married  December  14,  1876,  to 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  S.  McClanahan,  of  Fulton,  Callaway  County,  she  being 
the  widow  of  John  McClanahan,  of  Fulton.  By  her  former  marriage 
there  was  but  one  child,  Carrie,  born  February  22,  1870;  but  by  the  lat- 
ter union  there  have  been  four  children,  three  of  whom  are  living.  He 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church  at  Fulton.  Catherine 
Alice  was  born  August  21,  1852,  in  Windsor,  and  died  September  24, 
1869.  She  was  of  unusually  bright  intellect,  and  no  doubt  was  enter- 
tained but  that  close  application  produced  her  early  death.  She  had  for 
two  years  previous  been  identified  with  the  Christian  Church  of  Wind- 
sor. William  S.  Goodin  attended  good  common  schools  in  youth,  and 
at  the  age  of  nineteen  commenced  teaching.  He  was  elected  November 
7,  1882,  to  the  position  of  magistrate  in  Windsor  for  a  term  of  four  ^ 
years.  George  L.  Goodin  was  born  March  16,  1858,  in  the  same  town- 
ship, and,  in  connection  with  his  brother,  William  S.,  is  now  engaged  in 
farming.  Amos  H.  was  born  November  16,  i860,  in  White  Township, 
Benton  County,  Missouri,  and  died  June  24,  1864,  after  an  illness  of  two 
days  from  severe  scalds.  James  W.  was  born  April  30,  1864,  in  White 
Township,  Benton  County,  and  died  February  5,  f88o,  of  pneumonia 
after  an  illness  of  three  days.  Eva  and  Orra,  twin  daughters,  were  born 
December  5,  1869,  and  Orra  died  July  29,  1870.  In  1876  William  S.  and 
George  L.  bought  jointly  iiS  acres  of  land  in  Windsor  Township,  a  part 
of  the  old  homestead,  formerly  belonging  to  their  grandfather,  Benjamin 


58o  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

Goodin,  and  subsequently,  in  1881,  purchased  eighty  acres  more.  In  1882 
they  sold  the  115  acres,  now  having  in  their  possession  the  eighty  acres 
last  purchased.  They  are  working  together,  and  have  thus  far  in  life 
depended  upon  their  own  exertions.  Their  mother  resides  with  them 
and  has  the  management  of  their  household  affairs.  Both,  politically, 
are  Democratic. 

WALLACE  A.  GORHAM, 

owner  and  proprietor  of  Cedar  Cliff  Farm,  was  born  October  27,  1833, 
in  Pittsfield,  Rutland  County,  Vermont.  His  father,  Alonzo  Gorham,  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  was  born  August  15,  1801,  in  Putney,  Vermont, 
while  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mercy  Humphrey,  was  born 
March  24,  1801,  in  Rutland,  of  that  state.  She  traces  her  descent  from 
the  ancestry  of  General  Robert  E.  Lee,  of  civil  war  memory,  and  she 
was  also  a  niece  of  Rev.  Simeon  Parmalee,  who  died  at  the  advanced 
age  of  lOi  years,  in  1882,  after  having  devoted  more  than  seventy  years 
of  his  life  to  the  ministry.  They  were  married  in  May,  1825,  and  to 
them  were  born  six  children:  H.  Lorain,  married  the  Rev.  S.  R.  Wel- 
don,  of  Rockford,  Illinois,  in  1852;  Wallace  A.;  Orange  R.,  who  mar- 
ried Miss  Mary  McDowell,  a  relative  of  Maj.-Gen.  McDowell,  March  10, 
1863;  Laura  J.,  who  married  Col.  Henry  C.  Forbes,  of  the  Seventh  Illi- 
nois Cavalry,  in  September,  i86[;  Diana  M.,  who  married  Dr.  H.  N. 
Caner,  of  Freeport,  Illinois,  in  July,  1859;  Charles  Walker,  who  married 
Miss  Emma  Moore,  daughter  of  Captain  Moore,  of  Lake  Erie  memory. 
In  June,  1846,  Mr.  G.  with  his  family  removed  from  Vermont  to  Rock- 
ford,  Illinois,  remaining  there  until  the  death  of  his  wife,  August  8, 
1866.  He  now  makes  his  home  at  that  place  with  his  son,  Orange  B., 
and  at  the  ripe  age  of  eighty-one  years  is  quite  active  and  in  good 
health.  Wallace  A.  Gorham  enjoyed  good  educational  advantages  in 
youth,  graduating  from  the  Rockford  Institute,  his  preceptors  having 
been  H.  P.  Kimball  and  Prof.  Addison  Brown.  He  was  married  October 
^7.  1857,  to  Miss  Mary,  youngest  daughter  of  Lieut.  D.  W.  and  Lydia 
Grippen,  of  Winnebago,  Illinois,  the  former  belonging  to  Company  G, 
■  Forty-fifth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry.  There  were  five  children  by 
this  union:  Emma  Gertrude,  Olive  Minnie,  Sue  Arabel,  Osseo.  Wabaunsee 
and  Arie  Gail,  all  now  residing  at  Cedar  Cliff.  In  1869  Mr.  G.  sold  his 
farm  in  Illinois  and,  emigrating  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  purchased 
160  acres  of  land  adjoining  Windsor,  on  which  he  remained  for  thirteen 
years.  In  January,  1882,  he  disposed  of  his  property  there  and  bought 
his  present  farm.  He  has  recently  opened  and  is  about  to  commence 
work  extensively  on  a  fine  vein  of  coal  on  his  place,  which  gives  promise 
of  great  success.  J.  C.  Beedy  (banker  of  Windsor)  is  a  stockholder  in 
the  concern.     Mr.  Gorham  has  held  the  highest  offices  in  the  I.  O.  G.  T. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  581 

lodge  of  Windsor.  He,  together  with  his  wife  and  three  children  are 
connected  with  the  Congregational  Church. 

WILLIAM  H.  GRAY, 

section  13,  was  born  in  Accomack  County,  Virginia,  April  7,  1844.  In 
1870  he  came  to  Missouri  and  settled  in  Windsor,  bought  a  farm,  subse- 
quently sold  it,  and  has  been  trading  land  more  or  less  ever  since.  He 
was  a  soldier  in  the  Confederate  army  through  the  war  under  Stonewall 
Jackson,  and  once  received  a  severe  wound.  Mr.  Gray  was  married  in 
Illinois  in  1865,  to  Miss  Frances  M.  Ingraham.  They  have  one  child, 
Willie  Gray,  eleven  years  old,  October  20.  Mr.  Gray  is  a  brick  mason 
by  trade,  and  also  a  brick  ^manufacturer.  He  burned  the  first  kiln  of 
brick  in  the  town,  and  has  since  manufactured  many  of  the  brick  used 
here.  He  has  a  fine  coal  bed  on  his  farm,  which  when  worked  promises 
to  be  of  value. 

HIRAM  H.  HARNSBERGER, 

of  the  firm  of  Harnsberger  &  Ragan,  merchants,  was  born  in  Rocking- 
ham County,  Virginia,  in  1830,  his  parents  being  Jeremiah  and  Eliza- 
beth Harnsberger,  nee  Miller,  both  natives  of  Virginia.  The  latter  died 
in  1880.  They  lived  on  a  farm  and  brought  up  their  children  to  habits 
of  industry,  endeavoring,  as  far  as  was  in  their  power,  to  give  them  a 
good  education.  Hiram,  the  seventh  of  a  family  of  nine  children,  made 
his  start  in  life  by  teaching  school  winters  and  working  on  a  farm  in  the 
summer  seasons.  In  1866  he  started  in  the  mercantile  business  in  Cal- 
houn, Henry  County,  Missouri.  After  one  year  he  left  and  went  to 
Cold  Store  and  in  a  short  time  to  Leesville,  where  he  remained  six 
years.  In  1876  he  came  to  Windsor  and  established  his  present  busi- 
ness. Mr.  Ragan  has  been  with  him  as  partner  for  fifteen  years.  They 
were  playmates  together  when  boys.  Mr.  Harnsberger  married  Nannie 
R.  Galbraith  in  October,  1859.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Hugh  Gal- 
braith,  of  Waverly,  Missouri,  and  was  originally  from  Tennessee.  Her 
mother  was  formerly  Jerusia  Smiley,  born  in  Cooper  County,  Missouri. 
They  have  one  son,  Hugh  B.,  who  has  been  given  an  excellent  educa- 
tion, he  having  spent  three  and  a  half  years  at  the  Central  College., 
Fayette,  Missouri,  and  at  the  LaGrange  College  for  one  year.  He  is  now 
engaged  in  the  store,  and  is  a  thorough  and  promising  business  man. 
Mr.  H.  is  a  staunch  Democrat.  He  belongs  to  the  M.  E.  Church,  South, 
and  also  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  The  firm  of  which  he  is  a 
member  is  doing  a  large  business,  and  necessarily  carry  a  complete 
stock  of  goods.  No  house  in  the  county  stands  higher  for  true  com- 
mercial worth  than  they. 


582  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

FRANCIS  MARION  HAM, 

blacksmith  and  wagon  manufacturer,  was  born  in  Logan  County,  Ken- 
tucky, in  1833,  and  was  the  son  of  Joshua  Plam,  a  native  of  North  Caro- 
lina, who  died  in  1852,  and  Frances  (Wood)  Ham,  who  was  born  in  Con- 
necticut. She  died  in  1859.  Francis  M.  accompanied  his  father  to  Mis- 
souri in  the  spring  of  1845,  and  settled  in  Henry  County.  He  was  brought 
up  on  a  farm  and  enjoyed  the  privileges  of  the  common  schools,  which 
in  those  days  were  rather  meagre.  At  eighteen  years  of  age,  he  learned 
the  blacksmith's  trade,  and  located  in  Windsor  as  the  first  blacksmith  in 
1859.  Since  that  time  he  has  kept  his  shop  in  operation  (except  during 
the  war).  In  1861  he  enlisted  for  the  army,  and  was  in  the  third  com- 
pany sworn  into  the  Confederate  service  in  Jefferson  City — the  Windsor 
Guards  which  became  General  Price's  escort.  He  returned  home  and 
enlisted  in  Collins'  Artillery,  Battery  A,  Shelby's  Brigade  and  Marma- 
duke's  Division.  They  were  much  of  the  time  in  Missouri  and  Arkansas. 
He  remained  until  the  general  surrendered  at  Shreveport,  Louisiana. 
Returning  home  he  again  opened  his  shop,  and  is  now  one  of  the  most 
industrious  citizens  of  the  town.  He  has  been  particularly  fortunate  in 
regard  to  health,  having  never  been  sick  a  day  in  his  life,  when  it  was 
necessary  to  have  a  doctor.  Mr.  H.  was  married  in  1858,  to  Miss  Susan 
A.  Ham,  in  Henry  County.  Her  father  was  William  Ham,  and  her 
mother  Mary  McMillan,  came  from  Kentucky.  They  have  three  child- 
dren  living:  William  J.,  Francis  Mat  ion,  and  Susan  Alice;  one  died  in 
infancy.  Mr.  Ham  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows'  society,  a  member 
of  the  American  Legion  of  Honor,  and  belongs  to  the  A.  O.  U.  ^V.  He 
has  been  an  alderman  of  the  city  for  ten  years,  only  missing  one  year  in 
the  time.  Though  having  commenced  life  under  not  very  favorable  cir- 
cumstances, he  has  at  last  succeeded  in  acquiring  a  good  property  and 
home. 

VINCENT  KELLY  HINES 

was  born  in  Warren  County,  Kentucky,  August  7,  1815.  His  father, 
William  Hines  was  born  in  Virginia  and  moved  to  Kentucky  in  an  earh' 
day.  His  grandfather,  John  Hines,  who  lived  and  died  in  Virginia,  left 
at  his  death  seven  sons  and  three  daughters  by  his  first  wife,  and  two 
sons  and  two  daughters  by  his  second  wife.  Vincent  K.'s  mother  was 
formerly  Betsey  Adams,  a  Virginian  by  birth.  Young  Hines  com- 
menced life  on  a  farm,  which  industry  he  followed  until  1875,  when  he 
retired  and  came  to  Windsor  and  embarked  in  the  lumber  business  with 
C.  C.  Morse,  and  then  with  J.  C.  Beedy.  He  was  also  associated  with  J. 
C.  Beedy  and  C.  C.  Morse.  He  had  come  to  Missouri  in  1866,  purchased 
a  large  farm  and  conducted  it  on  an  extensive  scale,  and  dealing  con- 
siderably in  stock,  etc.     In  1877  he  was  one  of  the  company  who  started 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  583 

the  Windsor  Savings  Bank,  and  is  now  one  of  its  largest  stockholders. 
In  188 1  he  opened  a  large  dry  goods  store,  which  is  managed  by  two  of 
his  sons.  He  has  been  a  money  loaner  all  his  life,  and  has  been  very 
successful  in  his  business  affairs.  Mr.  Hines  married  Miss  Mariah  Stone 
January  23,  1840.  She  was  the  daughter  of  John  Stone,  of  Kentucky. 
They  have  nine  children  living,  James  H.,  Mary  F.,  Louisa  Jane,  Wood- 
fred,  Julia,  Ida,  Frank  B.  and  Volney  G.  John  W.  died  in  1869,  aged 
twenty-three  years.  Mr.  Hines  in  his  political  affiliation  is  a  Democrat, 
and  he  is  also  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South.  He  has  taken  a 
leading  interest  in  all  the  enterprises  of  the  town  and  has  made  his 
influence  felt  in  many  ways  where  money  was  needed  to  forward  an 
undertaking.  He  is  liberal  to  his  church  and  its  benevolences,  and 
does  much  for  every  laudable  enterprise.  His  judgment  is  seldom  at 
fault  in  decisions  of  importance,  and  to  this  characteristic  is,  perhaps, 
due  the  greatest  cause  of  his  success. 

JUDGE  JOHN  SMITH  KELLY, 

merchant,  was  born  in  Newton  County,  Missouri,  in  1842,  being  the 
son  of  Rev.  Jeptha  M.  Kelly,  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  South,  who  was  born 
in  Robinson  County,  Tennessee,  and  who  came  to  Newton  County,  Mis- 
souri, in  1838,  and  to  Windsor  in  1873.  He  married  Miss  Mary  Isabel, 
also  of  Tennessee.  She  died  in  Warsaw,  Benton  County  in  1853. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his  education  at  the  Arcadia 
High  School  in  Iron  County,  Missouri.  He  entered  a  store  in  Warsaw 
in  1854,  when  thirteen  years  of  age,  but  in  1856  left  and  worked  on  a 
farm  for  a  year  at  five  dollars  per  month.  He  then  remained  with  his 
father  on  a  farm  until  the  war,  when  he  entered  the  army  in  the  Okanes 
Battalion,  and  was  in  the  first  battle  of  the  war,  at  Cole  Camp.  They 
then  joined  Governor  Jackson's  and  Price's  army,  and  were  in  every 
engagement  of  the  army.  Mr.  K.  was  shot  through  the  body  at  the  battle 
of  Carthage,  and  seriously  wounded.  He  was  at  the  surrender  at  Shreve- 
port,  Louisiana,  after  which  he  returned  home,  where  he  remained  help- 
ing his  father  and  working  about  for  very  small  pay  for  two  years  or  more. 
In  1869  he  came  to  Windsor  and  entered  into  business  with  Edwin  Bass. 
He  has  now  become  of  the  prosperous  business  men  of  the  city,  and  is 
having  a  large  and  increasing  trade.  Mr.  Bass,  his  partner,  died  Octo- 
ber 15,  1882.  Mr.  Kelly  married  Miss  Susannah  Spencer,  October  22, 
1868.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Perry  and  Susannah  (Wiseman) 
Spencer,  of  Boone  County,  Missouri.  The  former  was  born  and  educated 
in  Baltimore,  Maryland.  They  have  two  children  :  Spencer  J.,  twelve 
years  old,  and  Mary  Eliza,  aged  ten.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat.  He 
belongs  to  the  M.  E.  Church,  South.  In  1882  he  was  elected  county 
judge  for  the  first  district.     He  has  always  been  connected  with  the  city 


584  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

govei'iiment  in  some  capacity,  and  at  present  is  its  clerk.  Since  enter- 
ing into  business,  his  course  has  been  very  marked,  and  he  has  exhibited 
great  business  tact  and  energy  in  all  his  transactions. 

WILLIAM  JOHN  LIVINGSTON, 

of  the  firm  of  W.  J.  Livingston  &  Sons,  merchants,  was  born  in  County 
Down,  Ireland,  in  1824,  and  was  a  son  of  Rev.  Samuel  and  Eliza  (Dalzell) 
Livingston,  both  of  Ireland.  The  former  was  born  in  Port  Ferry  and 
belonged  to  the  Presbyterian  Church.  William  J.  came  to  this  country 
in  1847  and  settled  in  Versailles,  Morgan  County,  Missouri,  and  with  his 
brother,  Jonas,  remained  there  until  the  gold  excitement  in  California  in 
1849,  when  in  April  of  that, year  they  left  for  that  region.  They  devoted 
their  time  in  the  mines  till  185 1  and  were  successful  in  finding  valuable 
diggings,  and  found  some  remarkable  specimens,  one  solid  chunk  of 
almost  pure  gold  weighing  fifty-nine  and  half  ounces  and  worth  $1,175, 
and  another  square  block  weighing  one  pound.  Upon  returning  he 
started  a  store  in  Pleasant  Mount,  Miller  County,  Missouri,  and  after 
nine  years  there  sold  out.  In  1867  he  came  to  Windsor  and  opened  a 
store,  it  being  among  the  first  in  town.  He  has  two  sons,  who  were 
brought  up  to  learn  this  business,  and  they  are  now  competent  business 
men  and  are  partners  in  the  store.  They  carry  a  large  general  stock  of 
goo.ds  and  are  doing  a  remunerative  business.  Mr.  Livingston,  in  con- 
nection with  M.  L.  Stafford,  deals  extensively  in  grain.  He  married  in 
1855  Miss  Sarah  E.  Burress,  daughter  of  Andrew  Burress,  of  Pleasant 
Mount,  Missouri.  They  have  by  this  union  five  children  living:  Fred- 
erick Chandler,  James,  Annie,  Willie  J.  and  Lida.  Dr.  Samuel  D.,  their 
oldest  son,  died  October  5,  188 1.  He  graduated  when  twenty  years  old 
and  was  a  fine  scholar  and  a  general  favorite  with  all.  He  settled  in 
Windsor  in  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and  had  built  a  good  reputa- 
tion and  was  doing  well.  Mr.  L.  in  politics  is  a  Democrat.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Christian  Church  and  belongs  to  the  Masons. 

THOMAS  w.  Mckinley 

was  born  May  8,  1835,  in  Weston,  Lewis  County,  West  Virginia.  He 
received  but  a  common  education,  and  in  1848  went  to  California,  at  the 
age  of  sixteen  years,  where  he  made  a  sojourn  of  ten  years,  accumulat- 
ing quite  a  snug  fortune.  On  his  return  to  his  native  state,  in  1859,  he 
married  Miss  Margaret  Nealy,  of  Doddridge  County.  There  were  four 
children  by  this  union,  two  sons  and  two  daughters,  three  of  whom  are 
still  living.  He  buried  his  wife  during  the  summer  of  1869.  Nearly 
two  years  thereafter  he  married  Miss  Anna  Adams,  of  Parkersburg, 
Wood  County,  West  Virginia,   February  7,    1871.     To  them  were  born 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  585 

three  children,  two  daughters  and  one  son,  all  living.  He  emigrated 
from  Virginia  to  Plenry  County,  Missouri,  in  March,  1861,  and  bought  a 
large  tract  of  fine  farming  and  pasture  lands,  nearly  1,000  acres  in 
extent,  in  Windsor  Township,  his  residence  commanding  a  fine  view  of 
Windsor  and  the  surrounding  country.  This  was  known  as  the  Gale- 
wood  farm.  In  1871  he  returned  to  Virginia,  but  came  back  here  the 
same  year,  and  from  that  time  until  1880  was  engaged  in  farming  and 
the  general  raising  of  stock.  He  died  August  23,  1880,  having  been,  as 
was  supposed,  murdered  in  his  room  in  Sedalia,  as  his  dead  body  was 
found  two  days  thereafter  in  one  of  the  rooms  of  the  Elgin  House  in 
that  city.  He  was  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W,,  under  whose  auspices 
he  was  buried  on  the  26th  inst.  Mrs.  McKinley,  since  her  husband's 
death,  has  continued  to  conduct  the  farm,  and  keeps  it  well  stocked  and 
in  a  prosperous  condition.  She  still  owns  630  acres,  upon  which  is  a 
finely  furnished  and  commodious  brick  house.  She  is  connected  with 
the  Episcopal  Church  of  Sedalia. 

JOSEPH    MEANS, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  was  born  December  i,  1812,  in  Christian  County, 
Kentucky.  His  father,  Robert  Means,  also  a  farmer  by  occupation,  was 
born  in  1778,  in  North  Carolina,  while  his  mother,  formerly  Miss  Sarah 
McDonald,  was  born  in  1792,  in  Kentucky.  They  were  married  in  1806. 
and  by  this  union  had  five  sons  and  four  daughters,  three  of  whom  are 
still  living.  They  emigrated  from  Kentucky  to  Howard  County,  Mis- 
souri, in  1818,  and  purchased  160  acres  of  land,  remaining  there  until 
1832,  when  they  sold  the  farm  and  moved  to  Benton  County,  Missouri. 
Mr.  Aleans  died  in  1844,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years,  and  his  widow 
survived  him  until  1863,  when  she  died.  Joseph  Means  commenced  at 
the  age  of  twenty-one  years  to  manage  affairs  for  himself  and  bought  his 
first  farm  of  200  acres  near  the  present  town  of  Windsor,  in  1833.  He 
remained  there  until  1849,  when  he  sold  it  and  bought  another,  located 
on  section  3,  of  the  same  township,  where  he  still  resides.  He  is  a  prac- 
tical farmer,  and  manages  his  farm  in  an  able  manner,  and  also  deals 
quite  extensively  in  stock.  Mr.  M.  married  Miss  Sarah  Osborn,  of  Henry 
County,  Missouri,  December  22,  1837.  By  this  union  there  have  been 
born  six  sons  and  four  daughters,  of  whom  three  sons  and  a  daughter  are 
now  living.     Mr.  M.  belongs  to  Windsor  Lodge,  No.  29,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. 

JOHN  DANIEL  MELVIN, 

furniture  dealer  and  cabinet  maker,  was  born  in  Logan  County,  Ohio,  in 
January,  1843,  his  parents  being  Benjamin  and  Isabel  (Cockerell)  Mel- 
vin.     The  former  was  born  in  Harper's  Ferry  and  the  latter  in  Loudoun 


586  HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 

County,  Virginia.  In  the  spring  of  1854  Mr.  Melvin  moved  to  Missouri 
and  settled  in  Pettis  County,  on  his  farm.  John  D.  received  a  common 
school  education  and  in  1865  he  learned  the  cabinet  maker's  trade.  He 
also  became  familiar  with  the  carpenter's  trade  and  was  a  builder  and 
contractor  for  many  years.  In  1870  he  came  to  Windsor,  and  started 
the  cabinet  business  and  a  furniture  store  in  1874.  J.  V.  B.  Tryon,  of 
Sedalia,  started  the  first  cabinet  business  in  the  place.  Mr.  Melvin  mar- 
ried Miss  Catharine  Fitz  Hugh  Taylor,  in  1872.  She  is  the  daughter  of 
R.  F.  Taylor,  Esq.,  who  was  a  pioneer  of  this  city,  owning  the  land 
where  the  city  was  first  built,  and  he  surveyed  it  out  into  lots.  Her 
mother  was  formerly  Ann  Fitz  Hugh.  Politically  he  is  a  Democrat,  and 
he  belongs  to  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  His  partner  in  business,  Lawrence  R.  F. 
Berry,  was  born  in  Windsor  in  1861.  His  father,  Lawrence  Berry,  was 
in  business  here  for  several  years  and  owned  a  fine  farm  near  town.  He 
died  in  1862,  leaving  one  son,  L.  R.  F.  His  wife  was  Eliza  Taylor, 
daughter  of  Judge  Jonathan  T.  Taylor,  who  is  one  of  the  earliest  pio- 
neers of  the  county.  The  widow  Berry  married  D.  D.  Black,  ot  Wind- 
sor, in  1867.  Young  Lawrence  received  a  fine  education  in  the  Windsor 
and  Sedalia  schools.  He  engaged  in  the  furniture  business  in  Septem- 
ber, 1882,  with  J.  D.  Melvin,  and  they  now  keep  a  good  assortment  of 
furniture  and  coffins.  The  are  accommodating  and  polite  in  their  tran- 
sactions and  are  growing  in  popular  favor. 

ISAAC  W.  MITCHELL 

was  born  in  Somerset  County,  Maryland,  September  26,  1827,  his  father, 
James  Mitchell,  who  was  born  in  Delaware  in  1797,  dying  in  1862.  His 
mother's  maiden  name  was  Ann  Mezick  and  was  born  in  Maryland  in 
1799;  she  died  in  185  i.  The  former  learned  the  shoe  trade  and  followed 
it,  together  with  farming  and  selling  goods  through  life.  Isaac  W.,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  received  a  common  education  and  learned  the 
tailor's  trade,  which  he  continued  for  several  years.  He  worked  for  some 
time  as  a  daguerreian  artist,  and  in  1S5  i  he  came  to  Missouri  and  stopped 
in  Charleston  and  studied  medicine  with  his  brother,  Geo.  Mitchell,  a  dis- 
tinguished physician.  In  1853  he  settled  in  Washington,  District  of 
Columbia,  and  opened  a  fine  family  grocery,  w^hich  he  conducted  for  two 
years.  In  1855  ^^e  sold  out  and  came  to  Springfield,  Greene  County,  and 
engaged  in  farming.  He  next  moved  to  Rockbridge,  Ozark  County,  and 
started  a  general  store  and  operated  this  until  1861,  when,  disposing  of 
it,  he  returned  to  Springfield  and  worked  in  Fort  No.  i.  In  1862  he 
visited  his  native  state  and  settled  on  the  old  farm  and  entered  his 
father's  store,  where  he  continued  to  trade  until  1867.  He  then  came  to 
Raleigh,  Phelps  County,  Missouri,  bought  a  drug  store  and  subsequently 
purchased  a  farm.     After  farming,  clerking  and   working  on  a  railroad 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  587 

until  1875,  he  returned  to  his  farm  in  Raleigh  and  raised  three  crops. 
He  then  came  to  Windsor  in  1877  and  opened  a  grocery  store,  but  after- 
wards sold  it.  In  1880  he  went  to  Colorado,  crossed  the  range,  opened 
a  store,  and  after  getting  it  well  started  left  it  with  his  two  sons,  Charles 
F.  and  Edward  H.,  and  he  returned  to  Windsor.  In  the  fall  he  bought 
out  a  grocery  store  and  has  been  occupied  in  conducting  it  since.  Mr. 
Mitchell  married  Miss  Elizabeth  L.  Hearn  November  14,  1852.  She  was 
the  daughter  of  Ichabod  Hearn,  of  Maryland.  Her  mother  was  Lucretia 
(Harris)  Hearn,  of  Maryland.  They  have  eight  children  living:  Charles 
F.,  Lucretia  Ann,  Edward  H.,  Isaac  L.,  Georgia  Etta,  Hattie  Belle,  Gra- 
de and  James.  Six  died  in  infancy.  Charles  F.  learned  the  printing 
business.  In  1875  he  studied  medicine,  and  attended  lectures  at  the 
Louisville  Medical  College  and  at  the  Kentucky  School  of  Medicine, 
and  after  the  third  course  he  graduated  at  the  Louisville  Medical  Col- 
lege in  February,  1879  ^s  a  specialist  in  gynaecology.  He  practiced  in 
Howell  County  for  two  years  previous  to  graduating.  After  completing 
his  course  he  left  for  Colorado.  The  brothers  have  fine  mines  and  are 
working  them  successfully.  Mr.  Mitchell,  politically,  is  a  Democrat. 
Both  he  and  Mrs.  Mitchell  are  Baptists,  and  he  belongs  to  the  order  of 
A.  L.  H. 

WILLIAM  MORELANE 

was  born  in  Franklin  County,  Pennsylvania,  in  1838.  His  father,  John 
Morelane,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  was  a  son  of  John  Morelane, 
a  native  of  Ireland.  William's  mother  was  formerly  Catharine  Wahl, 
born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  her  ancestry  came  from  Germany.  In  1850 
John  Morelane  moved  to  Carroll  County,  Illinois,  and  the  same  year  to 
Cedar  County,  Iowa,  where  he  bought  a  tract  of  land  and  made  a  farm, 
becoming  quite  an  extensive  stock  raiser.  He  had  a  family  of  five 
children,  of  whom  William  is  the  oldest.  He  remained  at  home  until 
twenty-four  year  old,  when,  in  the  spring  of  1863,  he  went  to  California 
and  remained  three  years,  working  on  a  ranch.  He  also  conducted  a 
hay  yard  for  a  time  in  Carson  City,  Nevada.  He  returned  to  his  farm 
in  Iowa,  but  sold  out  soon  and  came  to  Butler  County,  Missouri,  where 
he  farmed  for  two  years,  and  in  the  spring  of  1870  he  moved  to  Windsor 
and  has  since  been  engaged  in  business.  He  erected  the  first  business 
house  in  Windsor  after  the  railroad  had  been  built,  and  established  a 
market  and  feed  establishment.  He  started  a  regular  meat  market,  and 
has  kept  it  open  most  of  the  time  since  then.  In  1873  he  started  a  fine 
grocery  in  connection  with  his  market.  In  1877  he  retired  from  his 
grocery  and  embarked  in  handling  stock,  which  he  followed  for  three 
years.  Then  he  again  gave  his  attention  to  the  market.  Mr.  M.  mar- 
ried Miss  Mary  L.  Dickinson  July  3,  1864,  in  Carson  City.  She  was  born 
in  Ohio,  but  was  reared  in  Iowa.     She  died  October  7,  1879,  i"  Windsor. 


588  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

His  second  wife  was  Delia  J.  Owsley,  whom  he  married  February  22, 
1 88 1.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Mrs.  McGee,  of  this  city.  They  have  one 
child,  Mary  Catharine.  Politically  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  he  belongs  to 
the  order  of  A.  L.  H.  and  A.  O.  U.  W.  Mr.  Morelane's  grandfather  and 
great-grandfather  were  in  the  revolutionary  war,  and  participated  in  the 
battle  of  Baltimore  and  others. 

CHAUNCEY  CARLOS  MORSE, 

was  born  in  Chittenden  County,  Vermont,  August  lO,  1836,  being  the 
son  of  Joseph  and  Susannah  Morse,  7icc  Gleason,  both  natives  of  Little- 
ton, New  Hampshire,  They  had  nine  children,  of  whom  six  are  now 
living:  Samuel,  aged  seventy  years;  Allen,  aged  sixty-six;  Russell  J., 
aged  fifty-five;  Edwin  R.,  aged  fift3^-two;  Charles  C,  twin  brother  of 
Chauncy  C,  now  residing  at  Lincoln,  Nebraska.  These  twins  were  the 
}'oungest  of  the  family,  born  when  their  mother  was  fifty  years  of  age. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  until  sixteen  years  of  age,  had  pnly  such  edu- 
cational advantages  as  could  be  obtained  at  the  district  school.  From 
this  time  for  three  years,  through  his  own  efforts,  he  succeeded  in  receiv'- 
ing  a  partial  academic  course  at  Barry  Academy,  at  Barry,  Vermont, 
then  entering  in  earnest  upon  the  scenes  of  life's  responsibilities.  He 
was  engaged  in  clerking  ard  otherwise  employed  until  1863,  when  he 
went  into  the  army  of  the  Potomac  in  the  capacity  of  a  sutler.  He  was 
with  that  division  during  its  stay  at  City  Point,  in  front  of  Richmond, 
and  was  at  the  surrender  of  Fort  Fisher,  and  on  to  the  final  surrender. 
After  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned  to  Vermont  April  19,  1866,  he 
closed  his  commercial  collegiate  course  in  Bryant  &  Stratton's  Mercan- 
tile College,  in  Burlington,  Vermont,  there  receiving  his  diploma.  In 
1867,  he  came  west,  and  located  in  Johnson  County,  Missouri,  engaging 
in  agricultural  pursuits  for  the  next  five  years.  In  1872,  he  moved  to 
Windsor,  Henry  County,  Missouri,  where  he  now  resides.  Mr.  Morse 
has  been  actively  engaged  in  general  business  since  his  stay  here,  the 
leading  of  which  has  been  in  connection  with  the  United  States  mails, 
in  which  he  has  been  occupied  for  some  ten  years.  He  is  also  a  partner 
in  the  fruit  evaporator  business,  which  has  become  a  desirable  industry 
for  the  fruit  growers  and  its  owners  of  Windsor  and  vicinity.  He  owns 
a  large  interest  in  coal  mining  at  Calhoun,  Missouri,  the  firm  being 
Morse  &  Gidney.  Mr.  M.  married  Miss  Angie  A.  Beedy,  October  23, 
1867.  She  was  the  daughter  of  John  Beedy,  and  a  sister  of  Messrs  [.  C. 
and  B.  W.  Beedy,  of  this  city.  They  have  by  this  happy  union  twO' 
children  living:  Charles  Burton  and  P211a  Angie.  Carlos  L.  died  P^ebru- 
ary  15,  1872,  aged  one  year  and  ten  months.  Politically  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican. Himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Congregational  Church. 
He  also   belongs  to  the    Masonic   fraternit}-,  I.  O.  O.  Y .  and  A.  L.  of  H. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  589 

Mr.  Morse  has  recently  built  an  elegant  residence,  one  of  the  most  desir- 
able in  the  county,  occupying  it  in  January,  1883. 

GEORGE  LAFAYETTE  NEALE, 

photographer,  was  born  in  New  Madrid  County,  Missouri,  September 
29,  1836.  His  father,  Thomas  Neale,  was  born  in  Henry  County,  Ken- 
tucky, November  23,  1801.  He  came  to  New  Madrid  County  in  1819, 
and  remained  until  1849  when  he  moved  to  Johnson  County,  a  (ew  miles 
north  of  Windsor,  purchasing  a  large  tract  of  land.  He  was  engaged 
for  thirty  years  in  boating  on  the  Mississippi  River,  first  as  a  common 
hand,  then  as  pilot  and  then  for  years  as  captain.  In  this  capacity  and 
occupation  he  became  very  wealthy,  adding  farm  to  farm  and  keeping 
his  river  business  in  operation  at  the  same  time.  He  died  in  February, 
1879.  His  wife,  formerly  Margaret  Davidson,  was  born  in  Barren  County, 
Kentucky,  in  1806,  and  died  in  1845.  George,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  well  educated,  his  early  life  being  spent  in  school.  In  1856  he 
learned  the  photograph  business  and  has  been  in  the  business,  and  has 
had  an  interest  in  a  gallery  ever  since.  He  has  kept  up  with  the  many 
varied  improvements  and  is  a  most  artistic  workman.  In  1872  he  became 
cashier  in  the  banking  house  of  Thomas  Neale  &  Company  and  was 
engaged  there  for  four  years.  He  was  then  interested  in  the  furniture 
business  for  two  years,  after  which  he  returned  to  his  gallery.  Mr.  N. 
married  Miss  Amanda  S.  Duncan  in  1857.  She  was  the  daughter  of 
Samuel  Duncan,  Esq.,  who  came  to  Missouri  in  1835,  and  to  this  county 
in  1853,  settling  near  Windsor.  He  died  October  31,  1882.  Her  mother's 
maiden  name  was  Parilla  Bass,  born  in  Boone  County,  Missouri.  They  have 
three  children  :  Samuel  Edwin,  Bettie  Honley  and  Katie  Lee.  Polit- 
ically Mr.  Neale  is  a  Democrat.  Mrs.  N.  belongs  to  the  M.  E.  Church, 
South.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F-.  and  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  lodges, 
in  which  he  takes  a  deep  and  active  interest. 

Byers  Wylie  Huey,  of  the  firm  of  Neale  &  Huey,  photographers, 
was  born  in  Brown  County,  Ohio,  January  13,  1852,  being  the  son  of 
George  Huey,  of  Pennsylvania,  who  died  in  1863.  His  mother's  maiden 
name  was  Hannah  Hughes.  She  was  born  in  Virginia  in  1809,  and  came 
to  Windsor  with  her  son,  Byers  in  1869.  He  worked  on  a  farm  for  two 
years,  and  in  June,  1880,  commenced  the  photograph  business  with  Mr. 
Neale,  and  later  became  a  partner  in  the  business..  He  married  Miss 
Sophia  Williams  in  1863.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Elijah  Williams  of  this 
county,  and  was  born  in  Indiana.  Her  mother  was  Olive  Davis,  of 
Indiana.  Mrs.  Huey  died  September  25,  1876,  leaving  two  children  : 
Frank  Smith  and  Blanche  Pearl.  He  is  noble  grand  of  the  Odd  Fel- 
lows Lodge  and  orator  of  the  order  of  A.  L.  of  H.,  and  is  a  prominent 
member  of  these  fraternities,  and  in  his  business  transactions  is  a  favorite 
with  those  who  know  him  best. 


590  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

ROLLA  NEIGH  OWSLEY, 

of  the  firm  of  Shelton  &  Owsley,  grocers  and  produce  dealers,  is  a 
native  of  Johnson  County,  Missouri,  and  was  born  in  1858.  His  father, 
John  N.  Owsley,  and  born  in  Boone  County,  November  20,  1819,  and 
removed  to  this  county  in  1832,  with  his  father,  Anthony  Owsley,  a  Vir- 
ginian by  birth.  John  N.  Owsley  was  for  forty  years  an  extensive  and 
profitable  dealer  in  horses  and  mules,  purchasing  them  in  this  market 
and  selling  in  the  south.  During  the  war  he  lost  heavily  on  security 
debts,  through  the  south,  yet  after  the  war  he  was  enabled  to  start  anew 
and  thus  regained  much  of  his  lost  fortune.  At  his  death,  in  Decem- 
ber, 1877,  he  left  a  large  estate  to  his  family  of  nine  children.  Mrs. 
Owsley  is  still  living  on  the  old  homestead  with  her  two  unmarried 
daughters,  Bettie  and  Pearl.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  fifth 
child  of  the  family.  He  attended  the  normal  school  at  Warrensburg, 
and  fitted  himself  for  a  business  man,  and  subsequently  bought  an  inter- 
est in  H.  C.  Churchill's  drug  store.  After  a  year  or  more  he  sold  out 
and  built  the  large  livery  barn  east  of  the  Bass  House,  and  started  the 
livery  business.  This  he  conducted  for  eighteen  months,  disposed  of 
the  stock,  etc.,  to  Burton  &  Collins,  the  present  proprietors,  but  retained 
the  barn.  Then  he  purchased  an  interest  in  his  present  business  with 
George  J.  Shelton.  They  erected  their  store  in  1882  and  commenced 
the  grocery  business  in  July.  They  are  doing  a  very  large  grocery 
trade,  and  pack  and  ship  produce  of  all  kinds.  During  the  fall  of  1882 
they  bought,  packed  and  sold  12,000  bushels  of  apples.  Mr.  O.  married 
Miss  Nettie  Pierce,  of  Windsor,  June  27,  1880.  She  was  the  daughter 
of  Matthew  Pierce,  a  former  sheriff  of  Benton  County,  he  having  moved 
from  Illinois.  Her  mother  was  formerly  Mary  Thompson,  also  of  Illi- 
nois. Mr.  Pierce  died  in  1876,  and  Mrs.  Pierce  in  1879.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Owsley  have  one  child,  Mary,  born  April  8,  1882.  Mr.  Pierce  at  his 
death  left  1,000  acres  of  land  and  valuable  property  in  Warsaw,  Benton 
County,  besides  a  large  personal  estate  to  Mrs.  Owsley.  Politically  Mr. 
O.  is  a  Democrat,  and  he  belongs  to  the  A.  L.  of  H.  of  which  he  is  an 
active  member.  He  is  peculiarly  well  fitted  for  the  business  in  which 
he  is  now  engaged,  and  is  generous,  kind  and  affable  to  all  with  whom 
he  comes  in  contact. 

JESSE  M.  PICKERILL 

was  born  in  Brown  County,  Ohio,  January  19,  1831.  His  father,  William 
F.  Pickerill,  who  was  born  in  Virginia,  died  in  April,  1864,  and  his 
mother,  formerly  Abbie  Fisher,  was  born  in  Ohio  and  is  of  German  par- 
entage. Jesse  M.  was  brought  up  as  a  farmer,  and  in  March,  1852,  he 
emigrated  to  Woodford  County,  Illinois,  and  in  1853  bought  a  farm,  on 
which  he  lived  for  eight  years.    In  the  fall  of  1859  he  moved  to  Missouri 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  59I 

and  settled  in  Henry  County  in  Springfield  Township.  Returning  in 
1861  to  Ohio,  he  remained  there  during  the  war.  In  September  he  enlisted 
in  the  Fifth  Ohio  Cavalry  under  Captain  Henry  and  Colonel  Taylor,  and 
was  at  the  battles  of  Shiloh,  Pittsburg  Landing  and  in  many  of  the  hard- 
fought  battles  of  the  war.  His  horse  fell  with  him  while  near  Corinth, 
injuring  him  severely,  and  this  perhaps  had  much  to  do  in  causing  his 
death.  He  received  his  discharge  at  Camp  Dennison  on  account  of  dis- 
ability, and  returned  home  in  1863.  In  March,  1867,  he  came  back  to 
his  home  in  Henry  County,  and  from  that  time  on  was  very  successful 
in  his  farming  operations.  He  owned  185  acres  of  improved  land,  with 
commodious  and  convenient  buildings.  In  1874  he  discovered  that 
broom  corn  was  well  adapted  to  this  soil  and  was  the  first  man  to  try 
the  experiment,  and  found  that  it  was  one  of  the  most  profitable  crops 
raised.  He  married  Miss  Sarah  A.  Smithson  April  10,  185 1.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  Thomas  H.  Smithson,  of  Maryland,  who  was  born  in  1805. 
He  was  raised  in  Kentucky,  and  in  1826  he  moved  to  Brown  County, 
Ohio,  where  Sarah  was  born  September  18,  1831.  Her  mother  was  for- 
merly Elizabeth  Wright,  daughter  of  Gilbert  Wright,  born  near  Harris- 
burg,  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  P.  had  eleven  children:  William  H., 
Sarah  Emma  (Mrs.  Alonzo  Foster),  Elizabeth  (Mrs.  Judson  Gray),  George 
F.,  Samuel  W.,  Eva  Baker,  Belle  Duvall,  Worthington  W.,  Jesse  M.,  Dora 
L.  and  Minnie  E.  Politically,  Mr.  P.  was  a  Republican.  He  and  his  wife 
both  joined  the  Christian  Church  in  October,  185 1.  He  was  once  elected 
justice  of  the  peace  and  served  several  years,  and  also  belonged  to  the 
Masons.  He  was  a  thorough  business  man,  and  in  that  secured  the 
friendship  and  confidence  of  all.  Not  long  before  his  death  he  moved 
to  Windsor,  bought  a  comfortable  residence  and  started  a  broom  fac- 
tory, in  which  business  he  was  engaged  at  the  time  of  his  demise,  which 
occurred  December  20,  1882. 

W.  B.  POMEROY, 

deceased,  was  born  in  Georgetown,  Brown  County,  Ohio,  oa  the  7th  day 
of  February,  1841.  His  father  was  Don  Pomeroy,  a  native  of  Vermont, 
and  the  maiden  name  of  his  mother  was  Annie  Owens.  The  youth  of 
W.  B.  was  spent  in  his  native  county  and  in  Hancock  County,  Illinois, 
on  a  farm.  During  the  late  war  he  served  on  the  staff  of  General  Bel- 
knap, and  was  with  Sherman  in  his  "  march  to  the  sea."  In  the  spring 
of  1867  he  came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  and  opened  the  first  drug 
store  in  Windsor  and  became  one  of  the  leading  and  progressive  citi- 
zens of  the  town.  He  was  a  staunch  Republican,  and  in  his  religious 
preferences  a  consistent  member  of  the  Congregational  Church.  He 
married  Miss  Emma  Glover,  daughter  of  W.  T.  and  Agnes  Glover.  Mr, 
Pomeroy  departed  this  life  November  29,  1879. 


592  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

HON.  GP:0RGE  J.  SHELTON, 

was  born  in  St.  Charles  County,  Missouri,  July  24,  1841.  In  1852,  he 
accompanied  his  father  to  Warren  County,  and  in  1855,  they  moved  to 
Texas,  locating  in  Hill  County,  near  the  Brazos  River,  where  the  senior 
Shelton  became  largely  engaged  in  stock  raising.  In  January,  1861, 
having  had  but  a  limited  education,  George  entered  Bosqueville  College. 
In  June  of  the  same  year  "  the  loud  trump  of  war"  was  heard,  and  filled 
with  enthusiasm  for  the  Confederate  cause,  he  left  home  and  marched 
forth  to  the  field  of  battle,  joining  Captain  Peter  Ross'  Independent 
Scouts.  At  that  time  no  troops  were  allowed  to  leave  that  part  of  the 
state,  they  being  held  as  frontier  reserves.  In  August  they  took  up  their 
line  of  march  for  Kansas.  At  Dallas  they  joined  Colonel  B.Warren 
Stone's  Regiment,  and  soon  met  Generals  Benjamin  McCullough  and 
Price,  at  Neosho,  Missouri,  when  they  were  ordered  to  Springfield,  and 
he  was  one  of  the  number  who  went  into  Springfield  while  it  was  occu- 
pied by  the  enemy,  and  ordered  to  leave  the  city.  On  Christmas  day  he 
was  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Christianolla,  on  Bird  Creek.  Here  young 
Shelton  distinguished  himself,  as  on  many  other  occasions,  as  a  brave 
and  gallant  soldier.  The  battle  was  hotly  contested,  the  Indians  num- 
bering ten  to  one.  They  had  set  the  grass  on  fire  and  were  fighting  in 
the  smoke  for  protection.  Seeing  one  of  his  comrades  fall,  Mr.  S.  cast 
his  eye  to  the  right,  noticed  from  whence  the  shot  came,  rode  swiftly  in  the 
direction,  and  was  soon  engaged  in  a  hand  to  hand  battle  with  the  red 
man.  The  contest  was  short  and  decisive,  for  very  soon  he  returned  to 
his  command  amidst  the  shouts  and  cheers,  with  the  scalp  of  the  Indian 
dangling  from  his  bridle.  The  Confoderates  succeeded  in  capturing  the 
whole  camp.  He  was  in  the  battles  of  Keetsville,  Bentonville,  Elkhorn, 
and  many  others  of  less  note.  In  1862,  they  were  dismounted  in  Arkan- 
sas, taken  to  Memphis  and  Corinth,  and  were  at  the  battles  of  Farming- 
ton  and  Corinth,  under  General  Beauregard.  He  was  also  in  the  second 
battle  of  Corinth,  and  was  one  of  the  eighteen  who  went  into  Fort  Rob- 
inet,  where  he  received  a  grape  shot  wound.  The  severe  march  to  Holly 
Springs,  after  the  battle  of  Yellow  Bushey,  going  three  days  without  food 
or  sleep,  was  calculated  to  cool  the  ardor  of  the  most  zealous.  They 
were  remounted  by  order  of  General  Price,  at  Lumpkin's  Mills,  and  the 
next  day  they  met  the  enemy  at  a  little  town  twenty  miles  from  Coffey- 
ville.  Shelton,  as  one  of  the  advance  guard,  engaged  the  enemy,  or  their 
advance  guard,  and  succeeded  in  capturing  four  pieces  of  artillery  and 
several  prisoners.  He  was  next  in  the  raid  to  Holly  Springs,  which  was 
a  continuous  fight  for  fifteen  days  and  nights.  In  February,  1863,  they 
were  ordered  to  Tennessee,  and  had  several  small  fights  about  Franklin. 
The  next  combat  with  the  enemy  was  at  Thompson's  Station.  In  the 
second  charge  he  received  a  bad  wound   in  the  ankle.     Mr.  Shelton  was 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  593 

taken  to  the  hospital  at  Columbia,  then  to  Pulaski,  thence  to  Quitman, 
Mississippi,  and  was  discharged  August  lO,  1863.      Purchasing  a  small 
mule  he  started  on  his  lone  journey  for  his  home  in  Texas.     At  daylight 
he  procured  a  small  boat  and  crossed  the  Mississippi  River,  swimming 
his  mule,  in  sight  of  a  strong   garrison.     He  was  on   several   occasions 
offered  commissions,  but  always  declined,  preferring  the  ranks  of  his  old 
regiment  to  any  position.     He  started  with  his  crutches  in  hand,  for  his 
old  command,  and  very  soon  met  the  returning  regiment,  who  told  him 
the  sad  news,  that  the  cause  for  which   he  had  fought  so  long  and  loved 
so  well,  was  no  more,  and  with  a  sad  heart  he  retraced  his  steps.  Though 
without  means,  he  was  possessed  of  an  indomitable  ambition  and  hope, 
and  he  at  once  commenced  work,  first  purchasing  a  small  drove  of  cattle 
on  time.     These  he  drove  to  New  Orleans,  and  being  without  money  got 
trusted  on  the  way,  until  his  return.     This  trip  was   unsuccessful.     He 
next  bought  a  number  of  ponies,  and   took  them  to  St.  Charles  County, 
Missouri,  where  they  were  disposed  of,  bought  tobacco,  and   by  wagon 
went  back  to  Texas.     Selling  his  tobacco  at  a  good  profit,  he  purchased 
cattle,  and  herded  them  with  his  father's  stock.     April  26,  1869,  Mr.  S. 
married  Miss  Ann  Bailey  Allen,  who  had  lived  in  the  neighborhood  of 
his  youth.     In  the  following  May  he  moved  to  Texas,  taking  a  large 
quantity  of  tobacco,  and   bought  135   steers,  drove   them  as  before,  and 
was  again  successful.     The  next  spring  he  returned  and  became  a  full 
partner  with  his   father.     They  now  bought    1,265    head  of  cattle,  and 
made  another  remunerative  trip.     In  1870,  he  moved  his  wife  to  this 
county.  The  Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas  Railroad  having  been  completed, 
this  cut  off  his  cattle  business,  and  he  now  turned  his  attention  to  farm- 
ing and  the  feeding  of  stock.      In    1877,  he   came    into  Windsor,  and 
engaged  in  the  lumber  trade  and  dealing  and  shipping  of  stock.    In  1880, 
he  received  the  Democratic  nomination  for  representative  in  the  legis- 
lature, receiving  within  four  votes  as  many  as  his  two  opponents.   He  was 
elected  at  the  following  election  by  a  large  majority,  and  as  a  member  of 
the  house  he  served  with   great  distinction,  always  having  in  view  the 
best  interests  of  his  county  and  state.     He  was  very  successful  in  fight- 
ing monopolies  and  extravagance  in  every  department  of  the  govern- 
ment.    Mainly  through  his  efforts  several  bills  of  great  importance  to 
the  state  were  passed,  and  have  become  laws-     He  embarked  in  the  gro- 
cery business  in  Windsor,  the  firm  now  being  Shelton  &  Owsley,  grocers 
and   produce  dealers,  and  he  also  is  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Shelton, 
Strauss  &  Bass,  large  and  successful  stock  dealers  of  the  place.     He  is  a 
director  of  the  bank,  treasurer  of  the  school  board,  and  Worthy  Master 
of  Amazonia  Lodge,  No.  in,  A.  O.  U.  W.     Mr.  and   Mrs.  Shelton  have 
six  children:    Effie  L.,  Mary  C.  Birdie  A.,  Cora  S.,  Georgie  A.,  Pines  C, 

Willie  L.     Georgie  A.  died  July  31,  1881. 

m 


594  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN  SMITH,  M.  D., 

druggist  and  physician,  was  born  in  Saline  County,  Missouri,  May  12, 
1827,  and  was  the  son  of  Abraham  Smith,  a  Virginian  by  birth,  who 
lived  for  many  years  in  Tennessee  where  he  married  Miss  Sarah  Pierce. 
In  1822  he  moved  to  Missouri,  and  in  1838  he  died  when  forty-eight 
years  of  age.  His  wife  was  born  in  Tennessee  in  1801  and  died  in  1881. 
B.  F.  Smith  received  a  common  school  education  and  was  very  studious 
in  youth.  He  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Hobbs,  of  Independence,  in 
1848,  and  graduated  from  the  University   of  Louisville,   Kentucky,  in 

1852,  and  has  been  an  active  practitioner  since  that  time.  Locating  in 
Warrensburg,  he  practiced  for  five  years,  going  thence  to  Eldorado, 
Missouri,  where  he  lived  until  1865.  Then  he  moved  to  Carson  City, 
Colorado,  and  started  a  drug  store,  and  entered  into  a  large  practice 
which  was  continued  until  1872,  when  he  returned  to  Windsor,  Missouri. 
He  bought  out  the  drug  store  of  M.  L.  Stafford,  and  has  since  been  doing 
a  large  business  and  attending  to  a  remunerative  practice.  In  1846  he 
enlisted  in  the  Mexican  war  under  Colonel  A.  W.  Doniphan  in  Captain 
J.  W.  Reed's  Company,  of  Saline  County.  He  remained  with  Colonel 
Doniphan  through  all  his  memorable  marches,  until  the  expiration  of 
his  time,  receiving  much  credit  from  his  commander  for  gallant  conduct 
on  the  field  of  battle.  Since  returning  home  the  doctor  has  crossed  the 
plains  to  Colorado  and  New  Mexico  several  times,  and  has  traveled  up 
and  down  in  the  mountains  for  a  1,000  miles,  spending  some  ten  years 
in  that  country.  He  was  elected  county  treasurer  of  Fremont  County, 
Colorado,  in  1864  and  re-elected  in  1868,  serving  for  four  years.  In  1873 
he  received  Robert  M.  Funk  as  a  partner  in  the  drug  business,  and  this 
firm  are  still  doing  the  business.      He  married  Miss  Adeline   Depp   in 

1853,  in  Warrensburg,  Missouri.  She  was  the  daughter  of  John  Depp, 
of  Kentucky,  and  was  born  in  1832.  They  have  five  children  :  Oscar 
L.  (now  prosecuting  attorney  ot  Carter  County,  Missouri),  Benjamin  O. 
(telegraph  operator  on  the  Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas  Railroad),  Vir- 
ginia Wallace  (Mrs.  B.  D.  Patrick,  of  Appleton  City,  Missouri),  Jesse 
Fremont  and  Lelia  (Mrs.  W.  H.  Walker,  whose  husband  is  editor  and 
publisher  of  the  Windsor  Review).  Politically  the  doctor  is  a  Democrat. 
He  has  been  an  Odd  Fellow  for  thirty-four  years  and  a  Mason  for  thirty- 
two  years,  and  he  is  a  member  of  both  lodges  in  this  city.  He  has 
indeed  been  the  architect  of  his  own  fortune,  and  his  reputation  as  a 
practitioner  is  wide  spread. 

PROF.  WILLIAM  H.  SMITH, 

county  superintendent  of  schools  and  principal  of  the  Windsor  schools, 
was  born  in   Abingdon,  Illinois,  in    1855.     His  father  J.  B.  Smith  was  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 


595 


Kentucky  birth,  as  was  also  his  mother,  formerly  Harriet  Amos.  They 
moved  to  Illinois  in  an  early  day,  and  came  to  Missouri  in  1858,  but  dur- 
ing the  war  returned  to  Illinois.  In  1867,  they  settled  in  Calhoun,  Henry 
County,  Missouri,  where  they  lived  for  several  years.  William  H.  was 
the  second  of  four  children.  From  his  boyhood  he  was  determined  ta 
obtain  an  education,  and  accordingly  his  spare  time  was  spent  in  study 
and  preparing  for  college.  He  entered  Abingdon  College,  Illinois,  and 
in  1880  graduated  with  great  credit.  In  1875  he  commenced  teaching 
and  paid  his  own  expenses  through  college.  In  the  spring  of  188 1,  he 
was  elected  school  superintendent  of  Henry  County.  The  same  year  he 
was  principal  of  the  Union  School.  Professor  Smith  has  done  much  to- 
improve  the  schools  of  the  county,  and  has  so  systematized  and  arranged 
the  whole  system  that  every  one  is  justly  proud  of  the  school,  and  its 
elevating  influence  upon  society. 

ISAAC  E.  SOBEY, 

lumber  merchant,  was  born  on  the  ocean,  on  the  passage  from  England 
to  France,  in  183 1.  His  parents,  Thomas  Sobey  and  Elizabeth  nee 
Perry,  were  born  in  England,  but  both  were  of  Scotch  ancestry.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  seventh  of  a  family  of  thirteen  children 
He  came  to  this  country  with  his  parents  in  1852  and  settled  in  Dubu- 
que, Iowa,  on  a  farm,  and  in  i860  he  went  to  Colorado  and  engaged  in 
mining,  remaining  there  until  September,  1861.  Then  he  enlisted  in 
the  Rocky  Mountain  Rangers  Regiment,  raised  by  Gov.  John  Gilpin,  and 
was  there  until  the  spring  of  1862,  when  the  command  was  ordered  to 
New  Mexico,  under  Capt.  John  B.  Sexton.  They  were  all  through  Utah, 
Arizona,  New  Mexico,  Colorado  and  Nebraska.  Mr.  S.  re-enlisted  and 
remained  in  the  army  from  1861  to  1865,  serving  as  quartermaster  and' 
clerk  much  of  the  time.  Returning  to  Denver,  Colorado,  he  leceived  an^ 
honorable  discharge.  After  visiting  home  he  again  went  to  the  plains 
in  1866,  in  the  interests  of  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad  Company,  and 
remained  with  them  until  1869.  In  the  spring  of  1869  he  went  to  Fort 
Scott,  in  the  interest  of  the  Fort  Scott  &  Gulf  Railroad,  being  interested 
in  contracts,  etc.  In  1870,  after  completing  these  contracts,  he  kept 
books  for  a  large  wholesale  house  in  Fort  Scott.  In  the  fall  of  1870  he 
became' connected  with  the  Fort  Scott  Planing  Mill  Company  until  it 
was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1875.  He  worked  at  the  carpenter's  traide  for 
three  years,  and  in  1879  was  appointed  street  commissioner  for  the  city. 
In  March,  1880,  he  came  to  Windsor  in  the  interest  of  G.  W.  Dulany  & 
Co.,  as  manager  of  their  lumber  yard,  which  was  started  in  1877.  Mr. 
Sobey  married  Miss  Eliza  E.  Hatch,  in  1868.  She  was  the  daughter  o^ 
William  Hatch,  of  Dubuque  County,  Iowa.  They  have  two  children, 
Florence  E.  and  Jesse  C.     Mr.  S.  politically  is  a  Democrat.     He  is  an 


596  HISTORY    0I<~    HENRY    COUNTY. 

active  and  well  informed  Mason,  and  belongs  to  the  A.  O.  U.  W.,  and  to 
the  American  League  of  Honor.  He  is  an  excellent  bookkeeper  and 
accountant,  having  learned  this  profession  in  England.  Mr.  Sobey  will 
be  remembered  by  the  old  settlers  of  Cheyenne  as  having  built  the  first 
house  of  that  city. 

M.  L.  STAFFORD, 

was  born  in  Guilford  County,  North  Carolina,  October  5,  1834,  and  was 
the  son  of  Z.  J.  Stafford,  a  native  of  Stafford  County,  Virginia,  whose 
father  w^as  Robertson  Stafford.  The  wife  of  Z.  J.  Stafford,  formerly 
Hannah  Haines,  was  of  a  Quaker  family,  originally  from  Pennsylvania. 
She  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Isaac  Haines,  of 
Pennsylvania.  Her  uncles,  Jacob,  Joshua  and  Job,  were  early  settlers  of 
Dayton,  Ohio.  Young  Stafford  early  exhibited  a  remarkable  taste  for 
books.  When  a  boy  he  was  once  sent  by  his  father  to  market,  and  there 
saw  for  the  first  time  a  book  store.  Delighted  as  he  was  he  purchased  a 
number  of  books,  and  while  on  the  way  home,  iio  miles,  devoured  them 
by  the  light  of  pine  knot  camp  fires.  He  completed  his  education  at 
Trinity  College,  of  North  Carolina,  and  after  leaving  school  entered  the 
wholesale  grocery  and  cotton  house  of  A.  W.Steele,  at  Fayetteville,  that 
state,  remaining  there  for  four  years.  In  the  spring  of  1856  he  removed 
to  Illinois,  taught  school  for  a  time  at  Lima,  and  in  1857  came  to  Mis- 
souri, locating  in  Saline  County.  In  1863  he  visited  the  mountains  of 
Colorado,  Montana  and  California,  and  spent  the  time  until  1866  in  min- 
ing. Returning  to  Pettis  County,  he  opened  a  drug  store  in  Dresden, 
and  in  1870  he  came  to  Windsor  and  started  a  like  establishment  here, 
which  he  conducted  for  five  years.  He  was  the  first  man,  in  company 
with  Capt.  J.  M.  Burrus,  to  introduce  the  raising  of  flax  in  the  county, 
and  this  industry  has  grown  from  a  few  hundred  bushels  shipped  at  first, 
to  fifty  car  loads,  shipped  during  the  season  of  1882.  In  1879,  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  W.  J.  Livingston  in  the  grain  trade,  in  which  he  is  now 
engaged.  Politically  Mr.  Stafford  is  a  Democrat,  and  in  1878  he  was  asked 
for  permission  to  lay  his  name  before  the  county  convention  for  repre- 
sentative, but  declined.  In  1882  he  declined  to  become  a  candidate  for 
county  judge.  He  is  a  man  well  read  and  far  better  posted  on  politics, 
public  men  and  the  current  literature  of  the  day  than  the  average  per- 
son, and  now  his  greatest  pleasure  is  to  be  found  in  the  quiet  of  his  home 
with  something  new  and  instructive  to  read.  He  married  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Patrick  of  Saline  County  in  1870.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Miles 
and  Barshalic  (Oliver)  Patrick,  the  former  of  Kentucky.  The  latter  was 
a  sister  of  Mr.  M.  Oliver.  They  have  two  children:  Florence  and  Fred. 
Mr.  S.  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity.  He  is  connected  with  the 
Peytons,  an  old  and  influential  family  of  Virginia. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  5(  7 

JACKSON  SYMPSON, 

blacksmith,  was  born  in  Monroe  County,  Kentucky,  December  4,  1825. 
His  father,  Henry  Sympson,  who  was  born  in  Kentucky,  died  in  Monroe 
County  in  1858.  His  mother,  formerly  Catherine  Cantrel,  of  the  same 
state,  died  many  years  ago.  Jackson  learned  his  trade  in  Monroe  County, 
and  in  a  short  time  became  a  good  workman,  naturally  being  very  inge- 
nius.  He  started  business  first  in  Burkesville,  Cumberland  County,  in 
1847,  and  also  did  business  in  Mud  Camp  and  at  Marrow  Bone  store,  and 
in  1855  he  moved  to  Parke  County,  Indiana.  Two  years  after  he  moved 
to  Montgomery  County,  and  in  1871  he  came  to  Windsor,  and,  v/ith  the 
exception  of  living  two  years  in  Benton  County,  has  been  here  since  that 
time.  He  has  done  a  leading  business  here,  has  built  a  fine  brick  shop 
with  three  forges,  and  has  been  enabled  to  turn  out  all  kinds  of  work. 
Mr.  S.  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Lough  July  13,  1847,  in  Cumberland 
County,  Kentucky.  See  was  the  daughter  of  Thomas  Lough  and  Mary, 
nee  Burhon,  all  of  Kentucky.  They  have  three  sons:  Henry  Thomas, 
William  Jackson  and  Jacob  Sanford.  The  sons  have  learned  this  trade 
and  are  doing  the  harder  work  in  the  shop.  Politically,  Mr.  S.  is  a  Repub- 
lican, and  he  and  his  wife  belong  to  the  Christian  Church.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  society  of  Odd  Fellows.  His  son,  Henry  Thomas,  mar- 
ried Miss  Katie  Smith,  daughter  of  William  H.  Smith,  January  4,  1883. 

WILLIAM  RICHARD  TAYLOR, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  is  the  owner  of  330  acres  of  land,  and  resides  on 
section  9.  He  was  born  in  Oldham,  Kentucky,  August  18,  18 18,  his 
father  being  John  Taylor,  a  native  of  Jefferson  County,  Kentucky.  His 
grandfather,  William  Taylor,  was  a  major  through  the  Revolution.  Wil- 
liam's mother,  formerly  Mariah  F.  Barber,  was  a  Virginian  by  birth.  In 
1838  John  Taylor  moved  to  Missouri  and  settled  on  section  17,  in  Wind- 
sor Township,  where  his  family  grew  up  and  assisted  in  clearing  and 
improving  the  farm.  William  R.  was  the  eldest  of  five  children.  He 
studied  hard  by  himself  to  procure  an  education  sufficient  to  enable  him 
to  do  business  and  was  faithful  at  home  in  assisting  his  father.  In  1850 
he  went  to  California  and  returned  in  185 1,  having  worked  in  the  mines 
most  of  the  time.  On  his  return  he  entered  a  store  in  Calhoun  as  clerk, 
and  remained  until  the  spring  of  1856,  when  he  was  elected  county 
assessor  and  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  office  for  two  years.  He 
was  deputy  sheriff  under  Robert  Allen  in  1846-47.  In  1848  he  was 
elected  sheriff  and  also  re-elected  in  1858  and  i860.  In  1861  he  resigned. 
In  1875,  under  the  new  town  organization,  he  was  elected  judge.  Mr. 
Taylor  has  ever  been  one  of  the  most  active  men  in  all  railroad  enter- 
prises and  other  improvements  affecting  the  interests  of  the  county.    He 


598  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

was  married  in  November,  1852,  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Watkins,  who  subse- 
quently died.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Frank  Watkins,  of  Boone  County, 
Missouri,  originally  from  Kentucky,  and  a  niece  of  General  Nat.  Wat- 
kins, who  is  so  well  known  in  Southeast  Missouri.  She  left  four  children  : 
Henry  P.,  John  F.,  William  E.  and  Minnie  C.  He  married  for  his  second 
wife  Miss  Elenor  M.  Berry,  a  daughter  of  Judge  J.  T.  Berry,  of  Henry 
County.  Politically  Mr.  T,  has  always  been  a  Clay  Whig.  He  belongs 
to  the  Masons.  Very  few  men  among  the  early  pioneers  of  this  county 
will  have  more  lasting  and  pleasant  recollections  to  follow' them  the 
remainder  of  their  days  than  Mr.  Taylor. 

RICHARD  FERGUSON  TAYLOR, 

farmer  and  merchant,  was  born  in  Louisville,  Kentucky,  August  17,  1820. 
His  father,  Major  William  Taylor,  was  born  in  Virginia  in  1756  and  died 
in  1829  in  Kentucky.  His  mother  was  formerly  Elizabeth  Courts,  of 
Virginia,  who  died  in  1849.  The  former  was  in  the  revolutionary  war 
and  served  with  Washington  for  eight  years,  and  was  promoted  to  major 
and  served  in  that  capacity  much  of  the  time.  He  had  seven  brothers. 
and  all  served  with  him  through  the  war.  One  only  was  wounded,  and 
died  in  consequence.  From  an  old  letter  written  in  1852  at  the  pension 
office,  we  learn  that  in  178 1  the  major  received  5,333^  acres  of  land  from 
the  government  for  his  services.  In  1800  he  received  889I  acres  in  full 
for  seven  years'  service.  In  1808  he  received  889I  acres  for  his  eight 
years'  service.  In  1839  Richard  F.  came  to  Windsor  Township  and  set- 
tled five  miles  west  of  this  place.  He  entered  160  acres  and  improved 
it,  and  in  i8!;2  he  moved  into  Windsor,  having  bought  the  land  where 
the  city  now  stands.  He  improved  his  place  and  started  the  first  store 
in  the  town,  in  1853.  He  has  since  lived  here,  working  his  farm  and  run- 
ning a  store  much  of  the  time.  He  has  150  acres  adjoining  the  city,  with 
a  good  residence  and  everything  comfortable  and  desirable.  He  married 
Miss  Ann  Fitz  Hugh,  of  Virginia.  They  have  six  children  living,  all 
married:  Eliza  (Mrs.  David  Black),  Henrietta  F.  (Mrs.  Dr.  J.  B.  Brame), 
Eleanor  Madison  (Mrs.  John  Houston),  Montgomery,  Catherine  F.  (Mrs. 
John  Melvin),  and  Robert  Henry  Couts.  President  Taylor  was  a  rela- 
tive of  the  family,  and  R.  F.'s  father's  aunt  was  the  mother  of  President 
Madison.  He  was  the  first  postmaster  of  this  place,  appointed  by  Presi- 
dent Fillmore,  and  held  the  office  for  nine  years.  He  is  now  justice  of 
the  city,  has  been  its  mayor  and  has  held  various  positions  of  trust, 
which  he  is  most  competent  to  fill.  In  his  political  predilection  he  is  a 
Democrat,  and,  religiously,  a  Presbyterian.  He  has  for  many  years  been 
a  Mason  and  is  now  secretary  of  Windsor  Lodge,  No.  29.  We  find  but 
few  men  living  whose  fathers  were  in  the  revolutionary  war.  Major  Tay- 
lor was  seventy  years  old  at  the  birth  of  R.  F.,  in  1820. 


; 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  599 

JOHN  FITZHUGH  THORNTON, 

was  born  in  Oldham  County,  Kentucky,  July  8,  1826,  his  parents  being 
Fitzhugh  Thornton  and  Caroline  Matilda,  nee  Fitzhugh,  both  Virgin- 
ians by  birth.  His  paternal  ancestry  was  from  Wales  and  the  two  fam- 
ilies came  over  and  first  met  at  Plymouth  Rock,  and  settled  in  Virginia. 
They  have  inter-married  and  have  been  identified  together  ever  since. 
John's  father  came  to  Missouri  and  settled  in  Henry  County  in  1840  and 
bought  the  Arbuckle  farm,  where  he  lived  and  prospered  until  Decem- 
ber, 1861,  when  he  died.  Mrs.  T.  died  in  1863.  Young  Thornton  was 
the  youngest  of  a  family  of  thirteen  children.  He  grew  up  to  manhood 
and  for  a  time  resided  on  the  old  homestead.  After  selling  that  farm 
he  bought  his  present  place,  on  section  8,  of  242  acres  of  improved  land. 
He  is  unmarried,  and  the  only  member  of  the  large  family  living.  His 
sister,  Sarah  Ann,  married  James  Todd,  of  Kentucky,  and  died  in  1846, 
leaving  two  children,  Eliza  Jane  and  Catharine;  their  mother  died  in 
1873.  Eliza  Jane  died  in  1871.  Catharine  married  James  Wyatt  Tay- 
lor, and  they  are  now  living  with  Mr.  Thornton.  They  have  two  child- 
ren, Anna  and  Lida.  Anna  married  William  Harris.  In  1852  Mr.  T. 
went  to  California,  and  remained  for  two  years  occupied  in  farming.  By 
his  own  exertion  and  economy  he  has  added  to  the  estate  left  him  and 
is  now  among  the  prosperous  and  independent  farmers  of  the  county. 
He  has  many  friends  in  this  community. 

ALEXANDER  N.  WADDILL 

was  born  in  what  is  now  Tebo  Township,  Henry  County,  Missouri, 
December  21,  1838,  his  parents  being  John  S.  and  Sophia  Waddill,  nee 
Doak.  They  were  both  born  near  Jonesboro',  in  Washington  County, 
Tennessee,  the  former  on  February  16,  1799,  and  their  marriage  occured 
in  that  state  January  6,  1831.  To  them  were  born  four  children— three 
sons  and  one  daughter,  and  with  the  exception  of  one  son,  all  are  living: 
Samuel  W.  born  December  5,  183 1,  died  at  Virginia  City,  Nevada,  in 
1878;  Rebecca  J.,  born  March  13,  1835;  Alexander  N.,  as  mentioned 
above,  and  James  N.,  born  May  i,  1843.  Ii^  1838  Mr.  W.  emigrated  with 
his  family  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  settling  in  Tebo  Township,  where 
he  purchased  something  over  200  acres  of  land,  and  here  they  remained 
during  life.  Mrs.  Waddill  died  June  27,  1843,  and  about  four  years  there- 
after, Mr.  W.  married  Mary  A.  Pinkston,  of  this  county.  They  had  by 
this  union  four  daughters  and  three  sons,  and  of  these,  three  daughters 
and  two  sons  survive.  Alexander  N.  received  a  good  common  schooling, 
which  he  supplemented  by  attending  the  seminary  at  Calhoun  for  one 
winter.  In  the  spring  of  1861  he  took  a  trip  to  California,  and  in  about 
■eighteen  months    went  to    Nevada,  where  he  remained  for  three  years 


600  HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 

and  a  half.  His  father  having  died  February  ii,  1865,  he  returned  home 
in  the  fall  of  the  same  year.  In  1866  he  purchased  too  acres  of  land  on 
sections  25  and  26,  with  his  residence  on  section  25,  to  which  he  subse- 
quently added  eighty- five  acres.  Jariuary  5,  1868,  he  married  Miss 
Fannie  Carter,  of  this  county.  They  have  three  sons:  Robert  D.,  John 
C.  and  Alexander  Thomas,  and  three  daughters:  Eliza  J.,  Alice  N.  and 
May.  Mr.  Waddill  is  one  of  the  thriving  farmers  of  the  county,  and  is 
quite    an  extensive    stock    raiser.       In  his    political    preferences   he  is 

Democratic. 

CHARLES  M.  WALLAR,. 

attorney  at  law,  was  born  in  Washington  County,  Ohio,  September  9, 
1854.  Rev.  James  Lee  Wallar,  his  father,  now  of  Enfield,  White  County, 
Illinois,  belongs  to  the  southern  Illinois  Conference.  He  was  born  in 
Rutland,  Vermont,  Novembr  25,  18 19,  and  learned  the  stone  cutting 
business  in  the  marble  quarries  of  that  place.  He  then  studied  law  and 
practiced  for  several  years  in  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  in  Marietta.  The 
practice  of  his  profession  was  not  preferable  to  him,  so  he  abandoned  it 
and  entered  the  ministry  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in 
Meigs  County,  Ohio,  and  raised  125  young  men  for  three  month's  ser- 
vice, and  was  captain.  At  the  close  of  this  time  he  entered  Company 
A,  second  West  Virginia  Cavalry,  together  with  his  company  of  young 
men.  Captain  W.  was  promoted  to  major,  and  participated  in  many 
severe  battles  under  command  of  Colonel  Paxton.  After  leaving  the 
army  he  removed  to  Richland  County,  Illinois,  joined  the  conference 
and  engaged  in  preaching.  He  married  Miss  Fanny  E.  Gammard,  and 
they  had  seven  children,  of  whom  four  are  now  living.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  is  the  fourth  son  of  the  family.  He  received  his  education 
at  McKendrie  College,  Lebanon,  Illinois,  and  subsequently  read  law 
with  Judge  Bell,  of  Mt.  Carmel,  Illinois,  and  S.  P.  Wheeler,  of  Cairo,  and 
was  admitted  to  practice  by  the  supreme  court  of  Illinois  July  4,  1876, 
only  sixteen  out  of  a  class  of  forty-two  being  admitted.  During  this 
time  he  was  obliged  to  teach  school  in  order  to  study  his  profession. 
He  commenced  practicing  in  Newton,  Illinois,  in  1876,  and  in  May,  1882, 
he  located  in  Windsor,  Missouri.  Though  a  comparatively  recent  arri- 
val here  he  has  become  one  of  the  foremost  citizens  of  the  place,  and  is 
having  a  good  practice.  Mr.  Wallar  married  Miss  Laura  C.  Townsend 
January  27,  1878,  She  was  the  daughter  of  William  S.  Townsend,  of 
Mt.  Carmel,  Illinois.  They  have  one  son,  Charles  B.,  born  January  20, 
188 1.  Politically  he  is  a  Democrat.  He  belongs  to  the  M,  E.  Church, 
South. 

WILLIAM  H.  WALKER, 

the  popular  editor  and  publisher  of  the  Windsor  Review,  is  the  son  of 
Wyatt  Walker,  Esq.,  who  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  where  he  resided 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  60I 

until  1856,  in  that  year  moving  to  Pittsylvania  County,  Virginia.  There 
he  remained  until  1870,  working  at  his  trade  of  wagon  making.  In  1870 
he  settled  in  Henry  County,  Missouri,  and  here  still  resides,  carrying  on 
his  former  business.  He  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  South,  and  a 
local  minister  of  that  denomination.  William  H.,  the  youngest  of  eight 
children  of  Wyatt  and  Pamelia  Walker,  was  born  in  Yanceyville,  North 
Carolina,  March  25,  1855.  His  mother  was  a  Gilchrist,  of  North  Caro- 
lina,  a  name  quite  common  in  that  section  of  the  state.  William  received 
his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  Virginia  until  sixteen  years  of 
age,  when  he  entered  a  hardware  store  in  Windsor,  being  employed  for 
two  years  as  clerk.  His  tastes  inclining  toward  journalism,  he  entered 
the  office  of  the  Windsor  Helmet  as  an  apprentice,  and  when  that  paper 
was  moved  to  Tuscumbia,  Miller  County,  he  followed  its  fortunes  and 
remained  in  the  office  altogether  about  eighteen  months.  Leaving  there 
he  was  employed  on  the  various  papers  in  Southwestern  Missouri,  until 
1876,  when  he  returned  to  Windsor  and  started  the  Windsor  Review,  a 
family  paper  devoted  to  the  building  up  of  the  material  industries  of 
that  section  of  Henry  County.  With  this  object  in  view,  he  has  care- 
fully avoided  committing  his  paper  to  the  support  of  any  political 
organization.  Owing  to  his  ability  as  a  writer  and  his  practical  sagacity 
as  a  business  man,  he  has  succeded  in  building  up  a  successful  news- 
paper where  older  and  more  experienced  journalists  have  failed.  His 
paper  has  one  of  the  largest  circulations  of  any  in  Southwest  Missouri. 
Though  holding  aloof  from  party  politics,  Mr.  Walker  is  outspoken  and 
decided  on  all  questions  of  general  interest,  and  gives  free  expression  to 
his  judgment  of  public  men  and  measures,  and  proves  the  independence 
of  his  journal.  Politically,  his  personal  affiliations  are  with  the  Demo- 
crats, but  in  his  editorial  capacity  he  knows  no  party,  but  advocates 
such  measures  and  supports  such  candidates  as  in  his  honest  judgment 
will  advance  the  interests  of  the  community  at  large.  Though  but  a 
young  man  he  has  made  an  enviable  reputation  for  himself  at  home,  and 
is  becoming  favorably  known  abroad.  Mr.  Walker  married  Miss  Lelia 
Smith,  October,  15,  1882.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Dr.  B.  F.  Smith  and 
Adaline  Smith  nee  Depp,  of  Windsor.  The  latter  was  a  native  of  Mis- 
souri. 

THOMAS  J.  WELLS, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  was  born  November  2,  1837,  in  Barren  County, 
Kentucky,  where  he  received  a  good  English  education.  His  father, 
Ahasuerus  Wells,  who  was  born  in  1797,  in  Kentucky,  married  in  18 18, 
Miss  Nancy  Fisher,  who  was  born  March  3,  1800,  in  the  same  state. 
They  had  eight  children,  of  whom  only  two  are  living:  John  Burgess, 
and  Thomas  J.  Mr.  Wells  died  in  1837.  Mrs.  W.  was  married  again  in 
1842,  to  William  Courts,  of  Kentucky.     By  this  union   there  were  two 


602  HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 

sons  (twins),  William  and  Walter.  Walter  died  in  1844,  and  William  is 
now  a  resident  of  Pettis  County.  In  1843,  they  emigrated  from  Ken- 
tucky to  Carroll  County,  Missouri,  where  Mr.  Courts  engaged  in  farm- 
ing, remaining  for  one  year.  Then  he  removed  to  Cole  County,  of  the 
same  state,  but  after  one  year  came  to  Henry  County,  and  was  for  two 
years  occupied  in  tilling  the  soil.  He  died  in  1847.  About  a  year  later 
his  widow  married  James  Black,  of  Polk  County,  Missouri.  She  died  in 
1863  at  the  age  of  sixty-three  years,  and  Mr.  Black  died  in  1877,  aged 
one  hundred  and  one  years.  He  was  one  of  the  last  of  the  veterans  of 
1776.  Tt  was  in  honor  of  him  that  Fort  Black,  of  Revolutionary  memory 
received  its  name,  he  being  a  colonel  in  the  federal  army  of  that  period. 
T,  J.  Wells  was  married  January  12,  i860,  to  Miss  Nancy  E.  Richards,  of 
Hickory  County,  Missouri.  By  this  union  there  were  eleven  children, 
seven  daughters  and  four  sons:  Julia  A.,  Kittie  E.,  Nancy  A.,  Johnnie 
W.,  Ben.  E.,  Minnie  E.,  Felix  H.,  Maggie  H.,  Lulia  A.,  Ettie  E.,  and 
Thomas  J.  Jr.  Five  of  these  are  dead.  Kittie  E.  died  August  18,  1863; 
Johnnie  W.  died  June  18,  1866  ;  Lulia  A.  died  May  13,  1877;  Thomas  J. 
died  October  3,  188 1,  and  Ettie  E.  died  November  3.  188 1.  Mr.  Wells 
came  to  Windsor,  Henry  County,  Missouri,  March  2,  1879,  and  there 
embarked  in  farming,  since  which  time  he  has  steadily  pursued  that 
branch  of  industry.  Himself  and  wife  are  identified  with  the  Baptist 
Church  of  Windsor.     His  political  preferences  are  Democratic. 

MRS.  NANCY  A.  WILLIAMS, 

daughter  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  Lane,  and  widow  of  the  late  lamented 
Major  John  W.  Williams,  was  born  January  4,  1805,  near  Jonesboro,  in 
Washington  County,  Tennessee.  A  sketch  of  her  husband  will  be  found 
in  another  part  of  this  volume.  They  were  married  January  13,  1822, 
and  by  this  union  had  twelve  children.  Samuel  K.  was  born  October 
30,  1822.  He  married  Miss  Almira  Jane  Mars,  of  Johnson  County,  Mis- 
souri, December  13,  1848.  Warren  W.  was  born  December  2,  1824,  and 
died  May  23,  1845.  Sophronia  C.  was  born  December  8,  1826,  and  mar- 
ried William  L.  Avery,  of  Henry  County,  Missouri,  January  17,  1843. 
Mr.  Avery  died  March  2,  1875,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  probate 
judge  of  the  county  of  Henry,  and  had  served  also  as  county  judge,  and 
had  filled  other  offices  of  honor  and  trust  faithfully  and  with  acceptance 
to  the  people.  Elizabeth  Jane  was  born  January  30,  1829,  and  died 
August  5,  183 1.  Henrietta  L.  was  born  December  31,  1830,  and  mar- 
ried Dr.  William  Huff,  of  Johnson  County,  Missouri,  October  31,  1853. 
She  was  left  a  widow,  and  November  21,  1865.  she  married  Thomas  G. 
Cock,  of  Henry  County,  Missouri,  whose  sketch  appears  in  the  history 
of  the  county.  Susan  J.  was  born  March  8,  1833,  and  married  William 
H.  Hammons,  of  Pettis  County,  Missouri,  August   13,  1854.     Mr.   Ham- 


BIOGRAnilCAL.  603 

mons  died  in  the  hospital  during  the  year  of  1862  at  Little  Rock, 
Arkansas.  His  widow  married  Rev.  Benjamin  F.  Lawler,  of  this  county, 
November  21,  1865.  Maria  M.  was  born  January  29,  1835,  and  married 
John  S.  Pigg,  of  Henry  County,  Missouri,  September  6,  1855.  John  M. 
was  born  January  13,  1837.  He  enlisted  as  private  under  General  S. 
Price,  and  was. killed  in  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge  March  7,  1862.  Nancy 
L.,  who  was  born  December  24,  1838,  married  Thomas  J.  Creil,  of  Pettis 
County,  Missouri,  January  18,  1883.  Mary  F.,  born  October  12,  1840, 
married  Leslie  L.  Hurlbut,  of  Homer,  Courtland  County,  New  York, 
November  27,  1865.  Henry  A.  was  born  November  2,  1843,  ^^^  died 
December  23,  1861,  at  Springfield,  Missouri,  as  private  in  the  army,  from 
the  effects  of  poison,  morphine,  being  administered  instead  of  the  medi- 
cine intended.  Virginia  was  born  October  23,  1846,  and  is  living  with 
her  aged  mother.  Mrs.  Williams  left  Tennessee,  her  native  state,  in 
company  with  her  parents,  at  the  age  of  nine  years,  and  settled  in  War- 
ren County,  Kentucky,  in  the  year  18 14,  where  they  remained  until 
death.  Major  John  W.  Williams  emigrated  from  Kentucky  to  Henry 
County,  Missouri,  in  1836.  He  first  bought  a  tract  of  400  acres  at  the 
head  of  Tebo,  but  in  1850  sold  this  land  and  went  to  California.  Dur- 
ing his  absence  of  three  years  Mrs.  W.  bought  160  acres.  He  returned 
in  1852,  and  in  1854  he  was  elected  representative,  and  was  one  of  the 
leading  men  of  Henry  County  during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  Mrs. 
Williams  still  owns  a  choice  farm  of  several  hundred  acres  in  Windsor 
Township,  about  midway  between  Windsor  and  Calhoun.  Besides  her 
eight  children  living,  she  has  twenty-eight  grandchildren,  and  twenty- 
one  great-great-grandchildren.  She  has  for  forty-seven  years  been  a 
member  of  the  Sardis-Bethlehem  Baptist  Church,  of  which  she  was  one 
of  the  constituent  members.  In  writing  the  history  of  that  church,  it 
has  been  found  that  she  is  the  only  surviving  member  of  the  original 
number.  Her  husband  was  for  many  years  connected  with  the  same 
church.  Her  children  are  all  identified  with  some  religious  denomina- 
tion. 

JOHN  WOODARD, 

the  owner  of  a  fine  farm  of  415  acres,  located  about  two  miles  north  of 
Windsor,  was  born  September  5,  1816,  in  Randolph  County,  North  Car- 
olina, acquiring  his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  that  locality. 
His  father  was  born  in  May,  of  1792,  in  Virginia,  and  his  mother  in  1780, 
in  Randolph  County,  North  Carolina.  They  were  married  in  1812,  and 
to  them  were  born  five  children,  three  daughters  and  two  sons,  of  whom 
there  are  living  two  sons  and  two  daughters.  They  emigrated  from 
North  Carolina  in  1819,  locating  in  Howard  County.  Missouri,  where  he 
purchased  160  acres  of  land  remaining  there  until  1840,  and  then  com- 
ing to  Henry  County.     They   settled   near  Windsor  and   resided   there 


604  HISTORY    OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 

until  death.  Mr.  Woodard  died  in  1859  and  his  widow  in  1877.  H^e  left 
a  large  estate  to  be  divided  among  his  children.  John  Woodard  had 
visited  Henry  County,  then  Rives,  in  1836,  pre-empting  160  acres  in  his 
own  name,  which  is  still  a  part  of  his  possessions.  About  this  time  he 
was  married.  In  T859  he  bought  140  acres  in  this  county,  and  in  1866 
he  added  115  acres,  lying  in  Johnson  County,  near  or  adjoining.  Mrs. 
W.  departed  this  life  April  13,  188 1.  Some  time  ago  Mr.  Woodard's 
generous  nature  prompted  him  to  aid  a  supposed  friend,  in  consequence 
of  which  he  became  a  heavy  loser,  yet  he  still  has  an  excellent  farm,  and 
is  now  known  as  one  of  the  honest  and  substantial  men  of  this  locality. 
He  handles  stock  to  quite  an  extent.  His  political  views  are  Demo- 
cratic. 

OGLESBY  L.  YOUNG, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  was  born  September  17,  1835,  in  St.  Charles 
County,  Missouri,  where  he  received  a  good  education.  His  parents 
were  Oglesby  Young,  born  in  Pittsylvania  County,  Virginia,  and  a  farmer 
by  occupation,  and  Jane  (Love)  Young,  who  was  born  in  1809  in  the 
same  state.  They  were  married  in  1824  and  had  twelve  children,  of 
whom  there  are  eight  living.  In  183 1  they  emigrated  from  Virginia  to 
St.  Charles  County,  Missouri.  Mrs.  Young  died  in  i860,  since  which 
time  Mr.  Y.  has  resided  in  that  county,  and  though  seventy-nine  years 
of  age,  is  still  strong  and  robust.  Oglesby  L.  Young  married  Miss  Char- 
lotte Virginia  Bird,  of  St.  Charles  County,  March  4,  1862.  By  their 
marriage  there  have  been  eleven  children,  six  sons  and  five  daughters, 
ten  of  whom  survive.  He  remained  in  his  native  county  until  October 
3,  1882,  when  he  came  to  Henry  County,  settling  in  Windsor  Township, 
where  he  has  bought  356  acres  of  farming  land  under  fine  improvement 
on  section  23,  two  and  a  half  miles  south  of  Windsor.  He  is  one  of  the 
enterprising  farmers  of  his  locality,  and  is  intending  to  raising  stock  to 
a  large  extent.  He  served  as  one  of  the  State  Guards  under  General 
Sterling  Price  for  six  months  during  the  war;  then  returned  home  and 
bought  a  farm  of  120  acres  in  St.  Charles  County,  which  he  commenced 
to  cultivate.  After  living  upon  it  for  about  twelve  years  he  sold  it  and 
purchased  one  consisting  of  156  acres  in  the  same  county,  where  he 
remained  until  coming  to  Henry  County.  Religiously,  he  and  his  wife 
are  Methodists.  In  his  political  preferences  he  is  Independent,  uphold- 
ine  the  best  men  for  office. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  605 


DEEPWATER  TOWNSHIP. 


W.  W.  ADAMSON, 

farmer  and  stock  dealer,  section  10,  is  a  native  of  Vernon  County,  Mis- 
souri, and  was  born  October  18,  1847.  His  father,  William  Adamson, 
was  a  Kentuckian  by  birth,  as  was  also  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Frances  Arbuckle,  but  she  was  raised  in  Missouri.  The  former  came 
to  the  state  in  an  early  day,  and  settled  in  Vernon  County,  of  which  he 
was  one  of  the  pioneers.  He  died  there  in  1849.  ^^-  ^-  Adamson 
moved  to  Henry  County  with  his  mother  in  1850,  and  here  grew  to  man- 
hood on  a  farm,  attending  in  youth  the  public  schools.  He  was  married 
in  October,  1869,  to  Miss  Eliza  Finks,  of  Henry  County,  and  a  daughter 
of  Captain  Mark  Finks.  After  this  Mr.  A.  located  on  a  farm  north  of 
Clinton,  where  he  farmed  for  three  years.  In  1873,  he  settled  near  Mon- 
trose, and  in  the  spring  of  1879,  bought  and  came  upon  his  present  farm. 
He  has  600  acres  of  land,  all  fenced,  the  homestead  of  280  acres,  being 
about  two  and  a  half  miles  northwest  of  Montrose.  There  is  a  large  two- 
story  stone  residence  on  the  place,  and  a  good  orchard  of  300  bearing 
apple  and  some  peach  trees.  He  is  one  of  the  largest  feeders  and  stock 
dealers  in  this  county,  and  feeds  annually  from  150  to  500  head  of  steers 
and  about  500  hogs,  and  also  handles  about  500  cattle  and  1,000  hogs 
per  annum.  Mr.  Adamson  is  a  wide-awake  business  man,  and  one  of  the 
most  successful  farmers  and  stock  dealers  in  the  vicinity.  He  and  his 
wife  have  a  family  of  seven  children:  Alma,  Katie,  Tandy  T.,  John  M., 
Emma,  Dadie  and  Eliza. 

THOMAS  H.  BALDWIN, 

was  born  in  Prince  Edward  County,  Virginia,  May  9,  1836,  being  the  son 
of  Samuel  and  Susan  Baldwin,  also  natives  of  Virginia.  Thomas  H. 
spent  his  youth  in  his  native  county  on  the  farm,  and  upon  reaching  his 
majority  he  went  to  Kentucky,  locating  in  Logan  County,  where  he  was 
married  January  7,  1858,  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Clark,  ot  that  county,  and  a 
daughter  of  John  T.  Clark.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  B.  continued  his 
farming  operations  in  Logan  County,  for  about  ten  years.  In  the  fall  of 
1868  he  came  to  Missouri,  bought  land  in  Henry  County  and  improved 
his  present  farm,  which  contains  132  acres,  117  in  his  home  place  on 
section  34,  being  well  improved.  His  orchard  consists  of  100  apple  and 
some  budded  peach  trees,  besides  smaller  fruits.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baldwin 


6o6  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

have  eight  children  :  Sarah  Emma,  Mary  Ann,  Samuel  T.,  James  H., 
Ervin  B.,  Virginia  P.,  Micagah  T.  and  Cassie. 

WILLIAM  BLIZZARD, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  i6,  owes  his  nativity  to  Ross  County, 
Ohio,  where  he  was  born  August  22,  1809.  Burton  Blizzard,  his  father, 
was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  his  mother,  formerl)^  Millie  Willoughby, 
was  born  in  Maryland,  her  parents  having  come  originally  from  Wajes. 
The  former  settled  in  Ross  County,  Ohio,  when  a  young  man,  and  was 
one  of  the  pioneers.  William  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  county, 
his  youth  being  spent  on  the  farm,  and  he  acquired  a  fair  education, 
mostly  by  self  application.  He  was  married  in  Preble  County,  Ohio,  in 
September,  1844,  to  Miss  Eliza  Smith,  a  Virginian  by  birth,  who  was 
reared  and  educated  in  Preble  County,  and  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Smith. 
Mr.  Blizzard  was  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising  in  Ohio  until 
1866,  when,  selling  his  property  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  he  came  to 
Missouri  and  settled  in  Henry  County  on  land  he  had  purchased  in  1856. 
This  place  formerly  consisted  of  600  acres,  but  now  contains  480,  he 
having  given  his  son  120  acres.  Four  hundred  and  forty  acres  are  under 
fence  and  fairly  improved,  upon  it  there  being  a  good  brick  residence, 
and  an  orchard  of  200  apple  trees  of  select  varieties.  Coal  is  found  in 
abundance,  the  vein  running  from  twelve  to  thirty  inches  in  thickness. 
This  place  is  two  miles  west  of  Montrose,  and  is  a  very  desirable  pro- 
perty. Mr.  Blizzard  lost  his  wife  by  death  in  February,  1875.  He  was 
elected  to  several  minor  offices  in  Ohio,  and  is  now  identified  with  the 
Democratic  party. 

JOHN  C.  BRAM. 

Among  the  prominent  men  of  this  county  is  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  who  was  born  in  Wurtemburg,  Germany,  January  30,  1836.  His 
parents,  J.  C.  and  Magdalina  (Hays)  Bram,  were  natives  of  the  same 
locality.  John  C.  spent  his  youth,  from  six  to  fourteen  years,  in  the  public 
schools  of  Wurtemburg,  and  obtained  a  good  education  in  the  common 
branches  and  is  now  as  familiar  with  the  French  and  English  languages 
as  with  his  own  national  tongue.  After  completing  his  studies  he  worked 
two  years  on  a  farm  with  his  father.  When  sixteen  years  of  age  he  com- 
menced learning  the  machinist's  and  blacksmith's  trades  at  which  he 
served  three  years'  apprenticeship.  In  1854  he  came  to  the  United  States, 
his  parents  having  emigrated  here  two  years  previous,  and  located  in  Dela- 
ware, Ohio,  where  he  was  engaged  at  blacksmithing  and  carriage  making 
for  two  years.  In  the  spring  of  1857  he  came  to  Missouri  and  worked 
at  his  trade  that  year  and  the  one  following  in  St.  Joseph.  Going  to 
Richmond,  Missouri,  he  followed  his  trade  until  1862,  and  in  March,  1862, 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  607 

he  enlisted  in  Company  E.,  First  Missouri  Cavalry,  and  served  three 
years  in  the  Union  army.  Enlisting  as  a  private  he  was  soon  promoted 
to  first  sergeant,  and  participated  in  numerous  engagements,  among  the 
most  important  of  which  were  the  fights  at  Kirksville,  Marshal,  Jefiferson 
City,  Big  Blue  and  at  Pleasanton,  Kansas,  where  his  command  took  1,00a 
prisoners  and  tvvelve  pieces  of  artillery.  After  his  discharge  in  April, 
1865,  he  returned  to  Northern  Missouri  and  located  at  Denver,  in  Worth 
County,  where  he  worked  until  the  fall  of  1866.  Selling  his  property 
there  he  moved  to  Henry  County,  bought  land  and  improved  a  farm.  He 
also  continued  the  blacksmith  business  in  connection  with  his  farm  for  a 
number  of  years.  Mr.  Bram  has  a  fine  body  of  land  of  400  acres,  all  in 
cultivation.  Upon  it  is  a  fair  house,  an  orchard  of  1,000  apple  trees  of 
select  varieties,  with  some  peach,  pear  and  cherry  trees,  and  small  fruits, 
located  on  section  22.  He  is  extensively  engaged  in  the  stock  business. 
Mr.  Bram  was  married  September  19,  1865,  to  Miss  Anna  B.  Kadel,  a 
native  of  Baden,  but  who  was  reared  and  educated  in  Henry  County, 
and  a  daughter  of  John  and  Fredrica  Kadel.  He  is  identified  with  the 
Republican  party  and  is  well  posted  on  the  political  issues  of  the  day. 
He  is  president  of  the  First  National  Bank,  of  Appleton  City,  in  which 
he  has  a  large  interest.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  B.  are  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church.  He  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  to  the  Grange,, 
of  which  he  was  master  for  about  eight  years. 

JOHN  D.  BROWN, 

A  native  of  Illinois,  was  born  in  Sangamon  County,  near  Springfield, 
March  r,  1842.  His  parents,  R.  D.  Brown,  and  Rachel,  nee  Ernest,  were 
Kentuckians.  The  former  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Sangamon 
County,  where  he  entered  land  and  improved  a  farm.  John  D.  passed 
his  youth  on  the  home  farm,  and  in  attending  the  public  schools,  and  in 
the  spring  of  1867,  he  came  to  Missouri  and  located  in  Henry  County, 
purchased  land  and  improved  a  farm  in  Deepwater  Township.  He  now 
has  a  fine  place  of  360  acres  in  section  27,  enclosed  with  a  hedge  fence 
and  nearly  all  in  cultivation.  Upon  it  is  a  large  two  story  residence, 
finished  in  a  neat  and  tasty  manner,  besides  a  good  barn  and  convenient 
out  buildings.  An  orchard  of  two  hundred  bearing  apple  and  about 
seventy-five  peach  trees,  is  another  feature  of  the  place.  Mr.  Brown  is 
quite  extensively  engaged  in  raising  and  feeding  stock  and  handling  and 
shipping  mules.  He  is  an  enterprising  farmer  and  one  of  the  substantial 
men  of  this  township.  He  was  married  in  this  county,  November  7, 
1867,  to  Miss  Louisa  Cecil,  of  Henry  County,  and  a  daughter  of  Wilson 
Cecil.     They  have  one  child,  Gertrude,  who  was  born  July  12,  1870. 


6o8  HISTORY   OF    HENR\    COUNTY. 

JAMES  K.  CRAWFORD, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  34,  was  born  December  11,  1844,  in 
Medina  County,  Ohio,  being  the  son  of  William  and  Rebecca  (Smith) 
Crawford,  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  The  former  moved  to  Ohio  with  his 
parents,  who  were  among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Medina  County.  J.  K. 
grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  county  on  the  farm  and  received  a  good 
common  school  education.  Coming  west  to  Missouri  in  1867,  he  located 
first  in  Bates  County,  where  he  lived  for  three  years.  He  was  married 
in  Montrose  September  15,  1870,  to  Miss  Lucy  May,  of  Kentucky  birth, 
but  who  was  reared  and  educated  in  Bureau  County,  Illinois,  and  is  a 
■daughter  of  Thaddeus  May.  After  hi  ■-  marriage  he  bought  land  and 
improved  the  farm  where  he  now  resides.  He  first  purchased  163  acres 
and  afterward  bought  sixty  acres  adjoining  this,  now  constituting  a  fine 
body  of  land,  all  enclosed  with  a  good  hedge.  There  are  thirty  acres 
devoted  to  tame  grass.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crawford  have  three  children: 
William  B.,  born  June  24,  1871;  Mary  Belle,  born  September  5,  1874,  and 
Jessie,  born  May  15,  1877.  Mr.  C.  makes  a  specialty  of  raising,  feeding 
and  trading  in  stock. 

D.    C.  CROSS, 

was  born  in  Madison  County,  Tennessee,  March  7,  1838.  John  D.  Cross, 
his  father,  and  also  his  mother,  formerly  Eliza  Anderson,  were  either 
natives  of  Virginia  or  Tennessee.  D.  C.  accompanied  his  parents  to 
Louisville,  Kentucky,  in  1844,  where  his  father  died  soon  after.  The 
son  spent  his  youth  up  to  his  fourteenth  year  mostly  in  school,  and  upon 
arriving  at  this  age  he  went  on  the  river  and  followed  boating  for  about 
four  years.  In  1857  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in  Graffen- 
burg,  where  he  sold  goods  for  about  six  months.  Mr  Cross  was  married 
in  Franklin  County,  Kentucky,  March  25,  1859,  to  Lucinda  E.  Johnson, 
of  that  county,  and  a  daughter  of  Robert  R.  Johnson.  After  this  he 
came  to  Cooper  County,  Missouri,  and  farmed  for  seven  years,  and  in 
the  spring  of  1866  he  moved  to  Henry  County,  where  he  bought  land 
continued  his  farming  operations.  He  has  a  fine  farm  of  fifty-five  acres 
one-fourth  of  a  mile  south  of  Montrose,  in  section  23,  in  cultivation,  with 
a  good  residence,  barn,  and  out  buildings.  An  orchard  of  300  bearing 
apple  trees  of  select  varieties  is  on  the  place,  besides  fifty  peach,  some 
cherry,  pear,  plum,  and  small  fruits  in  variety.  Mr.  Cross  is  Democratic 
in  politics  and  has  filled  several  offices  in  his  township.  He  served  four 
years  as  justice  of  the  peace  with  marked  distinction,  and  for  'a  num- 
ber of  years  was  a  member  of  the  school  board.  He  and  his  wife  have 
nine  children:  Mary  E.,  Robert  S.,  Dora,  Lulie,  Alice,  Martha,  Viola, 
Fanny  and  Nellie.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cross  are  members  of  the  Christian' 
Church.     He  belongs  to   the   United  Workmen.     He   engaged   in   the 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  609 

butcher  business  in  November,  1882,  and  now  has  an  excellent  shop  and 
is  enjoying  a  liberal  patronage. 

DAVID  DODDS, 

a  pioneer  of  Henry  County,  was  born  in  Butler  County,  Ohio,  May  15, 
1812.  His  father,  John  Dodds,  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  immigrated 
to  the  United  States  when  a  young  man.  He  married  Margaret  Miller,orig- 
inally  from  Pennsylvania.  David  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  move 
from  Ohio  to  Indiana,  and  settled  in  Cass  County  in  1830,  being  among 
the  pioneers  there.  He  spent  his  youth  on  the  farm,  and  in  1836,  came 
to  Missouri,  locating  in  Cooper  County,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farm- 
ing, and  where  he  resided  about  seventeen  years.  He  was  married  in 
Cooper  County  December  20,  1838.  to  Miss  Martha  Jane  Shirley,  aKen- 
tuckian  by  birth,  and  a  daughter  of  George  Shirley.  In  1853,  ^r.  D. 
came  to  Henry  County  and  located  on  the  land  where  he  has  since 
resided,  and  which  he  entered  some  two  years  after.  He  was  one  of  the 
■first  citizens  of  Deepwater  Township,  and  one  among  the  first  in  the 
county.  He  now  has  a  farm  of  200  acres  in  his  home  place,  on  section 
21,  all  improved,  fenced,  etc.  He  also  has  forty  acres  of  timber,  and  a 
farm  of  fifty  acres  near  Appleton  City,  in  St.  Clair  County.  Mr.  Dodds 
has  raised  a  family  of  twelve  children:  Cynthia  Jane  (now  Mrs.  J.  Hill), 
Elizabeth  (now  Mrs.  Isom  Stubblefield),  John,  Jesse  L.,  Charles  A.,  Mar- 
garet (wife  of  James  McBride),  Matilda  Dodds,  Mary  C.  (wife  of  James 
Cook),  Thomas  C.  Amanda  (wife  of  James  A.  McBride),  Martha  J.  and 
David.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  D.  are  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church. 

PETER  DUBUQUE, 

a  native  of  Canada,  was  born  August  20,  18 17,  being  the  son  of  Alec. 
C.  and  Angelica  (Bariteau)  Dubuque,  also  Canadians  by  birth.  Peter 
grew  to  manhood  at  his  birthplace,  his  youth  being  spent  on  the  farm. 
In  1839  he  came  to  the  United  States,  passed  the  winter  in  New  Orleans 
and  in  the  spring  of  1840  settled  in  Rock  Island  County,  Illinois,  where 
he  was  eng-ae-ed  in  the  saw  mill  and  lumber  business.  He  was  married 
in  Davenport,  Iowa,  in  December,  1846,  to  Miss  Sarah  A.  Lindsay,  of 
Westmoreland  County,  Pennsylvania,  who  died  July  14,  1848.  He  was 
married  again  in  Rock  Island  County,  Illinois,  April  15,  1849,  to  Miss 
Sarah  A.  Wilson,  originally  from  Warren  County,  New  York,  and  a 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  Wilson.  In  1869  Mr.  D.  moved  from 
Illinois  to  Missouri,  locating  in  Henry  County;  bought  a  farm  in  Deep- 
water  Township.  This  is  a  fine  body  of  land  of  160  acres,  adjoining  the 
town  of  Montrose.  He  was  occupied  in  farming  thereon  until  1878, 
when   he   rented   it.     He  has  recently  sold  this  farm  and  contemplates 

39 


6lO  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

spending  the  coming  summer  in  the  land  of  his  nativity.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Dubuque  are  members  of  the  Catholic  Church. 

REV.  MICHAEL  J.  DUGGAN, 

pastor  of  the  Montrose  Catholic  Clnirch,  was  born  in  the  city  of  Brook- 
lyn, New  York,  October  24,  1854.  His  parents,  "Michael  and  Mary  Dug- 
gan,  ncc  McGowan,  were  natives  of  Ireland,  the  former  having  emigrated 
to  the  United  States  when  a  young  man,  settling  in  Brooklyn.  M.  J. 
subsequently  moved  to  Newberg,  on  the  Hudson  River,  where  he  grew 
to  manhood.  He  attended  the  schools  of  that  city,  after  which  he 
spent  nine  3''ears  at  the  Jesuit  College,  where  he  graduated  in  1874, 
receiving  the  degree  of  batchelor  of  arts.  After  completing  his  course 
at  this  college,  he  passed  three  years  at  St.  Josephs' Provincial  Seminary, 
preparing  for  the  priesthood.  He  then  spent  six  months  at  the  Salesi- 
anum  in  Milwaukee,  and  was  then  for  three  years  in  St.  Bona- 
venture  Seminary  in  Allegany,  N.  Y.  Upon  finishing  the  course  of  study 
here,  Mr.  Duggan  was  ordered  to  Kansas  City  by  the  bishop  in  1881, 
and  was  ordained  priest  on  September  11,  of  that  year.  After  his  ordin- 
ation he  was  appointed  pastor  of  the  Montrose  Catholic  Church,  and  the 
churches  at  Clinton  and  Schell  City  are  also  in  the  charge.  He  is  greatly 
devoted  to  his  church  work  and  is  much  beloved  by  his  people. 

GEORGE  W.  DUNN, 

attorney  at  law,  and  one  of  the  prominent  men  of  Montrose,  was  born 
near  Lawrenceburg,  in  Lawrence  County,  Indiana,  April  3,  1850.  His 
father,  William  H.  Dunn,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  was  born  January  25, 
1813,  and  married  Miss  Matilda  J.  Hughes,  also  of  that  state.  George 
W.  moved  with  his  parents  to  Pulaski  County,  where  he  spent  his 
younger  days  on  a  farm,  his  primary  education  being  obtained  at  the 
public  schools,  supplemented  with  two  years  attendance  at  the  high 
school  at  Burnettsville,  Indiana.  After  finishing  his  studies  at  this 
school  he  was  engaged  in  teaching  in  his  native  state  for  two 
years.  In  1870  he  came  to  Missouri  and  located  at  Richmond,  where  he 
read  law  with  an  uncle.  Judge  George  W.  Dunn  one  of  the  leading 
attorneys  of  the  place  and  a  pioneer  of  Ray  County.  Upon  being 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1871  he  came  to  Henry  County,  settling  in  Mon- 
trose in  December,  of  the  same  year,  when  he  commenced  the  practice 
of  his  chosen  profession.  He  is  also  in  the  real  estate  business  and 
conducts  transactions  in  wild  and  improved  lands  and  town  property. 
Mr.  Dunn  is  the  mayor  of  this  town,  and  has  many  friends  among  his 
acquaintances.  He  was  married  in  Montrose  September  15,  1874,  to 
Miss  Maria  O.  Capehart,  of  West  Virginia,  who' was  reared  and  educated 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  6l  I 

in  Henry  County,  and  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Capehart,  one  of  the  pio- 
neers of  this  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dunn  have  lost  two  children,  one  ir> 
infancy,  and  George  C,  who  died  October  2,  1882,  at  the  age  of  three 
years  and  seven  months.  Mrs.  D.  is  a  member  of  the  Cumberland  Pres- 
byterian Church.  He  belongs  to  the  Odd  Fellows  order  and  has  filled 
all  the  chairs  in  the  subordinate  lodge,  and  was  a  representative  to  the 
grand  lodge,  in  1881. 

JOHN  E.  EAGLE, 

merchant,  and  an  enterprising  business  man  of  this  vicinity,  is  a  native 
of  Illinois,  and  was  born  in  Ouincy  June  23,  1850.  His  father,  D.  A. 
Eagle,  originally  from  Pennsylvania,  died  in  Paducah,  Kentucky,  in  1850. 
His  mother,  formally  Udolpha  Miller,  was  born  in  Maryland.  In  1852, 
some  two  years  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Eagle,  she  was  married  to  J.  G. 
Dorman.  John  E.  moved  with  his  parents  to  Missouri  in  1855,  and 
located  in  Clinton,  Henry  County,  where  Mr.  Dorman  was  engaged  in 
the  mercantile  business.  He  spent  his  youth  in  his  father's  store  and  in 
attending  the  public  school  of  Clinton,  and  also  completed  a  course  of 
study  at  the  Jonathan  Jones  Commercial  College  of  St.  Louis,  in  1870. 
For  some  time  previous  to  the  war  he  was  bookkeeper  in  his  father's 
store,  and  during  the  war  he  had  full  charge  of  that  business.  He  com- 
menced business  in  Montrose  in  December,  1875,  under  the  firm  name 
of  Dorman  &  Son.  He  carries  a  large  and  select  stock  of  general  mer- 
chandise, is  a  thorough  business  man,  deservedly  popular,  and  is  enjoy- 
ing an  immense  patronage.  Mr.  Eagle  was  married  in  Montrose  Jan- 
uary 22,  1879,  to  xMiss  Susie  Ann  Tucker,  oi  this  county,  and  a  daughter 
of  D.  A.  Tucker,  of  Montrose.  They  have  one  child,  Ralph  A.,  who  was 
born  November  2,  1879.  Mr.  Eagle  is  a  member  of  the  Independent. 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  in  which  order  he  is  Vice  Grand. 

O.  F.  JOHNSON. 

Among  the  prominent  and  leading  business  men  of  Montrose  is  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  who  was  born  in  Medina  County,  Ohio,  June  30, 
1841.  His  parents  were  Hosea  and  Rachel  (Ladd)  Johnson,  both  natives 
of  Vermont.  O.  F.  moved  with  the  family  to  Indiana  in  1845  and  set- 
tled in  Noble  County,  where  he  grew  to  manhood  on  the  farm,  acquiring 
limited  educational  advantages,  as  the  term  of  the  public  schools  in 
those  days  consisted  of  only  about  three  months,  in  the  winter  season. 
By  self  application  he  has  become  a  man  of  good  education.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1861,  he  enlisted  in  Company  F.,  30th  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry, 
and  served  about  fourteen  months  in  the  army,  participating  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Pittsburg  Landing,  Corinth,  Bowling  Green  and  several  other 
important   engagements.      After    his   discharge,   in   October,    1862,   he 


6l2  HISTORY   OF    IIEXRV   COUNTY. 

returned  to  Indiana  and  devoted  his  attention  to  teaching  in  the  states 
of  New  York,  Michigan  and  Indiana.  Mr.  Johnson  was  married  in  St. 
Joseph  County,  Indiana,  September,  1870,  to  Miss  Margaret  Burden,  of 
that  county  and  a  daughter  of  William  and  Catherine  l^urden.  After 
teaching  in  St.  Joseph  County  for  about  two  years  Mr.  J.  came  to  Mis- 
souri in  April,  1872,  and  located  near  Appleton  City,  in  St.  Clair  County, 
where  he  purchased  land  and  improved  a  farm,  also  being  engaged  in 
teaching  for  three  terms  of  school.  In  June,  1877,  he  moved  into  Mont- 
rose, embarking  in  the  mercantile  business.  *  He  carries  a  large  stock  of 
hardware,  furniture,  farm  implements  and  deals  extensively  in  grain,  and 
is  doing  a  most  remunerative  business.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson  have  one 
child.  Burr,  who  was  born  July  22,  1880.  Mrs.  J.  is  a  member  of  the 
Christian  Church. 

A.  L.  KEPNER, 

owes  his  nativity  to  Jo  Daviess  County,  Illinois,  where  he  was  born  Sep- 
tember 22,  1845,  being  the  son  of  B.  H.  and  Sarah  E.  (Bushey)  Kepner, 
natives  of  Pennsylvania.  A.  L.  spent  his  youth  in  the  county  of  his 
birth  on  his  father's  farm,  attending  the  public  schools,  where  he  received 
his  primary  education  supplemented  with  two  terms  attendance  at  a  high 
school.  In  1867,  he  went  to  California,  passed  two  years  on  the  Pacific 
Slope,  and  was  engaged  in  ranching  near  Stockton.  Returning  to  his 
home  in  the  winter  of  1869,  in  the  fall  of  1870,  he  came  to  Missouri  and 
settled  in  Henry  County,  where  he  bought  the  land  and  improved  the 
farm  which  he  now  occupies.  After  working  on  this  place  three  years, 
in  connection  with  his  brother,  A.  E.  Kepner,  he  retraced  his  steps  to 
Illinois  in  the  winter  of  1873,  and  had  charge  of  his  father's  farm  for  four 
years.  Mr.  Kepner  was  married  in  Jo  Daviess  County,  November  16, 
1876,  to  Miss  Ada  B.  Jenkins,  of  that  county,  and  a  daughter  of  A.  N. 
Jenkins.  She  was  reared  and  educated  in  her  native  county,  and  was  a 
prominent  teacher  there  for  seven  years,  and  was  one  of  eight  sisters, 
six  of  whom  were  teachers.  In  the  spring  of  1877,  Mr.  Kepner  came 
back  to  his  farm  in  Missouri,  which  he  has  since  continued  to  cultivate 
and  improve.  He  has  200  acres,  all  in  cultivation,  with  good  buildings, 
improvements,  etc.  This  place  is  located  on  section  35,  and  is  situated 
some  three  miles  southwest  of  Montrose.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kepner  have 
two  children:  Agnes  P^stella  and  Mark  L. 

A.  E.  KEPNER. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  native  of  Jo  Daviess  County,  Illinois, 
and  was  born  December  5,  1849.  Benjamin  H.  Kepner,  his  father,  and 
also  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Sarah  Bushey,  came  originally 
from   Pennsylvania.      The  former  grew  to   manhood  at  his  birthplace 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  613 

where  he  married,  and  in  1848  moved  to  Illinois,  being  one  of  the  pioneer 
settlers  of  Jo  Daviess  County,  and  there  he  still  resides  on  the  land 
which  he  entered  and  improved.  A.  E.  Kepner  divided  his  younger  days 
between  working  on  the  farm  and  attending  the  public  schools.  He  was 
married  in  Wisconsin,  September  29,  1872,  to  Miss  Roxie  Rowe,  a  native 
of  New  York,  but  who  was  reared  and  educated  principally  in  Illinois. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  Deleyan  Rowe.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Kepner 
came  to  Missouri  and  located  in  Henry  County,  purchasing  land  and 
improving  the  farm  where  he  now  resides. ^He  owns  160  acres  of  land, 
all  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation,  enclosed  with  a  hedge,  and  about 
twenty  acres  in  timothy  meadow.  An  abundance  of  fruit  is  upon  the 
place  which  is  in  section  35,  about  two  miles  south  of  Montrose.  Mr. 
Keptner  is  an  industrious,  enterprising  and  thorough  farmer  and  a  good 
business  man  and  pushes  to  success  whatever  he  undertakes.  He  man- 
ifests an  interest  in  educational  matters  and  works  hard  toward  the  pro- 
motion of  his  school  district.  He  was  a  member  of  the  board  and  clerk 
of  the  district  some  six  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  K.  have  four  children  : 
Etha  E.,  Ida  F.,  Benjamin  R.  and  Florence  V.  He  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 

CHARLES  KIRN, 

an  enterprising  farmer  and  stock  dealer  of  this  township,  came  originally 
from  Wurtemburg,  Germany,  where  he  was  born  December  2,  1832.   His 
parents,  Conrad  and  Rosa  Kirn,  nee  Rauss,  were  also  natives  of  Wurtem- 
burg.    Charles  emigrated  to   the  United  States  with  tlie  family  in  1852, 
and  located  in  Ann  Arbor,  Michigan.     His  youth,  from  the  age  of  six  to 
eighteen  years,   was   spent  in  school,  and  after  settling  in   Michigan,  he 
was  engaged  in  railroading  and   fired  on  an  engine  for  five  years,   after 
which  he   ran    an    engine   for  one  year.     In  i860  he   moved  to   Illinois, 
where  he  gave  his  attention  to  farming,  in  Washington  County,  and  also 
to  the  handling  of  [stock  for  eight  years.     In  1868  he  came  to  Missouri, 
and  in  1875  to  Henry  County,  purchased  land  and  improved  his  present 
farm.     This  contains  405  acres,  with  about  sixty-six  acres  of  tame  grass, 
upon  which  is  a  good  brick  house  and  other  improvements.     He  makes 
a  speciality  of  handling  and  feeding  stock.     This  farm  is  located  on  sec- 
tion  25,  one  and  a  quarter  miles  from  Montrose.     Mr.  Kirn  was  married 
in  Illinois,  May  2,  1861,  to  Miss  Augusta  T.  Flaxbarth,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania.    There  are   five  children  by  this  marriage:  John  C,   Mary  L., 
Julius  G.,  Rosie  C,  and  Emma.     Mrs.   K.   died  November  i,   1872.     He 
was   subsequently   married   in   this   county,  February  23,   1875,  to  Mrs. 
Mary  Breideeser,  a  daughter  of  John  Cordell.  She  was  born  in  Maryland, 
but  was   reared  in   Henry  County.     They  have  one  son,  Charles.     Mr. 
and   Mrs.   Kirn   are  members  of  the  German  Reform  Church.     He  is  a 
man  who  takes  a  crreat  interest  in  educational  matters. 


6 14  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

HON.  J.  J.  KNOWLTON, 

lumber  and  grain  dealer,  is  a  native  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  was 
born  in  Erie  County  July   17,   1841.     William  Knowlton,  his  father,  was 
originally  from  Vermont,  and  his  mother,  formerly  Alma  Persons,  was 
born  in  New  York.     J.  J.  spent  his  life  on  the  home  farm  and  in  attend- 
ing the  public  schools.     In  the  fall  of  i860  he  went  to  Wisconsin  and 
settled  in  Dodge  County,  where   he  was  engaged   in  the  saw  mill  and 
lumber  business.     In  August,  1862,  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company 
I,  twenty-ninth  Wisconsin  Volunteer  Infantry,  and   served  three  years 
in  the  arrny,  being  discharged  in  July,  1865.     He  participated  in  a  num- 
ber of  important   engagements,   among  which   were  the  fights  of  Port 
Gibson,  Champion's    Hill,   Siege   of  Vicksburg,    Mobile,   Mansfield    and 
Pleasant    Hill,   Louisiana.     After  his  discharge   he  returned  to   Dodge 
County,  where  he  was  married  January  30,  1867,  to  Miss  Mary  Douglas, 
of  New  York,  but  who  was  raised  and  educated  in  Dodge  County,  and  a 
daughter  of  John  Douglas.     After   this   event   Mr.   Knowlton  moved  to 
the  northern  part  of  the  state  and  settled  in  Shawano  County,  where  he 
continued  the  lumber  business  for  about  five  years.     He  then  farmed  for 
five  years,  and  in  July,  1877,  selling  his  Wisconsin  property,  he  came  to 
Missouri  in  the  following  November,  and  located  in  Montrose,  where  he 
farmed  one  year.     In  1879  he  commenced  again  in  the  lumber  business. 
He  carries  a  large  stock  ot  pine  and   native  lumber,  building  material 
and  fencing,  and  is  also  interested  in  the  grain  business,  in  which  he  is 
naving  a  large  trade.     Mr.  Knowlton   is  identified   with  the  Democratic 
party,  and  was  elected  to  represent  Shawano  County   in  the  legislature 
in  1875,  and  served  his  county  with  honorable  distinction  in  the  session 
of  1875-6.     His  ability  being  recognized  by  his  party  he  was  re-elected 
at  the  next  general  election,  and  served  two  terms  in  the  legislature  of 
Wisconsin.     He  takes  more  than  ordinary  mterest  in  school  matters, 
and  is  an  influential  member  of  the  school  board.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  K.  have 
a  family  of  five   children,  William  B.,  L.   C,   Maggie  E.,  John  D.  and 
Blanche  A.     Mrs.  Knowlton  is  connected  with  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  he  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity. 

ETIIELBERT   LAMPKKIN, 

farmer  and  stock  feeder,  was  born  in  Northumberland  County,  Virginia, 
April  14,  1832,  being  the  son  of  Charles  Lampkin.  born  in  the  same 
county,  and  on  the  same  farm,  and  Elizabeth  Lampkin.  ncc  Kenner,  also 
of  that  county.  His  grandfather  Kenner  ser\-ed  seven  years  in  the  war 
of  the  Revolution,  and  Charles  Lampkin  served  in  the  war  of  1812,  par- 
ticipating in  the  battle  of  New  Orleans.  Our  subject  was  the  youngest 
of  a  family  of  seven  sons  and  one  daughter.     His  youth  was  spent  on  a 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  615 

farm,  and  when  seventeen  years  of  age  he  commenced  learning  the  plas- 
terer's trade,  working  as  an  apprentice  for  four  years.  In  1857,  he  came 
west,  and  located  in  Boonville,  Missouri,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  three 
years,  and  upon  going  to  Otterville  continued  it  four  years.  In  the  spring 
of  1861,  he  went  to  Pettis  County,  where  he  resided  until  1863.  Taking 
stock  across  the  plains  to  Colorado,  he  worked  during  the  summer  at 
his  trade  in  Denver  City.  In  the  spring  of  1864,  he  started  for  Virginia 
City,  where  he  arrived  in  June.  Here  he  gave  his  attention  to  plaster- 
ing and  freighting  from  Fort  Benton.  In  August,  1866,  he  came  down 
the  Missouri  River  to  Nebraska  City,  where  he  spent  about  three  months 
with  a  brother,  and  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  came  to  Missouri,  but  a 
short  time  after  returned  to  his  native  state.  In  April,  1867,  he  again 
came  to  Missouri,  and  first  located  in  Sedalia,  where  he  was  occupied  in 
merchandising  until  the  fall  of  1868.  Then  he  sold  out  his  stock,  and  in 
1869,  moved  to  Henry  County,  bought  land  and  commenced  improving 
his  farm.  He  has  400  acres  in  his  home  place,  on  section  31,  all  in  cul- 
tivation, upon  which  is  a  good  house  and  a  young  orchard  of  400  bear- 
ing apple  and  lOO  peach  trees.  Besides  this  place  he  has  twenty  acres 
of  timber,  and  underlying  the  farm  is  a  vein  of  coal  varying  from  twelve 
to  twenty  inches  in  thickness,  and  from  seven  to  eight  feet  below  the 
surface.  Mr.  Lampkin  was  married  in  Pettis  County,  November  29,  1871, 
to  Miss  Emma  Hutchison,  a  native  of  that  county.  She  was  reared  in 
Pettis  County,  and  was  educated  at  Christian  College,  at  Boonville.  She 
is  a  daughter  of  W.  T.  Hutchison.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  L.  have  a  family  of  five 
children:  Rosie  May,  Lena  Gee,  Willie  T.,  Claud  W.  and  Harry  E.  Mr. 
L.  is  a  member  of  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church,  while  his  wife  is  con- 
nected with  the  M.  E.  Church  South. 

JOSEPH  LENNARTZ, 

merchant  at  Montrose,  was  born  in  Mercer  County,  Ohio,  May  25,  1850, 
Peter  Lennartz,  his  father,  and  also  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Catherine  Simmerman,  were  natives  of  Prussia.  Joseph  spent  his  youth 
on  a  farm  and  enjoyed  fair  opportunities  for  obtaining  an  education  at 
the  public  schools.  In  1870  he  came  to  Missouri  and  settled  in  Henry 
County,  farming  for  two  years.  In  the  fall  of  1872  he  commenced  rail- 
roading, and  worked  at  this  business  for  the  Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas 
Road  for  three  years.  In  the  fall  of  1875  he  engaged  in  the  butchering 
business  in  Montrose,  and  after  two  years  was  interested  in  the  grocery 
trade  one  year.  During  the  years  of  1878-9  he  was  engaged  in  clerking 
in  the  dry  goods  house  of  Solomon  Kahn.  Mr.  Lennartz  commenced 
his  present  business  in  1880.  He  has  a  complete  stock  of  heavy  and 
shelf  hardware,  and  being  a  good  salesman  and  an  energetic  and  enter- 
prising business  man,  is  receiving  an  excellent  patronage.  He  was  mar- 


6l6  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

ried  in  Montrose  in  January,  1877,  to  Miss  Katie  Brawnsberger,  a  native 
of  Ohio  and  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Brawnsberger.  She  died  August  18, 
1880,  leaving  two  children,  Mary  and  Cicilia.  Mr.  Lennartz  was  mar- 
ried again  in  Montrose  October  23,  1881,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Smith,  of 
Pennsylvania  and  a  daughter  of  Valentine  Smith.  They  have  one  child. 
Josephine.     He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Catholic  Church. 

JAMES   MIDDAGH. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  was  born  in 
Juniatta  County,  April  10,  18 12,  being  the  son  of  Asher  and  Martha 
(Gray)  Middagh,  also  of  Pennsylvania.  The  former  served  in  the  war  of 
18 1 2,  while  his  father,  John  Middagh,  served  all  through  the  war  of  the 
Revolution.  James  grew  to  manhood  at  his  birthplace,  attending  school, 
and  part  of  the  time  he  was  in  a  store.  In  1836  he  engaged  in  the  mer- 
cantile business  in  partnership  with  John  Patterson  at  Perryville,  remain- 
ing so  occupied  for  about  twenty  years,  during  which  time  he  did  a  large 
and  prosperous  business.  He  was  married  March  24,  1841,  to  Miss  Cath- 
erine Bushey,  of  the  same  county  as  himself,  and  a  daughter  of  John 
Bushey.  In  1844  he  moved  to  Franklin  County,  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
farmed  for  two  years  and  in  the  spring  of  1847  he  located  in  Jo  Daviess 
County,  Illinois,  bought  land  and  improved  a  farm.  He  was  one  of  the 
pioneer  settlers  of  that  county.  In  1853  he  was  appointed  railroad  agent 
at  Nora  Station,  holding  the  position  at  that  place  for  five  years.  In 
the  spring  of  1858  he  again  resumed  farming  in  Jo  Daviess  County  and 
followed  that  occupation  until  1869  when  he  sold  his  property  and  came 
to  Henry  County,  Missouri.  He  purchased  uncultivated  land  and 
improved  the  farm  where  he  at  present  resides  and  now  has  160  acres, 
upon  which  is  a  large  two  story  residence  in  a  sightly  location  some 
three  miles  from  Montrose  on  section  35  and  other  improvements.  About 
twenty  acres  are  in  timothy  meadow  and  the  balance  of  the  place  is  in 
pasture.  Mrs.  Middagh  died  Febr;uary  28,  1866,  and  three  children  are 
now  living  by  this  marriage :  Benjamin  F.,  John  B.  and  Samuel  A.  The 
oldest,  William  A.  died  in  February,  1881,  at  the  age  of  thirty-eight 
years.  The  oldest  daughter,  Martha  E.,  died  in  Illinois  in  1862  at  the 
age  of  twenty-two,  and  Lilly  died  in  1876,  aged  twenty  years.  Mr.  Mid- 
dagh was  married  in  Wisconsin,  October  i,  1868,  to  Miss  Esther  C.  John- 
son, of  Pennsylvania,  and  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  Johnson.  She  is  a 
member  of  the  German  Baptist  Church.  Mr.  M.  is  connected  with  the 
Masonic  and  Odd  Fellows'  orders,  and  was  a  representative  to  the  grand 
lodge  for  ten  years. 

THOMAS  M.  MILLER, 

merchant  at  Montrose,  was  born  in  Montgomery  County,  Illinois,  Decem- 
ber 22,  1852.     Alfred  Miller,  his  father,  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  617 

his  mother,  formerly  Catherine  L.  Scherer,  came  originally  from  North 
Carolina.  Thoma.s  M.,  spent  his  youth  on  the  home  farm,  and  his  early 
education  was  received  at  the  public  schools.  He  afterward  attended 
for  two  years  the  Hillsborough  Academy.  After  finishing  his  studies 
at  this  school  he  returned  to  the  farm  and  continued  agricultural  pur- 
suits for  a  number  of  years.  He  was  married  in  his  native  county  June 
6,  1876,  to  Miss  Olive  M.  Lipe,  of  that  county.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
Wiley  Lipe,  of  Montgomery  County.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Miller 
conducted  his  farm  until  December  of  1881.  In  January,  1882  he  moved 
to  Missouri  and  located  in  Montrose,  engaging  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness. He  has  a  large  and  select  stock  of  groceries,  provisions,  queens- 
ware,  glassware,  willowware  and  sundry  goods,  and  is  doing  an  exten- 
sive business.  He  and  his  wife  have  two  children,  Ida  Elvira  and  Myrtle 
Monroe.     Mrs.  Miller  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

JOHN  NOEL, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  14,  owes  his  nativity  to  Westmoreland 
County,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  born  November  26,  1812,  being  the 
son  of  Joseph  and  Margaret  (Griffin)  Noel,  natives  of  Maryland.  John 
grew  to  manhood  in  the  county  of  his  birth,  his  youth  being  spent  on 
the  farm.  After  his  sixteenth  year  he  learned  the  stone  and  brick  mason's 
trade,  at  which  he  worked  for  about  sixteen  years.  In  1835,  moving  to 
Iowa,  he  located  in  Scott  County,  and  was  one  of  its  pioneers,  residing 
there  upwards  of  thirty  years,  engaged  in  farming  and  working  at  his 
trade.  He  sold  this  property  in  1865,  and  in  the  fall  of  1866,  came  to 
Missouri,  and  settled  in  Henry  County.  He  moved  on  the  place 
where  he  now  resides  in  the  spring  of  1867.  Mr.  Noel  was  married  in 
Scott  County,  Iowa,  January  9,  1846,  to  Miss  Rachel  Goldsmith,  a 
daughter  of  Benjamin  Goldsmith.  She  is  a  native  of  Preble  County, 
Ohio,  but  was  reared  in  Scott  County,  Iowa.  They  have  six  children: 
Mary  A.  (wife  of  A.  McLaughlin),  Benjamin  F.,  Lucy  E.,  Margaret  C, 
George  A.,  and  Jacob  V.  They  have  lost  five  children.  Mr.  Noel  has 
180  acres  of  cultivated  land  in  his  home  place,  upon  which  are  good 
buildings  and  an  orchard  of  300  bearing  fruit  trees.  He  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Catholic  Church. 

JOSEPH  PATTEN 

was  born  in  Bourbon  County,  Kentucky,  July  23,  1830.  His  parents, 
Hugh  and  Jane  (Nesbut)  Patten,  were  both  natives  of  Kentucky,  and  the 
former  was  born  in  1795.  Hugh  Patten  spent  his^life  on  the  farm  where 
he  was  born  and  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-one  years.  Joseph  grew  to 
manhood  in  the  county  of  his  birth,  attending  for  a  time  the  common 
subscription  schools,  but  the  principal  part  of  his  education   has  been. 


6l8  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

obtained  by  self  application.  He  came  to  Missouri  in  September,  1858, 
and  in  April,  1859,  located  in  Henry  County,  where  he  purchased  land 
and  improved  the  tarm  upon  which  he  now  resides.  He  sold  140  acres 
of  his  original  farm  to  the  town  company  for  the  town  site  in  1870,  and 
has  at  present  150  acres  well  improved,  with  the  exception  of  seventeen 
acres  of  timber.  There  are  seventy  acres  devoted  to  tame  grass.  His 
large  residence  is  located  in  the  suburbs  of  the  city,  in  connection  with 
which  is  a  good  barn,  out  buildings  and  an  orchard.  Mr.  Patten  was 
married  in  Callaway  County,  Missouri,  December  23,  1858,  to  Miss  Louisa 
West,  a  native  of  St.  Louis  County  and  a  daughter  of  Alvin  West,  ot 
Kentucky.  Her  mother  was  born  in  Virginia.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Patten  are 
members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  he  has  been 
an  elder  since  1866. 

SAMUEL  PAXTON, 

grain  dealer,  and  a  prominent  business  man  of  Montrose,  as  well  as  a 
pioneer  of  the  county,  is  a  Virginian  by  birth,  and  was  born  in  Kanawha 
County  September  21,  1834..  William  Paxton,  his  father,  was  born  in 
Rockbridge  County,  Virginia,  in  1808,  and  his  mother,  formerly  Eliza 
Atkinson,  was  also  of  Virginia  birth.  Samuel  moved  with  his  parents 
to  Missouri  in  about  1842,  and  settled  in  Cooper  County,  being  among 
the  pioneers  of  that  vicinity.  There  the  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  to 
manhood,  his  youth  being  spent  on  the  farm.  In  1856,  he  came  to  Henry 
County,  bought  land  and  improved  a  farm,  and  was  one  of  the  first  set- 
tlers in  this  part  of  the  county,  there  then  being  not  enough  inhabitants 
in  Deepwater  Township  to  support  one  school.  Mr.  Paxton  was  married 
September  8,  1861,  to  Miss  Amanda  Bailey,  originally  of  Edgar  County, 
Illinois,  and  a  daughter  ot  George  Bailey.  They  have  a  family  of  three 
children,  George  B.,  May  G.  and  Frank  L.  Himself,  wife  and  daughter 
are  members  of  the  Missionary  Baptish  Church.  Soon  after  Montrose 
was  laid  out  Mr.  Paxton  built  the  Montrose  Steam  Elevator,  and  has 
since  been  engaged  in  buying  and  handling  grain.  This  elevator  has  a 
capacity  of  2,000  bushels  per  day,  with  a  corn  sheller  and  a  corn  grind- 
ing burr.  He  is  doing  a  large  shipping  business  which  will  compare 
favorably  with  any  in  Henry  County.  He  still  owns  his  fine  farm  adja- 
cent to  the  town,  which  consists  of  IIS  acres,  all  in  good  cultivation 
with  confortable  out  buildings,  etc.,  and  an  orchard  of  400  bearing  apple 
trees  of  select  varieties.  This  farm  is  in  section  14.  He  is  a  member  01 
the  Masonic  fraternity. 

JOHN  RHOADES, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  12,  is  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  and 
was  born  June  11,  1826,  his  parents  being  John  Rhoades,  originally  01 
Pennsylvania,  and  Catherine  (Burk)  Rhoades,   who  was  born  in   South 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  619 

Carolina.  John  accompanied  the  family  to  North  Carolina  when  a  child, 
and  there  passed  his  younger  days  on  a  farm,  and  also  in  mining.  In 
1846  he  crossed  the  mountains  to  Tennessee  and  located  near  Athens, 
where  he  was  married  October  18,  1848,  to  Miss  Ann  Richardson,  who 
was  a  Georgian  by  birth,  but  principally  brought  up  and  educated  in 
Tennessee.  In  1852  Mr.  Rhoades  came  to  Missouri  and  settled  in  Barry 
County,  where  he  bought  land  and  improved  a  farm,  residing  there  until 
i86r,  when,  on  account  of  the  troubles  incident  to  the  late  war,  he 
moved  to  Ouincy,  Illinois.  After  a  time  he  returned  to  Missouri  and 
located  near  Warsaw,  there  embarking  in  the  stock  business.  In  the 
spring  of  1863  he  went  to  Cooper  County,  which  was  his  home  for  three 
years.  He  came  to  Henry  County  in  the  spring  of  1866,  and  settled  on 
the  farm  where  he  now  resides,  having  520  acres,  with  480  under  fence. 
This  is  an  excellent  body  of  land,  the  soil  being  a  rich  loam  with  clay 
subsoil.  Underlaying  a  large  portion  of  it  is  a  vein  of  coal  of  good 
quality,  varying  in  thickness  from  twenty  to  thirty  inches,  and  in  places 
comes  near  the  surface.  There  is  also  a  bed  of  fine  blue  sand  stone 
which  crops  out  on  a  branch  and  is  said  to  be  of  a  very  superior  quality. 
This  rock  is  in  seams  from  one  to  eight  feet  in  thickness,  and  will  with- 
out doubt  be  in  great  demand  for  building  purposes  in  the  near  future. 
Mrs.  Rhoades  died  in  Barry  County  in  December,  1858.  He  was  subse- 
quently married  in  Henry  County,  November  5,  1867,  to  Miss  Harriet 
Trimble,  a  daughter  of  Peter  Trimble.  She  was  born  in  Bates  County, 
and  was  there  reared  and  educated.  Mr.  Rhoades  has  raised  a  family 
of  four  children:  Martha  M.  (now  Mrs.  John  Laster);  Jennie  O.  (wife  of 
William  A.  Vanhoy,  living  near  Goldendale,  Washington  Territory);  G. 
B.  and  J.  C.  Mrs.  R.  is  a  member  of  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church, 
while  her  husband  is  an  ancient  Odd  Fellow. 

CARL  SCHILLING,  M.  D.,  A.  M. 

Among  the  leading  physicians  and  surgeons  of  Henry  County,  is  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  who  was  born  on  the  third  day  of  July,  1853,  i'"' 
Werl  Kingdom,  of  Prussia,  his  father  being  Inspector  Carl  Schilling,  and 
his  mother  Joana  Schilling,  nee  Baumgartner,  from  the  city  of  Wesel,  a 
strong  fortress  on  the  river  Rhine.  W^hen  young  Carl  was  about  three 
years  old,  his  parents  moved  to  Dortmund,  Westphalia,  a  city  of  about 
75.000  inhabitants,  where  he  received  his  school  education.  From  his 
fifth  to  his  tenth  year  he  visited  the  public  school,  after  which  he  entered 
the  gymnasium,  a  state  school,  to  be  educated  in  the  literary  and  pri- 
mary branchesof  science.  In  the  year  1872,  after  nine  years  continuous 
study  he  graduated  in  the  German,  French,  Latin,  Greek  and  English 
languages,  chemistry,  natural  history,  mathematics,  modern  and  ancient 
history.     Then,  after  having  served  one  year  as  a  private  in  the  army, 


620  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

he  matriculated  in  the  University  of  Berlin,  where  he  studied  util  shortly 
before  he  came  to  this  country,  in  the  fall  of  1877,  thereby  realizing  the 
long-  felt  desire  to  emigrate  to  the  new  world.   He  embarked  in  Antwerp 
on  the  stupendous  steamer.  Fatherland,  and  landed  safely  in  New  York. 
From  there  going  west,  he  stopped  first  in  Minnesota,  but  on  account  of 
the   severity  of  the  winter   climate  went   south,  and  arrived  in  Clinton, 
Henry  County,  Missouri,  on  Christmas  evening.     There  he  entered  the 
office  of  his  esteemed  friend.  Dr.  John  H.  Britts,  a  surgeon  of  great  rep- 
utation, then  graduated  in  the  Missouri  Medical  College,  with  the  high- 
est honors,  receiving  the  prize  for   general   excellency,  only  one  before 
obtained  during  the  thirty-two  years  of  existence  of  the  college,  aside  of 
several  prizes  in  different  special  departments,  and   returned  to  Clinton, 
where  he  remained  until  the  spring  of  1882.     Then  by  solicitation  of  his 
many  friends  he  went  to  Montrose,  where  he  is  engaged  in  a  good  prac- 
tice, bearing  the  name  of  a  successful  physician   and  a  skillful  surgeon. 
The  doctor  is  a  christian,  and  a  member  of  Ancient,  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  Knight  of  the  Oriental  Order  of  the  Shell  and  Palm  Tree,  and 
member  of  the  lodge  of  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen  and  Mutual 
Protection.     While  studying   in    Europe   he   made   the  acquaintance  of 
Miss  Joana  Marzeller,  daughter  of  Franz  and  Ferdinande   Marzeller,  of 
Wiedenbruck,  Germany,  a  highly  educated  and  very  accomplished  young 
lady.      This  acquaintance,  however,  not  being  sanctioned   by  her  stern 
parent,  they  lost  sight  of  each  other,  and  were  not  even  enabled  to  carry 
on  correspondence.     Shortly  after  the  doctor  had  left  his  native  country 
she   found   his  farewell   letter  directed   to  her   paternal  home.     Newly 
inspired  by,  and  unconsolable  about  this  unexpected   news,  she  directed 
a  letter  to  his  parents,  from  v/hom  she  learned  his  whereabouts  in  this 
country.     An  active  correspondence  followed,  and  she  told  her  parents 
of  the  definite  resolution    to  follow  him  wherever   he   might   be,  saying 
that  she  could  and  would  sacrifice  everything,  only  to  be  with  him.     At 
last,  her  parents,  seeing  that  she  was  in   earnest,  and  noticing  her  phy- 
sical   health   to  suffer,  her  natural  gayety  and   love  of  company  giving 
place  to  melancholy  and  solitude,  consented,  and  in  the  beginning  of  the 
month   of  May,  1880,  accompanied   by  the   doctor's   sister  Joana,    they 
embarked  at  Hamburg,  and   safely  landed   at    New  York   after  a  twelve 
days'  voyage.     On  the   23d    day  of  May,  they  met  at   Sedalia,  Missouri, 
and  were  united  in  wedlock.     The  doctor  then  brought  his  wife  and  sis- 
ter to  Clinton.     On    the  21st  day  of  May,  1881,  their  family  increased 
through  the  arrival  of  a  young  daughter,  who  received  the  name  of  her 
mother,  and  is  the  idol  of  father  and  mother.     Two  days  later   the  doc- 
tor's brother  John,  arrived  from  PLurope,  where  he  had  graduated   in  the 
gymnasium.     He  studies  medicine  under  Iiis  brother's  care,  and  is  now 
attending  lectures  in  St.  Louis. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  62 1 

G.    SCHOLZ, 

a  native  of  Germany,  was  born  in  Schlesien  April  28,  1826,  his  parents, 
Gottlieb  and  Christiana  Scholz,  nee  Gemmler,  also  being  from  the  same 
country.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  his  youth,  from  six  to  four- 
teen, at  the  public  schools,  and  after  his  fourteenth  year  he  was  engaj^ed 
in  working  on  a  farm  for  about  nine  years.  In  Februar}%  185 1,  he  emi- 
grated to  the  United  States  and  located  in  Sheboygan  County,  Wiscon- 
sin, where  he  farmed  for  about  eighteen  years.  He  was  married  in  that 
county  July  5.  i855.  to  Miss  Catherina  Loubersstin,  also  originally  from 
Germany,  and  in  1869  he  came  to  Missouri,  settling  in  Henry  County, 
where  he  bought  land  and  improved  the  farm  where  he  now  resides.  He 
has  400  acres,  all  in  cultivation,  and  about  150  acres  are  seeded  to  tame 
grasses.  A  large  residence  and  outbuildings  are  on  the  place,  and  six 
acres  are  devoted  to  an  orchard  with  about  320  apple  trees,  besides 
other  varieties  of  fruit.  Mr.  Scholz  resides  on  section  36,  but  eighty 
acres  of  his  farm,  in  St.  Clair  County,  are  well  improved.  He  and  his 
wife  have  eight  children  living:  Gottlieb,  Julius,  Bertha,  Fred.  Eliza, 
Augusta,  Christiana  and  Adolph.  Two  are  deceased,  Mary  and  Amelia. 
Mr.  S.  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  He  takes 
great  interest  in  this  church,  and  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  and 
influential  members.  He  is  an  industrious  and  enterprising  citizen  and 
one  of  the  most  substantial  farmers  in  Deepwater  Township. 

JUDGE  J.  STEPHENSON, 

farmer  and  stock  dealer,  section  18,  was  born  in  Jackson  County,  Ohio, 
January  i,  1824,  and  was  the  son  of  Andrew  and  Elizabeth  Stephenson, 
nee  McGee,  also  natives  of  Ohio.  Our  subject  grew  up  in  the  county  of 
his  birth,  his  youth  being  spent  on  the  farm,  and  in  attending  school. 
He  acquired  a  fair  education  in  the  common  English  branches  and  in 
after  years  was  a  teacher  for  a  number  of  terms.  Before  reaching  his 
majority  he  was  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Jackson,  Ohio, 
for  about  ten  years.  He  was  married  April  24,  1845,  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Ridgeway,  a  daughter  of  John  Ridgeway,  and  a  native  ot  Gallia  County 
Mr.  Stephenson  closed  up  his  mercantile  business  in  1858,  and  in  May 
following  came  to  Missouri,  and  located  in  Deepwater  Township,  Henry 
County.  He  bought  his  present  farm  in  1865,  and  now  has  240  acres, 
160  of  which  are  fenced,  with  good  improvements,  an  orchard,  etc.  He 
is  extensively  interested  in  buying  and  selling,  and  shipping  stock,  and 
has  followed  this  business  in  connection  with  farming,  since  coming  to 
the  state.  Mr.  Stephenson  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party,  and 
was  elected  county  treasurer  in  1864,  but  declined  the  nomination  of  his 
party  for  a  second   term.     In  1868  he  received  the  nomination  and  was 


622  HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 

elected  county  judge  and  served  four  years  in  that  capacity  with  credit 
to  himself  and  satisfaction  to  his  constituents.  He  and  his  wife  have 
raised  a  family  of  eight  children:  Mary  Ann,  (now  Mrs.  V.  Griggs),  Vir- 
ginia (wife  of  Samuel  Gates),  Andrew  J.,  John  J.,  Frances  (wife  of  Wright 
Ba^iley),  William  A.,  Nellie  and  Julia  Belle.  They  have  lost  three  child- 
dren,  one  of  whom,  Lillie  D.  died  in  infancy,  and  Jared  L.,  and  Indiana, 
died  in  childhood.  Mrs.  Stephenson  is  a  member  of  the  Missionary 
Baptist  Ghurch.  The  judge  has  filled  several  minor  offices,  and  has  been 
elected  a  delegate  to  numerous  county  and  congressional  conventions. 

JUDGE  M.  A.  STEWART, 

a  well  known  citizen  of  this  vicinity,  was  born  in  Farquier  County,  Vir- 
ginia, March  19,  1S19.  His  parents,  Daniel  and  Anna  (Walker)  Stewart, 
were  natives  of  the  same  county.  The  former  served  in  the  war  of  1812, 
first  holding  the  rank  of  lieutenant  and  later  was  promoted  to  major.  M. 
A.  Stewart  was  raised  in  his  native  county,  attending  school  and  working 
on  the  farm,  and  when  a  young  man  was  employed  as  salesman  for  a  live 
stock  dealer,  serving  in  that  capacity  for  about  three  years.  In  1838  or 
1839  he  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  under  the  instruction  of  Dr. 
John  Thompson,  one  of  the  leading  physicians  and  surgeons  of  Kanawha 
County,  and  in  1843  oi"  1844  took  a  course  of  lectures  at  the  Medical 
University,  of  Philadelphia.  Moving  to  Missouri  with  his  parents  in 
1844  he  settled  in  Henry  County  where  he  bought  land  and  improved  a 
farm  which  he  now  occupies.  After  finishing  his  studies  at  the  medical 
college,  the  doctor  commenced  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession  in 
Henry  County  and  was  one  of  the  pioneer  physicians  of  the  locality. 
He  was  married  in  Cooper  County,  in  October,  1865,  to  Miss  Alice 
Amanda  Philips,  a  Kentuckian  by  birth,  and  a  daughter  of  Willam  and 
Mary  Philips.  There  are  three  children  by  this  marriage  :  William  A. 
Daniel  W.  and  Susan  Alice.  Mrs.  Stewart  died,  November  8,  1879.  Mr. 
S.  is  identified  with  the  Democratic  party  and  was  once  elected  one  of 
the  county  judges  and  has  since  been  twice  re-elected,  serving  in  this 
capacity  with  distinction  for  three  consecutive  terms.  He  is  well  posted 
in  the  political  issues  of  the  day  and  has  been  a  delegate  to  numerous 
political  conventions.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  Mr. 
Stewart  has  870  acres  of  valuable  land,  located  about  three  miles  north- 
west of  Montrose.  There  are  about  100  acres  in  tame  grass,  and  an 
orchard  of  some  200  trees.  Coal  underlies  a  large  portion  of  the  place, 
which  is  in  section  3.  The  judge  is  a  man  of  large  and  varied  experience 
and  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  county. 

EDWIN  TAYLOR 

came  originally  from  Medina  County,  Ohio,  where  he  was  born  Decem- 
ber 8,  1833.     Jonathan  Taylor,  his  father,  was  a  native  of  Connecticut, 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  623 

and  his  mother,  formerly  Lydia  Taylor,  was  born  in  New  Hampshire. 
Edwin  accompanied  his  parents  to  Illinois  and  settled  first  in  Hancock 
County,  where  they  lived  about  five  years,  moving  thence  to  Iowa  and 
locating-  in  Fairfield,  in  1844.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  passed  his 
youth  on  a  farm  and  at  school  until  about  the  age  of  sixteen  years, 
when  he  was  employed  as  stage  agent  in  Iowa  and  Missouri  until  1859. 
He  came  to  Missouri  in  1855  and  worked  for  the  stage  company  after 
this  for  about  four  years.  In  1859  he  engaged  in  the  drug  business  at 
Calhoun,  Henry  County.  He  was  appointed  postmaster  shortly  after 
and  continued  in  business  there  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war.  In 
1863  Mr.  Taylor  moved  to  Germantown  and  opened  a  stock  of  general 
merchandise,  which  business  he  conducted  till  1871,  then  closed  out  and 
came  to  Montrose  and  embarked  in  the  hotel  and  livery  business.  He 
sold  his  hotel  in  a  short  time,  and  since  then  has  been  carrying  on  the 
livery  business.  His  large  barn  contains  a  number  of  excellent  horses 
and  buggies,  and  being  a  pleasant,  social  and  accommodating  man,  he 
is  very  popular  and  is  having  an  extensive  patronage.  Mr.  Taylor  was 
married  in  Warsaw,  Benton  County,  in  August,  1858,  to  Miss  Ada  V. 
Oliver,  who  was  born  in  Warsaw,  but  educated  in  Springfield,  Missouri. 
They  have  had  four  children,  Edwin  O.,  William  H.,  who  died  in  Decem- 
ber, 1879,  ^t  the  age  of  fourteen  years,  Lulie  and  Arthur. 

JAMES  H.  VICKERS 

is  a  native  of  Virginia  and  was  born  in  Kanawha  County,  February  14, 
1847.  Henry  C.  Vickers,  his  father,  a  Kentuckian  by  birth,  married 
Miss  Elizabeth  A.  Roberts,  originally  from  Virginia.  James  H.  moved 
to  Missouri  with  his  parents  in  the  spring  of  1852,  and  located  in  Henry 
County,  where  his  youth  was  passed  on  the  home  farm,  and  he  received 
a  common  school  education,  supplemented  with  a  course  at  the  Rice  & 
Stewart  Commercial  College,  at  St.  Louis.  After  completing  his  studies 
he  returned  to  Henry  County,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  until 
1872,  then  going  to  Colorado.  After  remaining  about  two  years  in  the 
mining  districts,  prospecting  and  mining,  he  came  back  from  Colorado 
and  spent  several  months  in  St.  Louis,  occupied  in  the  interest  of  his 
mines.  He  located  in  Montrose  in  the  summer  of  1877,  ^'"^^  opened  a 
real  estate  office  at  this  place,  where  he  is  now  doing  a  general  land 
agency  business  and  has  long  lists  of  valuable  wild  lands  and  improved 
farms  for  sale.  Mr.  Vickers  was  appointed  notary  public  in  November, 
1879.  He  is  a  gentleman  of  excellent  business  qualifications  and  of 
high  standing  in  the  community.  He  was  married  in  Montrose  October 
25,  1870,  to  Miss  Kate  Chilton,  of  Cooper  County,  and  a  daughter  of 
Dr.  E.  Chilton,  one  of  the  pioneer  physicians  of  Montrose.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Vickers  lost  three  children  in  infancy.     Airs.  V.  is  a  member  of  the 


624  HISTORY   OP^    HENRY    COUNTY. 

Old  School  Presbyterian   Church.     He  belongs  to  the   Masonic  frater- 
nity, and  his  lodge  has  recognized  his  ability  by  electing  him  secretary. 

JAMES  K.  WHITEHEAD. 

Among  the  pioneer  merchants  of  Montrose  is  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  Mr.  Whitehead  is  a  native  of  Tioga  County,  Pennsylvania,  and 
was  born  April  i,  1832.  His  father,  Dr.  Harmon  Whitehead,  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania  in  1802,  and  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Har- 
riet Kinney,  was  born  in  the  same  state  in  1807  and  is  still  living.  J. 
K.  Whitehead  moved  with  his  parents  to  Illinois  in  1837  and  located  in 
Peru,  LaSalle  County,  where  his  youth  was  spent  on  a  farm  and  in 
attending  the  public  schools,  where  he  received  a  good  education  in  the 
common  English  branches.  Dr.  Whitehead  died  in  1849,  and  as  James 
was  the  oldest  of  four  sons,  the  care  of  the  family  devolved  upon  him, 
and  he  took  charge  of  the  farm  and  business  and  carried  it  on  very  suc- 
cessfully. After  reaching  his  majority  he  attended  the  Lombard  Uni- 
versity in  Knox  County  for  one  term.  He  was  married  in  Peru  Novem- 
ber 3,  1857,  to  Miss  Sarah  J.  Brookie,  of  Glasgow,  Kentucky,  and  a 
daughter  of  Dr.  John  Brookie,  a  druggist  of  St.  Louis.  After  his  mar- 
riage Mr.  Whitehead  continued  his  farming  operations  and  opened  out 
a  new  farm  in  Bureau  County,  which  he  conducted  for  about  ten  years. 
In  1863  he  returned  to  Peru,  and  was  engaged  in  handling  grain  and 
agricultural  implements  for  other  parties  until  1871,  when  he  settled  in 
Montrose,  Henry  County,  where  he  embarked  in  mercantile  pursuits 
under  the  firm  name  of  W.  H.  Chamberlain  &  Co.,  hardware,  implements 
and  grain  dealers.  This  firm  commenced  business  in  March,  1871,  and 
continued  about  one  and  a  half  years,  when  they  met  with  a  misfortune 
and  were  burned  out.  After  this  loss  Mr.  Whitehead  started  in  the  same 
occupation  alone.  He  erected  a  business  house  in  the  spring  of  1874 
and  remained  in  business  until  June  13,  1882,  when  he  was  again  burned 
out.  He  is  an  energetic,  enterprising  and  ambitious  man,  and  during 
the  past  season  erected  a  good  two-story  brick  business  house,  25x72 
feet,  where,  in  connection  with  his  son,  he  is  now  carrying  on  the  same 
line  of  trade.  He  has  a  good  stock  of  heavy  and  shelf  hardware,  stoves, 
tin,  sheet  iron  and  copper  ware  and  farm  implements,  and  is  very  suc- 
/  cessful.  He  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Montrose  and  took  charge  of 
the  office  in  June,  1875,  and  has  since  that  time  discharged  the  duties  of 
the  office  in  a  satisfactory  manner.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whitehead  have  three 
children:  Howard  L.  (a  partner  in  the  firm),  Edwin  J.  and  Edith  A.  Mr. 
W.  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  First  Presb}-terian  Church.  He 
belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  625 

WILSON  BROTHERS, 

farmers  and  stock  dealers,  section  9,  are  the  sons  of  James  R.  and  Susan 
(Everett)  Wilson.  The  former  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  but  moved  to  Vir- 
ginia with  his  parents,  where  he  grew  to  manhood.  Their  mother  was  a 
Virginian  by  birth.  Mr.  Wilson  came  from  Virginia  to  Missouri  in  1840, 
and  bought  land  and  settled  in  Henry  County,  on  the  farm  where  the 
family  now  reside.  J.  H.  Wilson,  the  oldest  of  the  brothers  was  born  in 
Virginia,  October  30,  1880.  W.  W.  was  born  in  Henry  County,  on 
the  home  place,  December  26,  1857,  and  R.  B.  Wilson  was 
born  on  the  same  farm,  April  9,  1854.  They  are  among  the  largest 
land  owners  and  stock  feeders  of  Deepwater  Township,  having  in  the 
home  place  640  acres,  most  of  which  is  in  a  fine  state  of  cultivation  and 
pasture  land;  320  acres  are  in  Bear  Creek  Township  on  the  county  line, 
and  adjoining  this  in  St.  Clair  County,  they  have  ninety-eight  acres, 
and  in  section  36,  in  Deepwater,  are  160  acres  of  improved  land,  making 
in  all  over  4,200  acres.  A  large  residence  is  on  the  home  place,  together 
with  a  good  barn  and  a  fine  young  bearing  orchard.  The  past  season,  350 
acres  were  planted  to  corn,  which  made  an  average  of  thirty-five  bushels 
per  acre.  They  are  among  the  most  extensive  stock  feeders  and  dealers 
in  the  county,  and  handle  from  200  to  500  head  of  cattle,  and  about  the 
same  number  of  hogs  annually.  J.  H.  Wilson  was  married  in  St.  Clair 
County,  November  8,  1866,  to  Miss  Susan  Bruce,  who  was  reared  and 
educated  in  St.  Clair  County,  and  a  daughter  of  Simeon  Bruce.  There 
are  five  children  by  this  marriage:  Bruce,  Katie,  James,  Susie  and  Wal- 
ter. W.  W.  and  R.  B.  Wilson  were  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
the  county,  supplemented  with  about  one  year's  attendance  at  the  State 
Normal  at  Warrensburg.  J.  H.  Wilson  and  wife  are  members  of  the  M. 
E.  Church,  South, 

JOSEPH  WITMER, 

farmer  and  carpenter,  is  a  native  of  Switzerland,  and  was  born  Decem- 
ber 25,  1836,  being  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Mary  (Hefner)  Witmer,  also 
of  that  country.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  his  youth  in  the 
country  of  his  birth,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  working  on 
a  farm  and  in  a  dairy  until  1853,  when  he  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
and  located  in  Toledo,  Ohio.  There  he  lived  about  three  years,  and 
while  in  that  city  learned  the  carpenter's  trade.  From  Toledo  he  went 
to  Indiana  and  worked  one  year  at  his  trade  in  Hundingdon  county.  In 
1857  he  went  with  some  government  troops  to  Salt  Lake,  where  he 
passed  about  nine  months,  when  he  returned  to  St.  Joseph,  Missouri, 
and  worked  in  that  city  until  1861.  In  July,  i86r,  he  enlisted  as  a  pri- 
vate in  Company  A,  Thirteenth  Missouri  Volunteer  Infantry,  serving 
until  mustered  out  March   19,   1865.     After  the  battle  of  Lexington  he 

40 


626  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

was  promoted  to  second  lieutenant  for  meritorious  conduct,  and  after- 
ward, in  November,  1863,  to  first  lieutenant.  He  was  made  prisoner  at 
the  battle  of  Lexington,  but  was  parolled  in  three  days.  His  regiment, 
after  this  engagement,  was  reorganized,  and  was  known  as  the  twenty- 
fifth.  He  participated  in  the  battles  of  Shilo  and  New  Madrid,  and  a 
number  of  other  important  engagements.  In  1862  his  regiment  went 
on  the  plains  and  served  on  the  frontier  until  1864.  After  his  discharge 
Mr.  Witmer  engaged  as  wagon  master  and  went  across  the  plains  to 
Denver  and  Salt  Lake.  In  the  fall  of  1866  he  returned  to  Missouri  and 
located  in  Clinton,  where  he  followed  his  trade  for  three  years.  In  the 
winter  of  1870  he  went  to  Indiana  and  was  married  January  nth  of  that 
year  in  Huntingdon  County,  to  Miss  Mary  Lennartz,  of  that  county,  and 
a  daughter  of  Peter  Lennartz.  Returning  to  Henry  County  he  worked 
at  his  trade  during  that'  year,  and  in  the  spring  of  187 1  he  came  to 
Montrose  and  bought  the  farm  where  he  now  resides.  Mr.  Witmer  has 
a  fine  farm  of  106  acres  in  section  24,  just  in  the  suburbs  of  the  town, 
which  is  well  improved.  Since  moving  to  this  place,  besides  overseeing 
and  attending  to  it,  he  has  also  been  engaged  in  working  at  his  trade, 
and  is  ,one  of  the  best  workmen  in  his  line  in  Montrose.  He  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Catholic  Church.  They  have  a  family  of  two 
children,  Mollie  and  Willie  G. 


-^ 


^ 


??)— ■ 


TFBO  TOWNSHIP. 


ROBERT  W.  ALLEN 


was  born  September  3,  1850,  in  Tebo  Township,  Henry  County,  Missouri, 
and  was  the  son  of  George  Jones  Allen,  who  was  born  April  5,  1809, 
in  East  Tennessee.  His  mother,  formerly  Miss  Esther  M.  Mitchell  and 
a  daughter  of  William  and  Nancy  Mitchell,  was  born  May  17,  181 5,  in 
Brownsborough,  Washington  County,  East  Tennessee.  They  were  mar- 
ried April  17,  1833,  and  by  this  union  had  four  sons  and  four  daughters, 
of  whom  there  "are  still  living  four  daughters  and  three  sons.  They 
emigrated  from  their  native  state  to  Boone  County  in  1834,  where  Mr. 
Allen  was  engaged  in  farming  for  one  year.  In  the  following  year  he 
removed  to  Tebo,  then  in  Rives  County,  and  entered  a  tract  of  350  acres, 
where  he  commenced  to  make  improvements,  there  remaining  until  his 


BIOGRArillCAL.  627 

death  on  March  5,  1850.  Mrs.  A.  survived  him  only  three  years,  dying. 
February  13,  1853.  The  homestead  remained  as  an  inheritance  to  their 
children,  an  estate  of  350  acres  of  land  and  under  a  good  state  of  culti- 
vation, of  which  R.  W.  Allen  owns  190  acres.  Of  the  children  now  liv- 
ing the  eldest  is  a  daughter,  Ann  E.,  who  was  born  February  2,  1836,  in- 
Rives  County,  and  has  for  many  years  been  one  of  the  leading  educa- 
tors of  her  native  county;  William  M.,  born  December  10,  1838,  who 
married  Miss  Julia  M.,  daughter  of  Aurelius  B.  and  Eliza  Harris,  of 
Henry  County;  James  F.  and  Isabella  J.,  twin  brother  and  sister,  were 
born  September  17,  1841;  the  brother  died  May  8,  1863,  while  in  the 
Confederate  service,  and  Isabella  is  now  a  resident  of  this  county;  George 
J.,  born  January  19.  1844,  married  Miss  Bettie  J.  Fisher,  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Jane  E.  Fisher,  of  Howard  County,  April  22,  1874;  Emma  E., 
born  November  i,  1847,  married  Joseph  W.  Huston,  of  this  county, 
November  2,  1871;  Robert  W.,  born  September  3,  1850,  married  Miss 
SalHe  Sutherland,  daughter  of  Judge  W.  L.  and  Margaret  J.  Sutherland, 
October  9,  1879,  ^"d  they  have  have  two  children:  Clara  B.,  born  Sep- 
tember I,  1880,  and  Robert  Logan,  born  June  28,  1882.  Robert  Allen 
has  been  a  constant  resident  of  the  county  since  his  birth.  For  two 
years  he  attended  Lenox  College,  in  Iowa,  under  the  tutorship  of  Samuel 
Hodge,  D.  D.  Though  not  having  commenced  life  for  himself  until  at 
the  age  of  twenty,  he  has  been  successful  thus  far,  and  now  has  a  fine 
residence,  a  good  orchard,  etc.  He  received  at  first  from  the  home- 
stead only  thirty  acres,  but  purchased  twenty  acres  subsequently,  in 
1879,  ^"d  in  1881,  140  acres  more,  all  of  the  the  original  350  entered 
by  his  father  in  1835.  Four  members  of  this  family  are  connected  with 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  Mr.  Allen's  political  sentiments  are  Demo- 
cratic. 

M.  R.  AMICK 

is  the  owner  of  "Elm  Grove"  farm  of  400  acres,  composed  of  fine  rolling 
prairie,  well  watered  by  springs,  and  is  under  good  cultivation.  He  was 
born  December  8,  1846,  in  the  township  where  he  now  resides.  His 
father,  Marandy  Amick,  a  farmer,  and  millwright  by  occupation,  was 
born  March  25,  1808,  in  Kentucky.  He  came  to  Henry  County  in  1840* 
and  was  the  architect  of  the  first  steam  mill  west  of  St.  Louis,  it  having 
been  erected  by  Major  William  Wall,  and  burned  by  command  of  Gen. 
Pope,  during  the  war.  His  mother,  who  was  formerly  Sarah  E.  Wall, 
daughter  of  Major  William  and  Elizabeth  Wall,  was  born  October 
6,  1 8 18,  in  Rockingham  County,  North  Carolina.  They  were  married 
June  27,  1843,  and  to  them  were  born  three  children,  of  whom  but  one 
is  now  living,  M.  R.  Mr.  A.  died  February  26,  1847,  and  his  widow  died 
August  II,  1854.  Our  subject  was  thus  left  an  orphan  at  the  age  of  nine 
years.     Dr.  James  W.  Wall  (his  uncle)   then  took  him   under  his  care, 


628  tllSTOKV   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

and  became  his  guardian,  and  he  remained  with  that  relative  until  he 
attained  his  majority.  Falling  heir  to  an  estate  of  500  acres  he  took 
charge  of  the  same,  it  consisting  mostly  of  unimpro\'ed  lands.  January 
18,  1872,  he  married  Miss  Cerepta  V.,  dai^ghter  of  Judge  M.  K.  and 
Susan  A.  Merritt.  B}'  this  union  there  were  six  children,  of  whom  five 
are  living:  Walter  M.,  born  February  12,  1873;  the  second  son  died  while 
very  young;  Lillian  Blanch,  born  November  24,  1875;  Mary  Ida,  born 
September  18,  1877;  Milton  C,  born  January  22,  18S0;  Arthur,  born 
August  II,  1881.  Mr.  Amick  commenced  his  improvements  in  1874, 
and  now  has  a  residence  that  is  an  ornament  to  the  fine  farm  it  helps  to 
adorn.  He  is  a  man  of  great  energy,  is  a  successful  stock  raiser,  and 
his  superior  herd  of  short-horns  and  pure  Berkshires  are  of  the  finest 
grade.  He  feeds  about  a  car  load  of  each  annually.  Himself  and  wife 
are  members  of  the  Sardis-Bethlehem  Baptist  Church.  Politically  he  is 
a  Democrat. 

R.  L.  AVERY. 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  was  born  December  12,  1824,  in  White  County, 
Tennessee,  where  he  also  received  his  education.  His  parents.  Rev. 
Henry  Avery,  born  October  18,  1793,  in  Roane  County,  Tennessee,  and 
Elizabeth  (Green)  Avery,  born  November  10,  1798,  in  Barren  County, 
Kentucky,  were  married  November  10,  18 19.  They  had  eight  children, 
five  of  whom  are  still  living,  three  sons  and  two  daughters.  Henry 
Avery  at  the  age  of  nineteen  enlisted  under  General  Jackson  as  a  pri- 
vate soldier,"  and  served  during  the  entire  war  of  1812.  He  was  almost 
constantly  with  that  general  and  on  very  intimate  terms  with  him.  He 
was  engaged  in  general  merchandising  in  Bibb  County,  Alabama,  during 
the  years  1818,  1819  and  1821,  and  then  closing  his  business,  was 
appointed  secretary  of  state,  which  office  he  held  for  two  years.  He 
was  for  nine  years  occupied  in  farming  in  White  County,  Tennessee,  and 
then  removed  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  remained  only  a  short  time,  when 
he  went  to  Morgan  County,  Missouri.  Li  183 1  he  came  to  Lafayette 
(now  Henry)  County,  and  at  that  time  was  the  only  man  that  took  a 
paper  here,  it  being  the  Missouri  Republican,  published  at  St.  Louis. 
He  pre-empted  160  acres  of  land  in  183 1  in  Tebo  Township,  and  in  1838 
purchased  1,000  acres  of  the  government  at  $1.25  per  acre,  and  in  1839 
340  more.  He  was  ordained  a  minister  of  the  gospel  in  May  of  1834  by 
Revs.  Ricketts,  Warder  and  White,  and  continued  to  preach  as  long  as 
strength  lasted.  He  died  September  18,  1845.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  soon  received  220  acres  of  the  homestead,  upon  which  he  com- 
menced farming  at  the  age  of  twenty-one,  and  he  has  since  that  time 
continued  upon  it.  He  was  for  several  years  employed  in  teaching  dur- 
ing the  winter  season  and  can  show  the  oldest  teachers  certificate  in  the 
county.     He  m:irried   Miss  Venezuela  Palmer,  daughter  of  Drury  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  629 

Mary  Palmer,  (born  January  8th,  1S39,)  December  8th,  1857.  By  this 
union  there  have  been  six  daughters  and  four  sons,  of  whom  three  sons 
and  two  daughters  survive.  Mary  C,  born  October  5th,  1858,  married 
David  Chipman,  of  Henry  County,  December  20th,  1882.  Henry  F., 
born  January  i8th,  1864.  Serepta  E.,  born  August  27th,  1868.  James 
W.,  born  September  15th,  1870.  Robinson  E.,  born  November  29th, 
1875.  Mr.  Avery  has  remained  upon  the  same  farm  fifty-one  years,  and 
was  for  forty  years  an  inmate  of  the  first  dwelling  house  erected  in 
the  county.  This  house,  a  double  log  structure,  was  raised  July  i8th, 
1832,  by  Drury  Palmer,  Judge  Thomas  Arbuckle,  Rev.  Henry  Aveiy, 
John  Wade,  Martin  Wade,  and  Judge  William  Goff  Mr.  Avery  has  a 
fine  farm,  well  watered,  and  is  one  of  the  enterprising  farmers  of  this 
district,  dealing  quite  extensively  in  stock.  He  was  a  Union  man  during 
the  war  and  did  much  to  harmonize  feeling  during  that  period.  Mrs.  A. 
is  connected  with  the  Old  School  Presbyterian  Church,  and  his  views 
are  Democratic. 

C.  E.  AND  R.  W.  AVERY 

are  the  owners  and  managers  of  a  fine  460  acre  farm,  and  are  sons  of 
the  late  Hon.  William  L.  Avery,  who  was  born  November  14,  1822,  in 
White  County,  Tennessee,  and  who  married  January  17,  1843,  Miss 
Saphronia  C,  daughter  of  Major  John  W.  and  Nancy  A.  Williams,  of 
Henry  County.  She  was  born  December  8,  1826,  in  Simpson  County, 
Kentucky.  They  had  nine  children,  seven  of  whom  are  living:  Nancy  Eliza- 
beth was  born  May  10,  1845,  and  married  Mark  F.  Finks,  October  20,  1864; 
Leonora  A.  was  born  August  2,  1847,  and  married  John  W.  Coppage, 
October  23,  1867.  Charles  E.  was  born  July  4.  1849,  ^''"d  married  Miss 
Lelia  Theressa,  daughter  of  Judge  M.  B.  and  Susan  A.  Merritt,  of  this 
county.  Robert  W.  was  born  June  15,  185  i;  Emma  O.,  was  born  Sep- 
tember 9,  1853,  and  married  J.  W.  Wall  .in  August,  1873  (she  died  Janu- 
ary 7,  1876);  Idora  F.,  who  was  born  February  4,  1855,  married  Nicholas 
Mars,  December  19,  18/0,  and  died  September  18,  1874;  Mary  H.  was 
born  January  28,  1857,  married  Peter  B.  Mars,  October,  1874;  Lillian  M. 
was  born  May  I,  1861,  married  Nicholas  Mars,  and  now  residing  in  Cedar 
County  Misouri;  John  H.  was  born  September  3,  1863.  C.  E.  Avery, 
after  attending  the  Calhoun  and  Clinton  High  Schools,  took  a  course  at 
the  Missouri  State  University.  He  is  a  gentleman  of  good  education 
and  well  cultured,  yet  altogether  unassuming  in  manner.  Robert  W., 
his  brother  is  assisting  in  the  farm  management.  They  are  capable 
energetic  young  men,  and  rank  high  as  farmers  and  raisers  ot  fine  graded 
stock.  They  have  an  excellent  farm  upon  which  are  good  buildings,  etc. 
This  farm  was  settled  in  1845,  by  their  father,  who  although  he  served 
the  county  with  honor  to  himself,  and  satisfaction  to  her  people,  found 
time,  aside  from  legal  hours,  to  train  his   sons   for  success   in  future  life. 


630  HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 

He  was  a  prominent  public  man,  his  first  office  being  that  of  county 
assessor,  which  position  he  filled  for  two  years,  in  1850- 1.  He  was  next 
elected  judge  of  the  county  court  in  1852,  and  served  for  twelve  years, 
or  until  the  general  ousting  ordinance  in  1864.  He  was  again  elected  in 
1870,  as  judge  of  the  court  of  common  pleas,  and  held  the  office  for  four 
years.  In  1874  he  became  judge  of  the  probate  court,  holding  his  seat 
until  the  time  of  his  death,  March  2,  1875.  Politically  these  brothers  are 
Democratic. 

ROBERT  HENLEY  COURTS  BERRY, 

was  born  May  13,  1827,  in  Olham  County,  Kentucky,  being  the  son  of 
Jonathan  T.  Berry,  born  in  1776,  in  Henry  County,  Kentucky.  His 
mother,  formerl}'  Eleanor  M.  Taylor,  was  born  in  Jefferson  County,  of 
the  same  state.  They  were  married  in  1825,  and  to  them  were  born 
eleven  children.  Of  these  only  four  are  now  living,  three  daughters  and 
one  son.  They  emigrated  from  Kentucky  to  Henry  County,  Missouri, 
in  1835,  and  in  that  year  Mr.  B.  entered  a  tract  of  land  of  740  acres, 
mostly  in  Windsor,- but  on  the  line  pf  that  and  Tebo  Townships.  He 
remained  a  resident  of  the  count}-  until  his  death,  June  6,  1872.  He  was 
for  many  years  judge  of  this  county,  and  was  acting  judge  at  the  out- 
break of  the  war,  in  1861.  Mrs.  B.  now  resides  with  William  R.  Taj'lor, 
of  Windsor  Township.  R.  H.  C.  Berry,  their  only  surviving  son,  mar- 
ried Miss  Olivia  N.,  daughtei  of  Dr.  William  and  Ann  E.  Taylor,  of 
Olham  County,  Kentucky.  Br  this  union  there  were  seven  children,  of 
whom  six  survive,  four  daughters  and  two  sons.  Eleanor  C,  born  June 
23,  1854,  married  William  Hurt,  February  6,  1883;  Jonathan  T.,  born 
May  22,  1856;  Lawrence  W.,  born  November  11,  1857,  now  in  New  Mex- 
ico; Ann  E.,  born  October  5,  1859,  married  Benjamin  Palmer,  of  Henry 
County,  June  5,  1881;  Virginia  M.,  born  July  2,  1862,  died  March  6,  1865; 
Olivia  M.,  was  born  June  19,  1865;  Lucy  Alice  was  born  January  13, 
1868.  In  1853  Mr.  Berry  purchased  a  farm  of  160  acres  in  Windsor 
Township,  and  after  his  marriage  he  settled  upon  it,  soon  adding  forty 
acres.  Here  he  remained  for  nearly  four  years,  then  purchasing  353 
acres.  To  this  he  has  added  thirty-nine  acres,  and  he  has  steadily  pur- 
sued farming  since  1858.  He  deals  in  stock  quite  largely,  and  also 
raises  it  to  some  extent.  Their  daughters,  Mrs.  Hurt  and  Palmer,  are 
members  of  the  Baptist  Church  of  Calhoun.  His  political  sentiments 
are  Democratic. 

JAMES  H.  BLACKWELL. 

■  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Macon  County,  Missouri, 
February  19,  1834,  being  the  third  son  and  the  fifth  child  of  a  famil}'  of 
eight  children,  of  William  and  P^iizabeth  Blackwell.  William  Blackwell 
was  born  in  Madison  County,  Kentucky,  Januar\-  13,  1797,  and  was  mar- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  .  63 1 

ried  September  18,  1823,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Lynch,  a  native  of  Virginia, 
and  daughter  of  Henry  Lynch,  a  Revolutionary  veteran.  William  Black- 
well  immigrated  to  Missouri  and  settled  in  Boone  County  November  7, 
1827,  living  there  one  year,  when  he  went  to  Howard,  where  he  resided 
three  years.  In  183 1,  he  removed  to  the  territory  of  what  is  now  Macon 
County,  then  a  portion  of  Randolph,  where  he  lived  till  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  July,  1882,  in  the  eighty-sixth  year  of  his  age.  His  widow 
still  lives  on  the  same  farm,  being  eighty-four  years  of  age.  Mr.  Black- 
well  well  remembers  the  time  when  the  country  in  which  he  was  born 
was  almost  a  wilderness,  when  it  was  too  remote  from  the  settlements 
to  have  what  would  now  be  termed  the  necessaries  of  life.  When  the 
few  inhabitants  had  to  go  from  thirty  to  forty  miles  to  mill,  when  they 
could  not  get  shoes  or  boots,  and  in  consequence  wore  moccasins,  and 
the  men  wore  a  great  deal  of  dressed  buckskin  clothing,  when  nearly 
every  man  laid  in  his  barrel  of  wild  honey  every  fall  from  the  woods, 
when  deer,  wildcats,  catamounts,  wolves  and  panthers  were  plentiful. 
He  worked  with  his  father  on  the  farm  till  twenty-one  years  of  age, 
receiving  what  education  he  could  obtain  in  the  common  schools  at  odd 
times  when  he  could  be  spared  from  the  farm.  From  early  boyhood  he 
had  serious  religious  impressions  made  upon  his  mind,  to  a  great  extent 
through  the  instrumentality  of  his  mother,  who  was  an  earnest  Meth- 
odist, and  afterward  by  his  father,  who  become  a  faithful  Cumberland 
Presbyterian,  aild  when  about  thirteen  years  old,  at  an  old  fashioned 
camp  meeting,  made  a  public  profession  of  faith,  and  soon  after  joined 
the  M.  E.  Church  South,  of  which  he  has  lived  an  humble  member  ever 
since.  In  1855,  he  started  in  the  world  for  himself  by  teaching  his  first 
school,  near  Lancaster,  Schuyler  County,  in  which  he  succeeded  well. 
In  1856,  he  taught  in  Howard  County,  and  in  1857,  being  ambitious  for 
higher  attainments  in  education,  entered  Central  College  at  Fayette, 
remaining  during  two  sessions.  In  1858,  he  taught  school  in  Randolph 
County,  and  in  1859  and  1861,  in  Chariton  County. 

Although  Mr.  Blackwell  had  received  an  early  Whig  training,  and 
cast  his  first  vote  for  Millard  Fillmore  for  president,  yet  he  had  been 
taught  that  ours  was  a  federal  union,  and  steadfastly  believed  in  the 
doctrine  of  state  sovereignty;  hence,  when  the  southern  states  began  to 
secede  he  doubted  not  their  constitutional  right  to  do  so,  but  thought  it 
bad  policy,  that  it  would  result  badly,  and  when  the  war  broke  out  in 
1861  he  went  with  his  convictions  of  right,  rather  than  those  of  policy, 
and  entered  the  army  as  sergeant  major  of  Bevier's  regiment,  M.  S.  G., 
August  8,  1861.  In  February,  1862.  being  severely  afflicted  with  chronic 
ophthalmia,  he  left  the  army  for  medical  treatment,  and  came  to  the  north- 
ern portion  of  Henry  County,  where  he  remained  five  months,  during 
which  time  he  resolved  to  make  Henry  County  his  home,  if  he  should 
ever  get  through  the  war,  where  he  had   found  such  a  rich,  lime  stone 


632  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

soil,  SO  genial  and  healthful  a  climate,  and  last,  but  not  least,  such  a  kind 
hearted  people,  such  as  the  Walls,  the  Fewells,  the  Averys,  the  Wilsons^ 
the  Wylies  and  the  Garretts.  In  August,  1862,  he  assisted  in  raising  a 
company  of  men,  of  which  he  was  elected  first  lieutenant,  and  was  sworn 
into  the  Confederate  service  proper  at  Sutliff's  Mill,  in  Bates  County,  by 
Colonel  J.  V.  Cockrell  August  14,  1862,  and  on  the  i6th  commanded  his 
company  in  the  hard  fought  little  battle  of  Lone  Jack.  Mr.  B.  then 
retreated  with  the  Confederate  forces  to  Arkansas,  where  he  remained 
till  July,  1865,  (after  the  Confederate  surrender)  when  he  returned  to  his 
people  in  Macon  County,  broken  down  in  health  and  in  fortune.  In  1866 
he  again  resumed  his  old  profession  as  teacher  in  Howard  County,  and 
so  continued,  receiving  good  wages,  till  October,  1867,  when  he  returned 
to  Henry.  On  the  17th  of  November  he  was  married  to  Miss  Fannie 
Gilbert,  daughter  of  Samuel  D.  Gilbert,  who  had  been  a  prominent  min- 
ister of  the  Regular  Baptist  Church,  and  a  granddaughter  of  Major  Wil- 
liam M.  Wall.  Mr.  Blackwell  has  ever  since  his  marriage,  followed 
farming  and  teaching  at  intervals.  His  marriage  relation  was  of  the 
happiest  type,  his  wife  being  a  favorite  of  all,  till  in  1875  she  became  a 
victim  to  consumption,  and  died  December  20,  1876,  loved  and  regretted 
by  all.  Mr.  Blackwell  remained  a  widower  four  years,  and  settled  the 
farm  he  now  occupies  in  1878.  December  16,  1880,  he  was  again  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Alice  Owen.  He  is  very  strongly  devoted  to  his  church, 
taking  great  interest  in  religion  and  good  morals,  and  hates  trickery  and 
dishonesty.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  of  the  Pat- 
rons of  Husbandry,  and  in  politics  a  Democrat.  Though  modest  and  retir- 
ing, he  sometimes  takes  the  stump  in  advocacy  of  any  doctrine  he  may 
espouse,  and  in  1880  canvassed  his  county  for  the  nominee  of  his  party 
for  representative,  but  was  defeated. 

JAMES  H.  BRONAUGH, 

physician  and  surgeon,  was  born  in  Mason  County,  Virginia,  October  6, 
1839,  a"d  was  a  son  of  Thomas  J.  and  Nancy  (Henderson)  Bronaugh, 
who  were  also  natives  of  Virginia.  James  was  the  third  in  a  family  of 
seven  children.  When  he  was  about  six  years  old  his  parents  moved  to 
Henry  County,  Missouri,  where  he  was  reared  on  a  farm.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-one  he  began  farming  for  himself  and  continued  it  till  June,  18^1. 
when  he  enlisted  in  the  Windsor  Guards  in  which  he  was  third  lieuten- 
ant, participating  in  a  number  of  important  battles.  Among  these  were 
Lexington,  Prairie  Grove,  Wilson  Creek,  Lone  Jack  and  others.  In  May, 
1865,  he  surrendered  at  Shreveport,  Louisiana,  and  afterwards  returned 
home.  Subsequently  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  with  his  brother. 
Dr.  J.  W.  Bronaugh,  of  Calhoun,  reading  with  him  till  1867,  when  he 
entered  the  Missouri  Medical  College  of  St.  Louis.      From  this  institu- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  633 

tion  he  was  graduated  in  March,  1870,  after  which  he  located  at  Coles- 
burg  for  six  months.  Since  that  time  he  has  continued  his  practice  in 
Calhoun  and  is  here  known  as  one  of  the  prominent  physicians  of  Henry 
County.  He  is  also  a  large  land  holder.  Having  returned  from  the  war 
a  penniless  man,  what  he  now  owns  he  has  accumulated  by  his  energy 
and  business  tact.  December  25,  1868,  the  doctor  was  married  to  Miss- 
Leona  C.  Knox,  a  native  of  Henry  County,  Missouri.  They  have  four 
children  living:  Bessie,  Lillie  M.,  John  K.  and  Thomas,  having  lost  one 
child.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Old  School  Presbyterian 
Church.     He  is  also  a  leading  constituent  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  fraternity. 

JAMES  D.  BURNS 

was  born  in  Warsaw,  Benton  County,  Missouri,  April  10,  1858,  and  was 
the  son  of  James  Burns,  who  was  a  merchant  of  that  town  for  a  number 
of  years.  He  was  a  native  of  Missouri  and  was  killed  at  the  battle  of 
Jenkins'  Ferry.  The  mother  of  James  D.,  also  a  native  of  Missouri,  was 
formerly  Eliza  McNeala.  When  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  three 
years  old  his  parents  removed  on  a  farm,  where  he  was  reared,  being 
educated  in  the  common  schools.  He  remained  on  the  farm  until  1880,. 
then  went  to  Windsor  and  began  to  work  at  the  tinner's  trade,  for  Cal- 
bow  &  Lewis.  After  about  six  months  they  opened  a  branch  house  at 
Calhoun  and  he  took  charge  of  the  business  for  them,  and  is  now  man- 
aging it  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  his  employers.  Mr.  Burns  is  a 
member  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  South.  He  is  N.  G.  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  fra- 
ternity at  this  place. 

WILLIAM  BUSH, 

city  marshal  of  Calhoun,  was  born  October  10,  1831,  in  Tippecanoe 
County  Indiana,  and  was  the  son  of  Abraham  and  Mary  B.  (Tullisj  Bush,, 
both  natives  of  Ohio,  the  former  having  been  born  in  Logan  County  in 
1815,  and  the  later  in  181S.  They  were  married  in  1829,  and  had  four 
children,  of  whom  William  is  the  only  surviving  child.  The  senior  Bush 
died  in  Indiana  in  1836,  after  having  lived  there  six  years.  In  1837  his 
widow  married  Richard  Bush,  and  by  this  marriage  there  were  four  sons 
and  three  daughters.  Of  these  two  sons  and  two  daughters  are  living. 
Mrs.  B.  died  in  May,  1873;  she  had  made  her  home  with  her  son  for  two 
years  previous  to  this  date.  Our  subject  started  in  'ife  for  himself  at  the 
age  of  fifteen  years  as  a  farm  laborer,  continuing  that  occupation  until 
the  opening  of  the  war.  In  February,  1862,  he  enlisted  as  private  in 
Company  F.,  Eighth  Missouri  Cavalry,  commanded  by  R.  H.  Mel- 
ton, captain,  and  Joseph  J.  McClurg,  colonel.  He  was  appointed  ser- 
geant in  March,  1862,  and  held  this  position  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
being  mustered  out  of  service  March  31,  1865,  and   regularly  discharged 


\ 


634  HISTOR\    OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 

at  Springfield,  Missouri.  He  received  a  wound  in  a  battle  at  Warsaw. 
In  1843  Mr.  Bush  removed  from  Indiana  to  Illinois;  in  1844  came  to  Mis- 
souri; in  1846  went  to  Iowa,  and  in  185  i  returned  to  Missouri  and  has 
since  resided  in  Henry  and  Benton  Counties.  In  1866  he  was  appointed 
deputy  sheriff  under  Harrison  Mitchell,  and  held  that  position  for  three 
years.  In  1868,  purchasing  a  farm  in  Lindsay  Township,  Benton  Count}-, 
he  gave  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits  for  four  years,  when,  sell- 
ing this  property,  he,  in  the  spring  of  1872,  engaged  in  the  construction 
of  the  Tebo  &  Neosho  Railroad,  now  the  Sedalia  Branch  (narrow  guage). 
After  four  months,  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Missouri  Pacific  Rail- 
road, and  eighteen  months  later  suspended  work  on  account  of  failing 
health,  then  going  to  Brownville,  Saline  County.  He  remained  there  for 
six  years.  After  his  return  to  Calhoun  he  was  appointed  city  marshal 
in  the  spring  of  1880,  and  is  now  acceptably  discharging  the  duties  of 
that  office.  Mr.  Bush  was  married  January  17,  1856,  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Graham,  of  Benton  County.  They  have  had  four  sons  :  John  W.,  born 
July  25,  1858,  died  September  25,  following;  James  T.,  born  July  22,  1859, 
married  Miss  Alice  Motsinger;  William  N.,  born  February  15,  1862;  and 
Charles  E.,  born  April  7,  1866.  Mr.  B.  is  connected  with  the  M.  E. 
Church.     In  politics  he  is  a  Republican. 

EMANUEL  BUSHNELL 

was  born  in  Rockingham  County,  Virginia,  July  21,  1827.  William 
Bushnell,  his  father,  a  carriage  maker  by  trade,  was  born  March  22,  1787, 
in  Saybrook,  Connecticut,  and  on  May  29,  1817,  married  Miss  Polly 
Harnsberger,  daughter  of  Adam  and  Catherine  Harnsberger.  She  was 
also  born  in  Rockingham  County,  December  3,  1788.  They  had  five 
children,  four  sons  and  one  daughter,  of  whom  Emanuel  is  the  only  sur- 
viving child.  They  both  lived  in  Virginia  until  their  deaths,  Mr.  B. 
dying  February  20,  1845,  and  his  widow  August  8,  185 1.  Young  Bush- 
nell obtained  a  good  practical  schooling  in  youth,  and  at  the  age  of 
fourteen  years  commenced  life  for  himself  In  1854  he  emigrated  to 
Henry  County,  Missouri,  landing  at  Calhoun  on  April  19,  and  with  him 
came  his  sister,  Mary  Ann.  They  brought  a  colored  family  consisting 
of  seven  persons,  and  Mr.  B.  made  his  home  for  sometime  with  an  older 
brother  who  had  preceded  him  to  Missouri  in  an  early  day.  October 
30,  1855  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  E.  F.  Watson,  daughter  of  John 
and  Ellen  Watson,  of  Boston,  Massachusetts,  where  she  was  born  March 
14,  1836.  They  have  had  six  children,  three  sons  and  three  daughters: 
William  Tupper,  born  August  12,  1856,  died  June  22,  1882,  soon  after 
having  graduated  from  the  Missouri  Medical  College,  in  the  class  of 
188 1-2;  John  Archibald,  born  April  17,  1859,  ^"<^  ''^ow  in  the  mercantile 
establishment  of  J.  W.  Keyser,  at  Calhoun;  Richard  Ira,  born  March  25, 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  635 

1861,  and  died  in  February  following;  Mary  Ann,  born  March  28,  1863, 
married  E.  H.  Fox,  of  Henry  County;  Eleanor  L.,  born  September  6, 
1870;  and  Virginia  A.,  born  June  3,  1872.  For  nearly  four  years  Mr. 
Bushnell  was  engaged  with  his  brother  J.  A.  as  salesman.  In  the  fall  of 
1857  he  purchased  a  tract  of  240  acres,  known  as  the  Brummetfarm,  and 
continued  farming  until  the  outbreak  of  the  war.  Since  then  he  has 
been  a  resident  of  Calhoun  and  for  the  last  four  years  has  acted  as  city 
collector.  Since  1870  he  has  been  more  or  less  of  the  time  a  member  of 
the  school  board.  He  belongs  to  Calhoun  Lodge  No.  409,  I.  O.  O.  F. 
His  wife  is  connected  with  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Politically  he  is  a 
Democrat. 

•     JOHN  A.  BUSHNELL. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Calhoun,  Henr}-  County, 
Missouri,  April  17,  1859,  ^"^  "was  the  son  of  Emanuel  and  Mary  (Wat- 
son,) Ikishnell.  John  A.  was  raised  to  manhood  in  this  county,  and  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  public  schools.  In  1872  he  graduated  at 
Eastman's  Commercial  College  of  New  York,  after  which  he  acted  as 
salesman  in  different  stores  in  Calhoun  until  1879.  Then  he  embarked 
in  the  mercantile  business  with  Mr.  Squires,  they  doing  a  large  and  suc- 
cessful business  until  August,  1880,  when  they  sold  out  to  Mr.  Keyser. 
Mr.  Bushnell  has  since  remained  with  him  as  head  salesman.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Old  School  Presbyterian  Church.  He  is  Past  Grand  of 
Calhoun  Lodge,  No.  409  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  fraternity. 

WILLIAM  C.  BUTLER, 

dealer  in  furniture  and  hardware,  is  the  son  of  John  B.  Butler,  Esq.,  a 
native  of  Germany,  and  by  occupation  a  shoemaker.  His  mother,  whose 
maiden  name  was  E^liza  A.  Short,  was  born  in  Missouri.  William  C. 
Butler  was  born  in  Calhoun,  Henry  County,  Missouri,  November  4,  1S62. 
While  he  was  but  an  infant  his  parents  moved  to  Benton  County,  and  he 
received  his  education  in  that  county,  and  at  Palmyra.  After  complet- 
ing it  he  followed  farming  in  Benton  County  till  1882,  when  he  began 
business  in  Calhoun.  Now  he  has  one  of  the  finest  stores  in  the  place, 
and  is  doing  a  thriving  business.  He  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church 
South.  Mr.  Butler  was  married  June  22,  1882,  to  Emma  E.  McEntire, 
of  Benton  County,  Missouri. 

J.  G.  CALLISON, 

is  the  proprietor  of  Locust  Grove  Farm,  section  35  ;  was  born  October 
17,  1854,  in  Lafayette  County,  Missouri,  and  was  the  son  of  David  N. 
and  Louisa  H.  (Oglesby,)  Callison.  The  former  died  while  J.  G.  was 
but  five  years  of  age,  and  the   latter  now  resides  in   Missouri.     Of  their 


636  HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 

family  one  son  and  a  daughter  only  survive.  For  two  years,  our  subject 
was  a  student  at  Columbia  College,  after  which  he  commenced  giving 
his  attention  to  farming  and  stock  raising.  He  is  one  of  the  most 
thorough  agriculturists  in  the  county,  and  though  a  young  man,  fully 
understands  his  chosen  calling.  His  farm,  containing  500  acres,  is 
located  about  7  miles  northwest  of  Calhoun,  and  he  raises  about  10,000 
bushels  of  corn  and  800  bushels  of  wheat  annually.  He  also  feeds  a 
quantity  of  stock,  and  has  some  fine  colts  of  the  Hambletonian  breed. 
His  residence  is  situated  on  a  slight  elevation,  commanding  a  good  view 
of  the  surrounding  country,  the  city  of  Windsor  appearing  in  the  dis- 
tance, and  everything  about  the  place  indicates  the  successful  and  pro- 
gressive farmer.  May  17,  1877,  Mr.  Callison  was  married  to  Miss 
Hildred  R.  Wall,  daughter  of  Wm.  J.  and  Martha  Wall,  of  this  county, 
she  having  been  born  June  i,  1856.  They  have  three  sons:  George  F., 
born  April  16,  1878  ;  Sterling  M.,  born  August  13,  1879,  and  John  G., 
born  June  27,  1881.  Politically  Mr.  C.  is  a  Democrat.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  "  County  Line  Church"  of  the  Baptist  denomination,  and  also 
belongs  to  Cold  Spring  Lodge,  No.  274,  of  Johnson  County. 

ANDREW  H.  CLARK, 

farmer,  stock  raiser  and  wagon  maker,  was  born  in  the  state  of  Kentucky, 
as  were  also  his  parents,  Andrew  R.  and  Hannah  Y.  (OwsleyJ  Clark. 
They  were  born  in  1826,  and  to  them  were  born  eleven  children,  of  whom 
eight — five  daughters  and  three  sons,  are  now  living.  In  1835,  leaving 
Kentucky,  they  came  to  Johnson  County,  Missouri,  and  purchased  160 
acres  of  land,  improved  it,  and  after  three  years  or  in  1838,  removed  to 
Henry  County.  The  senior  Clark  bought  320  acres  of  timber  and  prairie 
land,  now  known  as  the  Hanger  Farm,  remained  upon  it  until  1858,  when 
he  sold  that  property  and  took  up  his  location  three  miles  south,  on  a 
one  hundred  acre  tract.  This  was  his  home  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  January,  1863.  His  widow  died  in  November,  1864.  Andrew  H.  Clarke, 
bought  his  first  farm  in  this  township  in  1856,  consisting  of  eighty  acres, 
living  upon  it  until  1865,  when  through  misfortune  he  lost  it.  He 
removed  into  Calhoun,  where  he  engaged  in  wagon  making,  apph'ing 
himself  for  thirteen  years,  and  in  1878,  he  again  purchased  eighty  acres 
of  land  and  resumed  agricultural  pursuits.  He  is  a  man  possessed  of  an 
indomitable  will  and  energy,  and  now  has  in  course  of  erection  a  fine 
residence.  Mr.  Clark,  his  wife  and  three  daughters  are  connected  with 
the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Calhoun.     Politically  he  is  a  Democrat. 

JOHN  W.  COPPAGE, 

proprietor  of  "Pleasant  Valley"  farm,  was  born  in  Clinton,  Henry 
County,  Missouri,  October  19,  1844,  being  the  son  of  William  Coppage, 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  637 

a  farmer  and  tailor  by  occupation,  born  December  17,  18 ii,  in  Culpeper 
County,  Virginia.  He  emigrated  to  Howard  County,  Missouri,  in  1834, 
removing  thence  to  Henry  (Rives)  County  in  1836,  and  February  7, 
1837,  he  married  Miss  Nancy  Jennings.  She  was  born  November  2,  1818, 
in  Tennessee,  and  in  1835  accompanied  her  parents  to  Henry  County. 
They  had  six  children,  Thersa  Jane,  born  February  22,  1839,  now  Mrs. 
B.  P.  Anderson;  Mary  S.,  born  March  24,  1842,  wife  of  A.  J.  Bailey; 
William  T.,  born  February  19,  1849,  died  December  7,  following;  Vir- 
ginia L.,  born  November  17,  1850,  died  at  the  age  of  eight  years,  and 
Louis  J.,  born  May  9,  1855,  died  October  12,  1882.  Mr.  William  Cop- 
page  died  May  28,  1877,  and  his  widow  December  14,  1879.  For  more 
than  forty  years  they  were  esteemed  residents  of  this  county,  and  he 
had  been  an  active  business  man  up  to  1866,  when  he  retired  to  settle 
upon  his  fine  farm.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  October 
23,  1867,  to  Miss  Lenora  A.  Avery,  who  was  born  August  2,  1847,  in 
this  county,  she  being  the  daughter  of  Judge  William  L.  and  Sophronia 
Avery.  To  them  were  born  nine  children:  William  Otis,  born  April  i, 
1870,  died  October  ii,  1871;  Lena  Opal,  born  September  14,  1871; 
Harley  T.,  born  November  29,  1872;  John  O..  born  April  i,  1874;  Ida 
L.,  born  June  15,  1875;  Clara  E.,  born  September  5,  1877;  Horace  M., 
born  February  i,  1879,  died  August  7,  1880;  Owen  C,  born  September 
20,  1880,  and  Fisher,  bprn  February  S,  1882,  died  January  23,  1883.  Mr. 
Coppage  received  as  an  inheritance  from  his  father's  estate  i5o  acres  of 
land,  to  which  he  has  added  twenty  acres.  This  valuable  property  is 
located  about  six  miles  northwest  of  Calhoun,  and  upon  it  he  raises 
good  graded  stock,  having  some  fine  grades  of  Cotswold  and  South- 
down sheep.  During  the  war  he  enlisted  in  the  first  company  raised  in 
the  county,  Captain  Owen  commanding,  and  was  in  several  hard  fought 
battles.  After  six  months  the  company  was  disbanded,  and  he  then 
re-enlisted  in  the  Confederate  service  under  General  Joe  Shelby,  his 
first  battle  then  being  at  Newtonia,  Missouri.  He  was  twice  made 
prisoner  and  paroled,  finally  surrendered  at  the  close  of  the  war  at 
Memphis.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South. 
Politically  he  is  Democratic. 

W.  P.  DAMRON, 

manufacturer  of  and  dealer  in  stoneware,  was  born  in  Macomb,  McDo- 
nough  County,  Illinois,  October  31,  1856,  and  was  the  son  of  William 
H.  Damron,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  who  went  to  Illinois  about  the  year 
1830,  where  he  married  Miss  Susie  Pace,  of  that  state.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  the  second  of  a  family  of  seven  children.  His  youth 
was  spent  in  his  native  town  and  he  received  his  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Illinois,  supplemented  by  attendance  at  the  Gem  City 
Business  College,  at  Ouincy,  from  whence  he  graduated  in  1876.     When 


638  HISTORY   O]^    HENRV    COUNTY. 

fourteen  years  old  he  entered  a  dry  goods  house  in  Macomb  and  held 
the  position  of  salesman  and  bookkeeper  until  1881,  except  during  the 
time  when  he  was  attending  commercial  college.  In  March,  1881,  he 
removed  to  Calhoun,  Henry  County,  Missouri,  and  became  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  stoneware,  under  the  firm  name  of  Damron  &  Miller. 
They  have  a  large  patronage,  employ  about  fifteen  workmen  and  have 
two  traveling  salesmen.  This  ware  is  as  good  as  any  in  the  state  and 
they  were  the  first  firm  west  of  the  Mississippi  to  manufacture  round 
bottom  pans.  Mr.  D.  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  He  was  married 
May  15,  1879,  to  Miss  Edna  B.  Bonham,  a  native  of  Illinois.  They  have 
one  child,  Frank. 

J.  T.  DAWSON, 

of  the  firm  of  Dawson  &  Son,  manufacturers  of  stone  ware,  owes  his  nativ- 
ity to  Holmes  County,  Ohio,  where  he  was  born,  March  24,  1855,  being 
the  son  of  J.  L.  and  Sarah  (Price)  Dawson,  natives  of  the  Buckeye  state. 
J.  F.,  the  fifth  child  in  the  family  of  six  children,  accompanied  his  par- 
ents to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  in  1867,  receiving  his  education  in  the 
two  states.  He  followed  farming  till  1S76,  since  which  time  he  has  been 
engaged  in  his  present  business,  having  about  the  largest  establishment 
of  that  kind  in  Calhoun,  and  furnishing  employment  to  a  large  force  of 
men. 

R.  Z.  FKWELL, 

the  owner  of  a  farm  of  500  acres  and  an  extensive  stock  breeder  and 
feeder,  was  born  March  9,  1827,  in  Rockingham  County,  North  Carolina. 
His  father,  Wm.  Fewell,  was  born  in  1792,  in  Culpeper  County,  Virginia, 
and  at  the  age  of  21  years  left  his  native  state  and  located  in  Chillicothe, 
where  for  a  year  he  was  engaged  in  teaching.  Returning  to  Rocking- 
ham County,  he  was  elected  clerk  of  the  County  Court  for  a  term  of 
four  years.  The  mother  qf  R.  Z.,  formerly  Elizabeth  D.  Wall,  daughter 
of  Richard  and  Susan  Wall,  of  Rockingham  County,  North  Carolina, 
was  born  about  the  year  1796.  They  were  married  near  1814,  and  had 
seven  daughters  and  two  sons,  of  whom  three  daughters  and  one  son 
survive:  Richard  Z.,  Elvira  A.,  the  wife  of  William  T.  Wilson,  of  Henry 
County;  Elizabeth  D.,  now  residing  with  William  P.  Millner,  of  this 
county,  and  M.  Rebecca,  wife  of  William  P.  Millner.  Richard  Z.  Fewell 
married  Miss  P^lizabeth  H.,  daughter  of  Johnson  and  Amy  R.  Crawford, 
of  Rockingham  Count3^  North  Carolina.  There  have  been  born  to  them 
eleven  children,  of  whom  there  are  ten  living:  Robert  H.,  born  May  8, 
1849  ;  '^^'^s  assassinated  at  the  age  of  33  years  in  Sedalia,  leaving  a  wife 
and  two  sons  ;  Varona  M.,  born  December  11,  1854,  and  married  Au- 
gustus E.  Stone,  of  Henry  County,  September  14,  1871  ;  Elizabeth  A., 
born   March   8,    1854;  William  C,  born   January   22,    1856,   and    married 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  639 

Miss  Mahala  Green,  of  Henry  County;  Eugene  E.,  born  April  16,  1858  ; 
Louisa  B.,  born  July  7,  1861  ;  Richard  P.,  born  August  12,  1866;  Luther 
J.,  born  December  15,  1S68;  Annie  C,  born  May  25,  1870;  Lee  H., 
born  March  2,  1S72,  and  Emma  F.,  born  January  22,  1874.  Mrs.  Wm. 
Fewell  died  September  28,  1844.  In  1845  Mr.  Fewell  married  Mrs. 
Sarah  T.  Lindsay,  the  widow  of  Reuben  Lindsay,  of  North  Carolina. 
In  1849  the  family  emigrated  to  Henry  County,  Missouri.  Mr.  F.  had 
long  owned  a  tract  of  land  here,  and  upon  coming  to  the  state,  he 
bought  the  Major  J.  W.  Williams  farm.  To  his  son  Richard  Z.  he  gave 
the  former,  and  with  his  family  settled  upon  the  latter.  He  was  for  18 
years  a  resident  of  this  county,  an  extensive  farmer  and  highl}-  re- 
spected. He  was  for  many  years  a  member  of  the  Sardis-Bethlehem 
Church.  He  died  in  1868.  R.  Z.  Fewell,  since  1849,  has  been  engaged 
in  farming  upon  the  farm  he  first  settled.  He  has  a  large,  commodious 
residence,  erected  1859-60-61.  In  1851  he  was  elected  a  major  in  the 
army,  serving  in  that  capacity  until  the  opening  of  the  war.  He  has 
made  many  distributions  of  land  among  his  children,  but  has  reserved 
a  farm  of  500  acres  for  himself.  ^  He  is  connected  with  the  A.  F.  and  A. 
M.  order.     Politically  he  is  a  Democrat. 

NEWTON  N.  FEWELL, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  was  born  September  26,  1844,  in  Missouri.  His 
father,  Benjamin  C.  Fewell,  who  was  born  in  Tennessee,  July  18,  1817, 
was  married  July  13,  i8zj.i,  to  Miss  Thursa  Merritt,  born  May  i,  1821. 
Newton  was  one  of  a  family  of  nine  children,  of  whom  three  besides 
himself  survive:  Milton  C,  Benjamin  J.  and  Sylvester  A.,  all  being  married. 
In  October,  1841,  the  family  emigrated  from  Tennessee  to  Henry  County, 
Missouri,  and  have  since  been  among  its  prominent  citizens.  Mr.  F. 
purchased  the  farm  which  he  now  occupies,  in  1852.  He  has  divided 
the  greater  part  of  his  property  among  his  sons  but  now  retains  120 
acres  on  section  9,  of  this  township.  He  and  his  wife  have  for  many 
years  been  identified  with  the  Sardis-Bethlehem  Baptist  Church.  In  his 
political  preferences  he  is  democratic.  Mr.  N.  C.  Fewlll  is  one  of  the 
most  progressive  agriculturists  of  this  county  and  also  deals  quite  exten- 
sively in  cattle  and  other  stock.  Upon  his  farm^  is  quite  a  fine  coal  bed. 
Like  his  father,  he  is  a  Democrat. 

JOHN  J.  GOODRICT, 

senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Goodrict  &  Kensinger,  proprietors  of  the 
flouring  mill  of  Calhoun,  was  born  in  Jefferson  County,  Wisconsin, 
December  17,  1848.  His  parents  were  Charles  and  C.  A.  (Buck)  Good- 
rict, the  former  a  native  of  Vermont  and  the  latter  of  Connecticut.  John 
J.  was  reared  on  his  father's   farm   in  Wisconsin,  obtaining  a  common 


640  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

school  education.  In  1869  he  went  to  California,  where  he  followed 
teaming  until  1870.  Coming  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  he  was  engaged 
in  running  a  saw  mill  till  1878,  when  he  erected  his  present  mill  at  Cal- 
houn. In  April,  188 1,  he  was  married  to  Ella  Lehman,  a  native  of  Ohio. 
They  have  one  child,  Nannie.  Messrs.  Goodrict  &  Kensinger  have 
endeavored  to  do  much  to  advance  the  quality  of  flour  in  this  vicinity 
and  in  this  undertaking  have  succeeded  admirably,  and  their  manufac- 
ture finds  a  ready  sale. 

EZEKIEL  S.  GOODRICH, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  was  born  October  23d,  18 18,  in  Madison  County, 
New  York,  and  was  the  son  of  josiah  Goodrich,  born  September  2d,  1789, 
in  Vermont,  and  Hepswath  (Lovell)  Goodrich,  born  December  15th, 
1786,  also  in  that  state.  They  were  married  in  November,  of  1810,  and 
had  eleven  children,  of  whom  five  are  living.  In  the  spring  of  18 16  they 
emigrated  from  their  native  state,  and  Mr.  G.  took  up  an  Indian  lease 
from  the  Stockbridge  tribe,  in  Stockbridge,  Madison  County,  New  York, 
100  acres,  which  he  improved  and  ultimately  bought.  He  remained 
there  until  1827,  when  he  sold  it,  and  purchased  ninety  acres  of  the  same 
tribe,  which  he  also  improved.  After  living  upon  it  for  several  years  he 
again  sold  out  and  removed  to  Vernon,  Oneida  County,  but  two  years 
later  disposed  of  this  property  and  bought  fifty  acres,  upon  which  he 
made  his  home  until  1844.  Selling  it,  he  emigrated  to  Wisconsin,  while  it 
was  still  a  territory.  They  obtained  a  tract  of  160  acres,  in  Oakland,  Jeff- 
erson County,  and  there  Mr.  G.  died  October  2d,  1865.  He  had  been  for 
a  long  time  in  feeble  health,  and  was  found  dead  in  his  bed  one  morning. 
He  had  lived  for  years  with  his  son  Ezekiel  S.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
married  Miss  Lucinda  Goodrich,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Clarisa  Good- 
rich, of  Oakland,  Jefferson  County,  Wisconsin,  December  30th,  1852. 
They  had  eight  children,  of  whom  there  are  six  living,  three  sons  and 
three  daughters.  Emily,  who  died  at  the  age  of  15,  was  born  October 
I2th,  1853.  Nancy  G.  was  born  December  ist,  1854,  and  died  December 
25th,  1881.  Lillian  G.  was  born  October  30th,  1857,  at  home.  Lucinda 
and  Clarinda,  twins,  born  July  5th,  1859.  Henry  Charles  born  October 
6th,  1863.  Hall  G.  born  July  nth,  1867,  and  Perry  Leigh  was  born  May 
3d,  1876.  Mr.  Goodrich,  in  1850,  in  companj^  with  five  others,  started 
from  Fort  Atkinson,  Wisconsin,  on  an  overland  trip  for  the  gold  regions 
■of  California.  In  the  outstart  they  provided  themselves  with  two  good 
wagons  and  seven  horses  and,  although  la}'ing  in  a  large  supply  of  feed 
and  provisions,  were  compelled  to  leave  two  of  their  horses  in  the  midst 
of  the  great  desert,  between  Humboldt  and  Carson  River,  from  want  of 
food  and  water.  The\'  took,  in  starting  1,000  pounds  of  hard  tack, 
designed  for  horse  feed,  but  finding  m.an)-  j^erishing  emigrants  along  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  64I 

route  at  these  points  divided  their  substance  among  them  to  prevent 
starvation.  They  succeeded  in  reaching  the  summit  of  the  Sierra  Nevada, 
and  there,  partaking-  of  their  very  last  meal  of  supplies,  were  met  by  a 
train  sent  out  from  Sacramento  with  supplies  of  relief  for  the  perishing 
ones  behind  them.  They  reached  their  destination  unaided,  and  went 
to  work  to  carve  out  their  fortunes.  At  Hangtown  the  party  separated. 
Mr.  Goodrich  taking  one  of  them,  Joel  Ives,  as  partner,  started  with  the 
two  remaining  horses  for  Sacramento,  at  which  place  they  arrived  on  the 
15th  day  of  July,  1850,  after  five  months  wearisome  travel.  The  five 
reached  their  destination,  with  one  more  who  had  joined  the  expedi- 
tion at  St.  Joseph,  Missouri.  Mr.  Goodrich  and  Mr.  Ives  worked  until 
August,  when  the  latter  sickened  and  died.  Mr.  G.  remained  but  little 
more  than  a  year,  establishing  a  ranch  and  keeping  supplies  for  miners, 
in  connection  with  his  other  business.  He  bade  farewell  to  the  land  of 
gold  about  the  middle  of  November,  185 1,  taking  homeward  passage  on 
a  sail  vessel  for  San  Juan,  on  the  Nicarauga  route,  arriving  at  New  York 
about  the  20th  of  January.  Upon  reaching  his  home  in  Wisconsin  he 
resumed  farming  on  the  old  place,  where  he  remained  until  1869,  when 
he  sold  his  property  in  Wisconsin  and  made  arrangements  for  a  perma- 
nent home  in  Missouri.  In  that  year  he  bought  a  portable  saw  mill  and 
•erected  it  on  the  Tebo,  near  Calhoun,  which  he  operated  for  about  eight 
years.  In  1871  he  bought  eighty  acres  of  land  near  Calhoun,  and  moving 
his  family  settled  upon  it,  still  continuing  to  operate  the  mill  until  1878, 
He  then  built  a  grist  mill  in  Calhoun,  which  he  still  owns,  in  company 
with  a  partner,  the  style  of  the  firm  being  Goodrich  &  Medberry.  It  is 
the  only  grist  mill  in  the  place.  He  now  has  160  acres  of  beautiful 
farm,  with  fine  buildings,  and  is  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  his  neigh- 
borhood. His  politics  are  Republican.  He  has  one  son  connected  with 
the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Calhoun. 

DR.  J.  W.   GRAY, 

physician  and  surgeon  at  Calhoun,  was  born  in  Tebo  Township,  Henry 
County,  Missouri,  January  9,  1845.  His  father  is  W.  A.  Gray,  a  Baptist 
minister  and  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  his  mother's  maiden  name  was 
Mary  Lofftus,  also  a  Kentuckian  by  birth.  J.  W.  was  the  fourth  child  in 
a  family  of  twelve  children.  He  was  reared  as  a  farmer,  obtaining  an 
education  in  the  common  schools  and  when  seventeen  years  old  he 
accepted  a  situation  as  clerk  in  a  store  at  Windsor,  which  position  he 
held  till  1865.  Going  to  St.  Louis  he  studied  dentistry  for  one  year  and 
afterwards  returned  to  Windsor  where  he  practiced  dentistry  and  pros- 
ecuted the  study  of  medicine.  In  1870  he  attended  medical  lectures  at 
St.  Louis  one  term  then  came  again  to  Windsor  and  practiced  both  dent- 
istry and  medicine  till  1876.      In   the  same  year  he  was  graduated  from 

41 


642  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

the  Keokuk  Medical  Collegr*.  of  Keokuk,  Iowa,  since  which  time  he  has 
followed  his  profession  at  Calhoun.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church  and  also  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity.  May  i,  1876,  Dr. 
Gray  was  married  to  Miss  Ada  Munn,  of  Illinois. 

W.  H.  GUTRIDGE, 

druggist  and  dealer  in  druggist's  sundries,  a  native  of  Lincoln  County, 
Ohio,  born  March  17,  1830,  and  was  asonof  Payton  and  Elizabeth  (Harbert) 
Gutridge,  who  were  born  in  Ohio.  W.  H.  was  the  eldest  of  a  family  of 
five  children.  When  he  was  about  three  years  old  his  parents  removed 
to  Missouri  and  located  in  Bates  County,  where  he  grew  to  manhood  on 
a  farm,  receiving  his  education  in  the  common  schools.  In  1847  he  came 
to  Calhoun,  and  followed  farming  till  1866,  since  which  time  he  has  been 
engaged  in  the  drug  trade,  and  in  which  he  has  been  very  successful. 
He  is  now  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  the  town.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Calhoun  Lodge,  No.  184,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  July,  11,  1855,  Mr.  G. 
was  married  to  Miss  Delia  Buster,  a  Virginian  by  birth.  The}'  have  three 
children  living:  Edward  B.,  Euphtus  and  James  A. 

THOMAS  J.  HASTAIN, 

the  owner  of  a  fine  farm  of  243  acres  about  four  miles  northwest  of  Cal- 
houn, is  an  enterprising  farmer  and  stock  grower.  He  was  born  March 
20,  1841,  in  the  township  where  he  now  resides.  His  father,  Daniel  M. 
Hastain,  was  born  December  25,  1808,  in  White  County,  Tennessee, 
while  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Martha  J.  Wade,  and  a 
daughter  of  Dr.  Wade,  of  Henry  County,  Missouri,  was  born  in  Cum- 
berland County,  Kentucky.  They  had  nine  children,  six  daughters  and 
three  sons,  of  whom  six  are  still  living.  One  daughter,  Susan  M.,  was 
born  February  23,  1844,  and  married  George  W.  Pigg,  of  Henry  County, 
October  12,  1861,  and  to  them  were  born  seven  children,  five  sons  and 
two  daughters,  of  whom  four  survive,  two  sons  and  two  daughters. 
Thomas  J.  Hastain  commenced  life  for  himself  at  the  age  of  sixteen 
years,  when  he  took  charge  of  his  father's  farm,  consisting  at  the  time  of 
720  acres,  located  in  Tebo.  The  senior  Hastain  at  that  time  was  pro- 
prietor of  a  hotel  at  Warsaw,  which  he  had  just  purchased.  He  has  had 
the  principal  management  of  the  farm  since  then  and  a  part  of  it  he 
still  owns,  and  now  resides  upon.  November  6,  1877  he  married  Miss 
Sally  M.  daughter  of  Seymore  and  Julia  A.  Stone,  of  Henry  County, 
They  have  one  son,  Thomas  Stone,  born  September  30,  1878.  Mr.  Has- 
tain received  for  his  services  rendered  upon  the  estate,  ninety-five  acres 
of  the  same,  and  subsequently  bought  108  acres  at  one  time  and  forty 
at  another,  holding  now  a  tract  of  as  fine  land    as   can   be  found    in   his 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  6^3 

locality.  He  is  quite  extensively  engaged  in  farming  operations,  and 
deals  largely  in  stock,  horses,  mules,  and  fine  grades  of  cattle,  hogs,  etc. 
Although  comparatively  a  young  man,  he  has  from  long  experience  ren-- 
dered  himself  thoroughly  competent  to  manage  successfully  his  farn:> 
and  all  the  legitimate  business  in  connection  therewith.  He  gives  his- 
attention  to  his  own  business  and  this  is  to  a  certain  extent  the  secret 
of  his  success.  He  is  connected  with  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  belonging  tc" 
Lodge  No.  184,  Calhoun  ;  also  Clinton  Royal  Arch  Chapter  No. 
y^,  and  is  one  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry  Grange  No.  1064,  of  Cal- 
houn. Mrs.  H.  is  identified  with  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church  oi' 
Calhoun.     His  political  views  are  Democratic 

C.  A.  HILL, 

wagon  maker  and  blacksmith,  was  born  in  Carroll  County,  Virginia;, 
March  15,  1819,  and  was  a  son  ot  William  Hill,  a  Virginian  by  births 
who  also  followed  that  trade.  His  mother,  formerly  Hannah  Anthony,, 
was  a  native  of  Virginia.  When  C.  A.  was  twelve  years  of  age  his- 
parents  moved  to  Centerville,  Wayne,  County,  Indiana,  where  he  was 
reared  to  manhood  and  received  his  education,  there  also  learning  his. 
trade  in  the  wagon  shop  of  his  father.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two  he 
began  to  learn  the  blacksmith  trade,  following  both  of  these  occupa- 
tions in  Indiana  until  1865,  when  he  moved  to  his  present  location. 
Here  he  has  since  carried  on  his  business.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Christian  Church,  and  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity.  In  April,  1845-, 
Mr.  Hill  was  married  to  Miss  Sallie  Wilson,  a  native  of  Kentucky.  The;^ 
have  four  children,  William,  John,  George  and  Sallie  M. 

NATHAN  HINKLE, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser  was  borr.  September  21,  1852,  in  St.  Clair 
County,  Missouri,  while  his  brother,  Elisha  Hinkle,  was  born  November 
18,  1858,  in  the  same  county.  Both  have  acquired  a  good,  practical 
English  education.  Their  father,  Mellville  D.  Hinkle,  a  farmer  and' 
stock  raiser  by  occupation,  was  born  December  11,  1813.  in  Cumberlanci 
County,  Kentucky,  and  married  September  22,  1835,  Miss  Elizabetb 
Smith,  who  was  born  October  10,  1815,  in  Pulaski  County,  of  that  state 
They  had  nine  children:  Thirsa  Ann,  was  born  October  20,  1836,  and' 
married  William  ToWns,  of  St.  Clair  County,  June  29,  1853,  dying  March 
21, 1855;  George  W.  born  May  i,  1838,  married  Miss  Phelps,  of  Cumberland' 
County,  Kentucky;  William  McDonald,  born  March  29,  1840,  died  March  3.. 
1845;  Jane  H.  born  October  9,  1842,  died  during  the  war.  Hannah  T.  was* 
born  February  24,  1845,  and  married  Wilson  Arnold,  of  St.  Clair  County;. 
Octavia,  was  born  April    10,   1848,    and  married  James   P.   Hastain,  of' 


644  HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 

Henry  County.  John  R.  was  born  October  3,  1850,  and  married  Miss 
Sally  Crabtrce,  also  of  this  county.  Nathan  and  Elisha  Hinkle  are  the 
joint  owners  of  200  acres  of  fine  farming  land  in  this  township,  and  here 
their  parents  reside  with  them.  Though  young  men  they  possess  the 
thrift,  energy  and  ambition  so  necessary  for  success  in  farming.  In  18S2, 
they  completed  a  fine  residence  upon  their  farm.  Elisha  Hinkle  is  con- 
nected with  the  M.  E.  Church,  South,  Hickory  Grove,  of  Tebo,  Henry 
County.  The  mother's  religious  preferences  are  also  with  that  church. 
They  are  Democratic  in  their  political  views. 

MRS.  ELLEN  HUKELL, 

daughter  of  Jacob  and  Eleanor  Chastain,  was  born  in  Logan  County, 
Kentucky,  August  9,  1836.  In  April,  1837,  she  accompanied  her  parents 
to  Benton  County,  Missouri,  they  settling  near  Warsaw,  where  her  father 
entered  a  tract  of  360  acres.  Upon  this  he  settled,  occupying  it  until 
1873  when  he  gave  a  portion  of  the  land  to  his  son,  and  exchanged  the 
remainder  for  property  in  Springfield  Township,  Henry  County.  He 
died  October  17,  1874,  leaving  besides  his  widow,  three  children  to 
mourn  his  loss  :  John  H.,  Susan  A.  and  Ellen.  The  latter  was  married 
January  28,  1854,  to  Mortimer  Hukell,  who  was  born  in  1817  in  Ken- 
tucky. His  early  youth  was  passed  there  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
he  moved  to  Bourbon  County,  which  was  his  home  for  four  years.  He 
came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  in  1838,  and  subsequently,  in  company 
with  J.  C.  McDaniel,  improved  a  farm  four  miles  southeast  of  Calhoun. 
In  1844  he  married  Miss  E.  Parazette  and  to  them  were  born  two  child- 
ren, one  of  whom  now  survives,  she  now  being  the  wife  of  Henry  Dod- 
son,  a  resident  of  Kansas,  and  ex-sheriff  of  this  county.  In  1849  Mr.  H. 
went  overland  to  California,  remaining  there  for  three  years.  He  returned 
but  subsequently  visited  the  same  locality  in  the  spring  of  1853,  retrac- 
ing his  steps  to  Missouri  the  same  year.  His  first  wife  died  in  1847,  ^"^1 
he  remained  a  widower  until  his  marriage  to  Miss  Chastain.  They  had 
,a  family  of  four  daughters  and  two  sons,  of  whom  there  are  now  living  : 
Amanda  L.,  born  March  26,  1859,  married  E.  B.  Gutridge,.  October  5, 
\i88o;  Jacob  A.,  conductor  on  the  Missouri  Pacific  Railroad;  Kate  L., 
born  April  26,  1864,  and  Bud,  born  September  18,  1866.  Mr.  H.  died 
July  30,  1881,  and  from  numerous  newspaper  articles  written  at  his  death 
we  find  that  though  prosperous  in  early  life,  and  in  possession  of  a  for- 
tune at  the  commencement  of  the  war,  he,  like  others,  met  with  reverses 
during  that  conflict,  which  swept  away  a  greater  portion  of  his  property, 
after  which  he  resided  in  Calhoun.  He  was  a  man  of  generous  impulses, 
ever  ready  to  afford  help  to  the  needy,  and  the  esteem  in  who  he  was 
held  was  manifested  by  the  large  concourse  of  friends  which  attended 
his  funeral,     Mrs.  Hukell  now  resides  with  her  aged  mother.     She  is  a 


II 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  645 

member  of  the  Christian  Church.  Mrs.  Chastain  still  owns  a  fine  farm  of 
100  acres  in  Springfield  Township.  She  is  one  of  the  constituent  mem- 
bers of  the  Clear  Creek  Baptist  Church. 

GILBERT  HUDSON 

was  born  June  13,  1833,  in  Rush  Township,  Champaign  County,  Ohio, 
being  the  son  of  Shapley  F.  and  Sarah  (Cooper,)  Hudson.  The  former^ 
a  farmer  and  a  stock  raiser  by  occupation,  was  born  April,  1805,  and  the 
latter,  originally  from  New  Jersey,  October  15,  1807.  They  were  mar- 
ried in  1832,  and  had  seven  children,  of  whom  three  daughters  and  a 
son  are  living.  When  a  young  man,  Shapley  Hudson  went  to  Ohio, 
where  he  was  engaged  as  foreman  or  overseer  of  the  building  of  the 
Ohio  canal  for  two  years,  being  one  of  the  first  to  make  a  trip  upon  that 
canal  from  Chillicothe  to  the  terminus.  Later,  he  was  occupied  in  the 
construction  of  the  National  pike,  and  remained  with  the  company  until 
the  completion  of  the  road.  Purchasing  a  tract  of  300  acres  of  land  in 
Champaign  County,  he  gave  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits  for 
three  years,  sold  his  farm  and  moved  to  Auglaize  County,  same  state. 
He  resided  upon  a  farm  of  120  acres  until  1856,  when,  going  to  Iowa,  he 
leased  a  flouring  mill,  which  he  conducted  until  his  death,  April  lO^ 
1862.  Mrs.  Hudson  now  resides  in  Hardin  County,  and  though  76  years  of 
age,  is  still  strong  and  in  good  health.  Our  subject  was  married  March 
2,  1854,  to  Miss  Margaretta  A.  Suder,  of  Hardin  County.  They  have 
six  children  :  Minerva,  born  December  4,  1854;  William  H.,  born  No- 
vember 6,  1856,  and  married  Miss  Lucy  A.  Hoover,  of  St.  Clair  County, 
July  17,  1875  ;  Minda  A.,  born  February  25,  1858,  married  Cleveland 
Ballew,  of  this  county,  December  25,  1879;  Dorinda  A.,  born  November 
26,  185Q;  John  Shapley,  born  August  15,  1861,  and  Nancy  E.  S.,  born 
December  3,  1863.  Dorinda  was  married  December  25,  i88i,to  Edward 
Spivey,  of  Henry  County.  He  was  at  work  as  eager  in  the  employ  of 
the  Osage  Coal  Company  at  Lewis  Station,  and  in  January,  1882,  met 
with  an  accident  by  falling  126  feet.  He  survived  but  96  hours,  dying  on' 
the  8th  inst.  In  1865  Mr.  Hudson,  leaving  Ohio,  came  to  Missouri  and 
purchased  his  present  farm  in  1866.  He  has  108  acres  of  fine  bottom 
land,  a  part  of  which  is  within  the  corporation  of  Calhoun.  He  does 
considerable  in  the  threshing  business  and  has  one  of  the  Nichols  & 
Sheppard's  machines  with  a  capacity  of  600  bushels,  and  a  Kinglan- 
Ferguson  corn  sheller.  He  is  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  and  A.  M.  fraternity. 
Politically  he  is  a  Democrat.  Mrs.  H.  is  connected  with  the  Christian; 
Church. 

G.  A.  JEGGLIN 

is  an  extensive  manufacturer  of  stoneware.     The  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born   in   Boonville,  Missouri,   April   2,    1856.     His  father,  John   M.. 


f646  HISTORY  OF   henry   county. 

Jegglin,  a  native  of  England,  has  been  a   large  manufacturer  of  stone- 
•ware  in  Boonville  for  a  number  of  years.     His  mother's  maiden  name 
iwas  Anna  M.  Balliger.     G.  A.  was  the  second  of  a  family  of  lour  child- 
u'cn.     His  youth  was  spent  in  Boonville  in   attending  the  public  schools,      j 
and  he  worked  with  his  father  until  1875.  when  he  went  to  Marshall  and      ■ 
<:lerked   in   a  store  for  fifteen  months.     Returning  to  his  birthplace  he      j 
remained  until  becoming  proficient  in  his  present  business.     He  worked 
5even  months  at  Palmyra,  Missouri,  and  in  1880  came  to  Calhoun,  where 
he  labored  at  his  trade  until  188 1,  then  engaging  in  the  business.     This 
has  rapidly  increased  from  the  start,  and  he  now  has  in  his  employ  about 
ten  men,  his  ware  finding  a  ready  sale  in  Missouri  and  Kansas. 

L.  L.  KENSINGER, 

! 

a  member  of  the  extensive  milling  firm  of  Goodrict  &  Kensinger,  was  j 
born  in  Miami  County,  Ohio,  September  20,  1852.  He  is  a  son  of  E.  S.  I 
and  Mary  (Eller)  Kensinger,  natives  of  Ohio,  and  was  the  eldest  of  four  I 
children.  His  youth  was  divided  between  working  on  a  farm  and  attend-  ■ 
ing  the  common  schools,  up  to  the  age  of  sixteen,  when  he  was  occupied  I 
in  a  mill  at  Covington.  Ohio.  He  continued  the  milling  business  in  i 
■different  parts  Of  Ohio  till  1878,  and  then  moved  to  Clinton,  Henry 
County,  Missouri,  where  he  was  employed  in  a  mill  one  year.  Since 
that  time  he  has  resided  in  Calhoun.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 
-fraternity.  Mr.  K.  was  united  in  marriage  June  22,  1880,  to  Miss  E.  E. 
.Lehman,  who  was  born  in  Ohio.     They  have  one  child,  Luther  C. 

J.  F.  KEYSER, 

•dealer  in  groceries,  was  born  in  Page  County,  Virginia,  July  23,  1833, 
and  was  a  son  of  Andrew  and  Mary  (Braubaker,)  Keyser,  also  Vir- 
ginians by  birth.  His  paternal  grandfather  was  a  soldier  in  the  revolu- 
lionary  war.  J.  F.  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  subscrip- 
tion schools  of  his  native  state.  In  1853  he  went  to  California,  where 
ilie  was  engaged  in  mining  for  7  years,  then  returning  to  Virginia.  In 
.April,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Company  K,  loth  Virginia  Cavalry  and  par- 
ticipated in  many  important  battles,  receiving  two  severe  wounds.  In 
.1866  he  emigrated  to  Cooper  County,  Missouri,  where  he  resided  till 
?88o,  (except  one  year  while  in  California,)  subsequently  coming  to 
Calhoun,  Henry  County,  and  here  he  has  since  resided,  occupied  in 
business.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  Mr.  Keyser  was 
married  January  23,  1866,  to  Miss  Susie  F.  Williams,  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia, by  whom  he  has  two  children — William  Frank  and  Maggie  E. 


J   \ 


^'       V  '  <^Lj2^ 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  647 

J.    P.    LEGG, 

owner  and  proprietor  of  a  fine  farm,  comprising  nearly  1,000  acres,  located 
about  three  miles  northwest  of  Calhoun,  was  born  September  18,  1837, 
in  Tebo  Township,  Henry  County,  Missouri.  His  father,  Archibald  C. 
Legg,  was  born  September  12,  1804,  in  Greenbrier  County,  Virginia,  and 
his  mother,  formerly  Ann  C.  Cecil,  was  born  October  2,  18 13,  in  Mont- 
gomery County,  West  Virginia.  They  were  married  December  23,  1834, 
and  to  them  were  born  three  children,  two  of  whom  are  living.  William 
T.  was  born  September  13,  1835,  and  in  January,  1861,  married  Miss 
Mary  F.  Thompson,  of  Jackson  County,  Missouri.  He  died  December 
26,  1872.  Mary  E.  was  born  October  17,  1839,  ^^^  is  a  resident  of 
Henry  County.  Archibald  C.  Legg  emigrated  from  his  native  state  to 
Saline  County,  Missouri,  in  1830,  where  he  first  bought  eighty  acres  of 
land,  and  some  village  property,  consisting  of  houses  and  building  lots. 
He  remained  there  for  two  years,  engaged  in  merchandising,  when  he 
turned  his  attention  to  freighting,  plying  the  trade  between  St.  Louis 
and  Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico.  Discontinuing  that  business  at  the  expi- 
ration of  two  years,  he  settled  again  in  Missouri,  this  time  in  Henry 
County,  in  1836,  He  bought  at  first  160  acres  in  Tebo  Township,  and 
subsequently  added  to  it,  until  he  became  one  of  the  largest  land  own- 
ers in  the  county."  He  was  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  here,  and  was 
for  more  than  forty  years  identified  with  the  growth  and  prosperity  of 
the  county.  He  seemed  to  be  prospered  in  every  avocation  in  life,  and 
though  for  years  afflicted  with  deafness,  and  toward  the  close  of  life 
with  paralysis,  he  was  a  genial,  pleasant  man  in  the  society  with  which 
he  mingled.  During  the  late  war  he  was  a  Union  man.  He  died  July 
15,  1879.  His  widow  now  lives  with  her  only  son,  who  conducts  for  her 
the  affairs  of  the  estate,  in  connection  with  his  own  farm.  John  P.  Legg 
commenced  life  for  himself  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Mary  J.  Finks  December  13,  1858.  She  was  the  daughter  of 
Captain  Mark  and  Eliza  Finks,  of  Henry  County.  By  this  union  there 
were  ten  children,  seven  daughters  and  three  sons,  of  whom  eight  sur- 
vive. Etta  A.  was  born  June  30,  1862,  and  died  July  19,  1872;  James 
A.  was  born  May  25,  1864;  Minnie  F.  was  born  December  13,  1866; 
Anna  E.  was  born  August  28,  1867;  Mary  J.  was  born  February  15,  1869; 
Willie  C.  was  born  April  25,  1870;  Clara  B.  was  born  April  20,  1872, 
and  died  August  16,  1875;  Charles  M.  was  born  August  9,  1874;  John  H. 
was  born  July  19,  1876;  Katy  was  born  March  i,  1878.  Mr.  Legg  has 
for  more  than  twenty  years  been  engaged  in  farming  and  the  raising  and 
handling  of  stock.  He  has  an  estate  second  to  none  in  this  county, 
well  watered,  etc.  He  also  has  good  timber  lands.  In  the  raising  of 
stock  Mr.  L.  takes  great  interest,  especially  in  the  Short  Horn  Durham 
breed.      He  has  a  number  of  well  bred  calves  in  the  line  of  Short  Horn 


648  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

registered  stock,  and  raises  graded  stock  for  the  Texas  market.  In  his 
transactions  he  is  peculiarly  fortunate.  In  order  to  provide  water  for 
his  cattle  he  has  recently  been  occupied  in  sinking  a  well  shaft.  Coal 
is  abundant  on  his  farm.  His  workmen,  at  the  depth  of  forty  feet,, 
passed  through  a  fine  vein  of  coal  three  and  a  half  feet  in  thickness,  at 
at  depth  of  sixty  feet  four  and  a  half  feet,  and  still  another  of  three  feet 
at  ninety  feet  below  the  surface,  with  an  abundance  of  rock  and  slating 
for  roofing  purposes.  At  a  depth  of  180  feet  a  magnesian  rock  of  more 
than  thirty  feet  in  thickness  was  found.  Mr.  Legg  is  Democratic  in  pol- 
itics. He  belongs  to  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  and  A.  O.  U.  W.  fraternities, 
having  joined  the  former  in  1869,  and  the  latter  in  1881. 

MAX  McCANN, 

druggist,  was  born  in  Zanesville,  Ohio,  March  14,  1846,  his  father  being 
Samuel  McCann,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  In  1816  he  removed  to  Ohior 
and  married  Miss  Caroline  Irvin,  originally  from  New  Jersey.  They  had 
a  family  of  twelve  children,  of  whom  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
the  sixth  child.  He  was  reared  and  educated  in  Ohio,  and  at  the  age 
of  seventeen  years  began  school  teaching  there,  which  he  followed  for 
fifteen  years.  In  1867  he  removed  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  and  settled 
at  Shawnee  Mound.  He  taught  school  in  different  parts  of  the  county 
until  1881,  when  he  engaged  in  the  drug  business  at  Calhoun,  which  he 
has  since  successfully  continued.  In  September,  1878,  Mr.  McCann  was 
appointed  county  school  commissioner,  and  held  the  office  until  the 
spring  following.  He  is  a  member  of  Calhoun  Lodge,  No.  184,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.  Novem.ber  5,  1877,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Bettie  Givens,  a 
native  of  Henry  County.  They  have  one  child,  Allen.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
McCann  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

JOHN  W.  MORGAN, 

one  of  Calhoun's  most  enterprising  business  men  was  a  son  of  Jonathan 
and  Nancy  (Simpson)  Morgan,  who  were  both  natives  of  Virginia- 
John  was  the  ninth  child  of  the  family,  which  consisted  of  twelve  child- 
ren and  was  born  in  Warren  County,  Kentucky,  January  26,  1843.  He 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  county  and  at  Louis- 
ville. At  the  age  of  twenty  he  accepted  a  situation  in  a  general  store 
at  Greencastle,  and  held  the  same  position  for  four  years,  after  which  he 
was  engaged  as  an  educator  till  1867.  Coming  to  Calhoun,  Henry 
County,  Missouri,  he  continued  to  impart  knowledge  to  the  youthful 
minds  till  1880.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  manager  of  the  lumber 
business  in  Calhoun  for  the  Aurand  &  Dulany  lumber  company.  In 
1862  he  enlisted  in  Company  F,  Twelfth  Kentucky  Cavalry,  in  which  he 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  649 

served  till  the  close  of  the  war.  Mr.  M.  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity.  September  7,  1873,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Priscilla  Ford,  a 
Virginian  by  birth.  They  have  three  children:  Earnest,  Lillian  and 
Norma.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morgan  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church. 

CHAUNCEY  C.  MAUPIN, 

miller,  farmer  and  stock  raiser,  was  born  March  12,  1844,  in  St.  Charles 
County,  Missouri,  being  the  son  of  Wallace  C.  Maupin,  born  October  25, 
1817,  in  Albemarle  County,  East  Virginia.  His  mother,  formerly  Mary 
Elizabeth  Martha  Jane  Scott,  was  born  in  East  Virginia  about  1820. 
They  were  married  near  the  year  1837,  and  by  this  union  had  six  child- 
ren, four  sons  and  two  daughters,  all  of  whom  are  living.  They  emi- 
grated in  an  early  day  to  Missouri,  and  here  Mrs.  Maupin  died  March  6, 
of  1844  or  1845.  Mr.  M.  is  now  a  resident  of  Cedar  County,  Missouri. 
Chauncey  C.  Maupin,  when  a  young  man  of  twenty-one  years,  begran 
business  for  himself.  He  married  Miss  Lizzie  M.  Bass,  daughter  of 
Peter  and  Marian  Bass,  of  Henry  County,  Missouri,  May  18,  1865.  They 
have  six  children,  all  sons,  and  residents  of  Henry  County.  In  1877  he 
bought  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Tebo  Township,  and  in  1881  added  eighty 
more.  Li  1879  he  erected  in  the  township  a  mill  for  sawing  purposes 
and  the  grinding  of  corn.  He  is  actively  engaged,  both  in  farming  and 
the  mill  business,  and  is  constantly  driven  with  custom  at  his  mill,  but 
does  not  allow  his  farm  to  lay  idle.  He  is  a  thorough  farmer  and  is 
highly  respected  in  this  vicinity.  Mr.  M.  is  a  member  of  the  Patrons  of 
Husbandry.  Both  himself  and  wife  are  connected  with  the  Methodist 
Church,  South,  of  Calhoun.     His  political  views  are  Democratic. 

JOHN  MEDBERRY, 

livery  man,  at  Calhoun,  was  born  in  Windham  County,  Connecticut,  March 
28,  1836,  his  parents  being  John  and  Lucy  (Harvey)  Medberry,  natives 
of  Connecticut.  John  was  the  only  child  in  the  family.  He  was  reared 
and  educated  in  his  native  county  and  when  seventeen  years  ot  age  went 
to  Wisconsin,  where,  in  different  parts  of  the  state,  he  followed  farming 
till  1878,  except  for  three  years  while  engaged  in  freighting  in  Colorado 
and  Montana.  In  1878  he  came  to  Calhoun,  Henry  County,  Missouri, 
and  was  interested  in  a  flouring  mill  till  August  1882,  at  that  time  com- 
mencing in  his  present  business.  Mr.  M.  is  one  of  the  leading  citizens 
of  Calhoun  and  has  been  one  of  its  councilmen.  March  JO,  i8s8,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Charlotte  Potter,  a  native  of  New  York.  In  October^ 
1871,  he  was  married  to  Susan  Dawson,  originally  of  Wisconsin.  The 
family  of  Mr.  M.  consists  of  three  children:     Alvaro,  Byron  and  Frank. 


650  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

JUDGE   M.  B.  MERRITT, 

owner  of  Cherry  Grove  farm,  a  fine  estate  of  520  acres,  is  a  Tennesseean 
by  birth,  and  was  born  April  27,  18 19,  in  Williamson  County.  His 
father,  Benjamin  Merritt,  was  born  September  i8th,  1782,  in  Wake 
County,  North  Carolina,  and  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Eliza- 
beth Barnett,  was  born  May  ist,  1791,  in  the  same  state.  They  were 
married  January  21st,  i8i3,and  were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  three 
only  of  whom  survive.  Milton  B.,  Mahala,  (now  the  widow  of  Benjamin 
Fewell,  of  Callaway  County,  Missouri,  who  was  born  January  8th,  1804, 
and  died  June  i8th,  1870,  in  Callaway  County,)  and  Thirsa,  now  the  wife 
of  Benjamin  C.  Fewell  of  Henry  County.  Benjamin  Merritt  died  May 
13th,  1844,  in  Tennessee,  and  his  widow  died  September  23d,  1872,  in 
Tebo,  Henry  County.  M.  B.  Merritt  married  Miss  Susan  A.,  daughter 
of  Mason  C,  and  Malinda  L.  Fewell,  of  Henry  County,  Missouri,  Sep- 
tember 25th,  1844.  ^y  t'lis  union  there  were  eleven  children,  eight 
daughters  and  three  sons,  of  whom  eight  are  now  living.  Emily  Dophe- 
lia,  who  married  Richard  F.  Gaines,  of  this  county,  March  i6th,  1876. 
Cerepta  Virginia,  who  married  Maranda  R.  Amick,  also  of  the  same 
county.  Roschen  Medora,  who  was  born  March  27th,  185 1,  died  Decem- 
ber 27th,  1869.  Edith  Livona,  born  February  7th,  1853,  died  September 
7th,  1854.  Lelia  Theressa,  born  December  6th,  i854,*and  married  Mr. 
C.  E.  Avery,  February  21st,  1883.  Arthur  Fewell  was  born  December 
rst,  1856,  and  is  now  a  practicing  physician  and  surgeon  at  Lucas.  He 
received  training  at  the  St.  Louis  Medical  College,  and  afterwards  took 
his  honors  at  the  Jefferson  College,  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  in  class 
of '81.  Amantha  A.  was  born  January  5th,  1859.  Serena  E.  was  born 
March  28th,  1861.  Mary  E.  was  born  June  3d,  1866,  and  Milton  Edwin 
was  born  November  6th,  1871.  Mason  C.  Fewell,  the  father  of  Mrs. 
Merritt,  was  born  January  30th,  1797,  in  Culpeper  County,  Virginia, 
and  was  married  in  1822  to  Miss  Malinda  L.  Wall,  who  was  born  Sep- 
tember 2d,  1799,  i"  Rockingham  County,  North  Carolina.  There  were 
four  children  by  this  marriage,  of  whom  only  two  are  living,  Mrs.  Merritt 
and  Harriet  E.,  widow  of  Dr.  Jacob  Sipe,  of  this  county.  Mrs.  Fewell 
died  September  17th,  1829,  in  North  Carolina,  and  Mr.  Fewell  died  Feb- 
ruary 8th,  1873,  in  Tebo.  The  subject  of  this  sketch,  while  a  young 
man,  came  in  company  with  Benjamin  C.  Fewell  from  Tennessee  to 
Henry  County,  Missouri,  in  1841.  He  was  engaged  in  teaching  for  two 
years,  when  he  was  called  by  the  death  of  his  father,  to  his  native  state. 
Settling  up  the  affairs  of  the  estate  he  returned  to  Missouri  in  Septem- 
ber of  1844.  He  received  320  acres  of  land  from  his  wife's  father,  and 
since  that  time  has  gone  on  improving  his  fortune  and  winning  his  way 
to  the  hearts  of  the  people  by  whom  he  is  surrounded.  His  lands  are 
not  confined  to  Henry  County  alone.     He  is  also  the  owner  of  consider- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  65  I 

able  property  in  the  county  of  Johnson.  As  a  farmer  and  stock  handler, 
he  ranks  high  in  this  vicinity.  His  farm  is  well  watered,  and  300  acres 
are  devoted  to  blue  grass.  He  also  handles  cattle  and  hogs  of  good 
grades.  Progression  is  the  motto,  and  he  has  not  failed  to  give  honor  to 
it  through  life.  A  man  of  high  and  generous  impulses,  of  cheerful  and 
genial  spirits,  he  is  boundless  in  his  hospitalities.  He  is  one  of  the 
directors  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Clinton.  Politically  he  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat, and  has  served  as  judge  and  held  other  official  positions  for  many 
years.  He  was  compelled  to  resign  his  seat  on  the  bench  after  the  last 
election  (in  1882)  on  account  of  deafness.  He  made  an  excellent  judge 
and  was  held  in  high  esteem  by  the  members  of  the  bar. 

WILLIAM  P.  MILLNER 

is  the  owner  of  "Glen  Anna"  farm,  which  contains  1,080  acres,  and  is 
situated  eight  miles  northwest  of  Calhoun.  He  was  born  October  25, 
1840,  in  Cascade,  Pittsylvania  County,  Virginia,  receiving  his  educational 
training  in  the  Hampden-Sidney  College  of  Prince  Edward  County, 
which  school  he  left  with  honors,  second  to  one  only — W.  H.  Murkland, 
iate  pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Baltimore,  Maryland. 
Hi.^  father.  Colonel  M,  M.  Millner,  was  born  in  July,  1815,  in  Cascade, 
Pittsylvania' Comity,  and  his  mother,  formerly  Lucy  Maria  Price,  daugh- 
ter of  Williamson  Price,  of  Danville,  Virginia,  was  born  in  the  same 
county.  They  were  married  in  1838,  and  by  this  union  there  were  three 
sons,  of  whom  two  are  still  living,  William  P.  and  James  W.  Mrs.  Mill- 
ner died  in  1845  in  her  native  state.  Mr.  M.  afterwards  married  Miss 
Mary  S.  Reynolds,  of  North  Carolina,  August  20,  1850.  They  had  nine 
children,  eight  sons  and  a  daughter,  who  is  now  deceased.  M.  M.  Mill- 
ner died  November  5,  1882,  and  his  widow  now  resides  on  the  old  home- 
stead, formerly  the  home  of  Patrick  Henry,  a  tract  of  1.500  acres.  W^il- 
liam  Price  Millner,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  emigrated  from  his  native 
state  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  in  ^uly,  1873.  He  married  Miss  Mariam 
R.,  daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth  Fewell,  October  12,  of  the  same 
year.  She  was  born  June  11,  1838,  in  Rockingham  County,  North  Caro- 
lina. Miss  Fewell,  after  the  death  of  her  father,  November  26,  1866, 
came  into  possession  of  the  "  Glen  Anna"  estate,  which  is  now  so  ably 
managed  by  her  husband.  Their  residence,  a  large  and  commodious 
one,  was  erected  by  Major  John  Williams  in  1834,  and  remodeled  by 
William  Fewell  in  1858.  Mr.  M.  takes  great  interest  in  stock  matters 
and  has  become  well  known  in  this  connection.  He  has  a  fine  half-mile 
track  for  the  training  of  his  fast  stepping  colts,  and  now  has  the  far- 
famed  Al.  West,  of  the  Hambletonian  stock,  valued  at  $5,000  and  sired 
by  General  Wither's  celebrated  Al.  Mont,  of  Lexington,  Kentucky,  by 
Alexander's  Abdallah,  and  he  bv  Rysdvk's  Hambletonian,  etc.  Al.  West's 


652  HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 

first  dam,  Bohanna's  Wallace;  second  dam,  Mambrino  Chief;  third  dam» 
Mason's  Whip,  etc.,  etc.  At  the  same  age  as  Al.  Mont,  this  promising- 
colt  will  be  as  renowned,  heading  the  list  as  a  breeder  of  trotters.  Al. 
West's  time  is  already  2:34,  with  very  little  training.  Mr.  M.  has  a  cele- 
brated jack,  while  his  sheep  of  the  cctswold  grade  are  superior  to  and 
unsurpassed  by  any,  as  conceded  by  Baldwin,  an  eastern  dealer  in  Can- 
ada sheep.  They  have  taken  the  lead  in  the  county,  and  at  the  fairs  and 
in  market  since  1876.  He  also  gives  some  attention  to  hogs  of  the  finer 
grades,  and  has  twenty-one  fine-bred  cows.  Mr.  M.  is  connected  with 
the  Sardis-Bethlehem  Baptist  Church.     He  is  a  Democrat. 

JOHN  R.  PIGG, 

merchant  at  Calhoun,  is  the  son  of  David  H.  Pigg,  who  was  born  in 
Clark  County,  Kentucky,  December  23,  18 19.  His  parents  were  William 
and  Polly  (Hampton)  Pigg.  In  1843  he  removed  to  Henry  County, 
Missouri,  and  settled  in  Calhoun,  where  John  R.  was  born  July  19,  1850. 
He  passed  his  youth  in  Calhoun,  receiving  his  education  in  the  common 
schools,  and  when  about  fifteen  years  old  he  went  to  work  in  his  father's 
mill,  remaining  therein  until  1S69,  Then  he  engaged  in  merchandising 
with  J.  W.  Tutridge,  with  whom  he  was  associated  until  1875,  when- he 
sold  out.  He  again  embarked  in  the  same  business  in  that  year  and 
now  owns  a  good  store  building  which  is  filled  with  a  large  stock  of 
general  merchandise.  He  has  taken  a  great  interest  in  educational  mat- 
ters, and  has  been  elected  director  of  the  district  a  number  of  terms. 
He  belongs  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  fraternity  of  which  he  is  secretary.  At 
Cartnage,  Illinois,  July  4,  1872,  Mr.  Pigg  was  married  to  Miss  Lucy  J. 
Smith,  a  daughter  of  J.  B.  and  Harriet  Smith.  They  have  three  child- 
ren: Hattie  M.,  Ella  F.  and  Aggie  D.;  one,  an  infant  is  deceased. 

DR.  J.  F.  ROBINSON, 

was  Dorn  February  15,  1S47,  in  Johnson  County,  Missouri,  his  parents 
being  Jehu  and  Julia  Ann  Robinson,  nee  Oglesby.  The  former  was  born 
in  1812,  in  Tennessee,  and  the  latter  in  1822  in  Kentucky,  she  having 
accompanied  her  parents  to  Cooper  County,  Missouri,  in  an  early  day. 
They  were  married  about  the  year  1840,  and  had  four  sons  and  three 
daughters:  Mary  M.,  John  E.,  Louisa,  Jeremiah  T.,  Sallie  B.  and  James 
L.,  and  of  these  our  subject  was  the  second  son.  Jehu  Robinson  was 
one  of  the  first  judges  of  Johnson  County,  and  with  his  wife  is  now  resid- 
ing at  Warrensburg.  Joseph  F.  entered  the  Missouri  State  University 
at  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  and  was  a  student  there  for  five  years,  gradu- 
ating in  the  class  of  1870.  In  the  fall  of  1871  he  entered  the  medical 
college  at   St.  Louis,   remained  until  July   following,   and    upon   leaving 


BlOGRAPIiiCAL.  653 

that  institution  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  with  Dr.  J.  W. 
Wall,  an  old  and  skilled  physician  and  surgeon  of  this  county.  In  two 
years  Dr.  R.  entered  the  Jefferson  Medical  College,  at  Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania,  graduating  with  honor  therefrom  in  the  class  of  1875. 
Coming  again  to  Henry  County,  he  resumed  his  practice,  and  has  since 
had  a  most  successful  and  uninterrupted  patronage  with  the  exception 
of  the  winter  of  1878-Q,  which  he  spent  in  New  York  City,  attending  a 
course  of  medical  lectures.  Dr.  Robinson  was  married  November  14, 
1878,  to  Miss  Linnie  A.,  daughter  of  Dr.  Jacob  and  Harriet  E.  Sipe,  of 
Warrensburg.  She  is  a  lady  of  culture  and  refinement,  and  presides  over 
the  household  affairs  in  a  most  worthy  manner.  The  doctor  is  the 
owner  of  the  extensive  estate  of  736  acres,  located  six  miles  north  of 
Calhoun,  known  as  "Meadow  Farm."  He  has  also  210  acres  in  this 
county,  and  358  acres  in  Johnson  County.  He  is  now  occupied  in  con- 
ducting this  large  farm  together  with  his  practice.  He  belongs  to  Cold- 
spring  Lodge,  No.  274,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  of  Henrietta,  Johnson  County,  and 
is  also  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  at  High  Point.  In  politics  he  is 
a  Democrat. 

MRS.  HARRIET  E.  SIPE 

is  the  daughter  of  Mason  C.  Fewell,  who  was  born  January  8,  1797,  in 
Culpeper  County,  Virginia,  and  who  married  in  1822,  Miss  Melinda  L. 
Wall,  originally  of  Rockingham  County,  North  Carolina,  born  Septem- 
ber 2,  1799.  She  died  in  that  state  September  17,  1829.  In  1839  Mr. 
Fewell,  with  three  of  his  children,  his  mother  and  sister,  came  to  Henry 
County  in  company  with  a  colony  of  relatives  and  friends  to  the  num- 
ber of  144  souls.  For  many  years  he  was  closely  identified  with  the 
growth  and  prosperity  of  this  county,  and  among  its  largest  property 
holders  and  heaviest  stock  men.  He  owned,  at  his  death,  a  fine  estate 
of  1,000  acres,  of  which  "Meadow  Farm,"  (the  present  residence  of  Mrs. 
Sipe)  forms  a  part.  Harriet  E.  Fewell  was  married,  September  10,  1857, 
to  Dr.  Jacob  Sipe,  of  this  county,  and  they  had  one  son  and  one  daugh- 
ter: Linnie  A.,  born  September  3,  1858,  and  Undrie  T.,  born  May  2, 
1861,  died  July6,  following.  Dr.  Sipe  was  a  well  known  physician  and 
surgeon  and  had  an  extensive  practice  in  Henry  County.  In  later  life 
he  gave  considerable  attention  to  the  disease  of  the  eye  and  was  making 
the  treatment  of  that  member  a  specialty.  November  14,  1862,  he  was 
appointed  surgeon  in  Company  K,  Seventh  Regiment  Missouri  Infantry, 
of  the  Confederate  service,  receiving  his  discharge  September  16,  1863, 
Soon  after  this  he  was  made  prisoner  and  taken  to  Rolla,  being  placed 
in  the  hospital  November  21,  1865.  He  died  the  third  day  after  and  his 
burial  place  is  marked  by  a  suitable  monument  erected  by  his  widow. 
Mrs.  Sipe  is  now  residing  at  "Meadow  Farm,"  near  Calhoun. 


654  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

HENKY  SLACK 

was  born  in  Linn  County,  Missouri,  January  5,  1843.  James  C.  Slack, 
his  father,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  came  to  Missouri,  in  18 15,  where  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Carolina  Humphry.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  reared  on  a  farm  and  obtained  a  common  school  education  in  Linn 
County.  In  1865  he  went  to  Nebraska,  where  he  clerked  in  a  general 
store  for  two  years.  In  1867  he  removed  to  Henry  County,  Missouri, 
and  followed  farming  until  December  11,  1873,  then  engaging  in  the 
grocery  business  at  Calhoun.  In  December,  1877,  he  was  burned  out. 
In  the  following  year  he  built  his  present  store  building,  a  large  brick 
structure,  in  the  second  story  of  which  is  the  Masonic  hail.  He  carries 
a  complete  stock  of  groceries,  boots  and  shoes,  etc.,  and  is  doing  a  sat- 
isfactory business.  He  has  held  the  office  of  constable  for  four  years 
and  that  of  justice  of  the  peace  for  eight  years,  and  has  been  secretary 
of  Calhoun  Lodge  No.  184,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  for  eight  years.  October  i, 
1873,  Mr.  Slack  married  Miss  Martha  Carter,  a  native  of  Virginia.  Her. 
death  occurred  January  i,  1881.  Three  children  had  been  born  to  them: 
James,  Harry  and  Vest.  Mr.  S.  was  again  married  November  30,  1881, 
to  Mrs.  Bettie  Gray,  a  daughter  of  Judge  Calvert.  They  have  one  child, 
Clifton. 

MRS.  M.  C.  SQUIRES, 

was  born  July  24,  1846,  and  is  the  widow  of  the  late  Hon.  G.  W.  Squires, 
of  Henry  County,  Missouri.  Her  parents,  J.  R.  and  Elizabeth  Linn, 
emigrated  from  North  Carolina  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  in  1852,  set- 
tling in  Tebo,  where  they  remained  for  many  years,  and  they  were  ident- 
ified with  the  county's  interests  until  their  death.  Mrs.  L.  died  April 
20,  1875.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  led  a  consist- 
ent and  faithful  christian  life,  although  a  severe  sufferer  for  years.  Mr. 
L.  was  a  carpenter  by  trade.  He  was  also  an  exemplary  member  of 
the  same  church  as  his  wife  and  a  deacon  therein  for  several  years  prior 
to  this  death,  which  occurred  December  28,  1881.  Both  died  at  Cal- 
houn, and  were  taken  to  the  Kidd  Cemetery  for  interment.  Mattie  C, 
their  daughter,  was  born  in  Surry  County,  North  Carolina.  She  married 
Hon.  G.  W.  Squires,  of  Henry  County,  Missouri,  September  17,  1866. 
By  this  union  there  was  one  son,  Case  Burdett,  born  January  23,  1868. 
Mrs.  S.  is  a  member  of  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church,  of  Calhoun.  Her 
husband  died  May  6,  1879.  After  his  death  the  following  account  of  his 
life  was  written  :  "Hon.  George  W.  Squires  was  born  in  Athens  County, 
Ohio,  February  15,  1802.  In  1818,  being  then  a  lad  of  sixteen,  he  com- 
menced steamboating  on  the  Ohio  River,  between  the  cities  of  Pitts- 
burg and  Louisville,  on  the  first  steamer  launched  upon  that  stream. 
After  following  that  calling  for  eighteen  years  he  emigrated  to  Missouri 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  655 

and  located  in  what  is  now  called  Henry  County,  but  then  Rives.  At 
that  date  this  locality  was  comparatively  a  wilderness,  sparsely  inhabi- 
ted and  infested  with  Indians  and  wild  beasts.  In  1837,  the  year  follow- 
ing his  settlement  in  his  new  home,  he  took  command  of  a  company 
against  the  Osage  Indians,  and  a  year  later  commanded  another  com- 
pany against  the  Mormons,  then  at  Far  West,  where  he  assisted  in  tak- 
ing the  prophet,  Jo.  Smith,  a  prisoner.  In  1850  he  made  an  overland 
trip  to  California,  in  charge  of  one  of  the  largest  trains,  which  up  to  that 
time,  had  crossed  the  plains.  After  a  sojourn  of  two  years  in  the  gold 
region  he  returned  to  Missouri,  and  again  engaged  in  steamboating;  this 
time  on  the  Osage  River,  and  did  much  to  open  navigation  on  that 
stream.  In  1858,  leaving  the  river,  he  went  upon  a  farm  in  Henry 
County,  and  for  a  time  was  engaged  extensively  in  handling  stock  for 
the  southern  market.  On  the  outbreak  of  the  civil  war  he  retired  to 
his  farm  where  he  remained  up  to  the  restoration  of  peace.  Though 
advanced  in  years,  his  seat  in  the  house  of  representatives  was  the  only 
♦  civil  office  to  which  he  had  ever  aspired,  or  had  ever  held.  While  he 
was  the  oldest  member  of  that  body,  he  was  scarcely  less  active  or  atten- 
tive in  the  house  than  the  youngest  of  his  associates.  His  excellent 
judgment  on  all  matters,  aside  from  his  years,  served  to  secure  for  him 
universal  respect  at  the  capitol.  Politically  he  was  a  life  long  Democrat, 
casting  his  first  vote  for  Jackson.  He  was  a  valuable  member  of  the  com- 
mittee on  banks  and  corporations,  and  was  one  of  the  men  whose  mem- 
ory will  live  in  the  minds  of  those  who  knew  him  both  as  a  private  citi- 
zen and  a  public  man." 

JEROME  B.  SQUIRES, 

is  an  enterprising,  capable  and  thoroughgoing  farmer.  He  was  born 
November  12,  1837,  '"  ^^e  township  where  he  now  resides,  acquiring  a 
good  business  education  in  youth.  His  father,  the  Hon.  G.  W.  Squires, 
was  born  February  15,  1802,  in  Ohio,  while  his  mother,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Adelaide  Banister,  was  born  November  9,  1805,  in  Putnam 
County,  Virginia.  They  were  married  in  1823,  and  were  the  parents  of 
six  children,  of  whom  four  are  living,  three  sons  and  one  daughter.  They 
emigrated  from  Virginia,  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  in  1835,  and  bought 
a  tract  of  260  acres  near  Calhoun.  Here  JVIr.  Squire's  remained  for  the 
remainder  of  life,  with  the  exception  of  two  years  spent  in  California, 
and  two  years  while  occupied  in  steamboating  upon  the  Osage  River. 
In  1850  he  was  at  the  head  of  one  of  the  largest  companies  that  up  to  that 
day  had  ever  crossed  the  plains.  After  his  return  from  California  he 
was  for  a  time  engaged  upon  the  Osage  River,  and  did  much  toward 
opening  the  stream  to  navigation,  from  St.  Louis  upward,  in  company 
with  James  Atkisson,  of  Warsaw,  Benton  County.  Mrs.  Squires  died 
May  2,  1862.     Mr.  S.  married  Miss  Mattie  C.  Linn,  of  this  county,  Sep- 


656  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

tember  17,  1866.  They  had  one  child,  a  son  (C.  B.)  who  still  resides  with 
his  widowed  mother  in  Calhoun.  Hon.  G.  W.  Squires,  departed  this  life, 
May  6,  1879.  His  son,  Jerome  B.  Squires,  at  the  Age  of  eighteen  years, 
became  a  salesman  in  the  mercantile  business  in  the  wholesale  and  retail 
establishment  of  James  Atkisson,  at  Warsaw,  Benton  County,  then  the 
largest  business  place  in  Southwest  Missouri.  In  1865,  he  embarked  in 
business  at  Sedalia,  Pettis  County,  for  L.  S.  Florshiem.  In  1867,  he 
•engaged  in  business  for  himself  in  Calhoun,  where  he  dealt  in  general 
merchandise,  doing  a  thriving  trade  for  three  years.  He  then  sold  his 
stock  and  formed  a  partnership  with  J.  O.  Edmondson,  of  that  place, 
which  existed  for  three  years,  when  he  disposed  of  his  interest  and  com- 
menced dealing  in  stock.  In  1861,  February  12,  he  married  Miss  Hen- 
rietta, daughter  of  Asa  and  Sarah  McNeely,  of  Benton  County.  She 
was  born  June  4,  1843,  in  that  county.  They  had  four  children:  Ella, 
born  March  20,  1862,  died  January  17,  1863;  Maggie,  born  September 
16,  1864,  married  Dr.  B.  B.  Barr,  a  physician  and  surgeon,  now  practi- 
cing at  Shawnee  Mound,  with  Dr.  J.  W.  Bronaugh;  George  William; 
born  May  12,  1866;  Mamie  T.,  born  September  25,  1869,  now  attending 
school  at  Windsor.  Mr.  Squires,  after  buying  and  selling  stock  for  three 
years,  decided  again  to  start  in  mercantile  pursuits.  He  opened  busi- 
ness at  Calhoun,  and  after  nearly  four  years  attention  to  that  calling, 
bought  in  the  spring  of  1878,  his  present  farm,  a  tract  of  fine  land,  208 
acres.  After  closing  his  business  in  Calhoun,  he  engaged  in  farming, 
and  has  since  that  time  made  this  and  the  raising  of  stock  his  exclusive 
business.  He  is  a  fine  farmer  and  deals  quite  largely  in  stock.  He  has 
•some  excellent  cattle,  and  also  does  something  in  the  line  of  raising 
"hogs.  He  is  a  member  of  the  order  of  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  Lodge  No.  184, 
•Calhoun.  Both  himself  and  wife  are  of  the  Presbyterian  faith.  His 
polirical  views  are  Democratic. 

ROBERT  TREVEY, 

physician  and  surgeon  of  Calhoun,  was  born  in  St.  Charles  County,  Mis- 
souri, September  13,  1840,  and  was  a  son  of  Joseph  Y.  Trevey,  a  native 
of  Virginia,  who  was  by  occupation  a  farmer.  The  mother  of  Robert, 
formerly  Jane  Adams,  was  a  daughter  of  Hugh  Adams,  a  direct  des- 
'Cendant  of  John  O.  Adams  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  principally- 
reared  and  educated  in  his  native  county.  When  sixteen  years  of  age 
he  went  to  Virginia,  where  he  attended  an  academ}'  for  three  years. 
Returning  to  Missouri  he  was  a  student  at  the  college  at  St.  Charles 
one  year.  When  about  twenty  years  of  age  he  entered  the  office  of  Dr. 
Samuel  Overall,  of  St.  Charles,  with  whom  he  read  medicine  two  years, 
and  subsequently  attended  a  term  of  lectures  in  the  St.  Louis  Medical 
•College.     Upon  going  back  to  St.  Charles  he  continued  to  read  with  his 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  657 

preceptor,  and  was  later  graduated  from  the  St.  Louis  Medical  College 
in  March  1866.  In  the  same  year  he  began  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion in  St.  Louis,  and  followed  it  there  till  1869,  when  he  moved  to  his 
present  location.  Dr.  Trevey  is  an  excellent  physician,  deserving  of 
being  placed  among  the  leaders  in  his  profession.  He  has  held  many 
prominent  offices  in  Henry  County,  in  all  of  which  he  has  proved  a  suc- 
cess. He  is  an  active  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  He  was  mar- 
ried Novem.ber  26,  1867,  to  Miss  Marcie  P.  Thomas,  of  St.  Louis.  They 
have  a  fantWly  of  five  children,  Robert,  Ola,  Velpeau,  Hale  M.  and 
Hallie. 

H.  J.  UNDERWOOD, 

of  the  firm  of  Underwood  &  Son,  manufacturers  of  stoneware,  Calhoun, 
was  born  in  Starke  County,  Ohio,  April  26,  1855,  his  father,  H.  H. 
Underwood,  having  been  born  in  Pennsylvania  February  3,  1833.  He  was 
a  son  of  Joseph  and  Frances  (Marsh)  Underwood,  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. H.  H.  was  taken  to  Ohio  by  his  parents,  where  he  was  reared 
and  educated.  In  1852  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  stoneware 
which  he  followed  there  until  1880,  then  removing  to  Calhoun.  Octo- 
ber 7,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Company  K,  Forty-second  Ohio  Infantry,  and 
was  discharged  in  November,  1864,  having  been  in  the  hospital  at  New 
Orleans  three  months.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Caroline  Rochess, 
October  7,  1852.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  and  educated  in 
Ohio,  and  has  followed  his  present  business  since  arriving  at  manhood. 
The  firm  are  doing  a  good  business  and  sell  their  ware  to  dealers  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  this  and  other  states.  They  make  a  specialty  of  vases, 
flower  pots  and  terra  cotta  ware.  Mr.  Underwood  was  married  October 
27,  1878,  to  Miss  Ada  M.  Dawson,  a  native  of  Ohio.  They  have  two 
children,  Carrie  M.  and  Paul  H.  Mr.  U.  is  a  leading  member  of  the 
Christian  Church. 

MRS.  MARTHA  J.  WALL, 

who  at  this  time  resides  with  her  son-in-law,  J.  G.  Callison,  was  born  in 
Rockingham  County,  North  Carolina,  June  23,  1820,  being  the  daughter 
of  William  M.  and  Elizabeth  Wall,  nee  Walker,  who  were  married  May 
II,  1816.  They  had  four  children,  of  whom  Martha  is  the  only  one  now 
living.  His  first  wife  dying  in  May,  1825,  William  Wall  married  July  31, 
1827,  Miss  Sarah  A.  Fewell.  He  came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  in 
1838,  located  six  miles  north  of  Calhoun  and  became  quite  wealthy.  He 
erected  the  first  steam  flouring  mill  west  of  St.  Louis  in  1841  or  1842, 
but  during  the  war  it  was  burned  by  order  of  General  Pope.  Mr.  W. 
died  August  2,  1865,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years.  Martha  J.  Wall 
was  married  May  17,  1843,  to  Rev.  Samuel  D.  Gilbert,  and  to  them  were 
born  two  children.     A  daughter,  Sarah  F.,  was  born  September  26,  1844. 

42 


658  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

and  subsequently  became  the  wife  of  James  H.  Rlackvvell,  she  dying 
soon  after  her  marriage.  The  son,  William  P.,  was  born  November  2, 
1845;  died  May  3,  1857.  Mr.  Gilbert  died  September  13,  1847.  On  Aug- 
ust 21,  1850,  Mrs.  G.  married  William  J.  Wall,  and  they  had  four  child- 
ren, two  of  whom  survive,  James  R.  and  Hildred  R.  Mr.  Wall  departed 
this  life  August  19,  1873.  Mrs.  W.  has  been  a  member  of  the  Sardis- 
Bethlehem  Baptist  Church  for  thirty  years. 

THEODORE  O.  WILLIAMS, 

attorney-at-law,  was  born  in  Marion  County,  Missouri,  April  17th,  1847, 
his  parents  being  Lemuel  and  Nancy  M.  (Hammond)  Williams,  natives 
of  Worcester  County,  Maryland.  They  were  both  born  in  February, 
1808,  and  were  married  in  1835,  emigrating  to  Hannibal,  Missouri,  in 
1836.  Lemuel  Williams  died  in  Windsor,  Missouri,  April  23,  1879,  and 
his  widow  departed  this  life  in  Monroe  County,  March  9.  1883,  aged  75 
years.  Theodore  passed  his  youthful  days  in  Monroe  and  Macon  Coun- 
ties, this  state,  and  in  1869  he  took  up  his  location  near  Tipton,  where  he 
taught  school  for  four  years.  In  January,  1870,  he  married  Miss  Sally  J. 
Jones.  They  had  four  daughters,  Rosa  Lee,  Cora  V.,  Jessie  M.  and 
Shelly,  of  whom  Rosa  and  Shelly  died,  while  small.  In  1873  Mr.  Williams 
began  the  study  of  law  with  H.  F.  Rothwell,  late  congressman  from  the 
Tenth  District  of  Missouri,  and  subsequently  with  his  brother,  T.  N. 
Williams,  in  Lynchburg,  Virginia.  In  1878  he  returned  to  Henry 
County,  at  first  engaging  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Windsor. 
He  is  now  located  in  Calhoun,  where  he  has  built  up  an  enviable  reputa- 
tion as  an  attorney,  and  he  is  especially  successful  in  his  career  as  a 
criminal  lawyer.  Though  comparatively  a  young  man,  he  has  become 
recognized  as  a  prominent  counselor  among  his  brother  practioners. 
Politically  he  is  a  Democrat. 

JOHN  WILSON, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  was  born  June  18,  1806,  in  Greene  County,  Ten- 
nessee, acquiring  his  only  education  in  the  common  schools  of  that 
locality.  His  father,  Thomas  Wilson,  was  an  extensive  farmer  and  stock 
raiser  and  a  carpenter  by  trade.  He  was  born  in  Botetourt  County,  Vir- 
ginia, December  6,  1771.  His  mother,  formerly  Margaret  Sherrell,  was 
born  May  14,  1774,  in  North  Carolina.  They  were  married  October  8, 
1794,  and  had  nine  children,  six  daughters  and  three  sons,  of  whom 
there  are  but  four  living,  three  daughters  and  one  son.  They  emigrated 
from  Tennessee  to  Lafayette  County,  Missouri,  in  1830,  settling  near 
Lexington,  where  they  remained  for  five  years,  then  going  to  Tebo 
Township  of  the  same  county,  now   Henry.     Mr.  Wilson  entered  eighty 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  659^ 

acres  of  land   and   commenced  farming,  which   he  continued    until   his 
death,  May  22,  1836.   Mrs.  W.  survived  him  but  eighteen  months,  depart- 
ing this  life  in  October  of  1839.    The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  only- 
administrator  of  the  estate  and   bought  the  farm  in  1839,  of  which  he 
held  possession  until  1866,  when  he  sold  it,  being  settled  upon  land  he 
had  purchased   in  the  years  of  1839,  1840.  1842  and  1843,  consisting  of 
700  acres,  lying  north  of  the  old  place.     He   married   Miss   Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Susan  Jennings,  of  Lafayette  County,  and   to- 
them  were  born  eight  children,  four  sons  and  four  daughters.  The  eldest,. 
William  T.,  born   December  28,  1833,  married  Mrs.  Eleanor,  widow  of" 
Samuel  Reynolds  and  daughter  of  William  M.  Fewell,  of  Henry  County, 
March  17,  1867.     Thomas  J.  was  born  April  19,  1835,  and  married  Miss 
Mary  E.  Gilliland,  of  Bates  County,  in  March  of  i860.     Harriette  Ann 
was  born  August  22,  1838,  and  married  Thomas  J.  Jennings,  of  Living- 
ston County,  Missouri,  November  14,  1882.     John  W.  was  born  Decem-^ 
ber  5,  1847,  and  married  Miss  Nancy  Woolfolk,  ot  Henry  County,  Mis- 
souri, January  22,  1871.     Lon  was  born  October  16,  1843.     Mary  E.,  born 
October  4,   1848,  married  T.  J.  Bosley,  of  Bates  County,  February   18,. 
1879.   Martha  Jennie  was  born  July  4,  1854.   Charles  E.  was  born  Novem- 
ber 9,  1857.     Mrs.  W.  died  May  28,  1872.     Mr.  Wilson  has  resided  upon 
his  present  farm   ever  since  1833,  except   for  two  years,  when  in  Cali- 
fornia.    In  1850  he  took  the  overland  route  and  went  to  California,  mak- 
ing a  stay  there  of  two  years,  with  a  result  of  success.     He  returned  via 
New  York  in  1852,  and  then  engaged  in  farming  and  in  the  general  rais- 
ing of  stock.     He  was  given  a  lieutenant's  commission  in  1832  by  Gov- 
ernor Boggs.     He  erected  his  present  residence  in  1849.     He  belongs  to- 
Lodge  No.  29,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  his  membership  dating  from   1863.     He 
has  for  nearly  fifty  years  been  identified  with  the  M.  E.  Church  South,  of 
which  his  wife  was  also  a  member  for  many  years.     Five  of  his  children 
also  hold  that  relationship.     Democratic  in  his  views,  he  cast  his  first 
vote  for  Jackson  in  1832  with  nineteen  other  Democrats,  two  men  voting 
for  John  O.  Adams  at  that  election,  making  a  vote  of  twenty-two  in  the 
county  of  Lafayette.     His  sons  now  conduct  the  farm.     They  are  capa- 
ble men  and  excellent  managers  of  the  place. 

WILLL-\M  T.  WILSON, 

owner  of  "Woodlawn  Farm,"  an  excellent  tract  of  992  acres,  located  in  • 
the  northwest  portion  of  Tebo  Township,  about  nine  miles  from  Cal- 
houn, was  born  December  28,  1833,  in  Lexington,  Lafayette  County,  . 
Missouri.  His  education  xvas  acquired  in  the  common  schools  of  that 
day.  His  father,  John  Wilson,  was  born  June  18,  1806,  in  Greene 
County,  Tennessee,  and  married  Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Samuel 
and    Susan    Jennings,   of  Lafayette   County,   Missouri.      By  this  union 


660  HISTORY    OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 

there  were  four  sons  and  four  daughters,  all  of  whom  are  living.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  commenced  for  himself  in  life  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  years.  He  married  Mrs.  Ella  A.  widow  of  Samuel  M.  Reynolds, 
and  daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth  D.  Fewell,  of  Henry  County, 
Missouri,  March  17,  1867.  By  her  former  union  Mrs.  W.  had  three 
children,  and  all  are  living.  The  eldest,  William  F.,  was  born  July  28, 
1854,  and  married  Miss  Sallie  B.  Robinson,  daughter  of  Colonel  Jehu 
Robinson,  of  Johnson  County,  Missouri,  October  15,  1878.  Samuel  M. 
was  born  September  11,  1859,  and  is  now  a  merchant  of  Shawnee 
Mound.  Anna  L.,  was  born  September  22,  1861.  By  the  last  marriage 
there  were  three  sons:  Claude,  born  February  7,  1869,  died  July  28th  of 
the  same  year;  Arthur,  born  September  i,  1870,  died  February  18,  1872; 
Oliver  H.,  born  August  26,  1874,  died  March  27,  1876.  In  1868  Mr. 
Wilson  began  improvements  upon  a  farm  in  Tebo  Township,  consisting 
of  440  acres,  to  which,  in  1882,  he  added  452  acres,  making  992  acres  of 
magnificent  land,  and  well  watered  with  living  springs.  He  raises  not 
less  than  15,000  or  20,000  bushels  of  corn,  and  is  endeavoring  to  make 
wheat  growing  a  success.  He  has  a  fine  herd  of  short-horns,  and  is  a 
man  who  thoroughly  understands  his  business.  He  is  one  of  the  direc- 
tors of  the  First  National  Bank,  of  Clinton,  and  has  resided  in  the  county 
for  half  a  century  or  more,  and  has  been  successful  through  all  these 
years.  He  feeds  from  two  to  four  or  five  car  loads  of  cattle  annually,  and 
also  makes  the  raising  and  handling  of  hogs  a  prominent  thing.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  order,  belonging  to  lodge  No.  274. 
Politically  he  is  a  Democrat.  Mrs.  W.  is  identified  with  the  Sardis- 
Bethlehem  Church. 


SH.^WNEE  TOWNSHIP. 

WILLIAM    ADAIR, 

section  14,  is  among  the  prominent  farmers  and  stock  raisers  in  this 
county.  He  is  a  son  of  Abner  J.  and  Mary  (Adkins)  Adair,  natives  of 
Kentucky.  William  was  the  third  in  a  family  of  eleven  children,  and 
was  born  in  Fleming  County,  Kentucky,  January  26,  183 1.  While  he 
was  a  child  his  parents  removed  to  Missouri  and  settled  in  Jackson 
County,  where  he  grew  to  manhood  on  a  farm.  In  1849  he  went  to  Cal- 
ifornia, and  was  engaged  in   mining  and  stock  raising  until  185 1,  when 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  66l 

he  returned  to  Missouri.  After  remaining  a  short  time  he  took  a  trip  to 
New  Mexico,  but  a  few  months  later  located  again  in  Jackson  County, 
where  he  followed  farming  until  1854,  then  he  came  to  Henry  County. 
His  farm  is  one  of  the  best  improved  in  the  county,  and  contains  870 
acres,  surrounded  and  sub-divided  with  good  fences.  His  fine  residence 
was  built  in  1877,  at  a  cost  of  $3,000.  Mr.  Adair  is  one  of  the  leading 
stock  men  of  the  state,  and  owns  a  fine  herd  of  Short  Horns,  and  feeds 
a  large  number  of  the  best  cattle  shipped  from  this  market.  He  is  also 
interested  in  two  large  stock  ranches  in  the  state  of  Texas.  He  belongs 
to  the  Baptist  Church,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity. 
March  17,  1853,  he  married  Miss  Dorcas  A.  Fuqua,  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
born  June  20,  183 1.  They  have  four  children  living,  Susa  Ann,  Emma, 
Henry  Clay  and  Canarisa.  They  have  lost  six:  Martha  E.,  Francis  M., 
Laura,  Johnnie  and  two  infants. 

F.  M.  ANDERSON, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  26,  is  the  son  of  Isaac  Anderson,  a  native 
of  Tennessee,  who  came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  in  1835,  and  located 
in  Big  Creek  Township  where  F.  M.  was  born  December  27,  1837.  His 
mother's  maiden  name  was  Eliza  Sharp,  also  originally  from  Tennessee. 
Young  Anderson  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  this  county,  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  farming,  now 
owning  122  acres  of  land,  well  improved.  During  the  late  war  he  served 
under  Colonel  Lewis  and  participated  in  the  battles  of  Lexington  and 
Bear  Creek.  He  is  a  member  of  the  L  O.  O.  F.  fraternity.  October  19, 
i860,  Mr.  Anderson  was  married  to  Miss  Ocia  Pernell,  a  daughter  of  F. 
A.  Pernell,  who  served  as  clerk  of  the  county  court  in  Henry  County  for 
eighteen  years.  Mrs.  A.  is  a  native  of  Henry  County,  Missouri.  They 
have  two  children:    Ada  B.  and  Charlie. 

BENJAMIN  BARKER, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  9,  v/as  born  in  Kent  County,  Delaware,, 
in  1820,  and  was  the  son  of  John  and  Marion  (French)  Barker,  who  were 
natives  of  Delaware.  Benjamin  grew  to  mannood  in  his  native  state,, 
and  received  a  common  school  education.  In  August,  1842,  he  came 
to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  where  he  has  since  resided,  following  farm- 
ing as  his  occupation.  His  estate  contains  700  acres  of  level  land,  in  a 
high  state  of  cultivation.  July  31,  185 1,  Mr.  Barker  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  Martin,  originally  from  North  Carolina.  She  died  March  31,  1871, 
leaving  one  child,  John  R.,  who  was  born  in  Henry  County,  Missouri, 
April  10,  1852.  John  R.  Barker  was  married  November  27,  1879,  to 
Miss  Ella  Casey,  a  daughter  of  George  M.  Casey.  She  was  born  Jan- 
uary 7,  i860,  in  this  county. 


662  HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 

B.  B.  BARR. 

is  a  prominent  physician  and  surgeon  at  Shawnee  Mound.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Henry  County,  Missouri,  January  4,  1857.  His 
father,  William  T.  Barr,  was  a  native  of  Tennessee  and  a  son  of  Robert 
Barr,  originally  of  the  same  state.  His  father,  Patrick  Barr,  was  a  native 
of  Ireland.  When  B.  B.  was  four  years  old  his  father  went  to  Tennessee, 
•where  he  grew  to  manhood,  being  educated  in  the  schools  of  Gallatin. 
When  twenty  years  old  he  entered  the  office  of  Dr.  J.  B.  Heard,  of  Gal- 
latin, Tennessee,  with  whom  he  read  medicine  for  three  years.  In  1878 
he  entered  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  at  Baltimore,  and  in 
1880  was  a  student  at  the  Bellevue  Medical  College,  of  New  York,  grad- 
uating from  there  in  March,  1881.  Since  that  time  he  has  practiced  his 
chosen  profession  at  Shawnee  Mound.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  Church  and  also  belongs  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  order.  Sep- 
tember 15,  1881,  the  doctor  was  married  to  Miss  Maggie  Squares,  of  this 

•  county. 

JUDGE  LEWIS  P.  BEATY, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  16,  is  among  the  prominent  men  of  this 
county,  and  none  are  more  worthy  of  a  representation  in  this  work  than 
he.  He  was  born  in  Henry  County,  Missouri,  October  16,  1837.  His 
father,  Joseph  R.  Beaty,  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  a  son  of  Wil- 
liam Beaty,  of  the  same  state.  Joseph  R.  was  married  December  1, 
.1836,  to  Miss  Mary  Prigmore.  She  was  born  in  Allen  County,  Kentucky, 
"May  22,  1816,  and  came  to  Missouri  in  1818,  and  in  1836  to  Henry 
■County.  Joseph  Beaty  died  in  Henry  County  May  17,  1843.  Lewis  P. 
grew  to  manhood  on  the  farm  upon  which  he  now  lives,  and  obtained 
his  education  in  the  common  schools.  July  20,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany F,  Sixteenth  Missouri  Infantry  of  the  Confederate  army,  and  sur- 
rendered at  Shreveport,  Louisiana,  June  5,  1865.  After  this  he  returned 
to  Henry  County,  where  he  has  since  followed  his  chosen  occupation, 
that  of  a  farmer.  He  owns  a  landed  estate  of  175  acres,  well  improved. 
September  2,  1873,  he  was  elected  judge  of  the  county  court,  and  was 
re-elected  to  that  office  every  term  until  1882,  when  he  was  elected  pre- 
siding judge  of  the  county  court.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
Church,  and  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity.  September  30,  1856, 
Judge  Beaty  was  married  to  Miss  Frances  E.  Prewitt,  a  native  of  this 
county,  born  September  3,  1840.  She  died  June  10,  1876,  leaving  four 
•children,  Joseph  G.,  James  C,  T.  Dick  and  Walter  L.     Two  children  are 

-deceased. 

BENJAMIN  BEATY, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  17,  is  the  son  of  Joseph  R.  Beaty,  a  Ken- 
tuckian  by  birth,   who  was  born   March  23,    1803.     He   married    Mary 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  663 

Prigmore,  also  a  native  of  Kentucky.  They  came  to  Henry  County, 
Missouri,  in  1836.  Benjamin  was  born  here  April  26,  1839.  He  passed 
his  younger  days  in  the  county  of  his  birth,  receiving  a  common  school 
education.  January  26,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Company  E,  First  Missouri 
Cavalry,  and  at  the  battle  of  Oak  Hill  received  a  wound  in  the  foot. 
He  remained  in  service  until  the  close  of  the  war,  when  he  returned  to 
this  county.  He  owns  304  acres  of  good  land  and  well  improved,  upon 
which  is  a  barn  built  in  1881,  at  a  cost  of  over  $400.  Mr.  Beaty  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Louisa 
Kimsey,  a  native  of  Henry  County,  March  26,  1868.  She  was  born  Janu- 
ary 16,  1 841.  They  have  six  children.  Samuel,  Joseph,  Mary  S.,  Jack- 
son, Abner  and  Fannie  A. 

JOHN  W.  BRONAUGH, 

physician  and  surgeon,  Shawnee  Mound,  was  born  in  Mason  County, 
Virginia,  April  28,  1834,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Nancy  (Henderson) 
Bronaugh,  natives  of  Virginia.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  oldest 
child  in  a  family  of  seven  children.  In  1846  he  moved  with  his  parents 
to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  locating  on  a  farm  near  Calhoun,  where  he 
grew  to  manhood.  In  1856  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  under  Dr. 
Sites,  of  Calhoun,  with  whom  he  remained  till  1858,  when,  in  the  fall  of 
that  year  he  entered  the  St.  Louis  Medical  College.  He  then  began 
practicing  at  Germantown,  Missouri,  and  continued  it  till  the  fall  of  i860, 
when  he  again  entered  college.  He  was  graduated  in  the  following 
spring.  In  June,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  Confederate  army  as  assistant 
surgeon  of  Col.  Owen's  battalion,  resigning  in  October  of  the  same  year. 
He  then  settled  in  Arkansas,  where  he  practiced  his  profession  till  June, 
1862.  Returning  to  Henry  County,  he  practiced  in  Calhoun  and  vicinity 
till  1879,  since  which  time  he  has  resided  at  his  present  location.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  and  belongs  to  the 
Masonic  fraternity.  July  10,  1862,  Dr.  Bronaugh  was  married  to  Miss 
Georgia  Knox,  a  native  of  Henry  County,  Missouri,  where  she  was  born 
February,  i,  1844.  They  have  four  children,  J.  Frank,  Marshal  K.,  Percy 
and  John  F. 

R.  L.  CAMPBELL, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  33,  was  born  in  Lafayette  County,  Mis- 
souri, December  12,  1854,  and  was  the  son  of  G.  K.  Campbell,  a  farmer 
by  occupation  and  a  native  of  Alabama,  and  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Lafayette  County.  His  father  was  James  Campbell.  The  maiden  name 
of  the  mother  of  our  subject  was  Louisa  Walker,  a  native  of  Missouri. 
R.  L.  was  reared  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm,  and  was  educated  in 
the  common  schools,  following  farming  and  stock  raising  at  his  birth- 
place until  1880,  when  he  came  to  Henry  County.      His  farm  contains 


664  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

360  acres  of  well  improved  land.  His  residence  was  built  in  1880  at  a 
cost  of  $1,000.  He  has  two  good  orchards  on  the  farm,  and  is  feeding 
sixty-two  head  of  cattle  and  100  head  of  hogs.  February  12,  1880,  Mr. 
Campbell  married  Miss  Lydia  Huff,  a  daughter  of  Willis  and  Martha 
(Hocker)  Huff  She  was  born  in  Henry  County,  Missouri,  December  29^ 
1857.  They  have  two  children:  Samuel  K.  and  Warner  Hocker.  Mrs. 
C.'s  father  died  October  21,  1865,  and  her  mother,  August  27,  1866. 
After  their  death  she  went  to  her  Grandfather  Hocker's,  in  Johnson 
County,  where  she  grew  up. 

GEORGE  M.  CASEY, 

section  24,  is  one  of  the  representative  citizens  of  Henry  County,  and 
none  are  more  worthy  of  success  than  he.  John  Casey  his  father 'was  a 
son  of  Stephen  Casey,  who  was  a  native  of  South  Carolina.  John  Casey 
was  born  in  Kentuck)'  in  1808,  and  was  there  married  to  Miss  Amanda 
Smith,  of  the  same  state.  Their  family  consisted  of  seven  children,  of 
whom  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  fifth  child.  He  was  born  in 
Hardin  County,  Kentucky,  April  3,  1837.  In  1842  his  parents  moved  to 
Henry  County,  Missouri,  and  entered  land  in  Shawnee  Township, 
where  George  M.  has  since  resided,  and  where  he  received  his  education. 
He  now  has  a  landed  estate  of  1,520  acres.  His  home  farm  is  known  as 
"Tebo  Lawn,"  and  contains  1,200  acres,  ten  miles  northwest  of  Clinton. 
This  is  one  of  the  finest  improved  farms  in  Southwest  Missouri,  being 
surrounded  by  hedge  and  rail  fences,  well  watered  by  living  springs  and 
wells.  His  residence  is  a  fine  brick  one,  built  in  1876,  at  a  cost  of  $6,500 
and  his  out  buildings,  etc.,  are  excellent.  Mr.  C.  has  a  superior  herd  of 
shorthorns,  representing  many  of  the  most  popular  families  of  English 
and  American  Herd  Book  record.  He  is  a  successful  breeder  and  one  of 
the  ranking  shorthorn  men  of  Southwest  Missouri.  He  also  owns  large 
interests  in  two  stock  ranches  in  Texas,  stocked  with  35,000  head  of  cat- 
tle. In  August,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Company  F,  Sixteenth  Missouri 
Infantry  of  the  Confederate  service,  and  remained  in  action  till  the  close 
of  the  war.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  commandery.  August  13, 
1857,  Mr,  Casey  was  married  to  Miss  Lucy  Croswhiet,  of  Randolph 
County,  Missouri.  They  have  nine  children  living:  Thomas  M.,  Amanda 
E.  (now  Mrs.  John  Barker),  John  S.,  Lulu,  Minnie,  George  R.,  Eflfie, 
Annie  P.,  and  Lucy  M.     They  have  lost  one,  Mary  A. 

JASPER  L.  COATS, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  3,  was  born  in  Cooper  County,  Missouri, 
February  2,  1828,  his  parents  being  William  and  Martha  (Tracey)  Coats, 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  66$' 

natives  of  Tennessee.  He  was  the  seventh  of  a  family  of  nine  children, 
and  when  six  years  old,  his  father  removed  to  Callaway  County,  where 
he  grew  to  manhood,  receiving  his  education  in  common  schools.  At 
the  age  of  eighteen  years  he  began  working  at  the  blacksmith  trade  in' 
Fulton,  which  he  followed  two  years.  In  1848  he  came  to  Henry  County, 
Missouri,  and  worked  at  his  trade  one  year  in  Calhoun.  In  1849  he  went 
to  California,  but  returned  to  Henry  County  in  1850,  and  engaged  in 
farming.  He  now  owns  a  landed  estate  of  315  acres,  well  improved  with 
a  good  house,  outbuildings  and  an  orchard,  besides  a  supply  of  water. 
In  1865,  he  enlisted  in  the  Union  service,  but  was  mustered  out  in  six 
months,  after  which  he  was  with  the  Enrolled  Missouri  Militia,  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  In  i86i  he  was  appointed  sheriff  of  Henry  County,, 
and  held  the  office  for  about  one  year.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
Church.  April  11,  1854,  Mr.  Coats  was  married  to  Miss  Sallie  Freeman,, 
a  native  of  Henry  County,  Missouri.  She  died  September  28,  1862,. 
leaving  two  children:  James  W.  and  Lizzie.  He  was  again  married' 
March  30,  1845,  to  Mrs.  Eliza  Foster,  a  daughter  of  James-  Patrick,  They^ 
have  three  children:  Marsh,  Sallie,  and  George. 

R.  E.  COMER, 

farmer,  section  25,  was  born  in  Cole  County,.  Missouri,  May  i,  1837,  and 
was  the  son  of  Mark  and  Edna  (Elliott)  Comer.  When  he  was  about 
two  years  old  his  parents  removed  to  Cooper  County,  where  he  passed 
his  youthful  days  and  attended  the  common  schools.  In  March,  1854, 
he  came  to  Henry  County  and  engaged  in  farming.  His  farm  now  con- 
tains eighty  acres,  all  in  cultivation  with  good  improvements,  orchard, 
etc.  Mr.  Comer  served  nine  months  in  the  Missouri  State  Militia  dur- 
ing the  late  war.  He  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  September  30^. 
1866,  he  was  married  to  Mrs.  Amanda  Barlow,  a  daughter  of  Jacob 
McFarland.  They  have  five  children:  Aldridge,  Emma  A.,  Frank,. 
Reuben  and  William, 

CHARLES  W.  DRAKE, 

druggist  at  Huntingdale,  was  born  in  Henry  County,  Missouri,  October 
22,  1848,  his  parents  being  Jesse  W.  and  Sallie  Drake,  nee  McCarty. 
Charles  divided  the  early  days  of  his  youth  between  working  on  a  farm 
and  attending  the  common  schools  in  the  county.  In  1880  he  embarked 
in  the  dry  goods  and  grocery  business  at  Huntingdale,  following  it  until 
becoming  engaged  in  the  drug  business.  In  188 1  he  was  appointed  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  and  in  1882  he  was  elected  constable.  February  4,. 
1869,  Mr.  Drake  married  Miss  Lucy  A.  Covington.  They  have  three 
children:  Hattie  A.,  William  C.  and  Harvey  W.  Mr.  D.  is  a  member  of 
the  M.  E.  Church  South.  He  belongs  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  fraternity,  and 
is  also  connected  with  Agricola  Lodge,  No.  343,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. 


666  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

JOHN  DUNAWAY, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  31,  is  a  son  of  Isaac  Dunaway,  who  was     | 
born  in  Clark  County,  Kentucky,  August  11,  1800.     His  father,  William     j 
Dunaway,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  a  soldier  of  the  revolution- 
ary war.     Isaac   Dunaway  come  from  Kentucky   to  Missouri   in    18 19, 
locating  in  Lafayette  County.     He   married  Miss  Rebecca  Howard,  a 
native  of  Tennessee,  who  is  now  deceased.     Her  husband  resides  with 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  was  born  in  Jackson  County,  Missouri,     1 
April  24,  1828.     When  he  was  one  year  old  the  family  moved  to  Johnson     ' 
County,  where  he  grew  up.     In   1844  he  went  to  Arkansas  and  followed     ' 
his  chosen  occupation  for  one  year,  and  later  in  Cedar  and  Bates  Coun-     , 
ties,  Missouri,  till    1849,  when  he  located  in   Henry   County,  where   he     ; 
now  owns  a  landed  estate  of  1,000  acres,  880  of  which  are  in  cultivation.     : 
It  is  one  of  the  best  stock  farms  in  the  county.     Mr.  Dunaway  devotes 
his  principal  interest  to  the  raising  of  stock.     November  26,  1846,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Zenba  Davis,  of  Bates  County,  Missouri.  She  died  Octo-     J 
ber  5,  1871,  leaving  a  family  of  ten  children,  Susan  J.,  Mary  E.,  William 
M.,  Jasper,  Malissa  M.,  (deceased),  Laura,  (deceased),  Cynthia,  Maranda, 
Leonard  and  Bell.     He  was  again  married  July  17,  1874,  to  Lucinda  J.     ] 
Cull,  of  Missouri.  ] 

JASPER  N.  DUNAWAY  | 

is  also  a  leading  farmer  and  stock  raiser  of  this  township.     His  father 
was  Isaac  Dunaway,  a  mention  of  whom  was  made  in  the  sketch  of  John     j 
Dunaway.     Our  subject  was  born  in  Johnson  County,  Missouri,  Septem- 
ber 8,  1841.     In  1844  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Arkansas,  remain- 
ing there  one  year,  and  in  1844  came  to  Henry  County,  where  he  was 
reared  and  educated.     He  has  since  been  engaged  in   farming  in  this 
county,  except  for   six  years,  while   in   Barton    County,  Missouri.     His 
farm  contains  180  acres,  most  of  it  being  in  cultivation,  and  he  is  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  prominent  stock  men  in  the  county.     He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Baptist  Church.     December  23,  1867,  Mr.  Dunaway  married    \ 
Miss  Matilda  Johnson,  of  Missouri.     They  have  three   children    living,     | 
Ada  O.,  Elva  D.  and  Edesa.     They  have  also  lost  four  children,  William 
T.,  Lulu  A.,  Alberta  and  Orestas.  ', 

S.  H.  ELLIOTT,  ' 

blacksmith,  merchant  and  farmer,  Shawnee  Mound,  was  born  in  Cooper 
County,  Missouri,  February  27,  1847,  his  parents  being  William  C.  and     : 
Sarah  D.  (Throckmorton)  Elliott,  the  former  of  Tennessee  and  the  lat-     ; 
ter  of  North  Carolina.     S.  H.  was  the  seventh  child  in  a  family  of  eleven 
children.     He  was  brought  up  and  educated   in   his  native  county,  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  66/ 

from  1862-4  was  employed  by  the  government  as  teamster.  In  1864  he 
enlisted  in  Company  H,  Forty-fifth  Missouri  Infantry,  and  was  dis- 
charged in  June,  i86s.  He  then  worked  at  the  blacksmith  trade  for  one 
year  in  Bates  County,  subsequently  moving  to  Calhoun,  Henry  County, 
where  he  followed  his  chosen  calling  till  1874.  Then  he  came  to 
Shawnee  Mound.  In  June,  1882,  he  embarked  in  the  hardware  business. 
He  also  is  the  owner  of  a  good  farm  of  seventy  acres.  August  ii,  1868, 
Mr.  Elliott  married  Miss  Mary  Y.  Clark,  who  was  born  in  Henry  County, 
Missouri,  February  28,  1843.  They  have  four  children,  Sarah  O.,  George 
W.,  John  H.  C.  and  Lena  J.  They  have  lost  two.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  are 
members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church.  He  belongs  to  the 
Masonic  Fraternity. 

JAMES  M.  FREEMAN,    • 

% 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  29,  is  a  son  of  Judge  James  Freeman, 
whose  parents,  Garratt  and  Nancy  (Compton)  Freeman,  were  natives  of 
Maryland.  He  was  born  in  Culpeper  County,  Virginia,  April  18,  1806. 
He  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  county,  receiving  a  common  school 
education,  and  in  1839  he  came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  where  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  March  11,  1844.  He  was  reared  as  a 
farmer's  boy,  also  being  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  his  occu- 
pation during  life  has  been  that  of  farming  and  stock  raising.  His  farm 
is  one  of  the  best  improved  in  the  township,  and  contains  520  acres. 
His  fine  frame  residence  was  built  in  188 1  at  a  cost  of  $2,000.  Mr.  Freeman 
is  one  of  the  leading  stock  feeders  in  the  township  and  is  now  feeding 
150  head  of  cattle.  He  also  has  some  fine  short  horns.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Missouri  State  Militia  during  the  late  war.  June  25,  1867,  he 
married  Miss  H.  A.  Drake.  Her  death  occurred  June  6,  1877,  and  she 
left  four  children:  James  W.,  Willie  R.,  Anna  and  Hattie  A.  Mr.  F. 
was  again  married  February  9,  1882,  to  Miss  Lucy  Howard.  She  was 
born  in  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  October  28,  1854.  He  is  connected 
with  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  fraternity. 

D.  T.  HAMPTON, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  17,  was  born  in  Clark  County,  Kentucky, 
October  i,  1835,  his  parents,  George  W.  and  Nancy  (Jones)  Hampton, 
also  being  natives  of  Kentucky.  In  1839  ^is  father  removed  to  Henry 
County,  Missouri,  where  D.  T.  grew  to  manhood,  receiving  a  common 
school  education.  From  the  age  of  twenty-one  until  he  was  twenty-four 
years  old  he  was  engaged  in  school  teaching.  In  1858  he  was  employed 
as  clerk  by  Kahn  Bros,  at  Huntingdale,  where  he  remained  until  1861. 
Then  he  enlisted  in  Captain  Stone's  company,  and  was  in  the  battles  of 
Dry  Wood,  Lexington  and  Lone  Jack.     At  the  last  battle  he  received  a 


668  HISTORY    OF   HENRY    COUNTY.  , 

gun  shot  wound  in  the  thigh.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  was  lieutenant! 
in  Colonel  King's  regiment.  After  this  Mr.  Hampton  returned  to  Henry 
County  and  resumed  farming.  His  farm  now  contains  155  acres  of  well 
improved  land.  He  is  township  trustee  of  the  township  and  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Christian  Church.  December  18,  1866,  Mr.  H.  was  mar-j 
ried  to  Miss  Mary  S.  Lane,  a  native  of  Henry  County.  She  died  Novem- 
ber 10,  1880,  leaving  five  children:  Joseph  R.,  Lucy,  George  W.,  Nora 
O.  and  James  H.  He  was  again  married  December  27,  188 1,  to  Mrs. 
Melvina  Ross. 

L.  H.  HAMPTON,  ^ 

agriculturist  and  raiser  of  stock,  section  6,  is  the  son  of  George  W. 
Hampton,  who  was  born  in  Clark  County,  Kentucky,  September,  i8i2.| 
His  parents,  David  and  Mary  (Bryant)  Hampton,  were  natives  of  North, 
Carolina.  January  9,  1834,  George  W.  Hampton  was  married  to  Miss 
Nancy  Jones,  of  New  York.  He  came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  iri: 
1839,  and  here  L.  H.  Hampton  was  born,  November  27,  1839.  He  has 
during  life  lived  in  his  native  county,  making  farming  his  occupation.! 
He  now  owns  245  acres  of  land  in  Johnson  County  and  270  acres  in 
Henry  County.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  Capt.  Gillits  company  and  was; 
with  Gen.  Joe  Shelby,  in  the  battles  of  Cross  Hollow,  Springfield  and 
Fayetteville,  Arkansas.  He  was  captured  in  Illinois  and  placed  iiij 
prison  at  St.  Louis,  where  he  was  confined  at  the  close  of  the  war.  Hei 
is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  fraternity.  April  16,  1871,  Mr.  Hampton 
was  married  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Hodges,  a  native  of  Johnson  County,  Mis-j 
souri,  born  February  14,  1855,  she  died  June  31,  1881,  leaving  three! 
children:  William,  David  and  Louis. 

SAMUEL  G.  INGRUM, 

•  .  .  .  I 

contractor  and  builder  at  Huntingdale,  is  the  son   of  Hugh  Ingrum,  a! 

native  of  North  Carolina,  whose  father  was  Walter  Ingrum.  The  mother 

of  Samuel,  previous  to  her  marriage,  was  Malinda  Kennady,  a  Virginian 

by  birth.     Samuel  was  born  in  Washington  County,  Virginia,  December^ 

28,  1841.     He  was  there  reared  on  a  farm  and   educated,   and   June   21, j 

1861,  enlisted  in  Company  I,   Forty-eighth  Virginia  Infantry,   serving 

under  Stonewall  Jackson.     He  participated  in  many  important  battles, 

and  surrendered  in  March,  1864,  at  Cumberland  Gap.     In  the  same  year] 

he  went  to  Lexington,  Kentucky,  where  he  was  engaged  in  contracting 

and    building,  till    1879,  when  he  moved   to  Henry  County,   Missouri. i 

Here  he  has  since  resided.     January   13,  1866,  Mr.   Ingrum  was   married] 

to  Miss  Bettie  Collins,  a  native  of  Washisgton   County,   Virginia,   born; 

August  10,  1840.     They  have  five  children  living:     Samuel  L.,  James  L., 

Charles,  Hester  A.  and  Katie,  and  have   lost   one,  Nannie  D.     Mr.  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  669 

Mrs.  Ingrum  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  he  belongs  to  the  I. 
O.  O.  F.,  in  which  lodge  he  is  deputy  grand  master. 

FRANCIS  M.  LAND, 

farmer,  stock  raiser  and  carpenter,  section  36,  was  born  in  Washington 
County,  Illinois,  September  20,  1848.  His  father,  Thomas  Land,  was  a 
native  of  Illinois,  and  a  son  of  Aaron  Land,  a  Virginian  by  birth.  His 
mother's  maiden  name  was  Lydia  Harggamon,  originally  from  Tennes- 
see. The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  and  educated  in  Illinois,  and 
worked  at  carpentering  in  that  state  until  1867,  when  he  removed  to 
Henry  County,  Missouri.  Here  he  followed  his  chosen  calling  for  one 
year.  Since  that  time  he  has  given  his  attention  to  farming,  stock  rais- 
ing and  carpentering.  His  farm  embraces  227  acres,  160  acres  of  which 
are  in  cultivation,  and  will  average  with  any  in  the  county.  Mr.  Land 
is  a  member  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church.  He  was  married 
to  Miss  Martha  A.  Thomas,  a  native  of  Henry  County,  November  17, 
1871.  They  have  three  children,  Minnie,  Nathan  and  Francis  C.  They 
lost  one  child,  Alphus. 

J.  HARVEY  McCANN, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  4,  a  native  of  Muskingum  County,  Ohio, 
was  born  November  4,  1835,  and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Caroline  (Irvin) 
McCann,  the  former  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  son  of  James  McCann, 
who  came  originally  from  Ireland.  His  father,  John  McCann,  was  born 
in  Scotland.  Caroline  McCann  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  and  of 
Scotch  ancestry.  Young  McCann  was  the  second  of  a  family  of  thirteen 
children.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  Ohio,  and  was  there  educated,  and  in 
1857  he  went  to  Watson,  Illinois,  where  he  was  employed  as  an  educator 
for  five  years.  After  this  time  he  followed  farming  till  1867,  when  he 
moved  to  Henry  County.  Missouri,  where  he  now  has  a  farm  of  127 
acres.  Since  1868  he  has  held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace,  and  has 
ever  taken  great  interest  in  educational  matters.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  fraternity.  September  27,  1859,  Mr.  McCann  was  married 
to  Miss  Eliza  McKee,  of  Ohio.  She  died  December  3,  1879,  leaving  four 
children,  Edgar,  Elmer,  Clarence  and  Clara.  He  was  again  married  Jan- 
nary  26,  1881,  to  Miss  Sallie  Callaway,  a  native  of  Tennessee. 

F.  M..  MAIZE, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  34,  was  born  in  Cape  Girardeau  County, 
Missouri,  June  24,  1825.  His  parents  were  George  W.  and  Arminta 
(Hayes)  Maize,  the  former  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  latter  of 
Missouri.  When  F.  M.  was  fourteen  years  old  they  removed  to  Buch- 
anan County,  Missouri,  where  he  grew  to  manhood,  there   attending  the 


6/0  HISTORY   OI'    HENRV    COUNTY.  '. 

common  schools.      In   1847  he   located  in   Nodaway  County,  and  was  , 
engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising  until  1865,  when  he  came  to  Henry  , 
County.     His  landed  estate  now  contains  325  acres  in  a  high    state  of  ' 
cultivation.     In  the  fall  of  1861  he  enlisted  in  Captain  Burns'  Company, 
under  General  Price  and  remained  with  them  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
In  March,  1847,  Mr.  Maize  married  Miss  Rosana  Cox,  a  Kentuckian   by  I 
birth.  She  died  in  1855,  leaving  four  children:  Bettie  (deceased),  George  ' 
W.,  Mintie  and  Joseph.     In   1856  he  was  again   married  to  Miss  Sarah  i 
Lawson,  who  died  in  1866,  and  on  January  8,  1867,  Mr.  M.  married  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Neal,  a  daughter  of  William  Howerton.    They  have  five  child-  , 
ren  :     Elmer,  Rosia,  Lee,  Leonard  and  Walter.  1 

V.  J.  MOORE, 

is  a  leading  merchant  and  the  postmaster  of  Huntingdale.     The  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  born  in   Simpson    County,   Kentucky,  September  24, 
1824.     His  father,  John  Moore,  a  native  of  Virginia,  was  a  son  of  Thomas 
Moore,  an  old  Revolutionary  soldier.     Mary  A.  Christman  was  the  mai- 
den name  of  the  mother  of  V.  J.,  and  she  was   a   Kentuckian   by  birth. 
John  Moore  and  his  family  moved  to  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  in  1828.  ' 
Young  Moore  was  reared  and  educated  in  Illinois  on  a  farm  and  there 
followed  agricultural  pursuits  till  i855,  when  he  came  to  Henry  County, 
Missouri.     Here  he  resumed  the  same  occupation,  now  having  a  farm  of  I 
240   acres.      He  began  merchandising  at   Huntingdale   in   September, 
1881,  at  which  time  he  was  appointed  postmaster.     He  is  a  member  of 
the  M.  E.  Church,  and  also  is   connected  with  the    Masonic   fraternity. 
March  8,  1845,  Mr.  Moore  was  married  to  Miss  Benie  Husk}^  a  native  of  1 
Alabama.     She  died  in  1856,  leaving  two  children,  Milo  C.  and  Clarinda  | 
C,   the  latter   now   deceased.     Mr.    M.    was   married  again  in    1857,  to   < 
Rhoda   C.  Pinkerton,  by  whom  he  has  seven  children  living:  Uriah  P.,   1 
John   H.,  Mary  J.,  Edwin    P.,  Malinda  M.,  Littie  E.  and  William  V.  P.   ' 
They  have  lost  three  children.  I 

JOHN  L.  MOORE,  \ 

merchant  at  Shawnee  Mound,  is  a  son  of  P.  W.  Moore,  who  was  born  in   1 
Butler  County,  Kentucky,  September   16,    1829.     His   father,  James  L.    { 
Moore,  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  a  son   of  Samuel  L.  Moore,  orig-   j 
inally  of  the  same  state.     P.  W.  Moore  grew   to  manhood  in  his  native 
county,  where  he  was  interested  in  farming  until   1855,  then  coming  to 
Henry  County,  Missouri.     Here  he  has  since  followed  the  occupation  of 
farming.     November  25,  1856,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Miriam  E.  Casey, 
of  Kentucky.     She  died  March  10,  1862,  leaving  three  children,  John  L.,   '' 
Martha  P.  and  Robert  E.   now  deceased.     He  was  again  married  in  1865    : 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  67 1 

to  Miss  Mary  Croswhiet,  also  a  native  of  Kentucky.  They  have  five 
children,  Amanda  E.,  Thomas  W.,  Alice,  Lulu  and  Samuel  F.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Henry  County,  Missouri,  January  28, 
1858.  He  spent  his  youth  on  his  father's  farm,  and  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools  of  the  county,  and  in  January,  1883,  he 
engaged  in  the  hardware  and  implement  business  at  Shawnee  Mound 
with  S.  H.  Elliott.  They  carry  an  excellent  stock  of  goods,  and  are 
doing  a  thriving  business. 

JAMES  L.  PAGE, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  26,  was  born  in  Logan  County,  Ken- 
tucky, April  18,  1835,  being  the  son  of  Lemuel  J.  and  Susan  (Thomas) 
Page,  natives  of  Virginia.  His  youth  was  divided  between  working  on 
a 'farm  and  attending  the  common  schools  of  Kentucky.  In  1855  he 
came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in 
farming,  except  for  three  years  during  the  war,  when  in  Hancock  County, 
Illinois.  July  16,  1857,  Mr.  Page  was  married  to  Miss  Marthy  Levy,  a 
native  of  Illinois.  They  have  two  children  living,  Laura  and  James  L., 
and  have  lost  one  daughter,  Susan.  Mr.  Page  is  a  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist Church. 

WILLIAM  PAUL, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  32,  was  born  in  Hardin  County,  Ken- 
tucky, July  5,  1820.  His  father,  George  S.  Paul,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
was  born  in  1766,  and  was  in  the  battle  of  New  Orleans,  which  was  fought 
on  the  8th  day  of  January,  181 5.  His  death  occured  in  1837.  Elizabeth 
Purcell  was  the  maiden  name  of  William's  mother.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  the  second  of  a  family  of  seven  children.  He  remained  on 
his  father's  farm  in  Kentucky  until  February  5,  1842,  when  he  came  to 
Henry  County,  Missouri,  settling  on  the  farm  which  G.  M.  Casey  now 
occupies.  In  1845  he  purchased  his  present  place  and  commenced  its 
improvement.  It  contains  610  acres  of  as  good  land  as  there  is  in  the 
township,  all  well  improved,  with  good  houses,  barns  and  orchards.  He 
is  now  feeding  three  car  loads  of  cattle.  Mr.  Paul  has  held  the  office  of 
justice  of  the  peace  for  thirty  years,  and  was  the  first  commissioner  of 
Shawnee  Township.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity 
for  thirty-three  years.  April  10,  185 1,  he  married  Miss  Millie  A.  Casey, 
a  native  of  Kentucky.  Her  death  occurred  February,  1852.  He  was 
again  married  March  26,  1856,  to  Miss  Angatela  Barker,  of  Missouri.  She 
died  May  i,  1873,  leaving  four  children:  John,  Samuel,  James  and  Rich- 
ard. They  had  lost  four:  George,  William,  Benona,  Elizabeth.  Mr.  P. 
is  connected  with  the  M.  E.  Church. 


^2  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

SAMUEL  M.  REYNOLDS, 

postmaster  and  junior  member  of  the  prominent  firm  of  Wall  &  Rey- 
nolds, general  merchants  at  Shawnee  Mound,  is  the  son  of  Samuel  Rey- 
nolds, Esq.,  whose  father,  John  Reynolds,  was  a  native  of  North  Caro- 
lina. The  mother  of  our  subject,  formerly  Ella  Fewell,  came  originally 
from  North  Carolina.  Samuel  M.  was  the  second  of  a  family  of  three 
children.  He  was  reared  in  the  county  of  his  birth,  and  was  educated 
in  the  Fayette  College  and  State  University.  After  completing  his 
education  he  returned  to  the  home  farm,  upon  which  he  remained  until 
June,  1882,  when  he  embarked  in  business  at  Shawnee  Mound.  In  the 
same  month  he  received  the  appointment  of  postmaster  of  the  place. 

E.  C.  ROYSTON, 

physician  and  surgeon,  Huntingdale,  was  born  in  Caroline  County,  Vir- 
ginia, March  4,  1830,  being  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Susanna  (Thornton) 
Royston,  natives  of  Virginia.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  sev- 
enth of  a  family  of  twelve  children.  In  November,  1839,  his  parents 
•removed  to  Marion  County,  Missouri,  where  his  mother  died  in  1841. 
The  same  year  his  father  came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri.  E.  C.  received 
liis  education  in  the  common  schools  of  Missouri,  and  when  nineteen 
years  old  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  R.  T.  Thornton,  of 
Jackson  County,  Missouri.  He  read  with  him  until  1850;  then  visited 
■California  and  followed  mining  until  1852,  when  he  returned  to  Missouri. 
He  clerked  in  a  store  in  Clinton  until  March,  1853,  and  at  that  time 
again  took  up  the  study  of  medicine  in  the  office  of  Dr.  Salmon.  He 
■continued  this  until  1854,  when  he  entered  the  St.  Louis  Medical  Col- 
lege. In  March,  1855,  he  located  southwest  of  Clinton  and  practiced 
until  November  of  the  same  year,  when  he  settled  near  Huntingdale.  In 
1868  he  moved  into  that  place.  In  October,  1872,  he  returned  to  the  St. 
Louis  Medical  College,  and  was  graduated  in  March,  1873.  The  doctor 
"has  a  very  fine  frame  residence  here,  built  in  1878  at  a  cost  of  $2,000. 
He  was  assistant  surgeon  in  the  Missouri  State  Guard  for  six  months 
during  the  war  and  surgeon  in  the  First  Regiment  of  Missouri  Rovers 
for  twelve  months.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  July  24,  1854, 
Dr.  Royston  was  married  to  Mrs.  Eliza  J.  Drake,  a  daughter  of  F.  A. 
and  Sallie  (McCarty)  Pernell.  She  was  born  in  V^irginia  November  15, 
1827,  and  came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  with  her  parents  in  1834. 
There  she  married  Jesse  Drake  August  16,  1845.  His  death  occurred 
■October  23,  1850.  They  had  two  children,  Harriet  and  Charles  W.  The 
■doctor  and  his  wife  have  four  children:  Ida  Belle,  Eddie  A.,  William  P. 
and  Sallie.  William  Royston  is  a  graduate  of  the  St.  Louis  Medical 
College. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  673 

JOSEPH  SHARP, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  3,  was  born  in  Scotland,  March  2,  182 1, 
his  parents  being  Robert  and  Elizabeth  (Hair)  Sharp,  natives  of  Scot- 
land. Joseph  was  the  third  in  a  family  of  six  children.  He  grew  to 
manhood  in  his  native  country  and  was  there  educated.  In  1848  he  emi- 
grated to  America  and  located  in  Bond  County,  Illinois,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  farming  until  1865,  then  coming  to  Henry  County,  Missouri. 
He  owns  a  well  improved  farm  of  260  acres,  upon  which  is  a  good  house, 
an  orchard  and  out  buildings.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Old  School  Pres- 
byterian Church.  December  25,  1847,  Mr.  Sharp  was  married  to  Miss 
Ellen  Scott,  who  was  also  born  in  Scotland.  She  died  in  October,  1862, 
leaving  five  children:  Jane  A.,  Robert,  Frank,  Elizabeth  and  Mary  (now 
deceased). 

SAMUEL  M.  THOMPSON, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  35.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born 
in  Henry  County,  Missouri,  January  13,  1850.  His  father,  Harrison  Thomp- 
son, was  a  native  of  Indiana,  and  a  son  of  Samuel  Thompson.  His 
mother's  maiden  name  was  Ella  Gillit,  of  Missouri.  S.  M.  was  reared  in 
this  county  and  was  educated  in  our  common  schools.  When  twenty 
years  old  he  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising,  which  occupation  he 
has  since  followed.  His  farm  contains  140  acres  of  land  that  will  aver- 
age with  any  in  the  county,  and  upon  it  is  a  good  orchard.  Mr.  T.  has 
held  the  office  of  township  clerk  and  assesor.  He  is  a  member  of  Agri- 
cola  Lodge  No.  343,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  Carr.sville  Lodge  No.  281,  I.  O. 
O.  F.,  and  the  Encampment.  February  3,  1876,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Fannie  Quarles.  She  was  born  in  Marion  County,  Missouri,  January 
2S,  1854.     They  have  two  children,  Nellie  and  John. 

JACOB  TINGLER, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  i,  was  born  in  Muskingum  County,  Ohio, 
February  27,  1827,  and  was  the  son  of  Frederick  and  Lydia  (Dunham) 
Tingler,  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  Jacob  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native 
county  and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  the  vicinity.  In 
1855  he  went  to  Iowa,  where  he  followed  farming  until  1867,  then  com- 
ing to  Henry  County,  Missouri.  Here  he  has  since  been  interested  in 
farming  and  stock  raising.  Mr.  T.  is  truly  a  self-made  man,  starting  in 
the  world  a  poor  boy.  By  his  own  energy  he  is  now  one  of  the  promi- 
nent men  of  the  county.  His  farm  is  one  of  the  best  improved  in  the 
township  and  contains  300  acres,  surrounded  and  subdivided  with  good 
fences.  In  August,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Company  I,  Twentieth  Iowa, 
and  was  discharged  in  July,  1865.     February  15,  1870,  Mr.  Tingler  was 


674  HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 

married  to  Macila  Whitermack,  a  daughter  of  P.  Whitermack.     She  was 
born  in  Indiana  May  24,  1845.  ! 

JAMES  W.  WALL,  i 

1 

of  the  firm  of  Wall  &   Reynolds,   merchants  at  Shawnee   Mound,   was 
born  in  Henry  County,  Missouri,  September  22,  1851.     His  father,  James 
Wall,    was    a    native    of    North    Carolina,    and    a    son    of    William    M. 
Wall,    of    the    same    state.     His    mother's    maiden    name    was     Mary 
J.    Fewell,    of   North    Carolina.     The  subject    of  this    sketch   was    the 
oldest  of  a  family  of  six  children.     His  youth  was  spent  on  a  farm  in    ^ 
this  county,  and  he  attended  for  some  time  the  common  schools.     Sub-     i 
sequently  he  followed  farming  here  until  1876,  when  he  was  employed  as     ' 
salesman  in  a  store  in  Calhoun.     In  the  same  year  he  engaged  in   mer- 
chandising   at  Burnett's  store,  in  Johnson   County,  and    continued  the 
business  there  and  at  other  places  in  the  same  county  until   1880,  when 
he    returned    to    the    farm    and     lived    upon    it    till    July,    1881,     when 
he  established  himself  in  the  grocery  business  at  Calhoun,  and  in    1882 
he  started  in  business  at  Shawnee  Mound,  with  S.  M.  Reynolds.     They 
carry  a  large  stock  of  general  merchandise,  and   are   enjoying  a  most    ] 
remunerative  trade.     Mr.  Wall  also  owns  a  fine  farm  of  160  acres,  well 
improved,  with  good   house,   out   buildings,   etc.     Besides   this   he   pos-     ! 
sesses  town  property  in  Calhoun.     He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity.    August  14,  1872,  he  married  Miss  Emma  O.  Avery,  a  daughter 
of  Judge  William  Avery.     Her  death  occurred  January  7,  1875. 

JAMES  WEBB, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section   32,  was  born  in  the  city  of  Baltimore, 
Maryland,  May  25,  1821,  and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  Webb,  a  weaver  by  occu- 
pation and  a  native  of  England,  who  emigrated  to  America  in  1818.   His 
mother's  maiden    name  was  Ellen  Fletcher,  and  she    was  also  born   in 
England.     James  was  reared  and  educated   in  his  native  city  and  there    , 
learned  the  trade   of  machinist,   at   which   he  worked    in    Baltimore  till 
1842.  From  that  time  till  1848,  he  followed  the  same  ocupation  in  Spring- 
field, Pekin,  and  Beardstown,  Illinois.     Farming  then  received  his  atten- 
tion till  1867,  when  he  came  to  Henry  County,   Missouri,  where  he  now 
owns  a  farm  of  350  acres.     May  27,    1845,   Mr.   W.  was  married  to  Miss     '. 
Elizabeth  Elam,  a  native  of  Illinois.     They  have  nine  children:  Samuel 
A.,  Robert  H.,  Francis  A.,  Dora  A.,  Mary  E.,  Floda  A.,  Mira  T.,  Cora  J.,    | 
and  Malissa  K. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  675 


FIELDS'   CREEK   TOWNSHIP. 

• — "•>?— «^— — 00 — -^  ?<* 

LEWIS  C.  ALLEN, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  8,  was  born  in  Cumberland  County, 
Kentucky,  March  18,  183 1,  being  a  son  of  George  and  Parmelia  (Criss- 
man)  Allen.  The  former  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia, was  born  April  23,  1787,  and  when  a  mere  boy  accompanied  his 
parents  to  Kentucky  where  he  was  reared,  educated  and  married.  His 
death  occurred  January  31,  1858.  Mrs.  Allen  came  originally  from  Cum- 
berland County,  Kentucky,  where  she  was  born  March  14,  1798.  She 
died  September  4,  1835,  leaving  a  family  of  eight  children:  Mary,  Nor- 
man, Martha,  Albert,  Alfred,  Robert,  Lewis  C.  and  James  C.  George 
Allen  was  married  the  second  time  to  Hettie  Hillis,  and  to  them  were 
born  four  children.  Lewis  C.  was  brought  up  as  a  farmer  boy  in  his 
native  county,  and  was  also  educated  there,  first  starting  out  in  life  for 
himself  as  an  agriculturist.  In  1858  he  removed  to  Missouri,  settling  in 
Linn  County,  where  he  improved  a  farm,  and  in  the  fall  of  1866  came  to 
Henry  County.  He  now  owns  190  acres  of  well  watered  and  improved 
land,  the  result  of  his  own  industry  and  good  management.  Mr.  Allen 
was  married  March  17,  ^853,  to  Miss  Fannie  Pace,  of  Lewis  County,  Mis- 
souri, born  March  13,  183 1.  Her  parents  were  Thomas  and  Dosia  Pace 
nee  Williams,  both  Virginians  by  birth.  Her  father  was  born  December 
5,  1801,  and  her  mother,  October  15,  1803,  and  after  being  married  they 
settled  in  Cumberland  County,  Kentucky,  moving  thence  to  Lewis 
County,  Missouri,  in  1830.  In  1841  they  returned  to  Kentucky.  Mrs. 
Pace  died  May  3,  1841,  and  left  seven  children  :  William,  Sarah,  Joseph, 
Fannie,  Edward,  John  and  Henry.  Mr.  P.  is  still  living  in  Kentucky, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lewis  Allen  have  two  sons  living:  Albert  M.,born  Decem- 
ber 27,  1853,  and  James  M.,  born  November  5,  1859,  ^"d  one  Elmer, 
deceased.  Albert  was  married  February  8,  1877,  to  Miss  Nannie  White,, 
a  native  of  Pike  County,  Illinois.  They  have  one  child,  Ernest.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  A.  are  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 

ALBERT  M.  ALLEN, 

section  17,  is  among  the  prominent  young  farmers  and  stock  raisers  of 
Henry  County.  He  was  born  December  27,  1853,  in  Cumberland  County^ 
Kentucky,  his  father  being  L.  C.  Allen,  a  sketch  of  whose  life  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  work.     In  1858  Albert  came  to  Linn  County,  Missouri, 


^f]6  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUX'l  Y. 

with  his  parents,  where  the}-  remained  until  1866,  then  removing  to 
Henry  County.  Here  he  was  reared  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm, 
receiving  his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  the  county.  When  22 
years  old  he  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising.  His  farm  now  con- 
tains eighty  acres,  all  in  cultivation  and  well  improved,  upon  which  is  a 
good  young  orchard.  Mr.  A.  is  a  large  cattle  feeder  and  shipper.  Feb- 
ruary 8,  1877,  he  married  Miss  Nannie  White*  a  daughter  of  Joseph 
White.  They  have  one  child  living,  Ernest  M.,  born  December,  1881. 
They  have  lost  one  son,  Elmer  P.  Mr.  Allen  is  connected  with  the 
Cumberland  Presb}-terian  Church. 

DR.  GEORGE  M.  BRITTS. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  second  quarter  of  the  present  century,  the 
state  of  Indiana  was  a  comparatively  new  territory,  and  known  as  a  part 
of  the  Great  West,  which,  from  its  unsurpassed  fertility  and  the  advant- 
ages it  offered  for  settlement,  was  attracting  an  immense  emigration 
from  the  older  states,  especially  from  Virginia  and  Kentucky.  Among 
those  from  the  former  states  who  sought  a  fortune  in  the  new  Eldorado, 
was  John  Britts,  father  of  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch.  The  home 
\&  left  in  Virginia  was  near  Fincastle,  Botetourt  County,  in  the  Roan- 
oke Valley,  where  his  father,  Adam  Britts,  a  native  of  Prussia,  had  set- 
tled about  the  middle  of  the  last  century.  John  Britts' famih'  consisted 
of  ten  children,  five  boys  and  five  girls:  Elizabeth  (married  to  John 
Myers),  Samuel,  Catherine  (John  Myers'  second  wife),  Margaret,  died 
young,  Joel,  John,  David,  George  M.,  born  September  11,  1812,  Mary 
(married  to  James  Foster),  Sarah  (married  to  Allen  Harrison).  From 
the  oldest  to  the  youngest  in  the  order  named,  all  came  west  with  their 
parents  in  1832,  and  settling  near  Ladoga,  Montgomery  County,  Indiana, 
coming  overland  down  the  great  Kanawha  Valley  to  Gallipolis;  thence 
through  Dayton,  Ohio,  and   on  to  their   new  home. 

About  the  same  year,  1S32,  Dr.  Henry  Rogers,  who  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 9,  1792,  and  married  June  5.  18 17,  to  Elizabeth  Mackey  Reid,  emi- 
grated from  near  Winchester,  Clark  County,  Kentucky,  and  settled  in 
Montgomery  County,  Indiana.  His  family  consisted  of  four  sons  and 
txvo  daughters:  John  Alexander  Rogers,  born  March  29,  1818;  William 
Burgess  Rogers,  born  March  29,  1819;  Mary  Jane  Rogers,  born  November 
27,  1820;  Sophia  Ann  Rogers,  born  February  12,  1822;  George  Reid  Rog- 
ers, born  January  27,  1823,  and  Thomas  S}'denham  Rogers,  born  Febru- 
ary 18.  1824. 

The  heads  of  these  two  families  were  neighbors  and  friends  at  this 
early  day,  and  the  families  were  more  closely  united  by  the  marriage  of 
Geo.  M.  Britts  and  Mary  I.Rogers  Dec.  10,  1835.  From  this  union  there 
were  six  children,  all  living  at  this  date.    John  Henry,  born  Nov  i,  1836, 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  677 

named  after  his  two  grandfathers.  Susan  Elizabeth,  born  February  5th, 
1839,  single,  named  for  her  two  grandmothers.  Sarah  Jane,  born  Jan- 
uary 19th,  1842,  married  to  Elijah  Reid,  of  Cass  County,  Missouri. 
Sophia  Alice,  born  December  9th,  1844,  married  to  Herman  J.  Huiskampi, 
Keokuk,  Iowa.  Mary  Isabell,  born  December  20th,  1848,  and  married 
to  Emerson  Harris,  Henry  County,  Missouri,  and  Georgie  Ann  Britts, 
born  January  3d,  1855,  married  to  Frank  Taylor,  of  Henry  County,  Mis- 
souri. Immediately  after  his  marriage  George  M.  Britts  began  the  study 
of  medicine  witn  his  father-in-law,  which  calling  he  has  followed  con- 
tinuously to  the  present  day,  though  without  the  advantage  of  an  edu- 
cation in  a  medical  college.  He,  by  virtue  of  native  talent  and  ability, 
has  obtained  an  honorable  position  in  his  profession,  and  enjoyed  an 
extensive  practice,  and  is  now  in  his  seventieth  year  and  in  vigorous 
health.  In  the  fall  of  1842  Dr.  Henry  Rogers'  family,  his  son  John  A. 
Rogers,  married  to  Catharine  Gorman,  Dr.  George  M.  Britts,  wife  and 
his  then  two  children,  and  two  families  by  the  name  of  Arnett,  in  all 
five  families,  emigrated  from  Indiana  and  settled  in  Henry  County,  Mis- 
souri, Dr.  Henry  Rogers  locating  in  Clinton.  Dr.  John  A.  Rogers  in  the 
Parks  neighborhood,  twelve  miles  east  of  Clinton,  and  Dr.  G,  M.  Britts 
at  Calhoun,  where  he  lived  the  remainder  of  1842-3,  and  then  in  the 
summer  of  1843  moved  to  Clinton.  In  a  few  months  after  their  arrival 
in  Missouri  Dr.  Henry  Rogers  lost  his  wife,  who  died  at  her  brother's, 
John  Reid's,  house  January  19th,  1843,  and  is  buried  in  the  family 
grounds,  three  miles  southeast  of  Clinton.  This  misfortune  and  the  idea 
that  the  climate  was  not  healthy  rendered  Dr.  Rogers  dissatisfied.  He 
remained  at  Clinton  in  the  practice  of  medicine  till  August,  1843,  when 
he  determined  to  return  to  Indiana  on  a  visit,  taking  with  him  his 
daughter  Sophia  and  youngest  son.  After  reaching  his  old  home  he  was 
married  September  26th,  1843,  to  Mrs.  Jane  Kirkpatrick,  and  decided 
never  to  return  to  Missouri. 

This  was  a  great  disappointment  to  the  family  as  most  of  them, 
desired  to  remain  in  Missouri  and  make  it  their  future  home,  but  rather 
than  have  the  family  separated,  especially  the  two  daughters,  all  in 
1844,  except  Dr.  John  A.  Rogers  and  family,  returned  to  the  old  home- 
stead in  Indiana,  where  Dr.  Britts  lived  until  1857,  when  he  once  more 
retraced  his  steps  to  Henry  County,  Missouri.  Here  he  has  since  lived., 
lollowing  his  chosen  profession  with  a  good  degree  of  success. 

WILLIAM  H.  CHILDERS, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  2,  is  a  native  of  Henry  County,  Missouri, 
and  was  born  December  30,  1842.  His  father,  Washington  Childers, 
originally  of  Logan  County,  Kentucky,  came  to  Henry  County,  Mis- 
souri, in  1842.     He  married  Miss  Catharine  Yates,  also  a  Kentuckian  by 


6/8  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

birth.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  his  youth  on'  the  farm  in  this 
county,  and  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools.  He  followed 
agricultural  pursuits  until  January  i,  1862,  when  he  enlisted  in  Captain 
Beaty's  company.  He  was  in  a  number  of  important  battles,  and  sur- 
rendered at  Shreveport,  Louisiana.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he 
returned  to  Henry  County,  where  he  has  since  continued  to  till  the  soil, 
and  also  the  raising  of  stock.  His  farm  contains  eighty  acres  of  good 
land,  well  improved,  upon  which  is  a  fine  orchard,  and  he  is  feeding 
thirty  head  of  cattle.  Mr.  Childers  was  married  November  24,  1866,  to 
Miss  Martha  Webster,  who  was  born  in  North  Carolina.  They  have 
four  children,  John  H.,  Lillia,  MoUie  and  William  P.  He  is  connected 
with  the  Baptist  Church. 

D.  R.  CLARK, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  8,  owes  his  nativity  to  Estill  County, 
Kentucky,  where  he  was  born  May  26,  1842,  being  the  son  of  William 
Clark,  a  farmer  and  moulder  by  occupation,  and  a  native  of  Virginia. 
His  mother's  maiden  name  was  Marion  McKiney,  and  she  was  a  Ken- 
tuckian  by  birth.  Mr.  Clark  died  in  1868.  Mrs.  C.  is  still  living  in  Mis- 
souri. D.  R.  was  the  ninth  of  a  family  of  fifteen  children.  His  youth 
was  passed  on  the  farm  in  Kentucky,  and  when  twenty  years  old  he 
engaged  in  farming.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  Company  C,  Seventh  Ken- 
tucky Cavalry,  remaing  in  the  service  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was 
captured  in  Ohio,  and  spent  about  eighteen  months  of  the  time  in  prison 
at  Camp  Morton  and  Camp  Douglass.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he 
returned  to  Kentucky,  and  was  located  there  until  1868,  when  he  came 
to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  and  here  he  has  since  resided,  following 
farming  and  stock  raising.  His  farm  contains  202  acres  of  good  land 
and  well  improved,  with  a  fine  residence,  barn  and  orchard.  Mr.  C.  is 
one  of  the  largest  stock  feeders  in  the  township,  and  usually  feeds  about 
100  head,  and  he  owns  some  fine  stock.  He  is  a. member  of  Tebo  Lodge, 
No.  68,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.  July  22,  1862,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Celia 
Kimbrell,  who  was  born  in  the  State  of  Kentucky,  December,  1837. 
Her  death  occurred  August  26,  1882,  and  she  left  two  charming  daugh- 
ters: Alice  D.,  and  Fannie  R. 

ALBERT  COWDEN, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  7.  was  born  in  Boone  County,  Missouri, 
February  27,  1847,  his  parents  being  Robert  A.  and  Catherine  (Steffy) 
Cowden,  natives  of  Virginia.  He  was  the  fifth  of  a  family  of  seven 
children.  His  youth  was  spent  on  his  father's  farm  and  in  attending  the 
district  schools  of  this  county,  and  after  arriving  at  his  majority  he 
engaged   in  farming.     In  1867  he  removed  to  Henry  County,  Missouri, 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  679 

and  has  since  resided  here,  following  farming  and  stock  raising.  He  owns 
150  acres  of  land,  of  which  140  acres  ^re  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation, 
and  upon  it  is  a  fine  residence,  built  in  1879.  I"  the  spring  of  1864  Mr. 
C.  enlisted  in  Captain  Ballard's  Company,  General  Price's  Army,  with 
whom  he  remained  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church.  March  29,  1877,  Mr.  Cowden  married  Miss  Laura  Cov- 
ington, a  native  of  Henry  County,  Missouri,  born  October  2,  1859.  They 
have  two  children,  Owen  and  Charley. 

N.  A.  FIELDS. 

farmer,  section  31,  is  a  pioneer  of  this  county,  having  came  here  May  10, 
1834,  and  he  is  now  the  oldest  settler  in  Fields'  Creek  Township.  He  was 
born  in  Grayson  County,  Virginia,  February  24,  1812,  and  was  a  son  of 
Joseph  and  Margaret  (Hash)  Fields.  The  former,  a  native  of  Guilford 
County,  North  Carolina,  was  born  in  1761  and  died  in  1844.  He  went 
to  Grayson  County,  Virginia,  when  a  young  man,  and  was  there  married 
in  1780.  His  wife  was  born  in  that  county  in  1764,  and  was  there  reared. 
They  had  a  family  of  twelve  children.  In  1834  N.  A.  Fields  accompanied 
his  parents  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  settling  where  he  now  resides. 
He  was  the  first  deputy  sheriff  of  Henry  County,  Missouri,  appointed  by 
the  governor  of  the  state.  He  early  entered  about  1,600  acres  of  land, 
and  now  owns  some  700  acres.  Mr.  F.  was  married  April  27,  1837,  to 
Miss  Mary  E.  Graham,  a  native  of  Smythe  County,  Virginia,  born  Decem- 
ber 9,  1816,  and  her  parents  were  Robert  and  Catherine  (Crockett) 
Graham,  both  originally  from  Virginia,  who  settled  in  Johnson  County, 
Missouri,  in  1833,  where  they  died.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  F.  have  a  family  of 
eight  children,  Margaret  C,  Mary  M.,  Amanda,  Selest,  Helen  G.,  Telitha 
G.,  James  E.  and  Sarah  E.  They  have  lost  three,  Robert  G.,  Joseph  and 
an  infant. 

W.  H.  GRANT, 

farmer,  section  24,  is  the  owner  of  a  farm  consisting  of  90  acres  of 
improved  land,  underlaid  by  a  strata  of  good  coal  forty  inches  thick. 
He  is  a  native  of  Lafayette  County,  Missouri,  born  August  4,  1840.  His 
parents  were  Vincent  O.  and  Sarah  A.  (Burks)  Grant,  the  former  of 
Genessee  County,  New  York,  was  born  July  24,  18 12,  and  was  a  son  of 
John  and  Mary  (Osgood)  Grant,  natives  of  New  York.  Vincent  O.  was 
reared  in  his  native  state,  and  later  went  to  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin,  with 
his  parents,  and  while  there  served  as  sheriff  for  two  years.  He  was  a 
carpenter  by  trade,  and  in  1836  moved  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and  in 
1837  to  Glasgow.  There  he  was  married  October  9,  1839,  his  wife  having 
been  born  in  Jackson  County,  Alabama,  October  31,  1818.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  William  and  Sallie   (Frost)   Burks,  of  that  state,  and  with 


680  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

the  family  settled  in  Boone  County,  Missouri,  in  1827.  They  came  to 
Henry  County  in  1842,  where  they  died.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
located  in  Clinton  Township,  Henry  County,  Missouri,  in  1841,  moving- 
to  where  he  now  resides  in  1871.  His  father  died  March  17,  1880,  leav- 
ing three  children,  W.  H.,  Thankful  Ann  and  Thomas  A.  His  mother 
still  survives.  W.  H.  Grant  was  married  November  8,  i860,  to  Miss 
Emily  A.  Childers,  a  native  of  Logan  County,  Kentucky,  born  August 
17,  1838.  She  was  a  daughter  of  George  W.  and  Cassandra  (Yeates) 
Childers,  who  were  born  and  reared  in  Adair  County.  The  father  was 
born  in  1814,  and  died  September  18,  1882,  while  the  mother,  who  was 
born  in  1813,  died  in  1854.  They  settled  in  Henry  County,  Missouri,  in 
1841.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  G.  have  a  family  of  four  children  living:  Charles 
H.,  Anna  A.,  Mary  F.  and  Sarah  A.  They  have  lost  three,  Thomas  B., 
William  and  an  infant.  Mr.  Grant  served  in  the  late  war  as  a  member 
of  the  Eighth  Regiment  Missouri  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  is  a  Mason 
in  good  standing,  belonging  to  Tebo  Lodge  at  Clinton. 

F.  C.  HOLLAND,  . 

farmer,  section  32,  is  one  of  Henry  County's  earliest  pioneers,  having- 
come  to  the  county  in  1837  with  his  parents,  Whitemill  and  Jane  (Alex- 
ander) Holland,  they  settling  near  Brownington.  He  is  a  native  of 
Trigg  County,  Kentucky,  and  was  born  January  15,  1819.  His  father 
was  born  in  North  Carolina  in  1794  and  was  married  in  Kentucky,  Mrs. 
H.  being  a  native  of  that  state.  They  had  a  family  of  nine  children,  ot 
whom  F.  C.  was  the  eldest.  He  was  married  December  6,  1849,  in  Mis- 
souri to  Miss  Eliza  A.  Arnett,  who  came  orginally  from  Bath  County, 
Kentucky,  born  April  8,  1823.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Ahi  and  Parmelia 
(Evans)  Arnett,  both  Kentuckians  by  birth.  The  former  was  born  in 
1800  and  the  latter  in  1802.  To  them  were  born  ten  children,  and  of 
these  Eliza  was  the  eldest.  The  family  moved  to  Montgomery  County, 
Illinois,  and  later  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  in  1842.  Mr.  Holland  and 
his  wife  settled  in  Clinton  Township  after  their  marriage  and  remained 
there  till  1867,  then  moving  to  where  they  now  reside.  The  farm  con- 
sists of  eighty  acres  of  fine  land,  improved  and  well  watered.  They  have 
reared  a  large  family  of  children  and  are  known  for  their  kindness  to 
orphans.  They  have  lived  to  see  Henry  County  in  all  the  varied  stages 
of  her  growth,  and  during  the  late  war  afforded  relief  to  many  widows 
and  orphans.  They  are  both  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church. 

CONSTANTINE  KECK, 

farmer,  section  28,  owes  his  nativity  to  Germany,  where  he  was  born 
July  4,  1835,  his  parents  being  M.  J.  and  Margaret  Keck,  nee  Kerns,  also 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  68l 

originally  of  Germany.  The  latter  died,  leaving  a  family  seven  children: 
Michael,  Catharine.  Constantine,  Herman,  Carl,  Margaret  and  Kilean. 
The  senior  Keck,  subsequently  married  Miss  E.  C.  Lefler,  of  Germany.. 
By  this  union  there  were  two  children,  Anna  and  Isabel.  When  sixteen 
years  of  age,  Constantine  Keck  emigrated  to  America,  landing  at  New 
Orleans,  going  thence  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and  finally  he  located  at 
Boonville.  In  1863  he  came  to  Henry  County,  and  during  the  late  war 
was  engaged  in  carrying  passengers  and  the  United  States  mail  from 
Clinton  to  Sedalia.  January  21,  1864.  he  was  married  to  Miss  Emaline 
Holly,  of  Montgomery  County,  Ohio,  born  October  9,  1843,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Daniel  and  Catherine  Holly,  both  natives  of  Germany,  who  came 
to  America,  and  finally  settled  in  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri.  Mrs.  Holly 
died  in  1863,  at  the  age  of  fifty-three  years,  but  Mr.  H.  is  now  a  resident 
of  Sedalia,  and  is  seventy-nine  years  old.  They  had  eight  children, 
besides  Emaline,  viz:  Barbara,  Phoebe,  Elizabeth,  Rudolph,  Daniel,  Ken- 
nel, Lou  and  Catharine.  In  1866  Mr,  Keck  located  where  he  at  present 
resides,  and  now  has  a  well  improved  farm  of  160  acres,  upon  which  is  a 
fine  brick  house  of  eight  rooms,  costing  $3,000.  His  other  buildings  are 
among  the  best  in  the  township.  He  and  his  wife  have  five  children: 
Joseph  F.,  Katie,  Herman,  John  and  Fred. 

S.  W.  LEWIS, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  6,  is  the  son  of  Robert  Lewis,  a  native 
of  Virginia,  who  removed  to  St.  Louis  County,  Missouri,  in  1818,  remain- 
ing there  until  1855,  when  he  located  in  Cass  County.  S.  W.  was  born- 
in  that  county  December  30,  1855.  His  mother's  maiden  name  was- 
Lucy  Bacon,  and  she  was  also  born  in  Missouri.  Young  Lewis  spent 
his  boyhood  days  on  a  farm  and  has  since  followed  the  occupation  of 
farming,  and  in  1863  he  came  with  his  mother  to  Henry  County,  where 
he  has  continued  to  live.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of 
this  vicinity,  and  also  attended  William  Jewell  College.  His  farm  con- 
tains 203  acres  of  some  of  the  finest  land  in  the  county,  and  is  well 
improved.  March  6,  1879,  Mr.  Lewis  married  Miss  S.  P.  Covington,  a 
daughter  of  John  O.  and  Elizabeth  (Barke)  Covington.  Her  father  was 
born  in  Delaware  January  19,  1819,  and  came  to  Henry  County,  Mis- 
souri, in  1840.  His  death  occurred  September  13,  1863.  Her  mother 
was  born  in  Kentucky  July  13,  1825.  Mrs.  Lewis  was  born  in  Henry 
County,  Missouri,  April  2,  1862.  They  have  two  children,  Ann  B.  and 
Alvia. 

JAMES  M.  LINDSAY, 

one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Henry  County,  was  born  in  Madison,  Rock- 
ingham County,  North  Carolina,  February  2,   18 16.     His  father,  Reuben* 


682  IIISTOKV   OF    HENKV    COUNTY. 

! 

Lindsay  was  born  in  Virginia;  he  died  in  1827.  The  maiden  name  of  ! 
his  mother  was  Sarah  Wall,  and  she  was  born  and  reared  in  North  Caro- 
lina. James  Lindsay  emigrated  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  in  1836,  and 
settled  in  Fields'  Creek  Township,  five  miles  north  of  Clinton,  and  was 
long  numbered  among  the  leading  citizens  of  the  county:  He  was  twice 
married;  first  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Fox,  of  Kentucky,  who  died  in  1847;  his 
second  marriage  occurred  September  23,  1848,  to  Miss  S.  Stone,  a  native 
of  North  Carolina.  She  was  a  daughter  of  S.  Stone,  originally  of  Salem, 
Stokes  County,  North  Carolina.  He  was  a  large  planter,  and  held  various 
ipositions  of  honor  and  trust,  but  owing  to  impaired  health,  he  came  to  \ 
Missouri,  thinking  a  change  of  climate  would  be  beneficial,  having  been 
induced  to  come  to  this  locality,  through  his  sons  who  had  preceded 
him.  Mr.  Lindsay  was  engaged  largely  in  farming  and  handling  stock. 
He  died  August  28,  1864.  His  widow  and  daughter  still  survive  him. 
Mrs.  Lindsay,  has  in  her  possession  a  chair,  which  has  long  been  in  the 
family,  and  it  is  now  240  years  old.  It  was  made  in  early  colonial  days 
in  Maryland,  and  from  there  taken  to  North  Carolina,  and  thence  to 
Missouri. 

R.  T.  LINDSAY, 

farmer  and   feeder  of  cattle,  section  10,   is  one    of  the  pioneers   of  this     ' 
county,  and  was  born  in  Rockingham  County,  North   Carolina,  April  3, 
11827.     His  father,  Reuben  Lindsay,  a  native  of  Maryland,  born  in  1787, 
•moved  with  his   parents  to  Rockingham  County,  North  Carolina,  when 
three  years  old,  and  was  there  reared  and  educated,  later  in  life  becom-     ; 
ing  an  extensive   planter  and  speculator  in  tobacco.      He  married  Miss     ! 
Sarah  Walls  in  1815,  she  being  a  native   of  Culpeper  County,   Virginia,     \ 
born  in  1790.    After  this  event  they  settled  in  North  Carolina.    To  them 
were  born  five  children  :     Joshua,  James,  Morrison  A.,  Robert  arrd  R.  T. 
"The  senior  Lindsay,  who  had  served  as  quartermaster  at  Norfolk,  Vir- 
iginia,  during  the  war  of  1812,  died  in  1827,  and  his  widow,  with  the  fam- 
ily, came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,   settling  where  R.  T.  now  resides. 
She  was  married  a  second   time  in    1844  to   William    Fewell  and  subse- 
quently returned  to  North  Carolina  where  she  died  in  April,  1865.     The     ! 
subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  only  child  of  the   family,    now   living.     He 
•took   up   his  permanent   location   in   this  county  in  1839,   and  until  the 
:spring  of  1840  lived  in  Tebo  Tjownship,  at  that  time  moving  to  his  pres- 
ent residence.     He  was  the  second  settler  in   Fields'   Creek   Township. 
Joseph  Fields  having  preceded  him  only  a  short  time.     He   was  married     I 
April  28,  1856,  to  Miss    Margaret  C.   Stone,  a   native  of  Stokes  County,     ' 
North  Carolina,  born  January  16,  1825,  and  a  daughter  of  Salathiel  and 
Jane  (Close)  Stone.       Her  father  was  born   in   Davidson   County,   North    ., 
Carolina,  in  1786,  and  died  in  1862,  while  her  mother,  originally  of  Stokes     ' 
County,  was  born  in  1796,  and  died  in  1872.    They  were  married  in  181 1 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  683 

and  in  1847  came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri.  They  had  a  family  of 
twelve  children:  Rebecca,  Margaret,  Eliza,  C.  D.  C,  C.  L.,  Minerva, 
Flavety,  John  C,  Susan,  S.  A.,  Nancy  C.  and  Jesse  T.  After  his  mar- 
riage Mr.  Lindsay  and  his  wife  settled  in  this  township  where  Mrs. 
L.  died  March  2,  1881,  leaving  four  children:  James  D.,  born  November 
7,  1857;  Sarah  J.,  born  June  5,  1859;  Reuben  T.,  born  November  2,  1861; 
and  John  S.  W.,  born  October  25,  1866.  Mr.  Lindsay's  second  marriage 
occurred  July  28,  1881,  to  Mrs.  C.  A.  Cummings,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Stone  and  a  sister  of  his  former  wife.  Her  first  husband,  Rev.  James 
Cummings,  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  who  was  born  in  1826,  died  in 
this  state,  leaving  two  sons  living:  David  S.  and  James  F.;  one,  Jesse, 
was  deceased.  Mrs.  Lindsay  was  born  in  North  Carolina  January  3, 
1831,  and  accompanied  her  parents  on  their  move  to  Missouri.  During 
the  late  war  Mr.  L.  served  in  the  Sixteenth  Regiment  Missouri  Volun- 
teer Infantry.  He  is  a  Royal  Arch  Mason  and  the  family  are  members 
of  the  M.  E.  Church,  South. 

WESLEY  LOUDERMILK, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  26,  owes  his  nativity  to  Caldwell  County, 
North  Carolina,  where  he  was  born  September  27,  1838,  being  a  son  of 
Jacob  and  Sarah  (Bently)  Loudermilk,  who  came  originally  from  the 
same  county.  They  are  now  residents  of  Sangamon  County,  Illinois. 
Wesley  began  life  for  himself  as  a  farmer.  In  185 1  he  went  to  Iowa, 
and  in  1852  removed  to  Livingston  County,  Missouri,  going  thence  in 
1854  to  Sangamon  County,  Illinois.  In  1867  he  first  came  to  Henry 
County,  Missouri,  and  settled  in  Deer  Creek  Township,  where  he  farmed 
until  December  2,  1868,  then  purchasing  his  present  farm.  This  con- 
tains 130  acres  of  well  improved  land,  situated  one  and  one-half  miles 
south  of  Clinton.  His  buildings  are  excellent,  his  residence  being  one 
of  the  best  in  the  township.  Mr.  L.  was  married  in  Sangamon  County, 
February  12,  1863,  to  Miss  Minnie  Organ,  who  was  born  in  that  county 
March  20,  1846.  Her  parents  were  George  and  Mary  (Foster)  Organ, 
Kentuckians  by  birth.  The  former  is  still  living.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Louder- 
milk  have  a  family  of  five  children:  Alice,  Iva,  Ella,  Arthur,  and  Maude. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  belonging  to  Tebo  Lodge 
No.  68. 

EDWARD  CRESAP  McCARTY 

was  born  in  Hampshire  County,  Virginia,  July  4,  1805,  and  is  a  direct 
descendant  of  some  of  the  leaders  of  old  revolutionary  families.  His 
paternal  grandfather  was  a  captain  in  the  Virginia  militia  and  partici- 
pated in  the  battles  of  Brandywine,  Germantown  and  Trenton,  and  was 
under  the  command  of  Lafayette  at  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis  at  York- 


684  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

town.  His  maternal  grandfather,  was  also  a  commissioned  officer  in 
Maryland.  On  the  death  of  his  father  in  1828  Edward,  as  the  oldest  of 
a  family  of  eight  children,  became  the  head  of  the  household,  and  in  the 
following  year,  with  his  mother  and  the  family,  he  removed  to  Missouri 
and  located  on  a  tract  of  land  in  Saline  County,  where  he  remained  till 
1846.  He  then  sold  his  farm  and  for  several  years  was  engaged  in 
freighting  government  stores,  and  also  in  the  Santa  Fe  trade.  In  185a 
he  ceased  that  business  and  moved  to  Jackson  County,  Missouri,  where 
he  gave  his  attention  to  farming.  In  1857  he  embarked  in  the  commis- 
sion and  forwarding  business,  and  soon  after  was  elected  cashier  of  the 
branch  of  the  Mechanics'  Bank  of  St.  Louis,  situated  at  Kansas  City. 
This  position  he  filled  until  1863,  when  he  resigned  and,  returning  to 
Saline  County,  resided  there  till  the  close  of  the  war,  when  he  came  to 
Henry  County.  He  found  a  wife  in  the  person  of  Miss  Mary  Brown,  a 
daughter  of  Judge  B.  B.  Brown,  of  Virginia,  and  by  this  union  there  are 
eleven  children  living,  Burnis  C,  Nora  B.,  (now  Mrs.  R.  McCarty)  Bet- 
tie,  Ruth,  (now  Mrs.  E.  Allison)  Mary  B.,  Nannie,  Fannie,  Charles  I., 
James  E.,  Edverda,  Patrick  H.  They  lost  one  daughter,  Annie.  In  his 
political  affiliations  Mr.  McCarty  was  an  old  line  Whig,  and  as  such  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  lower  house  of  the  general  assembly  of  the 
state  of  Missouri,  from  Jackson  County.  In  later  years  he  has  acted  in 
the  interest  of  the  Democratic  party.  For  almost  half  a  century  he  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  was  appointed  by  the 
Grand  Lodge  to  superintend  the  erection  of  the  building  for  the  Masonic 
College  at  Lexington,  Missouri. 

RICHARD  McCARTY, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  15,  is  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  was 
born  in  Woodford  County,  September  14,  1827,  being  the  son  of  Dennis 
and  Ellen  (Tombling)  McCarty,  natives  of  Virginia.  In  1830  they  came 
to  Howard  County,  Missouri,  and  remained  there  until  Richard  was 
nine  years  old,  when  they  removed  to  Boone  County,  which  was  their 
home  for  about  six  years.  After  this  they  spent  two  years  in  Cole 
County,  next  settling  at  Boonville.  Young  McCarty  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools  of  the  state,  and  in  1850  he  went  to  Cali- 
fornia, where  he  followed  mining  and  selling  groceries  for  about  three 
years.  Returning  to  Missouri  he  bought  cattle  and  in  1854  went  back 
to  California,  and  until  1857  was  occupied  in  trading  in  cattle.  He  then 
retraced  his  steps  to  Missouri,  and  dealt  in  horses  and  mules  at  Boon- 
ville. At  the  commencecent  of  the  late  war  he  raised  Company  B,  of 
Parson's  Regiment,  and  was  captain  of  the  company  for  one  year,  when 
he  was  appointed  recruiting  officer  for  Gen.  Price.  He  was  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Boonville,  Wilson's  Creek  and  Dry  Wood,  and  was  made  prisoner 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  685 

in  1863,  and  was  taken  to  Fayette,  Arkansas.  He  surrendered  at 
Shreveport,  Louisiana.  After  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  McCarty  fol- 
lowed farming-  in  Texas  one  year,  and  in  1866  he  again  located  at  Boon- 
ville,  where  he  was  in  the  livery  business  until  1868.  Comingto  Clinton, 
Henry  County,  Missouri,  he  embarked  in  the  grocery  trade  with  Mr. 
Allison.  After  living  in  Clinton  for  about  two  years  he  resumed  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  His  farm  contains  160  acres  of  good  land.  He  is  a 
member  of  Tebo  Lodge  No.  68,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  January  8,  1868,  Mr. 
McC.  married  Miss  Nora  McCarty,  a  daughter  of  Col.  E.  C.  McCarty. 
They  have  five  children:  Edward,  Richard,  Ruth,  Burnis  and  Mary  E. 

WILLIAM  J.  McCULLUM, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  2.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born 
in  Hardin  County,  Kentucky,  October  i,  1845,  his  parents  being  Macon 
and  Jane  (Miller)  McCullum,  Kentuckians  by  birth.  William  J.  was  the 
fifth  of  a  family  of  seven  children.  When  he  was  about  four  years  old 
the  family  started  from  Kentucky  to  Iowa.  The  night  after  taking  the 
boat  at  Louisville  his  father  was  missing,  and  no  trace  of  him  could  ever 
be  found.  The  supposition  was  that  he  was  drowned.  His  mother  and 
family  continued  there  journey  and  settled  in  Iowa,  where  they  remained 
two  years,  then  moving  to  Scotland  County,  Missouri.  There  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  reared  and  educated,  and  upon  arriving  at  man- 
hood he  engaged  in  farming,  which  he  has  since  followed.  In  1874  he 
came  to  Henry  County.  His  farm  embraces  140  acres  of  good  land,  well 
improved  and  all  in  cultivation.  Mr.  McC.  has  always  taken  a  great 
interest  in  educational  matters.  Septem.ber  8,  1872,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  T.  Patterson,  a  native  of  Iowa.  They  have  two  children,  Alva  and 
Ida  May. 

GEORGE  B.  McLEOD, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  21,  was  born  in  Morgan  County,  Mis- 
souri, July  4,  1847,  being  the  son  of  William  H.  McLeod,  a  farmer  by 
occupation,  and  Martha  (Salmon)  McLeod,  both  natives  of  North  Caro- 
lina. George  B.  was  the  fifth  of  a  family  of  seven  children.  He 
remained  with  his  parents  in  Missouri  until  twelve  years  old,  when  he 
went  to  the  state  of  Georgia  with  his  grandfather,  F.  H.  McLeod.  There 
he  continued  to  reside  until  1866,  receiving  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  and  the  military  college  at  Marietta,  Georgia.  In  1866  he 
returned  to  Missouri  and  lived  in  Morgan  County  until  the  fall  of  1867, 
when  he  came  to  Clinton,  clerking  in  Salmon  &  Stone's  Bank  for  ten 
months.  Since  that  time  he  has  followed  farming  and  the  raising  and  ship- 
ping of  stock.  His  farm  contains  160  acres,  1 10  acres  of  which  are  in  culti- 
vation  and   under  improvements,   and   it   is    well   adapted   for  a   stock 


686  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

farm.  Beneath  it  is  a  good  vein  of  coal.  Mr.  McLeod  was  in  the 
Georgia  state  service  a  short  time  during  the  war,  and  then  enlisted  in 
Company  A,  Battalion  of  Georgia  Cadets.  He  was  discharged  at 
Augusta  in  May  1865.  October  25,  1875,  he  married  Miss  Tabitha  Fields, 
a  daughter  of  N.  A.  Fields.  She  was  born  in  Henry  County,  Missouri, 
January  4,  1853.  They  have  two  children,  Catherine  A.  and  Helen  E. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  McLeod  are  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presb3'terian 
Church. 

WILLIAM   MUNSON, 

a  native  of  New  York,  was  born  August  14,  1823.  His  father,  Frederick 
Munson,  came  originally  from  the  same  state.  At  the  age  of  four  years 
young  Munson  was  taken  to  Portage  County,  Ohio,  where  he  remained 
three  years.  Thence  he  removed  to  Muskingum  County,  and  was  edu- 
cated there.  In  1846  he  located  in  Green  County,  Wisconsin,  and  fol- 
lowed lead  mining  until  March,  1865,  when  he  went  to  Cole  County,  Illi- 
nois, farming  in  that  vicinity  for  two  years.  In  1867  he  came  to  Henry 
County,  Missouri.  He  now  has  a  farm  of  470  acres  of  land,  north  of 
Clinton  and  118  acres,  where  he  lives,  all  well  improved  and  surrounded 
with  a  hedge  fence.  He  is  feeding  eighty  head  of  cattle.  Mr.  M.  was 
married  November  15,  1846,  to  Miss  Cynthia  Trembley,  of  Ohio.  They 
had  eight  children,  Nannie  A.,  Samuel  W.,  Frederick  F.,  Lucy  C,  Charles 
E.,  Cynthia  E.,  Ida  and  Edgar  C.  Mrs.  Munson's  death  occurred  Novem- 
ber 15,  1874.  February  22,  1879,  he  married  Miss  Sarah  A.  Smith.  Mr. 
M.  held  the  office  of  county  judge  from  1870  to  1876.  His  son,  S.  W. 
Munson,  was  born  in  Green  County,  Wisconsin,  December  24,  1847.  His 
youth  was  spent  on  the  farm  and  he  received  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Wisconsin.  He  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  move 
to  Henry  County,  and  has  since  resided  here,  following  farming  and  stock 
raising.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church, 
Frederick  Munson  was  born  in  the  same  county  and  state  as  his  brother, 
August  18,  1852.  He  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Henry  County  and 
the  State  University  at  Columbia.  He  is  connected  with  the  Cumber- 
land Presbj'terian  Church,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  fra- 
ternity and  commandery.  Their  farm  is  well  improved,  aud  upon  it  they 
are  feeding  thirty  head  of  cattle.  They  also  have  eighteen  head  of  horses 
and  mules. 

JOHN  ODLE, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  was  born  in  Franklin  County,  Indiana,  March  6, 
1835,  being  the  son  of  John  and  Dorothy  (Pertra)  Odle.  He  was  the 
youngest  of  a  family  of  nine  children.  When  about  three  years  old  his 
parents  removed  to  Ray  County,  where  he  was  reared  to  manhood  on  a 
farm,  receiving  his  education  in  the  common  schools.    He  followed  farm- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  687" 

ing  in  that  county  until  i860,  when  he  came  to  Henry  County,  and  here 
he  has  since  resided,  criving  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits.  His- 
farm  contains  120  acres  of  well  improved  land.  He  has  held  the  offices- 
of  school  director  and  road  overseer.  September  3,  1857,  Mr.  Odle  mar- 
ried Miss  Jeanette  M.  Wiggins,  who  died  June  5.  1869,  leaving  four  child- 
ren: Calvin,  Annie,  James  W.  and  John  H.  January  16,  1870,  he  mar- 
ried Mary  J.  Martin.  They  have  six  children:  Emilo,  Frank,  Ralph,. 
Lee,  Grove  and  Kilby.  Mr.  Odle  is  a  member  of  the  Cumberland  Pres- 
byterian Church. 

D.  E.  PRICE, 

farmer,  section  33,  a  native  of  Washington  County,  Virginia,  was  born  in^ 
1842.  His  father,  R.  M.  Price,  married  Miss  Jane  Dishman,  and  they  also* 
were  originally  from  Washington  County.  In  1867  they  came  to  Henry 
County,  Missouri,  but  in  1873  returned  to  Virginia.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  brought  up  and  educated  in  the  state  yf  his  birth,  and  during 
the  late  war  served  in  Company  I,  Forty-eighth  Regiment  Virginia  Vol- 
unteer Infantry.  In  1867  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Missouri,  set- 
tling where  he  now  resides  and  has  since  devoted  his  time  and  attention 
to  the  tilling  of  the  soil.  In  1871  he  married  Miss  Sarah  R.  Stolling  who' 
was  born  in  Henry  County,  Missouri,  in  1852,  being  a  daughter  of  Jacob 
and  Jennie  (Estus)  Stolling  of  Virginia.  She  was  brought  up  and 
attended  school  in  this  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Price  have  a  family  of  four 
children:  Minnie,  Gertrude,  Sterling  and  Raleigh.  They  are  bothi 
members  of  the  Christian  Church. 

GEORGE  W.  SINKS, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  8,  was  born  in  Hamilton  County,  Illinois, 
August  3,  1837,  his  parents  being  Paul  and  Elizabeth  (Lyle)  Sinks,, 
natives  of  Virginia.  When  George  was  twelve  years  old,  they  removed 
to  St.  Louis  County,  Missouri,  where  he  resided  until  nineteen  years  of 
age,  then  returning  to  Illinois.  He  farmed  in  Hancock  County,  for 
about  eighteen  months,  after  which  he  worked  at  the  cooper's  trade  for 
fourteen  months  in  southern  Illinois.  In  1858  he  crossed  the  plains  to- 
Pike's  Peak,  but  in  about  three  months  retraced  his  steps  to  Illinois. 
August  3,  1859.  Mr.  Sinks  married  Miss  Armelia  Lambrith,  a  native  of 
Kentucky.  He  followed  farming  in  Illinois  until  1865,  when  he  went 
to  Kansas,  farmed  there  until  1868  and  then  came  to  Henry  County, 
Missouri.  His  farm  embraces  197  acres,  all  under  fence  and  v/elli' 
improved,  upon  which  is  a  good  house,  barn  and  orchard.  Mr.  S.  handles 
some  cattle  and  hogs  and  also  owns  a  number  of  fine  cattle.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  fraternity,  and  belongs  to  the  Encampment. 
He  and  his  wife  have  a  family  of  five  children:  Armila,  William,  LewiSj. 
Walter  and  Arthur.     Mr.  Sinks  is  connectedv/ith  the  M.  E.  Church. 


688  HISTORY   OF    HEXRV   COUNTY. 

L.  A.  SPANGLER. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  McDonough  County,  Illi- 
nois, March  20,  1850.  His  father,  Lewis  Spangler,  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky, came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  in  1858.  He  married  Miss  Har- 
riet Sarles,  originally  from  New  York.  L.  A.  was  the  eighth  of  a  family 
■of  ten  children.  In  1863  his  father  returned  to  Illinois,  where  they 
remained  a  short  time,  then  going  to  Idaho,  where  he  followed  farming 
four  years.  In  1863  he  moved  to  Cass  County,  Missouri,  and  farmed 
until  1876,  when  he  came  to  Henry  County.  There  he  has  since  resided, 
giving  his  attention  to  farming  and  the  handling  of  stock.  His  educa- 
tion was  obtained  in  the  common  schools  of  Missouri.  Mr:  S.  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Tebo  Lodge,  No.  68,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  Signet  Royal  Arch  Chapter 
and  commandery.  October  26,  1882,  he  married  Miss  Fannie  Houston. 
She  was  born  in  Henry  County,  Missouri,  October  19,  1863. 

WILLIAM  STEEPS, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  29,  was  born  in  Germany  in  1829.  When 
about  twent}'  years  of  age  he  emigrated  to  America,  and  was  engaged 
in  farming  near  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin,  until  1867.  when  he  came  to 
Henry  County,  Missouri,  and  here  he  has  since  made  his  home,  giving 
his  attention  to  tilling  the  soil.  His  farm  contains  140  acres  of  some  of 
the  richest  land  in  the  county  and  this  is  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation, 
and  the  improvements  are  excellent.  He  handles  stock  quite  exten- 
sively and  has  over  100  head  of  cattle.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity.  After  settling  in  Wisconsin  Mr.  Steeps  was  married  to  Miss 
Dora  Purath,  a  native  of  Germany.  They  have  four  children:  Minnie, 
Ella,  William  and  Johnnie.     Mr.  S.  is  connected  with  the  M.  E.  Church. 

JOHN  W.  TAYLOR, 

farmer,  section  32,  originally  of  Woodford  County,  Kentucky,  was  born 
October  6,  1834,  his  parents  being  Richard  and  Caroline  Ta\-lor,  7iee 
Whittinger,  natives  of  the  same  county.  The  former  was  born  in  1807, 
and  is  now  a  resident  of  Honey  Creek  Township,  this  county,  the  latter 
•died  in  1841.  They  had  a  family  of  three  children,  of  whom  John  W. 
was  the  oldest,  and  the  only  child  now  living.  He  started  in  life  for 
himself  in  Kentucky  as  an  agriculturist,  and  in  i860  removed  to  Henry 
County,  Missouri,  settling  where  he  now  resides  in  the  spring  ot  1868. 
February  5,  1861,  he  married  Miss  Nancy  Nash,  who  was  born  in  Henry 
County,  Missouri,  March  15,  1841.  She  was  a  daughter  of  James  and 
Sarah  (Pegg)  Nash,  Tennesseeans  by  birth,  who  emigrated  to  Missouri 
in  1832,  and  located  upon  the  present  site  of  Calhoun.  During  the  late 
war  Mr.  T.  was  in   Colonel   Owens'   resfiment.     He  and   his  wife  have  a 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  689 

family  of  two  children.  Kate  F.  was  born  January  21,  1862,  and  Wil- 
liam E.  born  September  17,  1867.  They  are  both  connected  with  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  T.  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity. 

ELI  WADE. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Floyd  County,  Virginia,  Janu- 
ary 20,  1837,  being  the  son  of  Owen  and  Lavina  (Fliger)  Floyd,  natives  of 
Virginia.  Eli  was  the  third  of  a  family  of  twelve  children.  His  youth 
was  passed  on  the  farm  in  Virginia,  and  he  received  a  common  school 
education,  following  farming  until  1871,  when  he  began  working  at 
wagon  making  and  carpentering  in  Tennessee  and  Illinois.  In  1872  he 
removed  to  Lafayette  County,  Missouri,  giving  his  attention  to  farming 
two  years,  after  which  he  worked  at  wagon  making  in  Higginsville  for 
three  years.  In  1876  he  came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  and  remained 
in  Clinton  for  one  year.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  occupied  in  farm- 
ing. In  March,  i88q,  he  took  charge  of  the  county  farm  and  has  con- 
tinued to  manage  it  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  citizens  of  the  county. 
In  1861  he  enlisted  in  Company  D,  Fifty-fourth  Virginia  Infantry,  and 
was  sergeant  of  his  compan}'.  At  Bentonville  he  was  captured  and  taken 
to  Point  Lookout,  where  he  was  confined  for  three  months.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  South.  Mr.  Wade  was  married  November 
14,  1874,  to  Miss  Bettie  Albine,  of  Lafayette  County,  Missouri.  They 
have  two  children:  Laura  and  Herbie.    They  have  lost  one  child,  Edgar. 

JOSEPH  WHITE 

is  a  native  of  Brown  County,  Indiana,  and  was  born  September  13,  1834. 
His  father,  Michael  White,  a  Virginian  by  birth,  was  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation, while  his. mother  came  originally  from  Tennessee;  her  maiden 
name  was  Elizabeth  Robertson.  Joseph  was  the  fourth  of  a  family  of 
thirteen  children.  His  youth  was  spent  on  the  farm  and  he  received  his 
education  in  common  schools.  When  21  years  old  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  stock  raising  in  Indiana,  which  he  followed  there  until  1864. 
Then  he  removed  to  Cass  County,  Missouri,  and  remained  there  until 
1868,  tvhen  he  came  to  Henr}^  County,  where  he  has  since  resided.  His 
farm  contains  610  acres,  520  acres  in  cultivation,  embracing  the  best  of 
land  and  well  improved.  Mr.  White  is  a  large  stock  raiser  and  feeder. 
He  is  one  of  the  directors  in  the  Henry  County  Bank.  He  was  married 
May  21,  1856,  to  Miss  Lavina  Mitchell,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  They 
have  four  children,  Nancy,  wife  of  Albert  Allen,  J.  R.,  O.  P.,  G.  Lee.  He 
is  a  member  of  Tebo  Lodge,  No.  68,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. 


44 


690  HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 


BOGARD  TOWNSHIP. 


JOHN  W.  BYERS, 

physician  and  surgeon,  section  17,  was  born  in  Sullivan  County,  Tennes-  ' 
see,  April  5,  1829.     His  father,  Benjamin  Byers,  a  native  of  Maryland,' 
was  a  cabinet  maker  by  trade.     He  removed  to  Tennessee  and  was  mar-  | 
ried  there  to  Mary  Owen.    They  raised  a  family  of  six  children,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  being  the  the  third.     His  youth  was  spent  in  Tennes- 
see, and  he  received  his  education  in  the  schools  of  that  state  and  Vir- 
ginia.    When    nineteen    years   old   he   entered   the   office  of  Dr.  A.  C. 
Maxwell,  of  Washington  County,  Virginia,  with  whom  he  read  medicine 
for   about   three   years,  when   he  began   the  practice  of  his  chosen  pro- 
fession.    In  1855  he  went  to  Kentucky  and  practiced    there   until  1865, 
then  becoming  an  attendant  at  the   Bellevue   Medical  College.     After 
one  term,  in  June,  1866,  he  graduated  at  Long  Island  Medical  College. 
Returning  to  Kentucky,  he   resided   there   until  1867,  when  he  came  toj 
Missouri,  stopped  in  Johnson  County  a  short  time  and  then  removed  to] 
Henry  County.     In  1873   he  went  to  Arkansas  and  stayed  until  1876,1 
when  he  returned  to  Henry  County.     Here  he  has  since  been  having  aj 
successful  practice.     His  farm  contains  eighty  acres  of  choice  land  well! 
improved.     The  doctor  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.     June! 
23,  1859,  he  married  Emila  J.  Bofferd,  a  native  of  Kentucky.     She  died 
February  6,  1863.     They  had  lost  two  children.     He  was  again  married 
May  7,  1867,  to  Sarah  J.  Bankinship,  also  of  Kentucky.    They  have  three { 
children:   Herschel  M.,  John  M.  and  Benjamin  Owen. 

RICHARD  S.  CORWINE,  1 

farmer  and  stock  feeder,  section  28,  was  born  February  9,  1813,  in  Mason  j 
County,  Kentucky,  and  was  the  son  of  George  Corwine,  a  native  of  New! 
Jersey,  who,  when  only  five  years  old  went  to  Kentucky  with  his  parents,! 
where  he  was  reared  and  then  married  Miss  Nancy  Thornton,  a  Vir-j 
ginia  by  birth.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  third  child  in  the 
famih'.  His  youthful  days  were  spent  on  his  father's  farm,  his  education! 
being  received  in  the  subscription  schools.  When  nineteen  years  old  he| 
went  to  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  and  there  worked  at  house  carpentering 
for  two  years,  when  he  became  engaged  in  farming  in  Henry  County, 
Indiana,  though  following  his  trade  a  part  of  the  time.  In  1872  he 
removed  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  and   has  since  given  his  attention 


¥ 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  691 

to  farming.  His  farm  contains  160  acres  surrounded  and  subdivided 
with  hedge  fence,  well  improved,  etc.  January  28,  1835,  Mr.  C.  married 
Elizabeth  B.  Thornton,  who  was  born  May  21,  1813,  in  Mason  County, 
Kentucky.  They  have  seven  children:  George,  Mary,  Lucindia,  Wil- 
liam, Richard,  Ruth  and  John.  They  lost  three  children:  Amanda  C, 
Nancy  A.  and  an  infant.  Mr.  and  Mrs  Corwine  and  all  their  children 
are  members  of  the  Christian  Church. 

DANIEL  R.  GARRISON, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser  section  4,  was  born  in  Woodford,  Illinois,  July  4, 
1842.  His  father,  Jacob  J.  Garrison,  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey.  He 
followed  steamboating  for  a  number  of  years  and  then  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. D.  R.  was  the  oldest  of  a  family  of  five  children.  When  he  was 
fourteen  years  old  his  parents  removed  to  Henry  County,  where  he  was 
brought  up  a  farmer,  being  educated  in  the  common  schools.  Upon 
arriving  at  manhood  he  commenced  tilling  the  soil  and  now  has  a  farm 
containing  eighty  acres  of  choice  land,  well  improved.  In  [861  he 
enlisted  in  Company  A,  Seventh  Missouri  State  Militia,  and  remained 
in  the  field  for  about  three  years.  January  20,  1866,  Mr.  Garrison  was 
married  to  Miss  Eliza  Dunham,  a  native  of  Missouri.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  G. 
are  leading  members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church. 

CHARLES  I.  GOOCH, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  22,  was  born  in  Mason  County,  Ken- 
tucky, July  20,  1828.  His  father,  Charles  I.  Gooch,  was  a  horse  dealer, 
and  a  native  of  Virginia.  In  1800  he  removed  to  Kentucky,  where  he 
married  Tabitha  Walton,  a  Virginian  by  birth.  Young  Charles  was  the 
sixth  in  a  family  of  seven  children.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm  in  Ken- 
tucky, and  received  his  education  in  the  subscription  schools  and 
commercial  college  at  Covington.  In  185 1  he  came  west  and  stopped 
at  the  town  of  Boonville,  engaging  in  farming  near  there,  where  he 
remained  for  five  years.  In  1856  he  was  informed  by  an  old  friend  of 
the  excellent  land  to  be  entered  in  Henry  County,  and  accordingly  he 
came  here  and  entered  his  land,  which  now  constitutes  a  farm  of  340 
acres,  under  fence  and  improved,  with  a  good  house,  barn  and  orchard. 
A  superior  vein  of  coal  is  on  this  farm.  February  7,  1857,  Mr.  Gooch 
married  Miss  Sophia  Ililigas,  a  native  of  Ohio.  They  have  seven  child- 
ren, Martha,  Mary,  Lucy,  George,  Henry  and  Eddie,  living,  and  one, 
Samuel,  deceased. 

WILLIAM  W.  HALL, 

tarmer  and  stock  raiser,  section    13,  was  born   in   Stokes  County,  North 
Carolina,  March  26,  1823.     His  parents  were  William  and  Rhoda  (Read- 


692  rilSTORV    OF    HENRY    COUNTY.  I 

ford)  Hall,  also  natives  of  North  Carolina.  The  subject  of  this  sketch' 
was  the  third  of  fourteen  children,  and  when  he  was  nine  years  old  the 
family  removed  to  Moniteau  County,  Missouri,  when  he  was  brought  up| 
to  labor  on  a  farm.  For  a  time  he  attended  the  subscription  schools,! 
and  when  about  25  years  old,  engaged  in  farming,  which  occupation  he; 
has  since  followed.  In  1870  he  came  to  Henry  County.  His  farm  is  one! 
of  the  best  improved  in  the  township,  and  is  well  adapted  to  the  raising 
of  stock  and  grain.  It  contains  410  acres.  Mr.  Hall  is  a  large  cattlej 
feeder.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  also  belongs  to  the' 
Masonic  fraternity.  March  g,  1847,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Nancy  J.i 
McDaniel.  She  was  born  in  Cole  County,  Missouri,  March  29,  1829- 
They  have  nine  children,  Rhoda  J.,  John  W.,  James  R.,  Sarah  A.,  Fan-] 
nie  E.,  Jackson  D.,  Henry  O.,  Van  Buren  and  Alonzo  E.  i 

J.  D.  HALL.  ; 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  came  originally  from  Stokes  County, 
North  Carolina,  where  he  was  born  October  11,  1828,  the  son  of  Williami 
and  Rhoda  Hall,  nee  Readford,  who  were  also  born  in  North  Carolina.! 
J.  D.  was  the  seventh  of  a  family  of  fourteen  children.  When  he  was 
about  six  years  old  his  parents  took  up  their  residence  in  Moniteauj 
County,  Missouri,  and  here  he  was  reared  to  manhood  on  a  farm  and 
educated  in  the  subscription  schools  of  the  county.  From  the  age  of 
twenty  to  twenty-five  years,  he  worked  at  blacksmithing,  after  which  he, 
became  interested  in  the  occupation  of  farming,  which  he  has  since' 
continued.  In  1868  he  removed  to  Henry  County.  His  farm  consists  of 
280  acres,  all  under  fence,  and  is  giving  some  attention  to  the  cattle 
business,  feeding  at  present  about  forty-five  head.  July  20,  1858,  Mr.  Halli 
married  Miss  Mary  Cornell,  a  native  of  Jackson  County,  Missouri,  born 
November  16,  183 1.  They  have  seven  children  :  Walter  F.,  Oreon  O., 
Jessie  D.,  Alice  C,  Albert  H.,  Hickman  B.  and  Cora  Belle.  Mr.  H.  is 
connected  with  the  Baptist  Church,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
order.  \ 

RICHARD  JEFFERSON, 

farmer,  section  4,  was  born  in  the  state  of  Delaware,  November  16,  18 16, 
being  the  son  of  Isaac  and  Sarah  (Groves)  Jefferson,  natives  of  Dela- 
ware. The  former  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  Richard  was  the 
oldest  of  a  family  of  nine  children,  six  of  whom  grew  up  and  only  one 
of  the  family  ever  married.  When  he  was  an  infant  one  year  old  he  was 
taken  to  Kentuck3^  where  he  remained  until  1821,  then  removing  to 
Callaway  County,  Missouri.  They  lived  there  and  in  Benton,  Platte  anci 
Buchanan  Counties  until  1857,  when  Richard  Jefferson  came  to  Henry 
County,  and  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising.      His  farm  contains 


BIOGRAPniCAL.  693 

216  acres  of  good  land,  well  improved.  His  sister  keeps  house  for  him 
and  is  an  excellent  manager  of  household  affairs. 

J.  B.  KNIPE, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  ij,  was  born  in  Fayette  County,  Indiana, 
March  26,  1830,  his  parents,  Thomas  and  Agnes  (Briggs)  Knipe,  being 
natives  of  England.  Young  Knipe  was  the  ninth  of  a  family  of  ten 
children.  His  youth  was  spent  on  the  farm  in  Indiana  and  he  received 
his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  that  state,  following  farming 
and  trading  in  stock  until  1868,  when  he  removed  to  Henry  County, 
Missouri.  Here  he  resumed  the  same  calling,  He  owns  220  acres  which 
will  compare  favorably  with  any  in  the  county,  as  a  stock  and  grain 
farm.  Mr.  Knipe  is  one  of  the  largest  stock  feeders  in  the  township. 
November  18,  1852,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Nancy  M.  Milliner,  a  native 
of  Indiana.  Her  death  occurred  December  12,  1873.  He  has  lost  three 
children:  Marshall  E.,  Alsa  F.  and  Lina  M.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Christian  Church. 

THOMAS  B.  LITTLEJOHN, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  21,  was  born  in  the  city  of  Brooklyn, 
New  York,  May  19,  1859.  His  father,  Duncan  Littlejohn,  was  a  native 
of  England,  and  for  many  years  was  a  leading  merchant  and  importer 
of  Brooklyn.  His  mother's  maiden  name  was  Robina  Woodford,  also  a 
native  of  New  York.  Thomas  was  the  youngest  of  a  family  of  five 
children,  three  sons  and  two  daughters.  He  received  his  education  in 
the  schools  of  his  native  city,  and  when  only  sixteen  years  old  became 
employed  as  a  clerk  in  a  large  drug  house  in  New  York  City.  He  held 
that  responsible  position  for  about  two  years.  In  1877  he  turned  his 
face  towards  the  West,  and,  becoming  pleased  with  the  appearance  of 
the  fertile  prairies  of  Henry  County,  cast  his  lot  with  her  people  and 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  His  farm,  containing  320  acres,  is  well 
improved.  Mr.  L.  is  a  large  raiser  and  feeder  of  cattle.  October  3,  1881, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Richardson,  a  most  estimable  lady  and  a 
daughter  of  D.  C.  Richardson.  She  was  born  in  Cass  County,  Indiana, 
April  24,  1863.  They  have  one  child,  Robina,  born  October  5,  1882. 
Mr.  Littlejohn  is  a  leading  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

MILLER  BROTHERS 

are  prominent  merchants  at  Urich.  The  firm  is  composed  of  Henry  F. 
and  R.  F.  Miller.  The  former  was  born  in  Bedford  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, August  8,  1842,  and  was  the  son  of  Jonathan  and  Sarah  A.  (Gump) 
Miller,  natives  of  that  same  county  and  state.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  the  oldest  of  a  family  of  ten  children,  six  sons  and  four  daughters. 


694  HISTORY  or  henr\  county. 

When  eleven  years  old  he  removed  to  Illinois  with  his  parents,  where  \ 
they  remained  on  a  farm  until  1857,  then  coming  to  Henry  County,  Mis- 
souri.    Henry  lived  on   his  father's  farm    until  April    i,   1862,   when   he 
enlisted  in  Company  G,   Seventh   Missouri   State   Militia.      He  was  dis- 
charged April  20,  1862,  after  which   he    returned   home   and  engaged  in 
farming.    In  May,  1880  he  embarked  in  general  merchandising  at  Urich, 
and  in  May,  1881,  he  entered  into   partnership   with  his  brother.     They  ' 
carry  a   large   stock  of  general   merchandise   and   do   a  good   business. 
Henry  F.  also  owns  a  fine  farm  of  eighty  acres  near  the  town.     He  held 
the  office  of  township  collector  for  three  years,  and  that  of  justice  of  the  | 
peace  for  four  years.     March  7,    1876,  he    married  Miss   Nancy  Page,  a 
native  of  Henry  County,  Missouri.     They  have  a  family  of  three  child-  1 
ren,  Iney,  Jonathan  and   Erastus.     Mr.    and  Mrs.  Miller  are  members  of  ] 
the  Baptist  Church. 

•Rhotew  F.  Miller,  of  this  firm,  was  born  in  Henry  County,  Missouri, 
July  7,  1861.  He  also  remained  on  his  father's  farm  until  sixteen  years 
old,  when  he  started  in  the  mercantile  business  as  salesman  for  J.  A. 
Wells  &  Son,  at  Urich,  being  with  them  until  1881,  when  he  formed  a  , 
partnership  with  his  brother.  He  is  a  wide  awake  and  energetic  young 
business  man.  and  is  bound  to  succeed  in  his  undertakings. 

S.  M.  OVERBEY. 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  15,  has  in  his  possession  a  farm  contain- 
ing 200  acres  of  well  improved  land,  upon  which  is  a  good  house  and 
orchard.  He  was  born  in  Halifax  County,  Virginia,  March  30,  1831. 
His  father,  Zachariah  Overbey,  a  farmer  by  occupation,  was  a  native  of 
Virginia,  as  was  also  his  mother,  Elizabeth.  S.  M.  was  the  second  in  a 
family  of  ten  children.  When  he  was  about  three  years  old  his  parents  1 
removed  to  Kentucky,  where  he  grew  up  on  a  farm,  obtaining  a  common 
school  education.  When  twenty-one  years  of  age  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing, and  in  1862  he  enlisted  in  Company  D,  Eighth  Kentucky  Cavalry,  ' 
being  discharged  in  1863.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  was  commis- 
sioned captain  of  Company  C,  Seventeenth  Kentucky  Cavalry.  He  was 
mustered  out  in  1865,  after  having  participated  in  several  most  impor- 
tant battles.  After  the  war  Mr.  Overbey  returned  to  Kentucky,  where 
he  followed  farming  until  1867,  when  he  came  to  Henry  County,  Mis- 
souri. He  has  held  the  office  of  township  trustee.  September  30,  1852,  I 
he  married  Miss  Margaret  C.  Reed,  a  Kentuckian  by  birth,  born  April 
28,  1829.  They  have  six  children  living:  John  A.,  William  W.,  Eugene 
R.,  Robert  A..  Fannie  E.  and  Maggie.  The}-  have  lost  five  children. 
Mr.  O.  is  a  member  of  ihe  M.  E.  Church. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  695 

LTNDILLE  McB.  PAGE, 

farmer  and  school  teacher,  is  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Henry  County.  He 
was  born  in  Lafayette  County,  Missouri,  April  27,  1833,  and  is  the  son 
of  Joseph  and  Sallie  (Wade)  Page,  the  former  a  native  of  North  Caro- 
lina, and  the  latter  a  Virginian  by  birth.  Joshua  Page  was  a  minister  of 
the  Christian  Church,  and  also  a  school  teacher.  He  preached  the  first 
sermon  and  taught  the  first  school  in  Bayard  Township,  the  latter  being 
in  a  log  school  house  in  section  5-  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the 
seventh  of  a  family  of  twelve  children.  In  1835  his  father  settled  in  this 
county,  and  here  his  youth  was  spent  on  the  farm  and  in  attending  the 
schools  of  the  district,  where  he  received  a  good  education.  He  has 
remained  in  the  county  all  the  time  since,  except  two  and  one-half  years 
while  in  Texas,  and  he  has  continued  the  occupation  of  farming  and 
teaching.  His  farm  contains  200  acres  of  choice  land,  well  improved. 
In  1858  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace,  and  has  since  held  the  office 
most  of  the  time.  He  has  also  been  a  notary  public  for  a  number  of 
years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church.  May  27,  1856,  Mr. 
Page  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  J.  Page,  a  native  of  Missouri.  They 
have  ten  children  living,  Jennie,  Royal  M.,  John  McB.,  William  J.,  Flor- 
ence E.,  Dora  D.,  Benjamin  P.,  Lennie  H.,  James  J.  and  Richard.  They 
have  lost  one  child,  Nancy  E. 

JOHN  POWERS, 

physician  and  surgeon,  Urich,  owes  his  nativity  to  Rensellaer  County, 
New  York,  where  he  was  born  March  26,  1859.  His  father,  John  R. 
Powers,  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  a  native  of  New  York,  while  his 
mother's  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Williams,  originally  of  Germany. 
When  John  was  seven  years  old  the  senior  Powers  removed  to  Minne- 
sota where  they  remained  until  1868,  then  coming  to  Henry  County, 
Missouri.  He  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  the 
county  and  at  the  State  University,  at  Columbia.  When  only  nineteen 
years  old  he  attended  the  medical  school  at  the  State  University  and  in 
1880  he  entered  the  Missouri  Medical  College,  of  St.  Louis,  graduating 
from  that  institution  in  March,  1881.  In  May  of  the  same  year  he  loca- 
ted at  Urich,  where  he  began  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession.  The 
doctor  is  having  a  large  and  successful  practice  and  is  a  favorite  of  all 
who  know  him,  and  though  young  in  years  is  looked  upon  as  one  of  the 
rising  members  of  the  medical  fraternity  of  this  county. 

A.  O.  QUICK, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  34,  was  born  in  Johnson  County,  Mis- 
souri, September  3,  1853,  ^"d  was  the  son  of  D.  C.  Quick,  a  farmer  and 


696  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

Stock  raiser  by  occupation,  who  was  born  in  Ohio,  coming  thence  to 
Missouri,  in  1844.  Bessie  E.  Tannahill  was  the  maiden  name  of  the  mother 
of  the  subject  of  our  sketch.  A.  O.  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm,  Johnson 
County,  attending  the  district  schools  until  he  acquired  a  fair  education. 
When  twenty-two  years  old  he  engaged  with  his  father  in  stock  raising. 
In  1880  he  removed  to  Henry  County,  and  settled  where  he  now  resides, 
owning  320  acres  of  choice  land  that  will  average  with  any  in  in  the 
county,  and  well  improved.  Mr.  Quick  has  100  head  of  fine  cattle,  100 
head  of  hogs,  lO  head  of  horses  and  mules.  May  20,  1880,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Flora  Davis,  of  Ohio.  They  have  one  child,  Carrie,  born  June 
5,  1881.     Mr.  Quick  is  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church, 

GEORGE  B.  SIMPSON, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  21,  was  born  in  Kemp  County,  Canada, 
August  25,  1845.  His  father,  George  Simpson,  was  a  native  of  Scotland, 
and  by  calling  was  a  teacher  and  farmer.  His  mother's  maiden  name 
was  Mary  Truxler.  George  W.  was  the  youngest  in  a  family  of  three 
children,  two  sons  and  one  daughter.  He  grew  to  manhood  on  the  home 
farm  and  received  his  education  in  his  native  county.  When  about 
eighteen  years  old  he  engaged  in  farming,  which  he  continued  for  about 
two  years,  then  embarking  in  the  milling  business.  This  he  followed 
until  1867,  when  he  came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  and  resumed  farm- 
ing. His  estate  embraces  eighty  acres  of  the  best  of  land  and  is  well 
improved,  with  a  good  residence  and  fine  young  orchard.  In  February, 
1875,  Mr.  S.  married  Miss  Ann  Kepner,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  They 
are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church.  They  have  two  interesting  daugh- 
ters, Effie  and  Maud. 

BROWNING  STEWART, 

a  prominent  druggist  at  Urich,  is  a  son  of  Harvey  and  Maggie  (Burchnal) 
Stewart,  the  former  a  Virginian  by  birth,  and  the  latter  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania.  Browning,  the  eldest  of  a  family  of  five  children,  was 
born  in  the  state  of  Virginia,  October  26,  1855.  When  he  was  12  years 
old  his  father  came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  and  engaged  in  farming, 
and  the  son  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Clinton. 
When  he  was  18  years  old  he  began  teaching  school,  and  he  taught  in 
different  parts  of  the  county  until  1881,  when  he  engaged  in  the  drug 
business  at  Urich.  He  has  the  only  stock  of  drugs  in  the  town  and  is 
enjoying  a  liberal  patronage.  May  16,  1882,  Mr.  Stewart  married  Miss 
May  Stewart,  a  daughter  of  Dr.  J.  W,  Stewart,  She  is  a  native  of  Mis- 
souri. Mr.  S.  is  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  town,  and  is  respected  by 
all  who  know  him. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  69/ 

OLIVER  E.  WALLACE,  M.  D., 

physician  and  surgeon,  at  Urich,  was  born  in  Johnson  County,  Missouri, 
February  19,  1857,  being  the  son  of  George  W,  and  Margaret  (Given) 
Wallace;  his  father  a  native  of  Tennessee  and  his  mother  of  Missouri. 
Oliver  was  the  second  of  a  family  of  three  children — two  sons  and  one 
daughter.  He  was  reared  as  a  farmer's  boy  attending  the  schools  of  the 
county  and  the  Warrensburg  Normal  School.  In  1878  he  began  the 
study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Samuel  Day,  of  Pittsville,  with  whom  he 
remained  for  about  eighteen  months.  In  1879  he  entered  the  Physio- 
medical  College  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  graduating  there  in  March,  1881. 
In  April  of  that  year  he  located  at  Urich,  where  he  began  the  practice 
of  medicine,  which  has  since  been  constantly  increasing.  During  the 
winter  of  1881-82  he  returned  to  Cincinnati  where  he  lectured  in  the 
college  from  whence  he  graduated.  The  doctor  is  a  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist Church  and  also  belongs  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  fraternity.  December  4, 
1882,  he  married  Miss  Lillie  Harris,  a  native  of  Illinois. 

JOHN  A.  WELLS. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  resides  on  section  17,  where  he  owns  a 
fine  farm  of  280  acres,  180  of  which  are  in  cultivation  and  well  improved. 
He  is  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  J.  A.  Wells  &  Son,  merchants  at 
Urich  and  Gunn  City,  and  they  carry  a  large  stock  of  general  merchan- 
dise and  are  enjoying  an  excellent  trade  at  each  place.  Mr.  Wells  was 
born  April  9,  1820,  in  Cumberland  County,  Kentucky,  his  parents  being 
Joel  and  Martha  (Allen)  Wells,  the  former  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and 
the  latter  of  North  Carolina.  John  A.,  the  oldest  in  a  family  of  ten 
children,  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  in  Kentucky,  and  received  his 
education  in  the  subscription  school.  Upon  arriving  at  manhood  he 
became  interested  in  farming,  which  he  followed  in  Kentucky  until  185 1, 
when  he  removed  to  Henry  Countj^  Missouri.  In  1859  he  came  to  his 
present  home.  Mr.  W.  was  in  the  Enrolled  Missouri  Militia  and  Home 
Guards  during  the  late  war.  In  1866  he  was  elected  county  assessor  of 
Henry  County,  and  held  the  office  for  two  years,  and  has  also  held  the 
position  of  township  clerk  and  assessor.  December  13,  1849,  he  married 
Miss  Molly  A.  Reed,  a  native  of  Kentucky.  They  are  members  of  the 
Christian  Church.'  They  have  one  child,  Thomas  W.,  who  was  born  in 
Christian  County,  Kentucky,  September  16,  1850.  One  child  died  in 
infancy. 


698  HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 


BIG  CREEK  TOWNSHIP. 


^   • ST^^^^-y^iS-vz 


WILLIAM  F.   BARNETT, 

■section  6,  is  among  the  thrifty  farmers  of  Big  Creek  Township.  He  is  a 
native  of  Johnson  County,  Missouri,  and  was  born  February  21,  1849, 
'being  the  son  of  George  H.  Barnett,  a  Kentuckian  by  birth,  who  came 
to  Missouri  when  a  young  man  and  located  in  Johnson  County,  where 
he  entered  land  and  improved  a  farm.  He  married  Miss  Mar^-  F. 
Strange,  also  originally  from  Kentucky,  and  there  continued  to  reside 
on  his  farm  until  his  death  in  1859.  William  F.  Barnett  grew  to  man- 
hood in  the  county  of  his  birth,  spending  his  youth  on  a  farm.  He  was 
married  there  November  i,  1874,  to  Miss  Anna  E.  Satterwhite,  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  Satterwhite  and  a  native  of  Virginia.  Mrs.  Barrett  was 
born  and  reared  in  Johnson  County.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  B.  farmed 
in  that  vicinity  for  about  two  and  a  half  years,  and  in  March,  1877,  he 
•came  to  Henry  County  and  bought  the  farm  where  he  now  resides.  He 
has  over  227  acres  of  land  in  fair  cultivation,  with  a  young  orchard,  and 
is  now  feeding  sixty  head  of  cattle  and  150  hogs.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barnett 
have  four  children:  Dora  May,  Daniel  E.,  John  H.  and  William.  Mr.  B. 
is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  at  Norris. 

A.  M.  BUTCHER, 

farmer  and  stock  feeder,  section  17,  was  born  in  Licking  County,  Ohio, 
February  5,  1837.  His  father,  Nathan  Butcher,  was  a  native  of  Hamp- 
shire County,  Virginia,  but  removed  to  Ohio  with  his  parents  when  a 
youth  and  settled  in  Licking  County,  being  among  the  pioneers  there. 
He  grew  to  manhood,  and  was  married  in  that  county  to  Elizabeth  Sil- 
lin,  originally  of  Loudoun  County,  Virginia.  After  his  father's  death  in 
1843,  A.  M.  Butcher  resided  with  James  Butcher,  his  grandfather,  and  ac- 
•companied  him  to  Indiana  in  1849,  locating  in  Montgomery  County.  His 
youth  was  spent  on  a  farm  there  and  in  attending  the  common  schools, 
where  he  received  a  fair  education.  He  was  married  October  27,  1859, 
to  Miss  Margaret  E.  Waugh,  a  daughter  of  Milo  and  Elizabeth  Waugh, 
of  Montgomery  County,  and  after  this  continued  to  reside  in  Montgom- 
•ery  County,  occupied  in  farming  and  stock  raising,  until  coming  to  Mis- 
souri in  February,  1866,  when  he  settled  in  Henry  County.  He  has  440 
■acres  of  improved  land,  upon  which  is  a  good  residence,  barn,  outbuild- 
ings, etc.     There  are  about  200  acres  in  cultivation,  the  remainder  being 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  699 

pasture  and  timber.  Mr.  Butcher  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  M.  E. 
Church,  South,  and  he  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity.  He  has  held 
several  local  offices  in  his  township,  such  as  township  clerk  and  treasurer. 
They  have  a  family  of  nine  children  :  Lizzie  (wife  of  F.  M.  Engle,  of 
Johnson  County),  James  W.,  Parris  P.,  Frank  S.,  Charles  W.,  Mary  A., 
Milton  E.,  Clinton  E.,  and  Harry  E. 

H.  C.  CHITWOOD, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  16,  is  a  native  of  Henry  County,  Mis- 
souri, having  been  born  here  October  23,  1840.  Daniel  Chitwood,  his 
father,  originally  from  Scott  County,  Tennessee,  was  born  February  24, 
1808,  and  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  county,  and  was  there  married 
to  Sally  Pruett,  a  Kentuckian  by  birth.  In  1829  the  family  removed  to 
Missouri  and  located  where  the  town  of  Lexington  now  is,  but  after 
residing  there  a  short  time  came  to  Henry  County,  in  1833.  He  entered 
land  for  two  years  and  improved  the  farm  which  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  now  occupies.  In  1850  Mr.  Chitwood  went  overland  to  Califor- 
nia, and  after  spending  one  year  in  the  gold  mines  returned  by  the  way 
of  the  Isthmus  and  New  Orleans.  They  had  a  family  of  eight  children, 
all  of  whom  grew  to  maturity  and  married,  but  only  four  of  them  are 
living  at  this  time,  H.  C  being  the  fifth  child.  His  youth  was  spent  on 
the  farm  in  this  county,  and  he  enlisted  in  the  Confederate  army  in  1862 
in  Colonel  Lewis'  regiment,  participating  in  the  battle  of  Prairie  Grove, 
where  he  was  taken  prisoner.  Upon  being  paroled  he  returned  home, 
having  served  about  six  months.  Mr.  Chitwood  was  married  January 
24,  1861,  to  Miss  Jane  Hicks,  a  native  of  Moniteau  County,  but  who  was 
reared  and  educated  in  Henry  County.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Abner 
Hicks.  There  were  eight  children  by  this  marriage:  Thomas  H.,  VVil- 
lard  A.,  Charles  F.,  Viola  A.,  Melissa  A.,  Nancy  E.,  Lavina  and  Willie. 
Mr.  C.has  a  farm  of  273  acres,  with  a  good  new  residence  and  other 
improvements  on  the  place.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  M.  E. 
Church  South. 

JOHN  DARK, 

farmer,  section  15,  was  born  in  Ross  County,  Ohio,  March  i,  1821,  being 
the  son  of  Peter  Darr,  a  native  of  Virginia,  who  removed  to  Ohio 
with  his  parents  when  a  lad.  There  he  grew  to  manhood  and  married 
Eve  Eckenbarger,  of  German  birth,  but  who  was  raised  in  Ohio.  Peter 
Darr  went  to  Elkhart  County,  Indiana,  in  1827,  and  was  one  of  the  pion- 
eers of  that  county,  where  he  entered  land  and  improved  a  farm.  John 
Darr  spent  his  youth  on  this  farm  and  in  a  flouring  mill,  and  was  mar- 
ried in  Goshen,  Indiana,  January  i,  1846,  to  Miss  Ann  Margaret  E.  C. 
Henkle,   born   in   Germantown,  Ohio,  November  26,  1S27.     She  was  a 


700  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

daughter  of  the  Rev^  Andrew  Henkle.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Darr  have  four 
children,  Julia  B.,  (wife  of  John  Fleming)  Edwin,  Lucy  E.,  (wife  of  Dr. 
Kinsey)  and  Frank  C.  They  have  lost  three  children,  two  of  whom  died 
in  infancy,  and  Andrew  M.,  died  in  Johnson  County,  October  15,  1852, 
at  the  age  of  21  years.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Darr  was  occupied 
in  conducting  a  flouring  mill  in  Middleton,  Butler  Countj^,  Ohio,  for  two 
years.  In  1848  he  returned  to  Indiana,  where  he  resumed  the  flouring  busi- 
ness until  coming  to  Missouri  in  1866,  when  he  purchased  a  farm  in  John- 
son County.  There  he  resided  about  fourteen  years.  In  1880,  selling 
his  Johnson  County  property,  he  settled  on  his  present  place.  He  has  140 
acres  of  land  in  a  fair  state  of  cultivation  and  under  improvements. 

DANIEL  DAVIS, 

farmer  and  stock  feeder,  section  31,  was  born  in  Greene  County,  Ohio, 
March  28,  183 1,  and  was  the  son  of  Absalom  Davis,  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
who  went  to  Ohio  when  a  young  man  and  located  in  Greene  County, 
being  among  the  early  pioneers  there.  He  married  Miss  Elmira  Searls, 
of  Virginian  birth  but  who  was  raised  in  Ohio.  Daniel  Davis  grew  to 
manhood  in  his  native  county  on  a  farm,  receiving  a  common  school 
education.  He  was  married  in  Madison  County,  Ohio,  December  6,  i860, 
to  Miss  Margaret  Hill,  a  daughter  of  C.  C.  Hill,  and  originally  from 
Clarke  County,  Ohio.  They  have  seven  children:  Edna  (wife  of  Isaac 
Farnsworth),  Minnie  D.,  Elmer  H.,  Absalom,  John,  Bertha  and  Lida. 
They  have  lost  two  children:  James  M.,  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen, 
and  Willie,  aged  four  years.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Davis  resided  in 
Madison  County,  occupied  in  farming  and  stock  raising  for  ten  years. 
In  February,  1870,  he  came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  and  purchased 
the  farm  where  he  now  resides,  consisting  of  240  acres,  of  which  200  are 
under  fence  and  about  100  acres  in  pasture  and  meadow.  There  are  fair 
buildings  and  improvements  and  a  good  orchard  on  the  place.  He  feeds 
on  an  average  two  car  loads  of  steers  and  about  200  head  of  hogs  anually. 
Mr.  Davis  and  wife  are  members  of  the  United   Brethren  Church. 

WILLIAM  H.  DORMAN, 

merchant,  a  native  of  Henry  County,  Missouri,  was  born  in  Clinton, 
October  18,  1855,  and  is  the  son  of  Judge  J.  G.  Dorman,  a  sketch  of 
whose  life  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work.  William  H.  spent  his  youth 
at  Clinton  attending  the  public  school,  where  he  received  a  good  educa- 
tion in  the  common  English  branches,  supplemented  with  a  course  at 
Jones'  Commercial  College,  at  St.  Louis.  In  1877  he  became  engaged  in 
selling  musical  instruments  and  sewing  machines  at  Clinton,  and  in  1880 
started  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Warsaw,  continuing  in  trade  there 


BlUGRArHICAL.  7OI 

about  one  year.  Selling  out  he  purchased  the  property  and  stock  of 
merchandise  at  his  present  place  of  business  in  Norris.  He  carries  a 
large  and  well  selected  stock  of  general  merchandise,  including  dry 
goods,  clothing,  groceries,  etc.,  and  is  doing  an  extensive  business.  Mr. 
Dorman  was  appointed  postmaster  at  Norris  October  25,  1882.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  also  of  the 
Encampment.  He  was  married  in  this  county  February  12,  1880,  to 
Miss  Alice  L.  Gray,  a  daughter  of  John  L.  Gray,  who  was  one  of  the 
pioneer  settlers  of  Henry  County.  They  have  one  child,  Lilith  M., 
born  October  12,  1882.  Mr.  Dorman  is  an  enterprising  business  man, 
and  one  of  the  substantial  men  of  this  localit}'. 

JAMES  A.  DUNN, 

farmer  and  stock  feeder,  section  35,  owes  his  nativity  to  Cooper  County, 
Missouri,  where  he  was  born  December  24,  1843.  His  father,  Nathan  J. 
Dunn,  originally  from  Harrison  County,  Kentucky,  grew  to  manhood 
there  and  married  Zulina  Ogle,  who  was  a  native  of  the  same  county. 
He  came  to  Missouri  in  about  1835  and  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Cooper  County,  where  he  entered  land  and  improved  a  farm,  the  family 
living  there  until  1854,  when  they  removed  to  Henry  County.  James  A. 
Dunn  grew  to  manhood  in  this  county  on  the  home  farm,  attending  the 
common  schools.  He  was  married  August  12,  1866,  to  Miss  Jemima  H. 
H.  Harrington,  of  Henry  County,  and  a  daughter  of  William  Harring- 
ton. She  died  January  21,  1879,  leaving  four  children:  William  E., 
Nathan  J.,  Eliza  M.  and  Mary  E.  Mr.  Dunn  was  married  to  Miss  Mar- 
tha J.  Tarter  September  14,  1880.  She  is  a  Kentuckian  by  birth  and  a 
daughter  of  Calvin  Tarter.  They  have  two  children,  Ida  J.  and  an 
infant.  Mr.  Dunn  removed  to  his  present  farm  in  the  spring  of  1870. 
He  has  508  acres  of  land,  with  250  acres  in  his  home  place  in  cultivation 
and  pasture,  and  he  is  also  the  owner  of  a  farm  of  160  acres  on  Big 
Creek.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  feeding  stock,  and  feeds  on  an  average 
two  car  loads  of  cattle  and  about  seventy  hogs.  In  May,  1861,  he  enlisted 
in  Price's  army  and  Colonel  Lewis'  regiment,  and  participated  in  a 
number  of  important  engagements,  among  which  were  the  battles  of 
Lexington,  Pea  Ridge  and  Helena  (Arkansas),  Pleasant  Hill  (Louisiana). 
Mansfield  and  Jenkins'  Ferry,  besides  numerous  skirmishes.  He  escaped 
without  a  wound,  but  was  knocked  down  with  a  bomb  shell  at  Helena. 
Mr.  Dunn  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  He  and  his  wife  are 
connected  with  the  M.  E.  Church  South. 

M.  R.  GILLETTE, 

farmer  and  stock  dealer,  section  10,  is  one  of  the  substantial  men  of  Big 
Creek  Township,    and   was  born   in  Henry  County   November  18,  1832. 


702  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

Captain  George  H.  Gillette,  his  father,  was  a  native  of  Lincoln  County, 
Kentucky,  and  was  born  April  8,  180,^.  He  came  to  Missouri  when  a 
young  man,  and  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  St.  Charles  County, 
removing  from  there  to  Jackson  County,  and  thence  to  Texas,  where  he 
spent  but  a  short  time.  Returning  to  Missouri  he  located  in  Saline 
County,  where  he  was  married  to  Miss  P'rances  E.  Hayes,  af  Tennessee. 
After  his  marriage  he  came  to  Henry  County,  which  at  that  time  was  a 
part  of  Rives.  He  entered  a  section  of  land  in  Shawnee  Township  and 
improved  a  farm,  upon  which  he  lived  until  his  death  in  1857.  He  was 
captain  of  a  militia  company  during  the  Mormon  troubles.  M.  R.  Gil- 
lette spent  his  youth  on  a  farm  in  this  county,  and  was  married  in  the 
fall  of  i860  to  Miss  Sybbellow  B.  Huston,  a  Kentuckian  by  birth,  but 
who  was  reared  in  Scotland  County,  Missouri.  She  was  a  daughter  of 
John  A.  Huston.  They  have  one  daughter,  Florence  Belle.  Mr.  Gil- 
lette enlisted  in  the  Confederate  service  in  the  fall  of  1861,  in  Colonel 
Hunter's  Cavalry  Regiment,  and  served  one  year  as  General  Hindman's 
escort.  After  this  he  was  transferred  to  the  St.  Louis  Legion,  where  he 
served  until  after  the  Helena  fight;  then  joined  General  Hunter's  regi- 
ment, in  which  he  remained  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  participated 
in  a  number  of  important  engagements,  among  which  were  the  fights  of 
Lone  Jack,  Booneville  and  Springfield,  Missouri,  and  at  Pea  Ridge  and 
Helena,  Arkansas.  After  the  surrender  of  his  army  at  Shreveport  he 
returned  to  Missouri,  and  has  since  devoted  his  attention  to  farming  and 
raising  and  dealing  in  stock.  Mr.  Gillette  has  315  acres  of  land,  with 
280  acres  in  cultivation. 

WEBSTER  W.  GRAY, 

farmer  and  breeder  of  Hereford  cattle,  is  a  native  of  Henry  County,  Mis- 
souri, and  v/as  born  July  9,  1853.  His  father,  John  L.  Gray,  who  was 
born  in  Tennessee,  came  to  Missouri  when  a  young  man  and  was  or.e  of 
the  pioneer  settlers  of  this  county,  here  entering  a  tract  of  nearly  3,000 
acres  of  land  and  improving  a  farm  in  Rig  Creek  Township.  He  was 
married  here  to  Catherine  E.  Ross,  of  Kentucky,  but  also  among  the 
first  settlers  of  the  county.  W.  W.  Gray  passed  his  younger  days  on  a 
farm  and  in  attending  the  common  schools.  He  received  a  good  educa- 
tion at  Central  College,  where  he  spent  four  years,  nearly  finishing  the 
mathematical  course.  He  was  married  February  7,  1877,  to  Miss  Mattie 
E.  Mclntire,  also  of  Henry  County,  where  she  was  reared  and  educated, 
and  a  daughter  of  D.  C.  and  Agnes  Mclntire.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gray  have 
three  children:  Jessie  Lee,  Nellie  Temple,  and  baby.  They  have  lost 
one  child,  in  infancy.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  G.  located  on  his  farm, 
and  has  since  been  engaged  in  farming.  He  has  680  acres  of  good  land, 
with  600  acres  fenced  and  in  cultivation,  and  two  orchards  of  250  trees, 
consisting  of  apple,  peach,  cherry  and   other   fruits.     He  is  extensively 


BIOGRAPrilCAL.  705 

engaged  in  feeding  cattle  for  the  market,  and  has  a  patent  burr  for 
grinding  feed  for  his  stock,  which  is  operated  by  wind  power.  This  alsO' 
operates  a  large  corn  sheller  and  a  cutting  box.  He  is  now  making  a 
specialty  of  breeding  for  the  market  thoroughbred  and  half-blood  Here- 
ford cattle  and  has  some  fine  animals.  His  herd  is  headed  by  Nobleman- 
6th,  a  fine  male  animal,  two  years  old,  with  Lady  Lorn,  2d.  Mr.  Gray 
is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  and  Odd  Fellows'  orders.  His  wife  is  con- 
nected with  the  M.  E.  Church  South. 

JAMES  HOUK, 

farmer  and  breeder  of  Berkshire  hogs,  was  born  in  Moniteau  County^ 
Missouri,  June  30,  1850,  his  parents  being  Squire  Houk,  a  native  of  Cooper 
County,  and  Susan  (Howard)  Houk.  also  of  this  state.  James  was 
brought  up  in  his  native  county,  spending  his  youth  on  the  farm  and 
attending  the  common  schools.  He  was  married  March  i?,  i87i,toMiss 
Sarah  Ann  Redford,  a  daughter  of  William  Redford,  and  also  a  native  of 
Moniteau  County.  They  have  three  children:  Lucy  Belle,  Robert  Lee 
and  John  Wesley.  They  have  lost  one  daughter,  Nora  Lee,  at  the  age 
of  fifteen  months.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Houk  resided  for  three  years- 
in  Moniteau  County,  removing  thence  to  Henry  County  in  1874.  He 
owns  a  farm  of  eighty-six  acres,  all  in  cultivation,  with  a  good  young 
orchard,  and  he  also  has  fifteen  acres  of  timber.  Mr.  Houk  is  making  a 
specialty  of  breeding  thorough  bred  Berkshire  hogs,  and  has  some  as- 
fine  animals  as  can  be  found  in  the  state. 

T.  S.  HOWARD,  M.  D. 

The  subject  of  this  3ketch  is  a  native  of  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri^ 
where  he  was  born  January  24,  1853.  His  father,  John  G.  Howard,  a 
Kentyckian  by  birth,  came  to  Missouri  with  his  parents  when  quite 
small  and  first  located  in  Morgan  County,  being  among  the  pioneers 
there.  He  was  married  in  Benton  County  to  Amanda  M.  Cock.  T.  S, 
Howard  was  brought  up  in  this  county,  and  for  quite  a  while  attended  the 
public  schools.  He  commenced  the  study  of  his  profession  about  the 
year  1872,  at  Huntingdale,  under  the  tutorship  of  Dr.  E.  C.  Royston,  one 
of  the  pioneer  physicians  of  the  county,  and  attended  his  first  course  of 
lectures  at  the  St.  Louis  Medical  College  in  the  winter  of  1873-4,  gradu- 
ating from  that  institution  in  the  spring  of  1876.  After  completing  his 
studies,  the  doctor  began  the  practice  of  medicine  at  Chilhowee,  John- 
son County,  where  he  remained  about  two  years,  removing  thence  to- 
Huntingdale  in  1878.  He  practiced  at  that  place  for  four  years,  and  in 
1882  came  to  Norris,  where,  though  a  recent  arrival,  he  has  built  up  a 
successful  and  increasing  patronage.     Dr.  Howard  was  married  Novem- 


704  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

ber  29,  1876,  to  Miss  Ida  Royston,  of  Henry  County,  and  a  daughter  of 
Dr,  E.  C.  Royston.  They  lost  their  only  child,  Georgie  Garnett,  who 
died  March  25,  1881,  at  the  age  of  three  years  and  six  months.  Mrs. 
Howard  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  South.  The  doctor  belongs 
to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  fraternity. 

J.  S.  HOWERTON,  ,, 

1 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  came  originally  from  Rockingham  County,  North      ; 
Carolina.     His  father,  William  Howerton,  was  a  native  of  Virginia.  There      j 
he  grew  to  maturity,  and  was  married  in  North  Carolina,  to  Miss  Fran-       | 
ces  P.   Wall,  of  that  state,  and  a  daughter  of  Richard  Wall.     William      \ 
Howerton,  Richard  Wall  and  others,   removed  from  North  Carolina  to 
Missouri  in    1839,  and  located  in   Henry  County.     The  former  entered 
land  and  improved  a  farm  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county,  and  resided 
upon  it  till  his  death  in  1876.     For  seven  years  he   had   been   a  sufferer      j 
from  paralysis.     J.  S.  Howerton    passed  his  youth  upon  the  home  farm,      ! 
and  was   married  July    18,  1867,  to  Miss  Eliza  Ann  Harrington,  a  native     ] 
of  Henr)^    County,  and  a   daughter   of   William    Harrington,   who    was 
also  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  the  county.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Howerton      • 
have  four  children:  Dophelia  Belle,  Susan  Frances,  Nancy  Ann,  and  Sal- 
lie  T.     They  have  lost  two:  Oscar  Lee,  died  September  10,  1872,  at  the      j 
age  of  four  years,  and   Mary  E.,  died  May  10,    1873,  at  the  age  of  three      1 
years  and  three  months.     After  his  marriage  Mr.  H.  resided  on  the  old 
homestead  about  six  years.      He  removed  to  his  present  place  in  1872, 
and  now  has  180  acres  of  land,  160  acres  being  in  his  home  farm,  fairly 
improved,  with  a  good  house  and  a  young,  bearing  orchard.   He  enlisted 
in  the  Confederate  army  in  1862,  and  served    in   Hindman's  body  guard      j 
until  April,  1863,  when  he  was  transferred  to  Young's  Battalion,  serving      1 
in  the  cavalry  until  the   fall  of  Vicksburg.     After  this  last  engagement,     J 
his  regiment  was  reorganized   and    was    known   as  the  Tenth  Missouri      \ 
Cavalry,  in  which  he  served  till  the  close  of  the  war.     He  participated     \ 
in  a  number  of  important  engagements,  among  which  were  the  fight    at 
Helena,  and  Little  Rock,  Arkansas,  Glasgow,  and  the  numerous  battles      [ 
of  Price's  raid  through  Missouri.     After  the  final  surrender  he  returned      | 
to  Missouri. 

P.  D.  LANE, 

merchant  and  postmaster  at  Petersburg,  is  recognized  as  one  of  the 
thrifty  and  enterprising  business  men  of  Big  Creek  Township.  He  was 
born  in  Brown  County,  Ohio,  January  i,  1840,  his  parents  being  N.  D. 
and  Jane  (McMahan)  Lane,  also  natives  of  Ohio.  In  1842  the  family 
removed  to  Missouri,  settling  in  Big  Creek  Township,  Henry  County. 
P.  D.  Lane  grew  up  on  this  farm,  receiving  a  good  common  school  edu- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  705 

cation.  When  in  his  nineteenth  year  he  taught  a  winter  term  of  school, 
and  after  the  close  of  his  school  he  commenced  clerking  in  a  store  at 
Shawnee  Mound,  remaining  there  about  one  year.  In  the  spring  of  1861 
he  enlisted  in  Owens'  Battalion  Cavalry,  and  in  the  spring  of  1862 
enlisted  in  the  regular  Confederate  service,  Colonel  Jackman's  Sixteenth 
Missouri  Infantry,  serving  for  about  six  months.  He  was  imprisoned 
and  then  on  parole  the  rest  of  the  time  till  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
participated  in  the  engagements  of  Carthage,  Wilson  Creek,  Pea  Ridge 
and  Walnut  Grove.  Returning  to  Missouri  in  1865  Mr.  Lane  was 
engaged  in  farming  and  trading  in  stock  about  fifteen  years.  He  built 
a  business  house  at  his  present  stand  in  1880,  put  in  a  stock  of  general 
merchandise  and  is  now  doing  a  good  business.  He  was  appointed 
postmaster  at  Petersburg  in  the  spring  of  1881.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  (Agricola  LodgeJ  and  is  secretary  of  his  lodge.  Mr 
Lane  was  married  in  this  county  March  3,  1867,  to  Miss  Christine  Hiser, 
a  native  of  Hickory  County,  but  who  was  reared  and  educated  in  Henry 
County,  and  a  daughter  of  John  Hiser.  They  have  a  family  of  five 
children:  Edwin,  Minnie,  Lena,  Alice  and  Albert.  He  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

WILLIAM  J.  McFARLAND, 

section  2,  is  a  prominent  farmer  and  stock  dealer,  of  this  township,  and 
was  born  in  Cooper  County,  Missouri,  September  26,  1834.  Jesse  McFar- 
land,  his  father,  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  was  born  April  17,  1800.  He 
removed  to  Missouri  with  his  parents  in  1811,  and  in  1816  located  in 
Cooper  County,  and  was  among  the  earliest  settlers  of  Missouri.  He 
grew  to  manhood  in  Cooper  County  and  married  Ann  McFarland,a  dis- 
tant relative.  The  former  was  a  farmer  and  mechanic  and  also  a  sur- 
veyor by  occupation  and  when  nineteen  years  old  he  assisted  in  the  sur- 
veying of  Rives  County,  and  held  several  local  offices  in  the  county. 
He  now  resides  at  Pleasant  Hill,  Missouri,  and  celebrated  his  sixtieth 
wedding  anniversary  January  7,  1880.  W.  J.  McFarland  spent  his  youth 
on  a  farm  in  Cooper  County  and  received  a  common  school  education. 
He  was  married  there  October  10,  1865,  to  Miss  M.  E.  Mitchel,  also  of 
Cooper  County,  and  a  daughter  of  William  J.  Mitchel.  They  have  three 
children:  Edith  L.,  Clarence  W.  and  Albert  W.  After  his  marriage 
Mr.  McFarland  resided  about  two  years  in  Cooper  County  and  then 
removed  to  Henry  County,  buying  land  and  improving  the  farm  where 
he  now  resides.  He  has  355  acres,  with  320  in  good  cultivation  and 
under  improvements,  with  an  orchard  of  100  choice  bearing  apple  trees 
and  a  variety  of  other  fruits.  Mr.  McFarland  makes  a  specialty  of  rais- 
ing and  handling  stock,  and  feeds  on  an  average  two  car   loads  of  steers 

45 


706  HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 

and  fifty  hogs  annually.      He  has  some  good  graded  stock.     He  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 

D.  C.  McINTIRE, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  22,  was  born  in  Clark  County,  Kentucky, 

October  25,  182 1,  and  was  the  son  of  Hugh  Mclntire,  a  native  of  North  ' 

Carolina,  who   moved   with  his   parents   at  the   age   of  seven  to  Clark  j 

County,  Kentucky,  there  being  brought  up.    Francis  Mclntire,  his  father,  I 

was   a   soldier  in    the    revolutionary   war,   and   carried   during   life   five  i 

wounds  received  in  that  long  struggle  for  American  independence.     D.  ; 
C.  Mclntire   accompanied   the   family   to  Trimble    County   when   seven 

years  old  and  there  grew  to  manhood.    He  came  to  Missouri  in  i84i,but  , 

previously  had   spent  six  years  traveling  through  Wisconsin,  Iowa  and  , 

Illinois.     He  was  married  in  Scotland  County,  Missouri,  September  23,  : 

1847,  to  Miss  Agnes  F.  Huston,  of  Boone  County,  Kentucky,  who  was  1 

reared  and  educated  there,  and  a  daughter  of  Archibald  Huston.     They  \ 

have   six  children:     William  Seldon,  Joseph  M.,  Homer  H.,  Martha  E.  j 

(wife  of  W.  W.  Gray),  Ada  Lee  and  Daniel  M.     After  this  marriage  Mr.  | 
Mclntire  located  in  Adair  County,  where  he   entered   land  and  made  a 
farm,  making  it  his  home  for  about   eleven  years.     In  1858  he  came  to 
Henry  County,  locating  on  Honey  Creek,  and  built  a  flour,  grist  and  saw 
mill,  and  was  engaged  in  milling  about    seven    years.      Selling  his  mill 

property,  he  purchased   the  farm   where   he  now  resides  in  1865.     This  ] 

place  consists  of  270  acres  of  land,  with   240   acres  in   cultivation    and  ] 

pasture,  and  upon  it  is  a  good  residence  and  a  fine  orchard  of  about  250  | 

bearing  trees  of  select  fruits      Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mclntire   are    members  of  I 

the  M.  E.  Church  South.     He  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity.  I 

GEORGE  W.  McOUITTY,  * 

a  native  of  Boone  County,  Missouri,  was  born  September  16,  1839.     His    ^ 
father.  G.  W.  McQuitty,  was  a  Kentuckian  by  birth,  but  removed  to  Mis- 
souri with  his  parents  when  a  lad,  and  they  were  among  the  pioneer  set- 
tlers of  Boone  County.     He  grew  to  manhood  and  was  married  there  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Roland,  who  also  was  of  Kentucky  birth,  and  a  daughter 
of  William  Roland.     After  his  marriage  he  located  on  a  farm   in   Boone    | 
County,  where  he  resided  till  his  death,  in  1870.     George   W.  Jr.,   spent 
his  youth  in  his  native  county,  receiving  a  good  common  school  educa- 
tion      He  enlisted  in  the  confederate  army  in    February,    1862,  in   Com-    j 
pany  C,  Sixth  Missouri  Infantry,  under  Col.  Irvin,  and  participated  in    a    I 
number  of  engagements,  among  which  were  the  second  fight  at  Corinth, 
luka,  and  Grand  Gulf  where  he  was   taken  prisoner   and   parolled    after    ' 
two  months,  then  returning  home.     He  was  married  in  Boone  Count)-,    1 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  JOf 

March  i8,  1866,  to  Miss  Lucinda  Goslin,  of  the  same  county  as  himself^ 
and  a  daughter  of  Sylvester  F.  Goslin,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  that 
county.  I'he  year  after  his  marriage  Mr.  McOuitty  came  to  Henry 
Coun  _,,  bought  land  and  improved  the  farm  where  he  now  resides.  He 
has  280  acres,  with  about  230  acres  fenced  and  in  cultivation,  a  large- 
residence  and  a  fine  orchard  being  on  the  place.  He  has  some  good' 
stock  and  high  graded  cows  and  one  thoroughbred  male  animal.  Mr.. 
McQuitty  lost  his  first  wife  by  death  October  25,  1870,  she  leaving  two- 
children,  John  R.  and  Elizabeth  A.  He  was  married  in  Henry  County 
January  25,  1875,  to  Miss  Martha  M.  Johnson,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and 
a  daughter  of  Robert  R.  Johnson.  There  are  four  children  by  this  mar- 
riage: William  T.,  Edith  B.,  George  N.  and  Alice  D.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Baptist  and  his  wife  belongs  to  the  Christian  denomination. 

A.  B.    REDFORD, 

section  18,  owes  his  nativity  to  Knox  County,  East  Tenessee,  where  he 
was  born  July  18,  18 19.  His  parents,  Noah  and  Phebe  (Dodson)  Red- 
ford,  were  natives  of  Stokes  County,  North  Carolina.  In  1832  the  family 
removed  from  North  Carolina  to  Tennessee,  and  thence  to  Missouri, 
locating  in  Moniteau  County.  Here  A.  B.  spent  his  3^outhful  days  on  a 
farm.  He  was  married  in  Johnson  County  in  March,  185 1,  to  Miss  Han- 
nah Anderson,  of  that  county  and  a  daughter  of  John  Anderson,  one  of 
the  early  settlers  of  Johnson  County  and  a  Kentuckian  by  birth.  After 
his  marriage  Mr.  R.  lived  for  about  six  years  in  Johnson  County,  and  in 
March,  1857,  he  came  to  Henry  County,  purchasing  the  farm  where  he 
now  resides.  He  has  about  1,500  acres,  all  under  fence,  with  200  acres 
in  timber,  the  balance  being  in  pasture  and  cultivation,  with  a  good 
residence  and  orchard.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  feeding  and  dealing  in 
stock,  and  feeds  annually  about  lOO  head  of  steers  and  a  like  number  of 
hogs.  Mr.  Redford  has  raised  a  family  of  four  children,  all  of  whom  are 
married:  Noah  O.,  John  E.,  Robert  V.  and  Serepta  A.,  (wife  of  John  A. 
Overby).  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order,  and  Mrs.  R.  belongs, 
to  the  M.  E.  Church  South. 

MILO  SPAULDING, 

farmer  and  stock  feeder,  section  27,  was  born  in  Seneca  County,  Ohiov 
February  3,  1846,  and  was  the  son  of  Daniel  D.  Spaulding,  a  native  of 
New  York,  who  grew  to  manhood  there,  removing  to  Ohio  when  a  young 
man,  and  locating  in  Seneca  County,  where  he  married  Mary  Ann  Trail, 
of  Pennsylvania.  Milo  Spaulding  spent  his  youth  in  Seneca  County  on 
a  farm,  enjoying  the  advantages  of  attending  the  public  schools.  In  the 
fall  of  1861,   when  in  his  sixteenth  year,  he  enlisted  in  the    Forty-ninth 


708  HISTORY   OP^    HENRY   COUNTY. 

Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served  thirteen  months.  He  participated 
in  the  battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing  and  minor  engagements  and  skir- 
mishes. After  his  term  of  service  expired  he  passed  some  four  years  in 
Indiana,  Illinois  and  Kansas.  He  was  married  in  Weston,  Missouri, 
February,  7,  1866,  to  Mrs.  Sarah  Jane  Millen,  widow  of  John  VV.  Millen. 
Mrs.  Spaulding  was  a  daughter  of  James  Lime,  and  is  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky. Mr.  S.  subsequently  removed  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  resided  about 
three  years,  going  thence  to  Henry  County,  Illinois,  where  he  farmed  one 
year.  In  the  spring  of  1870  he  located  in  Henry  County,  Missouri,  pur- 
chased land  and  improved  a  farm  where  he  now  resides.  He  has  120 
acres  in  his  home  place,  in  cultivation  with  a  good  house,  barn  and  out 
buildings  and  a  young  orchard.  He  also  owns  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  in 
another  tract,  and  sixty  acres  of  timber  land.  Mr.  Spaulding  is  one  of 
the  most  successful  farmers  of  Big  Creek  Township.  He  makes  a 
specialty  of  feeding  about  one  car  load  of  steers  and  about  thirty  hogs 
annually.  Mrs.  Spaulding  has  three  children  by  her  first  husband:  John 
W.,  Mary  E.  and  Charles  Henry  Millen.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Mis- 
sionary Baptist  Church.     He  belongs  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  fraternity. 

DR.  T.  T.  THORNTON 

was  born  October  18,1846,  in  Henry  County,  Missouri,  and  was  the  son 
of  W.  B.  Thornton,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  who  was  married  to  Augusta 
Toliver,  also  a  Kentuckian  by  birth.  About  the  year  1846  the  family 
removed  to  Missouri,  and  located  in  Henry  County  at  Calhoun,  where 
W.  B.  Thornton  carried  on  his  trade,  that  of  a  saddler,  until  his  death 
in  1850.  After  his  father's  death  T.  T.  Thornton  returned  to  Oldham 
County,  Kentucky,  and  there  grew  to  manhood,  spending  his  youth  on 
a  farm.  His  education  was  acquired  principally  through  his  own  efforts. 
At  about  the  age  of  eighteen  years  he  commenced  the  study  of  medi- 
cine under  the  tutorship  of  Dr.  H.  G.  Duerson,  one  of  the  prominent 
physicians  of  Oldham  County,  and  later  attended  lectures  at  the  Ken- 
tucky School  of  Medicine  at  Louisville.  After  completing  his  studies  at 
this  college  the  doctor  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  at 
Shady,  Crittenden  County,  Kentucky,  where  he  remained  four  years.  In 
1872  he  located  at  Huntingdale,  Henry  County,  Missouri,  and  continued 
practicing,  in  partnership  with  Dr.  E.  C.  Royston.for  two  years.  In  1874 
he  came  to  Norris,  and  here  has  built  up  a  fine  practice.  Dr.  Thornton 
was  m'lrried  in  Huntingdale  in  October,  1873,  to  Miss  Sallie  Lewis,  a 
daughter  of  Robert  Lewis.  She  was  born  in  St.  Louis  County,  but  was 
reared  and  educated  in  Cass  County.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Thornton  have  a 
family  of  five  children,  Lucy  A.,  Alice,  Emma  L.,  Genevieve  and  Samuel 
L,  The  doctor  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  and  Odd  Fellows  orders. 
His  wife  belongs  to  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  709 

I.  M.  VANCE, 

farmer  and  stock  feeder,  section  11,  was  born  in  Fayette  County,  Ohio, 
February  2,  1844.  His  parents,  were  B.  H.  Vance,  born  in  Ohio  in  1812, 
and  Adeline  (Myers)  Vance,  a  native  of  the  same  state.  The  former 
was  a  farmer  and  stock  dealer  by  occupation,  and  followed  the  stock 
business  for  a  number  of  years.  He  removed  with  his  family  to  Missouri 
in  1858  and  located  in  Cooper  County,  where  he  lived  about  nine  years, 
coming  thence  to  Johnson  County  in  1867  and  to  Henry  County  in  1868. 
I.  M.  Vance  spent  his  youth  on  a  farm.  He  was  married  in  Cass  County 
in  March,  1870,  to  Miss  CyrenaCain,  a  native  of  Adams  County,  Illinois, 
but  who  was  reared  in  Harrison  County,  Missouri.  She  was  a  daughter 
of  Ephraim  Cain.  They  have  six  children:  Loella,  Cora  E.,  Anna  Kate, 
Walter  S.,  Frank  and  Henry  B,  Mr.  Vance  purchased  and  moved  on 
his  present  farm  in  1872.  He  has  183  acres  of  land,  with  160  acres  fenced 
and  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation,  well  improved,  etc.  He  enlisted  in 
April,  1863,  in  the  Missouri  State  militia  cavalry  and  served  till  dis- 
charged in  September,  1865.  He  participated  in  the  fights  of  Price's  raid 
from  the  Osage  to  Jefferson  City,  some  sixty  days,  with  skirmishing 
every  day,  and  he  was  also  in  a  number  of  other  important  engage- 
ments. 

JOHN  W.  WAUGH, 

farmer  and  stock  dealer,  section  17,  a  successful  and  enterprising  citizen 
of  this  locality,  is  a  native  of  Montgomery  County,  Indiana,  and  was  born 
December  13,  1839.  His  father,  Milo  Waugh,  was  born  in  Ross  County, 
Ohio,  and  there  grew  to  manhood  and  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Kiousa, 
of  Fayette  County,  the  same  state.  The  family  removed  to  Indiana  in 
183 1,  and  were  among  the  pioneers  of  Montgomery  County.  Milo 
Waugh  entered  land  there,  and  improved  a  farm,  living  upon  it  until  his 
death  in  June,  1859.  They  had  a  family  of  eleven  children,  six  sons  and 
five  daughters,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  being  the  fifth  child.  His  youth 
was  spent  on  his  father's  farm,  with  common  school  advantages,  and  he 
was  married  in  the  county  of  his  birth,  July  19.  i860,  to  Miss  Mary  Hen- 
derson, of  the  same  county,  and  a  daughter  of  Alexander  Henderson. 
She  died  in  Indiana,  June  28,  1864,  leaving  two  children,  William  B.,  and 
Martha  (wife  of  Ed.  Dower).  Mr.  Waugh  was  married  in  Montgomery 
County,  April  20,  1865,  to  Miss  Julia  A.  Hamilton,  who  was  also  origin- 
ally of  Montgomery  County,  and  a  daughter  of  John  Hamilton.  There 
are  six  children  by  this  marriage:  James  H.,  Ed.  R.,  Richard  H.,  Mary 
E.,  Walter  S.,  and  Jennie  May.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Waugh,  was 
engaged  in  farming  in  his  native  county  until  his  removal  to  Missouri, 
in  166,  when  buying  land,  he  located  where  he  now  resides.  He  has  a 
fine  farm  of  550  acres,  about  400  acres  of  which   are    in  cultivation  and 


.7IO  HISTORY    OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

pasture,  upon  which  is  a  good  two-story  dwelling  and  outbuildings  and 
a  splendid  orchard. 

PLEASANT  R.  WEBSTER. 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  5,  is  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Henry 
County.  He  was  born  in  Rockingham  County,  North  Carolina,  in  April, 
1821,  his  parents  being  Richard  and  Betsy  (Black)  Webster,  also  natives 
■of  North  Carolina.  Pleasant  R.,  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  county, 
•and  spent  his  youth  on  a  farm,  enjoying  fair  opportunities  for  acquir- 
ing  an  education.  He  was  married  in  Stokes  County,  North  Carolina, 
to  Miss  Matilda  J.  Webster,  of  the  same  state.  In  1854  Mr.  Webster 
came  west  to  Missouri  and  settled  in  Henry  County,  near  Clinton, 
removing  to  his  present  farm  in  February,  1880.  He  has  120  acres  of 
land  under  fence,  and  nearly  all  in  cultivation.  Mrs.  Webster  died  July 
28,  1880,  leaving  eleven  children:  Martin  V.;  Elizabeth,  (wife  of  William 
H.  Childis);  Susan,  (wife  of  Benjamin  Childis);  James  R.;  Hester  J.  (wife  of 
Byron  Dunham) ;  Nancy  J.,  (wife  of  John  Newman) ;  William,  Siby,  Everett 
Salina,  Richard  Lee,  and  Luther  L.  Mr.  W.  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church. 

JAMES  H.  WEBSTER, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  19,  a  well  known  and  prominent  man  of 
this  township,  is  a  native  of  Stokes  County,  North  Carolina,  and  was 
born  February  14,  1827.  Pleasant  Webster,  his  father,  also  originally  from 
North  Carolina,  grew  to  manhood  and  was  married  in  Stokes  County  to 
Miss  Hester  Foy,  of  that  county.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  passed  his 
youthful  days  in  tilling  the  soil,  and  in  his  19th  year  came  to  Missouri  in 
the  fall  of  1845  and  located  in  Henry  County.  Three  years  later,  March  15, 
1848,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Jane  Carpenter,  of  Kentucky,  and 
a  daughter  of  Wilson  D.  Carpenter,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this  county. 
She  died  February  4,  1864,  and  left  four  children  living:  P.  W.,  Hester 
Ann  (wife  of  J.  Anderson),  Sarah  E.  (wife  of  William  Stanberry),  and 
May  C.  Mr.  Webster  married  his  present  wife,  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Lotspeich, 
widow  of  William  Lotspeich  and  a  daughter  of  Abraham  Fisher,  May 
3,  1868.  They  have  four  children:  Charles,  Dora,  Walter  and  Oscar. 
After  his  first  marriage  Mr.  Webster  located  on  Honey  Creek,  where  he 
improved  a  farm  and  where  he  resided  for  seven  years.  He  has  since 
improved  three  other  farms,  and  now  owns  i  SO  acres  of  land,  with  no 
acres  fenced,  upon  which  is  a  good  house  and  a  young  orchard.  He  was 
elected  justice  of  the  peace  for  Big  Creek  Township  and  has  since  been 
re-elected,  and  has  served  continuously  in  that  capacity  for  twelve  years. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Webster  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South.  The 
former  is  connected  with  the  Masonic  fraternity. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  /I  I 

L.  A.  WISELY,  M.  D., 

merchant  at  Norris,  is  a  highly  respected  citizen  of  this  locality,  and 
was  born  in  Wythe  County,  Virginia,  May  25,  1829.  His  parents  were 
Daniel  and  Mary  A.  (Straw)  Wisely,  also  Virginians  by  birth.  In  1837 
the  family  came  to  Missouri  and  located  in  Callaway  County,  where  Mr. 
Wisely  entered  land  and  improved  a  farm.  In  1841  they  removed  to 
Howard  County,  where  Daniel  Wisely  was  engaged  in  farming  until  his 
death,  in  1868.  L.  A.  served  an  apprenticeship  in  the  office  of  the  Mis- 
souri Democrat,  at  Fayette,  Missouri,  and  worked  at  the  printing  busi- 
ness for  eight  years,  three  years  of  the  time  in  St.  Louis.  While  in  St. 
Louis  he  took  advantage  of  the  night  schools  and  supplemented  this 
knowledge  by  two  years  attendance  at  Howard  College.  After  com- 
pleting his  studies  he  bought  out  the  Platte  Argus,  at  Weston,  publish- 
ing that  paper,  in  connection  with  his  brother,  for  three  years.  He 
studied  medicine  under  the  instruction  of  Dr.  Bowers,  of  Weston,  and 
took  lectures  at  the  University  of  Virginia,  in  i8S7,  graduating  in  Phila- 
delphia from  the  Jefferson  Medical  College,  in  1859.  Upon  the  com- 
pletion of  his  medical  course  Dr.  W.  commenced  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession in  Howard  County,  in  i860,  continuing  there  for  six  years.  In 
1866  he  came  to  Henry  County,  locating  at  Windsor,  where  he  practiced 
for  two  years.  In  1866  he  purchased  a  farm,  removed  to  Big  Creek 
Township  and  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits  in  connection  with  his 
professional  duties.  He  removed  to  Norris  in  1879  ^^^  engaged  in  the 
drug  business,  and  now  has  an  excellent  stock  of  everything  in  his  line 
of  trade.  The  doctor  is  Democratic  in  politics,  and  takes  a  leading  part 
in  all  the  political  issues  of  the  day.  He  received  the  appointment  and 
held  the  office  of  postmaster  at  Norris  for  four  years,  and  was  appointed 
notary  in  May,  1882.  He  was  married  in  Howard  County  June  23,  1863, 
to  Miss  Mary  F.  Bass,  a  daughter  of  George  P.  Bass.  She  is  a  native  of 
that  county,  and  received  her  education  at  the  Howard  College.  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  Wisely  have  three  children,  Edna  M.,  George  D.  and  Sally 
Tuttle.  The  former  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  and  Odd  Fellows 
orders. 


712  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 


HONEY  CREEK  TOWNSHIP. 


OWEN  M.  BUSH, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  24,  was  born  March  4,  1843,  i"  Clark 
County,  Kentucky,  and  was  the  son  of  Phillip  W,  Bush,  a  farmer  and 
stock  raiser  by  occupation,  born  October  31,  18 12,  in  Clark  County,  and 
Jane  (Monroe)  Bush,  born  April  12,  1823,  in  Jessamine  County,  Ken- 
tucky. They  were  married  in  December,  1841,  and  had  six  children, 
three  sons  and  three  daughters,  all  of  whom  are  now  living  with  the 
exception  of  one  daughter.  Owen  accompanied  his  parents  to  Marion 
County  in  1850,  but  remained  there  only  one  year,  they  then  removing 
to  Lafayette  County,  Missouri,  and  buying  240  acres  of  land.  Here  he 
obtained  a  common  English  education.  In  1859  ^^-  ^-  ^^^^  ^is  farm 
and  purchased  640  acres  in  Bates  County,  but  never  settled  on  it  on 
account  of  the  war.  In  1868  he  sold  his  land  in  Bates  County,  returning 
to  Lafayette  County  in  1874.  O.  M.  Bush  was  married  January  4,  1866, 
to  Miss  Mary  E.  Noel.  By  this  marriage  they  have  two  sons.  He  came 
to  Henry  County  in  March,  1873,  and  bought  (on  section  24)  eighty-four 
acres  of  land,  upon  which  he  located.  In  April,  1881,  he  purchased 
ninety  acres  more,  on  section  28,  making  for  himself  a  fine  farm  of  174 
acres.  Mr.  Bush  is  a  man  of  extensive  observation,  and  has  held  the 
office  of  magistrate,  for  several  years  in  the  township,  having  been  first 
appointed  to  fill  a  vacancy  for  one  year,  and  afterward  elected  for  the 
term  of  four  years  in  1877.     Politically  he  is  a  Democrat. 

PHILLIP  BUSH, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  was  born  February  14th,  1856,  in  Lafayette 
County,  Missouri.  His  father,  Phillip  W.  Bush,  was  born  October  31, 
1812,  in  Clark  County,  Kentucky,  and  married  in  December,  1841,  Miss 
Mary  Jane  Monroe,  who  was  born  April  26,  1823,  in  Jessamine  County, 
Kentucky.  By  this  union  there  were  six  children,  three  sons  and  three 
daughters,  and  all  survive  but  one  daughter.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  in  November,  1880,  and  after  remain- 
ing a  few  months,  spending  his  time  in  farming  and  looking  for  a  favor- 
able opportunity  to  locate,  he  bought  eighty  acres  of  la,nd  on  section  14. 
He  resides  with  his  mother,  who  lives  near  the  farm  he  has  recently 
purchased.  He  received  in  his  boyhood  a  good  English  education,  and 
although  still  a  young  man,  is  a  practical  farmer.     He  has  a  fair  resi- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  /1 5. 

dence   upon   his   farm,  and   everything  about  him  denotes  thrift  and  the 
successful  agriculturist.     In  his  political  preferences  he  is  a  Democrat. 

WILLIAM  A.  McREYNOLDS 

was  born  February  i,  1833,  in  Butler  County,  Kentucky,  his  parents 
being  Benj.  S.  McReynolds,  born  July  15,  1806,  in  Logan  County,  Ken- 
tucky, and  Elizabeth  Ann,  }iee  Askew,  who  was  born  in  July,  1809,  in 
Campbell  County,  Virginia.  They  were  married  in  July,  1830,  in  Logan 
County,  Kentucky,  and  by  this  union  had  six  children,  four  sons  and 
two  daughters,  of  whom  our  subject  was  the  eldest  son.  Benjamin 
McReynolds  remained  a  resident  of  Kentucky  until  his  death.  In  youth 
he  received  only  common  school  training,  but  being  of  studious  habits 
became  a  most  learned  scholar.  He  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  and 
worked  at  it  a  number  of  years,  and  also  took  up  carriage  making,  hir- 
ing several  hands  in  that  industry.  He  employed  a  blacksmith,  and  by- 
degrees  became  skilled,  to  some  extent,  in  that  business  also.  He  fol- 
lowed both  occupations  for  several  years,  and  finally  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  the  study  of  medicine,  continuing  the  practice  in  after  years,  as 
taught  by  the  Thompsonian  schools  of  his  day.  Later  in  life  he  became 
a  farmer,  and  the  owner  of  quite  a  large  tract  of  land  in  Kentucky,  a 
part  of  which,  proving  rich  in  coal,  he  opened  into  mines,  and  did  quite 
an  extensive  coal  trade,  shipping  to  different  points  both  north  and 
south.  He  served,  during  the  early  part  of  his  career,  as  magistrate, 
for  eighteen  years  or  more,  until  (by  virtue  of  the  law  of  the  state)  he 
became  sheriff,  being  the  oldest  official  in  the  capacity  of  magistrate. 
This  position  he  filled  for  one  term.  He  was  nominated  in  1845  for  the 
state  legislature,  his  opponent  being  Lot  Moore,  of  the  same  county,  but 
was  defeated  on  account  of  his  scruples  against  being  elected  as  a 
whisky  candidate.  He  was  also  a  candidate  on  the  Democratic  ticket 
for  the  succeeding  term,  but  died  before  the  election,  July  3,  1847. 
William  A.  McReynolds,  at  the  death  of  his  father  was  a  lad  of  but  four- 
teen. At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  left  home,  determined  to  seek  his  own 
fortune,  and  commenced  by  working  at  the  carpenter's  bench.  He 
learned  the  trade  in  Clarksville,  Tennessee,  remaining  there  for  three 
years  and  then  returned  to  Todd  County,  Kentucky,  where  he  entered  intO' 
business  as  a  builder  and  contractor,  continuing  it  for  several  years.  He 
was  engaged  in  building  at  Cairo  during  one  season,  where  he  owned 
considerable  city  propery.  He  spent  one  year  in  Illinois.  In  the  year 
1873  he  was  occupied  during  the  winter  in  stock  feeding,  in  company 
with  a  brother,  and  also  for  several  years  thereafter.  Finally  he  decided 
to  make  Missouri  his  permanent  home,  and  accordingly  in  the  spring  of 
1882  bought  a  tract  of  nearly  1,200  acres,  mostly  in  Honey  Creek  Town- 
ship, Henry  County,  his  residence  being  on   section   18.     He   has   the 


714  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

supervision  of  his  estates  in  both  townships,  much  of  his  land  lying  in 
White  Oak.  All  of  it  is  devoted  to  farmin'g  purposes  with  the  exception 
of  forty  acres  of  timber.  Mr.  McR.  makes  his  home  at  present  with 
Mrs.  McKinney,  his  sister,  a  widowed  lady,  and  her  sons.  He  was  once 
placed  in  nomination  as  a  candidate  in  Todd  County.  Tennessee,  for 
the  legislature,  on  the  Republican  ticket,  but  was  defeated  through  the 
■treachery  of  some  of  his  pretended  friends,  who  had  been  instrumental 
in  securing  his  nomination.  He  is  Republican  in  sentiment,  and  has 
been  since  i86i.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church,  of  Elkton.  Todd  County,  Kentucky,  having  never  changed  his 
membership  from  that  place. 


WHITE   OAlt   TOWNSHIP. 


1.-^^!=®= 


EMANUEL  BLECHER, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  was  born  September  22,  1827,  in  Columbia 
County,  Pennsylvania.  His  father,  Jacob  Blecher,  a  farmer  and  weaver 
by  occupation,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1798,  and  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy-seven  years  in  Columbia  County,  that  state,  in  1875.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Susanna  Keller,  of  Columbia  County,  and  they  had  seven 
children,  three  of  whom  are  living,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  being  the 
sixth.  P2manuel  spent  his  boyhood  and  youthful  days  at  his  birthplace, 
receiving  but  three  months'  schooling.  He  was  married  October  25, 
1855,  to  Miss  Mary  Ann  Farwer,  of  Wayne  County,  Ohio.  By  this  union 
they  have  had  nine  children,  five  sons  and  four  daughters,  all  living, 
except  one  daughter.  In  1855  Mr.  Blecher  removed  from  his  native  state 
to  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  v/here  he  remained  for  three  years,  going  thence 
to  Wells  County,  Indiana,  where  for  eight  years  he  tollowed  farming  and 
stock  raising.  Moving  to  Champaign  County,  Illinois,  he  continued  to 
farm  for  fourteen  years,  and  in  March  of  1881  he  came  to  Henry  County, 
Missouri,  with  a  view  to  settling  in  the  state  as  a  permanent  resident. 
He  has  as  yet  purchased  no  farm,  but  intends  to  invest  his  means  in 
farming  and  stock  raising  as  soon  as  a  suitable  location  can  be  found. 
Politically,  he  is  a  Democrat. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  '  715 

SAMUEL  C.  CRAIG, 

physician  and  surgeon,  was  born  March  2,  1850,  in  Harrison  County, 
Indiana,  and  was  the  son  of  P.  R.  Craig,  who  was  born  March  3,  1806,  in 
Virginia.  He  was  in  early  life  a  cooper  by  occupation,  but  abandoned 
his  trade  for  farming.  After  leaving  his  native  state,  he  moved  first  to 
Ohio,  while  a  young  man,  and  then  to  Indiana,  where  he  settled  as  an 
agriculturist.  In  1827  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Hiestand,  born  in 
Pennsylvania  in  1809.  By  this  marriage  they  had  seven  children,  four 
of  whom  are  living,  our  subject  being  the  youwgest.  He  was  early  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools  of  Iowa,  but  fixing  upon  the  practice  of 
medicine  as  his  profession,  at  the  age  of  nineteen  he  commenced  attend- 
ing a  course  of  medical  lectures  at  Ames,  Story  County,  Iowa.  His 
preceptor  was  James  Bradley.  In  1877  he  came  to  Lucas,  Henry  County, 
Missouri,  and  commenced  the  practice  of  medicine,  and  since  that  time 
has  remained  there  with  a  constantly  increasing  patronage.  Dr.  Craig 
was  married  March  8,  1877,  to  Miss  Mary  Shaw,  of  Ames,  Iowa.  They 
have  one  daughter,  Winona  Florence. 

JAMES  GODWIN, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  29,  was  born  February  28,  1808,  in  Fin- 
castle,  Botetourt  County,  Virginia.  His  early  history  is  shrouded  in 
mystery,  he  having  been  found,  together  with  another  child,  supposed 
to  be  a  brother,  on  or  near  Delaware  Bay.  Consequently  he  is  unable 
to  give  nativity,  date  of  birth  or  nationality  of  his  father.  These  broth- 
ers were  taken  up  and  cared  for,  and  a  man  named  Godwin  reared  our 
subject,  giving  him  his  name.  The  maiden  name  of  his  foster  mother 
was  Polly  Mefford,  a  native  of  Fincastle,  Virginia,  at  which  place  their 
marriage  occurred.  They  had  fifteen  children,  seven  sons  and  eight 
daughters,  of  whom  tvvo  sons  and  one  daughter  survive.  James  was 
brought  up  in  Rutledge,  Granger  County,  Tennessee,  where  he  received 
his  education,  which  was  limited  to  six  months'  schooling.  He  left  home 
when  19  years  of  age,  and  has  since  worked  his  own  way  in  life.  He 
apprenticed  himself  to  learn  the  blacksmith's  trade,  and  after  becoming 
proficient  therein,  commenced  work  at  Sparta,  Middle  Tennessee,  where 
he  labored  for  six  years  as  journeyman.  For  four  years  thereafter,  he 
was  engaged  in  business  for  himself  at  that  point.  Leaving  there  in 
March,  1837,  he  came  to  Missouri,  and  in  April  settled  in  Benton  County, 
purchasing  320  acres  of  land,  where  he  remained  for  twenty-seven  years. 
February  5,  1833,  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth  M.  Anderson.  They  had 
no  children  of  their  own,  but  have  brought  up  eleven  children,  and  are 
now  rearing  a  little  boy  and  girl,  making  thirteen,  who  have  found  good 
homes  under  his  hospitable  roof     Seven  weddings  have  been  celebrated 


7l6  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

in  his  house.  During  war  times  Mr.  Godwin  disposed  of  his  property 
in  Benton  County  and  came  to  this  county,  where  he  has  since  princi- 
pally resided.  He  owns  146  acres  of  land  on  sections  28  and  29.  He 
and  his  wife  have  for  many  years  been  active  members  of  the  M.  E. 
Church  South. 

GEORGE  H.  HACKNEY, 

a  native  of  Cole  County,  Missouri,  was  born  January  2,  1842,  being  the 
son  of  William  VV.  and  Celia  (Ragsdale)  Hackney.  The  former  was 
born  August  10,  1798,  in  Chatham,  North  Carolina,  while  the  latter  came 
originally  rrom  Huntsdale,  Alabama.  To  them  were  born  seven  sons 
and  four  daughters,  all  of  whom  survive  but  one  son,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  eleven.  George,  the  eighth  child  in  the  family,  passed  his  youth  and 
early  manhood  in  the  county  of  his  birth,  receiving  a  good  English  edu- 
cation. For  three  years  he  gave  his  attention  to  teaching,  and  in  1862 
he  enlisted  as  private  in  Co.  E.,  Tenth  Missouri  cavalry.  He  was  soon 
appointed  duty  sergeant  and  acted  in  that  capacity  during  the  remain- 
der of  the  war,  being  regularly  discharged  at  Edgefield,  Tennessee,  June 
27,  1865.  Mr.  Hackney  was  married  December  26,  1866,  to  Miss  Jose- 
phine E.  Riggins,  of  Clinton,  Missouri.  They  have  had  five  sons  and 
two  daughters,  and  all  are  now  living  except  one  daughter,  who  died 
when  three  years  old.  In  1868  he  commenced  farming  in  Henry  County,, 
and  has  since  remained  here.  In  1870  he  purchased  180  acres  on  sec- 
tion 27,  to  which  he  has  later  added  eighty  acres,  and  on  this  place  he 
has  lived  for  twelve  years.  His  residence  is  situated  on  an  eminence,, 
commanding  an  excellent  view  of  the  surrounding  country.  There  is  a 
very  good  prospect  for  coal  underlying  his  farm.  Politically  he  is  a 
Democrat.     He  raises  stock  quite  extensively. 

CHAPMAN  H.  Mcdonald, 

merchant,  farmer  and  stock  dealer,  was  born  May  13,  1833,  i"  Frankfort, 
Kentucky,  his  parents  being  John  McDonald,  born  December  2,  1805,  in 
Culpeper  County,  Virginia,  and  Elizabeth  W.  (Knight)  McDonald,  born 
May  26,  1808,  and  also  a  Virginian  by  birth.  They  were  married  in 
Franklin  County,  Kentucky,  in  1826  or  1827,  and  moved  to  the  state  of 
Illinois  in  1834,  in  1838,  settlilig  in  Audrain  County,  Missouri.  Here, 
on  the  20th  day  of  August,  1854,  Mrs.  McDonald  died,  leaving  a  family 
of  eight  children.  In  1857  Mr.  McD.  came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri, 
and  died  June  29,  1880.  They  reared  eight  children,  five  sons  and  three 
daughters,  only  two  of  whom  are  now  living:  Chapman  H.  and  Josiah 
G.,  the  latter  born  September  20,  1836.  at  Mechanicsburg,  Illinois.  They 
emigrated  with  their  parents  about  1838  to  Audrain  County,  Missouri,, 
and  were  educated  in  the  common  schools  in   their  locality.     The  elder 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  717 

brother  subsequently  attended  a  course  of  studies  at  the  Commercial 
College,  in  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  in  1857.  He  commenced  life  for 
himself  in  1856,  at  Montevallo,  Vernon  County,  Missouri,  having  chosen 
the  mercantile  channel  for  which  he  had  been  previously  making  prep- 
aration. On  May  day,  1S79,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mariah  E.  Benner, 
of  Vernon  County.  He  opened  his  place  of  business  as  a  merchant  at 
Montevallo,  in  1856,  where  he  continued  until  1863,  then  closing  his 
store  on  account  of  the  war.  After  the  cessation  of  hostilities  he 
resumed  his  business,  settling  in  Henry  County,  Missouri,  at  Lucas  Post- 
office,  in  White  Oak  Township,  where  he  has  since  remained,  doing  bus- 
iness at  present  with  his  younger  brother,  Josiah  G.  Their  interests 
in  the  main  are  one,  both  in  merchandising,  farming,  and  as  general 
raisers  of  stock.  Mr.  C.  H.  McDonald  is  postmaster  here,  succeeding 
his  father.  He  owns  ninety  acres  (aside  from  the  business  interests)  in 
or  near  his  place  of  business.  He  has  five  children  :  William,  Ida, 
Betsy,  Olive  and  Parel.  Politically  he  is  a  Democrat  and  religiously  a 
Christian. 

JULIUS  A.  MATHEWS 

was  born  April  17,  1849,  in  Chariton  County,  Missouri.  His  father, 
Samuel  Mathews,  was  born  in  October,  1810,  in  Mississippi,  and  was  a 
farmer  during  his  early  life,  emigrating  to  Chariton  County,  Missouri,  in 
1844.  He  purchased  160  acres  in  that  county  and  remained  until  the 
commencement  of  the  war,  when  he  removed  to  Brunswick,  and  in  1861 
engaged  in  merchandising.  This  business  he  continued  for  twelve  years; 
then  went  to  Kansas  City,  and  after  a  short  time  came  to  Henry  County 
in  April,  1870.  He  was  married  in  1835  to  Miss  Betsy  Avery,  of  Jack- 
son County,  Mississippi.  By  this  union  there  were  eleven  children,  six 
sons  and  five  daughters,  of  whom  four  only  are  now  living.  Three  sons 
died  in  the  Alton  Prison  during  the  civil  v/ar,  two  in  1862  and  the  other 
in  1864.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  came  to  Henry  County  in  1867  and 
embarked  in  farming.  He  has  remained  here  since  that  time,  with  the 
exception  of  three  years,  while  in  his  native  county  and  at  Kansas  City, 
though  not  permanently  located  at  either  place.  He  was  married  June 
17,  1867,  to  Miss  Nancy  Jane  Bruett,  of  Henry  County,  Missouri.  To 
them  have  been  born  six  children,  three  sons  and  three  daughters,  five 
of  whom  are  living.  Mr.  M.  was  elected  magistrate  in  White  Oak  Town- 
ship in  November,  1882,  for  the  term  of  four  years.  Himself  and  wife 
are  connected  with  the  Christian  Church  of  Lucas.  His  political  senti- 
ments are  Democratic. 

GEORGE  F.  MITCHELL. 

merchant,  born  October  i,  1854,  in  Perry  County,  Ohio,  being  a  son  of 
George  and  Eliza  (Huston)  Mitchell.     The  former  was  born  in  Virginia, 


7l8  HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 

December  4,  1804,  and  the  latter  was  a  native  of  Ohio.  They  were  mar- 
ried in  1834,  and  to  them  were  born  nine  children,  of  whom  only  four  are 
living.  The  youngest  child,  George  F.,  accompanied  the  family  to 
DeKalb  County,  Missouri,  in  1868,  but  they  remained  there  only  a  short 
time,  coming  thence  to  Henry  County,  and  purchasing  a  tract  of  I40> 
acres  of  land.  Young  Mitchell  received  a  limited  education  in  boyhood, 
and  resided  upon  the  home  farm  until  seventeen  years  of  age.  He  then 
went  to  Clinton,  resumed  his  studies  at  the  Clinton  High  School,  from 
which  he  afterwards  graduated.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  apprenticed 
himself  to  the  printing  business,  and  u^as  in  the  employ  of  one  office  for 
four  years,  when  he  entered  as  partner  for  three  years.  Then  he  sold  his 
interest  and  moved  on  to  his  father's  farm,  located  three  miles  northeast 
of  Clinton,  in  Fields'  Creek  Township,  Henry  County.  After  following 
the  pursuit  of  agriculture  for  two  years,  he  turned  his  attention  to  mer- 
chandising, opening  his  business  at  Lucas,  March  i,  1881.  Here  he  has 
continued  up  to  this  time.  He  married  Miss  Blanches  Stewart,  Novem- 
ber, 12,  1876.  They  have  three  daughters:  Carrie,  Eliza,  Jessie  Hart^ 
and  Nellie  Lee.  Miss  Mitchell  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,, 
belonging  to  Tebo  Lodge,  No.  68,  of  Clinton.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
M.  E.  Church,  and  Mrs.  M.  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian.  He  is  meet- 
ing with  much  success  at  Lucas,  and  his  business  is  constantly  increasing. 

JOHN  SCHRODER, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  was  born  August  14,  1845,  in  Pittsburg,  Penn- 
sylvania. Richard  Schroder,  his  father,  was  born  July  18,  1818,  in  Mont- 
gomery County,  Pennsylvania,  and  married  June  29,  1840,  Miss  Eliza 
Miller,  who  was  born  in  March,  182 1,  in  Lebanon  County,  of  that  state. 
By  this  union  they  had  three  sons  and  two  daughters,  of  whom  all  are 
living.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his  early  education  in  the 
common  school  in  his  native  state,  and  later  was  sent  to  the  Darlington 
Academy,  at  Darlington,  Beaver  County,  for  a  term  of  two  years,  which 
institution  he  left  at  the  age  of  twelve  years.  He  came  with  his  parents 
to  Jefferson  City,  Missouri,  in  1857,  but  after  remaining  a  few  months 
they  removed  to  Bates  County,  settling  in  Prairie  City,  and  here  the 
senior  Schroder  erected  the  second  house  in  that  place.  About  a  year 
later  they  came  to  Henry  County.  While  a  young  man  John  Schroder 
was  occupied  as  hotel  clerk  at  Otterville  for  nearly  three  years.  He 
subsequently  entered  Worthington  &  Warner's  Commercial  College  and 
went  through  a  six  months'  course,  graduating  in  the  spring  of  1866.  In 
the  spring  of  1867  the  family  returned  to  their  farm  in  Henry  County, 
consisting  at  that  time  of  480  acres,  in  a  body.  He  was  engaged  in 
teaching  for  a  short  time  in  that  locality,  and  during  this  period  received 
an  offer  for  his  services  at   Jefferson  Cit}',  which  offer  was- accepted,  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  719^ 

where  he  was  employed  from  April  i,  1868,  to  June  i,  1871.  Returning, 
to  the  farm  he  took  charge  of  its  affairs,  and  in  1880  came  into  posses- 
sion of  170  acres  from  the  home  farm,  as  his  share  of  the  inheritance,  to 
which  he  has  since  added  forty  acres,  erected  a  residence,  etc.  He  was 
married  March  14,  1872,  to  Miss  Eliza  Aiken,  born  in  County  Tyrone^ 
Ireland.  November  7,  1844.  She  died  November  17,  1875.  Since  1871 
he  has  held  the  position  of  township  register  for  one  term,  during  the 
entire  time  of  the  existence  of  said  office;  was  then  elected  township 
clerk,  and  in  1875  was  elected  magistrate.  Mr.  S.  has  an  excellent 
library,  and  among  his  books  are  McCauley's  writings,  Knight's  popular 
history  of  England,  Rollin's  ancient  history.  Gibbon's  Rome,  Lasting,. 
Headley's  Indian  Races  of  America,  Hume  and  many  more  of  the  stand- 
ard authors.     In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat. 

LUTHER  I.  STEWART 

was  born  October  12,  1845,  in  Monongalia  County,  Virginia,  being  the- 
son  of  John  Stewart,  born  in  that  county  in  1801.  He  was  a  farmer  by 
calling,  and  was  judge  of  the  county  court  at  the  opening  of  the  rebell- 
ion. Luther's  mother,  formerly  Elizabeth  Cox,  was  born  in  the  same 
county  in  1804.  They  were  married  in  the  year  1822  and  had  eight 
children,  three  of  whom  are  living,  the  subject  of  our  sketch  being  the- 
youngest.  The  family  came  to  Henry  County  November  28,  1867. 
Young  Stewart  was  educated  in  Morgantown,  Western  Virginia,  at  the 
Morgantown  Academy.  On  coming  to  Missouri  he  bought  too  acres  of 
land,  upon  which  he  built  a  residence.  He  was  married  November  24, 
1869,  to  Miss  Tennie  C.  Eliott.  To  them  have  been  born  eleven  child- 
ren, and  only  four  of  these  are  living:  Nattie  M.,  Florence,  Jennie  Belle 
John  W.  Mr.  Stewart  formerly  possessed  388  acres  of  farming  land^. 
upon  which  he  at  present  resides,  but  now  he  owns  only  forty  acres.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  fraternity.  His  political  views  are  Dem- 
ocratic. Both  himself  and  wife  belong  to  the  Presbyterian  Church,  Old 
School,  holding  their  membership  at  Clinton. 

ZACHARY  TAYLOR, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  was  born  November  2,  1851,  at  Cross  Anchor,. 
Spartenburg  County,  South  Carolina.  His  father,  Steven  Taylor,  was. 
born  in  that  county,  and  was  an  extensive  planter  and  slave  owner.  He 
died  in  August,  1858.  His  mother,  formerly  Miss  Matilda  Jones,  was 
born  in  the  same  locality  as  her  husband.  They  were  married  about  the 
year  1840,  and  had  five  children,  three  sons  and  two  daughters,  all  stills 
living.  Zachary  Taylor  was  the  youngest  of  them,  and  in  1866  he  came 
to  Henry  County,  with  his  sister's  family,  with  whom  he  remained   until; 


720  IIIsrORV   OK    HENRY    COUN  TV. 

July  3.  1867.  Then  he  was  married  to  Miss  Margaret  E.  Elder.  By  this 
union  they  had  two  children,  one  son  and  one  daughter.  Mr.  T.  received 
his  early  education  in  his  native  county,  at  Anthon's  Academy,  attend- 
ing school  regularly  for  a  term  of  six  years,  in  that  institution.  On 
coming  to  Henry  County  he  resumed  his  studies,  pursuing  them  at  the 
public  school  in  Holden,  Johnson  County,  for  two  years.  In  1874  he 
took  a  trip  to  Oregon,  remained  for  one  year  and  visited  California  on 
his  return.  He  has  121  acres  of  land,  upon  which  he  has  erected  a  new 
mill,  for  flouring,  the  sawing  of  lumber,  etc.  Politicalh'  he  is  Independ- 
ent, sustaining  the  best  men  for  office. 


WALKER   TOWNSHIP. 

JOHN  CALDWELL, 

was  born  in  Noble  County,  Ohio,  September  18.  1844,  and  was  the  third 
in  a  family  of  five  children,  of  whom  one  brother,  William,  and  two 
sisters,  Jane  Neptune  and  Mary  Moberly,  are  living.  His  parents  were 
Robert  Caldwell,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  Elizabeth  Ann  (Coles) 
Caldwell,  originally  from  Ohio.  His  father  died  while  the  son  was  but  a 
boy  and  his  mother  seven  years  after  married  a  William  Huddleston. 
Her  death  occurred  in  1872.  In  the  spring  of  1864  Young  Caldwell 
entered  the  Twentieth  Ohio  Infantry  and  was  attached  to  General  Sher- 
man's command  and  served  with  him  through  his  memorable  campaign, 
being  discharged  at  Springfield  in  July,  1865.  On  Christmas  day  of  that 
year,  he  was  married  in  Noble  County,  Ohio,  to  Miss  Abigal  Neptune, 
who  was  born  in  Belmont  County,  Ohio,  March  9,  1844.  In  the  spring 
of  1867  they  came  to  Missouri  and  for  two  years  lived  at  Dresden,  Pettis 
County.  There  he  engaged  in  milling  at  which  he  worked  until  1880, 
coming  to  Henry  County  in  1877  when  he  erected  the  mill  on  Deep- 
^ater.  In  1869  he  purchased  his  present  tract  of  land  and  in  1875  he 
moved  upon  it.  He  has  160  acres  in  cultivation  and  handles  a  number 
of  cattle  and  hogs.  He  and  his  wife  are  identified  with  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  and  in  politics  Mr.  Caldwell  is  Republican.  He  stands 
prominent  among  the  enterprising  men  of  Walker  Township  and  takes 
an  active  interest  in  all  matters  of  moral  and  educational  tendencies. 
His  family  has  numbered  eight  children:  Charles  W.,  William  Hamp- 
son,  Nettie  Jane,  Francis  Marion,  Flora  Ellen   May,   Florence   Matilda, 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  72 1 

Clifford  Levy  and  one  who  died  in  infancy.  Recently  Mr.  C.  and  wife 
have  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  their  second  son,  William  Hampson, 
who  died  on  the  17th  of  November,  1882.  He  was  born  March  3,  1869, 
and  was  a  promising  boy  of  nearly  fourteen  years. 

REV.  ROBERT  M.  GRAGG 

was  born  in  Howard  County,  Missouri,  July  18,  1826,  the  seventh  in  a 
family  often  children.  His  father,  Malcom  Gragg  was  a  native  of  Ten- 
nessee, as  was  also  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Rebecca  Broad- 
hust.  They  were  married  in  Tennessee.  In  or  about  1833  they  came 
to  Missouri  and  located  in  Pettis  County,  where  they  lived  some  three 
years,  moving  in  1836  to  Rives  (now  Henry)  County,  and  settling  on 
Deepwater,  on  what  is  now  known  as  the  "Stone  Farm."  He  entered 
that  tract  of  land  and  lived  there  some  time,  when,  in  company  with  his 
brother,  Robert  Gragg,  he  entered  all  of  the  timber  land  on  what  is 
known  as  Camp  Branch.  They  both  built  houses  on  the  creek  and 
remained  there  until  their  deaths.  Rebecca  Gragg  died  in  1857,  sr'd 
Malcom  Gragg  in  the  year  1862.  Robert  M.  is  therefore  among  the 
earliest  settlers  of  Henry  County.  At  the  time  his  father  settled  there, 
only  three  families  lived  on  the  south  side  of  Grand  River  for  miles  in 
either  direction.  He  received  comparatively  little  education,  having 
attended  school  but  four  months,  and  his  teacher  was  Miss  Catherine 
Robards,  the  present  wife  of  Dr.  Toucey,  of  Bates  County.  Just  after 
this  term  of  school,  young  Robert  was  accidently  shot  by  a  schoolmate, 
and  for  many  months  his  life  hung  in  the  scales  that  seemed  about  evenly 
balanced,  but  his  youthful  vigor  carried  him  safely  through  the  danger. 
On  the  22d  of  February,  in  his  twentieth  year,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Catharine  Cook,  of  Johnson  County,  and  for  several  years  he  farmed  in 
connection  with  his  father.  In  1855,  he  moved  on  his  present  farm, 
receiving  eighty  acres  from  his  father.  He  entered  two  hundred  acres 
more  soon  after,  and  until  1876,  handled  stock  quite  extensively.  When 
about  sixteen  years  old,  Mr.  Gragg  united  with  the  church,  and  until 
1850,  he  was  attached  to  the  United  Brethren,  when  he  joined  the 
Methodist  Protestant  Church.  In  1846  he  was  licensed  to  preach  in  the 
United  Brethren  Church,  and  continued  as  a  local  preacher  until  1855, 
when  he  was  ordained  a  regular  minister  of  the  gospel  in  the  Methodist 
Protestant,  and  for  over  thirty  years  he  has  told  the  story  of  the  Cross. 
His  whole  time  was  devoted  to  the  cause  of  the  church  until  1863.  He 
was  placed  upon  the  Warrensburg  circuit  several  times,  and  much  of  his 
time  was  devoted  to  evangelical  work.  He  was  the  only  preacher  in 
this  section  of  the  state  who  filled  regular  appointments  during  the  war. 
Mr.  Gragg  has  had  a  family  of  twelve  children,  of  whom  two  died  in 
nfancy,  and  two  promising  young  men,  Jasper  Marion  and  Christopher 

46 


722  HISTORY    OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 

C.  died  in  the  summer  of  1876,  within  five  days  of  each  other.  Those 
living  are  :  Rebecca  M.,  John  W.,  Elizabeth  J.,  Burton  H.,  Sarah  A.,  and 
Mary  B.  Of  his  brothers  who  are  now  living:  William  R.,  and  Henry 
H.  Three  sisters  are  still  living:  Susan  Short,  Mary  Ann  Poage  and 
Ellender  Crabtree. 

ADAM  HARNESS, 

one  of  the  pioneers  of  Henry  County,  was  born  in  Hardiville,  Virginia, 
on  the  8th  of  March,  1808.  He  was  the  ninth  in  a  family  of  three  girls 
and  seven  boys,  children  of  Adam  and  Elizabeth  (Baker)  Harness.  In 
1836  Adam  Harness,  Jr.,  was  married  in  St.  Charles  County,  Missouri, 
to  Miss  Nancy  Murdock.  Before  he  had  attained  his  majority  he  came 
to  Missouri  on  business  for  his  father,  and  subsequently  engaged  in 
teaching  school,  and  taught  in  St.  Charles  and  Gasconade  Counties.  He 
afterwards  located  in  Jefferson  County,  where  he  lived  for  some  time, 
then  moving  to  St.  Louis  County,  where  he  remained  until  the  year  of 
1854,  when  he  came  to  Western  Missouri,  settling  on  the  place  which 
he  now  occupies.  He  at  first  bought  a  preemption  claim  and  then 
entered  his  farm,  entering  and  purchasing  about  1,000  acres.  He  com- 
menced growing  stock,  which  he  has  since  continued.  Mr.  Harness' 
neighbors  when  he  settled  here,  were  Dr.  Gates,  Judge  Stewart,  Stephen 
and  Henry  Vickars,  and  a  Mr.  Sevier.  He  has  reared  a  family  of  nine 
children,  of  whom  five  are  living:  William,  Joseph,  Alexander,  Mary 
Ann  and  Nancy,  Jack,  Elvira,  Adam  and  an  infant,  are  deceased.  ^ 

ALVIN  C.  HART,  | 

section  29,  is  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  and  was  born  in  Stokes  County 
on  June  4,  1846.     His  parents  were  Ashael  W.  and  Verlinda  Hart,  nee  \ 
Vanhoy.     In  1852  his  father  came  to  Henry  County  and  lived  one  year  | 
in  White  Oak  Township,  and  in  1855  he  entered  120  acres  of  land,  where  ' 
he  died  November  3,  1865.     His  wife  followed  him  on  the  6th  of  April,  \ 
1868.     Alvin's  youthful  days  were  employed  with  his  father  until  of  age,  \ 
and  on  December  28,  1869,  he  was   married  in  Johnson  County  to  Miss 
Lucretia  Smith,  a  native  of  Johnson   County.     She  lived  but  five  years 
after  her  marriage,  dying  November    12,    1874,  and  leaving  one  child,  | 
Arthur  Wallace,  born  January  20,  1871.     In  1875    Mr.  Hart   went  to  the  | 
Pacific  coast,   where  he   remained  one  year.     Since   1877  he  has  been 
farming,  and   now  owns  a  farm  containing   160  acres,  about  100  acres 
being  in  cultivation.  He  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church.     Of  his  father's  family  of  ten  children,  five  of  whom  are 
now  living:     Sebastian  C,  Timothy,  Sarah  B.,  (wife  of  James  H,  Piatt,)  j 
and  Mary  E.,  (wife  of  James  W.  Hunt.) 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  723 

HENRY  R.  HIBLER 

was  born  ten  miles  from  St.  Louis  on  the  30th  of  November,  18 12,  and 
was  the  eldest  of  a  family  of  eleven  children,  of  whom  three  only  are 
now  living-,  one  brother,  William,  being  in  Jasper  County,  and  a  sister, 
Susan  Sevier,  living  in  Texas.  He  grew  to  manhood  near  St.  Louis,  and 
when  twenty  years  old  moved  with  his  parents  to  Gasconade,  now  Osage 
County.  After  working  several  years  in  the  lumber  mills  of  South  Mis- 
souri and  rafting  on  the  Osage  River  he  began  farming  about  the  time 
of  his  father's  death,  in  1837,  and  he  was  married  in  Osage  County 
March  6,  1842,  to  Miss  Nancy  Hill,  of  the  same  county.  Her  death 
occurred  ten  years  afterward,  and  on  the  28th  of  February,  1855,  Mr, 
Hibler  was  married  to  Miss  Paulina  Parks.  Subsequently  he  removed 
to  Henry  County,  where  he  arrived  in  the  winter  of  that  year,  soon 
securing  a  tract  of  120  acres  of  a  Mr.  Landsman.  Mrs.  Hibler  died  Aug- 
ust 3,  1859,  a"d  two  years  thereafter  Mr.  H.  married  Miss  Mary  C.  Shel- 
ley, who  also  died  January  13,  1876.  Mr.  Hibler  entered  160  acres  of 
land  in  1857  and  had  at  one  time  nearly  800  acres.  His  farm  now  con- 
sists of  350  acres,  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation,  and  he  has  a  place  of 
about  100  acres  near  Clinton  and  two  small  farms  in  Walker  Township. 
He  has  been  an  extensive  buyer  of  stock,  having  followed  shipping  and 
driving  for  several  years.  He  handles  about  fifty  head  of  cattle,  some 
hogs,  a  good  flock  of  sheep  and  several  horses.  When  Mr.  Hibler  set- 
tled in  Henry  County  he  had  but  few  neighbors,  the  principal  ones  being 
Robert,  John  and  Henry  Gragg.  He  is  a  staunch  Democrat  and  has 
voted  at  every  presidential  election  since  Monroe.  He  enlisted  in  the 
Mexican  war  as  lieutenant  in  Colonel  Daugherty's  regiment,  and  was 
stationed  for  some  time  at  Fort  Leavenworth.  Mr.  Hibler's  parents 
were  Samuel  and  Charlotte  (Groff)  Hibler,  both  natives  of  Kentucky. 
His  mother  was  born  in  Lexington  December  10,  1791,  and  is  yet  living 
with  her  son.  Though  ninety-one  years  old,  she  retains  much  of  the 
vigor  of  half  a  century  ago.  Mr.  H.  has  had  ten  children,  of  whom  four 
were  of  the  first  marriage;  they  are:  Samuel  S.,  the  eldest,  who  died  on 
Red  River,  Arkansas,  December  9,  1864;  Joseph  F.  and  Franklin  F,, 
twins  (Joseph  lives  near  his  father  and  Franklin  is  in  St.  Clair  County); 
the  youngest  is  Mary  Charlotte,  wife  of  John  Fisher,  living  in  St.  Clair 
County.  There  were  two  in  the  second  family,  Susan  Margaret  (wife  of 
Jacob  Marks),  and  Fieldon,  who  died  in  infancy.  The  youngest  children 
are  James  W.,  Samuel  H.,  Walie  J.  and  Annie  Isabel,  all  at  home. 

NICHOLAS  LONG, 

was  born  in  Warren  County,  Tennessee,  April  i,  18 18,  and  was  the  son  of 
William  and  Ruthie  (Grimes)  Long,  the  former  of  Virginia,  and  the  latter 


724  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  | 

of  Irish  descent.    They  came  to  Missouri  in  1834,  and  in  the  following  year 
settled   in    Miller   County  where  they  lived   until    185 1,  when   Nicholas 
removed  to  Henry  County,  locating  upon  a  tract  of  200  acres  in  White   j 
Oak  Township.     He  began  to  enter  land  and  entered  in  all  about  2,300 
acres.     In  1857  he  came  upon  his  present  farm.    He  was  married  in  Mil- 
ler County,  March  26,  1843,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Armstrong,  who  was  born 
in  Tennessee,  April  5,  1823.     They  have  reared  a  family  of  twelve  child- 
ren of  whom  the   two  eldest,  Mary  and  Sarah,  and  the  youngest,  Ben- 
jamin F.,  have  died;  Mary  when  seventeen  years  old,  Sarah  when  twenty- 
one,  and  Benjamin  F.  at  the  age  of  twelve  years.      All  of  the  others  are  ; 
married  and  living  near  their  parents.      They   are   John   J.   (whose   wife  j 
was  Minerva  A.  Carter),  James  M.  (who  married  Martha  Engles),  George   ; 
W.,  (the  husband  of  Mary  E.  Elliot),   Henry   P.   (whose  companion  was 
Cordelia  Koontz),  William  and  Nicholas  C,  the  youngest,  (who  married  \ 
Mattie  Toalson.)     The  girls  are  Margaret  Ann  (wife  of  George  Bailey),  ; 
Julian  Ann,  (wife  of  Tim  Hart),  and  Elizabeth  (who  married  John  Hill). 
William,  the  seventh  in  the  family,  was  born  in  Henry  County,  January 
16,  1856.     He  was  employed  on  his  father's  farm  until  nineteen  years  old 
when  his  father  gave  him  eighty  acres  of  land  and  he  began  farming  on 
his  own  account.     On  February  18,  1878,  he  married  Miss  Mary  C  Dix- 
son,  daughter  of  Alfred  Dixson.    They  have  had  four  children:   Annie  E.  \ 
Alonzo,  Minnie,  who  died  aged  seven  months,  and  Florence   Eda.       Mr. 
Long  and  wife  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  he  is  a  Republican 
in  his  political  views.  1 

JOSEPH  W.  MOBERLY 

was  born  in  Noble  County,  Ohio,  September  14,  1846,  his  parents  being 
Joseph  and  Margaret  (Prior)  Moberly.  Joseph  was  the  third  of  six  chil- 
dren, one  of  whom,  Hezekiah,  lives  in  the  same  township.  Mr.  Moberly's 
young  days  were  spent  upon  his  father's  farm  in  Ohio,  and  when  in  his 
twentieth  year  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Caldwell  in  Lawrence 
County,  Ohio.  He  began  farming  and  continued  that  occupation  until  > 
1880,  when  he  came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  and  located  in  Walker 
Township,  buying  a  farm  of  eighty  acres.  He  is  now  giving  his  atten- 
tion to  tilling  the  soil,  and  is  also  raising  cane  to  some  extent,  having 
the  past  year  at  least  five  acres,  making  600  gallons.  Mr.  Moberly  has  I 
just  erected  a  small  store  building  on  his  farm  and  expects  to  put  in  a 
stock  of  general  merchandise  at  an  early  date;  and  a  postoffice  will  also 
be  secured.  He  is  one  of  the  enterprising  farmers  of  his  section  of  the  i 
county,  and  though  a  recent  arrival  here,  is  fast  taking  a  position  to 
which  his  business  abilities  and  enterprise  entitle  him.  Mr.  Moberly  has 
six  children:  Margaret  Jane,  Sarah  Alice,  Joseph  William,  Elbina, 
Ellen  and  Jeanettc  May.  I 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  725 

WILLIAM  MOORE 

was  born  in  Lincoln  County,  Kentucky,  September  22,  1830,  and  was 
the  son  of  Samuel  and  Nancy  Moore.  He  is  the  sixth  of  seven  children, 
of  whom  one  only,  beside  himself,  is  living,  Mrs.  Mary  Bazzell.  His 
parents  died  when  he  was  quite  young,  and  he  grew  to  manhood  in  Mis- 
souri, having  come  to  Johnson  County  in  1835.  His  youthful  days  were 
employed  on  a  farm,  and  in  November,  1852,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Nancy  Tucker.  In  the  spring  of  1855  Mr.  Moore  came  to  Henry  County 
and  entered  160  acres  of  land,  upon  which  he  now  lives.  His  farm  con- 
tains 320  acres,  and  is  in  a  fair  state  of  cultivation,  with  good  improve- 
ments. In  April,  188 1,  Mrs.  Moore  died,  leaving  nine  children,  six  of 
whom  are  living:  Mary  A.  Salmons;  Emily,  wife  of  Edward  Walker; 
Louisa,  Alice,  Laura  and  George  William. 

ROBERT  A.  THOMPSON. 

One  of  the  most  original  minds  in  Henry  County  is  that  of  Robert 
A.  Thompson.  Though  quite  a  young  man,  and  having  received  but  a 
limited  education,  his  genius  and  inventive  mind  are  placing  him  among 
those  who  are  public  benefactors,  through  the  means  of  his  various  labor 
saving  inventions.  He  was  born  in  Clarke  County,  Illinois,  November  15, 
185 1,  and  is  the  fifth  of  ten  children,  four  of  whom  are  living,  James, 
John  D.  and  Melissa,  now  Mrs.  Labaugh.  His  father,  Robert  Thomp- 
son, was  a  native  of  the  North  of  Ireland,  and  his  mother,  formerly 
Margaret  Birney,  was  born  in  Lawrence  County,  Illinois,  where  they 
were  married  March  23,  1841.  In  the  same  year  they  came  to  Clay 
County,  Missouri,  and  after  living  there  six  years  returned  to  Clark 
County,  Illinois.  Entering  land  he  lived  there  six  years,  when  he  came 
to  Henry  County,  in  1854.  He  has  entered  nearly  800  acres,  and  also 
owns  320  acres  in  Hickory  County.  Mr.  Robert  Thompson  enlisted  in 
the  Seventh  Missouri  during  the  war,  and  participated  in  the  battle  of 
Lone  Jack,  where  he  received  six  wounds,  and  was  discharged  at  Green- 
field in  February,  1863.  Robert  A.  Thompson  was  married  January  23, 
1879,  at  Clinton,  to  Miss  Mary  C.  McGrath,  daughter  of  James  McGrath, 
born  February  10,  1858,  in  Jo.  Daviess  County,  Illinois.  They  have  two 
children,  Anna  Belle  and  Robert  James.  Mr.  Thompson,  being  natur- 
ally of  an  inquiring  disposition,  closely  noticed  various  labor  saving 
inventions,  and  in  the  fall  of  188 1  he  began  to  experiment  with  a  three 
horse  equalizer,  and  has  secured  a  patent  on  his  invention.  It  has  been 
pronounced  the  most  complete  equalizer  ever  patented.  He  has,  also,  a 
model  for  a  corn  planter  attachment,  for  the  check  rower,  which  will 
obviate  the  necessity  of  a  check  line.  He  is  also  at  work  on  a  riding 
plow  attachment  which  places  the  plow  in   front  of  the  wheels.     Other 


726  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

minor  inventions  are  receiving  his  attention.  He,  as  was  his  father,  is 
identified  with  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  in  politics  is  a  Republican. 

JOSEPH  WAGNER 

was  born  on  the  Juniata  .River,  in  Huntingdon  County,  Pennsylvania, 
May  26,  18 14,  and  is  the  eldest  of  a  family  of  eight  children,  three  of 
whom,  beside  himself  are  living.  John  T.  Wagner,  his  father,  was  also 
a  native  of  the  Keystone  State.  His  mother's  maiden  name  was  Eliza- 
beth Cross,  originally  from  Maryland.  While  quite  young  Joseph  was 
taken  to  Licking  County,  Ohio,  where  he  grew  to  maturity  and  on  Sep- 
tember 13,  1836,  when  in  his  twenty-third  year,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Covey,  born  in  Maryland.  They  rented  a  farm  for  ten  years, 
when  he  settled  in  Union  County,  on  land  given  him  by  his  father. 
After  living  in  that  locality  tor  nine  years  he  returned  to  Licking  Count}', 
and  remained  there  until  1864,  when  he  emigrated  west  and  located  in 
Green  County,  Iowa,  where  he  made  his  home  until  1869.  Coming  to 
Henry  County  in  the  spring  of  that  year  he  settled  where  he  now  resides. 
The  family  has  consisted  of  eight  children:  Martha  Jane,  the  eldest,  (wife 
of  Samuel  Carrier),  and  living  at  Rich  Hill;  Francis  Marion,  lives  at  Mon- 
roe, Wisconsin;  James  Monroe,  married  Mary  M.  Bailey,  and  is  in  Lead- 
ville,  Colorado;  Mary  Ann  is  wife  of  Nathan  Lake;  Nancy  Elizabeth  is 
the  wife  of  J.  W.  Bennett,  at  Rich  Hill;  Emily  Eliza  married  David  T. 
Owens;  John  Wesley  married  Elizabeth  Harrison,  and  lives  in  Davis 
Township;  the  youngest,  Samuel  Cox,  was  recently  married  to  Miss 
Marian  Birge,  and  lives  with  his  father.  Mr.  Wagner  has  been  a  justice 
of  the  peace  for  about  six  years,  a  position  which  he  has  filled  with 
credit. 

RICHARD  R.  WALKER 

was  born  in  Stokes,  (now  Forsyth)  Count)',  North  Carolina,  March  24, 
1825.  His  parents,  David  Walker  and  Mary,  m'c  Bennett,  who  were 
both  natives  of  North  Carolina,  had  eight  children  in  their  family,  of 
whom  Richard  was  the  sixth.  Only  five  of  the  number  are  now  living  and 
he  is  the  only  one  in  Missouri.  In  1855,  September  2,  he  was  married  in 
Stokes  County,  North  Carolina,  to  Miss  Melissa  Ann  Hart,  who  died  just 
four  years  afterward,  on  September  2,  1855.  In  the  September  following 
his  marriage  he  came  to  Missouri  and  settled  in  White  Oak  Township, 
Henry  County,  where  he  entered  a  forty  acre  tract  of  land,  upon  which 
he  lived  one  season.  Then  he  entered  forty  acres  on  Grandady  Branch. 
He  also  preempted  a  tract  on  Deepwater,  upon  which  he  built  a  house. 
In  i860  Mr.  Walker  returned  to  North  Carolina  and  remained  four  years, 
locating  on  his  present  place  in  the  next  year.  His  farm  contains  eighty 
acres,  all   improved.     In    1874  he   went  to  Texas,  but  stayed  only  two 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  72/  . 

years.  He  is  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and  much  of  his  time  has  been 
employed  at  work  at  this  calling.  At  the  spring  election  of  1882  Mr. 
W.  was  chosen  a  justice  of  the  peace.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics, 
and  is  a  micmberof  the  M.  E.  Church.     He  has  one  son,  James  T. 

ROBERT  W.  WALKER 

was  born  in  New  Forsythe  County,  North  Carolina,  (at  that  time  Stokes 
County),  October  15,  1845,  and  was  the  son  of  Ur.  William  and  Eliza- 
beth B.  (VanHoy)  Walker,  both  natives  of  that  state.  The  former  was 
born  in  Stokes  County,  October  19, 1804,  and  his  wife  in  November,  1809. 
His  grandfather  came  from  Ireland  early  in  the  last  century.  The  family 
of  VanHoys  are  of  Holland  descent,  and  the  ancestors  were  probably  co- 
temporaries  with  the  Knickerbockers  of  New  York,  William  and  Eliza- 
beth were  married  October  19,  1828.  Dr.  Walker  early  began  the  practice  of 
medicine,  which  he  continued  through  life.  He  came  to  Missouri  and  to 
Henry  County  in  the  spring  of  1852,  in  company  with  several  other  fam- 
ilies, and  located  on  Deepwater,  where  he  entered  about  500  acres  of 
land  and  where  he  lived  until  his  death  which  occurred  February  12, 
188 1.  On  the  lOth  of  the  month  the  doctor  was  superintending  the 
loading  of  some  saw  logs,  and  one  falling  upon  him  he  sustained  injuries 
which  resulted  in  his  death.  He  had  been  one  of  the  county's  most 
highly  respected  and  influential  men,  and  his  death  was  seriously  felt 
by  hundreds  whose  good  fortune  it  had  been  to  know  him.  He  was 
one  of  the  pioneer  physicians  here,  and  his  practice  extended  over  a 
large  scope  of  country.  His  soul  was  in  the  work,  and  when  called  upon 
to  render  professional  services  to  suffering  fellow  beings,  he  never  hesi- 
tated to  comfort  the  distressed,  though  often  without  hope  of  pecuniary 
gain.  He  became  a  professor  of  religion  when  a  young  man,  and  was  a 
member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  for  upwards  of  forty  years,  but  since  1865 
he  had  been  connected  with  the  Cumberland  Presbyterians,  and  lived 
a  consistent  Christian  life.  None  were  quicker  to  respond  to  charity's 
call,  and  to  the  stranger  who  approached  his  door  the  latch  string  was 
always  on  the  outside.  His  wife,  Elizabeth,  survived  him  but  a  few 
months,  dying  on  the  12th  of  the  following  September.  Robert  W.  is 
the  only  son  living,  one,  the  second  in  the  family,  James  H.,  dying  in 
camp  in  1862,  at  Georgetown,  Pettis  County,  aged  about  thirty-one  years. 
Four  sisters  are  living  :  Flavia  V.,  (wife  of  B.  M.  Wayne),  Luzettie 
J.  (wife  of  John  C.  Rice),  Fiorina  A.,  (wife  of  John  R.  Greenhalgh),  and 
Candace  O.,  (wife  of  John  Anderson,  of  Pleasant  Hill,  Missouri.)  Three 
sisters  have  died.  The  eldest  of  the  family,  Martha  A.,  died  in 
1855,  at  the  age  of  twenty-six,  Mary  E.,  in  1852,  when  eighteen  years 
old,  and  Verlinda  E.,  also  in  1855,  at  fifteen  years  of  age.  Robert  Walker 
was  married  October  15,   1868,  at  Knobnoster,  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Smith, 


728  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

daughter  of  a  pioneer  of  Johnson  County.  She  died  of  consumption 
November  iq,  1877,  leaving  three  children:  Demarius  Otelia,  Charles 
Edward  and  William  Jesse.  Two  years  after  this,  Mr.  Walker  was  mar- 
ried on  November  24,  1879,  to  Miss  Paulina  McMillan,  who  was  born  in 
Forsythe  County,  North  Carolina,  January  17,  1859.  They  have  one 
child,  living:  Lora  Leona,  and  recently  buried  a  little  boy,  Robert  Ham- 
ilton, who  died  November  13,  1882.  Mr.  Walker  received  such  educa- 
tion as  could  be  gained  in  the  schools  of  the  county,  prior  to  the  war, 
and  having  access  to  his  father's  library,  he  soon  acquired  a  thirst  for 
reading  and  became  familiar  with  standard  works.  He  has  served  the 
people  in  the  capacity  of  justice  for  some  time,  having  been  elected  and 
afterwards  appointed.  Himself,  wife,  and  eldest  daughter  are  connected 
with  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  Walker  lives  on  a  part 
of  the  land  which  his  father  entered  on  his  coming  to  the  country. 


DAVIS    TOWNSHIP. 

JAMES  ARMSTRONG 

was  born  in  Madison  County,  Ohio,  September  20,  1833,  being  the  sixth 
of  fifteen  children,  whose  parents  were  Robert  and  Elizabeth  (Earl) 
Armstrong,  natives  of  Ohio.  One  sister,  Mary  J.,  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  D. 
R.  Caldwell;  one  is  in  Kansas  City,  and  one  brother,  Robert,  is  at  Shel- 
byville.  The  young  days  of  James  were  spent  on  a  farm,  and  he  then 
engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  at  London,  Ohio.  In  1855  he  moved  to 
Bloomington,  Illinois,  and  in  1856  to  Kansas.  For  some  years  he  was 
on  the  freight  lines  to  Santa  Fe.  During  the  war  he  served  in  the  Sec- 
ond Kansas  Cavalry,  taking  part  in  some  of  the  principal  border  fights 
and  receiving  two  wounds.  In  1868  he  came  to  Henry  County,  Mis- 
souri, and  began  to  improve  a  tract  of  land  which  his  father  had  entered. 
His  farm  contains  640  acres  and  is  one  of  the  best  in  the  county.  Mr. 
Armstrong  deals  extensively  in  stock  and  is  considered  one  of  the  most 
reliable  men  of  this  locality.  He  was  married  April  16,  1867,  in  Cham- 
paign County,  Illinois,  to  Miss  Minerva  Crozen,  who  was  born  at  Har- 
per's Ferry,  Virginia,  May  14,  1834.  They  have  four  children  living: 
Harry,  Claude,  Robert  and  James  O.  One,  Gracie,  died  at  the  age  of 
fourteen  months. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  729 

R.   P.    BLEVINS, 

is  probably  the  oldest  person  now  living  who  was  born  in  the  present 
limits  of  Henry  County.  He  was  born  October  20,  183 1,  in  what  is  now 
Shawnee  Township,  on  the  Pleasant  Walker  farm.  One  child  only  was 
born  in  the  county  prior  to  his  birth  and  that  was  the  son  of  a  colored 
woman  in  the  family  of  Lang  Avery,  and  that  child  is  supposed  to  have 
died  in  infancy.  "Pres.,"  as  he  is  familiarly  called,  is  the  eldest  of  a  fam- 
ily of  five  children,  of  whom  all  are  living  but  Stephen,  who  died  of 
small-pox  at  Bloody  Island,  St.  Louis,  in  1863.  He  had  entered  Price's 
command  and  was  captured  at  Prairie  Grove.  His  father,  Ezekial  Blev- 
ins,  came  from  Kentucky  to  Missouri  when  a  young  man,  and  in  John- 
son County  met  Miss  Theresa  Young,  to  whom  he  wa.s  soon  after  mar- 
ried. They  settled  in  Henry  County  in  1830,  and  after  living  three  years 
in  Shawnee  he  went  to  White  Oak,  where  he  secured  a  small  farm  and 
afterward  entered  600  or  700  acres  of  land  upon  which  he  lived  until  his 
wife's  death  in  1861.  Going  to  Johnson  County  he  died  there  in  the  fall 
of  1865  at  the  age  of  fifty-three.  When  twenty-three  years  old  R.  P. 
borrowed  $  100  and  entered  eighty  acres  of  land  in  section  23,  and  began  to 
make  a  farm.  January  14,  1854,  he  was  married  in  Bates  County  to  Miss 
Missouri  Crockett,  daughter  of  James  Crockett,  an  early  settler  of  that 
county.  She  was  born  in  Indiana,  May  16,  183 1.  Mr.  B.  soon  built  a 
little  log  cabin  and  began  a  life  of  hard  work.  His  first  dealing  in  stock 
was  by  trading  a  rifle  for  fourteen  head  of  hogs.  He  raised  hogs  for  quite 
a  while,  until  able  to  sell  at  one  time,  and  then  buying  a  few  heifers,  he 
laid  the  foundation  for  a  stock  business  unsurpassed  by  any  man  in 
Henry  County.  He  now  owns  over  2,700  acres  of  land  in  the  best  part 
of  the  county,  and  during  the  past  year  raised  2,000  acres  of  corn,  and 
fed  350  head  of  beef  cattle,  about  an  average  number  for  him  to  feed. 
He  has  on  hand  also  450  stock  cattle.  He  has  900  head  of  feeding  hogs 
and  nearly  1,000  pigs,  together  with  a  flock  of  400  Cotswold  sheep.  He 
raises  400  acres  of  meadow,  and  has  excellent  success  in  cultivating  the 
tame  grasses.  He  was  formerly  one  of  the  most  extensive  shippers 
from  this  section  of  the  state,  but  for  three  years  has  not  done  much  in 
this  line.  Mr.  Blevins  is  Democratic  in  politics  and  takes  quite  an 
active  interest  in  educational  matters.  He  has  acquired  his  splendid  com- 
petency by  adhering  to  strict  business  principles,  and  good  judgment  in 
his  labors.  Certainly  no  man  in  the  county  dispenses  hospitality  with 
a  more  liberal  hand  or  is  more  sincerely  liked  by  those  with  whom  he 
has  dealings  than  "  Pres."  Blevins.  He  has  a  family  of  seven  children. 
The  eldest,  John,  has  a  farm  of  640  acres,  and  is  a  thorough  business 
man;  his  wife,  was  a  Miss  Belle  Tolston.  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Benjamin 
Collins,  Sarah  Jane  is  the  wife  of  John  B.  Cornett.  Nancy  Ann  married 
Robert  DeArman  and  lives  in  Bogard;  Fred,  Julia  and  Lottie  Pearl  are 


730  HISTORY   OF    HENRV    COUNTY. 

at  home.  Walter  Reno,  a  lad  of  fourteen,  has  been  in  Mr.  Blevins'  fam- 
ily for  four  years. 

JEREMIAH  BLEVINS 

was  born  in  Johnson  County,  Missouri,  October  24,  1837.  ^  sketch  of 
the  life  of  his  parents  will  be  found  in  the  biography  of  his  brother, 
"  Pres  "  Blevins.  Jeremiah's  early  days  were  spent  in  hard  work  upon 
his  father's  farm,  and  in  his  twentieth  year  he  was  married,  on  Septem- 
ber 28,  1857,  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Dunn.  His  father  giving  him  a  small  piece 
of  land,  and  managing  to  enter  another  small  tract,  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing, and  in  1861  had  acquired  over  400  acres  of  land.  When  the  call 
for  arms  was  raised  he  enlisted  at  Lone  Jack,  at  which  place  commenced 
his  war  record.  Being  in  Colonel  Cockrell's  command  he  continued 
with  him  until  the  battle  at  Prairie  Grove,  Arkansas,  where  he  and  his 
brother  Stephen  were  captured.  He  was  confined  at  St.  Louis,  Alton 
and  Chicago,  and  after  being  kept  a  prisoner  for  six  months  was 
exchanged  at  Petersburg,  Virginia.  He  joined  the  forces  again  at  Rich- 
mond and  remained  there  for  forty  days,  when  he  went  south  and  re- 
joined his  original  commander  at  Meriden,  Mississippi.  He  surrendered 
at  Jackson,  Mississippi,  in  1865.  He  received  but  one  serious  wound, 
that  being  caused  by  a  shell  fracturing  his  left  knee.  When  the  war 
closed  Mr.  Blevins  returned  to  Missouri  and  resumed  his  farming  opera- 
tions, after  an  interruption  of  five  years.  His  wife  had  lived  but  a  few 
years  after  their  marriage,  and  on  his  return  in  the  fall  of  1865  he  married 
Miss  Emily  H.  Feris,  daughter  of  Charles  Feris,  of  Bates  County.  His 
first  wife  had  left  him  one  son,  George  W.,  who  has  married  Miss  Martha 
DeArman.  By  his  present  wife  he  has  five  children:  Virginia  Ann, 
Stephen  E.  Dullie,  Lizzie  and  Robert  E.  Lee.  Mr.  Blevins  has  been 
quite  successful  in  his  business  undertakings,  and  now  owns  over  800 
acres  of  good  land,  and  has  also  a  good  farm  in  Texas.  He  feeds  a 
moderate  number  of  cattle  each  year,  having  about  125  head  of  stock  at 
present. 

DR.  R.  M.  BOLTON 

was  born  at  Jefferson  City,  Missouri,  on  the  eleventh  of  January,  1846, 
and  is  the  seventh  of  a  family  of  twelve  children,  seven  boys  and  five 
girls.  His  parents  were  Meredith  N.  and  Sarah  Bolton,  fiee  Hall.  The 
former  of  North  Carolina  family  and  the  latter  of  Virginia  birth.  They 
came  to  Missouri  in  1828  and  lived  in  and  near  Jefferson  City  until  their 
deaths.  Mr.  B.  dying  in  1877  and  his  widow  in  the  next  year.  R.  M. 
received  fair  school  advantages  in  youth,  having  attended  the  Lafayette 
high  school,  under  that  staunch  old  educator.  Dr.  Arnot.  He  began  the 
study  of  medicine  at  home  and  continued  studying  under  his  brother, 
Rufus  L.,   a  physician   of  long  practice  at    Holden.     In    187 1    he   com- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  73  I 

menced  his  practice  in  Johnson  County,  and  after  a  time  removed  to 
Lucas,  in  Henry  County,  where  he  remained  two  years,  then  coming  to 
Ladue,  in  1874,  and  purchasing  a  drug  store.  He  has  since  been  prac- 
ticing his  profession  with  good  success.  Dr.  Bolton  was  married  at 
Lucas,  while  engaged  in  his  practice  there,  on  October  15,  1872,  to  Miss 
Amelia  K.  Godwin,  daughter  of  William  Godwin.  She  is  a  native  of 
Tennessee.  They  have  two  children,  Howard  and  Roxana,  and  have 
also  lost  two,  the  eldest,  Lewis,  dying  at  three  years,  and  the  other  in 
infancy.     Mrs.  Bolton  is  identified  with  the  Methodist  Church,  South. 

DR.  A.  P.  BOWMAN 

was  born  in  Columbiana  County,  Ohio,  on  the  23d  of  May,  1819.  His 
parents  were  of  New  Jersey  birth,  and  were  named  Nathaniel  and  Ann 
(Buffin)  Bowman.  They  reared  a  family  of  six  children,  of  whom  A.  P. 
is  the  fourth,  and  he  has  been  a  resident  of  this  state  since  the  age  of 
twenty  years.  He  began  to  practice  medicine  when  about  twenty-seven 
years  old,  and  followed  the  profession  for  ten  years  in  Clay  County,  hav- 
ing spent  one  year  in  California.  He  came  to  Henry  County  in  )86i, 
from  Bates  County,  where  he  lived  for  four  years  just  previous,  and  con- 
tinued the  practice  here  under  serious  difficulties  during  the  war,  and 
since  then  until  within  the  past  three  years,  when  he  concluded  to  hand 
the  practice  to  younger  men.  He  has  since  devoted  himself  to  the 
labors  of  the  farm.  Dr.  Bowman  was  married  October  28,  1846,  to  Miss 
Mariah  M.  Riley,  daughter  ot  Major  A.  M.  Riley,  of  Clay  County.  They 
have  five  children:  Lucy  Ann,  (wife  of  John  Henkle)  Carrie  A.,  (wife  of 
J.  T.  Parks,  in  Franklin  County),  Alia  L,  in  school  at  Kansas  City,  and 
two  boys,  T.  C.  and  A.  R.  T.  C.  Bowman  was  born  June  2,  1855,  in 
Platte  County,  Missouri.  A.  R.,  born  in  Bates  County,  May  8,  185 1. 
They  have  received  fair  educational  advantages,  A.  R.  attending  the 
Clinton  public  schools,'and  T.  C.  having  spent  one  year  at  Warrensburg 
Normal  School.  The  youngest  was  married  October  14,  1880,  to  Miss 
Ella  Adair,  daughter  of  William  Adair.  She  died  September  16,  1881, 
having  one  child,  Locke.  The  brothers  are  farming  quite  extensively, 
having  over  4Q0  acres  of  good  land.  They  feed  about  fifty  head  of  cattle 
and  100  hogs.     The  family  are  all  identified  with  the  Christian  Church. 

JONATHAN  W.  BROWN 

is  a  native  of  Delaware,  having  been. born  in  Kent  County  May  31,  1843. 
His  parents  were  F.  C.  and  Ruth  (Wyatt)  Brown.  J.  W.  is  the  eldest  of 
fourteen  children,  eight  of  whom  are  now  living  in  this  county.  The 
family  came  to  Henry  County  in  1843  when  he  was  but  an  infant,  and 
his   younger  days   were   spent  here.     At   the  outbreak  of  the  war  he 


732  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COaNTY. 

enlisted  in  the  Sixtieth  E.  M.  M.  and  was  in  the  Forty-third  Volunteer. 
He  was  stationed  for  nearly  two  years  at  St.  Louis,  where  he  did  gen- 
eral duty.  When  Colonel  Hollis  organized  his  command  at  Clinton  Mr. 
Brown  was  chosen  as  second  lieutenant  in  Captain  Whitworth's  com- 
pany, in  which  capacity  he  served  fourteen  months.  Upon  peace  being 
restored  he  engaged  in  farming  operations,  and  on  February  6,  1866,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Margaret  Morgan,  a  native  of  Kentucky.  She  lived 
until  October  20,  1874,  when  she  died,Jeaving  one  child.  On  July  13 
following  Mr.  Brown  was  married  to  Mrs.  Eda  A.  Armstrong,  widow  of 
F.  M.  Armstrong.  Mrs.  Brown  is  the  sister  of  R.  P.  Blevins.  One  child 
is  living  to  bless  this  union,  Josephine.  In  1875  he  moved  upon  his  pres- 
ent farm,  which  contains  eighty  acres  of  excellent  land.  In  politics  he 
is  Republican.  He  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  fraternity  and  is 
identified  with  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church.  His  wife  is  a  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian. 

SAMUEL  CALVERT 

was  born  in  Franklin  County,  Kentucky,  March  i,  1831,  being  the  son 
of  Isaac  and  Mildred  (Chambers)  Calvert,  both  natives  of  Virginia.  One 
brother,  Cyrus,  is  in  Kentucky,  and  one  sister,  Nancy  MuUin,  is  in  White 
Oak  Township,  this  county.  Samuel  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  Decem- 
ber 19,  1854,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Amanda  E.  Bodkin  in  Harrison 
County,  Kentucky.  March  31,  1868,  she  departed  this  life,  and  on  April 
27  of  the^following  year  he  was  married  in  Clarke  County,  Missouri,  to 
Miss  Mary  S.  Beckett,  a  native  of  that  county.  She  died  in  January, 
1875.  March  22,  1876,  he  married  Mrs.  Harriet  N.  Sullivan,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Wisely.  She  has  one  daughter,  now  the  wife  of  S.  C. 
Armstrong.  Mr.  Calvert  has  four  children  by  his  first  marriage:  Isaac 
N.  (in  Washington  Territory),  Catherine  Z.  (wife  of  James  Shipp),  Wil- 
liam S.  and  Mollie  Belle.  His  second  wife  left  him  two  children,  Wood- 
ford and  Ellen,  in  Clarke  County.  Mr.  Calvert  came  to  Henry  County 
in  1858  and  bought  620  acres  of  land.  His  farm  now  contains  280  acres, 
and  he  has  been  handling  stock  more  or  less  while  living  here,  now  hav- 
ing one  car  load  feeding,  with  about  fifty  head  of  stock  cattle.  During 
the  war  he  served  under  Colonel  Marmaduke  and  was  wounded  at  the 
fight  of  Lone  Jack.  He  is  a  thorough  business  man  and  a  most  hospita- 
ble gentleman. 

GEORGE  W.  CRUCE 

is  a  native  of  Kentucky,  having  been  born  in  Livingston  County,  (now 
Crittenden)  September  11,  1829.  His  parents  were  James  and  Nancy 
(Harrison)  Cruce,  also  natives  of  Kentucky.  George  was  the  fifth  of 
nine  children,  and  he  has  one  brother,  James,  in  Vernon  County,  Mis- 
souri.    In  1854  he  first  came  to  Missouri  and  then  entered  a  half  section 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  733 

of  land,  but  soon  after  went  back  to  his  native  home.  After  an.  absence 
of  two  years  he  returned  to  Missouri  and  began  to  improve  his  land.  On 
the  7th  of  February,  1858,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Frances  Hester,  orig- 
inally of  Tennessee.  In  1862  he  again  returned  to  Kentucky,  and 
remained  there  until  the  close  of  the  rebellion,  when  he  once  more  came 
to  Missouri,  and  for  four  years  was  occupied  at  Warrensburg  in  clerking 
for  the  firm  of  Cruce  &  Bell.  In  1869  he  removed  upon  his  farm.  This 
contains  315  acres  in  one  of  the  most  agreeable  sections  of  the  county, 
all  of  which  is  in  a  fair  state  of  cultivation,  and  he  is  improving  his 
stock  to  some  extent.  Mr.  Cruce  is  one  of  the  more  substantial  and 
reliable  men  of  this  vicinity,  and  for  ten  years  has  held  the  office  of  jus- 
tice of  the  peace.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  having 
been  admitted  over  thirty  years  ago.  He  has  but  two  children,  George, 
aged  twenty-two,  and  Marshall,  aged  nineteen  years. 

WILLIAM  DAVIS 

was  born  in  Bourbon  County,  Kentucky,  January  28,  1814,  and  was  the 
son  of  Thomas  and  Sarah  (Ruddell)  Davis,  natives  of  Virginia.  William, 
the  youngest  of  ten  children,  is  the  only  one  of  the  family  now  living. 
When  he  was  eleven  years  old  his  parents  removed  to  Pike  County, 
Missouri,  and  settled  near  the  village  of  Clarksville,  being  among  the 
first  settlers  of  that  part  of  the  state.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two,  Decem- 
'ber  24,  1835,  Mr.  Davis  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Price.  He  was 
subsequently  engaged  in  farming  in  Pike  County,  until  1856,  when  he 
came  to  Henry  County  and  settled  in  the  tract  of  land  upon  which  he 
still  lives.  He  was  the  first  man  to  settle  away  from  the  timber  in  that 
section,  but  he  located  on  the  prairie  and  entered. nearly  3,oco  acres  of 
land.  The  first  year  he  put  lOO  acres  under  fence  and  raised  a  crop  of 
corn.  He  now  has  400  acres  in  the  farm,  all  improved,  and  about  one- 
half  in  cultivatior).  He  is  growing  tame  grass  quite  successfully,  having 
seventy-five  acres.  He  has  handled  a  large  number  of  cattle,  and  now 
keeps  about  seventy-five  head,  "^twenty  being  high  graded  Short  Horns 
from  the  noted  herd  of  Kissinger.  He  also  keeps  sixty  Cotswold  sheep 
and  100  Berkshire  hogs.  The  town  of  Ladue  is  situated  on  land  granted 
by  Mr.  Davis  to  the  railroad  company.  His  father  died  in  Pike  County 
in  1837,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years,  and  his  mother  lived  until  ten 
years  ago,  having  reached  the  age  of  ninety-six  years.  Mrs.  Davis  died 
January  14,  1878,  having  borne  a  family  of  twelve  children,  six  of  whom 
survive:  Margaret  Ann,  (now  Mrs.  Carl  Shy)  William  B.,  Mollie,  (wife 
of  George  Mayes)  Ellen,  (wife  of  Henry  Settles)  George  and  Jennie, 
(wife  of  Porter  Settles).  John,  the  eldest,  died  when  twenty-three  years 
old.  Sarah  Frances  died  at  twenty,  and  Thomas  having  entered  the 
militia  of  Pike  County,  was  killed  by  the  accidental  discharge  of  a  gun 


734  HISTORY   OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 

in  the  hands  of  a  comrade.  Lucinda  and  Henrietta  were  each  about  two 
years  old,  and  Joseph  had  just  became  of  age.  On  September  19,  1878, 
Mr.  Davis  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Rutledge.  Her 
maiden  name  was  Mary  F.  Waggener,  and  she  was  born  in  Mason 
County,  Virginia,  May  6,  1833,  and  was  married  in  1857  in  Putnam 
County,  Missouri,  removing  thence  to  Texas,  where  she  lived  for  several 
years.  She  had  five  children:  Annie,  the  eldest,  (wife  of  John  Harri- 
son); William  died  at  fifteen,  and  Joseph,  Charles  and  Minnie,  are  at 
home.  Mr.  13.  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  in 
politics  he  is  a  Republican.  He  is  an  energetic,  thorough  business  man 
and  a  model  farmer. 

JUDGE  JAMES  M.  HARRISON 

was  born  in  Mason  County,  West  Virginia,  May  24,  183 1.  His  father 
was  William  H.  Harrison,'  and  his  mother's  maiden  name  was  Esther 
Allen,  both  of  old  Virginia  families.  She  died  in  1854,  but  the  former 
is  residing  on  the  old  home  farm  in  Western  Virginia.  He  is  a  hale  old 
gentleman  of  seventy-four  years,  and  is  living  with  his  third  wife.  James 
was  the  second  of  eleven  children,  six  of  whom  are  living,  two  besides 
himself  in  Missouri,  Caroline,  (wife  of  William  A.  Pfost)  and  Virginia, 
(wife  of  James  Porter.)  He  grew  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm,  and 
in  his  twenty-first  year  was  married,  January  10,  1852,  to  Miss  Esther 
Fisher,  of  Virginia.  In  1856  they  came  to  Missouri  and  settled  near 
Calhoun,  where  they  lived  on  the  "  Draper  Farm  "  two  years,  moving 
thence  in  1858  to  his  present  home.  He  ertered  160  acres  of  land  and 
bought  more  as  his  means  would  allow,  and  his  farm  now  contains  about 
700  acres  of  fine  lartd  suitable  for  stock  growing  or  agriculture.  Mr. 
Harrison  is  one  of  the  substantial  farmers  of  the  county,  and  was  chosen 
at  the  recent  election  judge  of  the  county  court,  for  the  second  district. 
During  the  war  he  served  about  six  moftths  with  Price,  and  participated 
in  the  action  at  Drywood,  and  was  also  at  the  capture  of  Lexington. 
He  afterward  served  in  the  state  militia,  and  was  at  Sedalia  at  the  time 
of  the  raid  upon  that  place.  In  1876,  having  suffered  from  poor  health 
for  some  time,  he  went  to  California  and  spent  one  season  in  the  moun- 
tains. Recuperating  his  failing  health  he  has  since  devoted  his  atten- 
tion to  the  duties  of  the  farm.  Judge  Harrison  lost  his  wife  on  the  5th 
of  December,  1877.  She  left  four  children:  Mary  Elizabeth,  (wife  of 
John  W.  Wagner),  John  W.,  (whose  wife  is  Anna  Rutlege),  James  H., 
(who  married  Mattie  Birge)  and  Mordecia  A.  January  2,  188 1,  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Margaret  P.  Green.     They  have  one  child,  Clement  J. 


BIOGRAPrilCAL,  735 

O.  C.  HORRELL 

was  born  in  Scott  County,  Illinois,  November  17,  1821,  being  the  son  of 
Charles  W.  and  Elizabeth  (Carson)  Horrell,  both  Kentuckians  by  birth, 
who  settled  in  Illinois  in  18 19.  O.  C.  is  the  third  of  six  children.  He 
was  married  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven  years,  on  October  22,  1848,  to> 
Miss  Elizabeth  Sawyer,  after  which  he  located  in  Iowa,  where  they  lived 
until  coming  to  Missouri,  in  1870.  Then  they  took  up  their  residence 
where  they  now  live.  His  farm  contains  160  acres  on  section  15.  He 
has  a  family  of  six  children:  James  B.,  Charles  W.,  William  B.,  Clara  L.^ 
Ida  Ann  and  Alice  G.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  has  been  a  Mason  for  twenty  years. 

J.  M.  AND  H.  M.  HULL 

are  prominent  men  of  Henry  County.  Th£  former  was  born  April  4, 
1854,  and  the  latter  September  8,  1859,  J.  M.  in  Oneida  County,  New 
York,  and  H.  M.  in  DeKalb  County,  Illinois.  Their  parents  were  Silas 
C.  Hull,  a  native  of  New  York,  and  Augusta  P.,  nee  Linebeck.  They 
were  married  in  Oneida  County,  New  York,  in  1850,  and  in  1856  settled 
in  DeKalb  County,  Illinois,  where  they  remained  ten  years,  coming 
thence  to  Missouri  in  1866.  Their  father  died  March  20,  1877,  and  since 
that  time  the  boys  have  conducted  the  operations  of  the  farm.  This 
contains  120  acres,  all  improved,  upon  which  they  annually  feed  a  car 
load  of  cattle  and  keep  twenty  hogs  and  thirty  sheep.  The  elder  of  the 
brothers  managed  to  acquire  a  fair  common  school  education  in  youth, 
and  for  some  years  has  employed  the  winter  months  in  teaching  school, 
and  is  considered  one  of  the  successful  instructors  of  the  county.  Neither 
are  married. 

SAMUEL  H.  JONES,  M.  D. 

* 

was  born  in  Warren  County,  Missouri,  November  27,  1837.     His  father, 

John  Jones  was  an  old  practitioner  of  Warren  County,  having  settled 
there  in  1818  from  Kentucky.  He  met  his  death  by  assassination  in 
1842.  He  had  tried  to  have  the  laws  enforced  against  evil  doers,  and  at 
the  hands  of  such  men  he  received  his  death.  Samuel's  mother,  for- 
merly Minerva  B.  Callaway,  was  a  daughter  of  Flanders  Callaway,  promi- 
nent among  the  pioneers  of  Missouri,  and  who  married  the  daughter  of 
Daniel  Boone,  thus  making  Dr.  Jones  the  great  grandson  of  the  famous 
hunter.  A  portion  of  the  original  stone  that  was  placed  at  the  head  of 
Daniel  Boone's  grave,  is  now  in  Dr.  Jones'  possession.  At  his  mother's 
death,  when  he  was  but  sixteen  years  of  age,  he  went  to  Franklin  County, 
and  lived  with  a  brother.  He  attended  DesPaine's  College  at  St.  Louis, 
and  in  1857,  he  began  to  stud}'  with  Dr.  Powell  at  Marthasville,  Warren 


736  HISTORY  OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 

County,  but  at  the  end  of  a  year,  entered  with  his  brother  at  Newport, 
Franklin  County,  In  1859  he  attended  the  St.  Louis  Medical  College, 
where  he  graduated  in  the  spring  of  1861.  He  then  began  the  practice 
of  his  profession  at  Miller's  Landing,  and  July  16,  1861,  he  was  married 
in  St.  Louis,  to  Miss  Cynthia  A.  Griswold,  who  was  born  February  8, 
1843.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  entered  the  army  service  at  Osceola, 
and  was  made  assistant  surgeon  under  Dr.  Dorsey  in  Colonel  Johnson's 
regiment  in  Parson's  Brigade.  He  remained  for  eighteen  months  in 
Missouri  and  Arkansas,  when  he  returned  home  and  resumed'  the  prac- 
tice at  Marthasville.  In  1864  he  removed  to  Williamsburg,  Callaway 
County,  and  subsequently  practiced  in  Warren  County  again  for  two 
years.  In  1870  he  came  to  Henry  County,  and  located  seven  miles  west 
of  Clinton,  and  in  1872,  took  up  his  residence  in  Ladue,  where  he  has  a 
very  successful  practice.  In  1878  he  opened  a  drug  store,  and  has  since 
been  handling  a  good  stock.  Dr.  Jones  has  for  a  time  been  buying  stock 
and  grain  and  in  each  of  these  industries,  is  doing  a  fair  trade.  On  the 
8th  of  March  1880,  his  wife  died.  He  has  seven  children  living:  Lee, 
Archibald  N.,  Caroline  A.,  Sallie  P.,  Harvey,  Jeffie,  and  Daniel  B.  Dr. 
Jones  has  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  for  nearly  twenty- 
five  years. 

STEPHEN  A.  D.  MANON, 

commonly  known  as  "  Doug."  Manon,  was  born  in  Licking  County,  Ohio, 
on  the  6th  of  January,  i860,  and  is  the  youngest  of  a  family  of  seven 
children.  His  father,  H.  S.  Manon,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  was  born 
January  2,  1810.  His  mother's  name  before  marriage  was  Mary  Palmer- 
ston,  and  she  was  born  in  New  York,  December  14,  1822.  Mr.  Manon 
has  long  been  a  prominent  character  in  the  politics  of  the  Buckeye  State. 
He  was  a  delegate  to  the  presidential  convention  which  nominated 
Greeley  and  Brown,  and  also  of  the  convention  that  drafted  the  present 
constitution  of  Ohio.  He  is  now  living  a  retired  life.  Of  the  family 
two  besides  our  suject  are  living  in  Henry  County:  Martin  VanBuren 
and  Mrs.  Lida  Harville,  widow  of  Alexander  Harville.  The  others  are 
Miles  P.,  S.  H.,  Ella  and  John  T.  In  1865  the  family  settled  in  Mason 
County,  Illinois,  where  they  lived  nine  years.  Removing  to  Logan 
County,  they  remained  there  until  the  spring  of  1881  when  they  came  to 
Henry  County.  The  farm  contains  104  acres  of  good  land,  well  improved 
•with  good  buildings,  etc.  They  handle  considerable  stock,  including 
about  forty  head  of  Berkshire  hogs.  "Doug."  has  received  a  fair  educa- 
tion, mainly  at  Lincoln  University,  at  Lincoln,  Illinois,  and  since  com- 
ing to  Missouri  has  been  the  Missouri  correspondent  to  the  Lincoln 
Democrat.     His  marriage  occurred  on  December  31,  1882. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  737 

CHARLES  H.  MERTEL 

is  a  native  of  Prussia,  where  he  was  born  October  25,  1852,  being  the 
youfigest  of  three  brothers,  Edward  and  Frederick  now  living-  in  Illinois. 
His  parents,  Frederick  and  Natalea  (Witchel)  Mertel,  were  also  born  in 
Prussia.  When -but  four  years  old  Charles  was  brought  to  Missouri,  and 
after  a  short  residence  here  went  to  Keokuk,  Iowa,  and  in  1859  to  St. 
Charles  County,  Missouri.  There  his  father  served  in  the  militia  during 
the  war.  In  1868  he  came  to  Johnson  County,  and  in  1870  to  Henry, 
locating  where  Charles  is  now  living.  The  senior  Mertel  died  at  War- 
saw, November  18,  1878,  from  the  effect  of  a  gunshot  wound  in  the 
breast,  received  while  on  a  hunting  expedition  in  company  with  several 
gentlemen.  It  is  unknown  who  fired  the  fatal  shot,  but  it  is  supposed  to 
have  been  some  person  hostile  to  the  hunting  party.  The  shot  was 
fired  through  the  tent  at  night  while  all  inside  were  asleep.  Mr.  C.  H. 
Mertel  is  one  of  the  most  progressive  farmers  of  this  neighborhood. 
His  farm  contains  nearly  200  acres  of  excellent  farming  land,  situated 
two  miles  north  of  LaDue.  He  was  married  February  22,  1877,  to  Miss 
Kate  Cook,  of  this  county,  where  she  was  born  January  5,  i860,  being 
a  daughter  of  the  late  Jacob  Cook.  Two  children  have  blessed  this 
union,  Anna  Florence  and  Etna  May.  Mr.  Mertel  and  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  in  politics  he  is  Independent. 

WILLIAM  F.  AND  EUGENE  D.  MING 

were  both  born  in  Franklin  County,  Missouri,  the  former  February  i, 
1849,  and  the  latter  January  25,  1855.  Their  parents  were  James  M.  and 
Jennie  (Osborn)  Ming.  William  was  married  January  30,  1878,  to  Miss 
Celeste  Jeffries,  who  was  born  October  2,  1854,  i"  the  same  county  as 
himself.  They  have  one  child,  Robert  D.  Eugene  was  married  Novem- 
ber 6,  1881,  to  Miss  Laura  May,  born  October  20,  1862.  These  brothers 
came  to  Henry  County  in  1878,  and  now  have  a  desirable  tract  of  800 
acres  of  land,  600  being  in  cultivation.  They  have  400  acres  of  corn 
120  in  wheat,  and  are  feeding  lOO  head  of  beef  cattle  and  a  like  number 
of  stock  cattle,  with  400  hogs.  They  are  men  of  more  than  ordinary 
culture  and  ability  and  have  acquired  a  good  education.  William  spent 
two  years  at  the  St.  Louis  University  and  was  for  some  time  at  the 
Christian  Brothers'  Academy.  Eugene  received  his  education  at  the 
State  University,  and  for  a  while  was  engaged  in  teaching  after  coming 
to  Henry  County.  Both  have  passed  some  time  in  the  mountains,  where 
their  father  has  large  stock  interests. 

HARRISON  NOBLE 

was  born  in  Franklin  County,  Kentucky,  January  3,  18 18.  His  father, 
William  Noble,  a  native  of  Virginia,  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  inde- 

47 


738  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  1 

pendence,  participating  in  the  battle  of  Guilford  Court  House.  He  mar-      ; 
ried  Hannah   Miner,  of  Pennsylvania.     Of  a  family  of  seven   children,      i 
Harrison  was  the  sixth;  four  are  now  living.  At  the  age  of  eleven  years 
he  was  taken  to  Parke  County,  Indiana,  where  he  grew  to  man's  estate, 
and  on  his  nineteenth  birthday  he  was  married  to  Miss  OUey  Spurgeon, 
also  of  Kentucky.     His  father  died  in  1841,  and  in  the  following  year  he 
emigrated  to  Missouri.     Himself  and  wife  drove  with  ox  teams  to  their 
new  home  and  settled  in  what  is  now  Harrison  County,  Missouri,  then 
a  portion  of  Daviess.     He  was  engaged   in   farming  and    in  running  a 
steam   mill  there   for   nearly   forty   years.     In  1869   Mr.  Noble  came  to     1 
Henry  County  and  bought  a  tract  of  land  four   miles  south   of  Clinton, 
consisting  of  nearly  900   acres.     He   began  to  handle   stock,  and  con- 
tinued farming  until  1876,  when  he   became   interested   in  selling  goods 
at  LaDue,  having  the  second  store  of  any  note  in  the  place.    He  and  his 
youngest   son   Harrison,  sold   goods   for  about  two  years,  when  he  dis-     1 
posed  of  his  store  interests  and  has  since  been  occupied  in  handling  and     1 
manufacturing  "Thompson's  "  washer.     Mr.  Noble  is  the  inventor  of  all 
improved  washing  machine,  and  has  received  letters  patent  on  his  inven- 
tion.    He  has  been  keeping  the  LaDue  Travelers'  Home  for  two  years, 
and  his  attention  as  "  mine  host"  have  brought  the  house  into  popular 
favor.     He  has  two  farms,  one  of  300  acres  and  one  of  eighty  acres,  and 
both  are  underlaid  with  four  foot  veins  of  coal.    On  the  5th  of  February,     i 
i87i,the  companion  of  Mr.  Noble,  she  who   had  lent  the  helping  hand,     | 
and  had  assisted  and  comforted  him  for  thirty-four  years,  died  on  the     | 
15th  of  May,  1875.     He  married  Mrs.  Margaret   Mills,  widow  of  James     1 
Mills,  who  died  in  1870.     Her  maiden  name  was  Margaret  Tisinger  and     | 
she  was  born  in  North  Carolina.     Mr.  Noble  has  four  children:     John, 
Elizabeth,  Harrison   and   Lewis,  the   last   dying  in   Daviess   County   in 
May,  1881.     John  lives  in   Harrison  County.     Elizabeth   is  the    wife  of 
W,  P.  Martin  and  lives  in  Clinton  Township.     Plarrison  lives  in  LaDue. 
His  wife  was  Miss  Julia  Saunders.   Mr.  Noble  is  a  member  of  the  Metho-      , 
dist  Church.     In  politics  he  is  a  Greenbacker,  having  formerly  been  a     ' 
Whig,  and  casting  his  first  vote  for  General  Harrison.  ; 

Dr.  JOSEPH  NOBLE,  | 

physician  and  surgeon  at  LaDue,  was  born  in  Parke  County,  Indiana,  on 
the  last  day  of  February,  1846,  and  was  next  to  the  last  of  ten  children, 
of  whom  six  are  now  living.  His  parents  were  natives  of  Shelby 
County,  Kentucky,  and  settled  in  Indiana  soon  after  the  Indian  war.  j 
Our  subject  bears  the  name  of  his  father,  and  his  mother's  maiden  name  | 
was  Sarah  May.  His  early  days  were  fully  employed  assisting  his 
father  in  the  labors  of  the  farm,  and  he  acquired  a  fair  education,  mainly 
in  the  country  schools  and  at  Belmore  Seminary.     At  the  age  of  sixteen      j 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  739 

years  he  enlisted  in  the  Fifty-fifth  Indiana  Volunteers  and  remained  in 
that  command  three  months,  being  in  the  action  at  Richmond,  Ken- 
tucky. At  the  expiration  of  a  year  spent  at  home  he  again  responded 
to  the  call  for  troops,  this  time  enlisting  in  the  149th  Indiana,  and 
remaining  in  service  until  discharged  at  Nashville  in  September,  1865. 
He  then  passed  one  year  in  school,  and  when  twenty  years  of  age  came 
west  and  for  two  years  was  occupied  in  teaching  in  Henry  and  Jasper 
Counties,  Missouri.  Returning  to  Indiana  in  1868  he  began  the  study 
of  medicine  with  Dr.  John  Wilcox,  at  Greencastle,  Indiana,  with  whom 
he  studied  for  two  years,  when  he  attended  the  lecture  course  of  the 
University  of  Virginia.  He  graduated  from  that  institution  in  June, 
1870.  He  retraced  his  steps  to  Coatesville,  Indiana,  and  then  began  a 
practice  that  has  extended  over  twelve  years.  In  the  Centennial  year 
he  again  came  to  Missouri,  and  locating  at  LaDue  has  gained  an  envia- 
ble reputation  among  the  successful  practitioners  of  the  county.  As 
well  as  being  a  successful  physician  Dr.  Noble  is  a  farmer  of  exceptional 
success.  His  farm  contains  420  acres  of  good  land,  well  improved,  with 
far  better  than  the  customary  buildings,  and  making  one  of  the  most 
desirable  stock  farms  in  the  county.  He  handles  about  150  cattle,  feed- 
ing forty  head  of  good  steers  and  sixty  hogs.  On  the  23d  of  February, 
1873,  the  doctor  was  married  to  Miss  Laura  Layton,  a  native  of  Indiana, 
born  July  16,  1856.  Mrs.  Noble  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  Dr. 
Noble  is  Democratic,  and  for  twenty  years  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity. 

J.  W.  PENLAND, 

farmer  and  stock  grower,  was  born  on  the  Holstein  River,  in  Cocke 
County,  Tennessee,  August  23,  1845.  His  parents,  Aaron  and  Catha- 
rine (Philips)  Penland,  were  married  in  Tennessee,  and  were  the  parents 
of  six  children,  three  boys  and  three  girls,  all  of  whom  are  living.  When 
seven  years  of  age  John  W.  was  taken  to  Kentucky,  but  after  living 
there  orrly  one  year  the  family  came  on  West  to  Illinois,  settling  in 
Washington  County,  where  he  lived  with  his  father  until  the  age  of  eigh- 
teen. Then  he  began  to  work  by  the  month,  which  he  continued  for  five 
or  six  years,  and  in  1869  he  came  with  his  father  to  Henry  County,  and 
for  nearly  two  years  had  charge  of  the  water  tank  at  Grand  River.  His 
father,  a  brother  and  himself  secured  an  interest  in  the  Grand  River 
toll  road,  and  repairing  the  road  they  retained  it  until  the  expiration  of 
the  charter  when  it  reverted  to  the  county.  Mr.  Penland  was  then  given 
charge  of  the  Deepwater  tank  and  ran  that  until  August,  1880.  In  1877 
he  secured  his  farm  which  consists  of  280  acres.  He  has  a  fine  stock  and 
grain  farm  and  usually  handles  about  fifty  head  each  of  cattle  and  hogs. 
April  I,  1872,  he  married  Mrs.  Annie  Vanscoyk,  who  was  born  in  Ver- 
million County,  Indiana,  September  29,    1847.      She  was  the  widow  of 


J-^O  HTSTOKV    OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 

Allen  Vanscoyk.  who  died  January  /,  1870.  They  were  married  in  Indi- 
ana in  1864,  and  soon  after  came  to  Missouri.  She  has  one  girl,  Gracie 
A.,  aged  fifteen  years,  and  she  also  lost  a  boy  of  twelve  years,  Jesse  A., 
who  died  October  26.  1879. 

W.  A.  PFOST 

was  born  in  Jackson  County,  West  Virginia,  January  8,  1837,  being  the 
3on  of  Abraham  and  Elizabeth  (Reader)  Pfost.  He  was  the  third  in  a 
family  of  ten  children,  and  one  brother,  Henry  Clay,  is  in  Montrose. 
Mr.  Pfost  was  married  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  on  F'ebruary  17,  1859, 
to  Miss  Caroline  Harrison,  sister  of  Judge  J.  M.  Harrison.  In  1869  he 
came  to  Henry  County  and  began  to  farm  in  Davis  Township,  where  he 
now  lives,  having  160  acres  of  land,  nicely  situated  and  well  improved. 
He  has  been  dealing  extensively  in  live  stock,  and  usually  feeds  two  or 
three  car  loads  of  beef  cattle  and  aims  to  handle  a  superior  grade  of 
stock.  More  men  like  our  subject  is  what  has  made  Henry  County  take 
ks  place  among  the  first  counties  of  the  state  in  a  comparatively  short 
space  of  time.  Having  but  a  very  little  property  when  he  came  from 
Virginia  a  few  years  ago,  he  has  managed  to  acquire  a  fair  competency 
by  industry  and  good  management.  Mr.  Pfost  is  Democratic  in  politics, 
and  himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South.  They 
have  a  family  of  eight  children:  Lewis  William  (who  has  married  Miss 
Katie  Mullin),  Theodore  Henry,  Geneva,  Charlie,  Nancy  E.,  Erastus, 
Maude  and  an  infant. 

MILES  PRICE 

was  born  in  Warren  County,  Missouri,  October  25,  1834.  His  father 
was  Job  Price,  and  his  mother's  maiden  name  was  Sarah  Bryant.  The 
former  was  born  in  St.  Charles  County,  in  18 12,  and  his  parents  were 
companions  of  Daniel  Boone  and  were  with  Boone  when  he  lived  at  the 
present  site  of  Brunswick.  His  grandfather  settled  on  Camp  Branch, 
Warren  County,  where  he  died,  and  where  the  family  have  since  resided. 
Miles  is  the  eldest  of  eleven  children,  all  of  whom  have  been  spared  by 
death's  hand.  Four  are  living  in  this  county:  William  C,  Rhoda,  (wife  of  J. 
F".  Archer),  and  Frances  (wife  of  William  C.  Langford).  Miles  resided 
in  Warren  County  until  of  age,  when  he  came  to  Henry  County,  and  in 
B856  he  entered  a  half  section  of  land  in  Clinton  Township.  Remain- 
ing two  years  he  returned  to  Warren  County,  and  in  1861  entered  Maj. 
Breckenridge's  regiment,  with  which  he  served  until  it  was  disbanded 
at  Little  Rock.  The  regiment  was  afterward  reorganized  at  Red  River, 
by  Cal.  A.  W.  Slayback,  and  he  was  elected  captain  of  Company  E.  In 
13863,  be  was  taken  prisoner  in  Boone  County,  and  after  a  confinement  of 
tijree  months  in  the  Gratiot  Street  prison,  he  in  company  with  six  others 
made  his  escape,  staying  until  the  close  of  the  war  in  Texas.     In    1865 


15I0GRAPHICAL.  74* 

he  returned  to  Warren  County,  and  for  five  years  was  engaged  in  t'he 
Texas  cattle  trade.  Coming  again  to  Henry  County,  he  settled  on  a 
tract  of  land  which  his  father  had  secured  some  time  previous.  In  i8Si 
he  removed  to  his  present  farm,  which  contains  i6o  acres.  He  has  z. 
valuable  tract  of  land  and  has  erected  recently  a  handsome  dwelling., 
which  presents  a  most  imposing  appearance,  standing  as  it  does,  upon  2. 
commanding  eminence.  Mr.  Price  was  married  March  i,  1876,  to  Miss 
Julia  Calvird,  a  sister  of  W.  B.  Calvird.  They  have  three  children:  Johc 
K.,  Edna  and  an  infant. 

GEORGE  F.  ROCK, 

dealer  in  general  merchandise  at  LaDue,  was  born  in  Quincy,  Illinois,  July 
19,  185 1.  His  father,  George  Rock  was  an  Italian  by  birth,  and  coming  t© 
America  when  a  young  man,  married  and  had  a  family  of  seven  children, 
of  whom  none  are  living  but  George,  who  was  the  youngest.  His  mother 
dying  when  he  was  tour  weeks  old,  he  was  taken  by  a  family  living  in 
Belleville,  where  he  was  kept  one  year.  Then  he  was  adopted  by  a  mats 
named  Adam  Gaupp,  with  whom  he  lived  until  twenty-three  years  ol 
age.  In  1865  they  came  to  Henry  County  and  lived  three  miles  soutk 
of  Clinton.  Since  the  age  of  twenty-three,  Mr.  Rock  has  been  at  work 
steadily.  He  worked  for  $15  per  month  as  farm  hand  for  several  months;, 
and  in  1876  went  to  Illinois,  where  he  was  running  with  a  steam  thresher 
one  fall,  and  for  several  seasons  he  has  been  hunting  during  the  winter 
time.  In  the  summer  time  he  has  worked  on  a  farm  and  hunted  and 
shipped  small  game  in  winter.  He  also  learned  the  carpenter's  trade 
and  worked  for  Woodruff  &  Fuqua,  contractors  until  December,  188 1. 
He  then  entered  the  dry  goods  store  of  Dennis  Kehoe,  and  when  his 
business  was  closed,  he  carried  on  the  business  of  T.  P.  Bolis  for  three 
months.  In  May,  1882,  Mr.  Rock  began  his  present  business  at  LaDue,, 
where  he  carries  a  stock  of  $1,200,  and  is  enjoying  a  good  trade.  On 
June  14,  1882,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Julia  P.  Ramsey,  daughter  of 
Elijah  Ramsey,  of  Clinton.  She  was  born  at  Warsaw,  Missouri.  Decem- 
ber II,  1861.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  In  politics,  Mr. 
Rock  is  a  Democrat.  He  has  the  push  and  energy  that  characterizes  a 
live  go-ahead  business  man,  and  ere  long  will  doubtless  receive  the  pat- 
ronage that  he  deserves. 

LAFAYETTE  M.  ROUNTREE 

was  born  in  Greene  County,  Missouri,  April  18,  1840,  his  parents  being 
J.  M.  and  Martha  J.  (Miller)  Rountree,  the  former  originally  from  North 
Carolina  and  the  latter  from  Tennessee.  They  were  married  in  Mis- 
souri in  1830.  He  is  still  living  in  Greene  County  but  she  died  in  1872. 
Of  twelve  children  Lafavette  is  the  fifth  and  the  eldest  now  alive.     He 


742  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  , 

stayed  on  his  father's  farm  until  of  age,  and  soon  after  entered  the 
county  service  of  the  Missouri  State  Militia.  He  was  in  the  battles  of 
Springfield,  Wilson  Creek,  etc.,  being  for  some  time  in  the  sanguinary 
guerilla  warfare  of  Western  Missouri.  He  entered  the  service  as  a  pri- 
vate but  soon  rose  to  first  duty  sergeant  and  afterward  to  captain.  He 
returned  to  Greene  County  and  remained  there  until  1872,  engaged  in  a 
store  for  two  years,  and  was  for  some  time  deputy  county  clerk  under 
his  father,  who  was  clerk.  In  1872  he  came  to  Henry  County,  and  March 
23,  of  the  following  year  he  married  Mrs.  Diana  Armstrong,  widow  of 
William  J.  Armstrong,  who  died  in  1869.  Her  maiden  name  was  Diana 
Blevins  and  she  is  the  sister  of  R.  P.  Blevins.  She  had  four  children  left 
her  at  Mr.  Armstrong's  death  :  Luellen,  Thomas  J.,  Matilda  A.  and 
Robert  J.  Luellen  married  T.  M.  Long  and  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
two.  Only  one  child  survives  to  grace  the  home  of  Mr.  Rountree  and 
wife,  James  Lestie.  They  have  lost  two:  Oscar,  a  boy  of  two  years, 
and  an  infant.  In  1877  Mr.  Rountree  came  to  his  present  farm  which 
contains  120  acres.  He  is  handling  some  cattle,  having  at  present  about 
eighty  head,  and  100  hogs.  Mrs.  Rountree  is  a  member  of  the  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  Church.     Mr.  R.  has  been  a  Mason  for  several  years. 

WILLIAM  W.  SALMON 

was  born  in  Greenville  District,  South  Carolina,  March  6,  1832,  and  was 
a  son  of  Ezekial  J.  and  Narcissa  R.  (Merritt)  Salmon,  both  natives  of 
the  same  state.  William  was  the  fourth  of  six  boys  and  three  girls,  five 
of  whom  are  now  living,  three  being  in  Henry  County.  In  1840  the 
family  came  to  Missouri  and  settled  at  Versailles,  Morgan  County,  where 
his  mother  died  in  1845  and  his  father  in  185 1.  After  receiving  a  fair 
education  he  was  sent  to  Washington  College,  East  Tennessee,  where 
he  remained  two  years.  He  then  began  to  study  law,  and  upon  study- 
ing one  year  his  health  failed,  and  in  company  with  his  brother  he  went 
to  California,  and  for  two  years  was  engaged  in  mining.  Returning  to 
Versailles,  he  was  occupied  in  mercantile  pursuits  until  the  war  put  a 
stop  to  all  business.  In  1863  he  removed  to  St.  Louis,  and  until  1869 
was  interested  in  the  wholesale  trade.  Coming  to  Henry  County  in  1869. 
he  located  at  Montrose,  where  he  lived  two  years,  and  then  removed  to 
the  farm.  In  1876  he  went  to  his  present  place.  He  has  a  desirable 
tract  of  160  acres  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  affording  good 
improvements.  Mr.  Salmon  was  married  in  Cooper  County  May  30, 
1858,  to  Miss  Ann  G.  Tutt,  who  was  born  in  Rappahannock  County,  Vir- 
ginia, January  30,  1836,  her  parents  being  Gabriel  and  Jane  (Gardner) 
Tutt.  They  have  eight  children:  Edwin  W.  (in  the  collector's  office  at 
Clinton),  Jennie  W.  (wife  of  F.  S.  Ware),  Sallie  G.,  James  T.,  Rosa  G., 
Carrie  M.,  Anna  T.  and  George  W.     Mrs.  Salmon  is  a  highly   accom- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  743 

plished  lady  and  is  of  a  family  prominent  in  Missouri  affairs.  Her  father 
was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Cooper  County,  and  for  many  years  was 
one  of  the  most  prominent  physicians  of  that  section  of  the  state.  He 
died  about  185 1.  One  brother  of  Mrs.  Salmon,  Thomas  E.  Tutt,  is  presi- 
dent of  the  Third  National  Bank  of  St.  Louis.  One,  D.  G.,  is  in  one  of 
the  most  extensive  commission  houses  of  that  city,  and  one,  Benjamin 
G.,  is  a  Baptist  minister  at  Liberty,  Missouri. 

CARL  SHY 

was  born  in  Hesse  Cassel,  near  Maraberg,  Germany,  February  2,  1838, 
his  parents  being  Ludwick  and  Margaret  (Smith)  Shy.  He  was  the 
only  child,  and  his  mother  died  when  he  was  three  years  old.  In  his 
fifteenth  year  he  came  to  America  in  order  to  obviate  the  necessity  of 
giving  the  seven  years  service  requisite  in  the  German  army.  His 
father's  brother,  Charles  Shy,  was  living  in  Lincoln  County,  Missouri, 
and  to  him  he  made  his  way.  He  remained  two  years  with  his  uncle, 
and  they  both  started  for  California,  and  coming  through  Henry  County 
visit  Thomas  Shipp,  an  old  friend  of  his  uncle,  they  began  doing  mason 
work,  and  concluded  to  remain  here.  Mr.  Shy  continued  to  work  at  his 
trade  until  1859,  when  he  secured  a  piece  of  land  and  commenced  farm- 
ing. At  the  outbreak  of  the  war  he  enlisted  at  Georgetown  in  the 
Seventh  Missouri,  and  remained  in  the  service  for  three  years,  taking 
part  in  the  battles  of  Lone  Jack,  Booneville,  etc.  Toward  the  close  of 
the  war  he  served  six  months  in  Col.  Weaver's  company  of  militia. 
Returning  to  his  farm  on  August  6,  1865,  he  was  united,  in  matrimony 
with  Miss  Margaret  A.  Davis,  and  since  then  he  has  lived  on  the  home 
place.  This  contains  480  acres  of  good  land,  340  acres  being  in  cultiva- 
tion. He  handles  from  fifty  to  eighty  head  of  cattle  and  keeps  a  good 
grade  of  Short  Horns.  He  and  his  wife  have  eight  children:  Mattie, 
William,  Nettie,  Florence,  Warren,  Clarence,  Roy,  and  an  infant.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Shy  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  in  politics  he 
is  Republican. 

JOHN  A.  SISSON 

was  born  in  Kanawha  County,  West  Virginia,  February  6,  1837.  His 
father,  James  C.  Sisson,  was  born  December  25,  1820,  in  Kanawha  County, 
where  he  was  was  married,  in  October,  1842,  to  Miss  Esther  Hultz,  born 
May  28,  1824.  They  lived  in  Western  Virginia  until  1853,  then  moved 
to  Missouri,  and  until  1859  resided  in  Johnson  County.  Coming  to 
Henry  County  in  that  year  they  settled  on  Deepwater,  where  the  family 
now  live.  Mr.  Sisson's  death  occurred  January  14,  1880,  and  since  that 
time  John  has  been  the  head  of  the  family.  The  farm  is  pleasantly  sit- 
uated  on  the    south    side    of  Deepwater,    and    contains    280   acres   of 


744  HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 

improved  land,  and  is  well  supplied  with  stock,  he  feeding  each  year 
from  fifty  to  lOO  head  of  beef  cattle.  The  family  has  numbered  eleven 
children,  viz:  Adam  D.,  (who  died  at  ten  years),  Henry,  (living  in  But-^ 
ler),  Martha,  Nancy,  John,  Benjamin,  Johannah,  Mary,  William,  Laura 
and  Lee.  John  was  married  September  24,  1875,  to  Miss  Dora  Dooley, 
daughter  of  H.  J.  Dooley.  She  died  February  13,  1878,  leaving  two 
children,  Lena,  a  bright  little  girl  of  seven  years,  and  Pearl,  aged  four. 

DR.  CHARLES  R.  STEWART, 

physician  and  surgeon,  at  Marvin  postof^ce,  was  born  in  Greenup 
County,  Kentucky,  December  18,  1830,  and  is  the  eldest  of  ten  children, 
five  of  whom  are  living.  His  parents  were  Price'  Stewart,  a  native 
Kentuckian,  and  Mariah  Remmek,  who  was  born  in  New  York.  She 
died  in  185 1,  in  Lee  County,  Iowa,  and  he  in  1867  in  Sullivan  County, 
Missouri.  When  Charles  R.  was  nine  years  of  age  the  family  removed 
to  Lee  County,  Iowa,  where  he  received  a  good  common  school  educa- 
tion, and  where  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  under  an  old  physician 
at  Keokuk,  with  whom  he  studied  two  years.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one 
he  removed  to  Sullivan  County,  Missouri,  and  was  interested  in  farming- 
until  1858,  where  he  resumed  the  study  of  his  chosen  profession  with 
Dr.  Williams,  at  Newton,  Putnam  County.  In  1861  he  commenced 
practicing  at  Middlebury,  Mercer  County,  and  in  the  fall  of  the  same 
year  enlisted  in  Company  C,  Twenty-third  Missouri  Volunteers,  and 
was  in  active  service  in  Missouri  and  Tennessee  for  one  year.  He  par- 
ticipated in  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  and  there  received  a  musket  ball  in  the 
right  thigh.  Being  placed  on  detached  service  he  did  hospital  duty  for 
the  remainder  of  the  war,  receiving  the  appointment  of  assistant  sur- 
geon. He  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Grundy  County,. 
Missouri,  and  has  since  been  engaged  therein.  He  has  practiced  in 
Johnson,  Cass,  Bates,  Benton,  St.  Clair  and  Henry  Counties.  In  June,. 
188 1,  he  located  at  his  present  field  of  labor,  and  has  a  highly  satisfac- 
tory practice.  Dr.  Stewart's  wife  was  formerly  Miss  Mary  E.  Griffith,  of 
Benton  County,  to  whom  he  was  married  March  6,  1879.  They  have 
two  children,  Charles,  William  J.  and  Mary  Ellen.  Dr.  Stewart  has  been 
a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  for  upwards  of  twenty  years  and 
holds  his  membership  with  the  Montrose  Lodge. 

SAMUEL  VANSANT, 

was  born  in  Madison  County,  Illinois,  April  8,  1841,  being  the  son  of 
Abner  B.  and  Susan  Crist.  The  former  died  in  1856,  and  his  mother 
has  since  married  James  Crabb,  of  Davis  Township.  Samuel  was  the 
eldest  of  a  family  of  four  brothers   and  two  sisters,  of  whom   Joel  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  745 

George  live  in  Cedar  County,  William  is  in  Sedalia  and  the  two  sisters, 
Mary  Olive  and  Elizabeth,  still  live  in  Madison  County,  Illinois.  Samuel 
grew  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm,  receiving  like  a  majority  of  the 
boys  of  that  day,  a  limited  education,  such  as  was  afforded  in  the  com- 
mon schools,  and  such  as  he  acquired  by  unassisted  efforts.  On  the  i6th 
of  October,  1862,  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Voyles,  who  was  born  in  the 
same  county  as  himself,  on  July  11,  1842.  In  1868  he  emigrated  to  Mis- 
souri and  bought  a  tract  of  eighty  acres,  where  he  now  lives,  camping 
upon  it  until  he  had  erected  a  suitable  living  room.  He  now  has  160 
acres  of  land  in  cultivation,  and  well  improved  with  a  good  house  and  barn. 
He  has  a  twenty-six  inch  vein  of  coal  near  his  residence,  Irom  which  he  has 
taken  large  quantities  of  the  black  diamonds.  Mr.  V.  has  been  quite  suc- 
cessful in  raising  wheat;  one  piece  of  twenty-five  acres,  making  one  hun- 
dred bushels  per  acre  in  four  year.  Mr.  Vansant  and  wife  are  parents  of  an 
interesting  family  of  eight  children,  all  of  whom  are  living  and  at  home. 
They  are  George,  Emma,  Joel,  James,  Bertie,  Thomas,  Arthur  and  Mat- 
tie.  Mr.  VanS.  is  a  good  farmer,  an  estimable  citizen  and  a  staunch 
Democrat.  His  wife  and  daughter,  Emma,  are  members  of  the  Christian 
Church. 

HENRY  C.  VICKARS, 

Prominent  among  the  pioneers  of  this  township  is  Mr.  Vickars,  who 
settled  in  Henry  County  in  1852.  After  living  one  year  near  Stone 
Chapel  he  located  on  his  present  farm,  buying  eighty  acres,  upon  which 
a  small  house  had  been  built.  He  soon  after  entered  more  land  until 
his  farm  contained  400  acres.  It  embraces  160  acres  at  present  and  is 
pleasantly  located  on  the  south  side  of  Deepwater.  For  many  years 
Mr.  Vickars  dealt  extensively  in  stock,  raising  large  numbers  of  cattle 
and  mules,  but  of  late  years  he  has  devoted  his  attention  more  directly 
to  agricultural  pursuits  and  is  living  comfortably  on  his  farm  in  the  com- 
panionship of  his  excellent  wife.  Mr.  Vickars  is  the  youngest  of  a  family 
of  seven  and  was  born  in  Mason  County,  Kentucky,  on  the  15th  of  May, 
1819.  His  parents,  James  and  Mary  (Watson)  Vickars,  were  natives  of 
Virginia,  and  when  Henry  was  six  years  of  age  they  returned  to  Vir- 
ginia and  settled  in  Kanawha  County,  where  he  grew  to  manhood.  He 
was  married  February  7,  1843,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Ann  Roberts,  who  was 
born  in  Kanawha  County,  September  18,  1821,  her  parents  being  James 
and  Sarah  (Halley)  Roberts.  They  lived  in  West  Virginia  ten  years 
after  they  were  married  and  until  coming  to  Missouri.  They  have  three 
children:  James  H.,  real  estate  agent  at  Montrose;  Edwin  Lee,  in 
Lincoln,  Nebraska,  and  Rosa,  (wife  of  Dr.  Richard  B.  Fewel.)  Mrs. 
Vickars  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  In  political  opinions  Mr. 
Vickars  is  Democratic.  • 


746  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 


OSAGE  TOWNSHIP. 


ALBERT  H.  CAMP, 

merchant  at  Brownington,  and  one  of  the  enterprising  men  of  the  town, 
was  born  in  Chautauqua  County,  New  York,  February  9,  1855,  being  the 
son  of  A.  H.  Camp,  a  native  of  the  same  state.  His  mother,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Julia  Hopkins,  was  born  in  Connecticut.  Albert  H. 
was  brought  up  in  the  county  of  his  birth,  passing  his  youth  mostly  at 
school.  He  worked  one  year  in  the  hardware  business  at  Warren,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  in  the  fall  of  1877  came  west,  and  after  looking  through 
Kansas  and  parts  of  Missouri  he  located  at  Brownington.  Here  he 
embarked  in  his  present  business,  and  he  now  carries  a  good  stock  of 
shelf  and  heavy  hardware,  and  is  enjoying  a  thriving  patronage.  Mr. 
Camp  was  married  in  Norwalk,  Ohio,  December  25,  1876,  to  Miss  Mary 
Watrouf,  a  daughter  of  George  A.  Watrouf,  and  a  native  of  Ohio.  They 
have  one  son,  Frank.  Mr.  C.  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  M.  E. 
Church. 

CAPTAIN  J.  L.  CONSALUS, 

a  native  of  Seneca  County,  New  York,  was  born  January  23,  1835,  his 
parents,  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  Consalus,  nee  Hendricks,  having  also 
come  originally  from  that  state.  The  youth  of  J.  L.  was  spent  on  a  farm 
and  in  attending  the  public  schools.  He  came  west  in  1857,  and  after 
traveling  through  Michigan  and  Wisconsin,  located  in  Henry  County, 
Missouri,  the  same  year,  being  one  of  the  early  settlers  in  this  vicinity. 
At  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  in  1 861,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  I,  Twenty- 
ninth  Missouri  volunteer  infantry,  and  when  his  company  was  organized 
he  was  elected  captain.  He  served  in  that  company  eight  months  and 
participated  in  the  charge  at  Haines'  BlufT,  where  he  was  wounded  in 
the  head.  This  produced  a  deafness,  unfitting  him  for  the  service  and 
causing  his  discharge.  In  the  fall  of  1864  he  re-enlisted  in  the  Forty- 
fifth  Missouri  infantry  and  served  till  the  close  of  the  war,  taking  part  in 
the  fights  at  Jefferson  City  and  Arkansas  Post.  After  the  war  he  returned 
to  Henry  County,  and  in  the  following  year  located  on  the  farm  which 
he  now  occupies.  In  1867  he  laid  out  the  town  of  Consville,  near  Brown- 
ing's Ferry  and  erected  a  store  building  and  engaged  in  merchandising, 
and  was  appointed  postmaster  of  his  town.  In  this  capacity  he  served 
several  years.  After  Celling  goods  about  six  years  he  disposed  of  his 
goods,  and  has  since  been  occupied  in   farming  and  stock  raising.     He 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  74/ 

owns  146  acres  of  land,  with  fair  buildings  and  improvements.  Mr. 
Consalus  was  married  in  this  county  in  the  fall  of  1871  to  Miss  Jane 
Walker,  of  Indiana,  and  a  daughter  of  David  S.  Walker.  They  have  a 
family  of  three  children:  Samuel  L.,  Fanny  and  Hattie.  Mr.  C.  is  a 
member  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

ISAAC  N.  DENHAM, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  32,  originally  from  Barren  County,  Ken- 
tucky, was  born  August  4,  1840.  His  father,  Joseph  M.  De'nham,  was 
also  a  Kentuckian  by  birth  and  grew  to  manhood  there,  subsequently 
being  married  to  Mary  A.  Parks,  of  the  same  state.  In  1844  the  family 
moved  to  Missouri  and  located  in  Osage  Township,  this  county.  Isaac 
N.  was  reared  here.  He  was  married  December  29,  1864,  to  Miss  Melissa 
J.  M.  Garland,  a  daughter  of  R.  C.  Garland,  one  of  the  prominent  farm- 
ers and  stock  men  of  Osage  Township.  She  is  a  native  of  Benton 
County,  but  was  brought  up  and  educated  in  Henry  County.  After  his 
marriage  Mr.  Denham  moved  upon  his  present  valuable  farm,  where  he 
has  since  resided.  He  has  169  acres,  with  about  130  fenced.  In  Novem- 
ber, 1865,  he  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  an  arm  by  the  accidental  dis- 
charge of  his  gun.  He  enlisted  in  the  Confederate  service  in  August, 
1862,  and  served  about  one  year  and  surrendered  at  Warsaw.  He  par- 
ticipated in  the  fight  at  Lone  Jack  and  a  number  of  skirmishes.  After 
his  surrender  he  was  in  the  Union  service  in  the  Enrolled  Missouri 
Militia.  After  the  service  he  settled  on  a  farm  and  has  since  devoted 
his  time  to  farming  and  stock  raising.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Denham  have  a 
family  of  four  children:  Richard  G.,  Mary  F.,  Lula  Alice  and  Cora  Edna. 
They  lost  one  child  in  infancy,  William  C.  Himself  and  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Baptist  Church. 

B.  B.  EDWARDS 

owes  his  nativity  to  Casey  County,  Kentucky,  where  he  was  born 
November  16,  1825.  His  father.  Judge  William  B.  Edwards,  also  of 
Kentucky  birth,  grew  to  manhood  in  Cumberland  County,  and  was  mar- 
ried there  to  Mariah  Bledsoe,  of  that  state.  He  was  one  of  the  promi- 
nent farmers  of  his  county,  and  held  several  local  offices.  He  was 
elected  and  held  the  office  of  county  judge  for  a  number  of  years.  B.  B. 
moved  to  Missouri  with  his  parents  in  1843  and  first  located  in  Johnson 
County,  coming  in  about  two  years,  or  in  1845,  to  Henry  County,  where 
they  entered  land  and  improved  a  farm,  and  where  William  B.  Edwards 
died  in  April,  1S60,  his  wife  departing  this  life  a  few  da}'s  later.  Our 
subject  passed  his  youth  on  a  farm,  and  he  enlisted  and  served  eighteen 
months  in  the  war  with  Mexico,  receiving  a  land  warrant  for  his  services. 


748  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY.  ; 

He  was  married  in   Benton   County,  April  7,    1850,  to  Miss  Minerva  A.  j 
Hunter,  of  Illinois,  and  a  daughter  of  Henry   Hunter,  one  of  the  early  ] 
settlers  of  this  township.     In   the  spring  of  1862,   he   enlisted  in  Com-  , 
pany  E,  Seventh  Missouri  State  Militia  Cavalry,  and  when  the  regiment 
was  organized  he  was  elected  second  lieutenant,  serving  as  such  till  dis- 
charged, in  1865-      He  participated  in    a  number  of  important  engage-  ' 
ments,  among  which  was  the   battle   of  Nashville,  Tennessee,  and  the  ' 
fight  at  Jefferson  City,  Missouri,  where  nine  of  his  company  were  killed,  j 
After  the  close  of  the  war  he  return  to  this  county  and  engaged  in  the  ; 
mercantile  business  at  Leesville,  selling  goods  there  for  two  years.    Dis-  ' 
posing  of  his  interests  in  this  direction  he   came   to   his   present  farm,  j 
This  embraces  340  acres  ot  land,  upon   which  is  a  good,  large  dwelling 
and  orchard.     He  makes  a  specialty  of  the  stock  business,  and  is  one  of  ' 
the  largest  dealers  in  this  township.     Mr.   and    Mrs.    Edwards  have  six 
children:  William  H.,  Coleman  C,  B.  B.,  Jr.,  N.  G.,  Emery  P.  and  Fanny  ; 
F.     He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  ' 

RICHARD  GARLAND, 

a  thrifty  farmer  and   stock    man   of  this  township,  was   born   in  Green    '■ 
County,  Kentucky,  January  10,  1827.      His  parents,  Jesse  and  Elizabeth 
(Smith)  Garland,  were  Virginians  b)^   birth.      Richard    accompanied  the  ! 
family  to  Missouri  in  1836  and   settled    in  Benton  County,  being  among   I 
the  early  pioneers  there.     He  grew    up  in   that   county  upon  the  home   | 
farm,   and   was   married    there     December   31,   1846  to  Miss  Nancy  E. 
Edwards.     After  his    marriage    Mr.  Garland    resided  in  Benton  County, 
(where  he  had  entered  and  improved  a  farm)  until  about  1857,  when  he    1 
sold  out  and  came  to  Henry  County,  purchasing  a  farm  on  Grand  River,   1 
upon  which  he  lived  until  i860.     Selling  that  place,  he  moved  to  Osage    | 
Township.     He  now  has  three  farms,  one  of  320  acres  of  cultivated  land 
in  Fairview  Township;  one  of  160  acres  in  Osage  Township,  and  another 
200  acres  improved.     He  also  owns  seventy-six  acres    of  timber  land  in    ' 
Benton  County.     He  has  a  good    residence  property  where  he  lives,  in   1 
Brownington,    upon    which    is   a    comfortable    dwelling.      Mr.    Garland    , 
makes  a  specialty  of  feeding  cattle,  and  is  feeding  at  this  time  seventy   ■ 
head;  also  handles  some  mules  and  horses.     He  and  his  wife  have  a  fam- 
ily of  six  children:     Rosena  E.,  Mellissa  J.,  Ellen,  Emily,  Mary  R.  and 
Alice.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  G.  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 


CAPTAIN  REUBEN  GOOD, 

a  pioneer  settler  of  this  township,  is  a  native  of  Montgomery  County,  Ohio, 
and  was  born  January  1 1, 1825.  Adam  Good,  his  father,  originally  of  Lehigh 
County,  Pennsylvania,  went  to  Ohio  when   a  young  man  and  located  ii^ 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  749 

Montgomery  County,  of  which  he  was  an  early  settler.  He  served  in 
the  war  of  18 12.  He  was  married  in  Montgomery  County  to  Miss  Mar- 
garet Hillagus  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania.  Reuben  Good  grew  to 
manhood  in  the  county  of  his  birth,  spending  his  youth  on  the  farm. 
In  1848,  he  moved  to  Indiana  and  located  in  Fountain  County,  where  he 
resided  about  seven  years.  In  1856,  going  to  Illinois,  he  passed  the  sum- 
mer in  Hancock  County,  and  coming  thence  to  Missouri  in  the  fall  of 
1856,  he  settled  in  Henry  County  where  he  improved  a  farm.  His  farm 
contains  720  acres  all  in  cultivation  and  pasture.  A  good  orchard  of  200 
apple,  about  150  chefr}'  and  some  plum  trees  is  on  the  place.  Besides 
his  home  place  Mr.  Good  has  a  farm  of  175  acres  and  a  timber  tract  of 
160  acres,  partly  in  Henry  and  partly  in  St.  Clair  Counties.  He  is  one 
of  the  largest  stock  feeders  in  the  township  and  feeds  on  an  average  200 
head  of  steers  and  about  the  same  number  of  hogs  yearly.  He  was  mar- 
ried June  20,  1854,  to  Miss  Susan  Huber,  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Elisha  and  Catharine  Huber.  They  have  a  family  of  five  child- 
ren: Margaret  C.  (wife  of  John  Darby),  Ellen  A.,  Theodore,  Agnes  J. 
and  Christina.  Mr.  G.  enlisted  in  1862  in  the  Enrolled  Missouri  Militia 
and  served  as  captain.  He  also  served  for  about  two  }'ears  in  the  army. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

JOHN  L.  HARDEMAN,  M.  D., 

one  of  the  leading  members  of  the  medical  fraternity  in  this  locality, 
was  born  in  Saline  County,  Missouri,  February  27,  i8S5-  His  father.  Dr. 
G.  O.  Hardeman,  was  a  native  of  Howard  County,  and  his  mother,  for- 
merly Permelia  A.  Townsend,  of  Cooper  County,  Missouri.  John  L. 
accompanied  his  parents  to  Franklin  County  in  1857  and  located  at 
Gray's  Summit,  vvhere  his  youth  was  spent  in  attending  the  public 
schools.  There  he  received  his  primary  education,  and  was  also  for  one 
year  a  student  at  Pritchett's  Institute,  and  the  two  following  years  at  the 
State  University.  He  began  the  study  of  medicine  with  his  father,  and 
attended  lectures  at  the  St.  Louis  Medical  College,  where  he  graduated 
March  8,  1878.  After  completing  his  course  the  doctor  commenced  tlje 
practice  of  his  profession  at  Brownington  the  same  year,  remaining 
there  about  two  months,  when  he  moved  to  LaDue  and  practiced  there 
one  year.  In  April,  1879,  he  returned  to  Brownington,  and  since  then 
has  built  up  a  large  and  increasing  practice,  and  by  constant  study  he 
keeps  apace  with  the  progress  of  the  profession.  Dr.  Hardeman  was 
married  in  Franklin  County  to  Miss  Lizzie  Jeffries,  a  daughter  of  Dr. 
Charles  Jeffries  and  a  native  of  that  county.  They  have  one  child, 
Elvira  P.,  who  was  born  August  2,  1880.  Mrs.  H.  is  a  member  of  the  M. 
E.  Church  South. 


750  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

JUDGE  JOSEPH    HILLEGAS, 

a  representative  man  of  Osage  Township,  was  born  in  Burks  County, 
Pennsylvania,  April  ii,  1812.  His  parents,  Michael  and  Ann  (Yeagle) 
Hillegas,  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  Joseph  accompanied  the  family 
to  Ohio  in  1815,  they  locating  in  Montgomery  County,  and  being  among 
the  pioneer  settlers  here.  He  passed  his  youth  on  a  farm  and  in  learn- 
ing the  tanners'  trade,  and  was  married  there  June  8,  1837,  to  Miss  Han- 
nah Reed,  a  daughter  of  John  Reed  and  originally  of  Pennsylvania.  She 
was  reared  and  educated  in  Montgomery  County,  where  she  had  moved 
with  her  parents  when  four  years  old.  In  1842  Mr.  Hilligas  went  to 
Miami  County,  but  in  about  four  years  returned  to  Montgomery  County. 
After  remaining  about  three  years  he  located  in  Allen  County,  where  he 
resided  about  five  years,  moving  from  there  to  Illinois,  and  living  two 
years  in  Hancock  County.  In  the  fall  of  1856  he  came  to  Henry  County, 
Missouri,  and  entered  and  purchased  some  land  and  improved  the  farm 
where  he  now  resides.  He  has  660  acres,  with  280  fenced  and  in  fair 
cultivation.  He  was  appointed  one  of  the  county  judges  in  1865,  and 
was  afterward  elected  and  served  six  years  in  succession  in  that  capac- 
ity. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hillegas  have  raised  a  family  of  six  children:  Mar- 
garet A.,  (wife  of  Samuel  Evans)  Michael  J.,  William  H.,  Sarah  C,  (wife 
of  John  Walker)  George  A.  and  Martin  L.  The  judge  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

SAMUEL  L.  KIRTLY, 

stock  dealer  at  Brownington,  came  originally  from  Boone  County,  Ken- 
tucky, where  he  was  born  July  10,  1846,  being  the  son  of  Elijah  and 
Mary  Kirtly,  nee  Sandfords,  also  Kentuckians  by  birth.  Samuel  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  Boone  County,  Missouri,  in  1856,  but  after  living 
there  two  years  they  came  to  Henry  County,  where  he  grew  to  man- 
hood, his  youth  being  spent  on  a  farm.  In  March,  1864,  he  enlisted  in 
the  Forty-fifth  Missouri  Volunteer  Infantry  and  served  till  discharged, 
July  5.  1865.  He  participated  in  the  fights  at  Jefferson  City,  Nashville, 
Tennessee,  and  Frankfort.  After  his  discharge  he  returned  to  his 
home,  and  was  married  here  December  24,  1867,  to  Miss  Sarah  F.  Brown, 
a  daughter  of  John  P.  Brown  and  a  native  of  the  county.  After  this  he 
was  engaged  in  farming  and  trading  in  cattle  for  about  thirteen  years. 
He  is  now  giving  his  attention  to  the  handling  and  feeding  of  cattle  and 
hogs,  and  handles  on  an  average  about  twenty-five  car  loads  of  cattle 
and  twenty  car  loads  of  hogs  annually.  He  is  at  present  in  partnership 
with  J.  L.  Peeler  in  the  stock  business,  and  these  gentlemen  are  feeding 
at  this  time  105  head  of  steers  and  about  175  head  of  hogs.  Mrs.  Kirtly 
died  in  March,  1873,  leaving  three  children:    Sidney  May,  Laura  J.  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  75! 

Rosa  Bird.  Mr.  K.  was  subsequently  married  October  8,  1876,  to  Mrs, 
Emma  Wagnor,  of  this  county.  She  has  one  son  by  her  former  mar- 
riage, Arna  Wagnor.  There  are  three  children  by  this  last  marriage: 
Ura,  Lock.  H.  and  Jane  H.  Mr.  Kirtly  is  identified  with  the  Democratic 
party  and  has  filled  several  local  offices  in  this  township,  among  others 
that  of  constable  for  four  consecutive  years.  His  wife  is  a  member  of 
the  Christian  Church. 

WILLIAM  FRANK  MARTIN, 

farmer  and  stock  feeder,  section  15,  a  native  of  McD'onough  County, 
Illinois,  was  born  February  26,  1852.  William  Martin,  his  father,  was  a 
Virginian  by  birth,  and  there  grew  to  manhood  and  married  Martha  C. 
Kirk,  of  the  same  state.  L^pon  leaving  Virginiahe  went  to  Kentucky, where 
he  resided  for  a  number  of  years,  moving  thence  to  Illinois,  and  being  one 
of  the  pioneers  of  McDonough  County.  In  1856  he  came  to  Missouri  and 
settled  in  Henry  County,  where  he  entered  land  and  improved  a  farm. 
Frank  grew  to  manhood  here,  enjoying  fair  opportunities  for  acquiring  a 
common  education.  He  was  married  in  September,  1876,  to  Miss  Julia 
Renfro,  of  this  county  and  a  daughter  of  John  H.  B.  Renfro.  They 
have  two  children:  James  C,  born  November  30,  1877,  and  Edna  F., 
born  December  3,  1880.  Mr.  Martin  has  640  acres  of  land,  of  which 
about  340  are  under  fence  and  in  cultivation  and  pasture,  with  fair  build- 
ings and  improvements,  and  a  young  bearing  orchard.  He  makes  a 
specialty  of  raising  and  feeding  cattle  and  feeds  on  an  annual  average 
about  three  car  loads  of  steers  and  100  head  of  hogs.  He  went  tec 
Texas  in  1872  and  was  occupied  four  years  in  the  stock  business  in  that 
state. 

HENRY  MERSCH, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  32,  was  born  April  10,  1826,  in  Prussia- 
Herman  William  Mersch,  his  father,  and  also  his  mother,  whose  maiden 
was  Katharine  Kullarmier,  were  natives  of  that  country.  Henry  spent 
his  youth  in  the  public  schools,  where  he  received  a  good  education  in 
the  common  branches,  and  he  was  married  at  his  birthplace  in  1855  to- 
Miss  Elizabeth  Sutmiller,  a  daughter  of  Conrad  Sutmiller,  of  the  same 
locality.  Emigrating  to  the  United  States  in  the  fall  of  1856,  Mr.  Mersch 
settled  in  Warren  County,  Missouri,  where  he  lived  for  about  ten  years. 
He  removed  thence  to  Henry  County  in  the  spring  of  1867,  and  pur- 
chased a  farm  in  Osage  Township,  where  he  now  resides.  He  has  200 
acres  of  improved  land,  upon  which  is  a  good  new  house  and  convenient 
out  buildings,  and  an  orchard  of  about  lOO  apple  and  a  like  number  of 
peach  trees.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mersch  have  nine  children:  William,  Mary 
(wife  of  J.   G.   Scheer),   Herman,   Caroline   C,   Henry,   Frederick,  John, 


7,32  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUXTY. 

Elizabeth  and  Emma.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Church. 

JOHN  G.  MOHRWEIS, 

a  native  of  Wurtemberg,  was  born  January  25,  185 1,  and  was  the  son  of 
Peter  Mohrweis.  His  mother's  maiden  name  was  Christena  Wehrlin, 
and  they  were  also  originally  from  that  locality.  John  G.  passed  his 
youth,  up  to  sixteen  years  of  age,  at  the  public  schools  of  his  birthplace, 
where  he  received  a  fair  education.  Emigrating  to  the  United  States  in 
1867  he  located  in  Greene  County,  Illinois,  where  he  commenced  learn- 
ing the  blacksmith  trade,  working  there  under  instructions  about  two 
years.  In  1869  he  came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  and  for  a  time  lived 
on  a  farm  with  his  uncle,  John  M.  Mohrweis,  who  is  now  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial farmers  of  this  county,  where  he  settled  in  1865.  After  remain- 
ing in  Henry  County  about  five  years,  Mr.  M.  returned  to  Illinois  and 
worked  on  a  farm  about  two  and  a  half  years.  In  1877  he  went  to  Ore- 
gon and  located  at  Salem,  where  he  spent  two  years  in  a  machine  shop. 
While  in  the  west  he  passed  some  time  traveling  through  Oregon  and 
California.      He  retraced  his  steps  to  Missouri  in  the  winter  of  1882. 

PROF.  R.  D.  MOORE, 

a  man  of  recognized  ability  as  a  teacher  in  this  community,  was  born  in 
Fleming  County,  Kentucky,  November  22,  1848,  being  the  son  of  Thomas 
T.  Moore,  a  native  of  Maryland,  who  early  moved  to  Kentucky  with  his 
parents,  where  he  was  married  to  Delilah  Stout,  also  of  that  state.  R.  D. 
grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  county,  his  youth  being  spent  on  his 
father's  farm,  and  he  received  his  primary  education  at  the  public  schools. 
He  afterwards  entered  the  preparatory  course  of  one  year  at  Augusta 
College,  and  the  next  year  entered  the  freshman  class  at  Georgetown, 
College,  of  which  he  was  a  student  for  two  years.  He  was  then  compelled 
to  give  up  farther  study  on  account  of  ill  health,  being  at  that  time  in  the 
sophomore  class.  In  the  spring  of  1878  he  came  to  Missouri  and  located 
at  Brownington,  Henry  County,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in 
teaching  the  Brownington  school  with  marked  success.  Prof.  Moore 
was  married  in  this  county  in  August,  1879.  to  Miss  Arizona  Hudnut,  of 
Iowa,  and  a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Catherine  Hudnut,  of  Fairview 
Township.     He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

GILBERT  F.  NALL,       • 

farmer  and  stock  feeder,  section  33,  came  originally  from  Hardin  County, 
Kentucky,  where  he  was  born  July  ii,  183S.  His  parents,  A.  J.  and 
Theodocia  Nail,  7iee  Berry,  were  also  Kentuckians  by  birth,     Gilbert  F. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  753 

spent  his  younger  days  in  his  native  county  on  a  farm,  receiving  his  primary 
education  at  the  common  schools.  When  nineteen  years  of  age  he  com- 
menced teaching,  which  he  continued  for  six  years.  He  was  married  in 
Washington  County,  Kentucky,  April  9,  1863,  to  Miss  Amanda  F.  Wright, 
of  that  county,  and  a  daughter  of  Nathaniel  Wright.  Mr.  Wall  was  sub- 
sequently engaged  in  farming  in  Hardin  County,  until  he  came  to  Mis- 
souri, in  1876,  and  locating  first  in  Benton  County.  In  1871  he  removed 
to  Henry  County  and  bought  land  and  settled  on  his  present  place.  He 
has  220  acres,  of  which  165  acres  are  in  cultivation.  Since  coming  here, 
he  has  taught  two  winter  terms  of  school,  but  has  since  devoted  his  time 
to  the  farm  and  the  raising  and  feeding  of  stock.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nail 
have  a  family  of  three  children:  E.  F.  Nail,  Bertie  Mabel,  and  Grace. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

OVERTON  PARK, 

also  known  as  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Osage  Township,  was  born 
in  Madison  County,  Kentucky,  November  14,  1822,  and  was  the  son  of 
James  and  Polly  (Benton)  Park,  also  Kentuckians  by  birth.  Overton 
moved  to  Indiana  with  his  parents  in  1826  or  1827,  and  located  in  John- 
son County,  being  among  the  first  settlers  there.  He  was  reared  a  far- 
mer, and  in  1841  he  came  to  Missouri,  making  his  home  first  in  Benton 
County,  where  he  entered  land  and  improved  a  farm.  He  was  married 
in  that  county  July  19,  1844,  to  Miss  Ellen  Foster.  In  1855,  selling  this 
property,  he  moved  to  Henry  County  and  improved  the  place  which  he 
now  occupies.  This  embraces  360  acres,  all  under  fence  and  in  cultiva- 
tion, with  a  good  two  story  house,  located  in  section  36.  Mrs.  Parks 
died  in  October,  1870,  leaving  a  family  of  eleven  children:  James,  David, 
Siegle,  Chillion,  Nancy  (wife  of  R.  Trigg),  Purlina  (wife  of  Reuben 
Brown),  Emily  (wife  of  John  Bunch\  Samantha  (wife  of  Joseph  Bunch), 
Hannah  (wife  of  John  Newell),  and  Mary.  Mr.  Park  was  married  the 
second  time  in  the  fall  of  1861  to  Mrs.  Jane  Holland,  formerly  the  wife 
of  John  Holland.  They  have  four  children:  George,  Overton,  Milo  and 
Carrie  A.  Mr.  P.  served  in  the  enrolled  militia  during  the  rebellion  and 
was  first  lieutenant  in  Captain  Good's  company,  and  as  such  participated 
in  a  number  of  skirmishes.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church. 

J.  J.  STEPHENS,  M.  D., 

a  prominent  physician  and  surgeon  of  Henry  County,  is  a  native  of 
Cooper  County,  Missouri,  having  been  born  in  Boonville  March  15,  1842. 
His  father,  P.  D.  Stephens,  was  a  Virginian  by  birth,  but  moved  with 
his  parents  to  Missouri  in  about  1820,  and  located  in  Cooper  County,  of 
which  they  were  among  the  earliest  settlers.     P.  D.  Stephens  was  mar- 


754  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

ried  there  to  Miss  Sarah  Mitchell  Howard.  He  was  the  first  sheriff  of 
Cooper  County,  serving  two  terms,  and  he  was  afterward  engaged  in 
merchandising  at  Boonville  for  a  number  of  years.  He  subsequently 
went  to  Moniteau  County,  where  he  died  in  July,  1879.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  grew  to  manhood  in  Cooper  and  Moniteau  Counties,  his 
youth  being  spent  at  school  and  in  his  father's  store.  He  received  his 
education  at  high  schools  and  Rose  Hill  Seminary.  He  commenced  the 
study  of  medicine  in  1871  at  Leesville,  under  Dr.  J.  P.  Trullinger,  a  pio- 
neer physician  of  the  county,  and  after  attending  lectures  in  the  Mis- 
souri Medical  College  in  St.  Louis,  graduated  in  the  spring  of  1877. 
Upon  completing  his  studies  the  doctor  began  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession at  Quincy,  Missouri,  where  he  remained  three  years,  coming 
thence  to  Brownington  in  the  fall  of  188 1.  Here  he  has  a  large  and 
increasing  practice,  and  is  one  of  the  best  read  and  most  successful  phy- 
sicians of  this  vicinity,  and  is  a  close  student  even  now.  In  January, 
1882,  he  engaged  in  the  drug  business,  and  at  this  time  carries  a  large 
stock  of  drugs  and  chemicals.  Dr.  Stephens  was  married  at  Tipton, 
Missouri,  February  8,  1866,  to  Miss  Lizzie  J.  Smith,  a  daughter  of  James 
T.  Smith,  and  originally  of  Louisville,  Kentucky.  They  have  a  family 
of  six  children:  James  Phillip,  John  Morse,  Maria  Laura,  Joseph  J., 
Minnie  A.  and  Presley.  Mrs.  Stephens  is  a  member  of  the  Missionary 
Baptist  Church,  and  the  doctor  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity. 

M.  B.  TAYLOR,  M.  D., 

was  born  in  Bourbon  County,  Kentucky,  December  28,  1832,  and  was  the 
son  of  Matthew  and  Mary  (Baker)  Taylor,  also  natives  of  that  county. 
Our  subject  was  reared  in  his  native  county  on  a  farm,  and  in  1855  he 
went  to  Illinois  and  located  in  Coles  County,  engaged  in  the  drug  busi- 
ness at  Mattoon  for  about  one  year.  Shortly  after  settling  in  Illinois 
he  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  T.  B.  Dora,  one  of  the 
prominent  physicians  of  Coles  County.  In  the  winter  of  1856-7  he 
attended  lectures  at  Cincinnati  and  graduated  in  January,  1858.  After 
finishing  his  studies  at  college  the  doctor  embarked  in  the  practice  of 
his  profession  in  Moultrie  County,  Illinois,  where  he  continued  for  about 
twelve  years.  Moving  to  Missouri  in  June,  1870,  he  located  in  Brown- 
ington, Henry  County,  and  here  has  built  up  a  fine  practice  and  is  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  most  successful  physicians  in  the  county.  He  was 
married  in  Moultrie  County,  Illinois,  December  6,  1859,  to  Miss  Mary  E. 
Ellington,  of  that  county,  and  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Harriet  Elling- 
ton. She  died  December  6,  1865,  leaving  two  children,  Laura  B.,  now 
Mrs.  C.  W.  Mercer,  and  Mattie  E.  The  doctor  was  again  married  in 
Moultrie  County,  November  28,  1867,  to  Miss  Mary  F.  Wilkerson,  of  Cal- 
laway County,  Missouri,  and   a  daughter  of    Moses  Wilkerson.     They 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  755,, 

have  three  children:  Adda  E.,  Lena  L.  and  Ch'fford  D.  Dr.  T.  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  He  belongs  to  the  Christian  Church,  as 
does  also  his  wife. 

CHRISTIAN  WIRTH, 

an  enterprising  mechanic  of  Brownington,  owes  his  nativity  to  Prussia, 
where  he  was  born  July  2,  1845,  being  the  son  of  Philip  and  Lizzie 
(Liasor)  Wirth,  also  natives  of  that  country.  Christian  was  brought 
by  his  parents  to  the  United  States  when  an  infant  (in  the  winter  of 
1845),  and  settled  in  St.  Clair  County,  Illinois,  where  he  grew  to  man- 
hood, his  youth  being  spent  on  a  farm  and  at  the  public  schools,  where 
he  received  a  fair  common  education.  When  seventeen  years  old  he- 
commenced  learning  the  wagon  makers  trade,  and  worked  under 
instructions  three  years.  Going  to  Waterloo,  Monroe  County,  he 
worked  a  short  time  there,  and  also  at  different  towns  in  the  county  and 
state  about  three  years.  In  the  spring  of  1869  he  came  to  Missouri  and 
located  in  Clinton,  Henry  County,  following  his  trade  one  year.  He 
removed  to  Brownington  in  1870  and  has  since  carried  on  a  shop  at  this 
place.  Mr.  Wirth  has  built  up  a  good  business  and  has  established  a 
reputation  for  industrious  and  fair  dealing,  exceeded  by  few.  He  was 
married  in  Illinois  to  Miss  Mary  Dietz,  of  that  state,  and  a  daughter  or 
Adam  Dietz,  who  came  originally  from  Germany,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W. 
have  six  children:  George,  Edward,  Louisa,  Ellen,  Charles  and  Julia. 


==^T^^^=^  i(  ^5^:-^-^ 


FAIRVIEW  TOWNSHIP. 


SETH  A.  CALDWELL, 

farmer  and  stock  feeder,  section  31,  is  a  native  of  Franklin  County,  Mis- 
souri, and  was  born  July  10,  1838.  John  Caldwell,  his  lather,  was  born 
in  Kentucky  in  1796,  and  in  1805  moved  to  Missouri  with  his  parents, 
who  were  one  of  the  first  families  settling  in  Franklin  County.  There 
he  grew  to  manhood  and  married  Mary  Ann  Stockton,  also  a  Kentuckian 
by  birth.  He  resided  in  Franklin  County  till  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  1862.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  passed  his  youth  on  a  farm,  having 
but  very  limited  opportunities  for  schooling.  He  has,  however,  obtained 
a  good  education  in  the  common  English  branches,  almost  entirely  by 


756  HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 

self  culture,  and  he  has  taught  in  the  public  schools  for  a  number  of 
years.  He  was  married  in  Franklin  County,  October  15,  1863,  to  Miss 
Paulina  E.  Campbell,  of  that  locality,  and  a  daughter  of  Harvey  Camp- 
bell. Mr.  Caldwell  resided  in  Franklin  County  until  February,  1878, 
when  he  came  to  Henry  County  and  located  in  Fairview  Township  on 
the  farm  where  he  now  resides.  He  has  240  acres  of  land,  improved 
with  a  comfortable  house  and  a  young  bearing  orchard  of  125  apple, 
about  1 50  peach  and  forty  cherr}^  trees.  During  the  past  year  about  sixty- 
five  acres  of  his  farm,  which  were  planted  to  corn,  yielding  forty  bushels 
per  acre.  He  is  also  engaged  in  feeding  and  trading  in  stock,  and  usu- 
ally feeds  about  one  car  load  of  steers  and  fifty  hogs  annually.  He 
entered  the  Confederate  service  in  the  fall  of  1864,  in  the  Fourth  Mis- 
souri cavalry,  under  Col.  Burbridge,  and  served  till  the  close  of  the  vvar, 
participating  in  a  number  of  engagements.  After  the  close  of  the  war 
he  returned  to  his  family.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Caldwell  have  a  family  of  five 
children:  Robert  E.,  Eugene  S.,  Edgar  V.,  Cynthia  C.  and  John  Harvey. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

J.  C.  CALLAWAY, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  22,  was  born  in  Edgar  County,  Illinois, 
August  25,  1831.  Elijah  Callaway,  his  father,  was  a  native  of  Virginia, 
where  he  grew  to  manhood  and  married  Elizabeth  Peck,  also  of  that 
state.  He  moved  to  Illinois  in  1830,  and  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers 
of  Edgar  County,  where  he  died  in  the  spring  of  1832.  J.  C.  Callaway 
grew  to  manhood  in  that  county,  his  youth  being  spent  upon  the  farm. 
He  was  married  in  Coles  County,  December  5,  1853,  to  Miss  Harriet 
Ferguson,  a  Virginian  by  birth,  and  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Ferguson. 
He  subsequently  located  in  Coles  County,  where  he  lived  until  1866,  then 
sold  out  and  came  to  Missouri,  purchasing  land  and  settling  on  a  farm 
in  Henry  County,  where  he  now  resides.  He  has  210  acres,  200  under 
fence  with  fair  improvements,  upon  which  is  a  fine  orchard  of  300  apple 
and  300  peach  and  lOO  cherry  trees.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  raising 
corn  and  had  the  past  year  155  acres,  which  yielded  forty  bushels  per 
acre.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Callaway  have  a  family  of  eleven  children:  Cerilda, 
(now  Mrs.  Thomas  Manbeck,  of  St.  Clair  Count}'),  George  W.,  Harriet, 
(wife  of  Oscar  Roberts),  Jerry  M.,  Albert  L.,  Katie,  Sarah  E.,  Minnie  E., 
William  H.,  Derinda  and  Myrtle  Belle.  Mr.  C.  is  a  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist Church. 

DAVID  A.  CLARK, 

originally  from  Johnson  Count)-,  Missouri,  was  born  February  14,  1835. 
His  father,  Andrew  Clark,  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  where  he  grew  to 
manhood   and  married   Miss  Hannah  Owsley,  of  the  same  state.       He 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  757 

removed  to  Missouri  in  1834  '^"d  located  first  in  Johnson  County,  of 
which  he  was  one  of  the  pioneers,  coming  thence  to  Henry  County  in 
1837.  He  then  settled  near  Clinton.  David  grew  up  here  on  a  farm 
and  while  young  learned  the  blacksmiths'  trade.  He  was  married  July 
18,  1859,  to  Miss  Sarah  A.  Comer,  a  daughter  of  Mark  Comer.  She  is  a 
Tennesseean  by  birth  but  was  reared  and  educated  in  Cooper  County. 
They  have  four  children:  Andrew  A.,  James  H.,  Georgia  and  John  W. 
After  his  marriage  Mr.  Clark  resided  on  a  farm  north  of  Clinton  until 
the  spring  of  1882,  when  he  sold  it  and  purchased  the  place  in  Fairview 
Township  which  he  now  occupies.  He  has  ninety  acres  of  valuable  land 
with  eighty  acres  in  cultivation  and  a  young  bearing  orchard  of  14Q 
apple  and  some  peach  trees.  Mr.  C.  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church. 

GEORGE  H.  CROMER, 

farmer,  section  30,  was  born  in  Lancaster  County,  Pennsylvania,  Sep- 
tember 16,  1834,  being  the  son  of  John  Cromer,  also  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, who  was  born  in  1812.  His  mother,  formerly  Elizabeth  Fink,  came 
originally  from  the  same  state.  John  Cromer  moved  with  his  family 
from  Lancaster  to  Adams  County  in  1841,  where  they  lived  about  thir- 
teen years^  going  thence  to  Darke  County,  Ohio,  in  1854.  George  H. 
passed  his  youth  on  a  farm  and  received  a  common  school  education. 
He  was  married  in  Darke  County,  November  25,  1856,  to  Miss  Ellen 
Hufnagle,  of  Lebanon  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  a  daughter  of  Benja- 
min and  Elizabeth  Hufnagle.  She  moved  to  Ohio  with  her  parents  when 
about  three  years  old,  they  settling  in  Darke  County,  where  she  was 
reared  and  educated.  He  was  engaged  in  farming  after  this  nine  years, 
and  in  the  fall  of  1865  he  came  to  Missouri,  locating  in  Henry  County. 
He  moved  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides  in  1870,  having  160  acres^ 
all  fenced  and  in  cultivation  and  pasture.  His  new  residence  is  a  neat 
and  substantial  one,  and  his  yard  is  tastily  ornamented.  Mr.  Cromer  is 
one  of  the  thrifty  farmers  of  this  township.  He  and  his  wife  have  four 
children:  William  D.,  James  H.,  and  Ettie  Jane  and  Nettie  Belle,  twins. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

ALBERT  DUNNING, 

farmer  and  stock  dealer,  owes  his  nativity  to  Trego  County,  Kentucky,, 
where  he  was  born  January  13,  1838.  His  father,  S.  Dunning,  and  also 
his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Ada  Morris,  were  Virginians  by 
birth.  Albert  moved  with  his  parents  to  Missouri  in  1839  and  located 
in  Henry  County,  being  among  the  early  pioneers  here.  He  spent  his 
youth  on  the  farm  and  grew  to  manhood  in  the  county,  coming  to  his- 
present  location  in  1874.   He  has  560  acres  of  land,  with  520  under  fence 


758  HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 

and  in  cultiv^ation  and  pasture.  He  is  quite  extensively  engaged  in 
handling  and  feeding  cattle  and  hogs,  and  the  past  season  fed  two  car 
loads  of  steers  and  eighty-five  head  of  stock  cattle.  Mr.  Dunning  was 
married  in  this  county  October  lO,  1881,  to  Miss  Ella  M.  Fudge,  a  native 
of  Coles  County,  Illinois,  and  a  daughter  of  Adam  T.  Fudge.  There  is 
one  child  by  this  marriage,  Martha  Belle,  who  was  born  March  17,  1882. 
Mr.  D.  is  a  member  of  the  Browington  Missionary  Baptist  Church.  He 
served  four  years  in  the  Confederate  army  during  the  war,  having 
enlisted  in  the  fall  of  1861  in  Colonel  Lewis'  Sixteenth  Missouri  Infantry. 
He  participated  in  the  fights  of  Carthage,  Springfield,  Lone  Jack  and 
Helena  (Arkansas),  where  he  received  a  wound  in  the  cheek,  and  several 
other  engagements. 

JOHN  E.  GANO, 

farmer  and  stock  feeder,  section  14,  is  a  Virginian  by  birth  and  was  born 
August  9,  1835,  being  the  son  of  John  S.  and  Mary  (Hartsook)  Gano, 
also  natives  of  Virginia.  The  former  moved  to  Illinois  in  1841,  and 
located  in  Greene  County,  where  he  entered  and  improved  a  farm.  John 
passed  his  youth  in  that  county  on  a  farm,  and  in  attending  the  common 
schools,  where  he  received  a  fair  education  in  the  common  English 
branches.  He  was  married  March  18,  1868,  to  Miss  Isabella  Long,  a 
daughter  of  Edward  and  Priscilla  Long,  and  a  native  of  Greene  County^ 
she  having  been  reared  and  educated  there.  After  this  event  Mr.  Gano 
lived  for  two  years  in  Greene  County,  and  in  the  spring  of  1870  he  came 
to  Missouri  and  located  in  Henry  County,  near  Brownington,  where  he 
bought  land  upon  which  he  resided  eleven  years.  Selling  that  property 
he,  in  March,  1882,  purchased  the  farm  which  he  now  occupies,  consist- 
ing of  455  acres  with  nearly  400  acres  under  fence.  Mr.  Gano  is  an 
•industrious  and  thorough  farmer  and  a  man  of  good  business  qualifica- 
tions. He  makes  a  specialty  of  feeding  and  handling  stock  and  is  now 
feeding  fifty-five  head  of  steers  and  100  hogs.  He  gives  considerable 
attention  to  corn  raising,  the  past  season  having  270  acres,  which  yielded 
on  an  average  forty  bushels  to  the  acre. 

THOMAS   HAMILTON, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  sections  22  and  23,  a  native  of  Monogalia 
County,  West  Virginia,  was  born  July  24,  1824.  Stephen  Hamilton,  his 
father,  was  born  in  Virginia,  and  his  mother,  formerly  Nancy  Mackabee, 
was  originally  from  Maryland.  Thomas  Hamilton  moved  to  Indiana 
with  his  parents  in  1830  and  located  in  Delaware  County,  they  being 
among  the  first  families  settling  in  that  county,  and  grew  to  manhood  in 
that  county.  He  passed  nis  youth  there  upon  a  farm,  and  in  1848  came 
w-est  to  Illinois,  locating  first  in  Jersey  County,  where  he  farmed  three 


BIOGRAPHICAL.    •  759 

years,  then  removing  to  Coles  County.  Here  he  entered  land,  and  after 
living  upon  it  four  years  he  sold  out,  and  in  1857  came  to  Henry  County, 
Missouri,  entering  and  improving  the  farm  where  he  now  resides.  He 
has  a  fine  body  of  land  of  320  acres,  upon  which  is  a  large  two-story  resi- 
dence, one  of  the  best  in  the  township.  Mr.  Hamilton  was  married  in 
this  county  in  September,  1858,  to  Miss  Ann  Elizabeth  Paterson,  a  native 
of  Indiana,  and  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Patterson.  They  have  five  chil- 
dren: Henry  E.,  Silas  S.,  Charles  D.,  U.  S.  Grant  and  Venora  S.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  H.  are  members  of  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church. 

JAMES  M.  HORNER, 

farmer  and  stock  trader,  section  20,  was  born  in  Darke  County,  Ohio, 
September  8,  1840,  being  the  son  of  Alexander  Horner,  a  native  of 
Adams  County,  Pennsylvania,  who  married  Margaret  McGorgon.  of 
Maryland.  The  former  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  18 12,  and  at  one  time 
served  as  deputy  sheriff  of  the  county  of  his  birth.  He  moved  to  Ohio 
in  1833  and  settled  in  Darke  County,  of  which  he  was  a  pioneer.  He 
filled  numerous  local  offices  there,  and  was  treasurer  of  his  township  for 
twenty  years  in  succession.  He  died  in  the  spring  of  1870.  James  M. 
Horner  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  county,  his  youth  being  spent  on 
a  farm  and  at  the  common  schools.  When  eighteen  years  of  age  he  com- 
menced learning  the  blacksmith's  trade,  and  worked  two  years  as  an 
apprentice.  He  was  married  December  27,  i860,  to  Miss  Jane  H.  Cromer, 
a  daughter  of  John  Cromer.  She  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  but  was 
principally  educated  in  Ohio.  In  February,  1864,  Mr.  H.  enlisted  in  the 
Eighth  Ohio  Cavalry,  under  Colonel  Gilbert,  and  served  till  discharged 
in  August,  1865.  He  participated  in  the  Lynchburg  raid,  the  fight  at 
Winchester  and  Cedar  Creek,  and  on  the  night  of  January  ii,  1865,  he 
was  taken  prisoner  at  Beverly,  and  was  held  in  Libby  Prison  for  three 
months,  and  exchanged.  After  his  discharge  he  returned  to  his  home, 
and  in  the  fall  of  1865  removed  to  Missouri.  The  following  spring  he 
purchased  and  moved  on  his  present  place.  He  owns  137  acres,  of  which 
100  acres  are  in  cultivation  and  pasture,  and  well  improved.  His  orchard 
contains  200  bearing  apple,  lOO  peach  and  fifty  cherry  trees,  etc;  He 
makes  a  specialty  of  dealing  in  stock,  and  is  one  of  the  most  successful 
farmers  and  stock  men  of  this  township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Horner  have 
seven  children:  John  A.,  Ettie  May,  Thomas  Frank,  James  E.,  Claud 
Orville,  and  Anna  V.  and  Glen  Roy,  twins.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
United  Workmen  and  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  Politically 
he  is  a  Republican. 

HENRY  HUDNUT, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  15,  a  thrifty  and  prominent  farmer  of 
Fairview  Township,   is   a   native  of  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  having  been 


760  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

born  there  May  22,  1S32.  His  parents  were  David  B.  and  Rebecca 
(Skamp)  Hudnut,  both  originally  from  New  Jersey.  Colonel  Skamp, 
grandfather  of  Rebecca  Skamp,  served  under  General  Washington 
through  the  revolutionary  war.  D.  H.  Hudnut  moved  to  Ohio  in  an  early 
day  and  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Wayne  County.  They  sub- 
sequently went  to  St.  Joseph  County,  Indiana,  where  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  reared  on  a  farm,  receiving  a  fair  education  in  the  common 
English  branches.  In  1853  he  located  in  Johnson  County,  Iowa,  bought 
land  and  improved  a  farm,  and  was  married  there  November  26,  1857,  tO' 
Miss  Elizabeth  C.  Posey,  of  Montgomery  County,  Indiana,  and  a  daughter 
of  Benjamin  and  Orpha  Posey.  Mrs.  Hudnut  moved  to  Iowa  when  a 
child,  and  was  educated  in  Johnson  County.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  H. 
resided  in  that  county  for  ten  years,  engaged  in  farming,  and  in  1867  he 
came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  and  bought  a  partially  improved  farm 
and  settled  where  he  now  resides.  He  has  193  acres  of  land,  mostly  in 
cultivation  and  pasture,  his  fine  orchard  of  400  trees  consisting  of  apple, 
peach,  cherry  and  pear  trees.  There  is  a  good  house  on  the  place 
located  about  twenty  rods  from  the  public  road.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hudunt 
have  six  children:  Arizona  (now  Mrs.  Reuben  Moore),  William  H., 
Lydia  D.,  Maggie  A.,  Wade  W.  and  Hale.  Himself,  wife  and  three 
daughters  are  members  of  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church  at  Brown- 
ington. 

H.  C.  KERR, 

farmer,  section  20,  owes  his  nativity  to  Adams  County,  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  was  born  November  18,  1824.  Josiah  Kerr,  his  father,  was 
also  born  in  that  county,  October  27,  1784,  and  was  married  there  to 
Mary  Campbell  of  the  same  county,  born  September  3,  1785.  In  the 
fall  of  1828,  the  family  moved  to  Ohio,  and  settled  in  Darke  County, 
being  among  the  first  in  that  locality.  Here  the  doctor  was  engaged  in 
farming  until  his  death,  August  20,  1873.  His  wife  had  preceded  him, 
she  having  died  January  12,  1836.  H.  C.  Kerr  divided  his  youth  between 
working  on  the  home  farm  and  attending  during  the  winter  months  the 
comrnon  schools.  He  was  married  February  5,  1857,  to  Miss  Anna 
Mary  Cromer,  a  native  of  Adams  County,  and  a  daughter  of  John 
Cromer.  He  subsequently  took  up  his  location  on  a  farm  in  Darke 
County,  Ohio,  where  he  resided  until  moving  to  Missouri  in  the  winter 
of  1879,  when  he  settled  in  Henry  County.  Then  he  purchased  the  place 
which  he  now  occupies.  He  has  280  acres  all  in  cultivation.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Kerr  have  a  family  of  five  children:  William  J.,  James  A.,  Josiah  C.^ 
Izora  J.,  and  John  H.  C.  Mr.  K.  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  761 

STEPHEN  J.  LOYD, 

farmer  and  stock  feeder,  section  11,  was  born  in  Washington  County, 
Virginia,  near  Abingdon,  February  17,  1839.  His  father,  Thomas  Loyd, 
was  born  in  Russell  County,  Virginia,  August  10,  181 1,  but  grew  to  man- 
hood in  Washington  County,  where  he  married  Fanny  Ellington,  also  of 
Russell  County.  The  family  moved  to  Illinois  in  1850  and  located  in 
Coles  County,  where  they  resided  about  fifteen  years.  In  the  fall  of  1865 
they  came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  and  bought  the  farm  where  they 
now  reside.  Thomas  Loyd  lost  his  wife,  who  died  while  on  a  visit  to 
Illinois  in  1869,  leaving  two  children,  William  C.  and  Stephen.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  reared  in  Coles  County  on  a  farm,  and  by  attend- 
ing the  common  schools  he  received  a  fair  education.  He  was  married 
in  that  county  in  January,  1857,  to  Miss  Sarah  E.  Hendricks,  a  daughter 
of  Eureka  Hendricks.  She  died  in  Illinois  in  1859.  He  was  again  mar- 
ried in  July,  1863,  to  Miss  Nancy  Ellington,  and  she  also  died,  in  Henry 
County,  in  1866,  leaving  one  child,  William  H.  Mr.  Loyd  was  married 
to  his  present  wife,  Mrs.  Sarah  Ellington,  July  [7,  1873.  She  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Jacob  Pifer  and  is  a  native  of  Coles  County,  Illinois.  Mrs.  Loyd 
has  three  children  by  her  former  marriage:  Sarah  (now  Mrs.  John  A. 
Wolf),  Ida  (wife  of  O.  M.  Potts),  and  George  Ellington.  By  the  last 
marriage  there  are  four  children:  Stephen  D.,  Wesley  E.  Martha  A.  and 
and  Claud.  Mr.  L.  and  his  father  have  380  acres  of  land,  with  220  under 
fence,  upon  which  are  fair  buildings  and  other  improvements.  He  is  a 
man  of  good  business  qualifications,  and  has  filled  numerous  local  offices 
in  his  township.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order.  He  belongs  to 
the  Christian  Church  and  his  wife  is  connected  with  the  Missionary  Bap- 
tists. 

WILLIAM  McKEE, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  10,  a  native  of  Scotland,  was  born  May 
13,  1S22,  being  the  son  of  John  and  Jane  (Steele)  McKee,  also  of  that 
country.  William  emigrated  to  the  United  States  with  an  uncle  in  1834, 
and  settled  in  Hampden  County,  Massachusetts,  where  he  passed  his 
youthful  days  on  a  farm,  receiving  a  common  school  education.  When 
sixteen  years  of  age  he  commenced  learning  the  horse  farrier  business 
at  which  he  worked  for  about  ten  years.  Going  to  Michigan  in  1855,  he 
was  married  in  New  Buffalo  duriijg  Christmas  week  of  that  year  to  Miss 
Martha  Blair,  of  Hampden  County,  Massachusetts,  and  a  daughter  of 
Samuel  Blair,  one  of  the  prominent  men  of  that  locality.  Mrs.  McKee 
was  a  lady  of  rare  culture  and  attainments  and  was  a  teacher  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  previous  to  her  marriage.  The  following  spring  Mr.  McK. 
moved  to  Wisconsin  and  after  living  one  year  in  Milwaukee  County,  in 
the  spring  of  1S57  he  went  to  Illinois  and  located  near  Joliet,  where  he 


762  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

planted  a  crop.     He  soon  sold  out,  and  upon  coming  to  Missouri  the 
same  year,  settled  in  Henry  County,  bought  land  and  began  the  culti- 
vation of  the  farm  where  he    now  resides.     This  contains  365  acres,  of 
which  320  acres  are  fenced;  twenty  acres  are  devoted  to  tame  meadow     ' 
and  there  are  about  fifty-five  acres  of  good  timber,  and  plenty  of  living     | 
water  for  stock.       His  house   is  a   large,   two-story   structure,    and  his 
orchard  consists   of  100  bearing  apple  trees  of  select  varieties.       Mrs. 
McKee  died  February  29,  1880,  and  Mr.  McK.  was  subsequently  married 
in    this  county  to   Miss  Charlotte  Fisher,  a  daughter  of  James  Fisher. 
They  have  one  son,  Lewis  B.,  born  December  28,  1881.     Mrs.  McKee  is     | 
a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  | 

JAMES  F.  FLECKER, 

farmer  and  stock  dealer,  section  28,  a  native  of  Augusta  County,  Vir-     | 
ginia,  was  born  August  29,  1843.     His  parents,  John  W.  and  Ann  Eliza 
(Crawn)  Flecker,  were  also  born  in  the  same  county.     James  F.  grew  up 
there  as  a  farmer's  boy  and  enlisted  in  the  Confederate  army  in  March, 
1862,  serving   three   years   in    the  Tenth  Virginia  cavalry.     He  partici- 
pated in  numerous  important  engagements,  among  which  were  the  bat-     ] 
ties  of  Williamsport,  the  fights  at  Richmond  and  Fredericksburg  and  all     1 
of  the  encounters  around  Richmond,  and  tvvo  raids  into  Maryland  and 
Pennsylvania,  where  they  captured  a  large  number  of  horses  and  cattle. 
Mr.  Flecker  came  to  Missouri  with  his  parents  in    1866  and  settled   in 
Henry  County.     He  first  bought  only  forty  acres  of  land,  but  as  his  cir- 
cumstances would  permit,  he  added   to   his   original   purchase  until   he 
now  has  933   acres   in   cultivation    and   pasture,  with   the   exception   of 
about  fifty  acres  of  timber.     He  had  planted  in  corn  the  past  season  225 
acres,  which  yielded  about  forty  bushels  to  the  acre.     He  makes  a  busi- 
ness of  trading  and    feeding  stock,  and    is  one   of  the    most  successful 
stock   men   in   this   township.     He   has   over  200  head  of  cattle,  and  is     1 
feeding  about  fifty  head  of  steers   and   seventy  hogs.     Mr.  Flecker  was     ] 
married  in  the  spring  of  1874  to    Miss  Sarah  Dodd,  who  died  in  about     | 
five  weeks   thereafter.     He   was  again   married    September   7,  1876,    to 
Miss  Millie  Whiteford,  a  native  of  Illinois,  and  a  daughter  of  George  W. 
Whitford.     They  have  three  children:   Ida  Belle,  Ettie  May  and  Roberta 
Mendora.     Mrs.  P.  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church. 

WILLIAM  RUSK 

was  born  in  Morgan  County,  Ohio,  January  10,  1834.  Humphrey  Rusk, 
his  father  was  a  native  of  Belmont  County,  Ohio,  while  his  mother  whose 
maiden  name  was  Margaret  McDonald,  was  born  in  Washington  County, 
Pennsylvania.     William  spent  his  early  youth  on  a  farm,  and  upon  mov- 


DIOGRAPHICAL.  763 

ing  to  Illinois  with  his  parents  in  1855,  located  in  DeWitt  County, 
where  he  grew  up.  He  was  married  there,  September  19,  1862.  to  Miss 
Rebecca  Ann  Farhner,  of  Pennsylvania,  and  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Farh- 
ner.  Mr.  Rusk,  after  his  marriage  farmed  in  DeWitt  County  for  four 
years  and  in  the  fall  of  1866,  he  went  to  Iowa,  and  settling  in  Linn 
County.  After  two  years  he  came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  in  the 
fall  of  1868,  and  bought  land  and  improved  the  farm  which  he  now 
occupies.  He  has  160  acres  in  a  fair  state  of  cultivation,  and  upon  it  is  a 
good  apple  and  peach  orchard.  He  is  devoting  considerable  attention 
to  the  cultivation  of  broom  corn,  and  had  raised  the  past  year  fifty  acres 
of  this  product  which  averaged  500  pounds  of  brush  to  the  acre.  Mrs. 
Rusk  died  November  i,  1872,  leaving  five  children.  The  oldest,  Jacob 
H.  met  with  a  runaway  accident  which  caused  his  death  at  the  age  of 
twelve  years.  He  died  May  15,  1873.  Horatio  S.,  Lizzie  M.,  James  M., 
and  Otha  P.  Mr.  Rusk  was  afterwards  married  in  Champaign  County, 
Illinois,  April  13,  1878,  to  Mrs.  Mary  S.  Swayze,  a  daughter  of  Samuel 
Harnit.  She  is  a  native  of  Beaver  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  reared 
and  educated  there  and  in  Ohio.  She  is  a  lady  of  culture,  and  was  a 
teacher  for  two  years  previous  to  her  marriage  with  James  Swayze,  Mr. 
Swayze  was  originally  of  Ohio,  but  resided  in  Illinois  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  which  occurred  August  18,  1871.  They  had  two  children  :  Ira 
T.  and  James  M.  Swayze,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rusk  have  one  son  by  their  mar- 
riage, Willie  H.  C.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.     Mr.  R.  is  an  Odd  Fellow. 

ISAAC  N.  STRAW, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  32,  v,^as  born  in  Wyandot  County,  Ohio, 
October  27,  1836.  Jason  Straw,  his  father,  who  was  a  native  of  Vermont, 
went  to  Ohio  when  a  young  man,  and  settled  in  Wyandot  County,  of 
which  he  was  an  early  settler.  He  was  married  in  DeKalb  County, 
Indiana,  June  6,  1857,  to  Miss  Ann  Eliza  Shock,  a  native  of  Tuscarawas 
County,  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  Peter  Shock.  There  are  ten  children 
by  this  marriage  Sarah  E.,  (now  Mrs.  Homer  Davis),  Caroline,  Charles 
E.,  Viola,  Orin  A.,  Milton  O.,  Amanda,  Homer  A.,  Henry  F.  and  Her- 
man. Mr.  Straw  moved  to  Missouri  in  1869,  and  located  on  the  farm 
where  he  now  resides.  He  has  160  acres  of  good  land,  all  in  cultivation 
with  improvements.  His  orchard  contains  175  apple  and  400  peach  trees, 
about  200  of  which  are  fine  budded,  and  lOO  cherry  trees,  with  some 
smaller  fruits.  He  enlisted  in  1864  in  the  one  hundred  day  service,  in  Com- 
pany C,  I52d  Ohio  National  Guards,  and  was  a  drummer  of  his  company; 
and  after  serving  his  time  he  was  discharged  in  the  fall  of  1864.  Mr. 
Straw  takes  more  than  an  ordinary  interest  in  educational  matters  as 
indicated  by  his  being  elected  and  serving  as  a  member  of  the  school 
board  for  nine  years  in  succession. 


764  HISTORY   OF    HENR\    COUNTY. 

WILLIAM  O.  TROUT, 

farmer,  section  32,  owes  his  nativity  to  Warren  County,  Missouri,  where 
he  was  born  June  6,  1848.  His  father,  William  M.  Trout,  a  native  of 
Trimble  County,  Kentucky,  was  born  on  the  i8th  of  May,  18 12,  his 
parents  having  been  Virginians  by  birth.  He  was  married  in  the  county 
of  his  birth  to  Miss  Frances  B.  Duncan,  also  ot  Kentucky.  There  is  one 
son  by  this  marriage,  D.  B.  Trout,  who  resides  in  Ohio  County,  Ken- 
tuck\'.  This  wife  died  in  Warren  County,  Missouri,  July  12,  1841.  Mr. 
T.  was  married  the  second  time  in  Warren  County  July  12,  1844,  to 
Harriet  M.  Pringle,  of  Connecticut.  They  had  six  children,  only  two  of 
whom  are  living,  William  O.  and  Mary  C,  now  Mrs.  R.  H.  Britell,  of 
Whiteside  County,  Illinois.  William  M.  Trout  moved  from  Kentucky 
to  Missouri  in  1841,  and  settled  in  Warren  County,  afterward  living  in 
St.  Charles  and  Lincoln  Counties  until  1865,  when  he  went  to  Illinois. 
He  was  located  in  Macoupin  County  until  returning  to  Missouri  in  1880. 
William  O.  spent  his  youth  on  a  farm,  and  attended  the  common  schools, 
where  he  received  his  primary  education,  supplemented  with  a  term's 
attendance  at  the  Carbondale  College,  in  Southern  Illinois.  After  com- 
pleting his  studies  he  was  occupied  in  teaching  for  two  winter  terms  in 
Illinois.  He  was  married  in  Whiteside  County  December  24,  1879,  to 
Miss  Dilla  H.  Morton,  a  native  of  Missouri,  but  who  was  reared  and 
educated  in  Illinois.  They  have  one  child,  Jessie  A.  Mr.  T.  came  upon 
his  present  farm  in  March,  1881.  He  has  240  acres,  all  fenced,  with  160 
acres  in  cultivation,  and  eighty  acres  in  pasture.  He  had  the  misfor- 
tune to  lose  a  lower  limb  by  an  accident  in  1868,  while  working  with  a 
threshing  machine.  The  wounded  member  was  amputated  below  the 
knee.       1 


BEAR  CREEK  TOWNSHIP. 


1 5Sir^s=®=?r2£3^®^ 


NICHOLAS  ERHART 


was  born  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  July  19,  183 1,  and  was  the  son  of  George 
and  Susana  Erhart, //t'f  Schreffer,  also  natives  of  Bavaria.  Nicholas  emi- 
grated to  the  United  States  in  1844,  and  while  on  the  way  to  Missouri 
his  mother  died  in  Pennsylvania.  He  spent  his  youth  on  a  farm  and 
was  educated  in  his  native  country.  He  served  in  the  Mexican  war  six 
months,  and   after  his  discharge  was  engaged  in  freighting  to  Santa  Fe 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  765 

for  three  years.  In  i(S52  he  crossed  the  plains  to  California  and  remained 
two  years.  In  the  early  part  of  1855  he  returned  to  Missouri  and  located 
land  in  Henry  County  with  a  warrant  received  for  his  service  in  the 
Mexican  war.  He  now  owns  1,300  acres.  Mr.  Erhart  was  married  in 
this  county  in  the  summer  of  1855  to  Miss  Melvina  Coffelt,  a  Kentuckian 
by  birth  and  a  daughter  of  Philip  Coffelt.  They  have  four  children: 
Melvina  V.  (now  Mrs.  C.  Detro),  Georgian  G.,  Ida  Belle  and  Nellie.  Mrs. 
Erhart  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  Mr.  E.  served  one  year  in  the 
Missouri  State  Militia  and  participated  in  the  battle  of  Lone  Jack.  He 
is  one  of  the  largest  stock  feeders  and  dealers  in  his  township. 

FRANK  M.  FLEMING, 

farmer,  sections  28  and  29,  is  a  prominent  citizen  of  Henry  County,  and 
was  born  in  Indiana  County,  Pennsylvania,  May  15,  1845,  his  parents 
being  John  and  Mary  E.  Fleming,  natives  of  the  same  count}'.  The 
former  was  born  in  October,  1824,  and  died  in  1857,  aged  thirty-three 
years.  F.  M.  Fleming  was  reared  in  his  native  county  on  the  farm.  He 
enlisted  in  1861,  in  Company  C,  123d  Pennsj-lvania  Volunteer  Infantry, 
and  after  serving  three  years  re-enlisted  in  the  same  regiment,  with 
which  he  remained  till  discharged  in  July,  1865.  His  regiment  went  out 
with  loio  men,  and  at  the  close  of  the  service  only  seventy-two  of  the 
original  members  were  alive.  He  participated  in  the  battles  of  Wil- 
liamsburg, Bottoms'  Bridge,  White  Oak,  Gaines'  Mill,  Malvern  Hill,  Har- 
rison's Landing,  Newbern,  and  others.  After  his  discharge,  Mr.  Flem- 
ing came  west  to  Illinois  and  was  engaged  in  farming  in  Henry  County 
for  four  years.  In  1869,  returning  to  Pennsylvania,  he  was  married  in 
Westmoreland  County  on  December  2,  of  that  year,  to  Miss  Susan  E. 
Yokey,  of  that  county,  born  February  20,  1847,  and  a  daughter  of  S.  P. 
Yokey.  In  May  of  the  preceding  year,  Mr.  F.  came  to  Missouri,  and 
located  in  the  northern  part  of  Henry  County,  where  he  purchased  land 
and  improved  a  farm  of  240  acres.  He  farmed  there  for  ten  years,  and 
in  January,  1880,  he  moved  to  Bear  Creek  Township,  and  improved  his 
present  farm.  He  owns  1341  acres.  Underlying  this  place  is  a  vein  of 
coal  of  a  superior  quality,  which  varies  in  thickness  from  two  to  three 
feet.  Two  fair  residences  are  on  his  place  and  two  good  orchards.  Mr. 
Fleming  has  a  family  of  five  children:  Lulu  May,  Albert  P.,  Embree  E., 
Ettie  E.  and  Carrie  A.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  Church. 

JONATHAN  FOGELSONG 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  17,  is  a  native  of  Jackson  County,  Vir- 
ginia, and  was  born  September  27,  1831.  His  parents,  John  and  Mary 
(Fox)  Fogelsong,  came  originally  from   the  same  county.      The  former 


766  HISTORY   OF    HEXRY    COUNTY. 

was  a  soldier  of  1812.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  upon  a 
farm  in  the  county  of  his  birth,  and  in  1854  he  came  west,  and  settled 
in  Bates  County,  Missouri,  where  he  lived  eleven  years.  In  1865  he 
moved  to  Henry  County.  He  was  married  in  Cooper  County,  October 
17,  1866,  to  Miss  Martha  E.  Cordery,  of  Buchanan  County,  Missouri,  and 
a  daughter  of  G.  R.  Cordery.  In  the  spring  of  187 1  he  settled  on  his 
present  place.  He  has  195  acres  of  land,  well  improved  and  adorned 
with  a  good  bearing  orchard  of  120  apple  trees  of  select  varieties.  He 
makes  a  specialty  of  feeding  and  raising  stock  for  which  his  farm  is  well 
adapted.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  F.  have  one  child,  Cordelia  j.  He  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian   Church. 

CHARLES  E.  FOWLER, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  22,  was  born  in  Oldham  County,  Kentucky, 
February  15,  1855.  Thomas  C.  Fowler,  his  father,  was  born  in  Brattleboro. 
Vermont.  In  early  life  he  went  on  a  vessel  as  a  sailor  and  followed  the 
seas  for  a  number  of  years  and  then  settled  in  Kentucky,  where  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Hattie  McFadden,  a  native  of  that  state.  Subse- 
quently he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in  Kentucky,  where  he 
resided  until  1856,  and  upon  moving  to  Missouri  he  located  first  in  Car- 
roll County,  After  living  there  nine  years  he  went  to  St.  Charles 
County,  and  here  he  was  appointed  railroad  agent  at  Foristel,  which 
position  he  occupied  till  his  death,  which  occurried  January  25,  1869. 
C.  E.  Fowler  spent  his  youth  until  sixteen  years  old  on  a  farm  and 
attending  the  public  school.  In  the  spring  of  1871  he  commenced  rail- 
roading, and  was  on  the  road  as  brakeman  and  fireman  for  about  seven 
years.  After  leaving  the  business  in  1878  he  resumed  farming  in  St. 
Clair  County  one  year.  He  came  to  his  present  farm,  which  contains 
over  200  acres,  in  the  spring  of  1879.  He  is  numbered  among  the  thrifty 
farmers  of  this  township.  Mr.  Fowler  was  married  in  this  county  Feb- 
ruary 10,  1880,  to  Miss  Frances  Williamson,  a  native  of  Missouri,  and  a 
daughter  of  John  W.  Williamson.  They  have  one  son,  Winfield  Scott, 
who  was  born  March  13,  1882.  Mrs.  Fowler  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E. 
Church,  South. 

Jx-\MES  W.  GILBERT, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  18,  was  born  in  Cooper  County,  Mis- 
souri, August  31,  1839,  ^^""^  ^vas  the  son  of  Benjamin  Gilbert,  a  native  of 
Virginia,  who  early  moved  to  Kentucky,  where  he  grew  to  manhood. 
He  came  to  Missouri  in  about  the  year  1830,  and  settled  in  Cooper 
County.  Locating  at  Boonville,  he  was  occupied  in  working  at  his  trade 
of  cabinet  making.  He  was  married  in  that  county  to  Miss  Mary  A. 
Neal,  a  Kentuckiaii  by  birth.     James  W.  was  an  only  child.     He  passed 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  767 

his  youth  on  a  farm  until  sixteen  years  of  age,  when  he  moved  to  Henry 
County,  and  in  the  fall  of  1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  Confederate  service  in 
Price's  cavalry,  and  participated  in  the  battle  of  Lexington.  In  the 
spring  of  1862  he  was  engaged  as  a  teamster,  and  drove  through  to  New 
Mexico,  returning  late  the  same  year.  The  following  winter  he  visited 
Denver.  Early  in  1863  he  went  to  St.  Louis  and  farmed  near  the  city 
during  the  summer,  and  in  1863  he  worked  in  Washington  City  at  the 
carpenter's  trade.  In  the  summer  of  1864  he  followed  carpentering  in 
Leavenworth  and  Fort  Smith  in  the  quartermaster's  department,  and  in 
the  fall  of  the  same  year  worked  in  Wyandotte.  In  the  spring  of  1865 
he  went  to  Julesburg,  Colorado,  and  in  February  of  1866  returned  to 
Missouri  and  took  up  his  residence  at  Osceola,  being  employed  in  a 
wagon  and  repair  shop  for  the  summer.  In  the  fall  of  1866  he  moved  to 
Stockton,  Cedar  County,  and  lived  there  till  the  spring  of  1867,  thence 
to  Clinton,  Henry  County.  Mr.  Gilbert  was  married  in  the  fall  ot  1868 
to  Miss  Julia  Atwood,  of  New  York.  In  the  spring  of  1869  he  moved 
to  St.  Clair  County,  bought  a  farm  and  devoted  his  time  to  agricultural 
pursuits  for  four  years.  In  1873  he  came  back  to  Henry  County  where 
he  purchased  a  farm,  where  he  now  resides,  containing  200  acres,  all  in 
pasture  and  cultivation.  Underlying  about  forty  acres  of  this  place  is  a 
good  vein  of  coal,  about  twenty-four  inches  thick.  Mr.  Gilbert  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church.  He  belongs  _ 
to  the  Masonic  order. 

GEORGE  W.  GUTRIDGE, 

a  native  of  Henry  County,  Missouri,  was  born  December  25,  1846,  and 
was  the  son  of  George  Gutridge,  who  was  born  in  Licking  County,  Ohio, 
his  mother  also  being  a  native  of  that  state.  George  Gutridge  came  to 
Missouri  in  1838  and  located  in  Henry  County.  He  entered  land  in 
what  is  now  Bear  Creek  Township  and  improved  the  farm  where  his 
family  at  this  time  lives.  George  W.  spent  his  youth  on  his  father's 
farm,  and  attending  the  schools  of  that  day.  He  afterwards  passed  nine 
months  at  a  select  school  in  Brownville,  Ohio.  He  was  married  at 
Brownville,  October  10,  1867,  to  Miss  Mary  Swan,  who  was  born,  reared 
and  educated  in  Licking  County,  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  Monroe  Swan. 
After  his  marriage  Mr.  Gutridge  returned  to  Henry  County  where  he 
has  since  been  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising.  He  has  lOO  acres 
of  land  in  cultivation,  and  with  good  buildings  and  other  improvements. 
He  and  his  wife  have  a  family  of  five  children:  Flora  P.,  Eugene, 
George  M.,  Cora  Swan  and  Wilber  King.  Mr.  Gutridge  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  himself  and  wife  are  connected  with  the  M. 
E.  Church,  South. 


768  HISTORY    OF    HENRY    COUNTY'. 

HENRY  HEARN, 

farmer,  section  29,  owes  liis  nativity  to  Auglaize  County,  Ohio,  where 
he  was  born  September  26,  1851.  His  parents,  Jonathan  and  Louisa 
(Mason)  Hearn,  were  natives  of  Maryland,  where  they  grew  to  mature 
years  and  were  married.  They  early  went  to  Ohio  and  were  among  the 
pioneers  of  Auglaize  County.  Henry  came  to  Missouri  with  the  family 
in  i860  and  located  in  St.  Clair  County,  only  residing  there  however  till 
the  fall  of  1 86 1,  when  they  moved  to  Louisa  County,  Iowa.  After  liv- 
ing there  till  the  close  of  the  war,  in  the  fall  of  1865  they  returned  to 
St.  Clair  County.  Henry  Hearn  passed  his  youth  on  a  farm  and  in 
attending  the  common  schools.  He  was  married  in  St.  Clair  County 
March  9,  1878,  to  Miss  Nancy  A.  Lotz,  a  native  of  Jay  County,  Indiana, 
and  a  daughter  of  James  Lotz.  He  farmed  after  this  three  years  in  St. 
Clair  and  then  came  to  Henry  County.  Subsequently  he  went  to  his 
farm,  which  contains  fifty  acres  and  valuable  for  its  size,  all  being  in  cul- 
tivation with  a  good  bearing  orchard  of  about  120  apple  and  100  peach 
trees,  etc. 

THOMAL  HUMMEL, 

farmer,  section  22,  is  among  the  pioneers  of  Bear  Creek  Township  and 
came  originally  from  Mifflin  County,  Ohio,  vvhere  he  was  born  October 
4,  1829.  Jacob  M.  Hummel,  his  father,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  as 
was  also  his  mother,  formerly  Elizabeth  Moyer.  Thomas  passed  his 
younger  days  at  his  birthplace  on  a  farm  and  worked  about  two  years  at 
the  carpenter  trade,  receiving  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  that 
county.  He  was  married  January  27,  1857,  to  Miss  Catherine  Miller,  a 
native  of  Burks  County,  but  reared  and  educated  in  Mifflin  County.  In 
March,  1857,  Mr.  Hummel  moved  to  Illinois  and  located  in  Fulton 
County,  where  he  farmed  for  about  fifteen  months,  and  in  September, 
1858,  he  came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri.  Here  he  bought  land  and 
improved  the  farm  where  he  now  lives.  At  that  time  there  were  but  a 
very  few  families  in  the  township  and  hardly  a  house  upon  the  prairie. 
He  owns  a  good  farm  of  120  acres.  He  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  Sev- 
enth Missouri  State  Militia  Cavalry  in  April,  1862,  and  served  till  dis- 
charged in  April,  1865.  After  his  enlistment  he  was  appointed  corporal 
and  in  1864  he  was  promoted  to  quartermaster  sergeant.  He  participated 
in  the  fights  of  Shelby's  raid  and  numerous  skirmishes.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hummel  have  four  children:  Catherine  E.,  Nevada  M.,  Sarah  G.  and 
William  T. 

JAMES  M.  MILLER, 

farmer,  section  7,  is  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  was  born  in  Bourbon 
County  April  26,  1822.     His  father,  J.  M.   Miller,   originally  from  Scot- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  769 

land,  emigrated  to  the  United  States  when  very  young-,  landing  at 
Charlestown,  South  Carolina.  Afterward  he  went  to  Kentucky,  where 
he  married  Miss  Mary  Wayne,  of  Virginia.  J.  M.  Miller,  Sr.,  was  teacher 
in  the  public  schools  of  Kentucky  and  Illinois  for  forty-five  years.  He 
moved  to  Illinois  in  1830  and  settled  in  Edgar  County,  holding  numer- 
ous local  offices  in  that  county.  He  was  once  elected  county  clerk,  a 
position  he  held  when  he  died.  He  also  was  appointed  postmaster  and 
for  sixteen  years  discharged  the  duties  of  that  office.  James  M.  went 
with  his  parents  to  Illinois,  and  was  brought  up  in  Edgar  County  on  the 
farm.  His  school  privileges  were  very  limited,  but  the  greater  part  of 
his  education  has  been  obtained  by  self  application.  He  enlisted  in 
June,  1846,  in  Company  H,  Fourth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  under 
Colonel  Ed  Baker,  and  served  one  year  in  the  war  with  Mexico.  He 
was  married  in  Edgar  County,  Illinois,  July  20,  1848,  to  Miss  Artemesa 
Elledge,  originally  of  Kentucky,  but  later  of  Edgar  County,  Illinois.  In 
the  fall  of  1848  Mr.  Miller  was  elected  clerk  of  the  circuit  court  of  Edgar 
County,  and  served  four  years.  After  the  expiration  of  this  term  he 
was  engaged  in  farming  for  three  years,  and  in  the  fall  of  1855  he  moved 
to  Missouri  and  located  in  Scotland  County,  where  he  lived  two  and  one- 
half  years.  In  the  summer  of  1858  he  came  to  Henry  County  and  set- 
tled on  a  farm  ten  miles  south  of  Clinton.  He  is  identified  with  the 
Republican  party.  In  1867  he  was  elected  sheriff  and  served  two  years. 
He  has  made  four  assessments  of  the  county,  and  during  his  life  he  has 
served  thirty-two  years  as  a  member  of  the  school  board.  In  the  fall  of 
1882  he  was  elected  a  justice  ot  the  peace  of  Bear  Creek  Township, 
which  office  he  now  fills.  In  all  of  these  positions  he  has  proved  a  faithful 
and  capable  official.  Mr.  Miller's  farm  contains  300  acres,  all  fenced  and 
in  cultivation.  He  has  raised  a  family  of  ten  children:  E.  B.,  Clara, 
(wife  of  R.  H.  Dungan),  William  F.,  Ella,  Isaac  M.,  Maria  L.,  Susan  V., 
James  M.,  Sherman  and  John  S.  Mrs.  Miller  departed  this  life  June  i, 
1873.  Mr.  M.  enlisted  in  the  enrolled  militia  in  August,  1862,  and  served 
till  discharged,  July  4,  1865.  Shortly  after  enlisting  he  received  a  very 
severe  wound,  caused  by  an  accidental  gun  shot  through  the  right  arm 
and  in  the  lung,  where  the  ball  lodged  and  still  remains.  After  recov- 
ering in  a  measure  from  his  wound  he  was  promoted  to  sergeant  in  the 
quarter  master's  department,  where  he  served  till  discharged. 

B.  F.  MILLER, 

farmer,  section  8,  is  a  Kentuckian  by  birth,  and  was  born  August  21, 
1828.  B.  F.  accompanied  his  parents  to  Illinois  in  October,  1831,  and 
settled  in  Edgar  County,  where  he  grew  to  manhood.  His  youth  was 
spent  on  a  farm  and  he  received  a  common  school  education,  supple- 
mented with  two  years  attendance  at  the  Paris  Seminary.     He  was  mar- 

49 


770  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

ried  in  that  county  December  25,  1855,  to  Miss  Rebecca  Laufman,  a 
native  of  Maryland,  but  who  was  reared  and  educated  in  Pennsylvania 
and  Illinois,  and  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Margaret  (Keefer)  Laufman. 
Mr.  Miller  farmed  in  Edgar  County  until  he  came  to  Missouri  in  1871. 
He  owns  eighty-four  acres  of  land,  all  in  a  fair  state  of  cultivation,  with 
a  good  two-story  residence  and  a  young  orchard.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller 
have  twelve  children,  two  of  whom  are  married,  Alice  is  the  wife  of  J. 
E.  Odom;  Susan  H.  is  now  Mrs.  James  H.  Gutridge;  Mary  F.  and  Mar- 
garet Eugenia  are  prominent  school  teachers;  Franklin  K.,  James  L., 
William,  Amanda  M.,  Ola  Belle,  Julian,  Cyrus  E.  and  Royal  Albert. 
Mr.  M.  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  South.  He  is 
identified  with  the  Democratic  party  and  has  been  elected  to  several 
responsible  positions.  While  a  resident  of  Edgar  County,  Illinois,  he 
was  elected  and  served  four  years  as  county  surveyor,  and  since  living 
in  Henry  County  he  has  been  elected  at  different  times  to  important 
township  offices.  He  is  a  man  of  good  business  qualifications  and 
judgment,  and  has  the  entire  confidence  of  the  people. 

JOSEPH  O.  PERSONS, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  34,  was  born  in  Genesee  County,  New 
York,  July  13,  1829,  and  was  the  son  of  Joseph  Persons,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  Betsy  (Farwell)  Persons,  originally  from  New  York.  The 
former  served  in  the  war  of  1812  and  was  wounded  in  the  service  and 
drew  a  pension  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  August,  1877.  J-  O- 
Persons  divided  his  youthful  days,  until  his  sixteenth  year,  in  his  native 
county,  between  working  on  a  farm  and  attending  the  common  schools. 
In  the  fall  of  1849  ^^  went  to  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin,  and  clerked  in  a 
grocery  store  for  three  years.  Having  entered  a  piece  of  land  in  Dodge 
County,  he  commenced  improving  it  but  after  working  for  six  months 
he  sold  the  place  and  went  to  Neosho,  in  the  same  county,  and  learned 
the  tinner's  trade,  after  which  he  embarked  in  the  grocery  business  at 
that  place  and  was  appointed  postmaster  there.  He  continued  in  busi- 
ness for  about  eighteen  years,  and  in  1869  he  sold  out  and  moved  to 
Pierce  County  where  he  took  a  homestead  and  improved  a  farm,  which 
after  living  upon  it  for  nine  years,  he  sold,  and  in  the  fall  of  1878  came 
to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  and  purchased  where  he  now  lives.  Mr. 
Persons  was  married  in  Neosho,  Wisconsin,  January  9,  1854,  to  Miss  Cor- 
nelia Haun,  of  New  York.  She  died  in  Pierce  County,  Wisconsin, 
December  4,  1873,  leaving  eight  children:  Alice  E.  (now  the  wife  of  D. 
Persons),  Ella  May,  Dennis  L.,  Alma  V.,  (now  Mrs.  George  Chapman), 
Francis  H.,  Charles  A.,  Reuben  A.  and  James  H.  Mr.  Persons  was  mar- 
ried in  Neosho  June  19,  1876,  to  Miss  Louisa  Wing,  who  was  also  born 
in  New  York.     They  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church.      Mr.  Persons 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  7/1  , 

served  three  years  as  justice  of  the  peace  in  Neosho  and  also  for  eight 
years  in  Pierce  County. 

L.  C.  SHOMAKER, 

farmer  and  stock  dealer,  section  9,  a  native  of  Pendleton  County,  Ken- 
tucky, was  born  October  21,  1852,  his  parents  being  Landers  and  Cath- 
erine (Metcalf)  Shomaker,  also  Kentuckians  by  birth.  L.  C.  moved  to 
Missouri  in  1855  with  the  family  and  located  in  Buchanan  County,  where 
they  lived  ten  years,  going  thence  to  Shelby  County.  He  was  reared 
upon  a  farm  and  received  a  common  school  education,  supplemented 
with  fifteen  months'  attendance  in  the  high  school  at  Atchison,  Kansas. 
Since  completing  his  studies  at  this  school  he  has  been  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. He  came  to  Henry  County  in  1870  and  moved  to  his  present  farm 
in  1880.  L.  C.  Shomaker  and  a  younger  brother,  J.  H.,  jointly  own  805 
acres  of  land,  with  a  sufficient  supply  of  living  water  for  stock.  Four 
hundred  acres  are  in  cultivation  and  the  remainder  of  the  tract  is  pas- 
ture land.  These  brothers  are  prominent  stock  feeders  and  dealers  in 
the  township.  L.  C.  Shomaker  was  married  January  6,  1876,  to  Miss 
Anna  E.  Collins,  a  daughter  of  H.  B.  Collins,  of  Henry  County.  They 
have  three  children:  Claude,  Maud  and  Mark. 

JOHN  SMITH, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  4,  came  originally  from  Adams  County, 
Ohio,  where  he  was  born  April  17,  1845.  James  P.  Smith,  his  father,  was 
a  Kentuckian  by  birth,  but  early  moved  to  Ohio  with  his  parents,  and 
settled  in  Adams  County,  where  he  grew  to  manhood  and  married  Susan 
Thomas,  also  of  Kentucky.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  went  to  Iowa 
with  his  parents  in  1858,  and  located  in  Lee  County,  near  Keokuk.  His 
youth  was  spent  on  a  farm,  and  he  was  educated  at  the  public  schools, 
supplemented  with  six  months  attendance  at  the  Keokuk  select  school. 
In  August,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  Twenty-first  Missouri  Volunteer 
Infantry,  and  served  till  discharged  in  December,  1864,  participating  in 
a  number  of  important  engagements,  among  which  were  the  battles  of 
Shiloh.  Corinth,  and  Red  River,  Arkansas,  and  after  his  discharge  he 
moved  to  Clark  County,  Missouri,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming 
until  1872.  He  came  to  Henry  County  in  1878.  His  farm  contains  160 
acres.  A  large  portion  of  the  place  is  underlaid  with  coal.  The  soil 
is  a  black  loam  and  very  productive.  Mr.  Smith  was  married  in  Scot- 
land County,  Missouri,  March  22,  1870,  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Bryan,  of  Iowa, 
and  a  daughter  of  Nicholas  Bryan.  They  have  three  children:  Walter 
F.,  born  May  8,  1873;  Luther  H.,  born  April  i,  1876,  and  Mary  I.,  born 
February  14,  1881.     Mrs.  Smith  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South. 


772  MISTORV   OK    IIENRV   COUNIV. 

ANDREW  W.  SNYDER, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section   33,   is   a   native  of  Onondaga  Count}', 
New  York,  and  was  born   January  30,  1837.     His   parents,   Christopher 
and   Elizabeth   (Liphite)   Snyder  were  also  natives  of  New  York.     The 
former  served    in   the  war  of  18 12  and  received  a  land  warrant  for  his 
services.     The  family  on   moving  to  Wisconsin    in  the   spring  of  1846,  | 
were  among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Dodge  County,  where  they  improved  j 
a  farm.     Andrew  W.   grew  to   manhood  in  that   county,   and   in   3'outh 
attended  the  public  schools.     In  1879,  after  traveling  through  a  number" 
of  the  western  states  and  territories,   he  bought   land    and   located    in  j 
Henry  County,  Missouri,  and  owns  120  acres.     Mr.  Snyder  was  married  1 
in  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin,  October  20,  1880,  to  Miss  Ida  May  Miller,  of 
Germany.     Her  mother  died  when  she  was  a  child,  and  she  was  reared  j 
and  educated  in  Milwaukee.     She  is  a  daughter  of  Stephen  Miller.     Mr. 
and  Mrs.  S.  have  one  child,  Matilda  Augusta,  born  August  i,  1881.     He 
is  an  Ancient  Odd  Fellow,  and  is  one  of  the  neatest  and  most  successful 
farmers  in  the  township. 

TEAYS  BROTHERS, 

James  E.  and  Edward  Teays,  are  natives  of  Missouri,  and  were  born  in! 
Henry  County.     Their  father,  James  T.  Teays,  was   born    in  West  Vir- ; 
ginia,  where  he  grew  to  manhood  and  married.      He  moved  to   Missouri 
in  1840  and  settled  in  Henry  County  where  he  bought  land  and  improved  1 
the  farm  where  these  brothers   now  reside.       He  was  one   of  the   early 
pioneers  of  the  county  and   was  a  man  esteemed   by   a   large   circle   of: 
friends  and  acquaintances.     James  and   Edward  here  grew  to  manhood, 
spending  their  youth  on  the  old  home  farm,  and  attending  the  common 
schools,  where  they  were  educated.     They  now  own  920  acres  of  land  in 
a  body  and  mostly  improved  and  in  cultivation.      There   are  two  goodi 
farm  residences  upon  it  and  also  other  buildings.     They  are  extensively; 
engaged  in  feeding  and  handling  cattle  and  hogs.      Edward   Teays   was 
married  in  February,  1875,   to  Miss  Sarah  E.   Dickinson,  a   daughter  of; 
Samuel   E.  Dickinson.     They  have  four  children:      Willie   C,  Mary  E., 
James  D.  and  Sarah  V.     They  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  South. 
There  is  a  new  church  building  located  on  this  land  (Teay's  Chapel),  built 
by  subscription,  and    to   which  these  brothers  contributed    largely  and! 
liberally  of  their   means.     J.  E.  Teays  is   connected   with   the   Masonic; 
fraternity.  ! 

JOHN  W.  WHITTAKER  | 

was  born  in  Greene  County,  Penns}dv.ania,  December  15,  1845,  and  wasj 
the  son  of  John  D.  and  Rebecca  (Hammers)  Whittaker,  also  natives  ofi 
Pennsylvania.     The   former   was  a  stock   trader   by   calling  and  was  ai 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  773 

drover  for  over  forty  years.  J.  W.  Whittaker  passed  his  youth  attend- 
ing school  and  assisting  his  father  in  the  stock  business  until  his  six- 
teenth year.  In  1862  he  moved  to  Illinois  and  located  in  Woodford 
County,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  for  some  nine  years.  Moving 
thence  to  Iroquois  County  in  1871,  he  was  married  there  September  15, 
1874,  to  Miss  Adaline  Hicks  of  Ohio,  who  was  reared  and  educated  in 
Woodford  County,  Illinois.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Hicks.  After 
his  marriage  Mr.  Whittaker  resided  about  eighteen  months  in  Illinois, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1876  came  to  Missouri  and  located  on  the  farm 
where  he  now  resides.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  handling  and  feeding 
stock,  and  is  also  one  of  the  successful  farmers  of  the  county.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  W.  have  three  children:  Charles  A.,  born  July  8,  1875;  Willie  E., 
born  June  18,  1877,  and  Madge  Myrtle,  born  December  18,  1881.  Mr. 
Whittaker  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  fraternity. 


LEESVILLE  TOWNSHIR 

CHRISTOPHER    ANDERSON 

was  born  in  Lunenburg  County,  Virginia,  August  24,  1820.  His  parents, 
Christopher  and  Mary  Anderson,  were  natives  of  Kentucky.  The  former 
who  was  born  in  1796,  served  in  the  war  of  18 12,  and  died  in  his  native 
state  December  23,  1865.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  his  youth 
on  the  home  farm,  enjoying  fair  educational  advantages  in  the  subscrip- 
tion schools.  In  1844  he  commenced  merchandising  at  Woodsdale,  in 
the  county  of  his  birth,  where  he  sold  goods  for  about  eighteen  months, 
removing  thence  to  Lewiston,  the  county  seat.  He  continued  business 
in  the  county  for  about  five  years,  and  in  1849,  ii"^  company  with  William 
P.  Gunn,  started  to  make  the  overland  trip  to  California.  After  going 
as  far  as  Independence,  Missouri,  Mr.  Anderson  was  taken  with  the 
cholera,  and  was  left  by  his  party,  and  after  partially  recovering  he 
returned  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  was  taken  with  a  relapse.  Upon  recov- 
ering from  this  attack  he  enlisted  in  the  regular  army  at  St.  Louis  for  a 
term  of  five  years.  The  regiment  was  ordered  to  Florida  and  afterward 
to  Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico,  and  then  went  to  the  Indian  Territory,  where 
he  was  discharged  at  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service.  In  1854,  he 
came  to  Henry  County,  and  in  the  fall  of  1855  bought  an  interest  in  a 
grocery  house  at  Clinton.     He  remained  here  about  two  years  and  was 


774  HISTORY   OF    IIENRV   COUNTY. 

also  engaged  in  the  stock  trade.  In  1857,  removing  to  the  county  h'ne 
of  Morgan  and  Benton  Counties,  he  started  a  country  store,  but  after 
one  year  and  a  half  moved  to  Benton  County  and  was  occupied  in  farm- 
ing until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war.  From  1861  until  1865  he  sold 
goods  in  Sedalia,  and  then  went  to  Pleasant  Hill,  Cass  County,  and 
embarked  in  a  retail  and  jobbing  trade.  In  June,  1867,  he  brought  his 
stock  of  goods  to  Leesville,  and  has  since  continued  in  the  trade  at  this 
place.  He  owns  about  400  acres  of  land,  with  good  improvements,  and 
in  addition  to  being  a  successful  merchant  is  a  good  farmer.  Mr.  Ander- 
son was  first  married  in  Benton  County  in  1857,  to  Miss  Tobitha  Brad- 
shaw,  a  native  of  Virginia.  She  died  in  Sedalia  in  1864,  leaving  one 
child,  Martha,  wife  of  Dr.  J.  H.  Baugh,  of  Leesville.  Mr.  A.  was  mar- 
ried again  in  Otterville,  Cooper  County,  in  February,  1866,  to  Miss 
Martha  Bell,  a  daughter  of  B.  H.  Bell,  an  old  merchant  of  that  place. 
There  are  four  children  by  this  marriage:  Christopher,  Pauline,  Mason 
and  Berry.  Mr.  Anderson  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order.  His  wife 
beloi'igs  to  the  Old  Shool  Presbyterian  Church. 

W.  C.  BRUMFIELD,  M.  D., 

is  a  native  of  Putnam  County,  Indiana,  and  was  born  May  16,  1854.  being 
the  son  of  Hon.  James  B.  Brumfield,  a  Kentuckian  by  birth,  who  went 
to  Indiana  when  a  young  man  with  his  parents  and  located  in  Putnam 
County.  James  Brumfield  was  married  in  that  county  to  Sophia  Ann 
Rogers  also  of  Kentucky.  The  former  improved  a  farm  and  carried  on 
a  blacksmith  shop  in  connection  and  afterward  was  also  engaged  in  mer- 
chandising. He  early  took  a  prominent  part  in  political  matters;  was 
nominated  and  elected  to  represent  his  count}^  and  served  two  terms  in 
the  legislature.  W.  C.  Brumfield  passed  his  youth  in  his  native  county 
upon  the  farm,  receiving  his  primary  education  at  the  public  schools, 
supplemented  with  three  years'  attendance  at  the  Green  Castle  College. 
He  came  west  in  November,  1873,  settling  at  Clinton,  Henry  County, 
and  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  with  Drs.  Britts  and  Jennings  as 
preceptors  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year.  He  attended  his  first  course  of 
lectures  at  the  St.  Louis  Medical  College  in  the  winter  of  1874-75,  and 
was  graduated  in  the  spring  of  1877.  He  commenced  the  active  prac- 
tice of  his  profession  at  Colesburg  where  he  has  built  up  a  successful  and 
constantly  increasing  pftitronage.  He  is  a  close  student  and  keeps  well 
posted    in  the  advanced  theories  of  his  profession. 

FRANK  CAMPBELL, 

deceased.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Ireland  in  March,  1830. 
His  parents,  Frank  and  Mary  (Connell)^)  Campbell,  were  both  natives  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  775 

Ireland.  Young  Campbell  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  country  on  a 
farm,  receiving  a  practical  education  in  youth,  but  by  self  application  in 
later  years  by  a  wide  range  of  reading  and  close  observation  he  was 
prepared,  and  taught  several  terms  of  school  after  moving  to  Henry 
County.  He  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  about  1850  and  located 
at  Cincinnati,  where  he  was  a  city  mail  carrier  for  four  years.  Coming 
to  Missouri  in  1855,  he  settled  in  Henry  County,  and  bought  land  and 
improved  the  farm  where  his  family  now  resides.  He  was  married  May 
5,  1866,  to  Miss  Mary  Martin,  also  of  Ireland,  but  who  was  reared  and 
educated  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  Mrs.  Campbell  has  a  fam.ily  of  five  child- 
ren: Maggie  May,  Frank,  Mollie,  John  Carl  and  Eddie  B.  Mr.  C.  con- 
tinued to  reside  on  his  farm  until  his  death,  which  occurred  March  17, 
1880.  He  took  an  active  part  in  political  matters  and  held  several  local 
offices  in  his  township.     Mrs.  Campbell's  farm  contains  140  acres. 

CORNELIUS  DIXON, 

section  6,  is  one  of  the  enterprising  farmers  and  stock  dealers  of  this 
township.  He  was  born  in  St.  Joseph  County,  Indiana,  September  16, 
1840.  His  father,  Hezekiah  Dixon,  a  native  of  Ohio,  grew  to  manhood 
in  that  state,  and  was  married  to  Melinda  HoUingshead,  of  the  same 
locality.  The  family  moved  to  Indiana  in  1835  and  settled  in  St.  Joseph 
County,  where  they  still  reside.  Cornelius  passed  his  youthful  days  on 
the  home  farm,  his  early  education  being  acquired  in  the  common 
schools.  He  afterward  attended  the  Mishawaka  Academy,  and  spent 
about  three  years  at  the  Northern  Indiana  College,  preparing  himself 
for  a  teacher.  After  completing  his  studies  at  this  school  he  engaged 
in  the  mercantile  business,  in  1863,  at  Augusta,  Illinois,  continuing  in 
trade  there  for  one  year.  In  1864  he  went  to  South  Bend,  Indiana,  and 
gave  his  attention  to  business  until  1870,  when  he  removed  to  Missouri 
and  settled  in  Henry  County,  working  in  a  store  the  first  winter,  and  in 
the  following  spring  he  went  to  farming,  and  has  since  divided  his  time 
between  the  farm  in  the  summer  and  teaching  during  the  winter.  Mr. 
Dixon  owns  300  acres  of  land  in  Henry  County,  260  acres  of  which  is 
fenced  and  under  cultivation.  Besides  his  home  farm  he  owns  a  farm  of 
160  acres  in  Minnesota  and  town  property  in  Mishawaka,  Indiana.  He 
was  married  at  Augusta,  Illinois,  June  26,  1865,  to  Miss  Drucilla  A. 
Browning,  a  native  of  Hancock  County,  Illinois,  and  a  daughter  of  C. 
W.  Browning.  They  have  a  family  of  six  children:  Henry  A.,  Edna 
B.,  VVilber  C,  Susan  M.,  James  E.  and  Melinda  May.  Mr.  Dixon  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity. 

C.  W.  DUDEN, 

of  the  firm  of  Duden  Bros.,  merchants  at  Colesburg,  came  originally 
from   Licking  County,   Ohio,  where  he   was    born    December  25,  1844. 


•JJ^  HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 

David  Duden,  his  father,  and  also  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Ann  Barrick,  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  The  family  moved  to  Ohio 
in  1838,  but  afterward  went  to  Knox  County,  where  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  grew  to  manhood,  spending  his  youth  as  a  farmer's  boy,  and  in 
a  blacksmith  shop  with  his  father,  where  he  learned  his  trade.  He 
received  a  good  education  in  the  common  schools.  In  March,  1863,  he 
enlisted  in  the  Ohio  National  Guards,  I42d  Infartry  Regiment,  and  in 
September  of  the  same  year  was  discharged.  He  participated  in  the 
battles  of  Shenandoah  and  Petersburg,  and  others  of  less  note.  In  1865 
Mr.  Duden  went  to  Iowa  and  taught  school  in  1865  and  1866  in  Wayne 
County.  He  returned  to  Ohio  in  the  fall  and  worked  two  years  at  his 
trade.  In  the  spring  of  1868,  he  came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  and 
was  occupied  in  teaching  the  first  year,  and  in  the  fall  of  1869,  he  resumed 
work  at  his  trade  at  Colesburg,  and  continued  that  business  nine  years. 
In  November,  1877,  he  embarked  in  the  mercantile  business,  and  he  is 
doing  a  good  trade.  Mr.  Duden  was  married  in  this  county,  December 
22,  1872,  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Hallford,  a  daughter  of  J.  R.  Hallford,  a  native 
of  Moniteau  County,  Missouri.  They  have  five  children:  Delia  E., 
Aubra  E.,  Ollie  E.,  Fred  E.  and  Eva  E.  Mr.  D  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity.  He  was  appointed  postmaster  at  Colesburg  in  Octo- 
ber, 1 88 1. 

CHARLES  P.  DUNCAN, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  24,  was  born  June  30,  1840,  in  Newton 
County,  Missouri,  being  the  son  of  Frederick  M.  Duncan,  a  native  of 
Virginia,  and  of  Scotch  descent.  His  father  Charles  Duncan  and  a  brother 
emigrated  to  the  United  States  just  previous  to  the  war  of  1812,  and  both 
served  through  that  war,  after  which  they  returned  to  Virginia,  where 
Charles  Duncan  lived  until  his  death  in  1856.  F.  M.  Duncan  grew  up  in 
Fauquier  County  and  came  from  there  to  Missouri  in  1834,  first  locating 
in  Cooper  County.  He  was  engaged  in  clerking  in  a  store  at  Boonville, 
and  he  was  married  in  that  county  to  Martha  E.  Parks,  of  Kentucky. 
After  living  in  Cooper  County  four  years  he  removed  to  Newton  County, 
where  he  entered  land  and  improved  a  farm  and  lived  there  until  his 
death  in  1855.  Charles  P.  Duncan  was  the  oldest  of  a  family  of  two 
sons  and  four  daughters.  After  the  death  of  his  lather  he  came  to  Henry 
County  with  his  guardian.  He  enlisted  in  i86r  in  Porter's  Regiment  of 
Missouri  State  Guards,  and  after  serving  two  months  was  discharged, 
when  he  re-enlisted  in  the  regular  Confederate  service  known  as  the 
Fifth  Missouri  Infantry.  He  served  till  captured  May  i,  1863.  After 
being  held  a  short  time  he  was  exchanged  and  transferred  to  Woodson's 
Missouri  Cavalry,  and  attached  to  the  army  of  Northern  Virginia,  where 
he  served  till  the  final  surrender.  He  participated  in  numerous  impor- 
tant engagements,  among  which  were  the  battles  of  Pea  Ridge,  Grand 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  77/ 

Gulf,  Mississippi,  Battle  of  the  Wilderness,  and  Newmarket,  where  he 
received  a  flesh  wound  in  the  shoulder,  also  at  the  battles  of  Corinth 
and  luka,  Mississippi,  and  numerous  others  of  less  importance.  At  the 
close  of  the  war,  Mr.  Duncan  returned  to  Henry  County,  and  was  mar- 
ried February  27,  1867,  to  Miss  Mary  J.  Gordon,  a  daughter  of  Patterson 
Gordon.  After  his.  marriage  Mr.  D.  settled  on  a  farm  and  has  since 
been  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising.  He  moved  to  his  present 
place  in  1872,  where  he  owns  eighty  acres.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Duncan  have 
one  son,  Elzie  Duncan,  who  was  born  February  28,  1872,  and  daughter, 
Mattie  L..  born  December  23,  1867,  died  December  3,  1882.  She  was  a 
universal  favorite  with  her  companions  and  teachers  at  school  and  was 
an  invalid  for  two  years  and  died  as  she  had  lived,  respected  by  all  who 
knew  her.      Mr.  and  Mrs.  D.  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church. 

A.  N.  GORDON, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  23,  was  born  in  Henry  County,  Missouri, 
on  August  24,  1850.  His  father,  Patterson  Gordon,  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky, came  to  Missouri  when  a  young  man  and  located  in  Boone  County 
in  1829.  He  was  married  there  to  Lucretia  Forbes,  also  a  Kentuckian 
by  birth.  After  this  he  moved  to  Johnson  County  and  thence  to  Rives, 
now  Henry  County,  in  the  fall  of  1834,  settling  on  the  place  which  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  occupies,  and  which  land  he  entered  and  improved. 
A.  N.  Gordon  spent  his  youth  on  this  farm,  receiving  a  common  school 
education.  He  was  married  December  25,  1873,  to  Miss  Amanda  Dun- 
can, a  native  of  Newton  County,  Missouri,  and  a  daughter  of  Frederick 
M.  Duncan.  They  have  one  child.  Myrtle  L.  Mr.  Gordon  has  ninety- 
three  acres  of  land,  with  seventy  acres  fenced  and  in  cultivation,  upon 
which  is  a  good  house  and  a  young  bearing  orchard  of  select  fruits. 

DR.  W.  T.  HILL, 

a  native  of  Moniteau  County,  Missouri,  was  born  June  3,  1829.  His 
father.  Green  B.  Hill,  was  originally  from  Virginia,  but  went  from  that 
state  to  Kentucky  with  his  parents  where  he  grew  to  manhood  and  mar- 
ried Pelina  Evans,  a  Kentuckian  by  birth.  In  1827  he  moved  to  Mis- 
souri with  his  family  and  was  one  of  the  early  pioneer  settlers  of  Moni- 
teau (then  a  part  of  Cooper)  County.  Entering  land,  he  improved  a 
farm  where  he  resided  till  hi^  death  in  December,  1866.  Dr.  Hill  was 
reared  in  the  county  of  his  birth  on  a  farm  where  he  received  a  practical 
education.  He  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  in  the  spring  of  1853 
under  the  instruction  of  Dr.  William  U.  Smith  with  whom  he  remained 
for  two  years.  He  attended  lectures  at  the  St.  Louis  Medical  College  in 
the  winter   of  1853-54.     After  finishing  his   studies  at   this  college   he 


778  HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 

commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  California  in  the  spring  of 
1854,  continuing  it  about  one  year  when  he  came  to  Henry  County,  locat- 
ing at  Leesville.  He  has  built  up  a  large  and  increasing  practice  and 
is  one  of  the  most  successful  physicians  of  this  county.  Dr.  Hill  was 
married  in  Benton  County  in  May,  1857,  to  Miss  Martha  C.  Chastain,  a 
daughter  of  Joseph  Chastain.  Mrs.  Hill  is  a  native  of  Kentucky  but  was 
reared  and  educated  in  Benton  County.  They  have  a  family  of  five 
children:  Jennie,  William  O.,  M.  M.,  Katie  and  Gertrude.  Dr.  Hill  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church.  He  belongs  to  the  Masonic 
fraternity  and  has  been  one  of  the  most  active  members  of  his  lodge 
since  its  organization. 

REV.  WILLIAM  B.  LAWLER 

was  born  in  North  Carolina  November  4,  182 1,  being  the  son  of  Evan 
Lawler,  a  native  of  the  same  county,  and  Sarah  (Barker)  Lawler,  origin- 
ally from  Randolph  County.  In  1827  the  family  moved  to  East  Tennes- 
see and  located  in  Henderson  County,  where  William  was  reared, 
acquiring  his  education  mostly  by  self  application.  He  moved  to  Mis- 
souri in  1838,  first  settling  in  St.  Clair  County,  of  which  he  was  one  of 
the  pioneers.  He  was  married  in  Polk  County  November  21,  1843,  to 
Miss  Amelia  Molder,  a  native  of  Tennessee  and  a  daughter  of  Daniel 
Molder.  Mr.  Lawler  resided  in  St.  Clair  County  after  his  marriage  until 
1864,  coming  to  Henry  County  in  1865,  where  he  bought  the  farm  and 
located  where  he  now  resides.  He  became  a  member  of  the  Missionary 
Baptist  Church  in  November,  1843,  and  in  May,  1860,  he  began  preach- 
ing and  was  regularly  ordained  a  minister  of  the  gospel  in  1862,  since 
which  year  he  has  devoted  the  most  of  his  time  to  the  study  of  his  pro- 
fession and  preaching.  For  the  past  sixteen  years  he  has  acted  as  pas- 
tor for  different  churches  in  the  Tebo  Association  and  is  now  serving 
three  churches  in  that  capacity.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lawler  have  seven  child- 
ren: Daniel  E.,  John  T.,  William  A.,  James  W.,  Logan  S.,  Theodocia  E. 
and  Robert  T.  G.  They  have  also  lost  three  children:  Alfred  F.  died  in 
December,  1878,  at  the  age  of  twenty;  May  J.  died  June  ii,  1871.  aged 
sixteen  years,  and  Sarah  died  in  1859,  when  seven  years  old. 

WILLIAM  LOGAN, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  36,  also  a  pioneer  of  Henry  County,  was 
born  in  Lincoln  County,  Kentucky,  April  22,  1825.  His  parents,  David 
and  Nancy  Logan,  ;z^^  Parks,  were  natives  of  Kentucky.  In  1826,  the 
family  moved  to  Missouri,  and  first  located  in  Cooper  County,  where 
they  resided  about  seven  years,  coming  thence  to  Henry  County  in 
1835,  and  being  among  the  early  settlers  of  the  vicinity.     They  entered 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  779 

land  on  Grand  River  and  improved  a  farm  in  what  is  now  Leesville 
Township.  William  Logan  grew  to  manhood  here  and  was  married  in 
the  county  in  December  1846,  to  Miss  Nancy  Parks,  a  daughter  of  Reu- 
ben Parks,  of  this  county.  After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Logan  settled  on  the 
farm  where  he  now  resides,  buying  raw  land  and  improving  it.  He  has 
280  acres,  with  about  160  under  fence  and  improved.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  L. 
have  nine  children:  Franklin,  Eliza  J.  (wife  of  Henry  Pigg),  Mary  (wife 
of  J.  R.  Parks),  David  R.,  William  P.,  George  V.,  Mattie  P.,  Annie  T., 
and  John  Alexander. 

DAVID  LOGAN, 

a  native  of  Henry  County,  Missouri,  was  born  August  4,  1840,  and  is  a 
son  of  David  Logan  and  a  brother  of  William  Logan.  David  was  born 
and  reared  on  the  farm  which  he  now  occupies.  He  received  a  fair  edu- 
cation at  the  common  schools,  and  was  married  in  the  county  November 
2.  1859,  to  Miss  Martha  A.  Gordon,  also  of  this  county,  and  a  daughter 
of  Patterson  Gordon,  an  early  settler  here.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Logan  have 
six  children:  Patterson  D.,  John  H.,  Arthur  E.,  Clay  T.,  Hugh  G.,  Lelia 
V.  He  owns  200  acres  of  land,  of  which  140  are  under  fence  and  in  a 
good  state  of  cultivation.  Mrs.  Logan  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
Church. 

JOHN  McGINNESS, 

farmer  and  stock  feeder,  section  17,  is  one  of  the  thrifty  farmers  of  Lees- 
ville Township,  and  was  born  in  Greene  County,  Pennsylvania,  January 
31,  1827.  His  father,  John  McGinness,  also  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
grew  to  manhood  and  was  married  in  Greene  County,  to  Eunice  Wood- 
ruff, of  the  same  state.  Our  subject  was  reared  in  the  county  of  his 
birth  upon  the  home  farm,  he  enjoying  good  common  school  advantages. 
In  1848  he  went  to  Virginia  and  located  in  Ritchie  County,  where  he 
purchased  a  farm  and  where  he  resided  until  1874.  He  came  to  Mis- 
souri in  the  following  spring,  and  located  in  Henry  County.  Mr.  Mc- 
Ginness was  married  in  Ritchie  County,  Virginia,  October  18,  1849,  ^o 
Miss  Mary  Ann  Woods,  a  daughter  of  James  Woods,  and  originally 
from  Pennsylvania.  They  have  a  family  of  eight  children:  James,  died 
in  1878,  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight  years;  Eunice,  (now  the  wife  of 
Reuben  Rosebaugh);  Eliza  (wife  of  J.  C.  Jones);  Adonigah  W.;  Lydia; 
Mary  E.  (wife  of  William  Black);  John  L.  and  Josiah  M.  In  January, 
1862,  Mr.  McG.  enlisted  in  Company  K,  Third  Virginia  Volunteer 
Infantry,  and  served  in  the  Union  army  until  discharged,  in  the  spring 
of  1863.  He  participated  in  the  second  Bull  Run  fight,  where  he  was 
wounded  in  the  right  arm  disabling  him.  He  also  was  in  a  number  of 
skirmishes.  After  his  discharge  he  returned  to  his  home  in  Ritchie 
County. 


780  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

E.  SCULLY, 

of  the  firm  of  Anderson  &  Scully,  merchants  at  Leesville,  is  a  native  of 
Stewartsville,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  born  March  lo,  1836.  William 
Scully,  his  father,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  his  mother,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Polly  Frimyre,  came  originally  from  Germany,  but 
was  reared  in  Pennsylvania.  E.  Scully  passed  his  youthful  days  mostly 
at  school  in  Westmoreland  County.  He  came  to  Missouri  in  1858  and 
first  located  in  Cooper  County  where  he  clerked  in  a  store  at  Otter- 
ville  for  about  fourteen  or  fifteen  years.  He  was  married  at  Otter- 
ville,  December  31,  1869,  to  Miss  Piety  L.  Bell,  a  daughter  of  B.  H.  Bell, 
a  prominent  merchant  of  Cooper  County.  In  1873,  Mr.  Scully  moved  to 
Leesville  and  since  that  time  has  been  interested  in  business  with  Mr. 
Anderson,  the  first  two  years  as  clerk,  and  then  in  1875  he  bought  a  half 
interest  in  the  establishment.  They  have  since  formed  the  firm  of 
Anderson  &  Scully,  and  are  now  doing  a  good  business,  the  patronage 
Avhich  they  are  receiving,  amply  justifying  them  in  keeping  a  complete 
and  well  assorted  stock  of  general  merchandise. 

HON.  WILLIAM  SHAKER, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  14,  is  a  native  of  Wayne  County,  New 
York,  and  was  born  March  27,  1824.  His  parents,  Jonas  and  Hannah 
(Roosa)  Shafer,  were  also  born  in  New  York.  In  183 1  the  family  moved 
to  Ohio  and  located  in  Ashtabula  County,  where  young  William  grew  to 
manhood,  spending  his  youth  on  a  farm.  When  seventeen  years  of  age 
he  taught  a  district  school.  In  1845  he  went  to  Iowa,  but  one  year  later 
settled  in  Hancock  County,  Illinois,  where  he  resided  for  about  four- 
teen years,  engaged  in  farming  and  teaching  during  the  winter  months. 
In  1855  he  embarked  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Nauvoo,  and  contin- 
ued the  trade  there  three  years.  In  1858  he  came  to  Missouri,  locating 
in  Henry  County.  Since  his  residence  here  he  has  taught  two  terms  of 
school,  but  has  also  been  interested  in  farming  and  stock  raising.  In 
1866  Mr.  Shafer  was  elected  and  represented  Henry  County  in  the  state 
legislature  one  term.  He  has  since  held  several  local  offices  in  his 
township.  He  was  married  in  Ohio  in  1848,  to  Miss  L.  C.  Beckwith,  a 
daughter  of  Jeremiah  Beckwith,  and  a  native  ot  Ohio.  They  have  six 
children:  M.  W.,  Milo  J.,  Mary  E.,  Hannah  Ida,  William  H.  and  Wal- 
ter P.  Mr.  Shafer,  his  wife  and  four  oldest  children  are  members  of 
the  Christian  Church.  Mr.  S.  owns  a  farm  of  114  acres,  with  good 
buildings  and  other  improvements. 

THOMAS  J.  SMITH, 

farmer  and  stock  feeder,  section  19,  was  born  in  Preston  County,  Vir- 
ginia, July  12,  1828,  his  parents  being  Riley  and  Eleanor  Smith,  both  na- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  78 1 

tives  of  Virginia.  The  family  early  moved  to  Ohio,  where  they  lived  a  few 
years,  going  thence  to  Indiana,  locating  in  Hancock  County,  near  Green- 
field, where  Riley  Smith  died  about  1838  or  1840.  After  his  father's 
death,  Thomas  J.  bound  himself  out  until  he  arrived  at  his  majority. 
His  youth  was  spent  on  a  farm  mostly  in  Tipton  County,  and  he  had  but 
limited  opportunities  for  schooling,  though  having  applied  himself  closely 
to  study  in  later  years.  He  was  married  in  Tipton  County,  August  9, 
1849,  to  Miss  Ann  Dickson,  originally  from  Fayette  County,  Indiana, 
and  a  daughter  of  William  and  Sarah  Dickson.  Mr.  Smith  located  and 
improved  a  farm  in  the  green  woods  of  Tipton  County,  and  lived  on  it 
six  years.  He  then  sold  out  and  removed  to  the  county  seat,  and 
embarked  in  the  mercantile  business  and  stock  dealing,  continuing  in 
this  trade  for  six  years.  Purchasing  365  acres  adjoining  the  town,  he 
gaving  his  attention  to  farming  and  stock  trading  until  1880.  He  came 
to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  in  1880,  and  purchased  a  farm  containing 
162  acres,  where  he  now  resides.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  handling  and 
feeding  stock.  Mr.  S.  is  identified  with  the  Democratic  party  and  takes 
an  active  interest  in  political  matters.  He  was  elected  and  subsequently 
re-elected  and  served  six  years  as  county  judge  of  Tipton  County,  his 
former  home.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  have  a  family  of  three  children. 
William  R.,  Charles  Watson  and  Ora  Dell.  He  is  one  of  the  leading 
auctioneers  of  Henry  County,  and  has  acted  in  this  capacity  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.     He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity. 

THOMAS  STEWART, 

another  old  settler  of  the  county,  was  born  in  Blount  County,  East  Ten- 
nessee, March  17,  1823.  His  father,  William  Stewart,  and  also  his 
mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Celia  Stanton,  were  natives  of  the 
same  state,  and  in  1839  they  moved  to  Missouri,  settling  in  Henry 
County  on  Grand  River,  near  Brownington,  where  they  entered  land  and 
improved  a  farm.  Afterward  they  went  to  Osage  Township  and  improved 
a  farm,  where  Mr.  S.  died  in  1843.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  to 
manhood  in  this  county,  and  was  married  in  the  fall  of  1843  to  Sarah  A. 
Woolard,  a  native  of  North  Carolina  and  a  daughter  of  Thompson  Wool- 
ard.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  S.  located  on  land  in  Leesville  Township 
and  improved  his  farm;  he  now  owns  120  acres.  Mr.  Stewart  is  a  black- 
smith and  gunsmith  by  trade,  and  has  worked  at  that  business  in  con- 
nection with  his  farming  operations  for  a  number  of  years.  He  and  his 
wife  have  a  family  of  nine  children:  Sarah  C.  (wife  of  William  Akers), 
Martha  J.  (wife  of  Wood  Curds),  James  W.,  Celia  E.  (wife  of  Colman 
Edwards),  Mary  F.  (wife  of  William  McCowns),  Thomas  C,  Andrew  ]., 
Susan  E.  and  Emma  A.  They  have  lost  three  children:  Nancy  P.  died 
at  the  age  of  twenty- five  j^ears;  Margaret  Ann,  aged  eleven  years,  and 
John  H.  when  twenty-three  years  old. 


782  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

CAPTAIN  JOHN  P.  TURNPLR, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  29,  is  a  native  of  Bourbon  County,  Ken- 
tucky, and  was  born  December  18,  182 1.  His  father,  Joseph  Turner,  a 
Virginian  by  birth,  went  to  Kentucky  when  a  young  man  and  there 
married  Susan  Parks.  John  P.  passed  his  younger  days  on  the  home 
^arm,  receiving  his  education  at  the  Bourbon  County  Seminary  where  he 
acquired  a  fair  education  in  the  common  English  branches.  In  the 
spring  of  1844  he  came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  and  bought  and 
entered  408  acres  of  land  on  Cedar  Creek  near  Grand  River.  Mr.  Tur- 
ner was  married  in  this  county  in  the  fall  of  1844  to  Miss  Rosa  J.  Parks, 
a  daughter  of  Reuben  Parks,  a  pioneer  settler  of  the  county.  There 
were  eight  children  by  this  marriage,  three  of  whom  are  living:  Perez, 
John  and  Nancy  B.;  five  are  deceased.  Mrs.  Turner  died  in  November, 
1874.  The  captain  was  again  married,  this  time  in  Indiana,  March  8, 
1877,  to  Mrs.  Harriet  E.  Duggins,  a  daughter  of  R.  W.  Mullis.  She  is  a 
native  of  Hancock  County,  Indiana,  but  was  reared  and  educated  in 
Fayette  County.  They  have  three  children:  Lela  Myrtle,  Ala  Delle 
and  Bonnie.  Mr.  Turner  served  during  the  war  in  the  Enrolled  Missouri 
Militia  and  was  captain  of  a  company.  He  was  also  appointed  and 
acted  as  county  judge  but  resigned  the  position  in  1864  and  was  then 
appointed  assessor  and  made  the  assessment  of  the  county.  He  also 
was  elected  under  the  township  orgaization,  assessor  of  his  township,  all 
of  which  positions  he  has  filled  faithfully  and  impartially. 

JUDGE  VENLEMANS, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  20,  is  recognized  as  being  one  of  the 
prominent  men  in  Leesville  Township.  Mr.  Venlemans  is  a  native  of 
Belgium,  and  was  born  October  2,  1824,  near  the  battle  grounds  of 
Waterloo.  His  father,  John  F.  Venlemans  and  his  mother  also  were 
born  in  that  country,  and  in  1834  the  family  emigrated  to  the  United 
States,  locating  first  in  Louisiana,  where  they  lived  about  seven  years. 
They  then  became  residents  of  Cooper  County,  where  John  grew  to 
manhood  on  the  farm.  He  was  married  in  that  county  in  May,  1852,  to 
Miss  Sarah  E.  Randel,  of  Indiana,  and  a  daughter  of  David  Randel. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Venlemans  have  five  children:  Teressa  A.,  (wife  of  John 
D.  Eliott);  John  D.,  who  is  a  bookkeeper  for  a  wholesale  house  in  St. 
Joseph,  Missouri;  Margaret  A.,  Sarah  C,  Stephen  P.  They  lost  four 
children,  three  in  infancy  and  one,  Laura  Bell,  (wife  of  Henry  Eberding) 
who  died  in  September,  1878,  at  the  age  of  nineteen.  After  his  mar- 
riage Mr.  V.  located  on  a  farm  in  Moniteau  County,  which  he  had  pre- 
viously purchased  and  improved,  but  selling  that  place  in  1854  he  came 
to  Henry  County,  when  he  bought  land  and   improved  the  farm    which 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  785 

consists  of  205  acres  he  now  occupies.  He  enlisted  in  the  Confederate 
service  in  November,  1862,  and  served  till  discharged  in  1863.  In  1864 
he  moved  to  Nebraska  and  located  in  Saline  County,  and  lived  there 
fire  years,  having  been  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  that  county,  and  he 
wrote  the  petition  and  helped  to  organize  the  county.  He  was  elected 
and  served  as  county  judge  there  for  three  }^ears.  In  1869  he  returned 
to  his  farm  in  this  county,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  was  elected 
one  of  the  county  judges  of  Henry  County  during  the  time  of  the 
township  organization,  and  has  held  other  local  offices.  He  was  elected 
and  reelected  to  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace,  and  has  served  as 
such  for  about  twenty  years.  The  judge  belongs  to  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity, and  has  been  an  active  member  of  his  lodge  since  its  organization. 


P^:^ ^ 


BETHLEHEM  TOWNSHIP. 


C.  C.  BANTA 

was  born  in  Cole  County,  Missouri,  (now  Moniteau)  January  i,  1833",. 
and  is  the  third  in  a  family  of  twelve  children  of  whom  eight  are  now 
living.  His  father  was  Henry  Banta,  and  his  mother^s  maiden  name  wa.s 
Fanny  Don  Carlos,  of  Spanish  descent.  Her  father  was  a  soldier  of  the 
revolutionary  struggle,  and  fought  in  the  battle  of  Cowpens.  In  1848' 
his  parents  came  to  Henry  County  and  settled  on  Tebo,  where  they 
lived  until  1861,  then  emigrating  to  the  Pacific  Coast,  where  they  are 
still  living.  In  1852  Mr.  Banta  went  to  California  and  remained  there 
until  1857,  engaged  in  mining  and  lumbering.  On  his  return  to  Mis- 
souri he  settled  on  a  farm.  During  a  portion  of  the  war  he  served  in 
the  militia.  In  1866  he  settled  on  his  present  farm,  which  consists  of 
640  acres,  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  He  is  largely  engaged  in  stock 
raising.  Mr.  Banta  was  married  in  Cooper  County  June  28,  1859,  to- 
Miss  Mary  Smith,  a  native  of  Cole  County.  They  have  four  children 
living:  Christopher  C,  William  Sherman,  Mary  Frances  and  Artie.  His- 
neice,  Bettie  Banta,  is  also  a  member  of  his  family.  Mr.  Banta  is  a 
man  of  liberal  views  and  is  much  interested  in  education,  showing  his- 
interest  by  giving  his  children  the  advantages  of  the  best  schools  in  the 
state.     His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Cumberland  Presb\terian  Church. 


784  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

DANIEL  A.  BROOKS, 

farmer,  section  25,  came  originally  from  Hopkins  County,  Kentucky, 
where  he  was  born  August  7,  18 14.  He  was  there  reared  and  educated, 
following  farming  till  eighteen  years  of  age,  when  he  commenced  clerk- 
ing at  Belleville,  Kentucky.  After  remaining  there  two  years  he  clerked 
the  succeeding  two  years  at  Princeton,  Kentucky.  In  1835  he  engaged 
in  the  general  merchandise  business  in  his  native  county,  continuing  it 
till  1849.  Removing  to  Caseyville,  Kentucky,  he  was  a  merchant  in 
that  city  till  1873.  In  the  spring  of  1874  he  came  to  Henry  County, 
Missouri,  and  settled  on  his  present  place,  having  entered  the  land  in 
1838.  He  now  has  610  acres  of  fine  land,  440  of  which  are  under  fence. 
Mr.  Brooks  was  united  in  marriage  November  30,  1836,  with  Miss  Han- 
nah W.  Eckols,  of  Tennessee.  They  have  nine  children:  Susan  E.,  Nan- 
nie O.,  Daniel  A.,  Martha  V.,  Amelia  A.  W.,  Mary  E..  Georgia  A., 
Augusta  T.  and  Philip  M.  Mr.  B.  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity 
and  also  belongs  to  the  Episcopal  Church. 

'  WILLIAM  COLE. 

section  24.  Few,  indeed,  are  the  old  pioneers  of  Missouri  who  have  been 
spared  by  death  to  tell  of  the  hardships,  pleasures  and  experiences  of  a 
life  three-quarters  of  a  century  ago,  and  the  many  wonderful  changes 
wrought  in  Missouri  during  that  time.  Among  the  class,  however,  who 
are  still  living  may  be  mentioned  William  Cole.  He  was  born  in  Sulli- 
van County,  Tennessee,  December  18,  1800,  being  the  son  of  Isaac  and 
Mary  (Anderson)  Cole,  also  natives  of  that  count}'.  The  former  died 
while  William  was  quite  young.  His  family  consisted  of  three  children, 
this  subject  being  the  only  son  and  the  second  child.  In  1S07,  they 
removed  to  Wilson  County,  Tennessee,  and  after  a  residence  there  of 
two  years  went  to  Bedford  County,  which  was  their  home  for  two  years. 
Going  thence  to  Franklin  County,  Tennessee,  they  resided  there  till 
18 18,  then  came  to  Cooper  County,  Missouri,  settling  near  Clark's  Sta- 
tion, and  it  was  on  this  place  that  the  mother  died  in  1823.  William 
Cole  lived  on  the  home  place  till  about  1845,  when  he  moved  on  the  edge 
of  Moniteau  County,  Missouri,  there  making  a  farm,  which  he  occupied 
till  1866.  Coming  to  Henry  County,  he  settled  where  he  now  resides, 
having  entered  the  same  years  previous.  At  that  time  he  entered  a  large 
body  of  land,  but  has  since  given  his  children  farms  and  otherwise  dis- 
posed of  it,  now  retaining  a  fine  tract  of  200  acres.  Mr.  Cole  was  mar- 
ried May  9,  1822,  to  Miss  Rhoda  Smiley,  a  native  of  Tennessee,  born 
August  16,  1807.  When  ten  years  of  age  she  had  removed  with  her 
parents  to  Cooper  County,  Missouri.  They  have  had  eleven  children: 
James  A.,  Thomas  S.  deceased;  Isaac  T.,  Peter  W.,  deceased;  Hester  A., 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  785 

Stephen  D.,  deceased;  William  A.,  Gustave  H.,  Hugh  G.,  Samuel  B.  and 
Lycurgus  L.     Mr.  C.  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

SOLOMON  DAVIS, 

farmer,  section  29,  a  native  of  Richland  County,  Ohio,  was  born  April 
27,  1825.  His  father,  David  Davis  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  came 
to  Ohio  when  quite  a  young  man.  His  mother,  formerly  Sarah  Zim- 
merman, was  also  originally  from  Pennsylvania.  They  reared  ten  child- 
ren of  whom  Solomon  was  the  fifth.  In  about  1836,  the  family  removed 
to  Indiana,  remaining  in  that  state  till  the  fall  of  1837,  when  they  came 
to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  the  parents  dying  shortly  after  their  arrival 
here.  When  fourteen  years  of  age,  young  Davis  being  left  an  orphan,  he 
worked  as  a  farm  laborer  till  1847.  Then  he  enlisted  in  the  Mexican 
War  as  teamster,  and  made  the  trip  across  the  plains.  After  the  war 
closed  he  returned  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  and  in  1850,  emigrated 
to  California,  when  for  fourteen  months  he  was  occupied  in  mining.  After 
this  time  he  retraced  his  steps  to  this  county,  and  entered  the  land 
where  he  now  lives.  In  1857  he  settled  upon  it  and  now  has  a  fine  farm 
of  360  acres.  Mr.  Davis  was  married  December  3,  1854,  to  Miss  Mary  Lee, 
a  daughter  of  James  Lee,  an  old  pioneer  of  Henry  County.  They  have 
eight  children:  Richard  H.,  Neoma,  James  I.,  John  W.,  Mary  J.,  Hender- 
son, Orlena,  and  Sarah  L.  They  are  members  of  the  Bethlehem  Baptist 
Church. 

WILLIAM  M.  DOYLE, 

section  4,  one  of  the  enterprising  and  energetic  men  of  the  county,  was 
born  in  White  County,  Middle  Tennessee,  April  12,  1836.  His  father, 
James  H.,  was  from  South  Carolina,  and  died  November  6,  188 1.  His 
mother  is  still  living.  Her  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Fryer.  Of  ten 
children  William  was  the  fourth.  One  brother,  Joseph  A.,  is  the  former 
well  known  county  clerk.  The  eldest,  John  W.,  is  in  Texas.  Simon  J. 
is  in  California.  George  W.,  Henry  A.  and  Mary  T.  are  still  living  in 
Tennessee.  Young  Doyle  acquired  a  good  education  at  the  Union  Hill 
Academy  in  Tennessee,  and  in  1S56,  when  twenty  years  of  age,  he  came 
to  Missouri  in  company  with  the  Avery  brothers.  He  engaged  in  teach- 
ing school  in  Henry  County  for  some  time,  then  returned  to  Tennessee, 
and  in  1859  once  more  came  to  Missouri.  He  crossed  the  plains  to  Cali- 
fornia in  company  with  W.  A.  Hastain  and  Mr.  Avery  with  a  drove  of 
109  head  of  cattle.  He  made  about  $700  in  this  enterprise  and  remained 
in  California  until  the  close  of  the  war.  While  there  he  built  toll  bridges 
on  Uba  River.  During  the  two  last  years  he  was  in  the  silver  mines  of 
Nevada.  In  1866  he  returned  to  Clinton  and  gave  his  attention  to  the 
mercantile  business   with  J.  M.  Avery  for  three  years,  and  in  that  time 

50 


786  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

Started  a  branch  store  at  Birmingham,  where  they  laid  out  the  town.   In 
1870  he  removed  to  his  farm,  which  he  began  to  improve  and  to  deal  in 
stock,  and  he  has  since  been  handling  stock  quite  extensively.     He  has 
taken  some  interest  in  breeding   short   horns  and  has  a  herd  of  twenty 
thoroughbreds.     Within   the   past  year  Mr.  Doyle  purchased  a  brand  of 
cattle  in  Texas,  one  herd  of  900  cattle  and   130  horses.     He  has  a  fine 
farm  of  960  acres  lying  three  miles  east  of  Clinton,  all  of  which  is  in  a 
good  state  of  improvement;    no  acres  are  set  to  apples.     In  the  spring 
of  1875  he  was  chosen  cashier  of  the  Clinton  National  Bank.     He  filled 
that  position  for  one  summer,  and  in  November  following,  together  with  ^ 
W.  H.  Cock,  engaged  in  the  general  commission  business  in  St.  Louis, 
remaining  there  but  four  months.    In  1876  he  lived  in  Bates  County.    In 
1877  he  again  moved  to  his  farm  and  has  since  resided   there.     May  9, 
1867,  Mr.  Doyle  was  united  by  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Walker,  daughter 
of  that  old  pioneer.  Pleasant  Walker.     She  was  born  in  Shawnee  Town- 
ship May  I,  1849.     They  have  five  children  living:     Pleasant  H.,  Bessie  | 
Adeline,  Sadie  Belle,  George  and  Joseph.     Harvey,  the  eldest,  died  when  ' 
one  year  old.     Mary  died  at  the  age  of  five,  January  26,  1882,  and  James 
and  William,  twins,  aged  eighteen  months,  died  about  the  same  time  as 
Mary,  making  three  children  buried  within  the  year.    Mrs.  Doyle  is  con-  , 
nected  with  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church.     He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  j 
O.  O.  F.  fraternity,  having  joined  that  order  while  in  California.  j 

FRANCIS  M.  GROFF,  | 

farmer,  section  32,  was   born  in    Franklin   County,  Missouri,  November  | 
22,  1831.     His   father,   Henry  Groff,  a  native  of  Lexington,    Kentucky, 
was  born  February   14,  1799,  and  when   an   infant  was  brought  by  the  ■ 
family  to  St.  Louis  County,  Missouri,  moving  thence  to  Franklin  County,  j 
in  1824.     He  married  Roda  Franklin,  who  was  born  in   North  Carolina,  I 
and  who  was  there  reared.     She  went  to  St.  Louis  County  when  a  young 
lady  and  was  there  married.     They  had  five  children,  Francis  being  the 
youngest.     In  the  spring  of  1850,  they  came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  j 
settling  near  Brownington,   where  they   resided    till    the  death  of  the  j 
father,  in  February,  1854.     His  mother's  death  occurred  in  1832.  In  1855  j 
F.  M.  Groff  moved  on  the  place  where  he  now  resides.  He  has  330  acres 
of  well  improved  land,  a  portion  of  which  is  valuable    coal  land,     A  ' 
mine  is  now  open  upon  it  and  in  operation.     It  is  a  two  and  one-half  j 
foot  vein.     Mr.  Groff  was  united  in  marriage  in   August,   1854,  to  Miss 
Elvira  B.  Groff.     They  had  one  child,  Caroline  C.     Mrs.  Groff's  death 
occurred  in  April,  1878.     He  was  again  married  April  27,  1879,  to  Mrs- 
Climensia  Burnsides,  whose  maiden  name  was  Cox.     They  have  one  I 
child,  Delila  E.     From  1863  to  1865   Mr.  G.  was  justice  of  the  peace  of 
Bethlehem  Township.     In    1872  he  was  elected  a  judge  of  the  county  , 
court,  and  served  one  term.  \ 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  787 

WOODSON  A.  HASTAIN, 

farmer  and  stockman  is  a  native  of  Henry  County,  Missouri,  having 
been  born  five  miles  north  of  Calhoun  on  the  8th  of  October,  1835.  His 
parents  came  from  Tennessee  the  year  previous  to  his  birth.  He  is  the 
fourth  of  five  children,  one  sister,  Jane,  lives  in  St.  Clair  County,  and  one, 
Mary  Ann  Dice,  near  Warsaw,  Benton  County,  one  brother,  John  P. 
lives  in  Henry  County.  His  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Anna 
Green  died  while  Woodson  was  in  his  youth  and  his  father,  Daniel  M.  C. 
Hastain,  married  Miss  Martha  Wall  and  they  reared  a  family  of  nine 
children.  Of  these  Thomas  J.  lives  on  the  old  homestead,  and  Susan  E, 
Dilley  resides  at  Calhoun.  His  father  died  soon  after  the  war  at  War- 
saw, where  he  had  lived  a  few  years.  In  1858,  W.  A.  went  to  California, 
in  company  with  others,  taking  a  herd  of  cattle.  While  on  the  Pacific 
coast  he  was  engaged  in  milling.  He  was  married  March  28,  1865,  in 
Saline  County,  to  Miss  Sarah  Walker,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  this 
county.  She  was  born  on  Honey  Creek,  June  27,  1847.  Mr.  Hastain> 
lived  in  Johnson  County  until  1870,  and  then  came  back  to  his  early 
home,  buying  a  tract  of  eighty  acres.  His  farm  now  contains  160  acres, 
beautifully  situated  and  under  cultivation  and  the  improvements  among 
the  best  in  the  county.  He  has  been  dealing  extensively  in  stock,  and 
is  one  of  the  principal  shippers  in  his  section  of  the  county.  His  family 
of  six  children  living  are  :  William  T.,  Anna  A.,  Bertha  May,  Amy  L., 
Stephen  A.  and  George  Woodson.  Two:  Pleasant  W.,  and  Johnnie  L., 
died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Hastain  is  a  sterling  Democrat  and  is  thoroughly 
imbued  with  the  spirit  of  education  and  advancement. 

RICHARD  HUDSON, 

farmer,  section  24,  is  a  native  of  Boone  County,  Missouri,  and  was  born 
April  10,  183 1,  being  the  son  of  Richard  Hudson,  of  North  Carolina,, 
who  came  to  Boone  County,  Missouri,  about  1824.  His  mother,  whose 
maidan  name  was  Elizabeth  Harris,  was  a  Kentuckian  by  birth.  She 
was  reared  in  that  state  and  was  there  married.  The  family  consisted 
of  thirteen  children,  of  whom  Richard  was  the  sixth.  He  was  brought 
up  in  the  county  of  his  birth  and  there  followed  farming  till  1853.  Emi- 
grating to  California,  for  two  years  he  was  engaged  in  mining.  Then, 
he  returned  to  Missouri  and  settled  in  Moniteau  County,  where,  (and 
also  on  the  edge  of  Cooper  County)  he  was  occupied  in  saw  milling  till. 
1858.  In  the  spring  of  1866  he  came  to  Henry  County,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1876  settled  where  he  now  resides.  He  has  a  well  improved  farm  of 
120  acres.  In  1879  he  resumed  saw  milling  on  Cedar  Creek,  Leesville 
Township,  conducting  that  business  till  January,  1883.  Mr,  Hudson  was 
married  January   21,   1858,  to   Miss   Margaret  E.   Simmons,   of  Cooper 


788  IlIS'lORV    Oi'    IIENRV    COUNTY. 

County,  Missouri.  They  have  ten  children  living:  Billie,  Thomas  R., 
Laura  A.,  Boone,  Kelley,  Robert  and  Charlie,  twins,  Frank,  Benton  and 
Ethel  G.  Mr.  H.  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  In  1862  he 
enlisted  in  Company  G,  Second  Missouri  Regiment,  Confederate  State 
Militia,  and  served  till  1864. 

ELI  M.  KNOLES, 

farmer  and  stock  grower,  came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  in  the  fall  of 
1863,  from  Menard  County,  Illinois,  where  he  had  resided  since  1849. 
He  secured  a  tract  of  280  acres,  and  is  now  living  on  a  farm  of  240  acres 
on  section  2.  Mr.  Knoles  was  born  in  Gibson  County,  Indiana,  January 
29,  1814.  His  parents,  Jesse  and  Elizabeth  (Read)  Knoles,  were  natives 
of  Georgia.  They  died  in  Illinois.  The  family  contained  nine  children, 
of  whom  Eli  was  third.  Of  these  four  are  now  living.  He  assisted  his 
parents  in  improving  new  farms,  living  as  all  settlers  of  new  countries 
must  live,  and  in  1834,  when  but  twenty  years  old  he  married  Miss 
Louisa  West,  who  was  also  born  in  Gibson  County,  Indiana,  March  10, 
181 5-  They  have  reared  six  boys  of  whom  the  eldest,  Hampson,  died 
in  the  army;  Marion,  Jesse,  Nathan,  Henderson  and  Eli,  all  are  living 
near  their  parents.  Marion  married  Miss  Mary  Hutchison,  Jesse  mar- 
ried Miss  Martha  Eaton,  Nathan  married  Miss  Martha  Turner,  Hender- 
son's wife  is  Miss  Jane  Crawford,  and  the  youngest,  Eli,  married  Miss 
Sarah  Van  Winkle.  Henderson's  wife  died  in  1879,  leaving  three  child- 
ren:  Ida  May,  Abbie  and  Rinna  Wright. 

JOHN  W.  LILE, 

farmer,  section  18,  was  born  in  Livingston  County,  Missouri,  January  24, 
1838.  His  father,  Allen  Lile,  a  native  of  Tennessee,  came  to  Missouri 
when  a  boy,  and  subsequently  married  Mary  Cox,  who  was  also  born  in 
Tennessee.  They  had  ten  children,  John  being  the  second  child.  He 
was  reared  to  manhood  and  educated  in  his  native  county  and  has 
always  followed  the  occupation  of  farming.  In  1874  he  came  to  Henrj' 
County  and  the  year  following  settled  where  he  now  resides,  having  a 
farm  of  160  acres.  He  has  an  excellent  tract  of  land  and  is  a  most  suc- 
cessful agriculturist.  Mr.  Lile  was  married  in  September,  1861,  to  Miss 
L.  G.  Parker  of  Missouri.  They  have  nine  children:  Mary  L.,  George, 
William  A.,  Andy  B.,  Alvia  K.,  John  M.,  Lillie  D.,  Jennie  and  Laura  E. 
Mr.  L.  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

CHARLES  M.  LILE, 

section  7.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  owes  his  nativity  to  Livingston 
County,  Missouri,  where  he  was    born    March   10,  1S41.      He  was  there 


I 


BIOCzRAPHICAL.  789 

brought  up  in  the  occupation  of  farming,  and  continued  that  avocation 
till  1863,  when  he  emigrated  to  Montana  Territor}/.  He  was  engaged 
in  mining  and  farming,  and  continued  to  reside  there  till  the  fall  of  1866, 
when  he  returned  to  Livingston  County,  Missouri.  After  following  farm- 
ing till  1872,  he  came  to  Henry  County,  and  in  1877  bought  and  moved 
upon  his  present  place.  His  landed  estate  consists  of  160  acres,  well 
improved.  Mr.  Lile  was  married  December  iq,  1868,  to  Miss  Emily  J. 
Gibins,  a  native  of  Missouri.  They  have  seven  children:  Mary  L., 
George  A.,  Christina,  William  H.,  Charles  E.,  Katie  D.  and  James  J. 

PEYTON  B.  PARKS, 

is  a  prominent  farmer  on  section  13.  He  was  born  in  Cooper  County, 
Missouri,  November  21,  1841,  and  was  the  son  of  James  Y.  Parks,  who 
was  born  in  18 14,  coming  to  Missouri  at  an  early  day.  He  married 
Nancy  Adkins,  a  native  of  Missouri.  They  reared  six  children,  Peyton 
being  the  fourth  child.  The  senior  Parks  died  in  March,  1867,  and  his 
widow's  death  occurred  in  October,  1870.  Young  Parks  was  reared  in 
his  native  county  in  the  occupation  of  farming.  He  came  to  Henry 
County  when  just  starting  in  life,  and  is  now  a  progressive  and  success- 
ful farmer.  He  has  a  well  improved  farm  of  150  acres  on  section  13. 
Mr.  Parks  was  married  October  28,  1866,  to  Miss  Susan  T.  Randall,  a 
native  of  Missouri.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  is  also 
connected  with  the  Masonic  fraternity. 

ISAAC  J.  QUICK, 

farmer  and  justice  of  the  peace,  section  i,  is  a  native  of  Sullivan  County, 
New  York,  and  was  born  July  9,  1835,  his  father  being  Philip  and  his 
mother  Mary  (Tyree)  Quick,  also  ©f  Nevv  York.  They  reared  four  child- 
ren, of  whom  Isaac  was  the  third  child.  In  1836  the  family  removed  to 
Peoria  County,  Illinois,  where  they  resided  till  Isaac  was  seven  years  of 
age,  at  which  time  they  went  to  Hancock  County,  Illinois,  residing  there 
till  September,  1855.  Then  he  emigrated  to  Missouri,  settling  in  Henry 
County,  and  in  1857  located  where  he  now  resides.  He  has  172  acres  of 
land  well  improved,  and  is  one  of  our  most  successful  farmers.  Mr.  Quick 
was  married  November  20,  1856,  to  Miss  Sarah  A.  Peeler,  a  daughter  of 
Major  Peeler,  an  old  pioneer  of  this  county.  They  have  six  children 
living:  Margaret  A.,  Mary  J.,  Allie  V.,  Laura  O.,  Susan  I.  and  Rosa  S. 
In  the  fall  of  1873  Mr.  Q.  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  of  Bethlehem 
Township,   the   duties  of  which  position   he   is   now   discharging  to  the 

satisfaction  of  all. 

GEORGE  RAYMOND, 

farmer,  section  13.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  originally  from  New  York, 
was  born  March  27,  1832.     His  father,  Jacob  W.  Raymond,  was  a  native 


790  HISTORY    OF   HENRY    COUNTY. 

of  Massachusetts,  and  was  born  in  i8o2.  He  was  reared  in  Vermont, 
and  was  there  married  to  Miss  Mary  Powers,  who  was  born  in  that  state. 
They  moved  to  New  York  in  183 1,  and  in  the  fall  of  1842,  came  to  Ben- 
ton County,  Missouri.  The  father  died  in  Hickory  County,  Missouri,  in 
1864.  George  was  brought  up  and  educated  in  Benton  County,  and 
spent  his  youthful  days  in  farming.  He  remained  a  resident  of  that 
county  till  February,  1868,  when  he  came  to  Henry  County,  settling  on 
a  part  of  the  farm  he  now  owns.  Upon  arriving  here  he  had  compara- 
tively nothing,  but  by  his  energy,  perseverance  and  close  attention  to 
business,  he  has  risen  to  prominent  financial  standing.  He  now  has  a 
well  improved  farm  of  170  acres,  and  is  known  as  one  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful farmers  in  his  township.  Mr.  Raymond  was  married  July  26, 
1854.  to  Miss  Lydia  Fuqua,  a  Kentuckian  by  birth.  They  have  four 
children:  Paschal  W.,  Mary  M.,  John  W.  and  Horace  R.  Mr.  R.  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  school  directors  of  his  district. 

ALFRED  REID, 

farmer,  section  7,  is  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  this  county.  John  M. 
Reid,  his  father,  was  born  in  Madison  County,  Kentucky,  and  emigrated 
to  Howard  County,  Missouri,  in  1809.  His  wife,  Margaret,  was  also  of 
Madison  County,  and  accompanied  her  father,  Joseph  Woolfskinn,  to 
Howard  County,  Missouri,  in  18 10.  They  had  two  children.  Alfred  was 
born  in  Howard  County  December  25,  1821,  and  when  quite  young  the 
family  removed  to  Cooper  County  where  they  resided  until  about  1830. 
Thence  going  to  Saline  County  they  lived  there  till  October,  1832,  when 
they  came  to  Henry  County,  settling  near  where  Mr.  R.  now  resides. 
Here  he  was  reared  among  the  trials  and  hardships  of  pioneer  life,  and 
has  always  followed  agricultural  pursuits.  He  has  where  he  lives  over 
123  acres  of  well  improved  land.  Mr.  Reid  was  united  in  marriage 
December  21,  1848,  to  Miss  Nancy  Lee,  a  native  of  Howard  County, 
Missouri.  They  have  five  children:  James  A.  John  W.,  Sarah  M.,  Mary 
E.  and  Marcy  A.  P'rom  1847  to  1850  Mr.  R.  was  road  overseer  of  Henry 
County. 

JOHN  C.  RIVERS, 

farmer,  section  22,  is  one  of  the  citizens  of  this  county  who  is  deserving 
of  more  than  a  passing  notice.  He  was  born  in  Green  (now  Taylor) 
County,  Kentucky,  January  14,  1833,  His  father,  James  Rivers,  was  a 
native  of  Kentucky  and  spent  his  entire  life  in  that  state.  His  mother, 
formerly  Mary  L  Short,  was  born  in  Green  County,  Kentucky,  March 
13,  1802,  and  is  still  living  there.  Their  family  consisted  of  fourteen 
children,  John  being  the  second  child.  He  was  reared  in  the  occupation 
of  farming,  receiving  his   education  from  the  schools  of  Green  County, 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  79I 

and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  he  began  school  teaching,  which  profession 
he  followed  for  three  years.  The  first  money  he  received  from  teaching 
was  spent  for  his  first  pair  of  boots.  In  the  fall  of  1856  he  came  to  Henry 
County,  Missouri,  arriving  here  October  14,  when  he  settled  on  his  pres- 
ent farm.  In  the  spring  of  1874  he  built  the  residence  which  he  now 
occupies.  He  has  a  fine  farm  of  240  acres  in  one  body,  and  also  owns 
517  acres  in  the  county.  Mr.  Rivers  was  united  in  marriage  December 
23,  1855,  to  Miss  Ruth  E.  Wade,  a  Kentuckian  by  birth.  They  had  three 
children:  John  W.,  Mary  E.  and  William  G.  Mrs.  R.'s  death  occurred 
March  31,  1875.  He  was  again  married  April  16,  1876,  to  Mrs.  Lorenia 
Hurt,  whose  maiden  name  was  Hood.  By  this  marriage  there  is  one 
child,  Campbell  T.  Mrs.  R.  has  two  children  by  her  former  husband, 
Saphronia  and  James  M.  In  1874  Mr.  Rivers  was  elected  public  admin- 
istrator and  served  two  years,  and  two  years  later  he  was  re-elected  to 
the  same  office,  but  he  did  not  qualify,  as  his  predecessor's  time  was  for 
four  instead  of  two.  Previous  to  1874  he  held  for  some  years  the  office 
of  justice  of  the  peace.  In  1876  he  was  elected  township  trustee,  serv- 
ing till  the  township  organization  was  changed,  in'  1877.  In  188 1  he 
was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  of  Bethlehem  Township,  which  ofifice  he 
now  holds. 

HON.  WILLIAM  L.  SHANKLAND. 

The  present  representative  of  Henry  County  in  the  lower  house  of 
the  general  assembly  was  born  in  Preble  County,  Ohio,  on  the  22d  of 
December,  1S26,  and  was  an  only  child.  His  father,  Robert  M.  Shank- 
land,  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Elizabeth  Gobble,  was  born  in  Virginia.  William's  early  days  were 
spent  in  Washington  County,  West  Virginia,  where  he  had  access  to 
good  school  facilities,  of  which  he  was  not  slow  to  avail  himself  After 
attending  the  academy  at  Abington  for  some  time  he  came  to  this  state 
in  1849,  in  company  with  his  parents.  They  located  in  Moniteau 
County,  and  there  his  father  died  in  1868;  his  mother  died  in  1857,  at 
the  same  place.  Young  Shankland  entered  the  state  university  (at  that 
time  presided  over  by  Dr.  Shannon)  soon  after  coming  to  the  state,  and 
in  185 1  he  graduated  from  that  institution,  and  among  his  classmates 
were  two  who  are  his  coworkers  in  the  present  assembly.  Senator  James 
H.  Walker,  of  Cooper,  and  Harry  W.  Cockrell,  of  Howard.  After  leav- 
ing school  he  served  as  surveyor  for  one  year  of  Moniteau  County,  and 
sold  goods  for  some  time,  and  then  taught  school  at  Warsaw  for  over 
one  year.  He  began  the  study  of  medicine  under  his  father  about  1853. 
In  1854-5  he  attended  the  medical  department  of  the  Louisville  Univer- 
sity. The  same  year  he  began  to  practice  in  Camden  County,  where  he 
remained  until  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  when  he  located  at  California, 
continuing  his  practice,  and  in  1864-5  he  completed  his  medical  course 


792  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COJNTY. 

at  the  Jefferson  College,  Philadelphia,  where  he  graduated  in  March, 
1865.  In  1866  he  came  to  Henry  County  and  secured  a  tract  of  land 
where  he  now  lives  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession  as  well  as  the  duties  of  the  farm.  His  patronage  extends 
for  many  miles  in  every  direction  and  he  has  had  remarkable  success  in 
his  practice  and  stands  in  the  front  rank  of  his  profession.  Dr.  Shank- 
land  was  married  in  Camden  County,  December  5,  1855,  to  Miss  Jane 
Wilson.  Her  death  occurred  March  15,  1867,  and  she  left  three  children: 
Elizabeth,  who  died  at  thirteen;  William  M.,  now  a  student  at  the  uni- 
versity, and  Josephine.  In  October,  1868,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Minerva  Shankland,  born  October  30,  1833,  in  Nicholas  County,  Ken- 
tucky. The  doctor  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church, 
to  which  he  has  belonged  since  quite  a  young  man.  He  was  chosen  at 
the  election  to  represent  the  county  in  the  legislature  over  David  A. 
Brooks  the  opposition  candidate. 

REUBEN    SLAVENS, 

farmer,  section  28,  came  originally  from  Ohio,  having  been  born  in  Pike 
County,  September  27,  1825.  His  father,  John  Slavens,  was  born  in  West 
Virginia,  and  was  there  reared.  His  mother,  formerly  Mary  Ruckman, 
was  of  Ohio,  and  was  there  married.  They  had  eight  children,  of  whom 
Reuben  was  the  second.  In  1835,  the  family  removed  to  Vermillion 
County,  Illinois,  residing  there  about  one  year,  and  for  the  following 
eight  months  they  lived  in  other  parts  of  Illinois.  In  1837,  coming  to 
Henry  County,  Missouri,  they  settled  on  section  ii,  Bethlehem  Town- 
ship, and  there  his  father  died  in  1863.  His  mother's  death  occurred  in 
Ohio  in  1827.  In  1862,  Mr.  S.  returned  to  Ohio  and  resided  there  till  the 
spring  of  1863,  when  his  father's  last  sickness  called  him  home.  He 
soon  resumed  farming  on  his  present  place,  which  he  settled  in  1857. 
He  has  a  fine  farm  of  280  acres,  and  is  known  throughout  the  county  as  a 
successful  man.  Mr.  S.  was  married  September  28,  1849,  to  Miss  Nancy 
Stephenson,  a  native  of  Ohio.  They  have  two  children:  John  and  Martha 
M.     They  are  members  of  the  Bethlehem  Baptist  Church. 

GEORGE  W.  SLAVENS, 

farmer,  section  33,  owes  his  nativity  to  Scioto  County,  Ohio,  where  he 
was  born  November  23,  1829.  While  he  was  a  small  boy  the  family 
removed  to  Indiana,  where  they  remained  about  eighteen  months,  going 
thence  to  Vermillion  County,  Illinois.  In  1837  they  came  to  Henry 
County,  Missouri,  locating  on  section  11,  Bethlehem  Township,  and  being 
among  the  early  settlers  here.  George  spent  his  boyhood  days  in  fol- 
lowing the  plow,  and  attending  the  old  log  schools,  which  were  then  few 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  793 

and  far  between.  He  remained  with  the  family  till  the  summer  of  1854, 
subsequently  settling  on  his  present  farm  of  260  acres,  all  of  which  is 
well  improved  and  fenced.  Mr.  Slavens  was  united  in  marriage  August 
4,  1853,  to  Miss  Nancy  J-  Parks,  of  Henry  County,  Missouri.  They  had 
six  children,  four  of  whom  are  living:  Mary  C,  John  R.,  Susan  E.  and 
Jessie.  Mrs.  S.'s  death  occurred  in  December,  1867.  He  was  again  mar- 
ried, August  31,  1873,  to  Mrs.  Agnes  J.  Nichols,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Parks.     They  had  four  children:  Eldna  G.,  Effie  B,,  Nannie  and  Charles  S. 

M.  TREADWAY, 

farmer,  section  5,  was  born  in  Jessamine  County,  Kentucky,  September 
19,  1828,  and  was  the  son  of  Daniel  F.  Treadway,  who  was  born  August, 
1 801,  in  that  county,  and  there  lived  all  his  life.  He  married  Miss 
Esther  Organ,  a  native  of  the  same  county.  Her  death  occurred  in  1840. 
His  father  died  May  2,  1881.  Our  subject  was  reared  in  the  occupation 
of  farming,  and  continued  that  calling  till  1850,  in  which  year  he  went 
to  Bloomington,  Illinois,  and  after  a  short  residence  there,  to  Sangamon 
County.  He  was  engaged  in  farming  till  1867,  and  soon  came  to  Clin- 
ton, Missouri,  residing  in  that  city  till  the  spring  of  1869.  He  then  set- 
tled on  his  present  place  and  has  since  been  identified  with  the  farming 
industry  01  this  county.  He  has  a  well  improved  farm  of  245  acres,  and 
deals  quite  largely  in  stock.  Mr.  Treadway  was  married  July  27,  1852, 
to  Miss  Matilda  Foster,  of  Illinois.  She  died  April  24,  1876,  leaving  five 
children:  Daniel  F.,  Merriman  F.,  Elizabeth  F.,  Mary  F.  and  Jennie. 
He  was  again  married  January  ii,  1877,  to  Miss  Susan  Hopper,  a  native 
of  Tennessee.  They  have  two  children,  Gracie  and  Cora.  Mr.  T.  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  order,  and  also  belongs  to  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church. 

ABSALOM  VICKERS, 

farmer,  section  15,  was  born  in  Muhlenburg  (now  McLean  County),  Ken- 
tucky, September  21,  1817.  His  father,  John  Vickers,  was  born  in  Edge- 
combe County,  NorthCarolina,  in  1796,  and  came  to  Kentucky  when  twelve 
years  of  age.  His  wife,  formerly  Mary  Lands,  was  a  Virginian  by  birth. 
The  former  died  May  13,  1874,  and  the  latter  about  1848.  Absalom  was 
reared  and  educated  in  his  native  county  and  has  spent  his  life  in  the 
occupation  of  farming.  In  October,  1850,  he  emigrated  to  Hancock 
County,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  till  the  fall  of  1854,  then  coming  to 
Henry  County,  Missouri,  and  settling  where  he  now  resides,  having  a 
farm  of  fifty-six  acres.  Mr.  V.  has  been  a  successful  and  progressive  man 
through  life,  and  were  all  men  like  him  in  our  county  there  would  be 
little  need  of  courts,  etc.  He  has  been  prominently  identified  with  the 
Bethlehem  Baptist  Church  almost  since   its  organization,  and   is  one  of 


794  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

its  most  liberal  contributors  and  staunch  supporters.  He  donated  an 
acre  of  ground  where  their  new  church  stands,  and  when  it  became 
.needed  donated  two  more  acres  on  which  to  have  a  cemetery.  He  was 
married  October  5,  1837,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Welch,  a  native  of  Kentucky. 
They  have  five  children  living:  Laura,  Adaline,  Florence,  Antoinette 
and  John.  From  r868  to  1870  Mr.  V.  held  the  office  of  township  treas- 
urer and  clerk  of  Bethlehem  Township. 


DEER  CREEK  TOWNSHIP. 

LEWIS  W.  ASHBY, 

farmer  and  breeder  of  fine  stock,  section  14,  is  a  native  of  Henry  County, 
Missouri,  and  was  born  February  9,  1857.  His  father,  C.  P.  Ashby  came 
to  Missouri  from  Kentucky  in  1853,  ^"d  was  married  in  this  county  to 
Mrs.  Susan  Swift,  widow  of  Shelby  Swift;  her  maiden  name  was  Susan 
Pinnell,  and  she  was  born  in  Virginia.  Mr.  Ashby  resided  in  Henry 
County  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  Con- 
federate army,  serving  until  his  health  failed.  Then  he  went  south  and 
has  since  lived  in  Arkansas.  Lewis  W.  was  reared  and  educated  by  his 
uncle,  W.  T.  Beaty,  and  his  youth  was  spent  on  the  farm  and  in  attend- 
ing common  schools.  He  was  married  April  3,  1882,  to  Miss  Minnie 
Palmer,  also  a  native  of  this  county,  and  a  daughter  of  J.  M.  and  Julia 
(Goff)  Palmer,  both  of  Henry  County.  Mr.  Ashby  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  M.  E.  Church,  South,  and  he  also  belongs  to  the  Masonic 
fraternity.  He  is  devoting  his  attention  to  the  breeding  of  thorough- 
bred Berkshire  hogs,  and  has  some  of  as  pure  blood  as  can  be  found  in 
the  state,  and  all  are  recorded  in  the  Berkshire  record.  His  stock  has 
been  on  exhibition  at  numerous  state  fairs  and  always  ranked  amongthe 
best. 

WILLIAM  T.  BEATY, 

a  pioneer  citizen  of  Henry  County,  was  born  in  Cumberland  County, 
Kentucky,  October  27,  1804.  His  father,  Alexander  Beaty,  was  a  native 
■of  Virginia,  and  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Catherine  Travis, 
came  originally  from  Maryland.  The  former  served  in  the  revolutionary 
war.  He  removed  to  Kentucky  at  an  early  day  and  was  one  of  the  first 
.-settlers  of  Cumberland  County.     William  T.  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  79  5 

while  young  learned  the  Gunsmith's  trade.  In  1830  he  came  to  Missouri 
and  located  first  in  Saline  County,  and  worked  at  his  trade  five  years, 
removing  to  Henry  County  in  1835-  He  was  one  of  the  first  settlers 
here,  and  soon  entered  land  and  improved  the  farm  where  he  now  resides. 
Mr.  Beaty  was  married  in  this  count}'  February  25,  1836,  to  Miss  Sallie 
Pinnell,  a  native  of  Virginia  and  a  daughter  of  F.  A.  Pinnell.  They 
reared  a  family  of  three  children,  all  of  whom  are  married  and  reside  in 
Henry  County.     Mrs.  Beaty  died  May  23,  1S76. 

RICHARD   BOWEN, 

mine  inspector  of  Henry  County,  owes  his  nativity  to  England,  where 
he  was  born  May  17,  1839.  ^^'s  parents,  James  and  Elizabeth  Bowen, 
ncc  Tulip,  were  both  natives  of  England.  The  former  was  a  soldier  in 
the  English  army,  and  was  a  Waterloo  pensioner,  and  served  also  in  the 
war  of  1812.  Richard  Bowen  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  country, 
and  at  the  age  of  eight  years  he  commenced  working  in  the  mines.  He 
immigrated  to  the  United  States  in  1833,  and  located  first  in  Allegheny 
County,  Pennsylvania,  and  worked  in  the  mines  about  one  year,  remov- 
ing thence  to  Clarksburgh,  West  Virginia.  Here  he  followed  this  occu- 
pation three  years,  then  went  to  Ritchie  County,  and  had  charge  of  a 
coal  mine  four  years.  In  1871,  he  located  in  Alleghany  County,  Mary- 
land, and  six  years  later,  or  in  1877,  came  to  Missouri  and  settled  in 
Henry  Couty,  taking  charge  of  a  mine  for  Bancroft  &  Co.  He  then  had 
charge  of  the  mines  of  the  Osage  Mining  Company,  in  Henry  County, 
until  June,  1882.  Mr.  Bowen  was  appointed  county  inspector  of  coal 
mines  for  Henry  County  in  July,  1882.  He  was  married  in  England  in 
February,  1858,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Thompson,  of  that  country,  and  a 
daughter  of  Ralph  Thompson.  They  have  four  children:  John,  Eliza- 
beth, William  S.  and  Robert  T.  Mr.  Bowen  has  a  farm  of  eighty  acres, 
and  he  is  devoting  a  portion  of  his  time  to  farming. 

DAVID  L.  BURCH, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  20,  was  born  in  Putnam  County,  West 
Virginia,  October  29,  1833.  and  was  the  son  of  Ziba  Burch,  a  native  of 
Connecticut.  His  mother's  maiden  nam.e  was  Martha  Wallace,  and  was 
a  Virginian  by  birth.  David  L.  was  the  oldest  of  a  family  of  two  sons 
and  two  daughters.  He  grew  to  maturity  in  his  native  county,  his 
youth  being  spent  at  school  and  in  learning  the  brick  masons'  trade. 
When  in  his  twentieth  year  he  came  to  Missouri  and  located  in  Henry 
County,  in  1854.  He  entered  laud  and  worked  a  portion  of  his  time  in 
improving  his  farm,  and  has  160  acres  in  cultivation.  He  also  owns  160 
acres  in  another  tract,  and  sixty  acres  in  timber.     Mr.  B.  was  married  in 


796  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

December,  1856,  to  Miss  Frances  Finks,  of  Virginia,  and  a  daughter  of 
Mark  Finks,  of  this  county-  They  have  two  children,  Thornton  D.  and 
George  M.     Mrs.  Burch  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  South. 

JOHN  A.  BUSHNELL, 

nephew. of  Horace  Bushnell,  of  Hartford,  Connecticut,  and  descendant 
of  David  Bushnell,  distinguished  in  the  revolutionary  war  for  the  inven- 
tion of  a  submarine  vessel  designed  to  destroy  the  British  fleet,  was 
born  in  Harrisonburg,  Rockingham  County,  Virginia,  April  6,  1821, 
where  he  was  reared  and  educated.  Mr.  Bushnell  commenced  merchan- 
dising in  his  native  town  when  quite  a  young  man,  and  his  business  was 
attended  with  marked  success.  But  failing  health  caused  him  to  under- 
take a  trip  to  the  West  Indies,  by  which  he  believed  he  would  be  bene- 
fitted, and  there  he  also  thought  he  would  again  engage  in  merchandis- 
ing. Before  embarking,  however,  he  changed  his  purpose  and  came  at 
once  to  Missouri,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  first 
came  to  Boonville,  then  to  Warsaw,  and  remaining  only  a  short  time  at 
each  of  those  places,  he  finally  settled  at  Calhoun.  Here  he  resumed 
merchandising  and,  attended  with  even  greater  success  in  business  than 
in  Virginia,  he  soon  accumulated  what  was  considered  at  that  time  a 
comfortable  fortune.  On  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  in  1861,  he  became 
identified  with  the  South,  and  in  the  vicissitudes  of  property  as  well  as 
life  incident  to  civil  strife.  Returning  to  Calhoun  at  the  close  of  the 
war,  he  was  married  two  years  afterward,  August  15,  1867,  to  Miss 
Eugenia  Bronaugh,  and  removed  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  again  engaged 
in  business  and  where  he  died  in  1874.  He  left  two  sons,  Horace  and 
John  A.,  and  their  mother,  Mrs.  Bushnell,  still  survives  him.  John  A. 
Bushnell  was  a  man  of  upright  character  and  pure  motives.  He  had 
that  characteristic,  that  undefinable  something,  about  him  that  made  all 
who  came  in  contact  with  him  like  the  man. 

JUDGE  C.  C.  BRONAUGH, 

one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Henry  County,  was  born  in  Stafford  County, 
Virginia,  July  11,  1805.  and  emigrated  to  Missouri  in  1840,  settling  in 
the  county,  where  he  died  July  9,  1876.  He  was  a  son  of  Captain  Wil- 
liam Bronaugh,  also  of  Virginia,  and  was  the  first  of  a  family  of  ten  child- 
ren: C.  C,  T.  J.,  L.  L.,  Addison,  William,  Mary,  Jennie,  Maria,  and  Cath- 
erine, and  ot  them  but  four  survive:  T.  J.,  L.  L.,  Jennie  and  Catherine. 
Captain  Bronaugh  was  also  born  in  Stafford  County,  Virginia,  and  was 
married  to  Miss  Mary  C.  Payton  of  the  same  county.  Captain  Bro- 
naugh served  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  his  father,  was  a  soldier  of  the 
Revolution.     In  1850,  though  far  advanced  in  years   he  had  the  courage 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  797 

to  face  the  trials  and  hardships  of  life  in  a  new  country,  and  removed  to 
Missouri,  where  he  settled  in  Cooper  County,  and  lived  until  his  death. 
Years  afterwards  there  also  his  wife  died.  Had  Captain  Bronaugh  been 
a  man  of  less  modesty  than  he  was,  the  many  eminent  and  excellent 
qualities  which  he  possessed  would  doubtless  have  given  him  a  higher 
place  in  the  history  of  his  times  than  not  a  few  of  wider  fame  but  less 
merit  enjoy.  Descended  from  early  colonial  stock,  from  the  splendid 
race  of  men  who  forced  their  way  into  the  forests  of  an  unknown  conti- 
nent and  laid  deep  and  broad  the  foundations  of  great  states,  he  repre- 
sented in  his  character  all  the  sturdy  virtues  and  inflexible  courage  that 
distinguished  the  founders  of  our  civilization  above  the  pioneers  of  any 
age.  Devoted  to  law  and  order,  and  exact  in  the  discharge  of  every  duty, 
asking  only  the  right  to  carve  out  his  own  fortune,  by  his  own  exertions, 
and  brave  enough  to  enforce  it.  True  as  a  friend  and  kind  and  generous 
as  a  neighbor,  he  was  a  man  that  could  be  known  but  to  be  respected 
and  admired.  Coming  of  an  excellent  family  and  enjoying  the  advan- 
tages of  a  substantial  education,  he  acquired  an  extensive  knowledge  of 
men  of  letters,  and  of  the  thought  of  the  world  by  a  wide  range  of  read- 
ing. But  it  was  in  his  family  that  he  shone  to  the  greatest  advantage. 
A  man  of  the  strongest  domestic  effections,  he  was-  singularly  fortun- 
ate in  the  choice  of  a  partner  for  life.  Mary  C.  Bronaugh  was  a  woman 
of  rare  beauty  of  mind  and  person,  and  her  whole  object  in  life  seems  to 
have  been  to  make  home  happy.  With  such  a  wife  it  was  perhaps  not 
difficult  to  lead  the  gentle,  tender  life  the  fireside  of  Captain  Bronaugh 
revealed.  But  such  was  the  equanimity  of  his  nature,  such  the  great 
generosity  of  his  heart  and  the  strength  of  his  affections  that  under 
any  circumstances  he  could  not  but  have  been  loved  as  a  husband  and 
honored  as  a  father,  and  his  daily  walks  and  talks  in  life  were  in  keeping 
with  the  purity  of  his  character  and  the  culture  of  his  mind. 

If,  with  these  qualities  as  a  man,  he  had  been  ambitious  of  promo- 
tion in  public  life,  to  what  postion  might  he  not  have  attained.  Related 
to  the  Lees,  for  whom  one  of  his  sons  was  named,  and  to  the  Paytons 
and  many  other  eminent  families  of  Virginia,  his  advancement  would 
have  been  both  certain  and  rapid.  But  he  chose  rather  to  remain  to 
himself  in  the  happier  walks  of  private  life,  and  this  inclination,  with 
the  firm  caste  of  his  character,  could  not  be  overcome  by  the  solicita- 
tion of  friends.  To  him  family  was  more  than  all  the  world  and  he 
devoted  his  whole  life  to  his  family.  Except  when  called  to  the  defense 
of  his  country  and  the  common  fireside  of  all,  he  was  never  known  to 
accept  an  official  trust  of  any  kind.  Modest,  perhaps  to  a  fault,  he  was 
the  soul  of  honor  and  worth.  Such  was  the  man  of  whom  Judge  C.  C. 
Bronaugh;  of  Henry  County,  was  a  son.  To  have  known  Captain  Bron- 
augh and  to  judge  of  the  son  by  the  father  would  be  to  make  a  true  esti- 
mate of  the  character  of  the  latter,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.     If,   per- 


798  HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 

haps,  Judge  Bronaugh  was  not  so  self-depreciating  as  his  father,  he  was 
nevertheless  a  man  of  extreme  modesty  and  was  not  less  worthy  of  uni- 
versal respect  and  esteem.  The  great  force  of  character  and  close 
habits  of  thought  of  the  father  descended  undiminished  to  the  son  and 
combined  in  his  nature  the  profound  piety  that  beautified  his  mother's 
life.  In  1833  in  Warrentown,  Virginia,  he  married  Miss  Ann  E.  Waters, 
who  still  survives  him.  She  is  a  daughter  of  William  Waters,  of  that 
state,  and  a  lady  worthy  in  every  respect  to  have  been  the  wife  of  such 
a  man.  Of  this  union  ten  children  were  born:  Eugenia  (widow  of  the 
late  John  A.  Bushnell),  F.  P.,  W.  C,  Thomas  C,  William  W.,  Carrie  M.. 
S.  H.,  Frank  W.,  Mollie  C.  and  one  that  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Bushnell, 
with  her  two  children,  now  resides  with  her  mother  and  brothers  at  the 
old  homestead.  F.  P.  Bronaugh  is  a  prominent  stock  dealer  near  Boon- 
ville,  Missouri,  and  was  a  captain  in  the  Confederate  service  under  Gen- 
eral Price.  He  married  in  1866  Miss  Helen  Meyers,  a  lady  of  superior 
culture  and  refinement,  and  has  a  family  of  five  children. 

W.  C,  S.  H.  and  F.  W.  are  also  largely  engaged  in  stock  dealing, 
ranking  among  the  largest  dealers  in  southwest  Missouri.  Frank  W. 
and  Carrie  M.  were  educated  at  the  state  normal  school,  and  graduated 
from  that  institution.  Thomas  C.  Bronaugh  died  at  his  home  in  this 
county  December  6,  1878,  regretted  by  all  who  knew  him.  W.  W.  died 
in  1859,  aged  eleven  years.  Judge  Bronaugh  like  his  father  had  a  quiet 
unobtrusive  life  and  had  no  ambition  to  make  himself  prominent  in  pub- 
lic affairs.  Being  prevailed  upon  to  accept  the  of^ce  of  county  judge 
he  was  continuously  elected  to  that  position  each  term  for  a  period  oi 
ten  years,  when  he  refused  to  allow  his  name  to  be  further  used.  The 
duties  of  his  office,  it  is  needless  to  say  were  discharged  with  singular 
fidelity  and  ability,  and  he  retired  from  the  position  universally  trusted 
and  respected.  Being  a  man  of  integrity,  industry  and  of  more  than 
ordinary  ability,  as  was  to  have  been  expected  he  accumulated  a  hand- 
some competency  for  himself  and  family  and  although  greatly  damaged 
in  his  estate  by  the  war  he  rapidly  recuperated  from  its  effects  and  when 
he  died  was  considered  one  of  the  substantial  prooerty  holders  of  a 
county  of  many  wealthy  men.  He  was  an  earnest  and  faithful  member 
of  the  church,  uniting  many  years  ago  with  the  Southern  M.  E.  denom- 
ination, and  his  life  was  consistent  with  his  professions. 

"His  life  was  gentle  ;  ami  the  elements 
So  mixed  in  him  that  naiure  mi^ht  stand  up 
And  say  to  all  the  world,  'this  was  a  man.'  " 

CAPTAIN  A.  D.  CAMERON, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  6,  is  a  native  of  Madison  County,  New 
York,  and  was  born  October  5,  1833.     His  father,  Robert  Cameron,  was 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  799 

also  born  in  that  county,  while  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Sarah  Allen,  came  originally  from  VVilkesbarre  County,  Pennsylvania. 
The  family  early  removed  to  Onondaga  County,  where  A.  D.  Cameron< 
grew  up.  His  youth  was  spent  on  a  farm,  and  his  primary  education 
was  obtained  at  the  public  schools.  He  attended  the  Morrisonville  and 
Peterborough  Academies  for  a  number  of  terms,  and  finished  his  studies 
at  the  Cazenovia  Seminary  in  Madison  County.  After  completing  his 
education  he  came  west,  and  in  the  fall  of  1854  located  in  Illinois,  where 
he  was  engaged  in  teaching  for  one  year.  Removing  to  Iowa  he  resumed 
teaching  for  two  years  in  VanBuren  County.  In  the  spring  of  1857  he 
came  to  Missouri  and  purchased  land  in  Henry  County,  after  which  he 
went  to  Howard  County,  where  he  taught  until  the  breaking  out  of  the 
war.  In  July,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Company  E,  Seventh  Iowa  Volunteer 
Infantry,  and  served  till  discharged,  July  27,  1865.  He  entered  the  ser- 
vice as  a  private,  but  was  promoted  and  filled  several  different  positions, 
until  promoted  to  captain  of  Company  H,  in  July,  1864,  in  which  posi- 
tion he  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  participated  in  a  large 
number  of  important  engagements,  among  which  are  the  battles  of  Bel- 
mont, Fort  Henry,  Fort  Donelson,  Shilo,  Siege  of  Corinth,  the  battle  of 
luka  and  a  number  of  others.  He  was  in  the  battle  of  Atlanta,  and  was 
in  Sherman's  march  to  the  sea.  After  the  close  of  the  war  Captain 
Cameron  embarked  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Titusville,  Pennsyl- 
vania. In  1870  he  returned  to  Missouri  and  settled  in  Henry  County, 
where  he  has  since  been  occupied  in  farming  and  stock  raising.  He  has 
270  acres  of  land,  with  a  comfortable  house.  He  is  also  engaged  in 
breeding  thoroughbred  hogs,  and  has  some  fine  blooded  stock.  Mr. 
Cameron  was  married  in  Poland,  Mahoning  County,  Ohio,  October  5> 
1869,  to  Miss  Mar}'  W.  Hines,  a  native  of  Trumbull  County.  They  have 
three  children,  Cecil  D.,  Mary  Edith  and  Arthur  W. 

E.  K.  CHALMERS, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  23,  was  born  in  Cooper  County,  Missouri,. 
January  i,  1843,  being  the  son  of  James  B.  Chalmers,  a  native  of  Mary- 
land, who  grew  to  manhood  there  and  married  a  Miss  Evans,  of  the 
same  state.  The  family  removed  to  Missouri  in  an  early  day,  and  were 
among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Cooper  County.  In  i860,  they  came  to 
Henry  County,  where  J.  B.  Chalmers  died  in  1873.  E.  K.  was  reared  in 
this  county  as  a  farmer's  boy,  and  enjoyed  fair  educational  advantages. 
In  1862,  he  enlisted  in  the  Confederate  army,  and  serving  about  six 
months  returned  home.  He  subsequently  served  in  the  enrolled  militia 
till  the  close  of  the  war.  Mr.  Chalmers  was  married  March  7,  1865,  to 
Miss  Emma  J.  East,  of  this  county,  and  a  daughter  of  George  A.  and 
Mary  T.  East.  She  died  October  20,  1877,  leaving  three  children:  Mag- 
gie B.,  Frederick  H.  and  John  Ernest, 


800  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

R.  S.  CRAMER, 

a  prominent  business  man  of  Lewis  and  the  present  postmaster  of  the 
place,  is  a  native  of  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  and  was  born  at  Fredericks- 
burg September  24,  1854.  His  father,  H.  A.  Cramer,  originally  from 
Pennsylvania,  removed  to  Ohio  with  his  parents  and  settled  in  Wayne 
County,  where  he  was  married  to  Miss  Margaret  Riddle.  In  1854  the 
family  located  at  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa,  and  were  among  the  pioneer  set- 
tlers of  Webster  County.  R.  S.  Cramer  grew  to  manhood  in  that  count}', 
receiving  his  primary  education  at  the  public  school,  supplemented  with 
three  years'  attendance  at  the  Agricultural  College  at  Ames,  Iowa. 
After  completing  his  studies  he  entered  a  store  and  clerked  at  Fort 
Dodge  for  about  three  years.  He  was  married  at  that  place  December 
19,  1875,  to  Miss  J.  A.  Fleming,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Thomas  Fleming.  About  one  year  after  his  marriage  Mr. 
Cramer  removed  to  the  Indian  Territory,  where  he  had  charge  of  a  store 
at  McAlister  for  the  Osage  Coal  Mining  Company,  remaining  there  two 
years.  In  the  fall  of  1877  he  came  to  Lewis,  Henry  County,  Missouri, 
purchased  the  stock  and  business  of  Thomas  Terry,  and  has  since  con- 
tinued in  business  at  this  point.  He  carries  a  complete  and  well  assorted 
stock  of  general  merchandise  and  is  doing  a  good  business.  He  had 
the  misfortune  to  be  burned  out  in  September,  1882,  but  has  since  erected 
a  good  building,  24x60  feet.  He  was  appointed  postmaster  at  Lewis  in 
September,  1877.  He  and  his  wife  have  four  children:  Rolla  T.,  Floyd 
A.,  Jennie  and  Bessie.     Mr.  C.  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity. 

ANDREW  DATWIELER, 

section  31,  is  a  thrifty  farmer  and  stock  man  of  this  township,  and  was 
born  in  Switzerland  February,  13,  1837.  His  parents,  John  and  Elizabeth 
Datwieler,  were  both  natives  of  that  country,  and  in  1843  the  family 
emigrated  to  the  United  States,  locating  in  Franklin  County,  Missouri. 
John  Datwieler  bought  land  in  .that  county  and  improved  a  farm  upon 
which  he  still  resides.  Andrew  Datwieler  grew  to  maturity  in  Franklin 
County,  spending  his  youth  upon  the  farm.  He  had  but  limited  oppor- 
tunities for  attending  the  public  schools  and  his  education  was  obtained 
mostly  by  self-application.  He  enlisted  in  the  Union  Army  in  the 
spring  of  1861,  first  in  the  three  months'  service,  and  at  the  expiration 
of  his  term  re-enlisted  in  the  Seventeenth  Missouri  Volunteer  Infantry 
under  Colonel  Gale,  and  served  till  discharged  in  the  spring  of  1S65. 
He  participated  in  the  fights  of  Springfield  and  Carthage  Missouri,  and 
other  engagements  of  less  importance,  he,  at  the  close  of  the  war,  return- 
ing to  Franklin  County.  In  the  fall  of  186S  he  came  to  Henr}'  County 
.and  bought  the  farm  he   now  occupies,  containing  214  acres.     Mr.  Dat- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  8or 

weiler  was  married  in  this  county  February  12,  1870,  to  Miss  Eva  Janett, 
a  native  of  Switzerland  and  a  daughter  of  Christian  Janett.  They  have 
five  children:  John  C,  Otto  H.,  Lizzie  Ida,  Edward  A.  and  Maggie.  Mr. 
D.  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

MAJOR  THOMAS  DAY. 

Among  the  prominent  men  of  Deer  Creek  Township  is  the  subject 
of  this  sketch.  He  was  born  in  Belmont  County,  Ohio,  June  2,  1837, 
being  the  son  of  William  Day,  a  native  of  Loudoun  County,  Virginia, 
who  accompanied  his  parents  to  Ohio  and  located  in  Guernsey  County, 
where  he  grew  to  manhood  and  married  Miss  Julia  Perry,  of  Ohio,  and  a 
niece  of  Commodore  Perry,  Thomas  passed  his  youth  mostly  in  school. 
His  primary  education  was  received  at  the  common  schools,  and  after- 
ward he  spent  two  years  at  the  Franklin  College.  After  completing  his 
studies  he  engaged  in  farming  in  Washington  County,  where  he  had 
previously  moved.  He  was  married  there  December  9,  1857,  to  Miss 
Maria  T.  Powell,  a  daughter  of  Elihu  Powell,  of  Washington  County.  In 
the  summer  of  1862,  Mr.  Day  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  G, 
Ninety-second  Ohio  Volunteers,  and  after  passing  the  various  grades  of 
promotion,  he  was  mustered  out  as  major  in  the  fall  of  1864.  He  par- 
ticipated in  a  number  of  important  engagements,  among  which  was  the 
fight  at  Ganley  Bridge,  West  Virginia,  and  a  series  of  engagements  up 
and  down  the  river  during  that  season.  In  1863,  he  went  to  Nashville, 
and  was  in  the  battles  of  Murfreesboro  and  Lookout  Mountain.  Just 
before  the  battle  of  Atlanta  he  resigned  and  went  to  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  as  adjutant  of  the  148th  Ohio.  After  his  discharge  he  returned 
to  his  home  in  Ohio.  In  April,  1866,  he  came  to  Missouri,  locating  at 
Windsor,  Henry  County,  and  was  engaged  in  milling  for  one  year.  In 
1867,  he  settled  on  a  farm,  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  farming,  and 
teaching  during  the  winter  months.  In  connection  with  his  farming 
operations  he  is  raising  thoroughbred  Jersey  cattle  for  the  market.  He 
has  a  herd  of  six,  with  Morton  at  the  head.  Mr.  Day  has  been  buying 
grain  at  Lewis  since  November  i,  1882,  for  Foote  Brothers,  of  Clinton. 
He  has  held  the  position  of  secretary  of  the  fair  association  of  Henry 
County  three  years.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  D.  have  one  son,  Elmer. 

BAYARD  HOUSTON, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  19,  owes  his  nativity  to  Delaware,  where 
he  was  born  September  7,  1834.  His  father,  Jacob  Houston,  vvas  a 
native  of  the  same  state,  while  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Sarah  A.  Taylor,  came  originally  from  Maryland.  Jacob  Houston  died 
in  1838.     Bayard  spent  his  youth  on  a  farm  in  Delaware  and  received  a 

51 


802  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

common  school  education.  In  1856  he  removed  to  Missouri  and  located 
in  Henry  County,  purchasing  the  farm  where  he  now  resides,  containing 
240  acres.  Mr.  Houston  was  married  in  Henry  County,  July  i,  1858,  to 
Miss  Catherine  Jane  Adamson,  a  daughter  of  William  and  Frances 
Adamson.  She  was  born  in  Bates  County,  Missouri,  b'ut  was  reared  in 
Henry  County.  They  have  nine  children:  Alice  (wife  of  James  Shan- 
gler),  William,  Frances  (wife  of  L.  Shangler),  Thomas,  Berry,  John, 
Eliza,  Bayard  T.  and  Hattie.  They  have  also  lost  two  children,  who 
died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Houston  is  a  thrifty,  enterprising  man,  and  one  of 
the  substantial  citizens  of  the  county. 

WILLIAM  B.  JUSTICE, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  29,  is  a  native  of  Carroll  County,  Ten- 
nessee, and  was  born  December  24,  1834.  His  father,  James  Justice, 
who  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  removed  to  Tennessee  when  a  youth, 
and  there  grew  to  maturity  and  was  married  to  Sarah  McCIure,  also 
of  Tennessee.  William  B.,  after  the  death  of  his  father,  which  occurred 
in  1836,  was  reared  by  an  uncle.  His  youth  was  passed  on  a  farm  and 
he  attended  the  Lavinia  High  School  and  Bethel  College,  where  he  received 
a  good  education  in  the  English  branches.  After  completing  studies,  he 
clerked  in  a  store  for  about  three  years  at  Hickman,  Kentucky.  In  Janu- 
ary, 1856,  he  removed  to  St.  Clair  County,  Illinois,  and  was  engaged  in 
farming  for  about  eleven  years,  and  in  the  fall  of  1867  he  came  to  Missouri, 
and  settled  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides,  containing  160  acres.  Mr. 
Justice  was  married  in  St.  Clair  County,  Illinois,  August  27,  1856,  to 
Mi:s  Leandre  E.  Bagby,  a  daughter  of  Isom  Bagby.  She  died  in  about 
six  months.  Mr.  J.  was  again  married  October  21,  1858,  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
PuUiam,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  A.  PuUiam.  They  have  two  child- 
ren: James  T.  and  Alice  M.,  (wife  of  W.  B.  McHenry).  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
McHenry,  have  one  child,  Fannie  May,  born  October,  1881. 

HOWELL  LEWIS. 

At  six  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  April  ii,  1883,  Howell  Lewis,  one 
of  the  oldest  settlers  and  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  this  county,  closed 
his  mortal  life  at  the  old  family  residence,  near  Lewis  Station,  this 
county.  Deceased  was  born  at  Richmond,  Virginia,  July  10,  1808.  He 
traced  his  genealogy  distinctly  from  the  Washington  family.  Betty 
Washington,  sister  of  General  Washington,  was  married  to  Colonel 
Fielding  Lewis.  They  raised  a  large  family.  On  December  12,  1770,  a 
child  was  born  to  them  and  called  Howell.  He  was  reared  to  manhood 
and  became  a  great  favorite  with  his  uncle.  General  Washington,  and 
inherited  from  him  1,300  acres  of  land  on  the  Kanawha  River,  in  West 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  805 

Virginia.  On  September  26,  1795.  he  was  married  to  Ellen  Hackley 
Pollard.  To  them  were  born  eleven  children,  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
being  the  seventh.  He  was  four  years  old  when  his  father  removed  with 
his  family,  and  twelve  male  and  six  female  slaves  and  their  children, 
under  the  care  of  "  Old  Jack,"  a  trusty  leader  among  them,  and  took 
possession  of  the  large  body  of  lands  willed  him  by  his  uncle,  General 
Washington.  In  183 1  Howell  Lewis  and  Emily  G.  Burch  were  married 
in  Mason  County,  Virginia.  He  left  his  native  home,  and  with  his  wife 
and  young  family  turned  his  face  towards  the  Great  West,  and  located 
in  this  county  in  November,  1836,  at  his  old  homestead  near  Lewis, 
where  he  made  his  home  during  his  entire  residence  in  this  state  and 
wheie  he  yielded  up  his  spirit  to  his  Maker.  His  old  homestead  is  located 
on  the  top  of  the  rise,  just  north  of  the  town  of  Lewis  Station.  For 
many  years  in  the  early  history  of  the  county  it  was  the  main  stopping 
place  on  the  road,  and  many  a  weary  traveler  enjoyed  the  open-hearted, 
unstinted  old  Virginia  hospitality  of  its  owner.  Like  all  old  men,  he 
was  fond  of  talking  of  the  early  days.  With  a  bright  native  intellect 
and  a  well-stored  mind,  he  would  interest  his  hearers  for  hours  in  detail- 
ing reminiscences  of  the  past.  In  1849  M^-  L.,  with  others,  were  struck 
with  the  gold  fever.  After  reaching  New  Mexico  he  concluded  to  return 
and  let  his  fortune  remain  with  his  adopted  state,  Missouri.  May  13, 
1866,  his  wife  died.  He  led  an  active,  rugged  life,  and  was  blessed  with 
good  health  until  near  its  close.  He  was  preceded  to  the  grave  but  a  few 
days  by  his  second  wife,  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Garrett,  a  widow  lady  to  whom, 
he  was  married  in  1872. 

JOHN  W.  MIDDLECOFF, 

a  prominent  farmer  and  stock  raiser,  on  section  28,  was  born  in  St.  Clair 
County,  Illinois,  December  18,  1822,  and  was  the  son  of  Hon.  John  Mid- 
dlecofT,  a  native  of  Hagerstown,  Maryland.  His  mother  came  originally 
from  Augusta  County,  Virginia.  The  former  removed  to  Illinois  in  1818,.. 
and  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  St.  Clair  County.  He  represented 
his  county  in  the  legislature  one  term,  and  was  adjutant  general  of  the 
militia,  but  served  a  long  time  as  captain  previous  to  being  elected  adju- 
tant. He  held  this  latter  position  until  his  death  in  1835.  John  W. 
grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  county  on  a  farm  and  attending  school; 
three  months  during  the  winter.  In  1866  he  removed  to  Missouri  and 
located  in  Henry  County,  where  he  bought  and  improved  the  farm 
where  now  lives.  This  embraces  400  acres  in  his  homestead.  He  also> 
owns  185  acres  of  land  in  another  tract,  lying  in  four  pieces.  He  is  now 
devoting  some  attention  to  the  breeding  and  raising  of  thoroughbredi 
Jersey  cattle.  Mr.  Middlecoff  was  married  in  his  native  county  Novem- 
ber 18,1846,  to  Miss  Amy  Anderson,  of  the  same   county.     She  died  in 


g04  ilISTORV   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

February,  1852.  One  son  by  this  marriage  is  living,  John  T,  Two  are 
deceased,  James  A.,  died  in  December,  1870,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
three  years.  He  served  two  years  in  the  Union  army,  until  discharged 
at  the  close  of  the  war.  Mr.  Middlecoff  was  married  a  second  time  in 
St.  Clair  County,  Illinois,  January  5,  1854,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Land,  a 
daughter  of  Captain  Aaron  Land,  one  of  the  prominent  men  ot  that 
county.  They  have  ten  children:  B.  C,  A.  L.,  Clara  May,  (wife  of  Col- 
onel Inloes)  Lawrence,  Mellie,  John  B.,  Elmer,  Walter  W.,  Ella  and 
Archie  A.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  M.  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

B.  F.  MUNDAY, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  23.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a 
native  of  Hendricks  County,  Indiana,  and  was  born  April  27,  1844, 
being  the  son  of  Harvey  Munday,  a  Kentuckian  by  birth,  who  was  born 
in  1810,  and  who  was  reared  in  that  state  and  married  Caroline  Coghill, 
of  Kentucky.  The  family  removed  to  Indiana  and  were  among  the  first 
settlers  of  Putnam,  where  Harvey  Munday  improved  a  farm  and  where 
he  now  resides.  They  have  a  family  of  eight  sons  and  one  daughter, 
Frank  being  the  fifth  son  and  sixth  child.  He  spent  his  youth  on  the 
farm  and  in  learning  the  carpenter  trade.  In  1861  he  came  to  Missouri 
and  settled  in  Henry  County.  Mr.  Munday  was  married  January  12, 
1869,  to  Miss  Mary  G.  East,  of  this  county,  a  daughter  of  George  A.  and 
Mary  T.  East.  Their  family  consists  of  five  children:  George  H.,  Lizzie 
(died  June  9,  1873,  aged  two  years),  Stewart  L.,  Mary  E.,  Benjamin  F., 
Jr.,  and  James  C.     He  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

JAMES  H.  PADFIELD, 

a  successful  farmer  and  stock  raiser  on  section  5,  owes  his  nativity  to  St. 
Clair  County,  Illinois,  where  he  was  born  November  14,  1842.  John 
Padfield,  his  father,  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  but  removed  to  St.  Clair 
County,  Illinois,  in  an  early  day,  where  he  married  Nancy  Ann  Robin- 
son. James  H.  lost  both  his  parents  when  a  child,  his  father  dying  when 
the  son  was  but  four  years  old  and  his  mother  when  he  was  seven  years 
of  age.  His  youth  was  spent  on  a  farm  in  the  summer  and  in  attending 
the  district  school  during  the  winter  months,  and  he  was  married  in  the 
county  of  his  birth,  August  28,  1862,  to  Miss  Amanda  H.  Fike,  of  the 
same  county,  and  a  daughter  of  Ashby  and  Mary  Fike.  They  have  two 
children:  Bertha  A.  (wife  of  John  Biggs),  and  Carrington  W.  Mr.  Pad- 
field  came  to  Missouri  in  February,  1866,  and  located  in  Henry  County, 
where  he  bought  the  farm  where  he  now  resides,  consisting  of  no  acres. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  805 

WILLIAM  A.  SETTLES, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  28,  was  born  in  Pike  County,  Missouri, 
October  27,  1849,  and  was  the  son  of  J.  H.  Settles,  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
who  removed  to  Missouri  with  his  parents,  they  being  among  the  pio- 
neer settlers  of  Pike  County.  J.  H.  Settles  married  Louisa  Fielder,  and 
about  the  year  1858  came  from  Pike  to  Henry  County,  where  he  bought 
a  farm,  on  which  he  lived  until  his  death,  in  May,  1863.  William  A. 
grew  to  manhood  in  this  county  on  the  farm,  and  received  a  common 
school  education.  He  was  married  March  19,  1873,  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Hammond,  of  St.  Clair  County,  Illinois,  and  a  daughter  of  Jonah  and 
Ruth  Hammond.  Having  lost  her  parents  when  a  child  she  came  to 
Missouri  with  her  grandmother,  Nancy  Hammond,  under  whose  care 
and  supervision  she  was  reared  and  educated.  She  died  January  12, 
1882.  She  was  a  lady  possessed  of  many  noble  qualities  of  mind  and 
heart  that  endeared  her  not  only  to  her  husband  and  family,  but  to  many 
friends.  There  is  one  child  by  this  marriage,  Ollie  Settles,  who  was 
born  July  25,  1878.     Mr.  Settles  now  has  370  acres  of  land. 

JAMES  H.  SETTLES, 

section  29,  an  energetic  and  enterprising  farmer  of  this  township,  is  a 
native  of  Pike  County,  Missouri,  and  was  born  January  13,  1853.  His 
parents  were  J.  H.  and  Louisa  (Fielder)  Settles.  James  H.  spent  his 
youth  on  a  farm  in  this  county,  attending  the  common  schools,  where 
he  was  educated.  He  was  married  April  5,  1877,  to  Miss  Rachel  Ham- 
mond, originally  from  St.  Clair  County,  Illinois,  and  a  daughter  of  Jonah 
and  Ruth  Hammond.  Her  parents  had  died  when  she  was  a  child,  her 
mother  departing  this  life  January  14,  i860,  and  her  father  February  8, 
of  the  same  year.  She  was  then  brought  up  and  educated  by  her  grand- 
mother, Nancy  Hammond,  who  removed  with  her  family  to  Henry 
County,  Missouri,  in  1868.  Nancy  Hammond  is  a  Kentuckian  by  birth, 
and  was  born  in  1803.  Her  father,  Joseph  Cook,  removed  to  St.  Clair 
County,  Illinois,  from  Kentucky,  in  1825.  Nancy  was  married  there  in 
1826,  to  Isaac  Hammond.  There  were  two  sons  by  this  marriage,  who 
grew  to  maturity,  but  are  now  deceased,  Carroll  and  Jonah.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Settles  have  one  child,  Robert  J.,  who  was  born  March  15,  1882. 
After  his  marriage  Mr.  Settles  located  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides, 
lie  owns  240  acres  of  land. 

CAPTAIN  W.  H.  SHELDON, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  31,  owes  his  nativity  to  Steuben  County, 
New  York,  where  he  was  born  February  23,  1833,  being  the  son  of  Allen 


8o6  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

Sheldon,  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and  Chloe  (Picket;  Sheldon,  origi- 
nally from  Connecticut.  The  former  served  as  drum  major  in  the  war 
of  1812,  while  his  father,  Ephesus  Sheldon,  was  a  colonel  in  the  war  of 
the  Revolution  and  hi.s  father  wa5  a  general  in  the  same  service.  Allen 
Sheldon  removed  from  New  York  to  Illinois  in  1840  and  located  in 
McHenry  County,  where  he  purchased  land  and  improved  a  farm  and 
lived  until  his  death  in  February,  1870.  W.  H.  grew  to  maturity 
in  McHenry  County  and  received  his  education  at  the  public  schools, 
supplemented  with  about  two  years'  attendance  at  a  select  school.  He 
enlisted  September  10,  1861,  in  Company  I,  Eighth  Illinois  Cavalry  as  a 
private,  but  when  his  company  was  organized  he  was  elected  first  lieu- 
tenant. After  serving  one  year  he  resigned  on  account  of  ill  health. 
Upon  recovering  he  re-enlisted  and  clerked  in  the  quartermaster's 
department  until  disabled  by  being  thrown  from  a  horse,  when  he  was 
taken  to  the  hospital,  remaining  there  for  four  months  and  then  was  dis- 
charged. After  this  he  returned  to  Illinois  and  was  engaged  in  the  real 
estate  business  and  farming  in  McHenry  County  for  about  six  years.  In 
1869  he  located  at  Brownington,  Henry  County,  Missouri,  and  was  inter- 
ested in  the  mercantile  business  for  about  three  years,  removing  to  his 
farm,  containing  153  acres,  in  Deer  Creek  Township,  in  December,  1878. 
Mr.  Sheldon  was  married  in  Wisconsin,  January  7,  1855,  to  Miss  Nora 
Foley,  a  daughter  of  John  Foley.  She  was  born  in  Montgomery  Count}', 
New  York.  They  have  three  children:  James  H.  (a  merchant  and  post- 
master at  Brownington),  Charles  W.  and  Allen.  They  have  lost  four 
children. 

CAPTAIN  DARIUS  SULLIVAN. 

section  7,  a  native  of  Dutchess  County,  New  York,  was  born  January 
13,  1831.  John  Sullivan,  his  father,  and  also  his  mother,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Mary  Washburn,  were  born  in  the  same  state.  Darius  passed 
his  youthful  days  on  a  farm  and  in  attending  the  common  schools,  where 
he  received  his  primary  education,  supplemented  with  two  years  attend- 
ance at  the  Rochester  High  School.  Removing  from  New  York  to 
Pennsylvania  the  family  located  in  Erie  County,  and  afterward  in  Ken- 
dall County,  Illinois.  In  the  fall  of  1861  Mr.  S.  enlisted  as  a  private  in 
Company  K,  Eighth  Illinois  Cavalry,  and  served  till  October,  1864.  He 
was  promoted  to  second  lieutenant  January  3,  1862,  and  in  July,  1863, 
was  promoted  to  captain,  serving  in  that  capacity  until  his  final  dis- 
charge. He  participated  in  the  fights  of  Williamsburg  and  Gettysburg, 
and  fought  over  the  same  ground  at  Brandy  Station  seven  times.  Imme- 
diately after  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  he  received  a  gunshot  wound  in 
the  head  which  fractured  his  skull.  After  recovering,  however,  he  par- 
ticipated in  a  number  of  other  engagements.  After  his  discharge  he 
was  appointed   horse   inspector   for   the   government   at   Syracuse,  New 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  80/ 

York,  and  served  in  that  capacity  until  the  close  of  the  war.  In  the 
winter  of  1865  Mr.  Sullivan  came  to  Clinton,  Henry  County,  Missouri, 
and  was  appointed  deputy  sheriff,  serving  as  such  one  year.  He  then 
embarked  in  the  hardware  business,  which  he  continued  for  about  three 
years.  He  was  appointed  postmaster  at  Clinton  May  23,  1873,  and  made 
an  efficient  officer  for  about  five  years.  After  retiring  from  this  office 
Mr.  Sullivan  spent  one  summer  traveling  with  his  family  in  Colorado, 
and  since  his  return  has  been  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising.  His 
farm  includes  240  acres,  with  good  improvements.  He  is  giving  his 
attention  to  the  breeding  and  raising  of  thoroughbred  short  horn  cattle, 
and  has  a  herd  of  eleven,  with  the  Eighth  Duke  of  Walnut  Hill,  at  the 
head  and  Lady  Eleanor  second;  his  stock  is  all  recorded.  Mr.  Sullivan 
was  married  in  Will  County,  Illinois,  December  12,  1867,  to  Miss  Han- 
nah J.  Corbin,  a  daughter  of  Elihu  Corbin,  one  of  the  prominent  men  of 
that  county.  Mrs.  S.  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  but  was  reared  and  educated 
in  Will  County.  They  have  three  children:  Arthur  C,  Alice  B.  and 
Emma  H.     Mrs.  S.  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

ABRAM  WILEY, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  lO,  came  originally  from  Cocke  County, 
East  Tennessee,  where  he  was  born  in  1824.  His  father,  A.  Wiley,  was 
a  native  of  Shenandoah  County,  Virginia,  and  his  mother,  formerly  Mar- 
garet Whitson,  of  Tennessee.  The  former  was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of 
1812.  He  removed  from  Tennessee  to  Missouri  in  the  fall  of  1830  and 
located  in  Lafayette  County,  where  he  lived  about  three  years,  then  com- 
ing to  Henry  County.  He  settled  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county, 
where  he  lived  until  his  death,  December  19,  1861.  Abram  grew  to  man- 
hood here  upon  the  farm,  and  after  reaching  his  majority  he  learned  and 
worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade  for  about  fourteen  years.  He  was  mar- 
ried January  21,  1858,  to  Miss  Angeline  Woolfalk,  a  Kentuckian  by  birth 
and  a  daughter  of  Charles  T.  Woolfalk.  They  have  four  children:  Nan- 
nie (wife  of  Alonzo  McElwrath),  Maggie  A.,  Robert  G.  and  Charles 
Lewis.  Mrs.  McElwrath  has  one  child.  Mora.  After  his  marriage  Mr. 
Wiley  located  on  land  he  had  previously  purchased  and  which  he  now 
occupies.  He  owns  170  acres.  A  large  portion  of  the  place  is  under- 
laid with  coal.  There  is  a  coal  shaft,  where  about  12,000  bushels  of 
coal  per  month  are  being  taken  out.  Mrs.  Wiley  is  a  member  of  the 
Missionary  Baptist;  Church,  and  the  two  daughters  of  the  M.  E.  Church, 
South. 


8o8  HISTORY   OF    HENRY    COUNTY. 


SPRINGFIELD  TOWNSHIP. 


P.  W.  CECIL 

was  born  September  14,  1827,  in  Montgomery  County,  Virginia,  and  was 
the  son  of  Philip  Cecil,  who  was  born  December  8,  1776,  and  Polly 
(Wygal)  Cecil,  born  December  8,  1789.  They  were  married  May  22, 
1826,  and  by  this  union  had  eleven  children,  five  of  whom  are  still  living. 
They  immigrated  to  Saline  County,  Missouri,  in  December,  183 1,  when 
Mr.  Cecil  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  on  the  forks  of  Salt  Creek  and 
Black  Water,  and  lived  there  two  years  and  then  removed  to  Rives  (now 
Henry)  County,  settling  in  Springfield  Township  in  1834.  In  1836,  he 
pre-empted  160  acres  in  addition  to  his  former  purchase.  He  died  July 
23,  of  the  same  year.  In  1837,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  bought  of  the 
government  240  acres,  and  had  the  management  of  affairs  for  seven 
years,  until  the  marriage  of  his  mother,  when  he  came  into  possession 
of  160  acres  of  the  homestead,  including  the  buildings.  He  married  Miss 
Mary  Ann  Duncan,  of  Henry  County,  January  ii,  1844.  They  had  six 
children,  four  of  whom  were  daughters.  He  has  four  children  living.  In 
1858,  he  sold  his  farm  and  removed  to  Leesville,  where  he  was  engaged 
in  merchandising  for  two  years,  but  he  again  took  possession  of  the  farm 
in  the  fall  of  i860.  He  was  elected  a  justice  of  the  peace  in  1846,  and 
served  two  years,  and  was  afterward  appointed  to  fill  vacancy  in  1862, 
During  the  years  of  1863-4,  he  was  in  Otterville,  Cooper  County,  Mis- 
souri. Returning  in  the  spring  of  1865,  he  resumed  farming.  He  was 
elected  township  trustee  in  1872,  and  served  one  term.  In  1874,  he  was 
elected  county  judge  for  the  term  of  two  years,  and  was  again  tendered 
the  office,  but  declined  to  accept.  During  a  residence  of  nearly  half  a 
century  in  the  county,  Judge  Cecil  has  been  one  of  its  honored  men,  giv- 
ing his  services  often  for  it,  and  his  influence  is  always  on  the  side  of 
right.  Politically  he  is  a  Democrat.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cecil  have  been 
members  of  the  Mt.  Olivet  Baptist  Church  for  a  period  of  thirty  years. 

THOMAS  G.  COCK, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser  was  born  April  14,  1824,  in,  Campbell  County, 
Virginia.  His  father,  Chastain  Cock,  was  born  there,  June  22,  1793,  and 
by  trade  a  tanner.  He  subsequently  abandoned  his  trade  and  engaged 
in  farming.  His  mother,  formerly  Mary  Bronson,  was  born  June  22, 
1797,  in  Campbell  County.  They  were  married  June  22,  1815,  and  to 
them  were  born  eight  children,  six  sons  and  two  daughters,  only  one  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  809 

whom  is  living.  Thomas  Cock  received  but  a  limited  education  in 
youth,  and  in  November,  1833,  he  emigrated  with  his  parents  to  Christian 
County,  Kentucky,  where  he  remained  four  years,  then  removed  to 
White  Township,  Benton  County,  Missouri.  For  ten  years  he  farmed 
in  that  county,  and  on  September  22,  1847,  he  married  Miss  Martha 
Bishop,  of  Kentucky,  born  February  3,  1828.  By  this  union  there  were 
six  daughters  and  two  sons,  all  of  whom  are  living.  In  December  1847, 
he  removed  from  Benton  County  to  Osage,  Henry  County,  where  he 
commenced  farming  for  himself  Two  years  later  he  sold  his  claim  and 
began  working  for  his  brother  in  Springfield,  with  whom  he  continued 
one  year.  He  then  bought  a  claim  and  has  added  to  his  original  pur- 
chase, until  he  now  owns  560  acres.  Mrs.  Cock  died  February  6,  1865. 
November  21,  1865,  he  married  Mrs.  Henrietta  L.  Huff,  of  Johnson 
County,  Missouri,  widow  of  Dr.  William  Huff,  and  daughter  of  Maj. 
John  W.  WiUiams,  of  Henry  County.  They  have  had  three  sons,  two 
of  whom  are  living.  In  1874,  Mr.  C.  was  elected  township  trustee,  serv- 
ing for  two  years.  Himself,  wife  and  six  of  his  daughters  are  connected 
with  the  Mount  Olivet  Baptist  Church.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Cock,  Maj. 
John  W.  Williams,  was  born  October  10,  1797,  near  Gallatin,  Sumner 
County,  Tennessee,  and  before  his  recollection,  accompanied  his  parents 
to  what  is  now  Simpson,  then  Warren  County,  Kentucky,  His  father, 
John  Williams,  enlisted  in  the  continental  army  at  the  commencement 
of  the  revolutionary  war,  and  continued  in  service  until  its  close.  He 
commanded  a  volunteer  company  in  the  northwestern  army  in  the  war 
of  1812,  and  served  in  the  senate  of  Kentucky  ten  years.  His  son,  John  W. 
Williams,  after  he  had  grown  to  manhood,  filled  various  offices  in  his 
county,  and  was  sheriff  for  several  years,  and  had  the  honor  of  serving 
his  county  in  the  Kentucky  legislature  in  the  years  1833-4.  Iri  the  year 
1836,  he  moved  with  his  family  to  Missouri,  and  settled  in  Henry  County, 
near  where  he  died.  He  filled  the  ofifi.e  of  brigade  inspector  or  drill 
officer  for  seven  years.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Missouri  legislsture  in 
the  years  1854-5.  and  was  school  commissioner  for  several  years.  He 
had  been  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  for  thirty-seven  years.  When 
the  civil  war  commenced  he  opposed  secession,  and  being  between  sixty 
and  seventy  years  of  age,  resolved  to  remain  at  home,  and  did  so  through- 
out the  troubles.  He  died  at  his  home,  January  23,  1876.  Mr.  Williams, 
during  his  long  career  as  a  citizen  of  Henry  County,  held  various  offices 
of  trust  at  the  hands  of  the  people  of  his  county,  and  also  filled  his 
official  station  with  honor  to  himself  and  his  constituents. 

NICHOLAS  C.  DECKER, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  was  born  March  22,  1835,  in  Brooklyn,  New 
York.     He   received   his  early  education   in   that   city.     When   sixteen 


'SlO  HISTORY   OF    HENRY   COUNTY. 

years  of  age  he  entered  the  Wilton  Boarding  School,  at  Wilton,  Con- 
necticut, for  one  year.  His  father,  Stephen  L.  Decker,  was  born  in  New 
Lotts,  Kings  County,  New  York,  in  i8oi,  and  still  resides  in  his  native 
state,  and  although  nearly  eighty-two  years  of  age,  is  actively  engaged 
in  superintending  his  farm.  He  married,  November  15,  1828,  Miss  Han- 
nah Van  Ausdale,  of  Kings  County,  born  March  24,  1808;  she  died 
March  4,  1848.  They  had  eight  children,  five  sons  and  three  daughters, 
■six  of  whom  are  living.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  emigrated  to  Rock- 
ford,  Illinois,  in  September  of  1854,  and  soon  became  occupied  in  the 
manufacture  of  reapers,  where  he  remained  for  eight  years.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Sophia  C.  Schultz,  of  Orange  County,  New  York,  and  a 
daughter  of  John  D.  and  Catharine  T.  Schultz.  By  this  union  there 
were  six  children,  four  sons  and  two  daughters,  four  of  whom  survive. 
After  his  marriage  Mr.  D.  went  to  St.  Louis  and  located  eight  miles  north 
of  the  city,  where  he  was  employed  as  overseer  on  a  large  plantation  for 
two  years.  Going  to  St.  Louis  city  he  engaged  his  services  to  a  ship- 
ping firm,  and  remained  there  for  eighteen  months,  when  he  took  charge 
of  another  plantation  for  ten  years.  He  then  purchased  the  stock  and 
implements  and  conducted  the  plantation  as  lessee  for  four  years. 
While  here  Mrs.  Decker  died,  on  April  10,  1878.  In  March,  of  188 1.  he 
removed  to  Henry  County,  and  bought  a  farm  of  190  acres,  on  section 
II,  Springfield  Township.  His  farm  is  well  improved  and  fenced,  upon 
which  is  a  new  two-story  house.  October  26,  188 1,  he  married  Mrs. 
Ruth  M.  Stevens,  of  Wabash,  Indiana,  who  had  one  son  by  her  former 
marriage.  They  were  married  at  Hayden's  Grove  Church,  this  being  the 
first  ceremony  performed  in  that  church.  In  September,  of  1882,  he 
applied  for  a  patent  on  an  improvement  of  a  cultivator,  for  the  cultiva- 
tion of  corn,  broom  corn,  cotton  and  sugar  cane.  The  patent  was 
issued  December  26,  1882.  Mr.  D.  excels  the  county  in  raising  broom 
■corn,  and  he  attributes  his  success  to  his  new  invention,  claiming  for  its 
principal  merit  that  it  does  the  work  of  eight  men  with  hoes,  and  it  is 
susceptible  of  being  attached  to  any  cultivator,  or  a  double  or  single 
shovel  plow.  He  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.,  while  Mrs.  Decker  is 
identified  with  the  Christian  Church  at  Hayden  Grove. 

HAMILTON  PERRY  FEWELL 

was  born  July  17,  1843,  in  Henry  County,  Missouri,  and  was  the  son  of 
John  H.  Fewell,  originally  of  Christian  County,  Kentucky,  born  Janu- 
ary 6,  1816,  and  who  was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  His  mother,  formerly 
Sarah  Cannon,  was  born  in  1809,  in  Alabama.  They  were  married  in 
Kentucky,  in  November,  1835,  and  emigrated  to  Henry  County,  Mis- 
souri, in  1838.  By  this  union  there  were  eight  children,  five  of  whom 
are  living,  Hamilton  P.  being  the  fourth  child.       He   has   always  resided 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  8 II 

in  Henry  County  with  the  exception  of  an  absence  of  four  years  in 
Texas.  He  commenced  life  for  himself  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  and  has 
since  that  time  relied  upon  his  own  exertions.  At  the  opening  ot  the 
war  he  enlisted  in  the  state  service  under  Captain  Bird  D.  Parks,  and 
served  for  six  months,  and  then  in  the  regular  army.  Company  G.,  Fifth 
Missouri  Infantry  Regiment,  Captain  McCowen  commanding.  He 
served  in  that  company  until  the  surrender  of  Vicksburg,  July  3,  1863. 
He  was  among  the  prisoners  taken  at  that  battle,  but  on  the  way  to 
parole  camp  made  his  escape,  and  crossing  the  river  to  McKinney, 
Texas,  there  joined  General  Genno's  escort  and  went  in  pursuit  of  desert- 
ers, to  Lockhart,  in  Southern  Texas,  where  he  was  taken  sick.  Subse- 
quently recovering,  he  rejoined  his  company,  but  was  with  it  only  two 
days,  as  his  commander,  General  Genno,  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of 
Poison  Springs,  and  he,  together  with  others,  received  permission  to  join 
General  Shelby.  Failing  to  reach  the  brigade,  they  joined  Colonel 
Lawler,  on  the  Arkansas  River,  with  whom  he  remained  two  weeks. 
He  joined  Shelb}-'s  raid  in  Missouri,  and  accompanied  it  to  Boonville, 
in  its  attempt  to  join  Price,  but  falling  behind  that  company,  he,  together 
with  five  of  his  comrades,  were  separated  from  the  army,  and  for  twenty- 
nine  days  subsisted  upon  what  they  could  obtain  with  their  guns,  Avhile 
passing  through  the  Indian  Territory.  They  finally  reached  Texas  and 
remained  until  the  spring  pf  1865,  when  they  joined  Tuck  Hill's  inde- 
pendent company,  and  coming  through  to  Missouri,  surrendered  at  Lex-* 
ington  to  the  Federal  troops.  He  was  paroled  the  same  day,  and  went 
to  Illinois,  where  he  stopped  for  two  months,  thence  to  Red  River  Sta- 
tion, Mississippi,  but  after  a  short  time  went  into  Texas.  A  few  months 
later  he  returned  to  Missouri  and  commenced  trading  in  cattle,  in  which 
business  he  continued  for  three  years.  He  subsequently  settled  in  Henry 
County,  and  leasing  a  farm,  has  remained  upon  it  for  eleven  years. 

JAMES  HENRY  FEWELL, 

was  born  April  20,  1837,  near  Dukedom,  Graves  County,  Kentuck}^  and 
when  two  years  old  came  with  his  parents  to  Henry  County,  with  whom 
he  remained  until  the  age  of  eighteen.  He  attended  the  school  known 
as  the  Longdon  and  Shanklin  academy  for  a  term  of  six  months,  at 
the  age  of  seventeen  and  when  eighteen  years  old  he  commenced  the 
study  of  medicine  at  Calhoun,  Henry  County,  his  preceptor  being  Dr. 
Robert  Hogan,  of  that  place.  In  the  same  year  he  attended  Pope's 
Medical  College,  of  St.  Louis,  where  he  took  a  course  of  medical  lec- 
tures for  six  months.  He  opened  his  first  office  for  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine at  Windsor,  .Henry  County,  Missouri,  then  removed  to  Little  Osage, 
Vernon  Count}-,  and  made  it  his  home  for  one  year.  Changing  his 
locality  to  Taborville,  St.  Clair  Count}-,  he  settled  permanently  and  con- 


8l2  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

tinued  his  practice  for  several  years,  or  up  to  the  opening  of  the  late 
war,  when  he  engaged  as  surgeon  in  General  Price's  division  at  Little 
Little  Rock,  Arkansas.  He  served  during  the  war  in  that  capacity,  and 
at  its  close  went  to  San  Antonio,  Texas,  where  he  engaged  in  the  cot- 
ton trade,  but  after  a  short  time,  he  returned  to  his  father's  home  in 
Henry  County.  He  was  later  interested  in  general  stock  raising  and 
shipping,  and  followed  this  business  four  year,  when  he  abandoned  it 
and  resumed  farming,  as  his  primary  business,  though  raising  and  deal- 
ing in  stock  to  some  extent,  while  quietly  pursuing  his  chosen  calling. 
His  death  was  a  sudden  and  tragic  one.  On  his  return  home  from  a 
neighbor's  house,  he  fell  from  his  saddle  dead,  from  the  effects,  as  was 
supposed,  of  poison,  secretly  administered  by  another.  Mr.  Fewell  and 
family,  together  with  some  of  their  neighbors,  soon  after  the  burial,  sus- 
pecting that  foul  play  had  been  connected  with  the  death  of  the  deceased, 
began  to  investigate  the  circumstances  connected  with  it,  and  found 
that  a  note  of  $200  had  been  given  in  the  past,  and  there  was  evi- 
dence that  said  note  had  been  changed  unlawfully  to  read  $1,200.  Sub- 
sequent developments  strengthened  the  suspicions  against  the  suspected 
one,  John  Wickham,  but  the  matter  not  being  duly  investigated  from 
want  of  evidence,  the  suspected  criminal  was  never  arraigned  in  time  to 
fasten  suspicion  upon  him.  However,  in  a  few  months,  he  suddenly  and 
very  suspiciously  disappeared,  and  has  never  been  heard  of  in  the  locality 
of  Henry  County.     The  lawful  note  of  $200  has  never   been  presented- 

WILLIAM  C.  GEORGE, 

farmer,  was  born  September  25,  1806,  in  Caroline  County,  Virginia.  His 
father,  John  George,  who  was  born  in  1770  or  1771,  in  Pennsylvania, 
emigrated  with  his  parents  when  fifteen  years  of  age,  to  Madison  County, 
Virginia.  His  father  died  when  he  was  twenty  years  old.  He  then 
engaged  as  an  overseer,  and  continued  in  that  business  fifteen  years. 
He  married  Miss  Mary  J.  Long,  of  Orange  County,  Virginia,  in  1803. 
They  had  ten  children,  four  of  whom  are  living.  Mr.  G.  removed  to 
Lincoln  County,  Kentucky,  in  1816,  and  lived  there  until  1835,  when  he 
came  to  Rives  County,  Missouri.  Mrs.  George  died  about  the  year  1840, 
and  after  this  her  husband  made  his  home  among  his  children  until  his 
death  in  1853.  William  C.  George  was  married  November  21,  1839,  to 
Miss  Eliza  Collins,  of  Henry  County,  Missouri.  To  them  were  born  four 
children,  now  living.  Mrs.  George  died  August  20,  1847.  November 
20,  1849,  hs  married  Miss  Adelia  Hopkins,  also  of  Henry  County.  To 
them  were  born  two  sons,  one  of  whom  is  living.  Mr.  George's  farm 
consisted  of  eighty  acres.  He  added  to  this  from  time  to  time,  until 
he  became  the  owner  of  620  acres.  A  large  portion  of  this  he  has 
divided  with  his  children.     Although  a  man  seventy-six  years  of  age  he 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  813 

is  still  of  active  habits,  and  slow  to  yield  to  the  infirmities  of  age.  He 
and  his  wife,  with  two  of  his  daughters  and  one  son,  are  connected  with 
the  Mt.  Olivet  Baptist  Church.  His  oldest  son,  John  L.,  enlisted  during 
the  second  year  of  the  civil  war,  as  private,  and  served  in  that  capacity 
until  the  close  of  the  war,  participating  in  many  battles  with  his  com- 
pany, C,  Seventh  Missouri  Cavalry.     Politically  he  is  a  Republican. 

WILLIAM  G.  GEORGE 

was  born  August  30,  1857,  in  Springfield  Township,  Henry  County,  Mis- 
souri. At  the  age  of  twenty  years  he  entered  the  Clinton  Academy, 
where  he  remained  for  six  months.  Then  he  was  under  the  instruction 
of  Prof.  W.  H.  Stahl  for  two  years,  graduating  in  his  twenty-second  year 
with  honor.  After  leaving  the  academy  he  resumed  his  duties  as 
instructor  and  has  steadily  been  occupied  in  his  profession  since  that 
time.  His  father,  Alberton  C.  George,  a  farmer  and  stock  raiser  by  call- 
ing, was  born  July  10,  18 14,  in  Caroline  County,  Virginia,  and  emigrated 
from  Kentucky  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  about  1855.  He  married 
Miss  Elizabeth  Goff,  of  Henry  County,  October  31,  1839.  ^Y  this  union 
there  were  five  daughters  and  three  sons,  living.  William  George  was 
married  February  27,  1882,  to  Mrs.  Sallie  J.,  widow  t)f  Dr.  W.  F.  Gird- 
ner,  of  Daviess  County,  Missouri.  Mrs.  G.  has  one  daughter  by  her 
former  marriage  (Fanny  Girdner),  four  years  of  age.  Mr.  George  is  a 
member  of  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  He  is  also  identified  with  the  Mt.  Olivet 
Baptist  Church.     His  political  views  are  Democratic. 

REV.  WILLIAM  A.  GRAY 

was  born  October  16,  18 15,  in  Christian  County,  Kentucky.  His  father, 
Joseph  Gray,  was  born  in  1777  in  Dinwiddle  County,  Virginia,  and  was 
a  farmer  by  occupation.  He  emigrated  near  the  year  1800  to  Kentucky 
and  settled  in  Christian  County,  where  he  remained  until  1839.  Wil- 
liam's mother,  formerly  Matilda  Scrieggs,  was  born  in  Buckingham 
County,  Virginia,  about  1782.  They  were  married  in  1800  in  Christian 
County,  Kentucky,  and  had  five  children.  William  A.  Gray  was  the 
youngest  of  this  family.  He  spent  his  early  life  in  his  native  state, 
receiving  a  limited  education,  and  in  the  fall  of  1836  left  home  and  went 
on  a  prospecting  tour  to  the  present  Henry  County,  where  he  remained 
nearly  two  years.  Returning  to  his  native  state,  he  passed  one  year 
there,  making  the  final  preparations  for  a  future  and  permanent  home  in 
Missouri.  He  was  married  November  18,  1838,  to  Miss  Mary  Lofftus,  of 
Christian  County,  Kentucky.  By  this  union  there  were  thirteen  children, 
eleven  sons  and  two  daughters.  In  the  year  of  1839  he  entered  a  tract 
of  160  acres  of  land,  his  parents  also  becoming  residents  of  the  county 
about  the  same  time.     Mr.  Gray  commenced  school  teaching  in  1836, 


8 14  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

previous  to  his  coming  here,  and  followed  the  calling  for  about  fifteen 
years.  His  first  school  in  Missouri  was  taught  in  Tebo  Township.  In 
June  of  1843  he  became  identified  with  the  Baptist  Church  of  Clear 
Creek,  Benton  County,  and  from  a  sense  of  duty  soon  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  the  ministry,  and,  being  encouraged  by  the  church,  proceeded  to 
the  work  of  preparation  and  began  the  study  of  theology,  though  under 
the  most  adverse  circumstances,  as  he  was  compelled  to  go  through  the 
process  of  self-education  in  the  then  new  country  of  his  adoption.  He 
was  licensed  in  November,  1843,  and  was  ordained  in  January,  1844,  by 
Revs.  J.  T.  Ricketts  and  W.  P.  Caldwell,  and  he  commenced  his  life  work 
immediately.  His  first  text  was:  "  Fear  not,  little  flock,  for  it  is  your 
Father's  good  pleasure  to  give  you  the  kingdom."  The  citizens  of  Henry, 
Benton,  Pettis,  Johnson,  St.  Clair,  Bates  and  Vernon  Counties  have  long 
known  Pastor  Gray,  many  of  whom  have  sat  under  and  listened  with 
pleasure  and  satisfaction  to  his  preaching.  Mrs.  Gray  died  August  i, 
i860,  leaving  twelve  children.  Mr.  Gray  was  married  again  November 
19,  i860,  to  Mary  A.  Bibb,  of  Benton  County.  There  were  five  children 
born  to  them.  Though  having  devoted  much  of  his  time  to  the  minis- 
try, with  but  little  pecuniary  compensation,  he  has  been  greatly  pros- 
perous. 

His  house  was  demolished  April  7,  1842,  by  a  cyclone,  leaving  no 
article  of  furniture  nor  vestige  of  household  goods.  A  little  child  was 
snatched  from  its  cradle  only  in  time  to  save  it  from  certain  death,  as 
the  cradle  was  instantly  filled  with  the  debris  of  the  falling  house.  Mr. 
Gray,  in  his  attempt  to  reach  the  residence,  was  struck  with  a  piece  of 
flying  timber,  and  fell  crushed  and  bleeding,  and  his  narrow  escape  is 
shown  by  the  scar  upon  his  head  to  this  day.  The  neighbors  restored 
his  house,  and  he  looks  back  with  grateful  remembrance  to  the  kindness 
shown  him  and  his  family.  He  preached  unmolested  during  the  period 
of  the  war,  and  though  men  sought  to  intimidate,  he  fearlessly  pro- 
claimed the  gospel  to  those  who  chose  to  listen.  He  has  perhaps 
preached  over  5,000  sermons,  besides  performing  extra  duties  in  the 
community,  which  have  been  frequent.  His  second  wife  died  June  10, 
1875.  On  November  20,  1877,  he  married  Martha  M.  Fewell,  of  Benton 
County,  but  originally  from  North  Carolina.  He  has,  without  doubt, 
baptised  more  than  a  thousand  candidates,  and  could  give  us  no  idea  of 
the  number  of  marriage  rites  performed  during  his  long  ministry.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity. 

Dr.  J.  W.  Gray,  son  of  Rev.  Wm.  A.  Gray,  was  born  February  20, 
1840,  in  Springfield  Township,  Henry  County,  Missouri.  During  the 
years  of  1856,  '57  and  '58,  he  attended  the  college  at  Calhoun,  Henry 
County,  conducted  by  the  Tebo  Baptist  Association.  On  leaving  the 
school,  he  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  at  Calhoun,  Dr.  Robert 
Hogan  of  that  place   being  his  preceptor.     He   continued   his   studies 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  8l$ 

during  the  years  of-  1859  ^'"^d  '60.  and  was  interrupted  in  1861  by  the 
opening  of  the  war.  He  suspended  study  for  several  months,  giving  his 
attention  to  the  management  of  the  tarm  at  home.  In. November,  i86i^ 
he  resumed  his  studies  with  Dr.  Alfred  Head,  of  Benton  County,  andi 
passed  nearly  two  years  under  that  preceptor.  He  attended  medical! 
lectures  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  In  the  spring  of  1864,  he  commenced 
the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Windsor,  in  Henry  County.  He  was 
married  in  September,  1864,  to  Miss  Clara  Elizabeth  Head,  of  Millers- 
burg,  Callaway  County,  and  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Alfred  Head.  They  have 
six  children.  Dr.  Gray  continued  his  practice  at  Windsor  for  twelve 
years,  when  he  removed  to  Springfield  Township,  this  county,  buying 
235  acres  of  the  old  homstead,  located  on  section  15.  Besides  attending 
to  a  large  practice,  he  has  charge  of  his  farm,  and  is  also  engaged  in 
general  stock  raising.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order,  and 
politically  he  is  a  Democrat. 

JOHN  GOFF 

was  born  January  13,  1817,  in  Williamson  County,  Tennessee,  being  the 
son  of  William  Goff,  who  was  born  June  18,  1783,  in  Washington  County,. 
Virginia.  He  emigrated  with  his  parents,  when  a  small  boy,  to  Wil- 
liamson County,  Tennessee,  where  the  family  remained  until  1830.  His 
mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Edith  Walker,  was  born  August  14^ 
1787,  in  Culpeper  County,  Virginia.  They  were  married  February  7^ 
1805,  and  to  them  were  born  thirteen  children,  of  whom  three  are  living. 
They  moved  from  Williamson  County,  Tennessee,  in  1830,  to  Saline 
County,  Missouri,  and  bought  a  tract  of  120  acres,  residing  upon  it  for 
three  years  and  a  half,  when,  selling  the  farm,  they  came  to  what  is 
now  Henry  County,  on  April  10,  1834.  They  purchased  200  acres  of 
land  in  Tebo  (now  Springfield)  Township,  where  they  lived  until  they 
departed  this  life.  William  Goff  died  September  26,  1842,  and  his  wife 
died  October  ii,  1843.  He  was  one  of  the  first  judges  of  the  county, 
three  having  been  appointed  at  the  same  time.  He  served  for  six  years 
in  that  capacity,  or  nearly  up  to  the  time  of  his  demise,  resigning  on 
account  of  ill  health  just  prior  to  his  death.  He  held  one  of  the  first 
post  offices  in  the  county,  there  being  two  established  at  the  same  date. 
The  other  postmaster  was  Thomas  B.  Wallace  or  his  brother,  near  where 
Clinton  now  stands.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his  education 
before  emigrating  with  his  parents  to  Missouri.  He  commenced  his 
struggle  with  life  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  and  then  had  the  care  of  his 
father's  family,  eight  in  number.  He  married  Miss  Mary  J.  Goff,  of 
Henry  County,  February  17,  1874.  By  this  union  they  have  but  one 
child,  a  daughter,  six  years  old.  In  1838  Mr.  Goff  attended  the  sale  of 
government  lands  in  Henry  County,  and  made  purchase  of  160  acres, 
being  at  the  time  a  resident  of  Tebo  Township,  where  he  stayed  until 


8l6  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY. 

1857.  Then  he  moved  to  his  land,  and  commenced  building  and  improv- 
ing his  farm,  and  erecting  buildings.  He  subsequently  bought  lOO  acres 
besides  having  entered  120  acres.  In  1859  he  purchased  153  acres  for 
which  he  received  no  title  until  1865.  He  possessed  at  one  period  more 
than  500  acres,  but  has  now  but  262  acres.  His  political  views  are  Dem- 
ocratic. As  is  mentioned  in  another  part  of  this  work,  the  early  courts 
were  held  at  the  GofT  residence. 

RUEL  W.  JOHNSON. 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  was  born  August  20,  1835,  in  Wood  County, 
Virginia,  his  parents  being  Phineas  Johnson,  a  farmer  and  blacksmith 
by  trade,  born  May  6,  1809,  in  Pennsylvania,  and  Abigal  (Ross)  Johnson, 
born  July  25,  1813,  and  originally  from  Ohio.  They  were  married  Decem- 
ber 12,  1833,  and  had  eleven  children,  eight  of  whom  are  living.  They 
were  residents  of  Clark  County,  Missouri,  at  one  time  for  ten  years, 
removing  thence  to  Henry  County.  Missouri.  The  education  of  R.  W., 
was  received  in  Wood  County,  Virginia,  previous  to  the  age  of  fourteen 
years.  He  left  home  in  i860,  and  went  to  Clark  County,  Missouri, 
remaining  until  the  following  year,  when  he  enlisted  under  Captain 
Watts,  commander  of  what  was  called  the  Fox  Rangers,  a  regiment  of 
cavalry,  which  was  soon  organized  into  a  regiment  under  Colonel  Green, 
operating  during  the  summer  in  Northern  Missouri.  Moving  south  in 
the  fall,  he  joined  General  Price  before  Lexington,  and  served  with  him 
during  the  war,  finally  surrendering  at  Shreveport,  Louisiana.  He  then 
returned  to  Clark  County,  Missouri,  and  from  there  went  to  McDonald 
County,  Illinois,  but  a  few  months  later  locating  in  Bolivar  County,  Mis- 
sissippi. After  a  comparatively  short  time  he  returned  to  Missouri,  and 
in  less  than  a  year  found  himself  once  more  in  the  south,  at  Jackson, 
Mississippi.  He  returned  to  his  father,  in  Henry  County,  in  August, 
1867,  and  with  the  senior  Johnson  joined  in  farming  for  nearly  seven 
years.  December  15,  1873,  he  married  Mrs.  Martha  Wears,  of  Henry 
County,  Missouri.  By  this  union  there  was  but  one  son.  Mrs.  J.  died 
May  20,  1875.  In  1877,  January  20,  he  married  Mrs.  Eliza  Chalmers,  also 
of  this  county.  They  have  a  farm  of  forty  acres,  located  on  section  29. 
He  was  elected  a  justice  of  the  peace  in  1882,  but  declined  to  qualify. 
Politically  he  is  a  Democrat. 

ISAAC  M.  JOHNSON 

was  born  March  12,  1838,  in  Madison  County,  Ohio,  and  was  the  son  of 
William  and  Felietia  (Hall)  Johnson,  of  the  same  county.  The  former 
was  born  in  1812.  They  were  married  September  27,  1832,  and  but 
crecently  celebrated   their  golden   wedding   in   their    native   place.     To 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  817 

them  were  born  nine  sons  and  one  daughter,  of  whom  six  sons  survive. 
Isaac  M.  commenced  life  for  himself  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years.  He 
had  been  quite  an  extensive  traveler,  having  visited  nearly  every  state 
in  the  Union,  Canada,  the  British  possessions  and  the  territories.  In 
1864  he  married  Miss  Inezetta  Fasha,  of  Peoria,  Illinois,  and  they  have 
been  blessed  with  five  sons  and  two  daughters.  All  are  living  save  two 
sons.  In  1870  Mr.  Johnson  commenced  farming  in  Henry  County,  Mis- 
souri, purchasing  his  first  farm  of  190  acres,  on  which  he  remained  two 
years.  Then  renting  it,  he  removed  with  his  family  to  Clinton,  and  was 
engaged  in  shipping  live  stock  to  the  St.  Louis  market  for  four  years. 
Then  he  made  an  exchange  of  property  in  Clinton  for  494  acres  of  land 
in  this  township,  and  since  then  he  has  added  thereto  from  time  to  time 
until  he  now  owns  a  large  and  most  valuable  farm  of  713  acres.  In  1882 
he  sold  his  farm  in  Bethlehem  Township.  Mr.  J.  is  one  of  the  large  cat- 
tle men  of  the  county,  and  in  this  industry  has  met  with  far  more  than 
ordinary  success.  He  was  formerly  quite  an  adapt  in  rail  splitting,  hav- 
ing split  565  rails  for  fencing  purposes  in  five  hours.  Politically  he  is 
independent. 

ALEXANDER  T.  MADDEN 

wa^  born  November  29,  1829,  in  Champaign  County,  Ohio.  His  father, 
Benjamin  Madden,  a  shoemaker  and  farmer  by  occupation,  was  born  in 
Virginia,  and  married  Miss  Charity  Turner,  who  was  born  in  Loudoun 
County,  Virginia,  in  1806.  They  had  four  children:  Ann  Eliza,  Alexan- 
der T.,  John  and  Sarah.  Two  only  survive.  Benjamin  Madden  died 
some  years  since.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  married  Miss  Mary  Jacobs, 
of  Allen  County,  Ohio,  a  daughter  of  Peter  and  Anna  Jacobs,  and  by  this 
union  there  have  been  seven  children,  and  three  sons  and  one  daughter 
are  living.  Mr.  M.  came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  in  1865.  After 
farming  here  five  years  he  went  to  Jasper  County  and  bought  land,  and 
remained  there  for  ten  years.  In  the  fall  of  1882  he  returned  to  this 
county  where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  farming.  Politically  he  is 
Democratic.     Mrs.  M.  is  connected  with  the  United  Brethren  Church. 

JOSEPH  MAYGINNES 

was  born  October  10,  1830,  in  Donegal,  Westmoreland  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, where  also  his  father,  A.  Mayginnes,  was  born  January  31,  1799. 
He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  His  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Jane  Garvin,  came  originally  from  Berks  County,  Pennsylvania.  They 
were  married  in  18 18,  and  to  them  were  born  eleven  children.  The 
senior  Mayginnes  died  November  4,  1864,  in  Shelby  County,  Ohio.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  received  his  education   in   Shelby  County  in  the 

common  schools,  and  at  the  age  of  nineteen  he  left  for  Madison  County» 

53 


8l8  HISTORY   OF   HENRY   COUNTY.  \ 

Ohio,  in  February,  1850,  where  he   was  engaged   in   working  as  a  farm  j 
laborer.     In   October  of  the  same  year  he   started   for  Henry  County,  j 
Missouri,  remaining  for  six  months,  or  more,  and  making  his  home  with 
an  older  brother  for  the  time.     After  looking  about  for  a  suitable  loca- 
tion, he  finally  decided  to  return  to  Ohio.     He  was  occupied  in  railroad-  j 
ing  for  four  years.     He  was   married   September  3,  1853,  to  Miss  Sarah  ] 
E.   Fisher,   of  Covington,   Miami   County,  Ohio.     By  this   union   there  '. 
were  ten  daughters,  all  of  whom  are  living.    In  September,  1856,  Mr.  M.  j 
settled  in  Darke  County,  Ohio,  and  resumed  the  occupation   of  farming 
eight  years,  when  selling  out  he   removed   to  Johnson   County,  Kansas.  ! 
At  the  expiration  of  five  came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  locating  in 
Springfield  Township.     He  owns  213  acres  on  section  11.    He  is  enthus- 
iastic  in   regard   to   school   matters,   and    takes   great    interest   in   the  ■ 
advancement  of  education.     Mr.   Mayginnes   and  his  wife,  with  five  of  , 
his  daughters,  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church,  at  Hayden's  Grove.  I 
His  political  views  are  Democratic.  I 

( 

DAVID  MICHAEL  PHELPS,  ! 

i 

farmer,  section   3,  was  born  January  31,  1842,  in  St.  Clair  County,  Illi-  i 

nois.     His  father,  Michael  Phelps,  who  was  born  in  Knoxville,  Tennes-  I 

see,  in  1797,  was  married  in  September,  1820  or  182 1,  to  Miss  Ruth  Luns-  | 

ford,  of  St.  Clair  County,  Illinois.     They  had  thirteen   children.     Mrs.  i 

Phelps  died  June  2,  1862,  and  Mr.  P.  was  again  married  February  8,  1867,  I 

to  Miss  Margaret  Alexander,  also  of  St.  Clair  County,  Illinois.     By  the  ' 

second  union  there  was  one  son.     David  M.  Phelps,  the  second  son  in  , 

his  father's  family,  received  but  a  common  English  education  in  youth,  \ 

commencing  life  for  himself  at  the  age  of  nineteen  as  a  farm  laborer. 

He  was  married  March  17,  1864,  to  Miss  Louisa  Moore,  of  Belleville,  St.  , 

Clair  County.  Illinois.     They  have  had  four  children,  three  of  whom  are  ' 

living.     In   November,    1868,   Mr.   and   Mrs.   P.   emigrated    to  Johnson  ■ 

County,  Missouri,  where  he  purchased   a  farm  of  120  acres,  remaining  i 

there  for  three  years.     He  then  came  to  Henry  County   and   purchased 

the  farm  on  which  he  now  lives.     Politically,  he  is  a  Democrat. 

HENRY  LAWRENCE  SETTLE,  | 

I 

was  born  December  20,  1834,  in  Howard  County,  Missouri,  and  was  the  i 

son  of  William  Henry  Settle,  born  December  26,  181 1,  in  Frankford,  Vir-  1 

ginia.     He  immigrated  with  his  parents  to  Howard  County,  Missouri,  at  | 

the  age  of  eleven  years.       His   mother,  formerly  Margaret.  Crews,  was  j 

born  August  28,  181";,  in  Scott  County,  Kentucky.     She  removed  with  ' 

her  father's  family  to   Howard   County,  Missouri,  in    1826.     They  were  < 

married   in  August,  1833,  in  that  county,  and  by  this  union  there  were  ] 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  819 

-  six  children,  four  sons  and  one  daughter,  now  living,  the  latter  now  a 
resident  of  Boone  County.  The  sons  all  live  in  Howard  County,  except 
Henry  L.,  who  has  for  twenty-six  years  been  a  citizen  of  Henry  County. 
His  mother  died  December  7,  1878.  He  received  his  education  in  How- 
ard County  before  leaving  his  father's  home,  and  in  April,  1857,  ^^  came 
to  Henry  County,  and  bought  a  tract  of  400  acres,  where  he  still  resides. 
He  was  married  May  4,  1858,  to  Miss  Miranda  Bradley,  of  this  county. 
They  have  ten  children.  In  the  culture  of  broom  corn  he  stands  among 
the  first  in  this  neighborhood.  He  has  been  for  two  terms  township 
assessor,  and  for  many  years  director  of  schools  in  his  district.  He,  his 
wife,' and  two  daughters  are  connected  with  the  Christian  Church  at 
Hayden's  Grove,  Benton  County.     His  political  views  are  Democratic. 

JOEL  STREIBY, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  was  born  February  7,  1840,  in  Kosciusko  County, 
Indiana.  His  father,  Wm.  Streiby,  was  born  in  1810,  in  Tuscarawas 
County,  Ohio,  as  was  also  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth 
Conrad.  She  was  born  in  1812.  They  were  married  in  December,  183c* 
and  by  this  union  there  were  twelve  children,  ten  of  whom  are  living. 
They  emigrated  from  Ohio  to  Indiana  in  1833.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  received  his  education  in  his  native  county,  and  in  April,  1861, 
enlisted  in  Company  E,  Twelfth  Indiana  Infantry  Volunteers,  as  a  pri- 
vate, Captain  Williams,  of  Warsaw,  Indiana,  commanding.  He  remained 
with  this  regiment  for  four  months,  when  it  was  transferred  to  the 
United  States  service,  and  he  served  for  the  remainder  of  that  year,, 
when  the  regiment  was  regularly  discharged  at  Washington.  He 
re-enlisted  in  the  fall  of  1862,  in  Company  I,  Fiftieth  Indiana  Infantry,, 
and  Avas  appointed  corporal,  the  regiment  joining  the  Cumberland  Divis- 
ion under  General  Thomas,  serving  in  that  capacity  for  several  months.. 
He  was  appointed  sergeant,  holding  the  position  during  the  remainder 
of  the  war.  In  July,  1865,  his  army  corps  was  ordered  to  Texas,  and 
remained  there  for  four  months,  when  they  were  regular  discharged 
near  San  Antonio,  thence  returning  to  Indiana.  Mr.  Streiby  was  mar- 
ried December  21,  1865,  to  Miss  Melvina  Norris,  of  Kosciusko  County, 
Indiana.  They  had  four  children,  three  of  whom  survive.  In  the  fall 
of  1865,  Mr.  S.  bought  a  farm  in  Cass  County,  Michigan,  and  in  March,. 
1866,  removed  to  that  state,  where  he  stopped  for  three  years,  then 
retraced  his  steps  to  his  native  state,  taking  charge  of  his  father's  farm 
and  affairs.  He  remained  there  for  two  years,  when  with  his  family  he 
came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  and  purchased  lOO  acres  of  land.  Since 
that  time  he  has  continued  to  be  engaged  in  farming  and  general  stock 
raising.  He  is  one  of  the  reliable  men  of  this  vicinity.  In  1878  he  was 
elected  township  trustee.      His  political  preferences  are  Republican. 


820 


HISTORY   OK   HENRY   COUNTY. 


JOSEPH  WILLIAMS 

was  born  September  6,  1833,  in  Green  County,  Kentucky,  as  was  also  his 
parents,  William  A.  and  Anna  (Pettus)  Williams.  The  former  was  born  in 
1788  and  the  latter  in  1792.  They  were  married  in  1809,  and  to  them  were 
born  fourteen  children,  of  whom  eight  are  living.  They  emigrated  in  an 
early  day  to  Tennessee  near  Nar.hville,  and  in  1835  removed  to  Johnson 
County,  Missouri.  Mr.  Williams  died  in  1848,  and  his  wife  in  1854. 
Joseph  Williams  commenced  life  for  himself  at  the  age  of  sixteen  as 
a  farm  laborer,  which  occupation  he  has  since  followed.  June  5,  1855, 
he  married  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Williams,  widow  of  Thomas  Williams,  of 
Johnson  County.  By  this  union  there  was  one  daughter.  Mrs.  Wil- 
liams died  March  13,  1856.  February  8,  1859,  he  married  Miss  Sarah  E. 
Perkins,  of  Jefferson,  Johnson  County.  They  had  thirteen  children,  nine 
of  whom  are  now  living.  In  March  of  the  same  year  Mr.  Williams 
moved  to  Bates  County,  Missouri.  In  two  years  he  enlisted  in  the  con- 
federate army  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  when  he  was  dis- 
charged at  Shreveport,  Louisiana.  He  returned  to  his  family  in  Mis- 
souri and  farmed  in  Johnson  County  until  1872,  when  he  came  to  Henry 
County.  In  1875  he  removed  to  Shelbj-ville,  Shelby  County.  After  one 
year  he  returned  to  Henry  County  and  settled  near  Calhoun,  and  lived 
there  five  years,  but  owing  to  sickness  in  his  family  removed  to  Spring- 
field Township,  where  he  bought  ninety-five  acres  of  land  on  section  30. 
Here  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  farming,  Mr.  Williams  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  order.  Himself,  wife  and  one  daughter  are  identi- 
fied with  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  (Bronaugh  Chapel).  Polit- 
ically he  is  a  Democrat. 


History  of  St.  Clair  County. 


CHAPTER  I. 


THE   VALLEY   OF  THE   OSAGE— THE   DAWN  OF  CIVILIZA- 
TION. 

SOUTHWEST  MISSOURI— THE  VANGUARD  OF  PROGRESSS— FROM  1830  TO  1840— HOUSE  AND 
HOME  COMFORTS— THE  DAYS  GIVEN  TO  CELEBRATION— FARMING  TOOLS— THE 
BULL  PLOWS— MILLS  AND  TRADING  POINTS- HUNTING  AND  TRAPPING-THE 
HONEY  BEE  AND  THE  BEE  TREE— INDIAN  SIGN  OF  THE  COMING  OF  THE  PALE- 
FACES. 

THE   DAWN   OF   CIVILIZAIION. 

In  the  heart  of  the  grand  old  forest, 

A  thousand  miles  to  the  west, 
Where  a  stream  gushed  out  from  the  hillside, 

They  halted  at  last  for  rest. 
And  the  silence  of  ages  listened 

To  the  ax  strike  loud  and  dear, 
Divining  a  kingly  presence 

In  the  tread  of  the  pioneer. 

He  formed  of  the  prostrate  branches 

A  house  that  was  strong  and  good  ; 
The  roof  was  of  reeds  from  the  streamlet, 

The  chimney  he  built  of  wood; 
And  there,  by  the  winter  fireside. 

While  the  flames  up  ihe  chimney  roared, 
He  spoke  of  the  good  time  coming, 

When  plenty  should  crown  his  board. 

When  the  forest  should  fade  like  a  vision 

And  over  the  hillside  and  plain 
The  orchard  would  spring  in  its  beauty 

And  the  fields  of  golden  grain. 
And  tonight  he  sits  by  the  fireside 

In  a  mansion  quaint  and  old. 
With  his  children's  children  around  him. 

Having  reaped  a  thousanaiold. 


822  HISTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

What  a  splendid  country  is  this  Southwestern  Missouri!  Unsur- 
passed in  the  glory  of  its  landscape  and  the  equability  of  its  climate,  in 
the  abundance  and  purity  of  its  waters  and  the  wealth  of  its  soil,  native 
grasses  and  coal  fields,  it  offers  to  the  capitalist,  fanner  and  manufac- 
turer one  of  the  grandest  fields  of  enterprise  between  New  York  har- 
bor and  the  Golden  Gate.  In  the  heart  of  this  beautiful  region  and  in 
the  beautiful  valley  of  the  Osage  lies  St.  Clair  County.  Here  was  the 
famous  hunting  ground  of  the  Osages  and  other  tribes  of  Indians;  here 
they  drank  of  its  healing  waters;  here  they  built  their  wigwams,  and, 
until  the  palefaces  came,  were  monarchs  of  all.  But  civilization  had 
dawned,  the  East  had  become  perfect  day,  and  the  star  of  the  empire 
had  taken  up  its  march  and  westward  wended  its  way.  Nature  had 
been  lavish  of  her  gifts.  The  woodlands  and  the  prairies  were  filled 
with  game,  and  the  Indians  were  loth  to  part  with  the  magnificent  coun- 
try, the  heritage  of  centuries,  but  the  unfettered  white  man  came  and 
the  red  man  was  despoiled  of  his  hunting  ground.  He  left  it,  but  not 
always  in  peace,  and  the  hatchet  and  scalping  knife  have  left  many  a 
crimson  stain  to  attest  the  love  of  the  Indian  for  the  home  of  his  fathers. 

There  were  but  few  of  the  children  of  the  forest  left  in  this  section, 
and  they  were  friendly  when  the  first  white  man  trod  the  soil  of  St.  Clair 
County.  The  log  cabin  of  the  pioneer  took  the  place  of  the  Indian 
wigwams,  and  the  beautiful  valley  of  the  Osage  soon  resounded  to  the 
music  of  the  woodman's  ax,  the  crack  of  his  unerring  rifle,  and  the 
grand  old  hills  and  magnificent  prairies  began  to  echo  with  the  voice 
of  civilization,  and  its  fruitful  soil  returning  to  the  pioneer  a  bounteous 
return  for  his  labor. 

THE  VANGUARD  OF  PROGRESS. 

The  advance  guard  of  the  army  of  progress,  the  heroic  and  self- 
sacrificing  band  ot  pioneers  now  took  possession  of  the  country.  They 
— whose  place  is  ever  to  the  front  of  progress — began  blazing  the  way 
which  was  to  guide  the  grand  army  of  occupation,  an  army  imbued 
with  that  spirit  of  faith  which  builds  and  populates  a  country  and  makes 
it  great  and  prosperous.  There  is  such  an  expression  as  "  those  good 
old  times,"  referring  to  the  early  history  of  our  county,  but  the  people 
of  to-day  have  little  knowledge,  and  less  realization  of  the  trials,  troubles 
and  privations  of  the  early  pioneer.  The  men  and  women  of  to-day 
may  well  leel  thankful  that  they  need  not  go  through  the  bitter  trials 
and  dangers  of  the  past  to  find  the  comfort  of  a  home,  and  that  they 
and  their  children  have  escaped  the  rude  and  scantily  furnished  cabin, 
and  the  privations  and  vexations  of  the  lives  of  those  early  settlers. 
The  few  of  these  old  pioneers  who  have  been  left  to  us  should  receive 
all  the  care  that  loving  hearts  can  give.  Years  of  devotion  is  but  a  small 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY.  823 

recompense  for  the  heroic  sacrifice  they  have  made  in  engrafting  civili- 
zation and  progress  upon  the  soil  of  St.  Clair  County. 

FROM   1830  TO  1840. 

During  the  decade  which  embraces  the  first  ten  years  of  its  history, 
the  settlement  of  St.  Clair  County  was  in  the  earliest  stages  of  pioneer 
life. 

In  those  days  the  people  took  no  care  to  preserve  history.  They 
were  too  busily  engaged  in  making  it.  Historically  speaking  they  were 
the  most  important  years  of  the  county,  for  it  was  then  that  the  founda- 
tion and  corner  stone  of  all  the  county's  history  and  prospects  were  laid. 
Yet,  this  history  is  not  remarkable  for  stirring  events.  It  was,  how- 
ever, a  time  of  self-reliance  and  brave,  persevering  toil  ;  of  privations 
cheerfully  endured  through  faith  in  a  good  time  coming.  The  experience 
of  one  settler  was  just  about  the  same  as  that  of  others.  They  were 
almost  invariably  poor,  they  faced  the  same  hardships  and  stood  gen- 
erally on  an  equal  footing. 

All  the  experience  of  the  early  pioneers  of  this  county  goes  far  to 
confirm  the  theory  that,  after  all,  happiness  is  pretty  evenly  balanced  in 
this  world.  They  had  their  privations  and  hardships,  but  they  had  also 
their  own  peculiar  joys.  If  they  were  poor,  they  were  free  from  the  bur- 
den of  pride  and  vanity;  free  also  from  the  anxiety  and  care  that  always 
attends  the  possession  of  wealth.  Other  people's  eyes  cost  them  noth- 
ing. If  they  had  few  neighbors,  they  were  on  the  best  of  terms  with 
those  they  had.  Envy,  jealousy  and  strife  had  not  crept  in.  A  common 
interest  and  a  common  sympathy  bound  them  together  with  the  strong- 
est  ties.  They  were  a  little  world  to  themselves,  and  the  good  feeling 
that  prevailed  was  all  the  stronger  because  they  were  so  far  removed 
from  the  great  world  of  the  east. 

Among  these  pioneers  there  was  realized  such  a  community  of  inter- 
est that  there  existed  a  community  of  feeling.  There  were  no  castes, 
except  an  aristocracy  of  benevolence,  and  no  nobility,  except  a  nobility 
of  generosity.  They  were  bound  together  with  such  a  strong  bond  of 
sympathy,  inspired  by  the  consciousness  of  common  hardship  that  they 
were  practically  communists. 

Neighbors  did  not  even  wait  for  an  invitation  or  request  to  help  one 
another.  Was  a  settler's  cabin  burned  or  blown  down  ?  No  sooner  was 
the  fact  known  throughout  the  neighborhood  than  the  settlers  assembled 
to  assist  the  unfortunate  one  to  rebuild  his  home.  They  came  with  as 
little  hesitation,  and  with  as  much  alacrity  as  though  they  were  all  mem- 
bers of  the  same  family  and  bound  together  by  ties  of  blood.  One 
man's  interest  was  every  other  man's  interest.  Now  this  general  state 
of  feeling  among  the  pioneers  was  by  no  means  peculiar  to  these  coun- 


824  HISTORY   OF    ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY. 

ties,  although  it  was  strongly  illustrated  here.  It  prevailed  generally 
throughout  the  west  during  the  time  of  the  early  settlement.  The  very 
nature  of  things  taught  the  settlers  the  necessity  of  dwelling  together  in 
this  spirit.  It  was  their  only  protection.  They  had  come  far  away  from 
the  well  established  reign  of  law,  and  entered  a  new  country,  where  the 
civil  authority  was  still  feeble  and  totally  unable  to  afford  protection  and 
redress  grievances.  Here  the  settlers  lived  some  little  time  before  there 
was  an  officer  of  the  law  in  the  county.  Each  man's  protection  was  in 
the  good  will  and  friendship  of  those  about  him,  and  the  thing  any  man 
might  well  dread  was  the  ill  will  of  the  community.  It  was  more  ter- 
rible than  the  law.  It  was  no  uncommon  thing  in  the  early  times  for 
hardened  men,  who  had  no  fears  of  jails  or  penitentiaries,  to  stand  in 
great  fear  of  the  indignation  of  a  pioneer  community. 

HOUSE   AND    HOME   COMFORTS. 

The  first  buildings  in  the  county  were  not  just  like  the  log  cabins 
that  immediately  succeeded  them.  The  latter  required  some  help  and  a 
good  deal  of  labor  to  build.  The  very  first  buildings  constructed  were  a 
cross  between  "hoop  cabins"  and  Indian  bark  huts.  As  soon  as  enough 
men  could  be  got  together  for  a  "  cabin  raising,"  then  log  cabins  were 
in  style.  Many  a  pioneer  can  remember  the  happiest  time  of  his  life  as 
that  when  he  lived  in  one  of  these  homely  but  comfortable  old  cabins. 

A  window  with  sash  and  glass  was  a  rarity,  and  was  an  evidence  of 
wealth  and  aristocracy  which  but  few  could  support.  They  were  often 
made  with  greased  paper  put  over  the  window,  which  admitted  a  little 
light,  but  more  often  there  was  nothing  whatever  over  it,  or  the  cracks 
between  the  logs,  without  either  chinking  or  daubing,  were  the  depend- 
ence for  light  and  air.  The  doors  were  fastened  with  old-fashioned 
wooden  latches,  and  for  a  friend,  or  neighbor,  or  traveler,  the  string 
always  hung  out,  for  the  pioneers  of  the  West  were  hospitable,  and  enter- 
tained visitors  to  the  best  of  their  ability.  It  is  noticeable  with  what 
affection  the  pioneers  speak  of  their  old  log  cabins.  It  may  be  doubted 
whether  palaces  ever  sheltered  happier  hearts  than  those  homely  cabins. 

They  were  made  of  logs,  notched  together  at  the  corners,  ribbed 
with  poles  and  covered  with  boards  split  from  a  tree.  A  puncheon  floor 
laid  down,  a  hole  cut  in  the  end  and  a  stick  chimney  run  up.  A  clap- 
board door  is  made,  a  window  is  opened  by  cutting  out  a  hole  in  the 
side  or  end  two  feet  square,  and  finished  with  glass  or  transparency. 
The  house  is  then  "chinked"  and  "daubed"  with  mud.  The  cabin  is 
now  ready.  The  household  and  kitchen  furniture  is  adjusted,  and  life 
on  the  frontier  is  begun  in  earnest. 

The  one  legged  bedstead,  now  a  piece  of  furniture  of  the  past,  was 
made  by  cutting  a  stick  the  proper  length,  boring  holes  at  one  end  one 


HISTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  825 

and  a  half  inches  in  diameter,  at  right  angles,  and  the  same  sized  holes 
corresponding  with  those  in  the  logs  of  the  cabin  the  length  and  breadth 
desired  for  the  bed,  in  which  are  inserted  poles. 

Upon  these  poles  clapboards  are  laid,  or  linn  bark  is  interwoven 
consecutively  from  pole  to  pole.  Upon  this  primitive  structure  the  bed 
is  laid.  The  convenience  of  a  cook  stove  was  not  thought  of,  but  instead 
the  cooking  was  done  by  the  faithful  housewife  in  pots,  kettles  and  skil- 
lets, on  and  about  the  big  fireplace,  and  very  frequently  over  and  around, 
too,  the  distended  pedal  extremities  of  the  legal  sovereign  of  the  house- 
hold, while  the  latter  was  indulging  in  the  luxuries  of  the  cob  pipe,  and 
discussing  the  probable  results  of  a  contemplated  deer  hunt  on  the 
Osage  and  its  tributary,  the  Sac  River. 

These  log  cabins  were  really  not  so  bad  after  all. 

The  people  of  to-day,  familiarized  with  cooking  stoves  and  ranges, 
would  be  ill  at  home  were  they  compelled  to  prepare  a  meal  with  no 
other  conveniences  than  those  provided  in  a  pioneer  cabin.  Rude  fire- 
places were  built  in  chimneys  composed  of  mud  and  sticks,  or  at  best, 
undressed  stone.  These  fire-places  served  for  heating  and  cooking  pur- 
poses; also  for  ventilation.  Around  the  cheerful  blaze  of  this  fire 
the  meal  was  prepared,  and  these  meals  were  not  so  bad  either.  As 
elsewhere  remarked,  they  were  not  such  as  would  tempt  the  epicure, 
but  such  as  afforded  the  most  healthful  nourishment  for  a  race  of  people 
who  were  driven  to  exposure  and  hardships  which  were  their  lot.  We 
hear  of  few  dyspeptics  in  those  days.  Another  advantage  of  these 
cooking  arrangements  was  that  the  stovepipe  never  fell  down,  and  the 
pioneer  was  spared  being  subjected  to  the  most  trying  of  ordeals,  and 
one  probably  more  productive  of  profanity  than  any  other. 

Before  the  country  became  supplied  with  mills,  and  even  in  some 
instances  afterward,  hominy-blocks  were  used.  These  exist  now  only  in 
the  memory  of  the  oldest  settlers,  but  as  relics  of  the  "  long  ago,"  a 
description  of  them  will  not  be  uninteresting: 

A  tree  of  suitable  size,  say  from  eighteen  inches  to  two  feet  in 
diameter,  was  selected  in  the  forest  and  felled  to  the  ground.  If  a  cross- 
cut saw  happened  to  be  convenient,  the  tree  was  "  butted  " — that  is,  the 
kerf  end  was  sawed  off  so  that  it  would  stand  steady  when  ready  for 
use.  If  there  was  no  cross-cut  saw  in  the  neighborhood,  strong  arms 
and  sharp  axes  were  ready  to  do  the  work.  Then  the  proper  length, 
from  four  to  five  feet,  was  measured  off  and  sawed  or  cut  square.  When 
this  was  done  the  block  was  raised  on  end  and  the  work  of  cutting  out 
a  hollow  in  one  of  the  ends  was  commenced.  This  was  generally  done 
with  a  common  chopping  axe.  Sometimes  a  smaller  one  was  used. 
When  the  cavity  was  judged  to  be  large  enough,  a  fire  was  built  in  it  and 
carefully  watched  till  the  ragged  edges  were  burned  away.  When  com- 
pleted the  hominy  block  somewhat  resembled  a  druggist's  mortar.  Then 


S26  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

a  pestle,  or  something  to  crush  thej^corn  was  necessary.  This  was 
usually  made  from  a  suitably  sized  piece  of  timber,  with  an  iron  wedge 
attached,  the  large  end  down.  This  completed  the  machinery,  and  the 
block  was  ready  for  use.  Sometimes  one  hominy  block  accommodated 
an  entire  neighborhood,  and  was  the  means  of  staying  the  hunger  of 
many  mouths. 

In  giving  the  bill  of  fare  above  we  should  have  added  7;/^^/,  for  of 
this  they  had  plenty.  Deer  would  be  seen  daily  trooping  over  the 
prairie  in  droves  of  from  twelve  to  twenty,  and  sometimes  as  many  as 
fifty  would  be  seen  grazing  together.  Elk  were  also  found,  and  wild 
turkeys  and  prairie  chickens  without  number.  Bears  were  not  unknown. 
Music  of  the  natural  order  was  not  wanting,  and  every  night  the  pioneers 
were  lulled  to  rest  by  the  screeching  of  panthers  and  the  howling  of 
wolves.  When  the  dogs  ventured  too  far  out  froip  the  cabins  at  night, 
they  would  be  driven  back  by  the  wolves  chasing  them  up  to  the  very 
cabin  doors.  Trapping  wolves  became  a  very  profitable  business  after 
the  state  began  to  pay  a  bounty  for  wolf  scalps. 

All  the  streams  of  water  also  abounded  in  fish,  and  a  good  supply  of 
these  could  be  procured  at  the  expense  of  a  little  time  and  labor.  Those 
who  years  ago  improved  the  fishing  advantages  of  the  country  never  tire 
telling  of  the  dainty  meals  which  the  streams  afforded.  No  danger  then 
of  being  ordered  off  a  man's  premises  or  arrested  for  trespass.  One  of 
the  peculiar  circumstances  that  surrounded  the  early  life  of  the  pioneers 
was  a  strange  loneliness.  The  solitude  seemed  almost  to  oppress  them. 
Months  would  pass  during  which  they  would  scarcely  see  a  human  face 
outside  of  their  own  families. 

On  occasions  of  special  interest,  such  as  election,  holiday  celebra- 
tions, or  camp-meetings,  it  was  nothing  unusual  for  a  few  settlers  who 
lived  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  the  meeting  to  entertain  scores 
of  those  who  had  come  from  a  distance. 

Rough  and  rude  though  the  surroundings  may  have  been,  the  pio- 
neers were  none  the  less  sincere,  hospitable  and  kind  in  their  relations. 
It  is  true  as  a  rule,  and  of  universal  application,  that  there  is  a  greater 
degree  of  real  humanity  among  the  pioneers  of  any  country  than  there 
is  when  the  country  becomes  old  and  rich.  If  there  is  an  absence  of 
refinement,  that  absence  is  more  than  compensated  in  the  presence  of 
generous  hearts  and  truthful  lives.  They  are  bold,  industrious  and 
enterprising.  Generally  speaking,  they  are  earnest  thinkers,  and  possess- 
ed of  a  diversified  fund  of  useful,  practical  information.  They  hate  cowards 
and  shams  of  every  kind,  and  above  all  things,  falsehoods  and  deception, 
and  cultivate  an  integrity  which  seldom  permits  them  to  prostitute 
themselves  to  a  narrow  policy  of  imposture.  A  few  of  them  yet  remain, 
and  although  some  of  their  descendants  are  among  the  wealthy  and 
most  substantial  people  of  the  county,  they  have  not  forgotten  their  old 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  827 

time  hospitality  and  free  and  easy  ways.  In  contrasting  the  present 
social  affairs  with  pioneer  times,  one  has  well  said  : 

"Then,  if  a  house  was  to  be  raised,  every  man  '  turned  out,'  and 
often  the  woman  too,  and  while  the  men  piled  up  the  logs  that  fashioned 
the  primitive  dwelling-place,  the  women  prepared  the  dinner.  Some- 
times it  was  cooked  by  big  log  fires  near  the  site  where  the  cabin  was 
building;  in  other  cases  it  was  prepared  at  the  nearest  cabin,  and  at  the 
proper  hour  was  carried  to  where  the  men  were  at  work.  If  one  man  in 
the  neighborhood  killed  a  beef,  a  pig  or  a  deer,  every  other  family  in  the 
neighborhood  was  sure  to  receive  a  piece." 

Of  the  old  settlers,  some  are  still  living  in  the  county,  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  the  fortunes  they  founded  in  early  times,  "  having  reaped  an 
hundred-fold."  Others  have  passed  away,  and  many  of  them  will  not 
long  survive.  Several  of  them  have  gone  to  the  Far  West,  and  are  still 
playing  the  part  of  pioneers.  But  wherever  they  may  be,  whatever  fate 
may  betide  them,  it  is  but  truth  to  say  that  they  were  excellent  men,  as 
a  class,  and  have  left  a  deep  and  enduring  impression  upon  the  county 
and  the  state.  "  They  builded  better  than  they  knew."  They  were,  of 
course,  men  of  activity  and  energy,  or  they  would  never  have  decided  to 
face  the  trials  of  pioneer  life.  They  were  almost  invariably  poor,  but 
the  lessons  taught  them  in  the  early  days  were  of  such  a  character  that 
few  of  them  remained  so.  They  made  their  mistakes  in  business  pur- 
suits like  other  men.  Scarcely  one  of  them  but  allowed  golden  oppor- 
tunities for  pecuniary  profit,  at  least  to  pass  by  unheeded.  What  are 
now  some  of  the  choicest  farms  in  Henry  and  St.  Clair  Counties,  were 
not  taken  up  by  the  pioneers,  who  preferred  land  of  very  much  less 
value.  They  have  seen  many  of  their  prophecies  fulfilled,  and  others 
come  to  naught.  Whether  they  have  attained  the  success  they  desired, 
their  own  hearts  can  tell. 

At  that  time  it  certainly  would  have  been  much  more  difficult  for 
those  old  settlers  to  understand  how  it  could  be  possible  that  thirty-five 
years  hence,  the  citizens  of  the  present  age  of  the  county's  progress 
would  be  complaining  of  hard  times  and  destitution,  and  that  they  them- 
selves perhaps,  would  be  among  that  number,  than  it  is  now  for  us  to 
appreciate  how  they  could  feel  so  cheerful  and  contented  with  their 
meagre  means  and  humble  lot  of  hardships  and  deprivations  during 
those  early  pioneer  days. 

The  secret  was,  doubtless,  that  they  lived  within  their  means,  how- 
ever limited,  not  coveting  more  of  luxury  and  comfort  than  their  income 
would  afford,  and  the  natural  result  wa,s  prosperity  and  contentment, 
with  always  room  for  one  more  stranger  at  the  fireside,  and  a  cordial 
welcome  to  a  place  at  their  table  for  even  the  most  hungry  guest. 

It  is  sometimes  remarked  that  there  were  no  places  for  public  enter- 
tainment till  later  years.     The  fact  is,  there  were  many  such  places,  in 


828   ■  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

fact,  every  cabin  was  a  place  of  entertainment,  and  these  hotels  were 
sometimes  crowded  to  their  utmost  capacity.  On  such  occasions,  when 
bedtime  came,  the  first  family  would  take  the  back  part  of  the  cabin,  and 
so  continue  filling  up  by  families,  until  the  limit  was  reached.  The  young- 
men  slept  in  the  wagon  outside.  In  the  morning,  those  nearest  the  door 
arose  first  and  went  outside  to  dress.  Meals  were  served  on  the  end  of 
a  wagon,  and  consisted  of  corn  bread,  buttermilk  and  fat  pork,  and  occa- 
sionally coffee,  to  take  away  the  morning  chill.  On  Sundays,  for  a 
change,  they  had  bread  made  of  wheat  "  tramped  out  "  oh  the  ground  by 
horses,  cleaned  with  a  sheet  and  pounded  by  hand.  This  was  the  best^ 
the  most  fastidious  they  could  obtain,  and  this  only  one  day  in  seven. 
It  was  necessary  that  they  should  raise  enough  sod  corn  to  take  them 
through  the  coming  winter,  and  also  get  as  much  breaking  done  as  pos- 
sible. They  brought  with  them  enough  corn  to  give  the  horses  an  occa- 
sional feed  in  order  to  keep  them  able  for  hard  work,  but  in  the  main 
they  had  to  live  on  prairie  grass.  The  cattle  got  nothing  else  than  grass. 

AGRICULTURAL   IMPLEMENTS. 

An  interesting  comparison  might  be  drawn  between  the  conveni- 
ences which  now  make  the  life  of  a  farmer  a  comparatively  easy  one,  and 
the  almost  total  lack  of  such  conveniences  in  early  days. 

The  only  plows  they  had  at  first  were  what  they  styled  "bull  plows."' 
The  mould-boards  were  generally  of  wood,  but  in  some  cases  they  were 
half  wood  and  half  iron.  The  man  who  had  one  of  the  latter  descrip- 
tion was  looked  upon  as  something  of  an  aristocrat.  But  these  old  "bull 
plows"  did  good  service,  and  they  must  be  awarded  the  honor  of  first 
stirring  the  soil  of  St.  Clair  County,  as  well  as  that  of  all  the  first-class 
counties  of  this  state. 

The  amount  of  money  which  some  farmers  annually  invest  in  agri- 
cultural implements  would  have  kept  the  pioneer  farmer  in  farming 
utensils  during  a  whole  lifetime.  The  pioneer  farmer  invested  little 
money  in  such  things,  because  they  had  little  money  to  spare,  and  then 
again  because  the  expensive  machinery  now  used  would  not  have  been 
at  all  adapted  to  the  requirements  of  pioneer  farming.  The  "bull  plow" 
was  probably  better  adapted  to  the  fields  abounding  in  stumps  and  roots 
than  would  the  modern  sulky  plow  have  been,  and  the  old-fashioned 
wheat  cradle  did  better  execution  than  would  a  modern  harvester  under 
like  circumstances.  The  prairies  were  seldom  settled  till  after  the  pio- 
neer period,  and  that  portion  of  the  country  which  was  the  hardest  to 
put  under  cultivation,  and  the  most  difficult  to  cultivate  after  it  was 
improved,  first  was  cultivated. 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  829 

MILLS   AND   TRADING   POINTS. 

Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  some  of  the  early  settlers  were  ener- 
getic millwrights,  who  employed  all  their  energy  and  what  means  they 
possessed  in  erecting  mills  at  a  few  of  the  many  favorite  mill  sites  which 
abound  in  the  county;  yet  going  to  mill  in  those  days,  when  there  were 
no  roads,  no  bridges,  no  ferry  boats,  and  scarcely  any  conveniences  for 
traveling,  was  no  small  task  where  so  many  rivers  and  treacherous  streams 
were  to  be  crossed,  and  such  a  trip  was  often  attended  with  great  dan- 
ger to  the  traveler  when  these  streams  were  swollen  beyond  their  banks. 
But  even  under  these  circumstances  some  of  the  more  adventurous  and 
ingenious  ones,  in  case  of  emergency,  found  the  ways  and  means  by 
which  to  cross  the  swollen  streams  and  succeed  in  making  the  trip.  At 
other  times  again  all  attempts  failed  them,  and  they  were  compelled  to 
remain  at  home  until  the  waters  subsided  and  depend  on  the  generosity 
of  their  fortunate  neighbors. 

Some  stories  are  related  with  regard  to  the  danger,  perils  and  hard- 
ships of  forced  travels  to  mills  and  for  provisions,  which  remind  one  of 
forced  marches  in  military  campaigns,  and  when  we  hear  of  the  heroic 
and  daring  conduct  of  the  hardy  pioneers  in  procuring  bread  for  their 
loved  ones,  we  think  that  here  were  heroes  more  valiant  than  any  of  the 
renowned  soldiers  of  ancient  or  modern  times. 

Not  a  railroad  had  yet  entered  the  state,  and  there  was  scarcely  a 
thought  in  the  minds  of  the  people  here  of  such  a  thing  ever  reaching 
the  wild  West;  and,  if  thought  of,  people  had  no  conception  of  what  a 
revolution  a  railroad  and  telegraph  line  through  the  county,  would  cause 
in  its  progress.  Then  there  was  less  than  5,000  miles  of  railroad  in  the 
United  States,  and  not  a  mile  of  track  laid  on  this  side  of  the  Missis- 
sippi River,  while  now  there  are  over  100,000  miles  of  railroad  extend- 
ing their  trunks  and  branches  in  every  direction  over  our  land. 

Supplies  in  those  days  were  obtained  at  Harmony  Mission  and  at 
Boonville.     Mail  was  carried  by  river,  wagon  and  on  horseback. 

HUNTING   AND   TRAPPING. 

The  sports  and  means  of  recreation  were  not  so  numerous  and  varied 
among  the  early  settlers,  as  at  present,  but  they  were  more  enjoyable 
and  invigorating  than  now. 

Hunters  now-a-days  would  be  only  too  glad  to  be  able  to  find  and 
enjoy  their  favorable  opportunity  for  hunting  and  fishing,  and  even 
travel  many  miles,  counting  it  rare  pleasure  to  spend  a  few  weeks  on  the 
water  courses  and  wild  prairies,  in  hunt  and  chase  and  fishing  frolics, 
where  not  half  so  good  hunting  and  fishing  sport  are  furnished  as  was  in 
this  vicinity  twenty-five  and  forty  years  ago.     There  were  a  good  many 


830  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY. 

excellent  hunters  here  at  an  early  day,  who  enjoyed  the  sport  as  well  as 
any  can  at  the  present  time. 

Wild  animals  of  almost  every  species  known  in  the  wilds  of  the 
West  were  found  in  great  abundance.  The  prairies,  and  woods,  and 
streams,  and  various  bodies  of  water,  were  all  thickly  inhabited  before 
the  white  man  came  and  for  some  time  afterward.  Although  the  Indians 
slew  many  of  them,  yet  the  natural  law  prevailed  here  as  well  as  else- 
where— "  wild  man  and  wild  beast  thrive  together." 

Serpents  were  to  be  found  in  such  large  numbers,  and  of  such 
immense  size  that  some  stories  told  by  the  early  settlers  would  be 
incredible  were  it  not  for  the  large  array  of  concurrent  testimony,  which 
is  to  be  had  from  the  most  authentic  sources.  Deer,  turkeys,  ducks, 
geese,  squirrels  and  various  other  kinds  of  choice  game  were  plentiful 
and  to  be  had  at  the  expense  of  killing  only.  The  fur  animals  were 
abundant;  such  as  the  otter,  beaver,  mink,  muskrat,  raccoon,  panther, 
fox,  wolf,  wild-cat  and  bear. 

An  old  resident  of  the  county  told  us,  that  in  1840,  while  he  was 
traveling  a  distance  of  six  miles,  he  saw  as  many  as  seventy-three  deer 
in  herds  of  from  six  to  ten.  He  being  an  excellent  rifle  shot,  could  step 
out  at  any  time  and  return  with  a  fine  buck  for  dinner.  He  had  killed 
ten  deer  in  two  days. 

HUNTING   BEE   TREES. 

Another  source  of  profitable  recreation  among  the  old  settlers  was 
that  of  hunting  bees.  •  The  forests  along  the  water  courses  were  especi- 
ally prolific  of  bee  trees.  They  were  found  in  great  numbers  on  the 
different  forks  of  Grand  River,  and  in  fact  on  all  the  important  streams 
in  the  two  counties.  Many  of  the  early  settlers,  during  the  late  sum- 
mer, would  go  into  camp  for  days  at  a  time,  for  the  purpose  of  hunting 
and  securing  the  honey  of  the  wild  bees,  which  was  not  only  extremely 
rich  and  found  in  great  abundance,  but  always  commanded  a  good  price 
in  the  home  market. 

The  Indians  have  ever  regarded  the  honey-bee  as  the  forerunner  of 
the  white  man,  while  it  is  a  conceded  fact  that  the  quail  always  follows 
the  footprints  of  civilization. 


CHAPTER    11. 

PIONEERS  AND  PROGRESS. 

THE  PIONEERS-THE  FIRST  SETTLER-JACOB  COONCE-HIS  NEIGHBORS-LARGE  ANIMALS- 
—THE  APPLEGATES-THE  FIRST  SENATOR,  JOSEPH  MONTGOMERY— TABER  AND 
HER  SETTLERS— THE  LAND  OF  THE  FOREST  KING-MONEGAW  SPRINGS— EARLY 
POLITICAL  HISTORY— FROM  1S35  TO  1S41— WEAUBLEAU  AND  MONEGAW— ROADS— 
'INDIAN  RAID— ALL  OTHER  POINTS— VARIOUS  THINGS— ITEMS  OF  INTEREST. 

THE   PIONEERS. 

Having  given  something  of  the  troubles  and  trials,  pleasures  and 
vexations  of  the  old  pioneers,  let  us  see  who  it  was  that  led  the  van  of 
progress,  that  blazed  the  way  for  civilization  and  Christianity,  that  these 
might  cover  a  wider  and  more  extended  field,  and  who  with  nerve  and 
brawn  gave  life  to  the  wilderness,  and  marked  the  commencement  of  the 
era  of  material  progress. 

JACOB   COONCE. 

A  name  very  familiar  to  the  people  of  St.  Clair  County,  is  that  of 
Jacob  Coonce,  a  hunter  of  note,  who  when  the  sharp  crack  of  his  rifle 
was  heard  knew  that  death  had  found  another  victim,  hunted  through 
the  hills  and  valleys  of  the  Osage "^and  the  Sac  as  early  as  1827.  He  was 
the  type  of  the  western  hunter  and  trapper,  and  a  sturdy  pioneer,  who 
reveled  in  the  wild  freedom  of  his  western  home.  He  was  not  all  hunter- 
He  had  an  eye  for  the  beautiful  country  through  which  he  traveled,  as 
well  as  for  the  sight  upon  his  never  failing  rifle,  and  as  early  as  the  year 
above  spoken  of  he  had  marked  the  spot,  or  near  it,  where  he  had  made 
up  his  mind  would  become  his  future  home. 

In  the  year  183 1  Jacob  Coonce  erected  the  first  cabin  in  the  county 
of  St.  Clair.  This  cabin  stood  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  ii^ 
nearly  a  mile  and  a  half  west  of  the  Sac  River,  in  what  is  now  Roscoe 
Township,  in  congressional  township  IJ,  of  range  26.  It  was  here  the 
pioneer  leader  first  drove  his  stake,  and  it  was  on  that  land  that  the 
first  corn  was  raised  in  St.  Clair  County.  But  this  was  not  the  spot 
which  he  had  chosen  for  his  home,  when  on  his  hunting  expeditions,  but 
he  stopped  a  twelve  months,  and  at  last  found  it  near  Brush  Creek,  in 
what  is  now  Washington  Township,  where  he  removed  in  the  spring  of 
1832,  and  made  it  his  future  home.     He  still  made  hunting  his  principal 


832  HISTORY    OF   ST.   CLAIR   COUNTY. 

work,  and  in  that  early  day  the  flint  lock  was  about  the  only  one  in  use, 
but  the  cap  lock  began  to  appear  and  Coonce  concluded  to  have  the 
lock  on  "Betsey"  changed  to  a  percussion  lock,  and  in  1834  on  a  trip  to 
St.  Louis,  which  he  took  on  horseback,  he  stopped  at  Robert  H.  Sproull's, 
then  a  resident  of  Henry  County,  living  some  six  miles  from  Calhoun  in 
Springfield  Township,  and  a  gunsmith  by  trade,  to  know  if  he  could 
change  the  lock  for  him,  and  he  would  call  for  it  on  his  return  from  St. 
Louis.  SprouU  agreed  to  do  the  job,  and  "Betsey"  was  left  in  his  care. 
At  that  time  Coonce  wore  moccasins,  buckskin  breeches,  a  coonskin 
cap,  and  had  a  large  blanket,  in  those  days  called  Indian  blankets, 
thrown  over  his  shoulders.  He  was  rough  looking,  but  the  man  was 
there.  On  his  return  he  called  for  his  rifle,  and  on  receiving  it  patted  it 
affectionately  and  said,  "Old  Bet,  you  and  I  have  never  been  parted  so  long, 
and  we  won't  be  again."  Then  loading  his  rifle  and  trying  on  a  cap, 
caught  sight  of  a  squirrel  on  the  top  of  a  tree,  drew  his  gun  to  his  shoul- 
der, the  cap  proved  good  and  the  squirrel  family  claimed  a  dead  relative. 
Coonce  smiled,  turned  to  SprouU  and  said,  "She  is  all  right,"  and  rode 
away.  This  was  in  the  spring  of  1834.  Elijah  Wamsley,  Peter  Francis 
and  Dick  DeShazo,  Sanders  Nance  and  others,  were  his  neighbors. 

OTHER   SETTLERS. 

Mr.  Coonce  did  not  run  St.  Clair  County  for  any  great  length  of 
time  all  alone.  There  were  other  palefaces  who  were  anxious  to  pre- 
empt a  few  acres  of  this  glorious  domain,  from  which  the  Indians  had 
departed.  The  fall  and  winter  of  1833  witnessed  the  arrival  of  Ebenezer 
Gash  and  Wm.  M.  Gash,  the  latter  with  a  large  family,  who  settled  on 
Coon  Creek,  now  Doyal  Township.  Then  came  the  Culbertsons  in  1835, 
— Isaac,  Joseph  and  Ira, — and  still  later  came  James  and  Robert  Gardner, 
the  latter  the  father  of  Dr.  J.  Wade  Gardner,  now  and  for  years  past  a 
prominent  citizen  of  Osceola  and  St.  Clair  County.  Robert  Gardner 
settled  in  what  is  now  Collins  Township,  and  James  in  Doyal,  in  the 
year  1838.  Burdett  Salm  also  settled  on  Coon  Creek,  near  the  Gashes. 
Joseph  Gash  was  another  brother.  Thomas  Piper,  Daniel  Brandt  and 
Nicholas  McMinn,  with  others,  were  known  as  living  down  in  the  Coon 
Creek  settlement. 

SAC    RIVER   SETTLEMENT. 

On  Sac  River,  in  the  forks,  were  Dan,  Joe  and  Calvin  Waldo,  who 
came  to  this  county  among  the  first  settlers,  and  lived  in  what  is  now 
Doyal  Township,  although  Daniel  Waldo  purchased  on  the  west  side  of 
Sac  River,  in  Roscoe  Township.  That  bend  was  known  as  Dan  Waldo 
Bend,  while  Calvin  bought  the  bend  on  the  east  side,  or  in  Osceola 
Township,  and  was  called  the  Cal.  Waldo  Bend. 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  833 

It  was  in  this  bend  that  the  first  store  was  established  in  St.  Clair 
County  outside  of  Osceola,  and  was  the  second  store  in  the  county,  Cal- 
vin Waldo  being  the  proprietor. 

On  the  forks  of  Sac  River  were  Hill,  Bob  and  John  Burch  and 
Nathaniel  Bell.  A.  H.  Wilkerson  and  Wash  and  Henry  Whitlow,  canrie 
about  the  same  time.  Old  man  Ward  settled  the  place  where  Dr.  Cox 
and  Avery  B.  Howard  afterward  built  the  mill  that  is  known  as  the 
Howard  or  Ritchie  Mill. 

On  the  Weaubleau  lived  the  widow  Clarkson  and  William  Clarkson, 
George  McFarland,  Simeon  Boston,  Henry  Earl,  James  Gardner  and 
Elija  Rice,  brother  of  the  late  Judge  Rice;  Jonas  Musgrove,  after  whom 
the  Musgrove  Ford  took  its  name;  Joseph  Coslow,  who  was  the  first  set- 
tler on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Dr.  Whaley,  and  Eliza  Bucket,  who  set- 
tled just  across  the  river  from  Coslow.  Many  of  the  old  settlers  will 
remember  him  as  the  first  pill  maker  in  the  county. 

James  Gardner,  above  spoken  of,  was  the  first  justice  of  the  peace 
of  Weaubleau  Township,  St.  Clair  County,  and  was  elected  December 
10,  1835. 

Andy  Jones,  of  unsavory  reputation,  lived  in  this  section.  He  was 
a  great  lover  of  horseflesh  and  was  not  over  particular  who  it  belonged 
to,  and  seldom  went  through  the  form  of  a  purchase  in  securing  it.  He 
soon  after  emigrated.  As  his  character  became  known  the  air  seemed 
to  grow  oppressive,  and  in  those  days  they  cured  a  man  of  his  propen- 
sities for  other  people's  property  by  an  invitation  to  emigrate  or  by  a 
tightening  of  the  jugular  vein.  Both  remedies  were  a  sure  cure;  the  lat- 
ter, however,  was  the  most  permanent. 

Dr.  Kelso  and  brothers  were  the  first  settlers  of  the  Hoffman  Bend 
section.  The  Kelso  family  consisted  of  old  Andrew  Kelso,  John,  Ben- 
jamin and  Andrew,  Jr,  and  an  old  man  named  Cassidy,  who  was  a 
brother-in-law  of  Kelso,  Sr. 

This  family  was  considered  pretty  shrewd,  and  was  inclined  to  make 
the  most  of  their  opportunities.  This  caused  some  feeling  among  their 
neighbors.  They  were  charged  with  trying  to  secure  the  pre-emption 
claims  of  some  of  their  neighbors,  and  they  were  invited  to  leave  that 
portion  of  the  country.  It  is  said  that  Jesse  Applegate  was  one  of  the 
settlers  who  waited  upon  them  and  gave  them  to  understand  that  they 
had  better  seek  a  more  congenial  clime,  or  in  case  they  did  not  grape 
vines  were  plentiful  and  the  thickets  dense.  Soon  after  this  the  Kelsos 
emigrated  up  the  river. 

When  the  Kelsos  left,  David  Hoffman,  who  came  from  Virginia,  set- 
tled near  Roscoe,  in  1836.  He  bought  the  Kelso  place  and  started  what 
is  known  to  this  day  as  Hoffman's  Ferry,  in  1839.  At  a  session  of  the 
Rives,  now  Henry,  County  Court,  on   the  5th  day  of  December,  1839, 

David  Hoffman  presented  his  petition  to  start  a  ferry  across  the  Osage 

53 


834  HISTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  \ 

River.     It  was  granted  him,  with  the  privilege  of  making  the  following 
charges  for  ferryage:     Four  horse  wagon,  $i;  man  and  horse,  25c;  sin-     ' 
gle  horse,    I2.^c;  footman,    I2^c;    three    horse   wagon,   75c;    two    horse 
wagon,  50c;  one  horse  dearbon,  S7^c;  cattle  sheep  and  hogs,  3c  each.  i 

THE   FIRST   SENATOR.  ,  I 

Then  right  across  the  river,  or  rather  on  the  west  side,  lived  Joseph 
Montgomery,  who  settled  in  what  is  now  Springfield  Township,  Henry 
County,  in  the  year  1834. 

He  was  one  ot  the  first  county  judges  of  that  county,  its  first  sur- 
veyor, and  afterwards,  in  1838,  the  first  senator  from  this  senatorial  dis-  j 
trict.  He  was  a  Virginian  by  birth,  and  was  a  member  of  the  legisla-  ' 
turc  of  that  commonwealth  before  his  removal  west.  He  settled  on  | 
section  6,  township  37,  range  26,  and  was  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  this  | 
county  in  its  early  days.  I 

John    Perry,  John   Armingtrout,   Robert    Burch,  John    Burch   and 
Nathaniel  Bell  were  all  settlers  in  1835  and  1836,  in  what  is  now  Roscoe 
Township.      Jesse  Applegate,  Charles  Applegate  and  Lindsey  Apple-     * 
gate  were  among  these  early  settlers  about  1834.     Jesse  Applegate  was     1 
a    surveyor  of  note,  and  surveyed  a  good   part  of  this   country  for  the 
United  States  Government,  finishing  in  1838.     At  the  time  of  the  loca- 
tion of  the  county  seat,  the  Applegate  interest  was  out  voted,  and  they 
became  disgusted.    They  never  entirely  got  over  it,  and  in  1844,  all  three     ', 
of  the   Applegates  and  Daniel  Waldo  removed   to    Oregon.     A  son  of 
Jesse  Applegate,  Jesse  A.  Applegate,  was  the  guide  of  the  army  that 
captured  Captain  Jack  and  his  band  of  Modocs,  in  the  lava  beds. 

Theoderic  Snuffer  settled  about  one  and  a  half  miles  north  of  Huff- 
man's Ferry,  being  neighbor  to  the  Applegates  and  Montgomery.     In     I 
fact,  all  were  neighbors  in  those  days  who  lived  within  ten  miles  of  each 
other. 

Near  the  ferry  settled  an  old  man  by  the   name   of    Palmer,  and   in 
the  low  lands  north  of  Huffman's  Bend,  in  1838,  lived  the  widow  Russel     ' 
and  several  sons,  David  Cayens  and   David  Moore.     South  of  the  river,     ; 
and  on  what  is  now  known   as   the  Todd  place,  south  of  Roscoe,  lived 
John  Smith.     He  had  fame  as  well   as   the  John   Smith  of   Pocahontas 
fame.     The  latter,  however,  our  John  Smith,  was  famous  for  making  an     . 
article  called  "Peach  Brandy,"  and  when  there  was  a  little  honey  mixed 
with  it,  it  was  looked  upon  in  those  days  as  a  nectar  for  the  gods.     John 
Smith  had  numerous  callers.     In   that  vicinity  was    also    found    Joseph     1 
Glenn,  Staley  Copenhaver  and  John   and   Sabe   Cringer.     John  Cringer     j 
was  the  father-in-law  of  the   eminent   Dr.  James   Smith,  who  was   shot     1 
and  killed  in   1850  by  Marcellus  Harris.     In  Appleton  Township,  near 
the  head  of  Big  INIonegaw,  were  John  Hogan,  whose  children  yet  reside     1 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  835 

in  that  section;  Jesse  Ridgvvay  and  the  Colthaid  family,  who  were  neigh- 
bors of  Mr.  Hogan;  Frank  Sproull,  John  Dittee,  Andrew  Younce,  John 
Rickey;  and  in  Monegaw,  John  Hodgson,  James  Carroll  and  Joseph 
Hernden,  were  all  early  settlers.  The  latter  was  postmaster  in  1839  of 
Monegaw  post  office,  which  he  kept  at  his  house  for  nine  years. 

TABER. 

South  of  these,  in  what  is  now  Taber  Township,  and  on  the  east 
side,  there  lived  Major  Robertson,  James  Masterson,  Colonel  Beal  and 
Jack  Smar.  Tom  Kelso  owned  the  ferry  and  sold  to  Huffman.  David 
Kelso  settled  in  section  6,  Taber  Township,  and  sold  to  John  Smar,  the 
first  sheriff  of  St.  Clair  County,  and  then  moved  to  section  32,  township 
38,  range  28,  where  Colonel  Charles  Beal  and  family  bought  him  out 
again  in  1839;  Kelso  then  went  still  further  west.  Beal  and  his  sons 
subsequently  went  to  Oregon.  Robert  Shortis,  Martin  McFerran,  William 
P.  Burck,  Cyrus  V.  Robinson,  Roberts,  William  Jordon  and  George  Beals 
were  all  residents  of  this  township  (Taber)  in  1837  and  1838. 

THE    LAND   OF   THE   GUIACUTAS. 

South  of  the  Osage,  in  what  is  now  Speedwell  Township,  there  came 
in  1838  James  M.  Breckinridge,  James  Anderson,  Allen  Phillips,  Wil- 
liam, Joseph,  Randolph  and  John  Whitley  and  Mack  H.  Goode.  Others 
settled  in  this  neighborhood  soon  after.  It  was  the  inhabitants  of  this 
township  that  first  discovered  the  "  Terror  "  of  the  Osage. 

The  third  store  and  second  blacksmith  shop  in  St.  Clair  County 
outside  of  Osceola  were  located  on  the  north  side  of  the  river,  just  above 
the  mouth  of  Coon  Creek,  on  section  13  in  what  is  now  Roscoe  Town- 
ship. The  store  was  run  by  Patrick  Shields  and  the  blacksmith  shop  by 
John  Bedell.  All  kinds  of  produce  and  stock  was  low  then.  Pork  sold 
at  $1.25,  cows  and  calves  from  $6  to  $8,  and  three  and  four-year-old 
steers  from  $8  to  $10.  The  merchants  hauled  their  goods  from  Boon- 
ville. 

MONEGAW   SPRINGS. 

The  first  improvement  at  the  now  famous  Monegaw  Springs,  in  the 
southeastern  part  of  Chalk  Level  Township,  was  made  by  Lindsey  and 
Charles  Applegate.  This  was  about  1834,  or  the  winter  of  1834-5.  They 
put  up  a  small  water  mill  and  built  a  log  cabin.  James  Anderson  came 
in  1833,  and,  taking  a  fancy  to  the  place,  bought  out  the  Applegate 
claim  and  settled  at  the  springs  that  year.  Near  him  Charles  Reavis 
settled  a  mile  or  two  away  on  the  river,  and  in  the  forks  of  the  Mone- 
gaw lived  a  man  named  Gum,  and  the  farm  is  still  known  by  that  name. 
Perhaps  it  would  be  as  well  to  digress  right  here. 


836  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

t 

EARLY    POLITICAL    HISTORY. 

As  most  of  our  readers  are  aware,  if  not,  they  will  learn  it  now,  St. 
Clair  County  was  attached  to  Rives,  now  Henry  County,  for  all  civil  and 
military  purposes  on  February  ii,  1835.  The  official  life  of  the  count}^ 
■dates  from  that  time  as  a  part  of  Rives,  and  was  administered  by  the 
Rives  County  Court.  The  action  of  that  court  gives  in  a  measure  the 
early  history  of  the  county  and  the  names  of  the  early  settlers,  and  if 
not  the  date  they  came,  the  date  they  were  in  the  county  at  that  day. 
To  show  these  arrivals  and  to  give  the  action  of  the  court  at  different 
times  is  the  cause  of  this  digression.  In  many  cases  dates  are  important, 
and  on  comparison  we  find  a  marked  contrast  with  the  report  of  our  old 
citizens  with  each  other,  and  some  of  the  dates  found  of  record  in  the 
year  1835.  First  is  given  some  of  the  actions  of  the  Rives  County 
Court,  and  then  a  list  of  names  of  those  that  settled  here  in  1835  or  in 
the  spring  of  1836. 

ST.   CLAIR   TOWNSHIP. 

At  the  first  session  of  the  Rives  County  Court,  the  whole  of  St. 
Clair  County  was  made  a  township  of  Rives  under  the  name  of  St.  Clair 
Township.  This  was  on  May  5,  1835.  It  was  necessary  to  have  an 
election,  and  one  was  ordered  to  be  held  at  the  house  of  Daniel  Waldo, 
on  the  24th  day  of  October,  1835.  Charles  Applegate,  Samuel  Kelso 
and  Charles  Bowman  were  appointed  judges.  These  persons  were  all 
in  the  county  in  1834  and  previous.  Among  the  records  were  also 
found  in  1835,  names  of  Joseph  Halbert,  John  J.  Wyatt,  and  A.  Jones. 
The  election  was  held  at  the  above  date  for  a  justice  of  the  peace. 

WEAUBLEAU   AND    MONEGAW. 

On  the  4th  day  of  November,  1835,  the  Rives  County  Court  made  a 
change,  giving  what  was  St.  Clair  County  two  townships,  naming  them 
Weaubleau  and  Monegaw  Townships,  and  their  boundaries  were  des- 
cribed as  follows: 

All  that  part  of  the  county  east  of  range  line  25,  and  including  the 
waters  of  Sac  River,  and  running  to  the  north  boundary  of  the  county, 
which  township  shall  be  known  by  the  name  of  Wablaw  [so  spelled] 
Township.  The  other,  including  all  that  part  of  the  county  of  St.  Clair 
lying  west  of  said  division  line  aforesaid,  shall  be  known  as  Monegaw 
Township. 

At  this  term  of  court,  November  4,  1835,  there  was  an  election 
ordered  to  take  place  in  each  township  on  the  loth  day  of  December, 
1835.  The  election  in  Weaubleau  Township  was  to  be  held  at  the  house 
of  Ebenezer  Gash,  and  the  judges  of  the  election  were  Ebenezer  Gash, 
Simon  Poston  and  Joel  Starkey. 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  837 

In  Monegaw  Township  the  election  was  to  be  held  at  the  house  of 
Lindsey  Applegate,  and  Eli  Roberts,  Samuel  Kelso  and  Alexander  Zeb- 
ley  were  appointed  the  judges.  In  the  spring  election  of  1836,  the  same 
men  were  appointed  judges,  and  the  same  houses  made  the  voting  pre- 
cincts.  The  order  was  of  the  same  date  as  the  first.  Two  justices  of  the 
the  peace  were  elected  at  that  December  election  of  1835,  and  James 
Gardner  was  elected  for  Weaubleau,  and  Jesse  Applegate  for  Monegaw 
Township. 

Alexander  McClelland  was  elected  constable  of  Monegaw  Town- 
ship at  the  August  election,  1836,  and  the  election  was  held  at  the  house 
of  John  J.  Wyatt.     That  in  Weaubleau  was  still  held  at  Ebenezer  Gash's. 

PUBLIC    ROADS. 

The  first  public  road  laid  out  in  St.  Clair  County,  was  the  road  from 
and  through  Clinton,  in  Henry  County.  The  Rives  County  Court  made 
the  order  of  record,  that  the  road  should  start  at  the  Johnson  County 
line,  at  or  near  the  high  point  of  Post  Oak,  since  called  the  high  point 
of  Tebo,  and  then  to  a  point  designed  as  the  county  seat  of  Rives 
County;  thence  south  through  the  county  of  St.  Clair,  crossing  the 
Osage  River  at  Crow  &  Crutchfield's  store,  to  the  county  line  of  Polk 
County,  in  the  direction  of  Bolivar. 

Stephen  Noel  was  appointed  overseer  for  the  part  of  the  road  laid 
out  in  St.  Clair  County.  This,  as  was  above  remarked,  was  the  first  road, 
but  at  the  same  term  or  session  of  the  Rives  County  Court,  a  day  or  two 
later,  the  following  order  was  made  of  record: 

That  a  road  be  viewed  from  Crow  &  Crutchfield's  store  on  the 
Osage  River,  to  the  Benton  County  line,  in  the  direction  of  the  seat  of 
justice  of  said  county. 

Both  of  these  orders  were  made  at  the  May  term  of  the  court,  1836, 
so  that  at  that  date  Crow  &  Crutchfield's  store  was  known.  It  is  given 
that  they  started  in  the  winter  of  1835-6,  or  early  in  the  latter  year,  and 
of  course  was  the  first  store  in  St.  Clair  County.  The  second  store  was 
that  of  Calvin  Waldo,  in  Waldo's  Bend,  on  section  6,  Osceola  Township, 
which  was  in  full  blast  in  June,  1836,  and  then  came  the  store  of  Patrick 
Shields,  on  the  north  side  of  the  river  on  section  8,  Roscoe  Township, 
before  mentioned,  at  the  Hoffman  Ferry. 

A   SLIGHT   SCARE. 

A  report  came  to  Osceola,  or  Crow  &  Crutchfield's,  that  a  hunting 
party  of  Indians  in  the  western  part  of  the  county  were  giving  trouble, 
and  that  they  were  moving  west.  While  not  very  badly  scared,  the  cit- 
zens  were  somewhat  alarmed,  and   the   vision   of  a  scalping  knife  per- 


838  HISTORY   OF    ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

forming  a  circle  around  their  heads  with  an  Indian  attachment  at  the 
handle,  or  to  be  made  a  target  for  a  stone  hatchet,  was  not  really  pleas- 
ant, and  so  Osceola  turned  out  en  masse. 

There  were  seven  or  eight  people  here  at  that  time  and  they  started 
for  Calvin  Waldo's  to  hold  a  council  of  war.  Phillip  Crow,  Dr.  P.  M. 
Cox,  W.  H.  Scobey  and  a  few  others  started  for  the  Bend.  In  the  mean- 
time scouts  had  been  sent  out  and  were  to  report  at  the  Bend.  They 
arrived  safe  and  it  was  soon  ascertained  that  their  scalps  were  safe.  The 
Indians  had  got  a  trifle  too  much  "  fire  water,"  and  as  there  was  quite  a 
large  hunting  party  of  them,  the  settlers  got  scared  at  their  wild  antics 
and  decamped,  spreading  the  news  that  the  Indians  were  on  the  war 
path.  Scouting  parties  soon  got  at  the  truth.  As  the  Indians  sobered 
up  they  became  docile  and  did  not  attempt  to  hurt  anyone  but  them- 
selves. The  Osceola  Company,  led  by  Phil.  Crow  as  captain,  and  Dr. 
Cox,  as  surgeon,  returned  in  triumph,  and  were  welcomed  by  the  entire 
population  that  was  left  at  home.  This  was  the  first  battle  {^)  which 
took  place  in  the  county  after  its  settlement  by  the  pale  faces. 

A   ROAD   PETITION. 

The  roads  first  above  referred  to  were  only  the  entering  wedge  and 
in  1838  Weaubleau  Township  had  six  road  districts.  On  August  2, 
1836,  a  petition  was  presented  to  the  county  court  of  Rives  County  for  a 
road  from  Crow  &  Crutchfield's,  on  the  Osage  River,  to  the  Benton 
County  line. 

This  petition  is  here  given  because  it  was  signed  by  a  large  number 
of  the  settlers  who  came  in  1833,  1834  or  1835,  all  of  whom  were  in  the 
county  at  the  above  date.  Here  are  the  names  signed  to  that  petition: 
Joseph  Culbertson,  James  B.  Sears,  Willis  Bush,  Benjamin  Miller,  John 
M.  Reed,  Phillip  Crow,  Richard  P.  Crutchfield,  Stephen  Noel,  Henry 
Hoover,  Henry  Earl,  G.  W.  Rogers,  Jonas  Parton,  Henry  Ewell,  Benja- 
min Robinson,  Joel  Starkey,  Thomas  F.  Windsor,  John  Clarkson,  Sr., 
John  Clarkson,  Jr.,  Elijah  Bucket,  Thomas  F.  Wright,  William  Vanlan- 
dingham,  William  Gash,  Daniel  Brandt,  Josiah  Culbertson,  Jonas  Mus- 
grove  and  Samuel  Givens. 

All  these  lived  east  of  range  line  25,  or  in  Weaubleau  Township, 
principally  in  what  are  now  Osceola,  Polk  and  Doyal  Townships,  with 
some  from  the  south  side  of  Butler  Township. 

AT   OTHER   POINTS. 

Osceola  was  among  the  early  settlements,  and  followed  those  on 
Brush  and  Coon  Creeks.  Crow  and  Crutchfield  came  first  in  1835;  then 
Dr.  S.  P.  Cox  and  his  brothers,  Richard,  William  and  Joseph,  Ashly 
Peebley,  Jonas  Alexander   and    Henry  Hoover  came  in  1836,  and  Zach- 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  839 

.  ariah  Lilly  in  the  spring  of  1837;  Major  Hains  the  same  year.  H.  W. 
Crow,  Charles  P.  Bullock,  Stephen  Noel  and  W.  C.  Thompson  all  were 
here  in  1837,  and  before,  or  in  the  township.  Old  man  Hoover  and 
daughter,  Ann  Hoover,  settled  in  the  Horse  Shoe  Bend;  Charles  Bow- 
man, Benjamin  Miller  and  others  down  the  river.  In  the  Tally  Bend 
lived  James  Tally,  John  Tally  and  Thomas  F.  Wright.  This  side  of  them 
settled  John  C.  Greenwell,  in  1838;  also  S.  C.  Bruce. 

In  Chalk  Level  were  the  Andersons,  who  came  as  early  as  1835; 
Obanion  Anderson,  John  Robert  and  James,  the  latter  owner  of  Mone- 
gaw  Springs  in  1836,  and  Jacob  Johnson:  these  were  the  earliest  settlers 
of  that  township.  Judge  Hester  and  R.  S.  Nance  settled  in  1837  in 
what  is  now  Doyal  Township;  and  north,  between  them  and  Osceola, 
and  scattered  along  the  prairie,  were  Littleton  Lunsford,  Sam  Wyatt, 
Joel  Rodman,  James  Boatman,  John  W.  Ritchie  and  Rodney  Walker. 

The  election  in  Weaubleau  Township,  in  August,  1837,  resulted  in 
William  F.  Carter  being  elected  justice  of  the  peace,  and  Jesse  Apple- 
gate  was  still  a  justice  in  Monegaw  Township. 

In  1837,  Christopher  Greenup,  David,  James,  William  and  John 
Burch  all  settled  in  what  is  now  Butler  Township.  John  G.  Williams 
and  William  Crowley  and  the  Bunch  family  were  viewers  of  a  road  to 
or  in  the  direction  of  Clinton  in  May,  1838.  In  this  latter  year  quite  a 
number  of  immigrants  settled  in  the  county.  There  were  Moses  and 
Wesley  D.  Pinkston,  John  E.  Treahern,  Thomas  Piper,  Richard  Cren- 
shaw, H.  W.  and  J.  W.  Moore,  A.  H.  Wilkinson,  John  Thornton,  John 
F.  McClain,  Absalom  McClenshaw,  John  W.  Teague,  Parson  James  Cole, 
(now  living  in  Taney  County),  James  H.  Middleton  and  Frederic  Melton; 
also  Roderick  D.  McCullough  and  Lewis  R.  Ashworth,  the  latter  being 
elected  a  justice  of  the  peace  in  1840. 

Hugh  Barnett,  Sr.,  came  in  1839-,  so  did  John  Barnett,  H.  Y.  Small, 
John  R.  White  and  many  others,  which  about  completes  the  list  of  early 
settlers. 

THE   MISSING. 

There  are  doubtless  others  whose  names  will  be  missing,  but  these 
may  be  found  in  the  township  histories,  or  among  the  list  of  the  names 
of  old  settlers.  It  is  not  our  intention  to  leave  out  any,  yet  a  few  names 
are  likely,  from  causes  unforseen,  to  be  omitted.  The  pioneers  of  St. 
Clair  County  are  worthy  of  this  record,  and  those  here  given,  have  left 
names  unsullied.  It  was  left  for  those  who  came  later  to  leave  a  few 
dark  stains  upon  the  history  of  St.  Clair  County,  but  those  stains  were 
not  imprinted  by  those  who  came  previous  to  the  year  i860. 

THE   DECADE. 

The  decade  between  1830  and  1840,  of  which  the  record  has  been 
here  given,  was  one  of  hardship  to  the  pioneer,  but  he  struggled  bravely 


840  HISTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

and  he  conquered.  The  wilderness  gave  way  to  progress  and  prosperity 
marked  the  pathway  and  lightened  the  toil  of  the  old  settlers.  His 
cabin  at  last  gave  way  to  a  home  of  comfort,  and  the  privations  of  the 
past,  though  remembered,  did  not  mar  the  present  or  the  glorious  hope 
of  the  future. 

VARIOUS   THINGS. 

The  first  application  for  a  distribution  of  slave  property  in  St.  Clair 
County  was  made  to  the  Rives  County  Court  by  the  administrator  of 
Gabriel  P.  Nash,  May,  1838.  The  first  application  for  that  of  guardian 
of  minor  heirs,  was  by  William  Gash,  and  they  were  his  own  children, 
eight  in  number.  This  also  was  at  the  May  term  1838.  Mr.  Gash  had 
lost  his  wife  a  short  time  before.  The  children  were  named  Selina, 
Alfred,  Martha,  John,  Mary,  William,  James  and  Elizabeth. 

The  first  ferry  franchise  granted  in  St.  Clair  County  was  to  Phillip 
Crow,  November  10,  1836.  He  was  authorized  to  establish  a  ferry  across 
the  Osage  at  Osceola,  and  he  was  allowed  to  make  the  following  charges: 
"  For  man  and  horse,  I2^c;  single  man,  6c;  head  of  cattle,  sheep  and 
hogs,  3c;  one  horse  with  carriage  or  wagon,  37c;  two  horses,  do.,  50c;; 
four  horses,  do.,  $i;  and  that  the  said  Crow  pay  $2  tax  thereof  for 
twelve  months." 

SALE   OF   SCHOOL   LANDS. 

The  first  sale  of  school  lands  in  St.  Clair  County  was  made  by  the 
order  of  the  Rives  County  Court,  August,  1838.  The  i6th  section  of 
township  38,  of  range  25,  was  sold.  Phillip  Crow  borrowed  of  that 
money  $488.55,  at  10  per  cent,  .interest.  He  gave  personal  and  mort- 
gage security.  The  next  school  land  sold  was  the  i6th  section  of  town- 
ship 38,  of  range  24,  and  was  ordered  sold  at  the  February  term,  1841. 
This  was  the  last  act  of  the  Rives  County  Court  in  the  affairs  of  St. 
Clair  County. 

ITEMS   OF   INTEREST. 

The  first  wrought  iron  plow  ever  used  in  the  western  part  of  St. 
Clair  County  was  brought  from  Virginia,  and  used  by  Theodric  Snuffer 
and  Joe  Montgomery.  One  of  those  old  broken  plows  is  yet  to  be  seen 
on  the  old  homestead  of  Snuffer,  though  it  would  require  six  yoke  of 
good  cattle  to  draw  it  through  brush  land  to  the  depth  of  six  inches. 

The  stoutest  and  most  active  man  among  the  early  settlers  was 
Joseph  Baker.  It  was  stated  that  he  could,  by  a  run  of  thirty  paces, 
leap  over  a  pole  eight  feet  from  the  ground,  and  could  heave  a  pound 
stone  100  yards.  Baker  was  born  and  raised  in  the  mountains  of  Vir- 
ginia, and  was  a  brother-in-law  of  Theodric  Snuffer. 

One  of  the  old  settlers,  who  came  in  1838,  in  speaking  of  those  early 
times,  said:     "  We  needed  very  little  money  in  those  days,  as  our  win- 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  84I 

ters  were  short  and  our  stock  was  fat  the  year  round,  while  taxes  never 
bothered  the  minds  of  the  early  settlers.  Our  school  system  was  run  by 
subscription,  and  when  we  didn't  like  a  teacher  wc  dismissed  him  and 
got  some  one  else.  The  women  folks  used  to  make  all  the  wearing- 
apparel  for  the  families— woolen  in  winter  and  flax  linen  in  summer — 
while  the  men  generally  wore  woolen  shirts,  buckskin  trowsers  and 
moccasins  on  their  feet.  Wild  bear  were  in  abundance,  and  when  we 
wanted  sweetmeats  we  had  only  to  chop  down  a  '  bee  tree'  and  take  the 
honey." 

REMOVALS. 

Quite  a  number  of  the  early  settlers  of  St.  Clair  County  moved  to 
other  states  and  climes.  Mention  has  been  made  of  the  emigration  of 
the  Waldos,  Applegates  and  Beals  to  Oregon;  Bullock  lives  in  McDon- 
ald County;  a  few  left  for  God-forsaken  Kansas,  and  others  like  Dave 
Moore,  Cayens  and  Palmer,  went  to  the  Lone  Star  State;  a  few  went 
back  to  their  eastern  home,  while  others  followed  the  setting  sun. 

From  "  Montgomery's"  article  in  the  Osceola  Sun  we  take  the  fol- 
lowing: 

"  Among  those  who  left  in  1842  for  the  Lone  Star  State  was  Martin 
McFerran,  a  veteran  of  18 12,  and  a  man  of  energy  with  an  inclination 
to  see  a  good  deal  of  this  country.  He  remained  in  Texas  some  sixteen 
years  and  returned  in  1858  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days  among 
his  old  friends.  He  died  in  i860,  at  the  residence  of  Theodric  Snuffer^ 
in  the  seventieth  year  of  his  age.  McFerran  was  one  of  those  gallant 
sons  of  the  Old  Dominion  who  struck  with  a  revenging  hand  at  John 
Bull's  hirelings  in  the  war  of  1812.  Peace  to  the  ashes  of  those  gallant 
sons  of  feedom  who  sleep  in  the  soil  they  helped  to  redeem  from  the 
ruthless  hands  of  their  oppressors  !  Sons  of  America,  disturb  not  their 
slumbers.  Let  them  rest,  calmly  rest  on  the  shores  of  our  own  beautiful 
river,  in  the  land  they  loved  so  well,  and  beneath  the  starry  banner^ 
emblem  of  the  free  and  brave,  which  they  so  heroically  defended. 

MONTGOMERY." 


CHAPTER  III.  ; 

AN  OLD  SETTLEMENT— WILD  BEAST  OF  THE  MOUNTALNS.    , 

■i 

A  PIONEER  COLONY -OLD  SETTLER'S   STORY-A   ROCKY  MOUNTAIN    LION   ANU    GRIZZLY 
BEAR  COMBINED  ON  THE  RAMPAGE— THE    HUXT— WHERE  M1S5  MAT  \VAS— FA'  ING 
DANGER-ROCK     HOUSE    CAVE-THE   MONSTER   COMING— HE  CAME— THE  SAD  AND 
MOURNFUL  MARCH    HOME-PIONEERS    FROM  1832  TO  1840— PIONEERS    NOW   LIVING    1 
—PETITION— PIONEER  WOMEN— CONCLUSION.  I 

I 
A   PIONEER   COLONY,  ' 

1 
From  the  Appleton  Journal  of  June  2,  1882,  is  taken   the  following    ! 

interesting  narrative  of  the  arrival  and  settlement  of  four  families  in  the  ! 

year  1838,  who  have  left  their  mark  upon  the  material  prosperity  of  St.  ] 

Clair  County.     And  yet,  when  taken  all  together,  it  is  but  a  repetition  of 

what  all  the  early  pioneers   experienced   in  their  wild  western  homes,  ^ 

leaving  names  to  be  recorded  high  upon  the  scroll  of  fame,  and  a  herit-  , 

age  to  their  children  and  their  children's  children  that  they  will  cherish 

while  life  lasts:  ^ 

I 

It  is  a  duty  that   we  owe  to  the  memory  of  those  enterprising   and    ] 
hardy  people,  who  had  the  courage  to  leave  the  older  settlements   with    ' 
all  their  comforts  and  conveniences,  and  push  boldly  out  into  the  deso-    ' 
late  western  wilds  to  open  the  way  for  the  thousands  that  should  follow    ' 
them,  that  a  record   should  be  kept  of  their  doings  and   the  credit  due   _j 
them  be  duly  accorded  for  their  achievements.     But  few  of  them  now 
remain  to  tell  the  story.     Among  the  number  are  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Andrew    ! 
Yonce,  of   Taber  Township,  in    this  county.     Mrs.  Yonce,  a  sprightly, 
intelligent  old  lady,  while  visiting  her  son  in  this  city,  was  called  upon 
in  behalf  of  the  Journal,  and  furnished  the  following  items:  j 

Andrew  Yonce  was  born  in  Virginia  April  3,  18 10.     Esther  Crut- 
haid  (now  Mrs.  Yonce)  was  born  in  England  November  25,  18 14.     With 
her  father's   family  she  came  to  Virginia  in  1829;  married  Mr.  Yonce    i 
November  10,  1836.  [ 

In  accordance  with  the  well  known   motto,  "  Westward  the  tide  of 
emigration   takes   its  way,"  a  party  was  made  up  in  1838,  consisting  of   j 
four  families,  to  commence  a  settlement  in   the   wilds  of  Western  Mis-    ' 
souri. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yonce,  with  their  first   baby;  Widow  Cruthaid  (Mrs. 
Yonce's  mother),  with  six  unmarried  children;  John  Hodgson  and   wife    .i 
(the  latter  a  daughter  of  Mrs.  Cruthaid),  with  their  three  children,  and 
James  Rickey,  wife  and  two  children,  made  up  the  party. 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  843 

They  came  with  horses  and  wagons.  Their  wagon  beds  were  of  the 
high  and  capacious  schooner  style  of  those  days,  and  as  such  were  used 
by  the  Mormons  who  were  then  drifting  about  in  the  west.  People 
whose  houses  they  passed  would  call  out,  "  There  go  some  more  Mor- 
mons." On  their  way  through  Missouri  they  met  the  soldiers  returning 
from  driving  the  Mormons  from  their  settlements  in  Clay,  Carroll  and 
Pettis  Counties. 

Our  emigrants  reached  Monegaw  Creek  in  what  was  then  Rives 
County,  now  St.  Clair  County  a  little  before  Christmas,  and  were  so 
well  pleased  with  the  country  that  they  decided  to  settle  there. 

Mr.  Yonce  first  located  in  section  4,  township  38,  range  27,  where 
M  E.  Washburn  now  lives,  and  the  remainder  of  the  party  in  the  same 
vicinity. 

There  were  no  other  settlers  on  the  creek.  There  was  one  store  at 
Clinton,  and  a  post  office  had  just  been  established  at  Osceola.  It  cost 
twenty-five  cents  to  pay  postage  in  those  days  on  a  letter  from  Virginia, 
and  Mrs.  Yonce  has  now  in  her  possession  letters  with  that  amount  of 
postage  charged  thereon.  No  such  thing  as  an  envelepe  was  known  in 
those  days.  The  letters  were  sealed  up  with  wafers  of  wax.  They  built 
log  cabins  with  stick  chimneys,  generally  of  only  one  room;  had  no 
glass  for  windows;  lived  with  mother  earth  for  a  floor  the  first  year.  As 
no  sawed  lumber  could  be  obtained,  they  were  obliged  to  make  puncheon 
floors. 

Indians  were  plenty  for  many  years,  but  they  did  not  molest  the 
settlers. 

Wild  game  of  course  was  abundant.  Deer  in  great  droves,  wolves, 
wild  turkeys,  and  so  forth,  furnished  ample  sport  for  the  huntsman,  and 
the  greater  part  of  the  game  was  excellent  food.  The  settlers'  horses, 
cattle,  hogs  and  sheep  would  live  the  year  round,  and  keep  fat  without 
feed,  on  the  prairies  and  river  bottoms. 

What  grain  the  people  needed  was  easily  raised,  there  not  being 
much  market  for  it,  there  was  nothing  to  stimulate  the  raising  of  large 
crops. 

They  were  independent  of  the  woolen  and  cotton  factories,  as  they 
spun  and  wove  cotton,  wool  and  flax  for  their  own  clothing. 

The  woods  were  enlivened  with  the  hum  of  the  honey  bee  and 
and  their  stores  of  delicious  sweets  furnished  a  desirable  addition  to  the 
settlers'  bill  of  fare.  Honey  dew  was  then  so  abundant  that  sometimes  the 
prairie  chickens  would  become  so  encumbered  with  it  they  could  not  fly. 

The  settlers  went  to  Harmony  Mission,  near  where  Papinville, 
Bates  County,  now  is,  to  trade.  It  was  twenty  miles  away,  and  Mrs. 
Yonce  used  to  go  on  horseback  and  return  in  a  day,  carrying  along  eggs 
in  a  basket  to  sell  at  five  cents  a  dozen,  and  riding  through  grass  long 
enough  to  tie  over  the  horse's  back. 

The  Methodists  were  the  first  religious  denomination  to  organize 
in  the  settlement.  This  was  done  at  Mr.  Yonce's  house,  about  1842. 
The  first  preacher  was  a  Mr.  McDaniel,  of  Benton  County. 

In  1844,  the  great  flood  year,  they  could  not  cross  the  Osage  to  go 
to  Ball's  Mill,  and  were  obliged  to  grate  corn  for  their  bread  for  two 
months.  Mrs.  Yonce  remarked  that  she  had  raised  twelve  children,  nine 
■of  them  now  living,  and  with  a  spark  of  pardonable  pride,  added:  "I 
■did  not  have  a  hired  girl,  either." 


844  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLyUR   COUNTY.  j 

The  following  are  the  living  children  of  Mr.  Yonce:  Fanny  (now| 
Mrs.  A.  C.  Ditty)  lives  three  miles  west  of  Johnson  City;  J.  T.  Yonce,  ir>; 
the  grocery  business  in  Appleton  City;  T.  J.  and  W.  H.  Yonce  live  ort, 
'Monegaw  Creek;  J.  A.  Yonce  lives  in  Saline  County,  Missouri;  Maria 
and  Addie  E.  Yonce,  each  married  a  Landon,  and  both  live  in  Taberi 
Township.  \ 

John  Hodgson,  a  member  of  the  pioneer  party,  died  in  1874,  and  his; 
wife  survived  him  but  a  few  years.  There  are  six  of  their  children  liv- 
ing: William  lives  in  Osceola;  Sallie  (now  Mrs.  Beard)  lives  in  Texas; 
Elizabeth  (now  Mrs.  Dr.  Shelton)  lives  in  Appleton  City;  Joseph,  Har- 
vey and  Henry  all  live  on  or  near  Monegaw  Creek. 

James  Rickey,  another  of  the  pioneer  party,  died  in  1862.  Mrs.  I 
Rickey  lives  with  her  only  living  child,  Mrs.  Sloss,  in  Appleton  Cit}^        ' 

Of  the  six  unmarried  children  brought  here  by  Widow  Cruthaid^I 
John  died  in  1852;  Jacob  now  lives  with  Andrew  Yonce;  Thomas  lives- 
on  Monegaw  Creek;  Joseph  died  in  1858,  and  Adam  died  in  1859;  Mar-j 
garet  married  a  Mr.  Sloss,  an  uncle  of  our  former  townsman.  She  is  now! 
a  widow,  and  lives  in  Texas.  ' 

AN   OLD   settler's   STORY— THE  FIRST  STEAMBOAT  ON   THE   OSAGE      j 

RIVER.  j 

i 
There  is  nothing  in  the  early  history  of  St.  Clair  County,  that  exer- 
cises a  more  potent  spell,  or  calls  forth  such  unbounded  pleasure^  even  to-l 
this  day,  as  an  incident  which  transpired  on  the  passage  of  the  first' 
steamboat  up  the  Osage  River,  which  took  place  in  the  spring  of  1844. 
There  were  no  railroads  at  that  day  through  this  country,  neither  were 
there  telegraph  lines  or  telephones,  there  was  nothing  to  herald  thei 
arrival  of  the  monster  but  its  own  unearthly  shriek,  which  was  enough  tcj 
blanch  the  cheek  of  the  bravest  if  he  knew  not  what  it  was.  It  soundedj 
like  the  wail  of  a  lost  soul.  The  boat  went  up  as  high  as  Harmony^i 
Mission,  in  Bates  County.  The  little  steamer  was  named  the  "Floraj 
Jones,"  but  there  was  nothing  feminine  in  the  roar  of  her  furnaces  or  in.| 
the  wild  maniac  howl  of  her  steam  whistle.  Just  what  happened  downl 
the  river  is  hard  to  tell,  but  that  the  old  settlers  of  St.  Clair  County  were^ 
about  half  scared  to  death,  is  a  veritable  fact,  which  has  been  brought! 
down  to  us  in  history,  no  doubt  embellished  somewhat  in  its  course,  but 
in  this  narrative  the  facts  are  given,  leaving  nothing  to  imagination  or 
sensation  and  naught  set  down  in  malice.  i 

Well,  when  that  steamer  reached  St.  Clair  County,  there  is  no  usei 
denying  that  very  many  of  the  old  settlers  living  within  sound  of  its 
infernal  whistle  were  scared,  not  only  out  of  their  boots,  but  out  of  theiri 
homes  and  firesides,  fields  and  farm.  It  seemed  as  if  Inferno  had  broke 
loose,  and  the  shriek  was  the  last  wail  of  the  dying  and  damned.  Mat- 
thew Arbuckle  was  plowing  in  his  field  about  a  mile  or  a  little  more 
from  the  river,  when  that  unearthly  shriek  struck  his  ear.  His  hain 
stood  on  end,  his  face  blanched  and  his  horse  was  about  as  bad  off.    Hel 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  845 

unhitched  it,  and  managing  to  get  on  its  back,  nothwithstanding  both 
being  stricken  with  terror,  het  was  about  starting  lor  his  cabin  to  bar 
himself  from  the  savage  beast,  when  another  shriek  struck  him.  That- 
was  enough,  horse  and  man  lit  out,  and  in  one  hour  were  in  Papinville, 
fifteen  miles  distant,  the  horse  white  with  foam  and  Arbuckle  white  with 
terror.  Every  hair  on  his  head  was  like  a  porcupine  quill,  and  he  had 
no  strength  to  even  tell  of  the  terrible  animal  from  which  he  had  made 
such  a  fortunate  escape.  But  while  all  were,  like  Arbuckle,  awfully 
scared,  there  were  some  who  were  ready  to  face  any  danger  in  defense 
of  their  homes  and  firesides,  and  no  wild  animal  was  going  to  run  them 
out  of  their  country,  not  as  long  as  they  held  faith  in  their  trusty  rifle 
and  had  the  nerve  to  pull  the  trigger.  Among  this  number  was  Uncle 
John  Whitley,  who  had  seen  service  at  New  Orleans,  and  Uncle  James 
Breckinridge.  The  neighbors  gathered  at  Whitley's,  who  lived  not  far 
from  the  river,  and  a  hunt  was  determined  upon  to  kill  the  terrible  ani- 
mal, which  seemed  from  its  voice  to  belong  to  a  previous  age,  had 
wandered  from  its  fastness  in  the  great  Rocky  Mountains  and  was  now 
trying  to  find  its  way  back  and  keeping  near  the  river  to  hide  from 
view.  The  next  morning  after  the  boat  had  passed  up,  the  country  was 
aroused.  They  began  to  congregate  at  Uncle  John  Whitley's.  Men, 
guns  and  dogs  were  ready.  The  settlers  were  determined  to  kill  the 
animal,  although  every  time  it  howled  their  cheeks  blanched  and  they 
looked  at  each  other  in  blank  amazement.  What,  they  thought,  must  be 
the  size  of  the  animal  that  could  give  out  such  an  unearthly  roar  .'' 

Right  here  was  an  incident  which  showed  strong  parental  love  in 
Uncle  John  Whitley.  The  men  had  gathered  together,  nerved  for  the 
fight,  the  hounds  were  called  in,  and  just  before  they  were  ready  to  start 
Mat,  the  daughter  of  Uncle  John,  had  gone  down  to  the  river,  300  or  400 
yards  distant,  for  water.  While  they  were  talking  the  whistle  of  Flora 
was  heard,  and  the  old  man  leaped  up  about  six  feet  and  exclaimed: 
"  Ride,  men,  "  he  yelled,  *'  ride.  Mat  went  down  to  the  river  for  water, 
and  I  expect  she  is  dead  before  this,"  and  springing  upon  his  horse 
dashed  for  the  river,  followed  by  his  neighbors,  determined  to  bring  in 
Mat's  remains,  if  dead,  or  defend  her  to  the  death  jf  alive.  It  is  hardly 
necessary  to  say  that  "  Mat "  was  not  dead,  but  was  making  fast  time 
for  the  house,  with  her  hair  streaming  in  the  wind,  and  her  handsome 
face  pale  with  fright.  She  had  heard  the  beast.  The  troop  of  horse- 
men gallantly  escorted  her  home,  and  Uncle  John  sternly  commanded 
her  to  keep  inside  that  cabin  door. 

The  hunters  and  hardy  backwoodsmen  of  the  Whitley  Prairie  sec- 
tion lying  along  the  river,  having  congregated  together  in  sufficient 
numbers,  as  they  thought,  to  slay  almost  any  beast  if  their  pack  of 
hounds  would  only  bring  the  monster  to  bay,  and  were  ready  for  the  Iray. 
After  seeing  that  their  guns  were  well  primed,  and  flints  newly  picked, 


846  HISTORY   OF   ST.   CLAIR   COUNTY. 

now  adjusted  their  scalping  knives  and  tomahawks,  started  with  high 
hopes  beaming  in  their  bosoms,  confident  that  their  hounds  would  soon 
bring  the  noisy  monster  to  bay.  The  heavy  timber  skirting  the  river 
was  soon  gained,  and  the  monster  was  heard  yelling  a  mile  or  two  up 
the  river.  The  hounds  were  eagerly  encouraged  to  take  the  track  of  the 
animal  and  went  off  at  a  rapid  rate  to  bring  the  king  of  beasts  to  bay, 
but  all  to  no  purpose.  As  they  refused  to  take  the  track  a  second  time 
a  council  was  held,  and  many  were  the  surmises  advanced  as  to  the 
species  of  the  animal,  and  how  he  had  wandered  so  far  from  his  native 
habitation  in  the  mountains,  for  none  of  the  party  doubted  the  fact  he 
was  an  inhabitant  of  the  Rocky  range.  In  the  meantime  the  owners  of 
the  Flora  Jones  seemed  so  proud  of  their  new  whistle  that  they  sounded 
its  shrill  notes  every  hundred  yards  or  two,  but  it  was  doubtless  as  much 
to  surprise  the  inhabitants  as  anything  else. 

BAND   OF   HEROES. 

• 

The  gallant  band  of  heroes  who  started  out  to  interview  ihis  "  king 
of  beasts,"  which  had  created  terror  along  the  river,  were:  Captain 
John  Whitley,  Sr. ;  first  lieutenant,  James  Breckinridge;  Benjamin  Mor- 
ris, William  Bacon,  Hamilton  Morris,  Benjamin  Burch,  William  Roark, 
Frank  Roark,  Benjamin  Snyder  and  Snowden  Morris.  The  four  last 
were  to  have  their  knives  ready  that  in  case  the  volley  from  the  rifles  of 
the  remainder  of  the  band  did  not  bring  the  beast  down,  and  it  came  to 
close  quarters,  the  above  men  were  to  go  in  with  their  knives.  They 
accepted  their  dangerous  parts  without  a  moment's  hesitation.  The 
refusal  of  the  dogs  to  hunt  the  animal  seemed  to  nonplus  the  hunters. 

What  to  do  was  the  question,  and  the  situation  showed  it  to  be  a 
monstrous  one,  for  the  animal  was  certainly  at  large  and  on  the 
rampage.  A  council  was  held  and  the  verdict  was  finally  that  they  did 
not  know  what  it  was,  but  it  was  the  most  ferocious  and  noisy  beast 
they  had  ever  heard  and  one  of  which  history  had  given  them  no 
account.  The  band  scoured  the  Osage  thickets  all  day,  but  still  the 
dogs  refused  to  take  the  scent.  Breckinridge  declared  that  they  were 
no  use  whatever,  and  in  a  few  days  he  would  go  to  St.  Louis  and  get  a 
pack  of  Newfoundland  dogs,  and  then  if  the  thing  was  beast  or  devil 
and  lived  in  or  out  of  the  water,  the  Newfoundlands  would  bring  it  to 
bay.  In  the  meantime,  the  "  Flora "  had  proceeded  up  the  river  to 
Papinville,  and  had  got  out  of  reach  of  the  hunters,  and  its  whistle  could 
not  be  heard.  They  hunted  all  day  and  when  night  arrived  they  had 
yet  got  no  traces  of  the  terrible  animal.  Dark  and  threatening  clouds 
began  gathering  in  the  west,  and  as  night  set  in,  it  looked  no  good  to 
the  hunters  if  they  had  to  face  the  storm  which  was  approaching  and 
which  from  appearances,  was  determined  to  make  a  night  of  it.     Soon 


HISTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  84/ 

after,  the  storm  broke  loose,  the  rain  came  down  in  torrents,  and  Uncle 
John  proposed  to  take  refuge  from  the  storm,  and  make 

ROCK    HOUSE, 

a  well  known  cave,  as  their  lodging  for  the  night.  Just  as  they  were 
about  to  start,  the  sudden  baying  of  the  hounds  started  all.  Bringing 
their  guns  to  their  shoulders,  they  awaited  the  onset,  as  they  supposed^ 
of  the  terrible  beast,  with  staring  eyeoall,  but  nerve  strung  and  deter- 
mination written  on  their  faces,  to  do  or  to  die,  as  the  issue  might  deter- 
mine. But  instead  of  the  beast,  out  jumped  a  fine  buck,  which  was 
instantly  riddled  with  bullets.  Gathering  up  their  venison,  they  started 
for  the  cave,  and  were  soon  comfortably  fixed  therein.  A  fire  was  kindled, 
and  a  plentiful  supply  of  the  delicious  venison  was  soon  roasted  under 
the  supervision  of  the  commissary.  The  cave  is  a  short  distance  below 
the  mouth  of  Clear  Creek,  upon  the  south  side  of  the  river.  The  cave 
fronts  to  the  northeast  and  is  just  at  the  brow  or  foot  of  the  bluff.  Uncle 
John  Whitley  and  family  wintered  in  this  cave  one  winter,  forty-four 
years  ago.  The  size  of  the  "front  room"  is  twenty  feet  to  the  rock  ceil- 
ing, thirty  feet  in  width  by  forty  or  fifty  feet  in  length,  and  a  dry,  white 
sand,  mixed  with  pebbles  and  shells,  covers  the  floor.  After  their  supper, 
a  guard  was  placed  at  the  mouth  of  the  cave,  to  prevent  the  monster,, 
should  he  be  lying  around,  from  entering  the  cave  until  the  rest  of  the 
band  had  been  aroused.  As  the  gray  of  the  morning  began  to  appear, 
and  the  eastern  sky  take  on  its  crimson  blush,  came  also  the  shrill  shriek 
of  the  monster,  and  then  ending  in  a  roar  which  seemed  to  make  the 
forest  tremble,  and  the  cave  re-echoed  its  sound  to  the  excited  minds  of 
the  hunters.  A  council  of  war  was  held,  and  while  some  thought  a 
short  cut  for  home  was  about  as  safe  a  plan  as  could  be  suggested,. 
Uncle  John  Whiteley  and  Uncle  Jimmy  Breckinridge  were  for  stand- 
ing their  ground,  in  fact,  going  out  to  meet  their  dread  foe,  and  fight  to 
the  death.  This  was  decided  on.  The  monster  was  still  roaring,  and. 
was  coming  nearer  and  nearer,  until  they  could  actually  hear  him  puff- 
ing and  blowing,  while  making  his  way  along  the  river  bank,  apparently- 
close  to  the  water. 

THE   TIME     FOR   ACTION. 

The  moment  of  decisive  action  had  come.  The  monster  had  given 
one  unearthly  shriek  and  roar,  and  was  coming  right  down  the  river 
bank,  and  they  must  meet  him.  They  at  once  took  up  their  march  for 
the  river,  and  it  must  be  said  with  blanched  cheeks,  but  their  nerves  had 
been  strung,  and  they  had  sworn  together  to  take  that  beast  dead  or 
alive,  or  it  would  take  them.  They  got  close  to  the  river  bank,  and  each 
man  selected  his  tree  and  made  ready  as  they  heard  the  monster  coming; 


848 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   CLAIR   COUNTY. 


around  the  bend  not  more  than  a  hundred  yards  from  where  they  had 
taken  up  their  position.  All  at  once  the  Flora  shot  into  view,  and  upon 
her  deck  were  a  g-ay  throng  of  passengers,  apparently  watching  the  sun- 
rise and  making  the  time  pass  merrily.  To  say  that  Uncle  John  and, 
Jimmy  Breckinridge  and  their  band  of  heroes  were  astonished  at  the] 
sight,  would  but  illy  express  their  surprise,  and  when  it  had  passed  and! 
another  shrill  shriek  of  its  whistle  had  sounded,  as  if  to  mock  them,  as] 
it  passed  out  of  sight  and  around  the  bend,  at  their  unheard  of  mistake,; 
the  picture  of  that  band  of  old  pioneers  standing  there,  their  rifles 
still  at  their  shoulders  and  their  faces  looking  as  if  petrified,  was  a  scenCi 
for  a  painter,  and  Barnum  could  have  made  a  fortune.  The  man  whoj 
could  have  photographed  that  group  as  they  stood,  looks  and  all,  wouldj 
have  made  a  fortune.  It  was  a  scene  worthy  of  the  painter's  brush.  Butj 
let  us  drop  the  curtain  over  the  harrowing  scene.  Their  senses  came  tol 
them  at  last,  and  not  a  word  was  said  or  a  funeral  note  at  the  grave! 
where  their  foe  had  perished,  but  being  entirely  too  full  for  utterance,j 
each  one  of  these  gallant  men,  quietly  and  unostentatiously  and  with* 
sadness  of  mein,  sought  the  privacy  of  their  cabins,  and  thus  ended  thei 
hunt  after  the  monster  of  the  mountains  of  the  Osage  Valley.  Therd 
was  nothing  tragic  in  this  remarkable  hunt,  but  to  this  day  it  is  a  themes 
of  wonderment,  and  even  Uncle  Jimmy  Breckenridge,  shudders  when  i1'' 
is  mentioned  to  him,  and  feels  as  if  he  would  like  to  choke  his  questioneil 
until  he  couldn't  speak.  \ 

•1 
THE   PIONEERS   FROM    1 832   TO    184O. 


Anderson,  Obanion. 
Anderson,  Robert. 
Anderson,  John. 
Anderson,  James. 
Applegate,  Jesse. 
Applegate,  Lindsey. 
Applegate,  Charles. 
Addington,  James. 
Ashworth,  Lewis  R. 
Allen,  William. 
Arbuckle,  Matthew. 
Armingtrout,  John. 
Ayris,  Albion. 
Ainsworth,  William. 
Abston,  Alborn  D. 
Arterberry,  Henry. 
Able,  John. 
Anderson,  Samuel. 


Anderson,  Ambrose. 
Burch,  Benjamin. 
Burch,  John. 
Burch,  Robert  N. 
Breckinridge,  James. 
Barnett,  Sr.,  Hugh. 
Barnett,  John. 
Bunch,  James, 
Bunch,  William. 
Bunch,  David. 
Bunch,  John. 
Beale,  Charles. 
Beale.  George. 
Beale,  Jordan. 
Beale,  William. 
Beale,  Robert. 
Beale,  Samuel. 
Beale,  James. 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 


849 


Bacon,  William. 
Brandt,  Daniel. 
Buncke,  William  P. 
Bowmar,  Charles. 
Bayham,  Joseph  E.  G. 
Bell,  Nathaniel. 
Bush,  Willis. 
Bruce,  Simeon  C. 
Bullock,  Charles  P. 
Baker,  Joseph. 
Bedell,  John. 
Browning,  C.  G. 
Bolinger,  Joseph. 
Bullard,  Alfred  W. 
Burger,  Abraham. 
Burger,  James  L. 
Blake,  Larkin  H. 
Bolds,  Widow. 
Bolds,  Raphael. 
Burton,  Charles. 
Burton,  David. 
Beale,  Tavenor. 
Bacon,  William. 
Coonce,  Jacob. 
Cox,  Dr.  P.  M. 
Cox,  George  M. 
Cox,  William  M. 
Cox,  Richard  B. 
Cox,  Joseph  W. 
Culbertson,  John  A. 
Culbertson,  William. 
Culbertson,  Josiah. 
Culbertson,  Ira. 
Culbertson,  Isaac. 
Culbertson,  Joseph. 
Cruthaid,  Widow. 
Cruthaid,  Thomas. 
Cruthaid,  Jacob. 
Cruthaid,  Adam. 
Cruthaid,  Joseph. 
Clarkson,  John,  Sr. 
Clarkson,  John,  Jr. 
Clarkson,  William. 
Cole,  Rev.  James. 


Crenshaw,  Richard. 

Coslow,  Joseph. 

Calhoun,  Andrew. 

Calhoun,  James. 

Crutchfield,  Richard  P. 

Crow,  Phillip. 

Crow,  Henry  W. 

Carter,  William  F. 

Copenhaver,  Staley. 

Crowley,  William. 

Carroll,  James. 

Carroll,  Widow. 

Cocke,  R.  P. 

Capity,  Daniel. 

Clardy,  Daniel. 

Cringer,  John. 

Cringer,  Sabe. 

Collins,  David. 

Corbin,  James  F. 

Dooley,  Henry  E. 

Davis,  Aaron. 

Ditter,  John. 

Ditter,  Frank. 

Ditter,  James. 

Deshazo,  Richard. 

DeLozier,  Edward. 

DeLozier,  Purren. 

Dudley,  James. 

Fades,  James  A. 

Eason,  Joseph. 

Ewell,  Henry. 

Earl,  Henry. 

Estlenger,  Thomas. 

Francis,  Peter. 

Francis,  James. 

Gash,  Ebenezer. 

Gash,  William  (eight  children). 

Gash,  Joseph  D. 

Gum, . 

Gray,  John  G. 

Garnett,  James  V. 

Gardner,  James. 

Gardner,  William. 

Gardner,  Robert. 
54 


850 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR     COUNTY. 


Gardner,  James. 
Goode,  Mack  H. 
Ganter,  Nicholas. 
Gordon,  John. 
Given,  Samuel. 
Greenup,  Christopher. 
Goots,  John. 
Greenwell,  John  C. 
Gates,  Joshua. 
Graham,  John. 
Gray,  James  D. 
•  Gray,  Robert. 
Hahn,  Columbus. 
Howard,  John. 
Howard,  Avery. 
Howard,  Seth  M. 
Hoover,  James. 
Hoover,  Alexander. 
Hoover,  Henry. 
Hoover,  Matthew. 
Hodgson,  John. 
Hodgson,  Harvey. 
Hodgson,  Henry. 
Haise,  Harlan. 
Hoy,  Isaac. 
Haley,  Gabriel. 
Hester,  Thomas. 
Hester,  Anthony  N. 
Hodgson,  Joseph. 
Hogan,  John. 
Holbert,  Joseph. 
Holbert,  Robert. 
Huffman,  David. 
Huffman,  Lemuel. 
Herndon,  Joseph. 
Hedges,  Samuel  C. 
Harris,  Samuel  W. 
Hill,  Wright. 
Hodgins,  Stephens. 
Johnson,  John  J. 
Johnson,  Jacob. 
Jones,  Lowry. 
Jones,  Nathan. 
Jones,  Andrew^^^ 


Jones,  Wm. 
Keyton,  Jones. 
King,  Wm. 
Kelso,  Sr.,  Andrew 
Kelso,  Jr.,  Andrew. 
Kelso,  Samuel. 
Kelso,  David. 
Kelso,  Benjamin. 
Kelso,  John. 
Lilly,  Zachariah. 
Lunsford,  Littleton. 
Lawler,  Wm.  B. 
Locke,  R.  P. 
Long,  John. 
McClain,  John  T. 
McClain,  Francis. 
McClellan,  Alexander. 
McClenehan,  Absalom. 
McCullough,  Robert. 
McCullough,  Roderic  D. 
McCullough,  William  H. 
McDaniel,  William. 
McFarland,  George  W. 
McFerran,  Martin. 
Musgrove,  Jonas. 
Miller,  Benjamin. 
Montgomery,  Joseph. 
Moore,  Alexander  D. 
Moore,  J.  W. 
Moore,  H.  W. 
Molder,  Daniel. 
Morris,  James. 
Melton,  Frederic. 
Molder,  Daniel. 
Montgomery,  John  M. 
Montgomery,  Jacob. 
Marlow,  William  C. 
Masterson,  James. 
Moore,  Benjamin  H. 
Middleton,  James  H. 
McMiner,  Nicholas. 
McMurry,  John  G. 
Martin,  Samuel  H. 
Noel,  Stephen. 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 


851 


Newell,  Abraham  C. 
Nash,  Gabriel  P. 
Norris,  James. 
Nance,  Reuben  S. 
Norton,  John. 
Nance,  Edmund. 
Phillips,  Allen. 
Poston,  Simeon. 
Parton,  Jonas. 
Puckett,  Elijah. 
Pinkston,  Wesley  D. 
Pinkston,  Moses. 
Peebley,  Ashford. 
Piper,  Thomas. 
Perry,  John. 
Pond,  George  W. 
Pearse,  Thomas. 
Perrin,  Daniel. 
Redman,  Joel. 
Renfro,  James. 
Ridgway,  Jesse. 
Rickey,  James. 
Rice,  Elijah. 
Ripetoc,  Ephraim. 
Reed,  John  M. 
Roark,  William. 
Roberts,  Eli. 
Roberts,  Harris. 
Ritchie,  A.  C. 
Roark,  Frank. 
Robertson,  Benjamin. 
Roark,  Samuel. 
Rogers,  G  W. 
Rogers,  Isaac. 
Ruby,  Henry. 
Ruby,  Philip, 
Robinson,  Cyrus  V. 
Robinson,  Reuben. 
Reavis,  Charles. 
Reavis,  Warren  P. 
Russell,  Widow. 
Stow,  Richard. 
Suggs,  Charles. 
Smarr,  John. 


Shortis,  Robert. 
Sproull,  Robert  H. 
Sproull,  Frank. 
Snuffer,  Theodoric. 
Snuffer,  Owen. 
Small,  William  H. 
Sutliff,  Julius. 
Short,  Hiram. 
Short,  George. 
Shields,  Patrick. 
Smith,  Obediah. 
Smith,  John. 
Smith,  Richard. 
Sears,  James  B. 
Scobey,  William  H. 
Sutherland,  Uriah  L. 
Starkey,  Joel 
Snodgrass,  Andrew  S. 
Sheldon,  Albert 
Sams,  Burdett 
Simrall,  James 
Sims,  John  D. 
Sims,  Paris 
Thomas,  Ervin 
Trahern,  John  L. 
Thompson,  Filmore 
Thompson,  W.  C. 
Tally,  James 
Teague,  John  W. 
Thornton,  John  T. 
Tyree,  Abner  C. 
Trotter,  George 
Taylor,  Irason 
Tally,  John 
Teale,  Isaac 
Thompson,  Hezekiah 
Weddle,  Moses  D. 
Winston,  James  B. 
Wilson,  James 
White,  John  R.  , 
Williams,  John  G. 
Waldo,  Daniel 
Waldo,  Calvin 
Waldo,  John 


852 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   CLAIR   COJNTY. 


Waldo,  Joseph 
Whitley,  John 
Whitley,  William 
Whitley,  Randolph 
Whitley,  Joseph 
Windsor,  Thomas  F. 
Wilkinson,  A.  H. 
Wyatt,  John  J. 
Wamsley,  Eliza 
Wris^ht,  Thomas  F. 


Wright,  William 
Ware,  George 
Whitlow,  Washington 
Whitlow,  Henry 
Weinmer,  Peter 
Williams,  Robert 
Younce,  Andrew 
Yoast,  Francis 
Zebley,  Alexander 
Zucks,  Christopher 


A  list  of  pioneers  now  residing  in  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  who 
resided  in  the  county  in  1843 — a  period  of  forty  years: 


Bunce,  S.  C. 
Bedell,  John 

Breckenridge,  James  M.  . 
Barnett,  John 
Bridges,  J.  V. 
Burchett,   William  H. 
Cox,  Dr.  P.  M. 
Cocke,  R.  P. 
Carpenhaver,  Thomas 
Culbertson,  John  A. 
Coulthird,  Thomas 
Coulthird,  Jacob 
Denson, John 
Dudley,  William 
Ditty,  James 
Cover,  Levi 
Gardner,  James  D. 
Greenwell,  J.  C. 
Hunt,  Burgess 
Howard,  John  G. 
Hester,  Anthony 
Harper,  Lemon 


Hahn,  Columbus 
Harper,  Green 
Hoover,  James  M. 
Lilley,  Zachariah 
Looney,  J.  C. 
Phillips,  Alvin 
Ridgeway,  Jesse 
Reese,  G. 
Renfro,  J. 
Ruark,  B.  F. 
Sproul,  R.  H. 
Shryer.  S. 
Sheldon,  A. 
Scoby,  W.  H. 
Small,  T. 
Sims,  J. 
Thomas,  E. 
White,  J.  R. 
Wright,  J.  M. 
Wolf,  J:  I.  C. 
Yoast,  F. 
Yonce.  A. 


PETITION   FOR   ORGANIZATION. 

The  people  of  St.  Clair  County  began  to  feel  the  want  of  an  inde- 
pendent organization.  The  pioneers  from  1832  to  1841  had  reached  a 
list  of  some  200  voters,  as  our  old  settlers'  record  will  show.  That  would 
give  St.  Clair  County,  January  i,  i84i,a  population  of  something  over 
1,000.  Clinton  was  thirty  miles  away,  and  it  was  a  troublesome  busi- 
ness to  be  running  there  for  all  the  wants  of  the  county. 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  853 

So  in  the  fall  of  1840  a  petition  for  the  organization  of  St.  Clair 
County  into  an  independent  municipality  was  drawn  up,  and  the  follow- 
ing names  were  signed  to  it:  Dr.  P.  M.  Cox,  James  Renfro,  Z.  Lilley, 
W.  H.  Scobey,  G.  B.  Culbertson,  John  Howard,  J.  C.  Greenwell,  Colum- 
bus Halin,  H.  N.  Hester,  R.  P.  Cocke,  H.  Y.  Small,  Albert  Sheldon,  John 
Barnett,  John  R.  White,  J.  A.  Culbertson,  S.  C.  Bruce,  Hiram  Short,  J. 
Ridgway,  Thomas  Cruthaid,  George  Short,  R.  H.  Sproul,  Ervin  Thomas^ 
James  Hoover  and  William  B.  Lawler. 

The  petition  was  presented  to  the  assembly,  and  an  act  was  passed 
and  approved  February  15,  1841,  making  St.  Clair  an  independent  county^ 
with  all  the  rights  and  privileges  thereunto  belonging.  The  men  who 
came  to  the  county  after  its  organization  may  be  mentioned  in  future 
pages,  and  especially  those  who  have  served  the  county  in  an  official 
capacity,  these  latter  appearing  in  the  official  history,  which  immediately 
follows  that  of  the  "  Old  Settlers." 

PIONEER   WOMEN. 

In  the  history  of  the  pioneers  of  Henry  County,  in  this  work,  will 
be  found  a  short  tribute  to  the  memory  of  the  noble  and  heroic  pioneer 
women  of  the  county.  It  need  not  be  duplicated  here,  as  it  is  intended 
to  apply  to  all  who  left  home  and  friends  in  early  days  and  followed 
fathers,  brothers  and  husbands  to  the  wild  but  growing. West,  ever  ready 
and  willing  to  accept  the  burden  put  upon  them,  and  lighten  by  their 
love  and  sacrifices  the  loved  ones  around  them.  They  suffered  their 
share  of  the  privations  of  the  times,  and  no  names  upon  the  scroll  of 
fame  stand  higher  than  the  noble  and  heroic  band  of  pioneer  women, 
who  made  civilization  a  reality,  and  smoothed  the  rugged  path  of  the 
pioneer  with  willing  hands  and  loving  hearts. 

There  will  also  be  found  following  the  list  of  names  of  Henry 
County's  pioneers  a  poem  which  tells  in  verse  much  of  the  life  of  the  old 
pioneers,  and  it  is  worthy  of  perusal.  There  will  be  much  found  in  the 
pages,  from  first  to  last,  that  will  give  pleasure,  information  and  food  for 
thought.  In  closing  this  part  of  our  work  we  can  do  no  better  than  to 
give  the  closing  words  of  "  Montgomery,"  a  correspondent  of  the  Osce- 
ola Sun,  from  whom  has  been  gathered  many  important  facts. 

CONCLUSION. 

"The  men  who  drove  back  the  Indians,  killed  off  the  wild  beasts, 
and  redeemed  this  country  from  barbarism  to  a  state  of  civilization; 
who  opened  the  highway  to  travel;  who  cleared  the  forest,  letting  in 
the  light  of  day  and  of  civilization,  and  who  redeemed  the  virgin  soil 
with  the  ploughshare  until  it  laughed  with  a  harvest,  are  rapidly  passing 


854  HISTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

away.  They  hear  the  summons  to  lay  aside  the  burden  of  life  and  enter 
into  that  peaceful  state  of  rest  prepared  for  the  Lord's  laborers  in  the 
unseen  beyond. 

Think  of  it.'  When  John  Smar  was  elected  sheriff  some  forty-two 
years  ago,  there  was  not  much  over  i,ooo  people  in  the  county.  Since 
that  time  the  tide  of  population  has  spread  from  shore  to  shore.  Why, 
in  thirty  years  more  we  will  be  almost  as  densely  populated  as  Europe. 
Not  all  of  the  old  pioneers  were  cut  down  in  the  bloom  of  their  man- 
hood days,  or  when  their  presence  was  most  needed  to  clear  the  path- 
way for  the  march  of  Empire,  but  they  lived  on;  many  have  reached  a 
ripe  old  age  and  are  still  with  us,  their  memory  clear  and  eyes  undimmed. 
But  the  old  pioneer  can  never  die." 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE  BIRTH  OF  ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY— CULLINGS  FROM  THE 

COURT  RECORDS. 

INDEPENDENCE— ACT  OF  ORGANIZATION,  FEBRUARY  15,  1841— THE  BOUNDARY  OF  1845— 
COUNTY  SEAT  FIGHT-TWO  SIDES  TO  A  STORY— DEEDS  OF  THE  LANDS  DONATED 
FOR  THE  LOCATION  OF  A  COUNTY  SEAT— CIRCUIT  COURT— SURVEY— ROADS  AND 
BRIDGES-ASSESSED  VALUATION,  1845  TO  1854-A  YEARLY  ESTIMATE-TAXATION 
AND  CASH  ON  HAND. 

FROM  DEPENDENCE  TO  INDEPENDENCE. 

The  year  1840  closed  the  dependence  of  St.  Clair  County  as  a  part  of 
Rives,  and  she  in  1841,  put  on  the  robes  of  an  independent  municipality, 
a  sister  among  the  counties  which  composed  our  glorious  commonwealth, 
and  was  named  in  honor  of  General  Arthur  St.  Clair,  of  revolutionary 
fame.  The  county  had  become  populous,  and  the  people  had  began  to 
feel  the  want  of  something  more  desirable,  and  at  the  same  time  more 
convenient  than  being  attached  to  the  local  government  of  an  adjoining 
county.  The  legislature  promptly  acted  upon  the  petition  presented, 
and  in  February,  1841,  St.  Clair  bloomed  forth  an  independent  munici- 
pality.    The  act  of  organization  is  as  follows: 

All  that  territory  within  the  following  described  limits,  viz:  Begin- 
ning at  the  southeast  corner  of  township  37,  in  range  24;  thence  north 
on  range  line  dividing  ranges  23  and  24;  thence  west  on  the  township 
line  dividing  townships  39  and  40;  thence  south  on  range  line  dividing 
ranges  28  and  29,  to  the  township  line  dividing  townships  34  and  35; 
thence  east  on  same  township  line  to  the  range  line  dividing  ranges  24 
and  25;  thence  north  on  said  range  line  to  the  township  line  dividing 
townships  36  and  37;  thence  east  to  the  place  of  beginning,  is  hereby 
declared  a  separate  and  distinct  county,  to  be  called  and  known  by  the 
name  of  the  county  of  St.  Clair. 

Joseph  Montgomery,  Calvin  Waldo  and  Thomas  F.  Wright,  of  St. 
Clair  County,  are  hereby  appointed  commissioners  to  superintend  and 
conduct  an  election  by  the  people  of  said  county  for  the  purpose  of 
deciding  on  the  most  suitable  point  for  the  permanent  seat  of  justice. 

The  circuit  and  county  courts  for  said  county  shall  be  holden  at  the 
dwelling  house  of  William  Gash  until  the  permanent  seat  of  justice  for 
said  county  is  established  or  the  county  court  shall  otherwise  direct. 

Approved  February  15,  1841. 


856  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

The  act  which  made  St.  Clair  a  part  of  and  under  the  jurisdiction  of 
Rives  County,  which  might  as  well  be  given  here,  was  passed  by  the 
general  assembly  February  11,  1835.     Below  is  a  copy  of  the  act: 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Gener-al  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Missoiiri : 

All  that  portion  of  territory  lying  south  of  Rives  County,  west  of 
Benton,  now  known  by  the  name  of  St.  Clair  County,  shall  be  attached 
to  the  County  of  Rives  for  all  civil  and  military  purposes,  until  other- 
wise provided  by  law. 

Just  six  years  and  four  days  after,  "  the  otherwise  provided  by  law" 
took  place,  as  the  above  "organization  act"  shows.  The  original  bound- 
ary did  not  seem  to  be  satisfactory,  which  was  given  in  the  organization 
act,  and  on  March  28,  1845,  at  the  general  session  of  the  legislature,  the 
line  was  changed  so  as  to  represent  the  present  boundary  of  the  county; 
which  act  of  the  general  assembly  was  promptly  passed,  and  was 
approved  at  the  above  date.  This  new  boundary  of  the  county  was 
defined  in  words  following: 

BOUNDARY   OF   ST.  CLAIR. 

St.  Clair,  beginning  at  the  northwest  corner  of  township  39  and 
range  28;  thence  south  with  the  range  line  to  the  southwest  corner  of 
section  7,  township  36  and  range  28;  thence  east  to  the  southeast  cor- 
ner of  section  8,  township  36  in  range  26;  thence  south  to  the  line  divid- 
ing townships  35  and  36;  thence  east  along  said  township  line  to  the 
middle  of  range  24;  thence  north  to  the  township  line  dividing  town- 
ships 36  and  37;  thence  east  to  the  range  line  dividing  ranges  23  and  24; 
thence  north  to  the  township  line  dividing  townships  39  and  40;  thence 
west  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

Approved  March  28,  1845. 

At  the  time  of  the  organization  St.  Clair  County  was  composed  of 
two  townships  under  the  names  of  Monegaw  and  Weaubleau,  but  when 
she  appeared  as  a  county  the  new  county  court  divided  it  into  six  muni- 
cipal townships,  viz:  Monegaw,  Speedwell,  Washington,  Polk,  Osceola 
and  Jackson.  The  first  was  in  the  northwest  and  was  bounded  on  the 
north  by  Henry  County,  east  by  range  line  between  ranges  26  and  27, 
south  by  the  Osage  River  and  west  by  Bates  County.  Speedwell  was 
all  south  of  the  Osage  and  west  of  the  Sac  River.  Washington  was  the 
present  township  of  that  name,  Collins  and  half  of  Doyal.  Polk  cov- 
ered Dallas  and  Polk  as  now  formed,  being  congressional  townships  38 
and  37.  Jackson  in  the  northeast  east  of  the  river,  and  Osceola  from 
congressional  39,  38  and  37  of  range  25.  The  court  did  nothing  more 
of  importance  at  that  session. 

This  court,  the  first  ever  held  in  the  county,  was  held  at  the  house 
of  William  Gash,  in  what  is  now  Doyal  Township,  on  section  28,  and 
was  held  in   May  of  that  year.      Two  sessions  of  the  court  was  held  at 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  857 

the  house  of  William  Gash,  and  two  sessions  at  Wyatt's  Grove,  on  sec- 
tion 16,  of  what  is  now  Roscoe  Township,  and  where  the  Applegate  and 
Bell  party  proposed  to  establish  the  county  seat.  The  location  was- 
about  a  mile  east  of  the  present  village  of  Roscoe. 

COUNTY   SEAT   FIGHT, 

Of  course  after  the  county  was  organized  and  commissioners 
appointed  to  locate  the  county  seat,  it  did  not  take  long  to  com- 
mence the  hght.  There  are  of  course  two  sides  to  a  story  and  they  are 
here  given,  both  from  old  settlers. 

The  Osceola  Pioneer  says  this:  "Jesse  Applegate  was  a  leading 
spirit  of  the  opposition.  Early  in  the  contest  he  made  the  discovery 
that  a  majority  of  the  people  were  against  him  and  as  the  law  at  that 
time  only  required  a  residence  in  the  county  of  thirty  days  to  become  a 
voter,  he  went  to  other  points  and  imported  a  vast  army  of  voters.  The 
day  of  election  dawned  after  a  heated  campaign,  and  resulted  in  the 
choice  of  Osceola  by  a  majority  of  seventeen." 

Applegate  was  was  so  disgusted,  says  the  paper  which  published  the 
above,  with  the  result  of  the  election,  that  he  packed  his  traps  and 
took  his  departure  for  Oregon,  where,  at  one  time,  he  became  enor- 
mously rich.  At  the  date  of  the  election  he  was  the  richest  man  in  the 
county,  if  not  in  Southwest  Missouri.  The  capital  was  located  here 
then,  and  here  it  will  remain  until  time  makes  way  for  eternity. 

There  is  no  doubt  about  the  truth  of  the  closing  paragraph.  Now 
comes  the  Applegate  side:  The  election  to  decide  the  question  of  the 
location  of  the  county  seat  was  made  by  the  order  of  the  county  court 
at  its  May  term  to  take  place  in  August,  1841.  The  judges  were  Joseph 
Montgomery,  William  Gash  and  Hugh  Barnett,  Sr. 

The  election  came  off  and-  resulted  in  a  majority  of  seven  for 
Osceola,  not  seventeen.  The  Applegate  party  wanted  it  to  be  located 
on  the  southeast  quarter  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  9,  just  north 
of  Wyatt's  farm,  which  was  on  school  section  16.  and  the  above  40 
acre  lot  was  within,  at  that  time,  about  one  half  mile  only,  they  claimed, 
from  the  geographical  center  of  the  county.  Wyatt's  Grove,  so  called,, 
is  the  present  Ruckman  place.  As  above  stated,  they  failed  by  seven 
votes,  and  why  they  failed  was,  that  the  Crows,  the  Coxes,  McClains 
and  others,  went  to  Sedalia  and  a  few  other  places  and  imported 
between  thirty  and  forty  hands  to  make  brick  for  the  new  court  house, 
as  they  claimed,  but  as  the  Applegate  party  said,  were  principally  tO' 
vote.  "  Vote  early  and  often,"  and  then  they  got  beat  only  seven  votes. 
This  is  the  other  side  of  the  story.  This  did  not  yet  quite  end  the 
struggle.  There  was  a  good  deal  of  bitter  feeling  engendered,  and 
Applegate  hated  to  give  it  up.     The   commission   appointed  had   sub- 


^858  HISTORY    OI'^   ST.   CLAIR   COUNTY. 

mitted  the  question  to  a  vote  and  they  were  preparing  to  turn  over  to 
the  county  court  the  result  of  that  vote,  by  making  their  report  and 
producing  sundry  deeds,  papers  and  cash,  as  the  contribution  of  Crow 
&  Co.,  promised  on  the  location  of  the  county  seat  being  permanently 
located  at  Osceola.  Then  came  the  legal  question,  to  be  determined  by 
the  circuit  court,  which  was  appealed  to.  The  Wyatt  Grove  party, 
through  the  person  of  Nathaniel  Bell,  brought  in  a  legal  document,  vol- 
uminous in  character,  if  not  forcible  in  its  wording.  The  circuit  court 
was  in  session  the  same  August,  1841,  Judge  Foster  P.  Wright  on  the 
bench,  and  the  following  document  submitted  to  the  court : 

"Upon  the  motion  of  Nathaniel  Bell,  the  relator  in  an  information 
in  the  nature  of  a  qito  wni-ranto,  against  Joseph  Montgomer}',  Calvin 
Waldo,  and  Thomas  F.  Wright,  commissioners  for  the  location  of  the 
county  seat  for  St.  Clair  County,  for  leave  to  file  the  same,  which  motion 
was  overruled." 

That  seemed  to  end  the  struggle  so  far  as  "legal  proceedings  were 
concerned,  for  at  the  same  time  the  commissioners  above  named,  came 
into  court  and  made  report  of  their  actions  as  commissioners  for  the 
location  of  the  county  seat.  The  report  was  presented  to  the  court  and 
the  following  order  made  of  record: 

"Now  at  this  day  comes  Joseph  Montgomery,  Calvin  Waldo  and 
Thomas  F.  Wright,  commissioners  appointed  for  the  purpose  of  locating 
the  county  seat  of  St.  Clair  County,  and  made  a  report  of  their  proceed- 
ings in  locating  said  county  seat,  accompanied  by  the  title  deeds 
for  the  lands  on  which  they  located  said  county  seat,  together  with 
the  abstract  and  evidence  of  title,  and  the  court  having  fully  examined 
the  title,  deem  the  same  good  and  sufficient,  conveying  to  the  said 
county  of  St.  Clair,  a  title  to  the  lands  in  fee  simple,  without  any  reserva- 
ation  or  condition,  and  the  same  is  approved  by  the  court.  And  it  is 
ordered  that  the  clerk  of  this  court  certify  to  the  tribunal  transacting 
■county  business  for  said  St.  Clair  County,  a  copy  of  this  decision  and 
approval." 

This  closed  legal  proceedings  as  well  as  all  others,  and  there  was  as 
much  rejoicing  among  the  Crowites  and  the  Coxes,  as  there  was  chagrin 
and  disgust  with  the  other  party.  The  way  being  all  clear  the  commis- 
sioners made  their  report  of  the  vote,  handed  over  a  subscription  paper 
and  some  money,  etc.,  and  then  produced  in  court  and  turned  them  over 
to  the  county,  four  deeds  of  record,  donating  certain  lots  in  Osceola  and 
land,  the  consideration  being  that  Osceola  was  to  be  the  permanent 
seat  of  justice  of  St.  Clair  County.     This  deed  reads: 

DEEDS   TO   THE   COUNTY   SEAT   OF   ST.    CLAIR. 

Phillip  Croxv  and  zvife  to  St.  Clair  County. 

"  This  indenture  made  and  entered  into  this  20th  day  of  May,  in 
the  year  of  our  lord  1841,  between  Phillip   Crow  and  Maria  F.,  his  wife, 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY.  859 

of  the  county  of  St.  Clair  and  state  of  Missouri  of  one  part,  and  the 
county  of  St.  Clair,  aforesaid,  of  the  other  part,  witnesseth.  That  for 
and  in  consideration  that  ihQ  permanent  seat  of  justice  for  the  county  of 
St.  Clair  shall  be  located  at  the  town  of  Osceola,  in  said  county,  we,  the 
parties  of  the  first  part,  have  this  day  granted,  bargained  and  sold,  and 
by  these  presents  do  grant,  bargain,  sell  and  convey  unto  the  county  of 
St.  Clair,  aforesaid,  certain  lots  and  parcels  of  land,  lying  and  being  in 
the  county  aforesaid,  and  described  as  follows,  to  wit:  and  known  upon 
the  town  plat  of  Osceola  as  lots  Nos.  3,  9,  6  and  12,  in  block  No.  3;  lot 
No.  5,  in  block  No.  13;  lot  No.  2,  in  block  No.  14;  lot  No.  10,  in  block 
No.  15;  lots  Nos.  3,  4  and  5,  in  block  No.  16;  lots  Nos.  2,  7  and  8,  in 
block  No.  19;  lots  Nos.  2,  3  and  8,  in  block  No.  20;  lots  Nos.  7  and  8,  in 
block  No.  21;  lots  Nos.  4  and  5,  in  block  No.  22;  lots  Nos.  7,  8,  ii  and 
12,  in  block  No.  23;  lots  Nos.  4,  5,6,  7,  8,  10,  11  and  12,  in  block  No. 
24;  lots  Nos.  10  and  ii,  in  block  No.  29;  lots  Nos.  ii  and  12,  in  block 
No.  30;  lots  Nos.  5,  6,  9  and  10,  in  block  No.  31;  lots  Nos.  i,  2.  3,  4,  5 
and  6,  in  block  No.  32;  lots  Nos.  5  and  6,  in  block  No.  33;  lot  No.  2,  in 
block  No.  34;  lots  Nos.  9  and  10,  in  block  No.  35;  lots  Nos.  i  and  10,  in 
block  No.  39;  lots  Nos.  i  and  2,  in  block  No.  41;  lots  Nos.  3  and  4.  in 
block  No.  42;  lots  Nos.  7  and  8,  in  block  No.  43,  and  also  that  part  of 
the  northwest  fractional  quarter  of  section  20,  in  township  38,  of  range 
25,  west,  beginning  at  the  termination  of  Locust  Street,  where  it 
intersects  Fifth  Street;  thence  continuing  the  course  of  Locust  Street 
until  it  intersects  the  quarter  section  line;  thence  west  with  said  line 
until  it  intersects  the  township  line;  also,  that  part  of  said  fractional 
quarter  section  beginning  at  the  termination  of  Fourth  Street,  where  it 
intersects  Cedar  Street;  thence  continuing  the  course  of  Fourth  Street 
until  it  intersects  the  quarter  section  line;  thence  east  with  said  line 
until  it  intersects  the  town  line,  containing  about  three  (3)  acres,  be  the 
same  more  or  less;  also,  twenty  acres  of  land  adjoining  the  said  town  of 
Osceola,  known  as  the  east  half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  20,  in  township  38,  of  range  25,  west.  To  have  and  to 
hold  the  above  described  lots  and  parcels  of  land,  together  with  all  and 
singular  the  privileges  and  appurtenances  thereunto  belonging,  unto  the 
said  county  of  St.  Clair  and  her  assigns  forever,  free  from  the  claim  or 
claims  of  them  the  parties  of  the  first  part,  their  or  either  of  their  heirs, 
executors  and  administrators;  and  the  party  of  the  first  part  for  them- 
selves, their  heirs,  executors  and  administrators,  do  covenant  and 
agree  to  and  with  the  said  county  of  St.  Clair  forever  to  warrant  and 
defend  the  title  to  the  same,  free  from  all  incumbrances,  and  from  the 
claim  or  claims  of  all  and  every  person  or  persons  whatsoever,  unto  the 
only  proper  use  and  behoof  the  said  county  of  St.  Clair. 

In  testimony  whereof,  we,  the  parties  of  the  first  part  have  hereunto 
subscribed  our  names  and  affixed  our  seals  the  day  and  date  above 
written 

P.  CROW,  [SEAL.] 

MARIA  F.  CROW.       [seal.] 
State  of  Missouri,      ] 
■County  of  St.  Clair,  f     ' 

Be  it  remembered  that  on  the  20th  day  of  May,  1841,  before  me,  the 
clerk  of  the  circuit  court  within  and  for  the  county  aforesaid,  came  P. 
Crow  and    Maria  F.  Crow,  his  wife,  both  personally  known  to  me  to  be 


86o  HISTORY  OF    ST.   CLAIR    COUNTY. 

the  persons  whose  names  are  subscribed  to  the  foregoing  instrument  of 
writing,  as  having  executed  the  same,  and  severally  acknowledged 
the  same  to  be  their  act  and  deed  for  the  purposes  therein  men- 
tioned. The  said  Maria  F.  Crow  being  by  me  first  made  acquainted 
with  the  contents  thereof,  and  examined  separate  and  apart  from  her 
husband,  whether  she  executed  the  said  deed  and  relinquishes  her  dower 
to  the  lands  and  tenements  therein  mentioned  voluntarily  and  without 
compulsion  of  her  said  husband,  acknowledged  and  declared  that  she 
executed  the  said  deed  and  relinquishes  herd  ower  in  the  said  lands  and 
tenements  therein  mentioned  voluntarily  and  without  undue  influence  of 
her  said  husband. 

In  testimony  whereof,  I,  Charles  P.  Bullock,  clerk  of  our  said  court, 
have  hereunto  subscribed  by  name  and  affixed  my  private  seal,  there 
being  no  seal  of  office  yet  provided,  this  20th  day  of  May,  1841. 

[SEAL.]  CHARLES  P.  BULLOCK,  Clerk. 

Filed  this  20th  day  of  May,  i84i,and  recorded  nth  December,  1841. 

Attest:  Charles  P.  Buli.ock,  Clerk. 

H.  W.  Croiu  and  wife  to  St.  Clair  Comity. 

This  indenture,  made  and  entered  into  this  2 1st  day  of  May,  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord  1841,  between  Henry  \V.  Crow  and  Virginia  I.,  his  wife, 
of  the  one  part,  and  the  county  of  St.  Clair,  in  the  state  of  Missouri,  of 
the  other  part,  witnesseth:  That  for  and  in  consideration  that  the  per- 
manent seat  of  justice  of  said  county  of  St.  Clair  shall  be  made  at  the 
town  of  Osceola,  in  said  county,  we,  the  parties  of  the  first  part  have 
this  day  granted,  bargained  and  sold,  and  by  these  presents  do  grant, 
bargain  and  sell,  and  convey  to  the  county  aforesaid  a  certain  tract  or  j 
parcel  of  land,  and  described  as  follows,  to  wit:  j 

Twenty  acres  of  land  off  of  the  north   end  of  the   east  half  of  the    j 
southwest  quarter  of  section    20,  in   township   No.  38,  of  range   No.  25.   ] 
west,  saving  and  excepting  so  much  in   the  north  part  of  said  described 
east  half  of  said  quarter  section  as  will  be  embraced  in  one  block  of  the 
size  of  the  blocks  in  the  plat  of  the  town   of  Osceola,   to    wit:    252    feet 
square,  lying  immediately  southeast  of  the  present  limits  of  the  town  of  ] 
Osceola,  and  directly  southwest  and  adjoining  the  street  known  as  Mul- 
berry Street,   when    it   shall    be  extended   so  far;    and    southeast    and    ; 
bounded  by  Fifth  Street,  as  already  known  in  the  town  plat  of  said  town   j 
of  Osceola.  1 

To  have  and  to  hold  the  aforesaid  described. tract  or  parcel  of  land,  ] 
together  with  all  and  singular  the  privileges  and  appurtenances  there-  i 
unto  belonging,  unto  the  said  county  of  St.  Clair,  free  from  the  claim  or  j 
claims  of  them,  the  parties  of  the  first  part,  their  or  either  of  their  heirs^  j 
executors  and  administrators.  And  the  parties  of  the  first  part  do  cov-  j 
enant  and  agree  to  and  with  the  said  county  aforesaid,  that  they,  their 
heirs,  executors  and  administrators  will  forever  warrant  and  (^efend  the  \ 
same  from  the  claim  of  every  person  or  persons  whatsoever,  unto  the  I 
only  proper  use  and  behoof  of  the  said  county  of  St.  Clair. 

In  testimony  whereof,  we,  the  party  of  the  first  part,  have  hereunto^ 
subscribed  our  names  and  affixed  our  seals,  this  day  and  date  first  above    i 
written. 

H.  W.  CROW.  [seal.] 

VIRGINIA  I.  CROW,      [seal.]       j 


history  of  st.  clair  county.  86 1 

State  of  Missouri,      )  ■ 

County  of  St.  Clair,  \ '   ' 

Be  it  remembered  that  on  this  day,  before  me,  the  clerk  of  the  cir- 
cuit court  within  and  for  the  county  aforesaid,  came  Henry  W.  Crow 
and  Virginia  I  Crow,  his  wife,  both  personally  known  to  me  to  be  the 
persons  whose  names  are  subscribed  to  the  foregoing  instrument  of 
writing,  as  having  executed  the  same,  and  severally  acknowledge  the 
same  to  be  their  act  and  deed  for  the  purposes  therein  mentioned.  She, 
the  said  Virginia  I.  Crow,  being  by  me  first  made  acquainted  with  the 
contents  thereof,  and  examined  separate  and  apart  from  her  said  hus- 
band, whether  she  executed  the  said  deed  and  relinquishes  her  dower  to 
the  lands  and  tenements  therein  mentioned  voluntarily,  and  without 
compulsion  of  her  said  husband,  acknowledged  and  declared  she  exe- 
cuted the  said  deed  and  relinquishes  her  dower  in  the  said  lands  and 
tenements  therein  mentioned  voluntarily  and  without  undue  influence 
of  her  said  husband. 

In  testimony  whereof,  I,  Charles  P.  Bullock,  Clerk  of  the  Circuit 
Court  for  the  county  of  St.  Clair,  have  hereunto  subscribed  my  name 
and  affixed  my  private  seal,  there  being  no  seal  of  office  yet  provided, 
this  20th  day  of  May,  1841. 

CHARLES  P.  BULLOCK,  Clerk. 

Filed  on  the  20th  day  of  May  and  recorded  the  nth  of  Decem- 
ber, 184.1. 

Attest:  CHARLES  P.  BULLOCK,  Clerk. 

Joseph  W.  Cox  to  St.  Clair  Comity. 

This  indenture,  made  and  entered  into  this  20th  day  of  May,  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord,  1841,  between  Joseph  W.  Cox,  of  the  county  of  St. 
Clair  and  state  of  Missouri,  of  the  one  part,  and  the  county  of  St.  Clair, 
in  the  state  aforesaid,  of  the  other  part,  witnesseth,  that  for  and  in  con- 
sideration that  the  permanent  seat  of  justice  for  the  county  aforesaid 
shall  be  located  at  the  town  of  Osceola  in  said  county,  he,  the  party  of 
the  first  part,  has  this  day  granted,  bargained  and  sold,  and  by  these 
presents  do  grant,  bargain,  sell  and  convey  unto  the  county  aforesaid 
certain  tracts  or  parcels  of  land  lying  and  being  in  "said  county,  and 
described  as  follows,  to  wit: 

Three  town  lots  known  upon  the  plat  of  the  town  of  Osceola  as  lots 
Nos.  I,  2  and  3,  in  block  No.  24;  also  ten  acres  of  land  off  of  the  south- 
west corner  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section 
No.  20,  in  township  38  of  range  25,  and  commencing  on  the  southwest 
corner  of  said  quarter  quarter  and  running  from  thence  on  the  east  line 
of  said  quarter  quarter  one-eighth  of  one  mile;  thence  west  one-eighth 
of  one  mile;  thence  north  one-eighth  of  one  mile  to  the  north  line  of 
said  quarter  quarter;  thence  east  to  the  beginning  for  boundary.  To 
have  and  to  hold  the  aforesaid  tracts  or  parcels  of  land,  together  with 
all  and  singular,  the  privileges  and  appurtenances  thereunto  belonging, 
unto  the  said  county  of  St.  Clair  free  from  the  claim  of  him,  the  said 
Joseph  W.  Cox,  his  heirs,  executors  and  administrators.  And  the  said 
Joseph  W.  Cox  for  himself,  his  heirs,  executors  and  administrators  doth 
covenant  and  agree  to,  and  with  the  said  county  forever  to  warrant  and 
defend  the  title  to  the  same   tree  from   all   incumbrance,  and   from   the 


862  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

claim  or  claims  of  all  and  every  person  or  persons  whatsoever  unto  the 
only  proper  use  and  behoof  of  the  said  county  of  St.  Clair. 

In  testimony  whereof,  I,  the  party  of  the  first  part,  have  hereunto 
subscribed  my  name  and  affixed  my  seal  the  day  and  date  first  above 
written. 

JOSEPH  W.  COX.         [SEAL.] 

State  of  Missouri,      |_ 
County  of  St.  Clair,  j  " ' 

Be  it  remembered  that  on  the  20th  day  of  May,  1841,  before  me,  the 
clerk  of  the  circuit  court  for  the  county  of  St.  Clair,  came  Joseph  W. 
Cox,  who  is  personally  known  to  me  to  be  the  person  whose  name  is 
subscribed  to  the  foregoing  instrument  of  writing  or  deed  of  conveyance, 
and  acknowledged  the  same  to  be  his  act  and  deed  for  the  purposes 
therein  mentioned. 

In  testimony  whereof,  I,  Charles  P.  Bullock,  clerk  of  our  circuit 
court,  have  hereunto  subscribed  my  name  and  affixed  my  private  seal, 
there  being  no  seal  of  office  yet  provided,  this  20th  day  of  May,  1841. 

[SEAL.]  CHARLES  P.  BULLOCK,  Clerk. 

Filed  on  the  20th  day  of  May  and  recorded  on  the  nth  day  of 
December,  1841. 

Attest:  CHARLES  P.  BULLOCK.  Clerk. 

P.  M.  Cox  and  Wife  to  St.  Clair  County. 

This  indenture,  made  and  entered  into  this  20th  day  of  May,  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord,  1841,  between  Pleasant  M.  Cox  and  Elizabeth  M.,  his 
wife,  of  the  county  of  St.  Clair  and  state  of  Missouri,  of  the  one  part, 
and  the  county  of  St.  Clair,  in  the  state  aforesaid,  of  the  other  part, 
witnesseth,  that  for  and  in  consideration  that  t^XQ  permanent  seat  of  jus- 
tice shall  be  located  at  the  town  of  Osceola,  in  said  county,  we,  the 
party  of  the  first  part,  have  this  day  granted,  bargained  and  sold,  and 
by  these  presents  do  grant,  bargain,  sell  and  convey  unto  the  county  of 
St.  Clair  aforesaid  certain  lots  or  parcels  of  land  described  as  follows,  to 
wit: 

Lots  Nos.  3,  5,  and  11,  in  block  28  ;  lots  Nos.  i,  2,  3,  and  5,  in  block 
29;  lots  I,  8,  10  and  ii,  in  block  No.  44;  lots  3,  4  and  6,  in  block  No.  45, 
known  upon  the  town  plat  of  the  town  of  Osceola,  aforesaid.  To  have 
and  to  hold  the  aforesaid  described  lots  or  parcels  of  land  together  with 
all  and  singular,  the  privileges  and  appurtenances  thereunto  belonging 
to  the  said  county  of  St.  Clair,  and  her  assigns,  free  from  the  claim  or 
claims  of  them  the  party  of  the  first  part,  their  or  either  of  their  heirs, 
executors  and  administrators  forever.  And  the  party  of  the  first  part 
for  themselves,  their  heirs,  executors  and  administrators  do  covenant 
and  agree  to  and  with  the  said  county  of  St.  Clair  forever  to  defend  the 
title  to  the  same,  free  from  all  incumbrance,  and  from  the  claim  or 
claims  of  all  and  every  person  or  persons  whatsoever  unto  the  only 
proper  use  and  behoof  of  the  county  of  St.  Clair  aforesaid.  In  testimony 
whereof,  we  the  party  of  the  first  part  have  hereunto  subscribed  our 
names  and  affixed  our  seals,  this  day  and  date  first  above  written. 

PLEASANT  M.  COX,     [seal]. 
ELIZABETH  M.  COX,  [seal]. 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  865. 

State  of  Missouri,      t 
County  of  St.  Clair.    \ 

Be  it  remembered  that  on  this  twentieth  day  of  May,  1841,  before 
me  the  clerk  of  the  circuit  court,  within  and  for  the  county  aforesaid^ 
came  Pleasant  M.  Cox  and  Elizabeth  M.  Cox:,  his  wife,  both  personally 
known  to  me  to  be  the  persons  whose  names  are  subscribed  to  the  fore- 
going instrument  of  writing  as  having  executed  the  same  and  severally 
acknowledged  the  same  to  be  their  act  and  deed  for  the  purposes  therein^ 
mentioned.  She,  the  said  Elizabeth  M.  Cox,  being  by  me  first  made 
acquainted  with  the  contents  thereof,  and  examined  separate  and  apart 
from  her  husband,  whether  she  executed  the  said  deed,  and  relinquishes- 
her  dower  to  the  lands  and  tenements  therein  mentioned  voluntarily 
and  without  compulsion  of  her  said  husband,  acknowledged  and  declared 
that  she  executed  the  said  deed  and  relinquishes  her  dower  in  the  said 
lands  and  tenements  therein  mentioned  voluntarily  and  without  undue 
influence  of  her  said  husband. 

In  testimony  whereof,  I,  Charles  P.  Bullock,  clerk  of  our  said  court,, 
have  hereunto  subscribed  my  name  and  affixed  my  private  seal,  there 
being  no  seal  of  office  yet  provided,  this  20th  day  of  May,  1841. 

[SEAL]  CHARLES  P.  BULLOCK,  Clerk. 

Filed  this  20th  day  of  May.  Recorded  the  nth  day  of  December^ 
1841. 

CHARLES  P.  BULLOCK,  Clerk. 

The  subscription  paper  which  accompanied  these  papers  was  placed 
in  the  hands  of  Simon  Poston  for  collection.  Twelve  years  after  this 
subscription  paper  was  turned  over  to  the  county  court  by  the  above 
named  county  seat  commisioner,  and  ordered  filed  by  the  court  August 
10,  1853.  This  paper  would  be  of  value,  if  found,  but  a  close  search 
among  old  papers,  as  was  recovered  from  Lane,  failed  to  produce  the 
desired  document.  The  new  county  commissioner,  William  A.  McClain, 
into  whose  hands  all  these  papers  fell,  made  a  statement  that  there  was 
still  something  due  on  that  subscription  paper,  and  if  it  could  now  be 
found,  the  names  of  those  contributing  towards  the  successful  location 
of  the  county  seat  at  this  point,  would  be  at  this  time  of  especial  interest. 

The  county  court  held  four  sessions  previous  to  their  removal  to- 
Osceola.  This  was  effected  in  the  fall  of  1841,  and  the  November  term 
of  the  county  court  was  held  at  the  new  county  seat.  The  circuit  court 
which  had  held  two  previous  sessions  came  also  to  Osceola. 

circuit  court. 

The  first  circuit  court  held  in  St.  Clair  County,  was  at  the  house  of 
William  Gash,  now  Doyal  Township,  on  Monday,  March  29,  1841.  The 
judge  was  Foster  P.  Wright;  the  sheriff,  John  Smarr,  and  the  circuit 
clerk,  Charles  P.  Bullock.  Sheriff  Smarr  introduced  his  grand  jury  as- 
follows:  Joseph  H.  Cox,  foreman;  Burdett  Sams,  Thomas  Piper,  Williami 


864  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

Culbertson,  Isaac  Culbertson,  Joel  Redman,  William  C.  Marlow,  Richard 
Stow,  William  Wright,  Robert  Anderson,  David  Collins,  Randolph 
Whitley,  John  Reed,  Obediah  Smith,  John  Gordon,  John  Long  and  Rob- 
ert Williams. 

They  brought  in  two  indictments  for  grand  larceny  and  both  against 
the  same  persons  named  Charles  Beale  and  William  Beale,  and  their 
cases  were  continued  until  the  next  term  of  the  circuit  court,  and  a  nolle 
prosequi  was  entered.  In  civil  cases  there  was  one  of  appeal,  Samuel 
Rowark,  vs.  Thomas  Hester,  one  suit  on  note  in  favor  of  the  Bold's  Es- 
tate vs.  James  Norris,  and  Mr.  Charles  Burton  was  up  for  a  recognizance 
to  keep  the  peace.  The  two  terms  of  the  circuit  court  and  two  terms 
of  the  county  court  were  held  at  the  house  of  William  Gash,  which  was  on 
section  28,  Doyal  Township.  The  two  sessions  of  the  circuit  court,  held 
at  the  house  of  William  Gash,  were  those  of  March  and  August,  but  the 
third  term  of  the  circuit  court  held  commencing  on  the  29th  day  of 
November,  1841,  was  held  at  the  town  of  Osceola,  above  remarked,  at 
the  house  of  Pleasant  M.  Cox  and  Lawrence  Lewis. 

The  following  year  Mr.  Nathaniel  Bell  was  elected  to  the  legislature 
as  a  panacea  for  the  unfortunate  attempt  he  made  to  "  eat  Crow."  He 
however,  came  back  satisfied  with  the  honor  conferred,  and  made 
the  assertion  that  he  found  out  he  was  a  "  damfool."  He  was  succeded 
by  Hugh  Barnett,  one  of  the  first  county  judges.  In  fact,  all  of  the 
■members  served  but  one  term  only,  excepting  Alexander  McClain,  who 
held  three  terms — from  1850  to  1856.  Since  that,  time,  as  before,  one 
term  has  been  the  rule.  There  was  little  of  interest  transpired  during 
the  early  years  of  the  county's  history.  There  was  nothing  to  break 
the  monotony  or  regular  routine  of  business  affairs.  The  real  exciting 
business  of  the  county  court  did  not  begin  until  1861  or  1862,  and  con- 
tinued then  without  a  break  until  the  railroad  war  began  to  take  the 
shape  of  a  regular  siege. 

SURVEY. 

St.  Clair  County  was  claimed  as  the  home  of  two  men  who  were 
prominent  for  many  years  in  the  early  history  of  this  county.  These 
men  were  engineers  and  surveyors  by  profession.  They  were  Jesse 
Applegate  and  Joseph  Montgomery.  The  former  had  charge  of  the 
government  survey  of  this  county  and  west  of  the  state  line.  Joseph 
Montgomery  surveyed  Cedar  and  Dade  Counties,  and  was  the  first 
appointed  surveyor  of  Henry  County,  as  well  as  its  first  senator,  and 
also  St.  Clair's.  Applegate  made  a  name  in  the  wilds  of  Oregon  after 
he  left  St.  Clair  County,  in  sadness  at  the  loss  of  his  cherished  anticipa- 
tions in  securing  the  county  seat  near  his  home.  Montgomery  had  a 
name  ere  he  left  the  grand  old  state  which  is  known  as  the  mother  of 
states  and  statesmen.     He  was  both   in  the  house  and   senate  of  that 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  865 

state  ere  he  left  it  for  Missouri,  fettling  in  Henry  County,  and  was 
there,  as  here  in  St.  Clair,  its  first  county  judge.  In  Applegate's  survey- 
ing corps,  Alvin  Phillips  is  the  only  one  living  in  the  county.  In  Mr. 
Montgomery's  corps  in  Dade  and  Cedar,  were  R.  H.  Sproull,  of  St. 
Clair;  also,  Harrison  Ham,  Joseph  Baker  and  Mathias  Houx,  and  James 
Gladden,  James  Goffand  Lawrence  George,  of  Henry  County. 

ROADS. 

In  the  early  days  one  of  the  most  important  items  of  business  of  the 
county  was  the  laying  out  of  roads.  The  first  start  in  that  line  was  made 
by  the  Rives  County  Court,  which  ordered  some  ten  or  a  dozen  roads  cut 
out,  nearly  all  either  centering  or  radiating  from  "  Crow  &  Crutchfield's" 
store  on  the  Osage  River.  The  first  road  overseer  in  the  county  was 
Stephen  Noel.  In  1837  there  were  six  road  districts  formed  in  Weaubleau 
Township,  which  comprised  the  east  half  of  the  county.  They  numbered 
from  one  to  six,  and  the  following  were  appointed  overseers,  as  follows, 
commencing  with  No.  i:  William  M.  Cox,  Joseph  Culbertson,  Ebenezer 
Gash,  John  Clarkson,  P.  Crow  and  Henry  T.  Hoover.  These  were  all 
appointed  in  December,  1837. 

On  the  west  side  there  were  but  few,  for  with  the  exception  of  the 
Harmony  Mission  road,  no  one  cared  much  for  roads  in  that  section; 
and  with  the  exception  of  Roscoe  Township,  there  were  very  few  set- 
tlers in  the  west  part  of  the  county  until  1840.  Quite  a  number  came 
in  in  1838  and  1839,  but  the  open  prairies  were  good  enough  for  roads- 
On  the  organization  of  the  county,  however,  roads  were  laid  out  in  what 
is  now  Taber,  then  in  Roscoe  others  were  laid  out;  and  while  Huffman's 
Ferry  was  not  started  till  1839,  ^he  ford  and  road  had  been  in  use  a 
couple  of  years.  From  1845  to  1850  the  road  business  of  the  county 
was  pretty  evenly  distributed.  Monegaw  Township,  then  taking  in  the 
present  Appleton  and  Chalk  Level,  from  its  vast  prairie  range,  was  the 
last  to  get  the  benefit  of  roads.  If  a  farmer  fenced  up  the  old  route,  the 
track  would  be  made  around  it;  and  so  even  to  this  day  there  will  be 
found  "reaches"  that  traverse  diagonally  many  miles  of  prairies,  with 
here  and  there  shorter  cuts  which  lessen  the  distance  to  town. 

BRIDGES. 

The  bridge  question  assumed  but  small  importance  in  the  county. 

No  attempt  was  made  to  bridge  the   Osage,  and  numerous  ferries  were 

licensed,  and  near  enough  together  to  make  them  convenient.     The  Sac 

River  was  where  the  bridge  movement  got  a  grip  on  the  county  court. 

The  Sac  River  Bridge  near  Waldo's,  on  the  road  to  Roscoe,  was  a  point 

which  seemed  to  want  a  bridge,  and  to  want  it  bad;    and  from  first  to 

55 


866  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

last  some  $25,000  has  been  spent  at  that  place,  and  to-day  there  is  no 
bride^e.  In  March,  1852,  $2,500  was  appropriated  for  a  bridge  across 
Sac  River,  at  or  near  Daniel  Waldo's.  The  money  rested  two  years, 
and  some  interest  was  added  to  it,  as,  although  the  bridge  was  not  built, 
the  appropriation  was  not  withdrawn. 

In  1854  a  move  was  made  for  a  bridge,  the  first  of  which  was  to  have 
the  first  order  rescinded  of  $2,500  and  a  new  order  made  appropriating 
$3,500  to  build  the  bridge.  This  was  in  November  and  the  next  spring* 
or  May  15,  1855,  three  years  after  the  first  appropriation  was  made,  a 
contract  was  entered  into  with  James  K.  Farr,  of  Johnson  County,  to 
put  up  the  said  bridge  in  a  substantial  manner.  It  was  not  until  1857 
that  the  bridge  was  completed,  and  by  that  time  it  had  got  up  to  $6,000 
and  the  county  court  compromised  on  that  figure  with  a  guarantee  that 
it  should  be  kept  in  repair  for  four  years  by  the  contractor.  With  the 
exception  of  the  Slough  bridge  near  Osceola,  this  was  the  extent  of  the 
bridge  building  up  to  1858.  In  fact  there  was  little  done  besides  repairs, 
and  a  few  small  bridges  built,  until  1868,  when  that  same  crossing  of  the 
Sac  came  in  for  another  appropriation  of  $6,000  for  a  bridge  and  got  it. 

ASvSESSED   VALUATION. 

The  wealth  of  the  county  was  another  item  of  interest.  The 
assessed  valuation  of  the  county  in  1845,  the  first  record  made,  giving 
the  aggregate  was,  on 

Real  estate $  97,320 

Personal  property 137,410 

Town  lots II  ,900 


$246,634 
Pells.  326. 

This  sum  was  nearly  doubled  in  1850,  being,  on 

Real   estate $  1 27,240 

Personal  property  (all) 286,660 

Town  lots 16.512 


$430,412 
Polls,  482. 

The  assessed  valuation  in  1853  was,  on 

Real  estate $1 50,803 

Personal  property 397,808 

Town  lots 21,413 


$570,024 
Polls,  571. 

That  of  1854  was,  total,  $643,156,  and  polls,  607. 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  S6j 

At  the  May  term  of  the  county  court,  May  13,  1854,  a  statement 
was  made  and  placed  upon  record  of  the  receipts  and  expenditures  of 
the  county  for  the   preceding  fiscal  year,  ending  May   i,    1854. 

Receipts — total $2,998  36 

Expenditures — total " 1,642  88 

Balance  on  hand $f.355  48' 

The  previous  year  there  was  an  excess  of  $863.06,  which  was  added 
in  the  above  total  of  receipts,  which  showed  a  net  gain  of  receipts  over 
expenditures  of  $492.42  for  the  last  year.  To  this  report  was  added 
these  words:  "There  is  no  debt  owing  by  the  county  of  St.  Clair." 
What  a  joyous  sound  would  these  words  have  if  they  could  be  truthfully- 
uttered  now.^  Another  item  of  that  report  is  of  interest,  and  that  was 
the  salary  account  of  the  county  officers.  The  total  paid  was  $696.97. 
The  treasurer  received  $112  per  annum,  getting  a  warrant  once  in  six 
months  for  $56.  That  salary  was  paid  some  ten  years  to  John  F,  Weide- 
meyer.  It  was  this  salary  which  made  him  wealthy,  or  rather  should  be 
said,  laid  the  foundation  of  his  now  handsome  property. 

A   YEARLY   ESTIMATE. 

This  seems  to  be  a  flourishing  state  of  affairs,  but  the  estimate  for 
the  fiscal  year  ending  May  i,  1855,  taking  it  from  the  present  standpoint 
of  affairs,  is  a  curiosity  in  its  way.  Certainly  the  people  of  St.  Clair,  no 
matter  what  may  be  the  situation  to-day,  brought  on  by  folly  and  fraud, 
were  not,  during  the  two  decades  from  1840  to  i860,  burdened  with  tax- 
ation. The  clerk  presented  to  the  county  court  the  following  estimate 
of  expenditures  for  the  fiscal  year  ending  May  i,  1855: 

Building  jail $    800  00 

Bridge  on  slough 75  00 

Costs  in  criminal  cases lOO  00 

Ordinary  expenses    1,000  00 

Repairs  in  court  house  and  square 100  00 

$2,075  00 
Cash  on  hand 1-355  48 

Necessary  to  be  raised $    719  52 

There  was  a  population  in  the  county  at  that  time  of  not  less  than 
S.ooo  souls,  a  poll  of  about  800,  with  an  assessed  valuation  of  $700,000, 
and  they  had  the  enormous  sum  of  $719.52  to  raise,  of  which  $875  was 
for  permanent  improvements.  Had  it  not  been  for  that,  they  would 
have  gotten  through  with  what  cash  was  already  on  hand,  and  had  over 
$150  left.  It  is  enough  to  make  the  old  pioneer  groan  to  see  the  growth 
of  debt  and  expenses,  as  compared  with  the  primitive  ways  of  old.  They 
can  see  that  the  country  has  progressed,  but  has  it  prospered,  is  the  ques- 
tion that  forces  itself  upon  them. 


CHAPTER  V. 


A  COMBINATION   OF   SOLID    FACTS    MAKES    CONTINUOUS    j 

HISTORY.  ' 

1 
I 

ELECTION  ARRANGEMENTS- STATISTICAL  AND    OTHERWISE— SWAMP    LAND    REMARKS- 
BRAIN  WAGES-MONTGOMERY'S  GREAT  EFFORT— OSCEOLA,  JIM  LANE-TOWNSHIP—      , 
THE  BOUNDARIES  OF  1867— NAMES— ONCE  MORE  DIVIDED-AS   IT  WAS  TO  1872.  I 

ELECTION  ARRANGEMENTS.  '. 

i 
Changes  in  the  settlement  of  the  townships  caused  a  change  in  many 

of  their  voting  precincts,  and  for  the  annual  election  of  1854,  the  entire 
election  precincts,  or  polling  places,  were  made  of  record.  Commencing 
at  Monegaw  Township,  Coperas  Springs,  south  of  the  present  site  of  > 
Johnson  City,  was  made  the  place.  Speedwell  came  next,  and  William  1 
Whitley's  house  was  designated  as  the  voting  place,  but  not  long  after 
removed  to  Pleasant  Hill  School  House,  south  and  west  of  the  Whitley 
Bend. 

Washington   Township  voted   at  the  school  house  near  William  A. 
Jackson's.     Polk  followed  at  the  residence  of  Andrew  Baker,  Jackson  at 
D.  L.  Hamilton's  old  place,  and  Osceola  at  the  court  house.     The  only 
peculiarity   about   that   election  was  that  both  in  Polk  and  Washington    \ 
Townships  there  was  a  tie   on   constable.     The  county   court   was   the 
arbiter,  and  in  the  Polk  Township  case  decided,  as  between  Robert  Hes-   ( 
ter  and  Walker  Jones,  in  favor  of  Hester,  but  in  the  Washington  Town- 
ship case,  as  between  George   Rennison  and   Francis  Yoast,  the  court 
found  the  thing  so  mixed  and  they  were,  as  they  expressed  it,  so  "  con- 
flusticated  "   that  they  were   unable  to  decide  the  case  satisfactory  and 
dismissed  it.     Whether  another  election  was  called  or  whether  the  con-    | 
testants  pulled  straws  for  the  coveted  prize  is  not  found  of  record.  , 

MELANGE.  | 

The  contract  for  building   a  jail,  of  which  an  estimate  of  $800  was 
made,  was  let  to  Lewis  Fourmer   for   $685,  which   knocked  off  another 
hundred  and  odd  dollars  of  taxation,  leaving  about  $600  to  raise  to  pay    , 
all  expenses.    As  "Montgomery"  said,  in  his  old  settler's  history,  "taxa-    | 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  869 

tion  did  not  trouble  the  old  pioneer,  and  the  tax  gatherer  was  neither  as 
important  a  personage  as  now  or  as  uowelcomely  received  as  in  this  day 
and  generation,"  and  "Montgomery"  was  right.  By  the  by,  "  Mont- 
gomery," the  able  correspondent  of  the  Sun,  is  no  other  than  that  hon- 
ored, respectable  and  high-toned  citizen  of  Chalk  Level  Township,  Mr. 
Owen  Snuffer. 

It  was  decided  also  to  fix  up  the  court  house  yard  in  good  style, 
and  a  contract  was  made  with  Mr.  William  H.  Vaughan  to  set  out  in  the 
court  house  yard  seventy-five  locust  trees  for  the  munificent  sum  of  $to, 
and  the  sheriff  was  ordered  to  have  the  fence,  gate  and  steps  all  put  in 
order  and  be  kept  so  during  his  term  of  office.  What  few  locust  trees 
now  standing  should  be  protected  and  trimmed.  They  cost  money  in  the 
early  days. 

Outside  of  the  routine  of  daily  life  the  county  of  St.  Clair  for  the 
next  few  years  had  little  passing  that  belongs  to  history  outside  of  the 
one  important  fact  that  she  grew  and  prospered.  Osceola,  the  county 
seat,  became  a  town  of  note  and  its  population  reached,  at  one  time, 
between  1,300  and  1,500  souls.  It  became  the  southwestern  depot  for 
supplies,  and  was  a  wholesale  market  for  a  large  portion  of  southwest 
Missouri.  The  county,  of  course,  felt  the  inspiration.  North  of  the 
Osage  and  west  of  that  river,  the  land  will  vie  with  any  in  the  state  of 
Missouri,  or  any  other  state,  in  its  productive  capacity.  South  and  east, 
while  there  is  much  good  land,  it  is  broken,  hilly  and  stony,  but  what  it 
lacks  in  the  richness  of  soil  is  fully  compensated  by  its  infinite  deposits 
of  mineral  wealth.  But  all  this  will  be  found  in  the  chapter  of  the 
resources  of  St.  Clair  County,  found  further  on  in  this  work. 

STATISTICAL   AND   OTHERWISE. 

The  assessment  of  St.  Clair  County,  for  1855  was — 

Slaves $197,870 

Personal  property , .• i85>777 

Money  and  notes 133,540 

Real  estate 212,027 

Town  lots 23,588 

Total $752,822 

The  assessment  of  1856  was  $983,316.  This  increase  was  principally 
on  the  real  estate,  being  something  like  $140,000,  while  the  other 
$90,000  was  divided  between  the  other  three  articles  of  taxation. 

The  receipts  of  1856  amounted  to $2,412  32 

Including  cash  on  hand  and  expenditures  to 1,881   5^ 

$530  74 


870  HISTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

being  the  cash  balance  in  the  treasury.  The  assessments  of  i860,  the 
latter  just  previous  and  the  last  before  the  war,  will  show  what  the  peo- 
ple in  St.  Clair  County  lost  in  slave  property  alone,  without  taking  into 
consideration  the  destruction  of  their  homes  and  their  personal  property, 
outside  of  money  and  notes.  Forty  per  cent,  of  their  property  was  lost 
to  them  forever,  and  four  years  of  labor  added. 

The  assessment  of  1859  varied  little  Irom  that  of  i860,  being  some 
$9,000  less  in  the  aggregate,  the  real  estate  being  $45,000  lower,  and 
that  difference  made  up  in  money  and  notes,  the  other  items  varying  to 
make  the  above  deficit  or  less  aggregate  amount. 

i860. 

574  shares $    285, 1 50 

Money  and  notes 311 ,078 

Other  personal  property 336,007 

Real  estate 1,140,456 

Town  lots 61,005 

$2,133,706 
Assessment  1855 752,802 

Increase  in  five  years $1,380,904 

or  nearly  300  per  cent.,  while  the  total  taxation  \\^as  about  $3,500.  This 
was  remarkable,  but  it  showed  that  it  was  really  solid  gain.  The  land 
was  rated  higher,  but  the  demand  from  a  rapidly  increasing  population 
warranted  it.  In  fact,  the  county  nearly  doubled  in  population  between 
1850  and  i860,  its  precise  gain  during  that  decade  being  ninety-two 
per  cent. 

SWAMP   LAND   REMARKS. 


From  1854  to  January,  1858,  the  principal  business  of  the  court  was 
to  dispose  of  the  swamp  land,  and  in  this  respect  the  highest  praise  can 
be  given  in  the  matter  of  selling,  for  among  nearly  a  score  of  counties 
with  which  the  writer  has  become  acquainted,  not  one  equaled  in  any 
respect  the  prices  given  in  this  county. 

Much  of  the  money  was  lost  by  poverty  brought  on  by  the  war,  but 
much  afterwards  was  saved,  but  not  as  agent  of  the  county,  Mr.  Clarke 
thought,  would  equal  the  loss,  in  consequence  of  the  land  itself,  in  many 
cases,  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  county  again  by  failures.  The  amount 
of  swamp  land  received  by  the  county,  and  when  and  what  it  was  sold 
for,  and  much  other  information  relative  to  swamp  lands,  will  be  found 
in  a  chapter  further  along,  under  that  head.  It  will  be  found  interesting 
and  instructive. 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  8/1 

THEIR   SALARIES   ARE   RAISED. 

From  the  early  days,  before  the  fifties,  the  sum  of  two  dollars  a  day 
was  a  big  price,  and  the  county  court  of  St.  Clair  County,  at  its  first  ses- 
sion felt  somewhat  at  a  loss  as  to  what  compensation  they  should  receive 
for  their  arduous  duties  as  justices  of  the  county  court.  William  Gash, 
having  a  family  of  eight  children  and  furnishing  the  rent  of  the  court 
house  free,  thought  one  dollar  per  day  was  not  out  of  the  way.  Mr. 
Hugh  Barnett,  Sr.,  not  having  at  that  time  b^en  a  member  of  the  legis- 
lature, coincided  with  Brother  Gash,  and  thought  one  dollar  was  not  too 
much,  but  Judge  Montgomery  had  been  there — he  had  been  there  sev- 
eral times,  and  knew  brains  were  at  a  premium.  In  the  legislature  of 
his  native  state  he  had  placed  no  less  than  three  dollars  in  his  pocket  in 
watching  during  his  first  session  how  his  fellow  members  done  it,  and 
while  judge  of  the  Henry  County  Court,  and  member  of  the  Missouri 
State  Senate,  he  knew  what  he  was  talking  about,  and  he  made,  as  he 
afterwards  declared,  the  greatest  effort  of  his  life,  or  words  to  that  effect, 
and  Gash's  old  cabin  rang  with  his  eloquence,  as  he  expatiated  upon  the 
value  of  their  services  as  public  servants  who  were,  by  their  acts,  to  lay 
the  foundation  of  a  county,  which  in  the  future  was  to  rank  in  wealth, 
enterprise  and  brain  power  with  the  most  advanced  in  the  state. 

He  took  his  seat  and  a  silence,  deep  and  awful,  fell  upon  those 
judges.  Gash  was  overpowered,  Montgomery  had  dropped  exhausted 
from  his  masterly  effort,  and  Barnett,  with  dim,  but  rising  ambition,  was 
studying  the  problem  of  compensation.  Then  a  whisper  broke  the 
silence,  and  Judge  Barnett  moved  in  a  voice  scarcely  audible,  that  $2 
a  day  be  allowed  the  county  court.  Mr.  Gash,  in  a  feeble  voice,  seconded 
the  motion,  and  Judge  Montgomery,  presiding,  promptly  announced  it 
carried,  without  the  formality  of  a  vote,  and  $2  per  day  was  the  salary 
of  the  justices  until  January,  1857,  when  it  was  raised  to  $3  per  day. 
This  is  the  story  as  told  to  us  after  forty-two  years  had  gone  fleeting  by. 

In  1859,  $548  was  paid  for  a  new  tin  roof  for  the  court  house,  and 
$93  more  for  lumber  to  put  the  tin  on.  Then  the  court  appropriated 
$125  to  dig  a  well  and  cistern  upon  condition  that  the  citizens  contrib- 
uted the  same  amount. 

In  January,  i860,  Osceola  was  given  three  voting  precincts,  Mone- 
gaw  and  Speedwell  two,  and  the  other  townships  remained  with  one 
each.  Osceola  took  two  sides  of  the  court  house  and  the  old  Snyder 
Mill,  so  called,  on  Muddy  Creek,  then  owned  by  James  Addington;  Mon- 
egaw  at  Boot's  Mill  and  at  the  town  of  Manoa;  Speedwell,  Pleasant 
Springs  School  House  and  at  Brown's  Mill,  on  Clear  Creek,  and  the 
others  at  their  usual  places  of  voting.  The  same  session  the  court 
granted  $15  to  help  make  a  new  survey  of  the  town  of  Osceola.  There 
was  a  new  addition  and  it  all  was  to  be  properly  defined. 


8/2  HISTORY   OF    ST.    CT.AIR   COUNTY. 

The  period  of  the  war  was  one  fraught  with  troubles  and  vexations 
and  its  records,  so  far  as  county  proceedings  were  concerned,  were 
totally  destroyed  by  fire,  being,  as  the  citizens  believe,  the  work  of  an 
incendiary,  instigated  by  interested  parties.  No  evidence  was  forth- 
coming to  show  who  were  the  principal  person,  or  persons,  or  who  were 
the  instigators,  but  the  belief  exists,  and  always  will,  that  those  records 
were  destroyed  for  a  purpose  in  the  early  winter  of  1864.  The  first 
record  after  July.  1861,  commences  January  r,  1865.  The  blank  in  this 
is  but  partially  filled,  yet  outside  of  the  peculiar  local  character  of  these 
times,  there  is  nothing  much  that  history  will  find  worthy  of  record. 
The  heat  of  passion  and  the  prejudices  of  the  times,  the  troubles  and 
trials  of  a  county  with  but  little  law  and  order,  is  not  a  theme  of 
pleasure  to  dwell  upon. 

V 

DESTRUCTION   OF   OSCEOLA. 

This  was  the  principal  tragedy  of  the  war,  so  far  as  St.  Clair  County 
was  concerned,  but  it  was  enough.  Jim  Lane  left  a  fearful  record  of  his 
hands,  but  it  was  most  terribly  avenged.  The  livid  glow  of  the  torch 
and  the  rapid  appropriation  of  the  wealth  of  Osceola  by  the  band  of 
Jayhawkers  under  Lane,  was  a  sight  never  to  be  forgotten.  The  people 
left  their  homes  before  the  merciless  horde,  fearing  lest  they  had  no 
scruples  to  murder  if  their  work  of  destroying  the  town  was  interferred 
with.  They  did  their  work  thoroughly  and  well.  The  destruction  of 
the  town  will  be  found  graphically  described  in  the  history  of  the  town- 
ship and  city  of  Osceola.  The  doom  of  Lawrence,  Kansas,  took  shape 
when  Osceola  fell,   and   was  fearfully  carried  out. 

HOME   MATTERS. 

Of  course  home  matters  were  in  a  desperate  strait.  Taxes  could 
not  be  collected,  merchants  were  robbed,  and  when  they  went  to  col- 
lect debts  due  they  found  their  customers  and  debtors  in  the  same  boat. 
The  swamp  lands  and  school  lands  had  been  sold  and  the  money 
loaned,  but  pay  day  came  amid  the  clash  of  arms  and  the  destruc- 
tion of  all  values.  Men  who  were  rich  became  beggars,  and  neither 
private  debts  nor  public  debts  could  be  collected  from  the  debtors. 
Notes  and  ftiortgages  remained  impaired,  and  a  fearful  array  of  sjits 
were  brought  forth  at  the  close  of  the  internecine  strife.  In  1863 
the  delinquent  tax  list  amounted  to  $4,748.77.  This  list  increased  in 
both  the  following  years  and  proved  the  cause  of  infinite  trouble 
before  the  people  were  able  to  pay  it. 

There  was  previous  to  the  war  a  large  amount  of  money  loaned 
out  of  the  swamp  and    sixteenth  section    school    lands    fund,  and    in 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  875. 

the  summer  of  1865  the  county  court  ordered  suit  brought  at  once, 
to  collect  or  put  in  shape,  the  amount  then  found  to  be  due,  which 
was  $22,599.82.  The  military  bonds  which  had  been  issued  in  1865 
and  1865,  were  being  presented  for  payment  on  taxes,  etc.,  and  that 
made  money  scarce  in  the  treasury.  The  county  court  in  session  in 
July,  1865,  decided  to  redeem  the  bonds  of  1863  at  par,  and  those  of 
1865  at  eighty-five  cents  on  the  dollar.  At  the  September  term  of 
the  court,  that  honorable  body  voted  themselves  five  dollars  per  day 
for  services  instead  of  three. 

The  Bowles  house  inside  the  fort  was  used  as  a  court  house  that 
year. 

About  this  time,  John  Wheeler,  county  assessor,  presented  his 
account  for  services  rendered  as  assessor,  and  the  following  order  is 
found  of  record: 

"Now  at  this  day  comes  John  Wheeler  with  his  account  against  the 
State  of  Missouri,  to  wit:  For  listing  2,000  names  at  twenty  cents  per 
name,  $150;  which  said  account  is  found  to  be  correct." 

Figuratively  speaking,  the  above  is  a  shining  example  of  official 
mathematical  proficiency. 

SOME   ITEMS. 

Wolf  scalps  from  1865  to  1867  brought  $3  each. 

Speedwell  Township  wanted  to  take  in  a  part  of  Taber  by  making 
the  congressional  line  between  sections  37  and  38  the  northern  line  of 
that  township,  but  the  proposition  was  refused  and  the  Osage  now  was 
continued  the  line  as  before. 

The  proposition  advanced  to  appropriate  $15,000  for  a  new  court 
house  gained  favor  and  in  June,  1866,  that  amount  was  appropriated  by 
the  county  court.  Following  this  came  a  remonstrance  covering  187 
names,  but  it  fell  upon  barren  soil. 

William  O.  Mead  was  appointed  to  superintend  the  construction. 
His  first  business  was,  however,  to  prepare  plans  for  a  court  house 
and  jail,  and  then  advertise  the  same,  which  he  attended  to,  and  the  con- 
tract was  let  to  James  L.  Hicks.  This  contractor  assigned  his  contract 
to  John  H.  Brown,  which  Brown  carried  out,  after  having  "one  word  "  in 
his  contract  changed.  This  change  was  {rovci  fine  stone  work  to  rubble 
or  shuck,  known  as  common  stone  work.  The  order  was  made  to  change 
the  "word"  aforesaid,  on  June  4,  1867,  folio  211,  book  C.  The  con- 
tractor felt  relieved  and  finished  his  contract  according  to  the  new  stipu- 
lations. 

The  Shields  Brothers  agreed  to  attend  to  the  law  business  of  the 
county  for  one  year,  from  May,  1867,  to  May,  1868,  for  nothing;  which 
offer  the  county  court  promptly  accepted. 


874  HISTORY   OF   ST.   CLAIR   COUNTY. 

Jackson  Township  was  attached  to  Polk  Township  in  June,  1866, 
which  virtually  extinguished  that  iron-hearted  township,  and  it  rebelled 
at  the  decree.  The  rebellion  succeeded,  and  in  January,  1867,  Jackson 
again  stepped  forth  a  full-fledged  township,  whose  rights  there  were 
none  to  dispute. 

The  court  house  was  completed  and  the  first  session  of  the  county 
court  held  therein  December  2,  1867,  and  the  contractor  received 
$14,840.43  for  the  work. 

The  Sac  River  Bridge  was  let  to  contract  May  7,  1868,  at  $5,100, 
and  was  completed  September  i,  1868. 

May  6,  i858,  Elias  Disney,  sheriff  and  collector,  was  asked  to  give 
an  additional  bond  in  five  days  of  $84,000;  he  failed  to  do  it,  and  was 
removed. 

Thomas  B.  Sutherland  was  appointed,  and  in  the  interval  of  his 
giving  bond,  J.  Warde  Gardner,  coroner,  was  acting  sheriff  and  col- 
lector. 

The  county  began  to  recover  from  the  effects  of  the  war  after  peace 
had  spread  her  wings  over  the  land,  but  that  recovery  was  slow.  Still 
the  county  was  comparatively  free  from  debt,  and  economy  in  county 
affairs  had  again  assumed  sway. 

The  destruction  of  the  county  records  had  alarmed  the  people,  for 
the  reason  that  they  believed  they  would  not  have  been  destroyed 
unless  to  cover  up  theft  or  extravagance,  which  would  not  bear  the  light 
of  day.  The  canvass  at  the  previous  election  had  been  exciting,  the 
Conservatives  had  won  the  fight,  and  those  who  had  ruled  and  controlled 
for  nearly  four  years  were  compelled  to  give  up  their  places  and  make 
room  for  the  new  order  of  things  brought  on  by  peace.  A  desire  was 
expressed  that  war's  extravagance  should  not  continue,  while  a  struggle 
was  going  on  to  build  up  the  waste  places  and  barren  plains,  the  result 
of  the  strife.  The  election  decided  for  law,  order,  economy  and  honest}', 
and  the  new  state  of  affairs,  under  new  officers,  were  to  assume  their 
places  in  history  from  January  i,  1865.  It  was  done,  and  also  a  new  set 
of  books  had  to  be  opened,  for  the  record  of  four  years  was  destroyed, 
and  not  a  vestige  of  the  doings  of  those  years  was  left  to  tell  the  tale 
of  either  honesty  or  fraud.  It  was  time  a  change  was  made.  If  the 
records  of  four  years  were  worth  burning,  that  of  six  or  eight  years 
would  not  want  for  a  match  to  find  themselves  in  ashes.  Still,  whatever 
wrong  that  fire  covered  up  is  past,  and  the  future  is  nof  likely  to  unravel 
it.  So  it  will  not  be  necessary  to  dwell  upon  it,  but  simply  to  record  an 
act  dark  in  its  nature  and  susceptible  of  but  one  construction,  and  that 
was  the  concealment  of  fraud. 

The  county  court  in  1867  concluded  to  publish  the  boundaries  of 
the  several  townships,  and  make  them  of  record,  which  was  done. 


HISTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  8/5 

TOWNSHIPS. 

Ii:  the  loss  of  the  county  records  by  the  raid  of  Jim  Lane,  a  serious 
drawback  was  given  to  a  complete  history  of  the  early  actions  of  the 
county  court,  which  required  time  and  patience  to  overcome.  The  rec- 
ords missing  were  from  its  inception  .to  May,  1853,  a  period  of  twelve 
years.  This  missing  part  has  been  gathered,  however,  from,  the  old  set- 
tlers of  the  county  who  are  still  living,  and  therefore  there  will  be  in  this 
work  almost  a  complete  record  of  at  least  the  important  actions  of  the 
county  court,  and  of  events  during  that  period. 

In  July,  1867,  the  boundaries  of  the  six  municipal  townships  were 
slightly  changed  from  the  form  they  were  made  at  the  first  session  of  the 
county  court,  in  1841.  These  changes,  were,  however,  but  slight,  in  fact 
although  made,  the  people  of  the  county  knew  little  about  them,  except 
those  living  in  the  vicinity  of  the  new  and  old  lines  of  division.  The 
great  object  was  to  have  the  record.  The  first  and  only  attempt  to 
change  the  old  boundary  lines  was  a  petition  from  Speedwell  Township, 
in  May,  1866,  to  make  congressional  township  line  between  townships 
37  and  38,  the  north  boundary  of  that  township,  from  the  Vernon  County 
line  to  where  said  township  line  struck  the  river  at  the  Montgomery 
bend,  and  then  following  the  Osage  to  the  mouth  of  the  Sac,  but  the 
county  court  declined  to  make  the  change,  and  the  Osage  River  was 
continued  as  its  northern  boundary. 

BOUNDARY  OF  1 867. 

As  mentioned  above,  there  was  a  slight  change  made  in  1867,  which 
affected  more  particularly  the  eastern  and  northeastern  sections  of  the 
county.     This  change  gave  the  following  tovvnship  boundaries: 

OSCEOLA. 

Commencing  at  the  Henry  County  line,  at  the  center  of  town- 
ship 39,  of  range  26;  thence  south  to  the  center  of  township  line  37, 
range  26;  thence  east -to  the  west  boundary  line  of  township  37,  of 
range  24;  thence  on  a  direct  line  north  to  the  Henry  County  line. 

•  MONEGAW. 

Bounded  on  the  north  by  Henry  County  line;  east,  commencing 
at  the  Henry  County  line  on  the  center  line  of  township  39,  of  range 
26;  thence  south  to  the  Osage  River;  thence  west,  the  Osage  River 
being  its  south  line,  and  west  by  Vernon  and  Bates  Counties.  [Should 
be  west  by  Osage  River  and  Bates  County.] 


876                                       HISTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  ;* 

SPEEDWELL. 

The  Osage  River  to  be  its  northern  boundary;  the  Sac  River  its  east- 
ern boundary;  south  by  Cedar  County,  and  west  by  Vernon  County.  i 

WASHINGTON.  i 

Bounded  south  by  Polk  County;  thence  commencing  at  the  south-  ; 

east  corner  of  section  33,  township  36,  of  range  24,   and    running   north 

with  the    Hickory  County   line  to  the    northeast    corner  of  section    4^  ^ 

township  36,  of  range  24;  thence  west  to  the  southeast  corner  of  town-  ' 

ship  37,  range  2$;  thence  north  to  the  northeast   corner   of  section    24,  \ 

township  37,  of  range  25;  thence  west  on  said  line  to  Sac  River;  thence  ! 

with  Sac  River  to  the  northwest  corner  of  section    16,  township  36,  of  ' 

range  26;  thence  south  to  the  Polk  County  line.  j 

« 

POLK.  I 

1 

Embracing  township  37,  of  range  24,  and  the  south  half  of  township  ; 

38,  of  range  24.  .1 

JACKSON.  i 

! 

All  of  township  39,  of  range  24,  and  the  north  half  of  township  38,.  I 

of  range  24.  1 

SOME    MORE    DIVISIONS.  ] 

The    growth    of  the    county  began   to  suggest    smaller    municipal  1 

division  and  more  of  them.     Voting  precincts  were  too  far  apart  to   be  ' 
at  all  convenient  to  the  bulk  of  the  voting  population,  and  justices  of  the 

peace  too  scarce  for  business.     This    resulted    in  several   petitions   for  1 

new  townships  in  the  next  one  and  two  years.                                                .  I 

Butler  was  the   first  township  to  be  organized  out  of  the  original 
number,  six,  which  had  been  the  number  since   the   county  came   into  1 
existence.     All   of   the  townships   were   too   large,  and   so  the  work  of  ; 
division,  when  once  commenced,  did  not  stop   until   nearly   all   the  ori- 
ginal six   had   become   reduced   in    their  dimensions.     Butler,  as  above  j 
stated,  was  the  first  new  township  and  Osceola  the  first  to  be  despoiled. 

The  following  are  the  metes  and  bounds  of  * 

BUTLER   TOWNSHIP.  j 

It  is  ordered,  adjudged  and  decreed  that  a  new  township  be  formed  • 
out  of  the  territory  of  Osceola  Township,  and   bounded   as  follows,  to 

wit:  I 

On  the  north  by  the  Henry  County  line;  on  the  west  by  the  eastern  ; 

boundary  line  of  Monegaw  Township;  on  the  east  by  the  boundary  line  1 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  ^"JJ 

of  Jackson  Township;  south  by  the  line  dividing  the  tier  of  townships 
Nos.  38  and  39,  it  being-  the  east  half  of  township  39,  range  26,  and  the 
whole  of  township  No.  39  of  range  25. 

And  it  is  further  ordered  that  said  new  township  be  known  and 
called  Butler  Township. 

This  was  in  May,  1868. 

CHALK   LEVEL. 

It  was  but  a  short  time  afterwards  that  another  petition  came  in,  and 
the  organization  of  this  township  was  consummated  November  4,  1869, 
by  the  following  order  of  the  county  court: 

Now,  at  this  day,  comes  J.  C.  Trousdale,  Rawley  Llewellen  and  other 
citizens  of  Monegaw  Township  and  ask  that  the  court  grant  them  a  new 
township,  their  petition  having  been  filed  at  the  August  term  of  this 
court,  and  it  appearing  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  court  that  it  is  to  the 
interest  of  the  people  of  said  Monegaw  Township  that  such  a  change 
should  take  place,  it  is  therefore  ordered  by  the  court  that  a  new  muni- 
cipal township  be  established  out  of  the  territory  of  Monegaw  Town- 
ship, to  wit: 

Beginning  at  the  northeast  corner  of  section  No.  3,  township  39,  of 
range  26,  running  west  to  the  northwest  corner  of  section  3,  of  township 
39,  of  range  27;  thence  due  south  on  said  line  to  the  Osage  River,  until 
it  gets  parallel  with  the  beginning.  And  it  is  further  ordered  by  the 
court  that  the  name  of  said  township  as  established  be  "Chalk  Level 
Township,  and  that  the  clerk  certify  a  true  copy  of  the  above  to  the 
secretary  of  state  as  required  by  law." 

This  ended  the  matter  for  one  year.  At  the  end  of  that  time  it 
became  Speedwell's  turn  to  suffer  a  division,  and  from  that  we  have 

ROSCOE    TOWNSHIP. 

The  petition  was  as  follows: 

Whereas,  it  is  shown  that  a  petition  was  filed  at  the  regular  Novem- 
ber term,  1869,  for  a  division  of  Speedwell  Township,  and  no  objections 
having  been  filed  against  the  granting  of  said  petition,  and  sufficient  time 
having  lapsed  since  the  date  of  filing,  and  it  appearing  that  it  will  be  to 
the  interest  of  the  citizens  of  said  township,  it  is  therefore  ordered  by  the 
court  that  said  petition  be  granted,  and  to  be  divided  as  set  forth  in  the 
petition,  to  wit:  Commencing  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Speedwell 
Township  ;  thence  north  along  its  eastern  boundary  to  the  northeast 
corner  of  said  township;  thence  westerly  along  its  northern  boundary  to 
a  point  where  the  section  line  between  sections  3,  4,  33,  and  34,  in  town- 
ship 37,  of  range  27,  intersects  said  northern  boundary;  thence  south  to 
the  southern  boundary  of  said  township;  thence  east  to  the  place  of 
beginning,  and  that  said  new  township  be  called  and  known  as  "Roscoe 
Township,"  February  11,  1870. 

This  for  a  short  time  ended  the  new  township  business,  but  in  1880, 
Appleton  City  stepped  to  the  front  and  asked   that   Monegaw    might 


878 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 


again  be  despoiled,  just  a  little  for  her  benefit,  say  two-thirds  of  a  con- 
gressional township.  This  was  so  modest,  where  modesty  was  hardly 
to  be  expected,  that  the  county  court  could  not  refuse,  and  the  result 
was  the  following  petition,  which  was  received  and  favorably  acted  upon: 

APPLETON   TOWNSHIP.  , 

Now  at  this  day  comes  the  said  petitioners  by   their  petition,  and 
pray  the  court  that  a  new  municipal   township  be   formed   of  the  west  ' 
two-thirds  of  congressional  township  39,  of  range  28,  to   be  known  and  ^ 
designated  as  Appleton   Township,  with  a  voting  precinct  at  Appleton  ' 
City,  and  that  J.  F.  SIoss  be  appointed  and  commissioned  a  justice  of  the 
peace  of  said  township.  Ordered,  that  the  petitioners'  prayer  be  granted 
and  a  new  township  formed,  as  petitioned  for,  and  J.  F.  Sloss  be  appointed 
and  to  become  a  justice  of  the  peace,  as  prayed  for. 

TAKER   TOWNSHIP 

followed  in  August  of  the  same  year,  and  this  was  the  boundary  given 
her:  • 

Now  come  certain  citizens  of  township  38,  of  range  28,  and  ask  the  j 
court  to  grant  a  division  of  Monegaw  Township,  and  establish  a  town- 
ship to  be  called  "  Taber  Township,"  bounded   as  follows,  viz:     On  the 
north  by  the  township  line  between  townships  38  and  39  from  the  Bates 
County  line  east  to  the  line  of  "Chalk  Level"  Township;  thence  south  < 
with  said   line   to  the   Osage   River;  thence  up  said  river  to  the  Bates 
County  line;  thence   with   said   line  to    the  place  of  beginning.     It  is  1 
ordered  by  the  court  that  said  new  township  be,  and  the  same  is,  hereby  ; 
erected  and   created   under  the  name  of  "Taber"  Township,   and  the  i 
remainder  of  Monegaw  Township,    from    which    the  said  township    of  I 
"  Taber"  is  hereby  erected,  to  constitute  the  present  township  of  Mone-   ' 
gaw. 

August  I,  1870. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


A    CHAPTER   WHICH    REFERS   TO  THE   POCKET,  AND    EX- 
HIBITS SOME  FIGURES. 

TAXATION— 1S61-1S71— VOTING  POPULATION— HICKORY  COUNTY'S  FAILURE-POOR  FARM- 
MONEY  MATTERS— CHANGES-NEW  COUNTY  WARRANTS-ABOUT  A  NEW  TOWNSHIP 
—  LAND  VALUATION  IN  187-— COUNTY  REVENUE— AGRICULTURAL  AND  MECHANICAL 
ASSOCIATION— STEALING  OF  1  HE  BACK  TAX  BOOK— COUNTY  SEAT  REMOVAL- 
DELINQUENT  LIST. 

TAXATION    1861-1871. 

The  contrast  between  the  tax  books  of  1861  and  1871,  and  the 
assessed  valuation  of  the  county,  is  a  remarkable  showing  and  rather 
appalling  in  its  nature.  The  assessed  valuation  of  St.  Clair  County  in 
1 861  was  a  total  of  $2,133,706.  The  taxation  amounted  to  but  about 
$3,500.  Even  this  amount  was  not  levied,  as  there  was  a  considerable 
sum  of  money  in  the  county  treasury.  This  tax  was  so  small  that  the 
people  did  not  feel  it. 

The  assessed  valuation  in  1871  was  a  total  of  $2,943,196,  an  advance 
of  about  39  per  cent. 

Now  look  at  the  increase  in  taxes,  from  the  tax  books  for  1871: 

County  tax $55,041   35 

School  tax 24,869  19 

State  interest  tax 7,327  99 

State  tax 7,377  99 

Total $94,626  52 

Here  is  the  enormous  total  that  the  people  had  to  pay  in  the  shape 
of  taxes  in  the  year  1871.  Had  that  tax  been  the  same  in  proportion  as 
that  raised  in  1861,  the  total  tax  would  not  have  reached  $6,000,  yet  the 
tax  books  show  $94,626.52,  or  an  increase  of  taxation  alone  of  over 
$88,000.  The  whole  property  of  the  county  was  scarcely  worth  double 
this  in  1845. 

VOTING   POPULATION. 

While  the  census  of  1870  only  gave  St.  Clair  County  a  population 
of  6,742,  the  registration  of  voters  the  same  year  shows  that  it  must 
have  exceeded  8,000.     The  registration  by  townships  was  as  follows: 


880  HISTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR   COU^ITY.  | 

Polk 87 

Monegaw 231 

Jackson 56   j 

Washington 146   j 

Osceola 258 

Speedwell 97 

Chalk  Level 157 

Butler 122   ! 

Roscoe 194 

Total  registration 1.348 

1 

The  total  registration  in  1868  was  969,  which  shows  an  increase  of 
379,  or  over  40  per  cent. 

This  was  a  very  handsome  gain  over  1868,  and  this  was  kept  up  the   j 
entire  decade  from  1870  to  1880,  few  counties   making   more  rapid  pro- 
gress. 

HICKORY  COUNTY  WANTED  IT.  ! 

The  people  of  St.  Clair  County  got  considerably  excited  in  Decem- 
ber, 1872,  by  an  attempt  on  the  part  of  Hickory  County  to  despoil  her 
of  two  and  a  half  congressional  townships  of  land.  The  legislature  was 
asked  to  take  off  from  St.  Clair  one  half  of  the  township  of  Collins  and 
all  of  Dallas  and  Polk,  as  now  found,  making  range  line  25,  to  township 
line  38,  the  boundary  between  Hickory  and  St.  Clair,  and  then  kindly 
consenting  to  allow  St.  Clair  to  retain  Jackson  Township,  by  making 
range  line  24  the  dividing  line.  This  proposition,  which  the  St.  Clairites 
thought  was  equal  to  an  iceberg  in  coolness,  with  something  of  the  nature 
of  a  cast  iron  dog  for  cheek,  was  promptly,  and  as  it  proved,  successfully 
resisted,  and  St.  Clair  held  her  own,  and  still  holds  it.  It  is  evident  that 
the  boundary  of  St.  Clair  County,  and  the  permanency  of  the  county  seat 
at  Osceola,  are  settled  questions  among  the  people.  The  future  is  not 
likely  to  develop  anything  to  alter  this  fiat  of  her  citizens. 

ITEMS. 

The  vote  for  the  new  township  organization  law.  May  31,  1872, 
resulted  in  its  acceptance  by  the  people  by  a  majority  of  1,088,  being 
1,176  votes  cast  in  its  favor,  to  85  against  it. 

The  change  from  supervisors  to  judges  again,  was  in  1873. 

A  large  eagle  was  killed  February  12,  1873,  which  measured  from 
tip  to  tip— of  the  wings — eight  feet  two  inches.  Old  settlers  say  it  is 
the  largest  eagle  ever  killed  in  the  county.  It  was  killed  in  Roscoe 
Township  by  Alfred  Burch, 

G.  B.  Parks,  elected  county  judge  in  1873,  declined  to  serve,  and 
Judge  Thomas  Henley  was  appointed  by  the  governor  in  his  place. 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  88 1 

.  /. 

POOR   FARM. 

The  poor  farm  was  purchased  in  1871,  Judge  Henly  acting  for  the 
county.  The  farm  embraced  a  tract  of  236  82-100  acres,  on  which  was 
nineteen  acres  of  wheat  standing,  for  which  the  judge  paid  $2,900.  He 
also  paid  $230  for  a  pair  of  good  mules.  The  Florsheim  farm  of  120 
acres  was  offered  at  $2,000,  but  declined,  and  the  former  purchased. 
This,  it  seems,  did  not  suit  some  persons,  and  the  county  court  went  into 
an  examination  of  the  purchase,  which  it  was  reported  had  put  money 
improperly  into  the  pocket  of  Judge  Henly.  The  investigation  showed 
so  plainly  that  the  purchase  was  not  only  a  fair  one,  but  a  good  one,  and 
that  no  stain  rested  upon  the  honor,  integrity  or  manhood  of  Judge 
Henly,  or  upon  Thomas  B.  Sutherland,  that  the  county  court  dropped 
the  whole  matter  with  disgust. 

In  October,  1872,  an  inventory  was  taken  of  property  at  the  poor 
farm,  which  was  reported  as  follows: 

Poor  farm $2,900  00 

Implements  on  poor  farm 634  97 

Other  expenditures ^.307  20 

Total  cost $4,842   17 

The  commissioners  reported"  the  poor  well  taken  care  of,  but  sug- 
gested that  the  fences  needed  better  attention  and  more  care  taken  of 
farm  implements. 

The  farm  was  purchased  February  14,  1871,  and  its  first  manager  was 
William  P.  Welch,  who  took  charge  and  gave  bond  in  the  sum  of  $800 
for  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  duties. 

MONEY     MATTERS. 

The  statement  for  the  fiscal  year  ending  May  i,  1872,  showed  a  very 
favorable  exhibit: 

The  county  assessment  and  receipts  were    $13,070  45 

County  expenditures 10,928  42 

Leaving  this  very  handsome  surplus $  2,142  05 

The  same  year  the  railroad  fund  collected  amounted  to $23,414  18 

Paid  out  in  interest 18,052  75 


Railroad  funds  on  hand $  5,361  43 

There  was  a  still  further  payment  of  $3,950,  but  collections  had 
also  been  made  which  nearly  equaled  it,  and  left  a  final  balance  of  rail- 
road funds  on  hand  at  the  above  date  of  $5,302.59.  This  money,  and 
some  more  of  the  same  fund,  was  loaned  out,  and  some  trouble  was 
raised  over  this  action  of  the  count}'  court. 


56 


882  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

ANOTHER   CHANGE. 

The  new  township  organization  law  failed  to  give  satisfaction  in 
one  particular  and  that  was  the  county  court  being  composed  of  four- 
teen supervisors,  was  too  cumbrous  and  too  expensive,  and  it  was 
changed  by  act  of  legislation,  to  five  judges;  one  to  be  voted  for  at 
large,  to  be  the  presiding  justice  of  the  county,  and  the  others  by  dis- 
tricts; the  four  judges  to  hold  respectively  four,  three,  two  and  one 
years,  to  be  decided  by  lot  among  themselves  after  their  election.  The 
board  of  supervisors  therefore  met  together,  divided  the  county  into 
four  districts  and  officiated  at  their  own  funeral  in  a  dignified  and  sol- 
emn manner.  Sadness  somehow  pervaded  their  meeting,  for  it  was 
clearly  to  be  seen  that  if  five  were  chosen,  nine  would  be  left,  if  not 
more,  for  there  might  other  candidates  come  forth  and  join  the  fray. 
The  court,  however,  went  manfully  to  work,  and  while  sealing  their  own 
doom,  divided  the  county  into  four  judicial  districts,  as  follows: 

District  No.  i. — Appleton,  Taber,  Monegaw  and  Chalk  Level  Town- 
ships. 

District  No.  2. — Speedwell,  Roscoe  and  Washington  Townships. 

District  No.  3. — Jackson,  Polk,  Dallas  and  Collins  Townships. 

District  No.  4. — Butler,  Osceola  and  Doyal  Townships. 

This  division  seemed  satisfactory  and  an  election  was  called  which 
resulted  in  the  selection  for  presiding  judge,  Asahel  Heath.  Those  who 
were  elected  drew  lots  which  resulted  as  follows:  John  P.  Love,  four 
years;  T.  J.  Younger,  three  years;  Thomas  Henly,  two  years;  John 
Breeden,  one  year. 

NEW   COUNTY   WARRANTS. 

There  was,  without  doubt,  a  financial  crisis  pending.  Money  was  a 
scarce  commodity  in  St.  Clair  County.  It  was  thought  that  relief  would 
come  by  issuing  county  warrants  in  the  form  of  bank  bills,  and  the  court 
decided  to  do  so,  and  made  an  order  to  issue  $25,000  in  the  denomina- 
tion of  one  dollar.  These  new  warrants  were  printed  in  St.  Louis,  at  a 
total  cost  to  the  county  of  $295.  The  matter  can  be  better  understood 
by  the  following  article  from  the  Osceola  Democrat,  December  6,  1873: 

The  much  talked  of  and  anxiously  looked  for  new  county  warrants 
have  at  length  arrived  and  are  being  signed  and  distributed  to  those 
holding  the  old  county  warrants.  We  notice  a  great  eagerness  on  the 
part  of  our  citizens  to  get  hold  of  them,  and  evident  signs  of  relief  are 
clearly  to  be  seen.  As  to  their  great  convenience  as  a  circulating 
medium,  no  man  will  deny,  and  already  we  observe  that  our  merchants 
are  taking  them  as  freely  as  the  greenback  paper.  They  are  the  prop- 
erty of  the  taxpayers  of  the  county — their  own  paper — and  they  will 
circulate  at  par.  Some  little  opposition  existed  to  them  at  first,  but  that 
was  soon  put  down  by  the  unanimous  sanction  of  the  people,  who  needed 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  883 

relief,  and  were  demanding  of  the  county  court  that  they  use  the  means 
within  their  power  to  grant  that  relief.  That  the  prompt  action  in  this 
matter  by  the  court  will  be  duly  appreciated,  no  taxpayer  will  deny.  By 
this  method  the  county  will  save  thousands  of  dollars,  and  the  people 
be  greatly  relieved  The  example  of  other  cities,  towns  and  counties 
proves  the  practicability  of  the  measure.  Every  assurance  is  given  that 
the  St.  Clair  County  warrants  will  pass  as  freely  in  St.  Louis  as  those  of 
other  counties  and  cities. 

The  issue  of  these  warrants  gave  financial  relief,  and  the  county 
warrants,  which  had  been  at  a  fearful  discount,  arose  to  par,  being 
exchanged  for  the  new  issue  dollar  for  dollar,  and  these  latter  notes  used 
as  currency.  The  county  subsequently  redeemed  them,  and  those  lost  or 
destroyed  by  accident  more  than  covered  the  original  cost  of  issuing 
them. 

NOT   GRANTED. 

A  petition  was  put  in  circulation  for  the  organization  of  a  new  town- 
ship out  of  Butler,  Chalk  Level  and  Monegaw,  but  which  the  county 
court  refused  to  grant. 

ITEMS   OF   INTEREST. 

The  Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas  Railroad  was  assessed  in  1874  at 
$67,400,  being  six  and  three-quarter  miles  within  the  county.  This  was 
at  the  rate  of  about  $10,000  per  mile. 

On  an  examination  of  the  school  and  railroad  fund  it  was  found  that 
$50,000  was  outstanding,  as  loaned  August  i,  1874.  This  somewhat  sur- 
prised the  county  court,  and  they  ordered  that  all  holders  of  the  loan 
should  give  additional  security  when  demanded,  and  that  a  thorough 
examination  was  also  made  in  that  particular. 

The  office  of  "recorder  of  deeds"  was  made  in  1874,  the  county 
showing  a  population  of  over  10,000.  The  circuit  clerk  and  recorder 
had  been,  up  to  that  date,  one  office.  In  granting  this  office  under  the 
law,  the  county  court  decided  that  no  furniture  was  to  be  purchased,  and 
the  office  should  be  in  the  same  room  with  the  circuit  clerk.  The  rec- 
ords of  the  county  court  is  again  missing  from  September  11,  1874,  to 
March,    1875. 

The  census  of  1876  gave  St.  Clair  Count}^  a  population  of  11,242, 
and  cost  the  state  $407.26. 

About  all  the  lawyers  of  Osceola  were  given  a  chance  to  make  a  fee 
out  of  the  "back  tax"  business.  The  fee  generally  being  10  per  cent, 
on  actual  collections. 

In  1877,  August,  Lawrence  Lewis  filed  his  bond  for  $130,000  as  col- 
lector of  the  county,  the  office  of  collector  and  treasurer  being  one. 

The  county  records,  or  a  portion  of  them,  were  stolen  on  the  night 
of  December  14,  1877.  Five  hundred  dollars  was  offered  for  the  thief  or 
return  of  the  records,  but  the   reward   was  shortly  after   withdrawn. 


S84  HISTORY   OF   ST.   CLAIR  COUNTY. 

In  March,  1876,  stock  and  implements  to  the  poor  farm  were  sold  to 
the  amount  of  $482.25. 

The  back  tax  up  to  and  including  the  year  1876,  amounted  to  $78,- 
043.13,  and  was  reduced  by  collections  to  $62,529.06. 

This  last  sum  was  made  up  mostly  by  back  taxes  as  follows:  school 
tax,  $15,275.67;  railroad,  $20,268.28;  state,  $9,966.70;  county,  $12,- 
■849.78.     This  is  what  caused  a  stringency  in  the  county  finances. 

LAND   AS   ASSESSED    BY    TOWNSHIPS,    1875. 

Jackson,  per  acre $261 

Butler,  per  acre 5   20 

Chalk  Level,  per  acre 4  05 

Monegaw,  per  acre 5  08 

Appleton,  per  acre 5   37^ 

Taber,  per  acre 4  42 

Osceola,  per  acre 2  45 

Polk,  per  acre 2  25 

Dallas,  per  acre 3  45 

Doyal,  per  acre 3  75 

Roscoe,  per  acre 3   16 

Speedwell,  per  acre . 4  42 

Washington,  per  acre ■.  3  05 

Collins,  per  acre . 2  40 

The  county  revenue,  its  receipts,  and  the  expenditures  for  1875, 
is  given,  as  it  was  about  an  average  year.  The  fiscal  year  ending  April 
I. St,  1876. 

RECEIPTS. 

Total  receipts  from  all  sources $  11 ,497  48 

EXPENDITURES. 

Total  expenditure $8,058   12 

Receipts  in  excess  of  expenditures 3,439  36 

1877. 

Total  revenue  received  during  official  year  ending  April  1st.  .$10,026  61 
Expenditures 8,892  81 

$1,133  80 
POOR   FARM. 

Expenditures $i,333  33 

Receipts 1,192  63 

Mr.  John  W.  Dooley's  defalcation  amounted  to  about  $4,000  in  round 
numbers,  and  the  securities  had  to  pay  it.  He  left  for  Kansas,  and  up 
to  this  time  has  not  returned. 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  885 

The  amount  that  Elias  Disney  defaulted  for  was  far  more  serious, 
being  still  in  the  neighborhood  of  $11,000.  Mr.  Disney  has  paid  off  a 
number  of  his  bondsmen,  but  the  county  loses  very  little  by  either  of 
them.  The  $22,000  missing  railroad  fund  is  the  most  serious  loss,  and 
of  the  county  judges  under  whose  administration  it  was  spirited  away 
two  at  least  have  left  the  county,  with  no  prospects  of  returning. 

AGRICULTURAL   AND   MECHANICAL   ASSOCIATION. 

The  first  incorporation  of  this  kind  was  made  July  23,  1874.  It  was 
called  the  St.  Clair  County  Agricultural  and  Mechanical  Association, 
and  the  incorporation  was  granted  to  G.  W.  Gabbert,  R.  White,  James 
M.  H.  Ledbetta,  W.  S.  Lock,  Charles  Green,  et  al.  There  was  nothing 
of  consequence  done,  and  in  fact  proved  a  failure.  The  question  of  a 
fair  was  not,  however,  entirely  lost  sight  of  In  the  year  1876  it  man- 
aged to  take  a  new  start,  not  altogether  as  a  county  organization,  but  as 
a  joint  effort  on  the  part  of  the  three  counties  of  Henry,  Bares  and  St. 
Clair.  Appleton  City,  in  the  northwest  corner  of  St.  Clair  County,  was 
in  a  splendid  central  position  to  represent  the  three  counties,  being  but 
one  mile  from  the  Bates  County  line  and  one  and  a  half  mile  from  that 
of  Henry.  The  association  made  an  excellent  start  in  the  spring  of 
1876,  with  stock  taken  to  the  amount  of  $2,000,  and  the  first  fair  was 
held  in  September,  1876.  St.  Clair  County  took  the  most  stock,  and 
Appleton  City  was  declared  to  be  the  location.  Below  will  be  found 
the  names  of  the  officers  elected:  President,  A.  McDougal;  vice-presi- 
dent, A.  B.  Page;  secretary,  H.  W.  Grantley;  treasurer,  A.  F.  Wyckoff. 
Directors — A.  B.  Page,  J.  B.  Newberry,  B.  D.  Robinson,  Bartlet  Sherley 
and  Samuel  Shrout,  of  Bates  County;  Edward  Mason,  A.  McDougal,  W. 
P.  Johnson,  George  Clark,  W.  M.  Lewellen,  F.  Hoffstrom  and  A.  M.  Fer- 
guson, of  St.  Clair  County,  and  George  W.  Holland,  of  Henry  County. 

The  association  is  still  in  prosperous  existence,  with  fairs  held  annu- 
ally and  very  liberal  premiums  given. 

TAX   BOOK   TAKEN. 

The  next  most  serious  complication  was  the  stealing  of  the  tax 
book.  A  party  came  into  town  Tuesday,  May  20,  1879,  about  midnight, 
looked  up  Treasurer  VVonacott  and  had  him  open  the  collector's  office, 
where  they  hunted  up  the  back  tax  book  containing  the  delinquent 
state,  county,  school,  township  and  railroad  taxes  for  1877,  which  they 
carried  off.  The  object  they  intended  to  accomplish  was  to  avoid  pay- 
ment of  railroad  tax.  This  was  a  high  handed  act  and  not  in  any  case 
justifiable.  The  official  action  of  the  county  authorities  was  the  follow- 
ing: 


886  HISTORY   OF    ST.   CLAIR    COUNTY. 

To  Jerome  B.  Jennincrs,   county  attorney  of  the  County  of  St.  Clair,  in 

the  State  of  Missouri: 

You  are  hereby  notified  that  a  body  of  armed  men  called  at  the 
house  of  my  deputy,  in  the  town  of  Osceola,  county  of  St.  Clair,  and 
state  of  Missouri,  on  the  20th  day  of  May,  A.  D.  1879,  about  the  hour  of 
midnight;  demanding  that  he  accompany  them  to  the  court  house. 
Finding  him  sick  and  unable  to  comply  with  their  demands,  they  went 
to  the  house  of  Mr.  K.  B.  Wonacott,  overpowering  him  and  forcing  him 
to  accompany  them  to  my  office,  from  whence  they  took  and  carried 
away  the  Back  Tax  Book  for  the  year  1877. 

This  notice  is  given  you  that  you  may  take  such  steps  for  the  recov- 
ery of  the  same,  and  arrest  of  the  perpetrators  of  the  act,  as  you  may 
deem  proper. 

Witness  my  hand  as  collector  of  the  county  and  state  aforesaid,  this 
2 1st  day  of  May,  A.  D.  1879. 

WILLIAM  M.  LEWELLEN. 
Collector  of  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri. 
By  Thomas  D.  Hicks,  Deputy  Collector. 

In  pursuance  of  the  above  notice,  I  found,  through  the  aid  of  George 
C.  McNeil,  constable  of  Osceola  Township,  the  charred  remains  of  one 
book,  consisting  of  a  part  of  the  back,  in  the  Osage  Hills,  south  of  Osce- 
ola and  returned  the  same  to  the  collector. 

J.  B.  JENNINGS, 
Prosecuting  Attorney. 

It  amounted  to  nothing,  the  parties  to  the  crime  being  unknown. 

REMOVAL  OF  THE  COUNTY  SEAT. 

Appleton  City  was  quite  anxious  a  few  years  since  to  secure  the 
county  seat.  She  had,  however,  been  so  affected  with  the  "  big  head  " 
that  instead  of  trying  to  making  friends  with  the  people  of  St.  Clair 
County,  made  every  possible  effort  to  get  herself  disliked.  Her  papers 
were  a  terrible  misfortune  to  her,  as  they,  or  most  of  them,  had  little  but 
abuse  for  Osceola,  while  they  claimed  to  be  located  in  the  very  center  of 
the  "promised  land."  This  was  in  a  measure  true.  Appleton  City  can 
boast  of  a  country  surrounding  her  unsurpassed  for  its  richness  of  soil 
and  prolific  production,  but  she  was  and  is  located  in  St.  Clair  County, 
and  it  would  have  been  better  to  have  joined  hands  with  the  people  in 
all  sections  of  the  county  than  to  claim  so  much  independence  of  the 
one  and  her  adoration  for  Bates  and  Henry.  Under  this  state  of  affairs, 
although  the  southeastern  townships  seemed  to  have  tried  to  "  bite  off 
their  noses  to  spite  their  faces,"  the  vote  showed  that  the  Appleton 
Cityites  lacked  604  votes  of  the  amount  needed — a  two-thirds  majorit}- — 
the  vote  in  November,  1880,  being: 

For  removal i-SS^ 

Against  removal 980 

376 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   CLAIR   COUNTY.  88/ 

This  small  majority  was  rather  disheartening-,  and  it  will  probably 
never  be  tried  again.     Osceola  will  always  be  the  county  seat. 

ADVANCING. 

The  past  few  years  have  been  prosperous  ones  for  St.  Clair  County, 
and  when  her  troubles  are  settled  in  regard  to  her  railroad  bonded  debt, 
she  is  likely  to  prosper  more  rapidly.  That  she  is  improving  financially, 
can  be  seen  by  the  gradual  lessening  of  the  delinquent  list  from  year  to 
year  for  the  past  half  decade.  The  figures  tell  their  own  story,  and  the 
improvement  is  marked.  The  delinquents  for  the  past  five  years  are  in 
the  following  amounts:  1882,  $4,210.74;  1881,  $5,190.69;  1880,  $5,811.78; 
1879,  $6,966.38;  1878,  $7,004.14.  This  is  certainly  a  gratifying  reduction, 
and  if  St.  Clair  County's  financial  affairs  are  handled  with  sound  judg- 
ment, her  future  is  extremely  bright  and  promising. 

DRUNK — INCAPACITATED. 

The  following  story  is  a  pretty  good  one  on  one  of  the  early  courts, 
including  clerk  and  sheriff,  and  it  is  given  as  told  to  us  by  one  of  the 
early  county  judges,  who  claims  that  it  happened  previous  to  his  occu- 
pying a  seat  as  one  of  the  justices  of  the  county  court.  Charles  P.  Bul- 
lock was  clerk  of  the  court,  and  occasionally,  while  getting  too  much  of 
the  "ardent,"  could  pretty  well  realize  his  situation,  and  had,  when  "half 
seas  over,"  a  sort  of  solemn  way  with  him,  that  at  times  was  extremely 
amusing.  While  Joseph  Montgomery  was  the  presiding  justice,  he  was 
afflicted  with  a  great  desire  to  sleep,  which  in  his  later  years  seemed  to 
grow  on  him.  While  presiding  at  court  if  business  would  stop,  he  would 
go  right  off  to  sleep. 

At  the  sitting  of  the  court  mentioned,  Bullock  had  about  as  much 
as  he  could  carry,  and  while  the  court  room  was  full  business  came  to  a 
stop,  Judge  Montgomery  went  to  sleep,  and  soon  Bullock  arose  and  said 
in  a  solemn  manner,  "  I  move  that  this  court  adjourn,  for  the  reason  that 
the  clerk  is  incapacitated  fordoing  business."  The  two  judges  voted  his 
proposition  down.  He  again  arose,  and  steadying  himself  by  the  table 
said.  "I  move  that  this  court  adjourn  for  the  reason  that  the  sheriff  and 
clerk  are  both  incapacitated  for  doing  business."  The  judges  looked 
solemn,  but  again  voted  down  his  proposition.  This  seemed  to  stagger 
Bullock  for  a  moment,  then  he  again  arose,  courteously  bowed  to  the 
judges,  and  straightening  himself  up,  said,  "  I  move  this  court  adjourn 
for  the  reason  that  the  presiding  justice  is  asleep,  and  that  the  court, 
sheriff  and  clerk  are  drunk."  This  was  a  self-evident  fact,  and  more  than 
the  crowd  could  stand,  and  they  received  it  with  a  shout  that  made  the 
old  court  house  ring.     The  court  adjourned. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY— ITS   PHYSICAL   FEATURES   AND    RE- 
SOURCES. 

BOUNDARY  AND  WEALTH-AREA  AND  WATER  SUPPLY— PHYSICAL  FEATURES— THE  INDI- 
ANS' ELYSIUM-SAC  RIVER— FARM  AND  STOCK— A  RETROSPECT— MINERAL  WEALTH 
-SILVER-SOME  REFLECTIONS  ON  THE  SILVER  EXCITEMENT— PURE  GALENA- 
IRON  AND  COAL  FIE.  DS,  LMM ENS K— GOLD,  SILVER,  COPPER  AND  NICKEL. 

BOUNDARY   AND   WEALTH. 

The  county  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Henry,  on  the  south  by 
Cedar,  on  the  west  by  Bates  and  Vernon,  and  on  the  east  by  Hickory 
and  Benton  Counties.  The  country  east  and  west  of  the  Osage  and 
Sac  Rivers  is  more  or  less  rough,  abrupt,  hilly  and  broken,  and  covered 
with  a  magnificent  growth  of  heavy  walnut,  burr  oak  and  ash,  on  the 
hill  sides,  and  in  the  bottoms,  on  the  streams  and  along  the  ravines.  On 
the  hills  and  uplands  are  to  be  found  the  different  kinds  of  oak,  hickory, 
elm,  cedar,  pawpaw,  sugar  maple  and  cherry  in  abundance. 

There  are  several  tracts  of  excellent  prairie  land  in  the  south  and 
east  part  of  the  county,  and  this  section  has  not  been  credited  with  what 
is  really  her  just  dues.  While  the  rough  and  broken  country  is  not  of 
much  value  for  agricultural  purposes,  it  is  an  invaluable  one  for  stock 
raising,  for  there  are  no  better  grass  lands  to  be  found.  And  then  again, 
these  hills  and  bluffs  are  not,  perhaps,  in  reality  less  valuable  than  the 
beautiful,  smiling  prairies  with  its  fruitful  soil  and  generous  and  even 
prolific  harvest.  Those  rough  hills  are  full  of  minerals,  lead,  silver,  coal, 
iron  and  copper,  and  are  to  be  found  in  immense  quantities  and  fully 
thirty  kinds  of  mineral  paint  can  be  dug  out  of  these  hills.  Osceola  is 
underlaid  with  cement  rock  of  a  superior  quality.  All  this  is  independ- 
ent of  its  wealth  of  timber. 

PHYSICAL   FEATURES. 

Its  physical- features  are,  in  the  north  and  west,  of  as  beautiful  roll- 
ing and  undulating  prairies  as  man's  eye  has  ever  rested  upon,  and  for 
deepness  and  richness  of  soil  is  unsurpassed.  Upon  the  Monegaw  and 
Osage  a  wealth  of  timber  is  found,  and  in  water,  timber,  soil  and  pro- 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY.  889 

duction  it  is  one  of  the  favored  spots  of  earth,  and  bears  an  advanced 
position  as  a  part  of  that  beautiful,  fruitful  and  far  famed  country  known 
as  Southwest  Missouri. 

AREA   AND   WATER   SaPPLY. 

St.  Clair  County  has  an  area  of  about  695  square  miles,  and  in  acres 
of  444,837  79-100.  Just  the  exact  number  of  acres  can  only  be  had  by 
going  over  the  fractional  sections  in  detail,  but  it  wont  fall  an  acre  short 
of  the  above,  but  will  probably  exceed  it  a  tew  acres.  The  county  is 
thirty  miles  wide,  by  twenty-one  and  five-eighths  miles  north  and  south, 
less  three  square  miles  in  the  southeast  corner.  There  is  then  to  be 
added  fifty-two  sections  in  congressional  township  36,  and  nearly  two 
sections  of  land  in  the  bend  of  the'Osage  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the 
county. 

WATER. 

The  Osage  River  enters  the  county  about  the  center  of  the  western 
border.  Its  course,  generally,  is  east  until  near  the  center  of  the  county; 
thence  the  stream  runs  northeast  for  some  eight  miles,  when  its  course 
changes  to  due  north  to  within  a  mile  of  the  northern  edge  of  the  county. 
Here  it  runs  east,  south  and  north,  and  again  repeats  its  serpentine  twist- 
ings,  after  which  it  leaves  the  county  at  the  northeast  corner.  The  Osage 
is  navigable  for  small  boats  throughout  the  entire  length  embraced  in 
St.  Clair.  During  its  wanderings  in  the  limits  of  the  county  it  attains  a 
length  of  sixty  miles  or  more,  thus  watering  a  large  area  of  country  and 
affording  an  unlimited  water  power  for  manufactories,  mills,  etc.,  etc. 

Sac  River^  next  to  the  Osage  in  size  and  importance,  enters  the 
county  midway  on  the  southern  border,  and  its  general  course  is  east  of 
southeast,  forming  a  junction  with  the  Osage  near  the  center  and  three 
miles  above  Osceola.  It  waters  the  country  for  a  distance  of  twenty- 
five  miles  and  affords  excellent  water  power  for  machinery. 

In  the  eastern  portion  of  the  county  are  Hogle's  Creek,  Bear  Creek, 
Weaubleau'  Creek  and  Bush  Creek,  all  of  which  empty  into  the  Osage 
River. 

In  the  southern  part  are  Coon  Creek,  Brush  Creek  and  Turkey  Creek, 
which  find  an  outlet  in  Sac  River. 

In  the  western  part  are  Sims'  Creek,  Coon  Creek  and  Little  and  Big 
Clear  Creek,  which  (except  the  Little  Clear)  empty  into  the  Osage,  and 
are  between  the  Osage  and  Sac  Rivers. 

The  above  creeks  are  south  of  the  Osage  and  most  of  them  head 
tjeyond  the  limits  of  the  county. 

North  of  the  Osage  are  Little  and  Big  Monegaw,  Salt  Creek,  Galli- 
nipper  and  Muddy. 


890  HISTORV    OF   ST.   CLAIR   COUNTY. 

In  addition  to  the  large  rivers  and  creeks  enumerated  above,  the 
entire  county  is  traversed  by  small  creeks  and  rivulets  arising  from  the 
numerous  springs  which  burst  forth  indiscriminately  here  and  there,  fur- 
nishing not  only  an  abundance  of  water  for  stock,  but  a  pure,  cold  and 
sparkling  beverage  for  man.  Whenever  necessary,  water  can  be  obtain- 
able at  a  depth  of  from  twelve  to  thirty  feet  and  in  a  quantity  adequate 
for  all  farm  uses. 

In  addition  to  this  wealth  of  waters,  St.  Clair  County  is  famous  for 
sulphur  springs,  whose  medical  waters  are  not  surpassed  in  the  United 
States.  The  best  known,  and  which  is  famous  for  the  medical  proper- 
ties of  its  waters,  are  the  Monegaws.  These  are  not  surpasseded  by  the 
famous  Eureka  Springs,  of  northwest  Arkansas.  Had  St.  Clair  County 
the  facilities  to  reach  these  springs  which  she  ought  to  have  had,  they 
would  have  been,  ere  now,  as  extensively  patronized,  as  they  are  k:.ovvn 
to  be  famous  for  their  medical  properties.  But  no  railroads,  no  tele- 
graph, no  bridges,  with  no  road  in  fact,  the  people  of  St.  Clair  County 
robbed  though  they  have  been,  have  not  made  the  most  of  their  oppor- 
tunities. A  wealth  of  soil,  of  timber,  of  minerals  and  of  medical 
springs,  yet  all  is  yet  in  its  infancy,  although  a  half  century  has  passed 
since  its  settlement. 

The  Osage  River,  as  above  remarked,  is  navigable  for  small  steam- 
ers as  far  up  as  Osceola  and  Roscoe,  about  six  months  in  the  year,  and 
it  should  be  made  a  navigable  stream  the  year  round.  Railroads  have 
been  petted  and  fostered,  and  a  kingdom  in  area  and  wealth  given  them, 
but  nature's  highway  by  the  hands  of  the  Almighty,  for  man's  use  and 
man's  benefit,  is  contemptuously  thrown  aside;  yet,  if  fostered,  would 
add  untold  wealth  to  the  people,  by  curbing  the  monster  railroad  mon- 
opoly within  the  bounds  of  reasonable  charges,  instead  of  extortionate 
rates.  It  will  be  a  sorrowful  day  for  the  people  of  St.  Clair  when  they 
allow  the  Osage  River  to  become  other  than  a  public  freight  highway. 

THE    INDIAN'S   ELYSIUM.  ' 

Among  the  beautiful  streams  which  abound  throughout  the  state  of 
Missouri,  few  can  be  found  that  surpasses  the  Sac  River.  Its  clear  and 
rapid  waters,  bold  bluffs,  wooded  hills  and  shady  ravines,  it  was  for  cen- 
turies the  favorite  home  of  the  Osages,  and  the  famous  Monegaws,  their 
chief,  when  the  pale  faces  took  possession  of  the  country,  made  a  des- 
perate effort  to  retain  possession  of  this  beautiful  river,  and  the  lands 
upon  its  banks.  Here,  near  the  confluence  of  the  Osage  and  Sac  Rivers, 
was  his  summer  home,  and  the  caves  found  along  the  banks  of  the  Osage 
made  a  shelter  for  him  and  his  band  of  warriors  in  their  vain  attempt  to 
prevent  the  pale  faces  from  taking  possession  of  his  beautiful 
country. 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  89 1 

FARM   AND   STOCK. 

Now  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that  with  all  the  resources  thus 
found,  to  combine  almost  within  the  limits  of  the  county  the  resources 
of  a  state,  that  the  outlook  for  the  future  of  St.  Clair  County  is  one  of 
undoubted  prosperity.  The  shackles  of  a  bonded  debt,  and  the  curse  of 
a  land  monopoly,  are  to  be  removed,  however,  before  the  full  sunlight  of 
prosperity  can  become  perfect  day.  When  that  time  comes,  then  will 
St.  Clair  County  take  her  proper  place  as  one  of  the  richest  and  most 
populous  counties  in  the  state.  Remove  these  terrible  drawbacks  to 
prosperity  and  immigrants  will  find  a  home  here,  and  progress  will 
become  a  watchword  among  her  people.  Her  rich  prairies  will  team 
with  growing  crops,  and  her  hills  and  valleys  with  lowing  herds,  for  the 
Almighty  has  blessed  this  land  with  all  the  attributes  of  a  stock  raising 
country. 

Perhaps  the  following  from  the  Osceola  Sun  will  express  these  facts 
more  fully  than  the  writer  of  these  pages.     It  says: 

There  is  not  a  single  element  of  the  perfect  stock  country  wanting 
in  the  climate,  grasses,  water  supply,  atmosphere,  soil  and  position  of 
St.  Clair  County.  Here  is  the  equable,  medium  and  genial  climate  of 
Central  Ohio  and  Middle  Pennsylvania,  tempered  to  high,  healthful  tone 
by  the  life-giving  breeze  from  the  wide-spreading  plains  of  Kansas, — a 
climate  whose  every  influence  tends  to  health  and  longevity  in  men, 
animals  and  vegetation.  The  water  supply,  natural  shelter  of  the 
densely  wooded  valleys  and  ravines,  the  marvelous  growth  of  wild  and 
domestic  grasses,  the  immense  corn  cribs  filled  to  repletion,  the  mild 
open  winters,  in  which  grazing  rarely  fails  for  more  than  sixty  or  eighty 
days,  and  the  unaccountably  cheap  lands,  make  a  superb  stock  country 
of  this.  For  cattle,  sheep  and  svvine  husbandry,  it  has  no  superior  in 
America.  Even  the  stony,  flint  ridges  are  covered  with  a  magnificent 
growth  of  wild  grass.  These  hills  being  unfit  for  cultivation,  will  always 
give  ample  stock  range.  Then  there  is  no  part  of  St.  Clair  in  which 
stock  water  is  not  abundant  and  the  supply  never-failing.  Half  the  hogs 
fattened  in  the  county  never  ate  an  ear  of  corn,  their  sole  feed  having 
been  the  "  mast  "  which  grows  profusely  upon  the  uncultivated  portions 
of  the  county — hickory  nuts,  hazle  nuts,  acorns,  etc. 

Sheep  raising  constitutes  an  important  factor  in  farming.  This  county 
offers  this  industry  many  and  vast  advantages,  the  principal  cost  being 
in  securing  a  herd  for  a  start  and  providing  a  shelter. 

FARMING   LANDS. 

While  much  has  been  said  of  its  stock  raising  facilities,  its  farming 
lands  are  not  behind.  North  of  the  Osage  River  and  in  the  western 
portion  of  the  county,  is  to  be  found  the  richest  farming  lands 
in  Southwest  Missouri,  There  is  not  much  attention  given  to  tame 
grasses,  the  prairie  grasses  furnishing  sufficient  hay  and  pasture  for  all 


892  HISTORY    OF   ST.   CLAIR   COUNTY. 

purposes,  besides  leaving  a  large  surplus  of  hay  which  is  shipped  to 
other  places.  Timothy,  blue  grass  and  clover  do  well,  and  millet  and 
Hungarian  yield  an  immense  crop.  The  prettiest  undulating  prairie 
land  to  be  found  in  this  country  is  in  the  northern  and  western  portion 
of  this  county.  You  may  take  it  in  any  direction  within  twelve  or 
fifteen  miles  of  Appleton  City,  and  a  richer  soil  and  a  country  that  lays 
better  for  farming  is  not  to  be  found.  The  country  is  nearly  level,  just 
rolling  enough  for  good  natural  drainage,  and  except  where  the  pretty 
farm  house,  the  neat  trimmed  hedge  of  Osage  orange,  the  large  herds  of 
cattle  and  sheep,  or  the  newly  plowed  cornfield  breaks  the  monotony  of 
the  view,  the  whole  county  looks  like  one  broad  carpet  of  richest  emer- 
ald. Such  a  country  is  hard  to  imagine.  One  must  see  it  to  appreciate 
its  natural  beauty  and  the  fertility  of  its  soil.  Wheat,  corn,  barley,  flax, 
tobacco,  etc.,  yield  well,  and  fruit  raised  in  this  county  cannot  be 
excelled,  and  the  crop  is  most  always  a  sure  one.  The  yield  of  wheat 
will  average  from  twenty  to  twenty-five  bushels  per  acre,  and  of  corn 
thirty-five  to  sixty-five  bushels.  With  thorough  cultivation  farmers  fre- 
quently excel  these  figures,  and  many  of  the  bottom  farm.s  will  pro- 
duce sixty  and  seventy  bushels  of  corn  per  acre.  Oats,  rye,  flax,  barley, 
broom  corn,  sorghum,  buckwheat  and  hemp  yield  well. 

Now  in  this  connection,  and  for  the  truth  of  the  preceding  pages, 
some  account  should  be  given  of  what  St.  Clair  County  has  done  in  a 
productive  capacity.  Taking  her  population  the  comparison  can  be 
made,  and  when  so  made  it  will  be  found  that  her  wealth  of  soil  has  not 
been  exaggerated,  and  that  there  are  but  few  counties  in  the  state  that 
can  show  a  better  record,  if  there  are  any. 

A   RETROSPECT. 

Before  the  resources  are  gone  into  in  detail,  let  us  refer  to  the  fact 
that  while  growing  faster  than  almost  any  county  in  the  state  previous 
to  the  war  of  1861,  the  ten  years  succeeding  that  was  one  of  almost  death. 
Every  muscle  and  fiber  of  her  body  has  been  vvrenched  and  paral}'zed 
through  the  period  of  strife,  which  not  only  devastated  her  fields,  but 
drove  her  people  from  their  homes.  The  following  short  sketch  is  given, 
from  Campbell's  history: 

"  St.  Clair  County  grew  steadily  until  the  war,  when  it  was  invaded 
by  detached  bodies  of  soldiers.  Citizens  were  dragged  from  their  homes 
at  night  and  murdered,  their  houses  burned  and  their  families  left  desti- 
tute and  terror  stricken.  On  September  2,  1861,  Osceola,  then  a  consid- 
erable town,  having  a  large  trade  with  Arkansas  and  the  Indian  Terri- 
tory, was  entered  by  General  Jim  Lane's  command  of  about  1,500  men, 
and  its  court  house  and  all  other  buildings  except  ten  houses,  were  plun- 
dered and  burned.     A  long  line  of  wagons  bore  away  the  booty." 


^ 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  893 

This  destruction  of  her  leading  town  by  the  Jayhavvkers,  and  the 
overrunning  of  her  territory,  leaving  desolation  in  their  path,  destroying 
the  fruits  of  years  and  driving  away  her  people,  was  a  serious  blow  to 
her  progress  for  many  long  years.  In  1870  St.  Clair  County  had  a  less 
population  than  in  i860.  Thus  not  only  had  that  decade  been  the  des- 
truction of  her  wealth,  but  she  had  even  ceased  to  grow.  Before  the 
war,  no  doubt,  her  growth  and  prosperity  was  due,  to  a  large  extent, 
from  the  Osage  River.  Here  were  transportation  facilities  enjoyed  by 
few  counties,  but  the  advent  of  railroads  and  the  destructive  influences 
of  the  war  gave  her  a  set  back  which  has  not  even  yet  been  recovered 
fully,  notwithstanding  the  gigantic  struggle  she  has  made  the  past 
twelve  years. 

As  before  remarked,  remove  the  shackles  of  a  monumental  fraud 
and  of  her  land  monopoly,  and  St.  Clair  County  will  arise,  and  with  the 
strength  of  a  giant,  assert  her  right  to  rank  in  all  the  elements  of  pros- 
perity, and  in  the  culture  and  refinement  of  her  people,  with  the  best  in 
the  land.  Her  granite  rock,  her  iron  beds,  her  immense  coal  measure, 
her  wealth  of  timber  and  the  determined  energy  of  her  people,  will 
prove  her  future  station  in  the  sisterhood  of  counties.  The  immigrant 
can  find  no  better  or  cheaper  home  than  in  St.  Clair  County,  and  soon 
the  iron  horse  and  the  electric  wires  will  place  her  in  contact  with  the 
outside  world.  Then  those  so  fortunate  as  to  have  a  home  here  will 
thank  God  and  prosper. 

Before  the  statistics  of  her  farm  and  stock  are  entered  here,  and  the 
wealth  of  landed  estate  and  personal  property,  something  can  be  said  of 
her  mineral  resources.  That  St.  Clair  County  is  immensely  rich  in  coal 
and  iron,  is  well  known.  That  there  is  also  lead  in  paying  quantity  is 
also  well  known,  as  well  as  her  mineral  paint  and  cement.  Silver,  cop- 
per and  nickel  have  also  been  found,  and  it  is  believed  by  many  that 
silver  will  yet  be  discovered  in  inexhaustible  quantity.  That  indications 
are  such  is  certain. 

MINERAL    WEALTH. 

Whether  coal  can  be  called  a  mineral  may  be  doubted,  but  it  is, 
nevertheless,  found  under  this  head  in  this  work.  St.  Clair  County  is,  at 
least  one-third  of  its  territory,  underlaid  with  a  fine  article  of  bituminous 
coal,  with  veins  from  twelve  inches  to  six  and  seven  feet  in  thickness. 
The  veins  so  far  discovered  are  generally  from  three  to  four  feet  in  thick- 
ness and  lie,  comparatively  speaking,  close  to  the  surface,  being  found 
from  six  to  seventy-five  feet  in  depth.  These  veins  not  only  are  found 
in  hills,  but  upon  the  prairies.  A  three-foot  vein  of  coal  is  found  on  sec- 
tion_i5,  township  38,  range  26.  Another  mine,  with  a  vein  fully  as  thick, 
within  a  mile  and  a  half  of  Osceola,  while  the  western  part  of  Taber,  in 
Monegaw  and  Chalk  Level  their  entire  southern  portions,  covering  one- 


894  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

third  of  their  area,  are  all  underlaid  with  coal,  the  veins  running  from 
three  to  six  feet  in  thickness.  When  better  transportation  facilities  are 
provided  that  section  of  St.  Clair  County  will  be  a  perfect  mining  camp. 

The  basil  rock  in  the  north  and  western  portion  is  limestone,  under- 
neath which  is  found  rich  deposits  of  coal,  which  will  richly  pay  for  min- 
ing. Coal  mines  have  been  profitably  wo/ked  in  different  parts  of  the 
county,  particularly  in  townships  37  and  39,  range  27,  and  townships  36 
and  38,  range  26.  The  coal  is  of  superior  quality,  ranging  from  two  and 
a  half  to  five  feet  in  thickness,  and  is  said  to  be  equal  to  the  best  char- 
coal for  working  iron  or  steel.  There  is  not  much  inducement  to  develop 
the  rich  coal  deposits  for  home  use,  owing  to  the  large  amount  of  timber 
in  the  county. 

Mineral  can  be  found  in  abundance  all  along  the  Osage  cliffs.  Some 
may  ask  why  these  mines  are  not  opened.  It  is  simply  because  the  peo- 
ple have  not  the  capital  to  develop  them.  The  wealth  is  here,  that  is 
certain,  and  the  coal  mines  of  St.  Clair  County  will  some  day  prove  of 
great  wealth,  and  in  supply  simply  inexhaustible. 

SILVER. 

The  finding  of  silver  in  several  places  in  the  county  has  in  times 
gone  by  created  much  excitement.  There  is  not  the  least  doubt  that 
silver  in  good  paying  quantity  will  yet  be  mined  in  this  count}'.  A  short 
time  since,  silver  was  discovered  about  one  mile  from  the  Horse  Shoe 
Bend,  on  and  near  the  Osage  River,  and  within  a  few  miles  of  Osceola. 
W.  S.  Gordon  &  Sons,  Dill  &  Son,  Hotchkiss,  Patterson  &  Keith,  men 
of  experience,  prospected  for  silver  with  strong  hopes  of  yet  finding  it 
in  paying  quantities.  One  of  the  gentlemen  was  an  old  experienced 
miner,  who  had  been  in  California,  Colorado  and  Montana,  and  knows 
what  "paying  rock"  is,  and  has  faith  in  the  development  of  the  silver 
ore  in  these  hills. 

Another  excitement  was  created  by  finding  silver  on  Bush  Creek. 
Silver  was  found  there  a  few  years  ago  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  W.  Lamey, 
but  has  since  died  out,  owing  to  the  fact  that  while  ore  was  found  that 
would  assay  from  ten  dollars  to  eighty  dollars  per  ton,  it  required  capi- 
tal to  work  it.  The  search  was  not  continued,  and  whether  it  exists  in 
paying  quantity  has  not  since  been  ascertained.  Specimens  of  ore  from 
different  sections  of  the  county  have  been  assayed  and  both  silver  and 
gold  found. 

The  greatest  excitement  with  regard  to  finding  silver  was  in  1872, 
when  it  was  discovered  in  Hickory  as  well  as  in  St.  Clair  County;  and 
the  following  from  the  St.  Louis  Rural  World  will  be  of  interest  now> 
and  much  more  so  when  capital  shall  have  developed  the  wealth  that  is 
surely  hid  among  the  hills  and  ravines  of  this  and  adjoining  counties. 


■       HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY.  895 

The  article  put  a  damper  on  those  who  believed  in  the  metal  being  found 
in  quantities;  but  since  the  article  was  written,  there  has  been  unmis- 
takable evidence  that  silver  in  St.  Clair  County  is  a  solid  reality.  The 
Rural  World  said: 


THE   SILVER   EXCITEMENT   IN   ST.   CLAIR   AND   HICKORY   COUNTIES. 

On  Bear  Creek,  in  township  38,  range  24,  St.  Clair  County,  for  four 
months  there  has  been  great  excitement  over  ore  that  has  been  found, 
supposed  CO  be  silver.  This  mmeral  occurs  in  a  hard,  carboniferous  lime- 
stone, in  a  disseminated  state,  and  in  considerable  quantities.  After  its 
discovery  by  Renfro  &  Milear  the  contagion  spread,  and  James  Anterby, 
Mr.  Harding,  A.  J.  Gibson,  W.  V.  Rrdges,  Jasper  Bridges,  Elisha 
Bridges,  John  Smith,  John  Keaton  and  John  Morris  have  prospected, 
mined,  blasted,  dug,  sweat,  hoped,  imagined,  and  no  doubt  prayed,  for 
the  great  flow  of  treasure  they  were  certain  was  soon  to  pour  into  their 
coffers.  But  days  hurried  into  weeks,  and  months  took  on  their  record 
of  time;  men  might  be  seen  in  groups,  in  silent,  watchful  moods,  whis- 
pering of  probable  fortunes  to  be  lost,  or  torn  from  them  by  some  wiley 
miner,  mineral  company  or  lawyer  sharper,  who  might  be  then  spying 
out  their  hidden  home  of  wealth.  Haggard,  eager,  expectant  and  wan 
faces  peer  out  from  many  places,  as  if  weary  of  waiting,  but  yet  san- 
guine of  the  coming  of  the  silver  treasure.  News  of  silver  was  received 
ot  such  virgin  purity  that  it  was  malleable  enough  to  hammer  out  into 
sheets;  every  man  in  the  vicinity  was  carrying  a  "pocket  full  of  rocks," 
some  of  which  reached  our  city  through  the  hands  of  Hon.  J.  H.  Bohn. 
By  solicitation  of  Mr.  J.  S.  Maffinger,  of  Hickory  County,  we  visited 
this  locality,  and  found  the  state  of  excitement  above  described.  An 
examination  made  presents  sulphuret  of  iron,  pyrites  of  iron,  antimony 
and  carbonate  of  lime,  with  traces  of  nickle. 

There  is  connected  with  this  excitement  a  legend  of  immense  min- 
eral wealth  found  by  the  Spaniards  long  ago,  and  that  a  Spaniard  a  few 
weeks  ago  visited  this  locality  and  offered  $500  to  any  one  who  would 
show  a  certain  rock  with  some  characters  or  designs  upon  it;  the  Span- 
iard went  away,  and  to  make  the  story  a  good  one,  the  stone  must  be 
found.  Accordingly,  a  stone  said  to  contain  a  "turkey  foot"  and  signs 
cut  into  it  was  at  last  discovered.  Many  have  gazed  in  wonder  and 
admiration  at  the  characters,  cut  by  some  intelligent  Castillian  to  hand 
down  to  other  races  of  old  Castile,  the  abiding  place  of  untold  wealth. 
The  spot  became  almost  sacred;  worshippers  came  a  long  pilgrimage  to 
the  "turkey  foot"  Mecca,  and  gazed,  wondered,  admired  and  retreated 
backward,  gazing  as  they  went. 

Being  shown  to  the  secluded  valley,  where  this  stone  with  the  mys- 
terious markings  had  been  carried  and  hidden,  we  found  simply  a  large 
flat  stone  whose  surface  bore  the  fissures  and  furrowings  by  the  action 
of  water  upon  the  softer  portions  of  the  exposed  surface.  The  imagina- 
tion had  to  be  wonderfully  drawn  upon  to  present  the  faintest  approach 
to  the  figure  of  a  "turkey's  foot."  The  power  of  a  strong  glass  gave  no 
trace  of  the  work  of  a  tool  of  any  kind.  The  vicinity  is  no  doubt  rich  in 
several  valuable  minerals,  but  there  is  no  trace  of  silver  to  be  found  in 
any  of  the  ores  yet  mined." 


896  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLA.1R   COUNTY. 

This  closes  the  record  of  silver,  but  the  fact  that  it  does  exist  and 
in  large  quantity  is  fully  believed,  for  evidence  is  not  wanting  of  the 
"find,"  and  the  purity  of  the  metal. 

PURE   GALENA. 

That  lead  of  a  fine  quantity  and  inexhaustible  in  quantity,  lies  under 
the  surface  of  a  considerable  portion  of  St.  Clair  County  is  a  fact  too 
easily  of  proof  to  be  gainsaid.  The  tollowing  trom  the  Osceola  Demo- 
crat was  published  in  1873. 

FINDING   OF    PURE   GALENA   LEAD   ORE. 

Within  the  past  twelve  months  frequent  discoveries  of  lead  have 
been  made  in  this  county,  but  by  most  persons  it  was  thought  not  to 
exist  in  what  is  usually  termed  "  paying  quantities."  On  Tuesday  last 
we  were  shown  by  Hon.  Waldo  P.  Johnson  one  of  the  finest  specimens 
of  lead  ore  we  have  ever  seen,  consisting  of  a  small  lump  weighing  six 
pounds  two  ounces,  which  at  first  sight  appears  to  be  a  lump  of  pure 
lead,  as  if  having  been  run  into  a  lump  and  then  pressed  flat,  but  an 
examination  of  it  proves  to  be  incorrect,  as  by  striking  on  it  with  some 
hard  substance,  it  crumbles.  It  is  fully  ninety  per  cent,  lead,  which 
will  at  once  be  observed  to  be  a  very  superior  ore.  It  was  found  on  Sac 
River,  about  10  miles  south  of  Osceola. 

No  man  well  versed  in  the  mineral  resources  of  this  county,  doubts 
that  if  the  means  were  at  hand  to  develop  them,  the  quantity  and  qual- 
ity of  the  minerals  of  the  county  would  be  immense  and  superior.  Enter- 
prise and  capital  is  all  that  is  wanting. 

Since  the  above  was  written,  lead  has  been  found  perhaps  in  fifty 
■different  places,  all  showing  ore  of  great  purity.  Scattered  over  the 
extent  of  country  which  these  indications  sho.v,  there  is  an  immense 
amount  of  this  article  to  be  found  by  a  thorough  prospecting  of  the 
country.  In  fact,  it  is  hard  to  tell  just  what  minerals  underlie  the  sur- 
face of  St.  Clair  County.  Gold,  silver,  iron,  copper,  nickel,  have  been 
found,  by  accident  in  most  cases.  Coal  and  iron  is  apparent  enough; 
the  others  will  have  to  be  more  thoroughly  developed  to  judge  what 
their  value  may  be,  with  the  exception  of  lead,  which  is  surely  here,  and 
in  quantity  simply  infinite. 

In  1880,  the  Osceola  Sun  published  the  following  in  regard  to  a 
lead  found  in  Monegaw,  a  distance  of  nearly  twenty  miles  from  that 
found  on  the  Sac  River.     The  Sun,  after  speaking  of  coal  says  : 

"  LEAD 

has  also  been  discovered  in  these  rough  regions,  and  unless  the  surface 
indications  are  false,  and  different  from  that  of  the  lead  region  about 
Short  Creek,  Joplin,  Granby,  etc.,  there  is  abundance  of  it  in  this  country. 


HI3T0RV   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  89/ 

We  have  in  our  office  specimens  of  the  silver,  iron  and  lead  taken  out  of 
these  hills  by  mere  surface  prospecting,  and  are  satisfied  from  the  speci- 
mens and  indications  that  it  will  pay  to  go  deeper.  We  saw  some  speci- 
mens of  silver  ore  from  the  Hugh  Johnson  mines,  in  Monegaw  Town- 
ship, which  are  said  to  contain  silver  in  paying  quantities,  but  as  our 
time  was  too  limited  to  visit  the  mines,  we  cannot  judge  of  the  quantity 
of  the  ore,  except  from  hearsay,  which  places  an  almost  fabulous  value, 
not  only  on  the  silver,  but  also  on  the  lead  deposits  found  on  the  John- 
son farm  and  in  the  immediate  vicinity." 

Take  the  range  of  hills  which  line  the  banks  of  the  Osage  and  Sac 
Rirers,  and  you  will  find  every  kind  of  mineral  and  coal  upon  the  surface, 
not  in  large  quantities  to  be  sure,  but  such  surface  indications  as  show 
plainly  that  under  the  sod  and  down  among  the  rocks  and  deep  in  the 
bowels  of  these  hills  untold  wealth  lies  yet  hidden  from  sight.  But  the 
day  is  not  far  distant  when  the  undeveloped  resources  of  these  bluffs  will 
be  brought  to  the  light  of  day,  and  the  eye  feast  upon  untold  wealth. 

IRON. 

It  has  long  been  demonstrated  that  there  is  an  unlimited  supply  of 
iron  ore,  containing  a  paying  per  cent,  of  pure  iron,  in  the  hills  of  the 
Osage  in  this  county.  Jackson  Township  is  rich  in  this  metal,  and  it 
covers  nearly  one-third  of  the  township.  Splendid  specimens  have  been 
picked  up  in  Doyal,  Dallas,  Polk,  Osceola,  and  in  many  other  places, 
that  it  requires  no  further  proof  of  the  fact  that  it  is  here  in  large  quan- 
tities, and  that  it  belongs  to  that  valuable  ore  known  as  brown  hematite, 
while  both  specular  and  red  hematite  have  been  found  as  well.  St.  Clair 
County  is  rich  in  iron  ore. 

COPPER   AND   NICKEL. 

Of  copper  and  nickel,  specimens  have  been  found  showing  these 
minerals  are  here,  but  the  indications  have  not  been  so  great  as  to  give 
any  very  great  confidence  that  it  exists  here  in  large  quantities.  There 
is  a  strong  belief  that  copper  will  be  developed  largely  at  some  future 
day,  and  that  a  nickel  mine  will  yet  be  unearthed  of  great  value,  but 
even  if  in  these  two  minerals  there  should  be  found  "but  a  limited  supply, 
there  will  be  found  enough  of  the  others  mentioned  to  give  St.  Clair 
County  a  front  rank  among  the  mineral  counties  of  the  state,  while  in 
agricultural  resources  and  stock  raising,  she  will  be  fully  abreast  of  her 
sister  counties. 


CHAPTER    Vlll. 

AGRICULTURAL  AND  STOCK  STATISTICS. 

AGRICULTURE  AND  STOCK-GRAZING  LANDS— ITS  YIELD— FRUITS— PROGRESS  IN  ALL 
THINGS— COMPARISON  MADE-CENSUS  OF  1876-POPULATION— STOCK— PRODUCTS— 
THE  YIELD  OF  1880— STOCK  RE'lURNS  OF  1880-82— ASSESSMENT  AND  ASSESSED  VAL- 
UATION. 

AGRICULTURAL   AND   STOCK. 

The  portions  of  St.  Clair  County  which  are  of  agricultural  worth 
and  for  stock  raising  purposes  has  proved,  without  exception,  to  be  rich 
and  productive.  The  north  and  west  is  perhaps  the  richest  part  of  the 
county.  The  soil  is  deeper  and  stronger  than  is  found  in  the  eastern 
part,  but  still  in  every  part  of  the  county  will  be  found  land  rich  and 
soil  strong,  capable  of  a  steady  drain  for  years  without  exhaustion.  The 
climate,  soil,  production  and  splendid  water  supply  makes  it  unsur- 
passed, if  not  unequaled,  as  a  stock  raising  country.  Stock  can  graze 
nearly  the  year  round,  and  but  partial  feeding  is  indulged  in  three 
months  of  the  year.  These  facts,  if  more  generally  known,  would  be  of 
great  advantage  to  the  county.  Immigration  might  be  turned  to  her 
fertile  prairies,  and  her  cheap  lands  for  grazing  purposes  would  invite 
the  seeker  after  homes  to  settle  here;  but  hiding  your  light  under  a 
bushel,  people  of  St.  Clair  County,  will  not  populate  your  waste  places 
or  bring  to  your  uncultivated  field  the  brawn  which,  with  the  help  of 
Providence,  makes  waving  fields  of  grain  and  herds  on  every  hill.  St. 
Clair  has  an  inviting  field  for  the  immigrant;  let  this  fact  be  known  and 
its  prosperity  will  be  increased  manyfold. 

Just  what  the  early  times  produced  in  the  way  of  cereals  no  record 
was  ever  kept.  The  assessed  valuation  of  the  county  from  year  to  year 
was  a  good  criterion  of  her  advancement;  yet  it  had  to  be  divided 
between  the  increase  of  personal  property  and  the  advance  put  upon 
real  estate  or  from  a  greater  amount  of  improved  land  placed  upon  the 
tax  books  from  year  to  year.  Since  the  war  the  economy  rule  has  not 
been  quite  so  much  indulged  in  this  particular,  and  there  have  been  sev- 
eral publications  of  the  growth  of  cereals,  the  increase  of  stock,  etc. 

St.  Clair  County  is  adapted  to  the  growth  of  corn,  potatoes,  wheat 
rye,  oats,  barley  and  the  grasses.  Tobacco,  hemp,  flax,  broom  corn  and 
sorghum  can  be  grown  to  great  perfection   and    give  splendid  yield,  but 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   CLAIR   COUNTY.  899 

up  to  this  time  they  have  not  been  cultivated  to  an  extent  beyond  the 
need  of  home  consumption.  A  few  years  ago  the  luxuriant  prairie 
grasses  formed  the  principal  food,  and  the  prairies  the  grazing  ground 
for  all  kinds  of  stock.  Of  late  years,  however,  the  ranges  have  beert 
largely  curtailed  by  new  comers,  and  the  rich  prairies  have  been  fenced 
in.  Timothy  and  blue  grass  grow  finely,  and  in  many  places  the  latter 
seem  to  come  up  spontaneously,  crowding  out  the  prairie  grass  by  its- 
rapid  growth,  and  especially  in  the  uncultivated  fields  laid  waste  by  the 
war.  Of  late  years  stock  raising  has  been  a  prominent  feature  with  the 
farmers  of  the  county,  and  many  of  them  are  devoting  their  time  to  the 
improvement  of  their  herds  and  in  importation  and  breeding  of  fine 
stock.     Its  the  stockmen's  own  country. 

FRUIT. 

In  fruit  there  is  no  better  county,  but  it  has  not  been  given  that 
attention  which  its  value,  as  well  as  its  health  giving  qualities,, 
deserve.  There  are,  however,  some  fine  orchards,  and  one  which  can  be 
mentioned  is  that  of  Robert  White,  of  Chalk  Level  Township.  Apples 
are  a  sure  crop.  Peaches,  pears,  and  in  fact  all  small  fruits,  are  as  though 
indigenous  to  the  soil,  and  can  be  raised  with  great  ease  and  with  little 
care.  Berries  grow  wild,  and  the  gardens  yield  prolific  wherever  they- 
are  cultivated.  All  these  are  but  little  grown,  and  it  would  be  a  paying; 
business,  from  the  fruitfulness  of  the  soil,  to  raise  fruits  and  berries,  if  a 
way  was  secured  to  get  them  to  market.  These  things  will  only  be  cul- 
tivated for  home  use  until  the  advent  of  railroads. 

PROGRESS   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

In  the  growth  and  progress  of  St.  Clair  County,  as  written  by" 
decade,  her  true  prosperity  is  known,  is  seen  and  felt,  that  progress  and 
that  prosperity  had  advanced  in  a  wonderful  degree  during  the  decade 
between  1870  and  1880.  The  previous  ten  years  between  i860  and  187O' 
had  told  fearfully  against  her,  and  neither  the  value  of  real  estate  or 
personal  property  or  the  population  was  as  much  in  the  latter  year  as  iiu 
i860.  But  the  process  of  recuperation  had  been  going  on  for  five  years 
yet  it  had  not  been  able  to  meet  the  drain  of  the  preceding  five  years^ 
so  that  it  fell  far  short  of  the  values  of  ten  years  before. 

In  1879  a  crime  was  committed  in  the  stealing  and  destruction  of 
the  back  tax  books  of  1877,  which  dastardly  act  excited  a  St.  Louis 
paper  to  comment  vigorously,  not  only  upon  the  act,  but  also  reflected 
severely  upon  the  people  of  the  county  and  its  resources.  The  paper 
was  lamentably  ignorant  for  one  which  claims  to  be  among  the  foremost 
in  the  state  in  knowledge  and  enterprise. 


900  (ITSTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  i 

It  was  ably  replied  to,  and  received  such  an  excoriation  that  it  left 
it  in  a  very  damaging  condition  mentally.  However,  the  paper  man- 
aged to  recover  sufficiently  to  slightly  deprecate  its  unfortunate  casti- 
gation,  and  call  for  proof.  The  answer  admirably  set  forth  the  growth 
and  progress  of  the  county  from  1870  to  1878,  from  carefully  compiled 
statistics  that  could  not  be  questioned,  and  from  1870  to  this  date,  1883, 
the  progress  and  development  of  St.  Clair  County  has  had  few  equals 
among  the  sisterhood  of  counties  in  the  state. 

STATE   CENSUS.  * 

The  most  complete  exhibit  of  the  county's  productive  capacity  is 
that  given  for  the  year  1876,  being  compiled  under  state  auspices,  and 
covered  the  whole  ground,  both  in  population  and  progress.  Compare 
this  table  with  the  census  of  1886,  when  taken,  and  the  real  progress  of 
St.  Clair  for  the  decade  can  be  clearly  seen. 

The  following  are  the  census  returns  of  1876: 

White  males 5.619 

White  females 5-374 

Total  whites 10,993 

Colored  males I19 

Colored  females 120 

Total   colored 248 

Total  population 11 ,242 

Horses 5J048 

Mules 1,268 

Jacks 23. 

Jennets 8 

Cattle 17.925 

Sheep    II  ,094 

Hogs 17,^34 

Bushels  wheat 27,253 

Bushels  corn 1,346,915  ' 

Bushels  oats 75.471 

Bushels  flax 43.^97 

Bushels  rye 616 

Pounds  tobacco 42-544 

Pounds  wool 23,047 

Tons  hay 24,577 

Gallons  wine 70 

Gallons  molasses 54-703 

Money,  notes,  bonds  and  other  credits $1 13-^45 

All  other  personal  property 130,489 

Total  valuation  by  the  assessor 665.836 

Valuation  of  real  estate 1,422,327 

This    statement    is    full    and    complete,    showing    population    and 
products. 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 


901 


The  yield  of  grain  in  St.  Clair  County  in  1880  showed,  in  some  res- 
pects, a  wonderful  increase.  The  yield  of  cereals  was:  Corn,  50,502  acres — 
1,614,817  bushels;  wheat,  13,207  acres — 121,961  bushels;  Oats,  5,305  acres 
—  77,132  bushels;  Rye,  94  acres — 957  bushels;  buckwheat,  17  acres — 
210  bushels.  This,  in  comparison  with  1876,  was  an  increase  of  the  fol- 
lowing: on  corn,  about  17  per  cent.;  on  wheat,  450  per  cent.;  on  oats, 
about  2  per  cent.;  on  rye,  about  50  per  cent. 

If  you  will  refer  to  the  table  of  1876  for  stock,  you  will  again  see  a 
wonderful  increase  of  from  fifty  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  per  cent., 
while  a  still  more  rapid  advance  has  been  made  the  past  two  years. 

Cattle  has  gained  in  number  thirty-three  per  cent.  Horses,  18  per 
cent.;  sheep,  40  per  cent.;  while  hogs  have  been  sold  closer  and  fallen 
off  about  thirty  per  cent.  From  the  tables  here  given,  there  will  be  no 
trouble  to  see  the  growth  of  the  county,  acres  of  land  in  cultivation,  of 
cereals  and  stock,  and  thus  this  work  will  become  invaluable  as  a  book 
of  reference. 

The  following  are  the  assessed  valuations  for  the  years  named: 

1880. 

Acres 418,871  72-100,  value,  $1,294,410 

Town  lots 2,392  "  140,025 


Horses 6,502,  value,  $  164,838 


$1,434,435 


Mules 1,343, 

Asses  and  jennets 40, 

Neat  cattle 25,121, 

Sheep 1 5,766, 

Hogs 30,786, 

All  other  live   stock 

Money,  notes,  etc 

All  other  personal  property 


39.597 

975 

261,764 

16,170 

38,625 

430 

224.794 

207,196 


954,389 


Total,  real  and  personal $2,388,824 


1SS2. 


Acres 419,025,  value,  $1,859,575 

Town  lots 2,661,       "  184  230 


Horses 7,796,  value,  $270,350 


$2,043,805 


Mules 1,230, 

Asses  and  jennets 42, 

Neat  Cattle 33-732, 

Sheep 20,358, 

Hogs 22,790, 

Money,  notes,  etc 

All  other  personal  property 


63,880 
1,645 

438,325 

27,240 

40,130 

226,225 

250,760 


1,318,555 


Total,  real  and  personal  property $3>362,36o 


902 


HISTORY   OF    ST.    CT.AIR   COUNTY 


The  assessment  is  forty  cents  state  tax  and  thirty  cents  county  tax, 
for  general  purposes,  and  ten  cents  road  tax,  making  a  total  of  eighty 
cents  on  the  $100.  This  is  a  very  light  tax.  The  county,  April  i,  1883, 
has  no  floating  and  no  debt  of  any  kind,  except  the  bonded  railroad 
indebtedness  still  unsettled.  An  attempt  will  be  made  the  present  year 
to  compromise  the  same.  The  people  are  likely  to  vote  for  a  comprom- 
ise at  from  forty  to  fifty  cents  on  the  dollar,  5-20  year  bonds,  drawing 
six  per  cent  interest,  the  latter,  annually.  Such  a  proposition  should 
carry,  not  for  the  justice  of  the  thing  but  for  the  welfare  of  the  county. 
The  debt  would  exceed  then  over  $200,000,  but  it  should  be  settled. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

RAILROADS  VS.  NO  RAILROADS. 

THE  CLINTON  &  MEMPHIS  BRANCH- SUBSCRIPTION,  $25o,ooo-THE  ORDER  IN  FULL— SAT- 
ISFIED AND  BONDS  DELIVERED— RETURNING  REASON— AN  ACCOUNT  RENDERED 
BY  NO  VOUCHERS  PRODUCED— TAXATION  AND  RAILROAD  FUND— INVESTIGATION 
—THE  REPORT— STEALING  IN  BULK— STEALING  IN  DETAIL-THE  LADUE  SWINDLE 
ON  CONTRACTS— NO  LEW  BUT  PLENTY  OF  SUITS— Sgoooo  AND  THE  ATTORNEYS  IN 
THE  CASES. 

RAILROAD   HISTORY. 

The  railroad  history  may  be  said  to  date  from  January  i,  1870. 
During  that  month  a  petition  was  circulated,  and  at  the  February  term, 
1870,  that  petition,  numbering  some  400  names,  was  presented  to  the 
county  court.  It  was,  in  substance,  a  request  that  the  court  subscribe 
$250,000  to  the  stock  of  the  Clinton  &  Memphis  branch  of  the  Tebo  & 
Neosho  Railroad  Company.  The  court  laid  the  petition  over  for  action 
until  the  first  Tuesday  in  April,  1870.  The  court  was  composed  of  Wil- 
liam A.  Mitchell,  William  Collins  and  Thomas  F.  Robinson  as  judges. 
There  were  remonstrances  against,  as  well  as  for  petition  for  subscription 
to  stock,  and  it  resulted,  on  a  count,  to  be  435  petitions  for  a  railroad  to 
be  built  through  the  center  of  the  county,  261  names  remonstrating 
against  a  subscription  to  any  railroad  for  any  amount,  and  768  names 
petitioning. the  county  court  to  subscribe  $250,000,  conditioned,  that  the 
road  run  through  the  county  and  a  depot  located  within  a  one-half  mile 
ot  the  court  house.  Upon  this  statement  of  the  wishes  of  the  tax  payers 
the  county  court  made  the  following  order,  of  record  April  5,  1870: 

It  is  considered,  and  ordered  by  the  court,  that  the  county  of  St. 
Clair,  Missouri,  take  and  subscribe  to  the  capital  stock  of  the  Memphis 
&  Kansas  City  Railroad  Company  the  sum  of  $250,000. 

Upon  condition  that  said  road  run  through  the  said  county  on  the 
most  practical  and  feasible  central  route.  Said  stock  to  be  paid  for  in 
bonds  of  St.  Clair  County,  payable  at  such  times,  and  with  such  rate  of 
interest,  as  the  county  may  designate,  when  the  final  order  is  made  for 
the  issue  of  said  bonds.  Of  which  said  bonds  $50,000  shall  be  issued 
and  delivered  to  said  company  when  five  miles  of  said  road  shall  be 
graded,  running  toward  the  Osage  River  from  the  county  line,  and 
$100,000  when  said  road  is  graded  to  the  bank  of  the  Osage  River  and 
a  bridge  constructed  over  the  same;  and  the  remaining  $100,000  when 
the  said  road  shall  be  graded  entirely  through  the  county;  and  that  none 


904  HISTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY. 

of  said  bonds  shall  be  issued  until   the  said    road   shall   be  permanently 
located. 

And  that  William  A.  Mitchell  be  and  he  is  here  appointed  agent  to 
take  and  subscribe  the  said  stock,  and  that  said  agent  shall  make  a 
report  to  this  court  at  each  regular  term  thereof  of  all  things  transacted 
by  him  with  said  railroad  company  for  the  approval  or  rejection  of  this 
court. 

Had  the  correct  name  of  the  road  been  given  in  the  above  order 
and  its  provisions  strictly  carried  out  the  people  of  St.  Clair  County 
would  not  have  to-day  to  mourn  over  $200,000  stolen  and  an  accumulat- 
ing interest  of  more  than  that  amount,  with  a  St.  Louis  lawyer  trying  to 
bulldoze  the  people  into  paying  for  the  fraud.  By  the  following  order, 
which  was  made  of  record  June  21,  1870,  the  people  can  see  the  differ- 
ence in  the  two  orders,  and  while  the  first  bears  upon  its  face  safe  con- 
ditions to  the  people  because  of  work  actually  to  be  performed  before 
payment  was  made,  the  other  allows  them  to  take  the  pay  zvhen  a  con- 
tract was  let.     Here  is  the  record: 

That  the  county  of  St.  Clair  subscribe  for  and  take  2,500  shares  of 
the  capital  stock  of  the  Clinton  &  Memphis  Branch  of  the  Tebo  &  Neo- 
sho Railroad,  each  share  being  of  the  denomination  of  $100  and  amount- 
ing in  the  aggregate  to  the  sum  of  $250,000,  under  and  by  virtue  of  the 
authority  in  the  charter  of  the  Tebo  &  Neosho  Railroad  Company  con- 
tained, and  under  the  act  of  the  general  assembly  of  the  state  of  Mis- 
souri entitled  "An  act  to  aid  the  building  of  branch  railroads  in  the 
state  of  Missouri,"  approved  March  28,  1868,  and  in  accordance  with  the 
orders  of  the  board  of  directors  of  said  Tebo  &  Neosho  Railroad  Com- 
pany establishing  the  branch  railroad  and  authorizing  subscription  to 
the  capital  stock  thereof,  adopted  on  the  6th  day  of  June,  1870,  the  said 
capital  stock  to  be  paid  for  by  the  issue  and  delivery  to  the  committee 
appointed  to  construct  said  branch  road,  of  the  coupon  bonds  of  the 
county  of  St.  Clair  of  the  denomination  of  $1,000,  each  bearing  date  the 
1st  day  of  July,  1870,  with  interest  at  the  rate  of  10  per  cent  per  annum, 
payable  twelve  years  after  the  date  thereof;  the  said  bonds  to  be  signed 
by  the  presiding  justice  of  this  court,  and  attested  by  the  clerk  of  the 
court  under  the  seal  thereof,  and  the  coupons  to  be  signed  by  the  said 
cler<;  the  said  subscription  being  made,  however,  upon  the  following 
express  terms  and  conditions,  that  is  to  say: 

First — That  the  said  road  shall  be  located  through  the  county  of 
St.  Clair,  from  its  northern  limits  southwardly  upon  the  most  practicable 
route  in  the  direction  of  Memphis,  in  the  State  of  Tennessee. 

Second — That  the  proceeds  of  said  bonds  shall  be  applied  to  and 
expended  in  the  construction  of  said  branch  railroad  within  the  limits 
of  the  county  of  St   Clair. 

Third — That  none  of  the  bonds  of  the  county  shall  be  issued  and 
delivered  as  aforesaid  until  the  work  of  graduation  and  masonry  is 
let  to  contract  within  the  limits  of  said  county,  to  responsible  persons, 
nor  until  the  work  of  graduation  and  masonry  upon  said  branch  road  is 
similarly  let  to  contract  within  the  limits  of  Henry  County,  and  the 
court  shall  be  satisfied  that  the  graduation  and  masonry  from  Clinton  to 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  905 

the  northern  line  of  St.  Clair  County  is  so  let  to  contract;  and  when  the 
court  shall  be  satisfied  that  graduation  and  masonry  shall  be  let  to  the 
northern  line  of  St.  Clair,  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand  dollars 
of  said  bonds  shall  be  delivered;  and  when  the  graduation  and  masonry 
shall  be  so  let  to  contract  to  the  southern  bank  of  the  Osage  River, 
seventy-five  thousand  dollars  additional  bonds  shall  be  delivered;  and 
when  the  graduation  and  masonry  shall  be  let  to  contract  to  the  south- 
ern line  of  said  county,  the  remaining  fifty  thousand  shall   be  delivered. 

Fourth — That  all  the  coupons  for  interest  which  shall  have  matured 
or  would  have  matured  had  the  bonds  been  issued  and  delivered  orior 
to  said  letting  or  lettings  to  contract,  shall,  upon  the  delivery  of  said 
bonds  as  aforesaid,  be  cut  off  and  retained  by  the  county  treasurer  and 
destroyed  in  the  presence  of  the  court. 

Ordered  further,  that  William  A.  Mitchell  be  and  he  is  hereby 
appointed  the  agent  of  the  county  to  subscribe  the  said  stock  to  aid  in 
the  construction  of  the  Clinton  and  Memphis  Branch  of  the  Tebo  and 
Neosho  Railroad,  in  accordance  with  the  terms  of  the  foregoing  order, 
and  that  he  cause  to  be  prepared  and  signed  the  said  coupon  bonds  of 
the  said  county  of  St.  Clair,  and  that  he  deliver  the  same  only  in  accord- 
ance with  the  foregoing  order. 

And  it  is  further  ordered  by  the  court  that  all  orders  heretofore 
made  by  this  court  in  reference  to  taking  stock  in  the  Kansas  City  and 
Memphis  Railroad  by  said  county,  be  and  the  same  are  hereby  rescinded. 

On  November  7th,  at  a 

SPECIAL   TERM, 

the  county  court  ordered  the  delivery  of  the  bonds,  being  satisfied  that 
the  contracts  had  been  let.     The  order  is  as  follows: 

Whereas,  The  Clinton  &  Memphis  Branch  of  the  Tebo  &  Neosho 
railroad  company  has  exhibited  to  this  court  satisfactory  evidence  that 
the  gradaution  and  masonry  on  said  road  from  the  city  of  Clinton  to  the 
south  line  of  Henry  County,  and  from  the  south  line  of  Henry  County 
to  the  south  line  of  St.  Clair  County,  has  been  let  to  contract  to  respon- 
sible persons; 

Now,  therefore,  in  pursuance  of  an  order  of  this  court,  made  on  the 
21st  day  of  June,  1870,  be  it  ordered  and  adjudged,  that  the  iull  amount 
of  bonds  subscribed  to  the  capital  stock  of  said  branch  railroad, 
including  the  five  bonds  heretofore  delivered  in  pursuance  of  said  last 
mentioned  order,  for  and  in  the  name  of  St.  Clair  County,  State  of  Mis- 
souri, to  wit:  Two  hundred  and  fifty  (250)  bonds  of  the  denomination  of 
one  thousand  dollars  each,  be  at  once  signed,  sealed  and  delivered  to 
said  branch  railroad  company,  or  to  its  financial  agents,  appointed  to 
receive  and  negotiate  the  same. 

Then  went  $250,000  into  the  hands  of  the  La  Dues,  whose  reputa- 
tion was,  even  at  that  day,  of  a  fragrant  odor,  and  into  those  of  DeWitt 
C.  Stone,  and  a  voice  seemed  to  float  in  the  air,  saying:  "  Good-bye,, 
bonds." 


906  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

Stone  is  dead,  but  before  he  died  he  exclaimed  to  a  friend,  "  I  wish 
to  God  I  had  never  had  anything  to  do  with  that  railroad,  and  I  would     j 
give  all  I  am  worth  if  I  never  had."     The  cry  of  anguish  came  too  late,     ! 
but  why  did  he  not  try  to  make  restitution  ?    The  LaDues  fled  thecoun-     ! 
try.     They  were  the  chief  of  the  gang,  backed  and  aided   by  thieves  in     | 
Kansas  City  and  elsewhere.     Poor  Cline  was  killed,  others  left  the  coun-     | 
try  for   their  country's   good,  and   a  few  only  are  left,  who,  while  under     1 
the  ban  of  suspicion,  have  securely  covered   their  tracks  so  far  as  to  be 
able  to  defy  legal  investigation.     But  men  of  honor,  honesty  and  man- 
hood would  not  accept  thrice  the  amount  of  their  wealth,  and  carry  such    '* 
a  reputation  before  the  world  and  to  their  graves.     They  carry  with  them     ! 
the  curses  of  an  outraged  people.  1 

The  order  subscribing  $250,000  was  made  as  above  June  21,1870,  | 
and  November  7,  1870,  that  amount  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  Dewitt 
C.  Stone,  of  Clinton,  and  the  LaDues.  Investigation  shows  that  237 
bonds  of  the  250  were  disposed  of.  No  account  of  the  other  thirteen  j 
bonds  had  been  received.  The  July  coupons  of  1870,  were  cut  off, 
excepting  five  coupons  of  $50  each,  of  which  no  account  has  been  made. 
They  may  have  been  left  on  to  cover  expenses. 

After  Mr.  Mitchell  ceased  to  be  agent,  William  M.  Cox  was  appointed  i 
August  10,  1871,  and  he  was  authorized  to  go  into  the  selling  scheme,  or  1 
consolidation  scheme,  if  such  came  up.  It  came  up,  of  course.  The  I 
object  was  to  consolidate,  sell,  transfer  and  muddle,  so  that  the  whole-  1 
sale  thieving  could  not  be  traced.  The  managers  were  plausible  and  ' 
accomplished  in  the  art  of  lying,  and  St.  Clair  County  was  not  alone  ; 
fooled,  but  every  county  on  the  line. 

i 
RETURNING    REASON.  ' 

The  county  court  was  still  blind  to  the  fact  that  there  had  been  a  ' 
wholesale  robbery  of  the  people's  money,  and  when  C.  H.  Sweeney  and  I 
others  asked  that  the  railroad  tax  be  set  aside  and  the  levy  withdrawn,  I 
it  was  promptly  sat  down  on.  This  levy  was  $1.20,  on  the  $100  valu-  ■ 
ation. 

The  next  move  was  the  swapping  off  of  the  original  stock  for  that  of 
a  mythical  company  called  the  Kansas  City,  Memphis  &  Mobile  Rail- 
road Company,  and  that  piece  of  legerdemain  was  neatly  performed 
November  11,  1871.  That  was  a  big  nail  driven  in  the  coffin  which  held 
the  fraud  and  prevented  its  resurrection. 

The  court,   still  blind,  if  nothing   worse,   at   the  special   December  -I 
term,  1871,  present  Judges  Thomas  F.  Robinson   and  William  Collins, 
refused  an  investigation  and   ordered   the  treasurer   to   pa}'  the  interest 
coupons  of  January  i,  1872.  j 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  907 

In  the  meantime  Jackson  County  became  aroused.  Kansas  City 
was  the  headquarters  of  the  thieves  and  conspirators  and  the  county 
court  of  that  county  was  compelled  to  make  an  order  refusing  any  more 
bonds  until  a  full  report  was  made  and  vouchers  shown.  Then  came 
the  time  that  the  thieves  claim  to  have  used  fifty  odd  thousand  dollars 
of  the  St.  Clair  County  bonds  in  Jackson  County.  It  was  stealing  with 
the  left  hand  to  cover  up  the  thieving  of  the  right. 

There  were  months  of  good  stealing  left  yet,  and  they  were  not 
quite  ready  to  step  down  and  out.  That  report  will  be  found  in  full  in 
the  Henry  County  railroad  history,  and  need  not  be  introduced  here, 
but  it  should  be  read,  and  it  will  be  noticed,  voiicJiers  were  demanded. 
The  gang  got  a  trifle  scared,  and  a  batch  of  reports  made  out,  no  two 
alike.  St.  Clair  County  got  the  following  document,  claiming  $131,000 
paid  out,  and  not  a  voucher  to  show  for  it,  and  only  the  word,  honor  and 
honesty  (.'')  of  A.  D.  LaDue,  supplemented,  doubtless,  by  the  words  of 
such  other  honest  men  (?)  as  the  Mastins,  P.  A.  LaDue,  et  al.  The 
statement  reads: 

To  the  Honorable  County  Conrt  of  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri : 

In  obedience  to  your  request,  I  have  the  nonor  to  report  that  our 
company  has  expended  in  the  construction  of  the  Kansas  City,  Mem- 
phis &  Mobile  Railroad,  in  the  county  of  St.  Clair,  the  sums  hereinafter 
stated: 

Construction,  &c $77-055    52 

Ties,  timber,  &c 15 ,964  67 

Engineering  and  outfit,  &c 8,245   52 

Contingent  expenses,  &c.,  including  pay  of  secretary,  attor- 
ney's fees,  salaries  of  officers,  traveling  expenses,  books 
and  stationery,  expenses  of  financial  agents,  expenses  of 
the  general  office  and  superintendent's  office,  including 
all   the   incidental   expenses   on  the   South   Division,  pro 

rated  between  the  counties  of  Henry  and  St.  Clair 11,687  70 

Rolling  stock    11,804  50 

Interest,  discount,  &c 1-975  42 

Commissions  paid  brokers  on  sale  of  157  St.   Clair  bonds.  .  .  .      3,925   OO 
Right  of  way,  &c 530  00 

Total  expended $131,188  33 

The  company  has   realized  from   the    sale   of  157  St.    Clair 

bonds   129,319  03 

Expenditures  exceed  receipts $     1,869  30 

The  financial  agents  of  the  company  have  sold  the  balance  of  the 
St.  Clair  bonds,  93  in  number,  to  A.  H.  Nicolay,  of  New  York,  at  82^ 
cents  and  accrued  interest,  the  proceeds  of  which  have  not  yet  been 
paid  over  to  the  company  on  account,  as  I  am  informed,  of  the  neglect 
of  your  honorable  court  in  having  the  interest  promptl}'  met. 


908  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

Hoping  you  will  do  all  in  your  power  to  uphold  the  credit  of  your 
county  and  therefore  assist  the  company  in  their  endeavors  to  put  the 
road  in  operation  from  Clinton  to  Osceola  at  as  early  a  day  as  practic- 
able, the  present  season,  I   remain. 

Yours  truly,  A.   D.  LaDUE, 

General  Superintendent. 

This  was  early  in  1872.  In  the  meantime  Treasurer  Dooley  had 
been  ordered  to  pay  interest  on  the  January  coupon,  and  March  28,  1872 
made  the  following  statement  of  the  railroad  fund: 

RECEIPTS. 

Amount  received $22,604  47 

EXPENDITURES. 

Interest  on  coupons  paid $  16,775  00 

Commission  to  collector 1,072  69 

Expenses  to  Clinton,  telegraphing,  etc 25  00 

Express  charges 75 

Treasurer's  commission 89  61 

Commission  to  banks 49  87 

Amount  on  hand 4.591   55 

Total $22,604  47      $22,604  47 

Here  went  $22,000,  and  the  prompt  paying  of  the  interest  enabled  the 
gang  to  dispose  of  the  remainder  of  the  bonds,  and  of  course  they  were 
sold.  However,  the  people  began  in  dead  earnest  to  stop  further  rob- 
bery, and  the  county  court  of  St.  Clair,  like  that  of  Jackson,  was  com- 
pelled to  submit  to  the  wishes  and  commands  of  the  people.  The  com- 
mand was  for  the  investigation,  and  that  no  railroad  tax  levy  should  be 
made.  On  May  6,  1872,  this  order  was  made,  "  That  no  more  taxes  be 
paid  or  levied  to  pay  interest  on  railroad  bonds  until  the  road  was  com- 
pleted to  the  Osage  River,  or  satisfactory  evidence  given  that  it  would 
be  so  built  within  a  reasonable  time." 

At  the  same  term,  on  May  9,  1872,  the  following  preamble  was  made 
of  record: 

Whereas,  At  the  present  May  term  of  the  county  court  it  is  made 
the  duty  of  said  court  to  levy  taxes  to  pay  the  county  indebtedness,  and 

Whereas,  For  various  causes  and  reasons  unto  the  court  appear- 
ing, and  after  mature  consideration  it  is  ordered  and  decreed  by  said 
county  court,  that  for  the  present  no  tax  be  levied  for  the  year  1872  on 
the  personal  and  real  property  in  said  county  of  St.  Clair  for  the  pur- 
pose of  paying  the  interest  on  the  bonds  issued  by  said  county  of  Clin- 
ton and  Memphis  Branch  of  the  Tebo  &  Neosho  Railroad,  which  bonds 
were  subscribed  by  said  court  on  the  21st  day  of  June,  1870. 

The  court  also  appointed  Messrs.  F.  C.  Nesbit,  Simeon  Bruce  and 
Charles  H.  Sweeney  a  committee  on  the  part  of  the  county  to  examine 
into  and  report  upon  the  financial  condition  of  the  company. 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  909 

Soon  after  their  appointment  the  gentlemen  comprising  the  above 
committee  started  on  their  tour  ot  investigation,  Kansas  City  being 
their  objective  point. 

REPORT   OF   THE   INVESTIGATING   COMMITTEE. 

The  committee  returned,  and  they  made  the  following  report  of 
their  work: 

To  the  Honorable  County  Court  of  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri. 

The  undersigned  committee  appointed  at  the  May  term  of  this  court 
to  make  out  and  present  to  said  court  a  statement  showing  the  present 
condition  of  the  $250,000  of  bonds  heretofore  issued  to  the  Clinton  & 
Memphis  Branch  of  the  Tebo  &  Neosho  Railroad  Company,  beg  leave 
to  state  that  a  few  days  previous  to  our  appointment  a  change  had  been 
made  in  the  officers  and  directors  of  said  company,  and  that  the  office  of 
said  company  had  been  removed  from  Clinton  to  Kansas  City,  and  on 
account  of  said  recent  change  in  the  officers  of  the  company  your  com- 
mittee were  not  able  to  make  at  that  time  as  full  a  report  as  they  might 
otherwise  have  done.  Reference  is  here  made  to  the  exhibits  marked 
A  and  B,  and  hereto  attached,  all  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

Exhibit  A  shows  the  number  of  St.  Clair  County  bonds  sold,  when 
sold,  by  whom  sold  and  how  much  sold  for,  and  in  substance  is  as  fol- 
lows: 

From  February  3,  1871,  until  October  5,  1871,  Northrup  &  Co.  sold: 

I II  bonds  of  $1,000  each  for $  68,048   16 

Third  National   Bank  of  St.  Louis   sold   46   bonds  of  $1,000 

each  for 34,450  00 

J.  B.  Colt  took  13  bonds  of  $1,000  each  at 1 1,354  09 

A.  H.  Nickoly  24  $1,000  bonds  at 20,344  07 

Making  a  total  of  194  bonds  of  $1,000  each  which  netted  .$160,966  69 

EXHIBIT  B. 

Attorney's  fees  in  preparation  of  first  mortgage  bonds 600  OO 

Printing  bonds,  stationery,  traveling  expenses 650  00 

Commission  on  sale  of  bonds 3.162   50 

Right  of  way,  attorney's  fees,   telegraphing,  etc.,   from,  the 

organization  of  the  company  to  the  present  time    6,754  20 

Frank  McCabe,  second  class  masonry 7,439  24 

J.   B.    Colt,   clearing,  grubbing,   excavation   and   third  class 

masonry 16,230  60 

H.  .Hale,  clearing,  grubbing,  excavation,   rip   rap   and  third 

class  masonry 49, 176  6^ 

Engineering  expenses 7-493  7^ 

Tie  and  lumber  account    17.165  67 

Interest,  discount  and  stamps.  . .    1,691   25 

Officers'  salary .  2,212  72 

Depot  ground  at  Clinton 2,500  00 

Office  rent 1280a 


9IO  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

Two  locomotives 7,000  00 

Flat  cars i  .700  00 

Passenger  cars 3.250  00 

Freight  on  same 1 56  00 

Expenses  since  consolidation 3.750  00 

Total  expenses. .$i3r,o6o  57 

Aggregate  amount  for  which  194  bonds  sold    160,966  69 

Aggregate  of  expenses  per  exhibit   B 131,060  57 

$   29,906    [2 

One-half  value  two  passenger  cars  on  hand 3,250  00 

Bonds  unsold 56,000  00 

Assets  on  hand $  89,156   12 

Your  committee  beg  leave  to  further  report  that  the  two  locomo- 
tives and  twelve  flat  cars  mentioned  in  Exhibit  "A,"  have  been  sold  by 
the  railroad  company;  that  half  the  purchase  money  for  said  locomotives 
and  cars  was  paid  out  of  the  funds  realized  from  the  sale  of  St.  Clair 
County  bonds,  and  this  county  would  be  entitled  to  a  credit  by  way  of 
an  increase  of  assets,  for  one  half  the  amount  for  which  said  locomotives 
and  cars  sold,  but  which  amount  your  committee  are  unable  to  report. 
Said  locomotives  and  cars  originally  cost  $17,400.  And  your  committee 
further  find  that  the  railroad  company  have  paid  for  and  taken  up  inter- 
est coupons  out  from  the  bonds  of  St.  Clair  County;  that  said  coupons 
are  now  in  the  hands  of  the  company,  and  were  paid  for  out  of  the 
money  raised  or  realized  by  the  sale  of  St.  Clair  County  bonds,  which 
interest  coupons  amount  in  the  agregate  to  $7,850.  Also  that  said  com- 
pany have  purchased  and  now  have  implements,  consisting  of  plows, 
scrapers,  picks,  spades,  etc.,  to  the  amount  of  $900,  one-half  of  which 
were  paid  for  by  St.  Clair  County. 

C.  H.  SWEENEY,   ) 

S.  C.  BRUCE,  V Committee. 

F.  C.  NESBIT,  ) 

STEALING   IN   BULK. 

Stealing  in  bulk  is  probably  the  best  term  to  designate  the  bond 
steal  from  Jackson  County  to  St.  Clair  County,  inclusive,  but  that  lacked 
over  $50,000  of  the  funds  they  managed  to  secure  out  of  Henry  and  St. 
Clair  Counties. 

What  bends  were  taken  without  any  account  being  rendered,  were, 
as  above  remarked,  taken  in  bulk;  but  these  adepts  in  appropriating 
other  people's  property,  were  willing,  like  a  two-edged  sword,  to  cut 
both  ways,  or  while  stealing  in  bulk,  did  not  for  a  moment  hesitate  to 
steal  in  detail,  and  this  they  accomplished  by  fraudulent  contracts. 

STEALING   IN   DETAIL. 

To  give  the  history  of  A.  D.  LaDue's  rascality  in  this  connection, 
would  take  up  pages,  but  the  total    stealing   can    be  given  to  a  cent, 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  91  I 

SO  that  the  people  can  tell  where  at  least  fifty-five  thousand  and  odd 
dollars  went  to. 

In  the  railroad  article  in  the  Henry  County  part  of  this  work,  will 
be  found  the  "engineer's  confession"  of  a  part  of  the  steal;  but  since 
that  portion  was  written,  the  entire  figures  have  been  put  in  possession 
of  the  writer  or  historian  of  this  work.  These  statements  and  exhib- 
its are  voluminous  in  detail,  giving  yards  of  earth,  of  rock,  in  fact  all 
the  details  of  a  railroad  contract  for  making  a  road  bed.  The  con- 
tracts were  made  at  certain  prices,  and  paid  for  understandingly,  at 
much  less  figures;  A  (ew  figures  are  given,  that  the  people  can  under- 
stand the  way  it  was  done. 

For  instance:  The  contract  reads,  for  earth  work,  22  cents  per 
yard;  loose  rock,  60  cents  per  yard;  solid  rock,  $1.25,  and  so  on 
through  every  item.  Now,  by  collusion,  that  work  was  paid  for  as 
follows:  Earth,  27  cents;  loose  rock,  $1.00;  solid  rock,  $1.75.  The  dif- 
ference in  these  prices  was  put  into  the  hands  of  LaDue  and  his 
co-thieves,  who  were  working  upon  the  Pennsylvania  plan  of  "  addition, 
division  and  silence."  With  this  understanding,  the  figures  show  the 
following  clear  steal: 

J.  B.  Colt's  contract  in  both  Henry  and  St.  Clair  Counties 

sections  i  to  15,  inclusive $  23,980  37 

J.  B.  Colt's  contract,  sections   16  to  20,  inclusive 4,560  97 

H.  Hale's  contract,  sections  20  to  25,  inclusive 13.377  37 

William  Weaver's  contract  (sub),  sections  16  to  20  inclusive,  2,645  59 
F.  McCabe's  contract,  sections  2  to  1 1  and  sections  22  to  24, 

inclusive 10,640   13 

$55,204  43 

This  was  the  amount  of  the  steal  on  the  contracts  let,  as  regard  the 
prices  paid  for  the  work.  Whether  there  was  still  a  further  fraud  com- 
mitted by  charging  for  an  excessive  amount  of  work  done,  is  not  of 
record.  That  is,  there  may  have  been  500  yards  of  solid  rock  exca- 
vated while  the  account  may  have  been  made  out  at  600  yards.  There 
may  have  been  collusion  on  the  part  of  the  contractors  with  engi- 
neer, as  well  as  with  the  manager.     The  footings  show: 

Total  work  done  in   Henry  County $114,439  92 

Total  work  done  in   St.  Clair  County 68,736  47 

$183,176  39 
Stealings 55,204  43 

$127,971  96 

This  last  amount  is  all  the  people  of  Henry  and  St.  Clair  Counties 
ever  got  for  $450,000  in  bonds,  and  that  work  was  lost  to  them  by  the 
road  going  into  bankruptcy.     Here  was  $128,000  in  round  numbers  act- 


912  HISTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

ually  expended,  and  honestly  for  work  done,  though  so  far  as  it  done 
any  good,  or  was  of  any  benefit  to  the  people,  the  thieves  might  as  well 
have  taken  the  whole  of  it.  It  shows,  however,  that  they  were  willing 
to  give  the  people  about  twenty-five  cents  on  the  dollar  of  the  bonds, 
while  they  stole  nearly  three-fourths.  All  this  was  accomplished  within 
two  years  after  getting  possession  of  the  bonds,  for  in  November,  1872, 
the  work  ceased.  All  subsequent  acts  relate  to  the  bonds  and  their 
payment. 

SUITS   COMMENCED. 

Of  course  there  was  but  one  result  to  be  expected  when  the  county 
court  withheld  the  railroad  tax  levy,  and  that  was  suits  commenced  by 
the  bondholders  to  get  their  interest  on  the  bonds.  There  was  some 
talk  about  $90,000  in  bonds  yet  unsold,  but  that  did  not  prove  true,  as 
Nickolay's  suit  called  for  233  of  the  250  bonds  issued.  If  there  were 
that  many  unsold  it  probably  represented  the  total  in  the  hands  of  the 
company  and  which  they  promptly  got  rid  of  It  would  have  been  a 
good  piece  of  legal  work  to  have  put  this  man  Nickolay  on  the  witness 
stand  to  show  of  whom  he  got  those  bonds,  for  it  seems  he  was  making 
the  fight  for  nearly  all,  and  he  held  a  large  portion  in  trust  for  some  one. 
There  were  quite  a  number  of  suits  for  small  amounts  started,  but  the 
Nickolay  suit  was  the  most  important  and  he  gained  his  case,  but  he  has 
not  as  yet  received  all  of  his  money.  Ten  years  of  litigation  has  passed 
and  those  stolen  bonds  are  not  yet  paid — a  gratifying  fact. 

THAT   $90,000   IN    BONDS. 

In  the  matter  of  the  $90,000  of  railroad  bonds  remaining  unsold, 
the  county  court  of  St.  Clair  orders  that  the  county  attorney  be  instructed 
to  correspond  with  all  persons  and  parties  whom  he  may  see  proper, 
and  find  out  where  said  bonds  are  and  whether  the  same  are  sold 
or  unsold. 

This  order  was  made  January  22,  1873. 

There  was  on  hand  July  i,  1872,  of  railroad  tax  fund $   5.834  55 

And  collected  to  January  i,  1873 4.195  04 

$10,029  59 
Of  this  there  was  loaned  to  twenty-nine  persons 6,648  75 

.  $  3o8o  84 

Paid  collections  and  commissions 237  65 

Railroad  funds  on  hand $  3,i43   19 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY 
ATTORNEYS   IN   THE   CASE. 


913 


The  county  court  met  February  18,  1873,  to  take  into  consideration 
the  suit  of  A.  H.  Nickolay  against  St.  Clair  County,  for  the  interest  on 
233  bonds.  The  court  decided  to  resist  its  payment,  and  Nesbit  &  Fur- 
guson,  attorneys,  were  employed  by  the  county  to  defend  the  suit,  upon 
a  retainer's  fee  of  $250,  and  if  the  suit  was  won  in  favor  of  the  county 
they  were  to  have  $2,500  more.  The  order  shows  that  Nicholay  had  a 
portion  of  that  $90,000  in  bonds  reported  missing,  of  which  a  search 
had  been  ordered  less  than  one  month  before.  The  court  appointed 
John  W.  Plumbley,  Scott  Nesbit  and  William  Barnett  as  a  committee  to 
look  after  the  railroad  business,  and  secure  the  services  of  further  attor- 
neys if  necessary.     This  was  February  19,  1873. 

The  committee  employed  on  March  5,  1873,  Phillip  &  Vest,  of 
Sedalia,  to  assist  the  first  named  attorneys  in  defending  St.  Clair  County 
in  the  Nickolay  suit.  They  were  paid  a  retainer's  fee  of  $250,  and  a 
contingent  fee  of  $2,000  if  the  suit  was  decided  in  favor  of  the  county. 

The  next  attorney  retained,  April  9,  1873,  was  Thomas  C.  Reynold, 
upon  his  own  proposition,  to  win  the  suit  against  A.  H.  Nicholay  in  the 
United  States  District  Court  he  was  to  be  paid  $5,000,  if  he  failed  he 
was  to  receive  no  fee.  There  were  other  attorneys  retained,  but  the 
contracts  were  about  the  same  as  above. 


58 


CHAPTER  X. 

EVIDENCES  OF  FRAUD  AND  THE  LEGAL  FIGHT. 


THE  CHARGE  AND  THE  EVIDENCE -JOHNSON  AND  MEAD  EXO.VERATED-WHO  IS  RES- 
PONSIBLE-SOME LETTERS— A  FEW  RESOLUTIONS-THE  PEOPLE  EXPRESS  THEIR 
VIEWS— THE  liONDHOLDERS  PROPOSE  AND  VHE  PEOPLE  DISPOSE— MANDAMUS  VS. 
REASON— THE  VOTE  ON  THE  20  CENT  COMPROMISE-SOME  BONDS  PURCHASED— 
THE  LAST  CALL. 

Matters  worked  this  way  for  about  twelve  months,  when  the  county 
court  decided  on  an  investigation. 

SOME   EVIDENCE. 

There  had  been,  on  the  part  of  some  people,  an  evident  desire  to 
fasten  a  portion  of  the  fraud  locally.  The  investigation  resulted  in  prov- 
ing that  the  placing  of  the  bonds  were  in  the  hands  of  D.  C.  Stone, 
of  Clinton,  president  of  the  construction  company.  There  was 
no  fraud  proven  against  the  directors  of  the  company  from  St.  Clair 
County,  Messrs.  Johnson  and  Mead,  but  a  lamentable  want  of  prudence, 
caution  and  business  ability.  There  is  another  thing  connected  with 
this  bond  business  which  is  the  fact  that  you  can  trace  the  bonds  to 
when  and  where  they  were  sold,  but  you  cannot  find  out  where  the 
money  went  to.  Men  not  worth  a  dollar,  hardly,  a  few  years  ago,  are 
wealthy  now,  but  how.''  They  can  account  for  it  only  after  the  manner 
of  a  certain  congressman  who,  from  a  very  small  beginning  when  he 
entered  congress,  became  the  possessor  of  over  half  a  million  dollars  in 
a  few  years  on  a  salary  of  five  thousand.  He  said,  on  being  asked  how 
he  so  rapidly  accumulated  such  amount  of  wealth:  "  My  wife  dis- 
charged our  cook  and  has  been  doing  the  work  herself." 

The  county  court  concluded  as  above  to  start  an  investigation,  and 
it  is  given  below  as  taken  from  the  record: 

TESTIMONY   TAKEN   BEFORE   THE   COUNTY   COURT. 

The  following  is  the  testimon)/  taken  before  the  county  court  at 
their  recent  meeting,  in  regard  to  the  issuing  of  St.  Clair  County  Bonds 
to  the  Kansas  City  and  Memphis  Branch  of  the  Tebo  &  Neosho  Rail- 
road and  other  matters  connected  therewith: 


HISTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  915 

William  O.  Mead,  of  lawful  age,  being  sworn  to  tell  the  whole  truth 
of  his  knowledge  touching  certain  bonds,  issued  by  St.  Clair  County,  to 
what  is  known  as  the  Kansas  City  &  Memphis  Railroad  Company,  says 
in  answer  to  questions,  as  follows: 

Question — Do  you  know  when  the  County  Court  issued  bonds  to  the 
Clinton  and  Memphis  Branch  of  the  Tebo  &  Neosho  Railroad.-* 

Answer — I  knew  nothing  of  it  at  the  time,  learned  of  it  afterwards. 

Q. — Do  you  know  anything  of  the  origin  of  the  railroad  subscription, 
by  whom  it  originated  and  whether  there  was  any  fraudulent  means  used 
to  secure  it.-* 

A.  I  only  know  that  petitions  were  put  in  circulation  to  the  county 
court  to  make  such  subscription,  and  some  against  it;  others  with  certain 
conditions.  The  question  of  taking  a  vote,  according  to  my  recollection, 
was  discussed,  and  it  was  thought  best  by  some  to  act  upon  petitions, 
as  under  the  law  at  that  time,  a  large  proportion  of  the  heaviest  tax- 
payers of  the  county  could  not  vote.  I  know  of  no  fraudulent  means 
being  used.  In  fact,  of  my  own  knowledge,  I  knew  very  little  of  what 
was  going  on  about  it,  I  thought  our  County  Attorney,  J.  C.  Ferguson, 
Esq.,  would  look  well  to  our  interests. 

O. — Do  you  know  when,  where  and  under  what  circumstances  said 
bonds  were  issued  and  delivered,  to  whom  delivered,  and  by  whom 
signed  ? 

A. — I  do  not  know  when  nor  where  said  bonds  were  issued  and 
delivered;  never  have  yet  seen  one  one  of  them,  nor  do  I  know  under 
what  circumstances  they  were  issued;  knew  nothing  of  it,  but  was 
informed  that  such  was  the  case  some  time  afterwards;  don't  recollect 
how  long,  nor  do  I  know  to  whom  they  were  delivered. 

Q. — Do  you  know  whether  all  of  said  bonds  were  sold,  and  to  whom, 
and  at  what  price  .'' 

A. — I  know  nothing  more  than  the  reports  which  have  been  made  to 
the  county  court  by  A.  D.  LaDue,  superintendent,  and  C.  H.  Sweeney, 
F.  C.  Nesbit  and  S.  C.  Bruce,  committee  of  the  county  court,  which 
showed,  in  substance,  the  reports  made  by  the  financial  agents  of  the 
company  up  to  that  time.  The  balance,  I  understand,  was  paid  out  for 
work  done  in  Jackson  County,  with  the  understanding  with  Jackson 
County  that  she  would  refund  them  with  her  bonds,  which  were  to  be 
delivered  when  the  debts  then  owing  were  paid  off.  I  only  speak  of  my 
understanding.  My  recollection  now  is,  that  the  report  of  the  financial 
agents  show  that  they  were  sold  at  from  eighty  to  eighty-seven  cents  on 
the  dollar.  My  impression  is  that  the  sales  were  all  made  before  my  con- 
nection with  the  road.     I  do  not  know  to  whom  said  bonds  were  sold. 

Q.  —Do  you  know  whether  the  agents  who  sold  said  bonds  guaran- 
teed the  payment  of  the  interest  thereon  ? 

A. — I  do  not  know  anything  on  that  point;  never  heard  of  it  until  a 
few  daj's  ago,  here  in  Osceola. 

O.  In  the  discharge  of  your  duty  as  secretary  of  said  railroad,  did 
you  keep  an  account  of  the  finances  of  said  company? 

A.  I  did  not;  it  was  only  my  duty  to  record  the  proceedings  of 
the  board  of  directors.  WILLIAM  O.  MEAD. 

Thomas  F.  Robinson,  being  duly  sworn,  testified  as  follows: 
I  was  a  member  of  the  county  court  when  the  bonds  were  issued* 
I  think  A.  D.  LaDue  and  D.  C.  Stone  were  here  to  receive  the  bonds.    I 


gi6  IlIS'lORY    O]'   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

saw  the  bonds  after  they  were  lithoi^raphed.  I  do  not  know  of  any  one 
receiving  more  than  their  legal  fees  for  signing  the  bonds.  No  one  con- 
sulted me  concerning  the  bonds  issued,  in  any  manner  whatever.  I 
heard  it  stated  that  Mr.  P.  A.  LaDue  received  a  commission  for  getting 
up  the  bonds.  Mr.  T.  J.  Monroe  was  clerk  of  the  county  court  at  the 
time  the  bonds  were  signed;  don't  know  when  nor  where  they  were 
signed.  There  were  five  bonds  signed  in  the  first  place.  Mr,  D.  P. 
Shield  was  the  man  appointed  to  get  the  bonds  lithographed.  My 
impression  is  that  the  five  bonds  were  issued  to  defray  incidental 
expenses.  The  only  time  I  ever  saw  the  bonds  was  in  the  arms  of  D. 
P.  Shield,  who  was  the  agent  appointed  by  the  court  to  get  the  bonds. 
I  do  not  know  of  any  proposition  to  bribe;  no  one  ever  approached  me. 
The  court  were  all  in  favor  of  turning  over  the  bonds  finally.  My  impres- 
sions were  that  Judge  Mitchell  and  R.  S.  Graham  were  the  first  com- 
missioners from  the  county.  I  opposed  the  order  of  turninp"  over  the 
bonds.  THOMAS  F.  ROBINSON. 

Robert  S.  Graham,  of  lawful  age,  being  produced  and  duly  sworn, 
says: 

When  the  bonds  were  issued  I  think  I  was  secretary  of  the  board  of 
construction  of  said  railroad  company.  Saw  T.  J.  Monroe  when  he  was 
signing  the  bonds.  Never  saw  them  afterwards.  My  opinion  is  that 
Judge  Mitchel  turned  the  bonds  over  to  D.  C.  Stone  and  VV.  P.  Johnson. 
They  gave  their  receipt  to  him  for  them,  and  when  the  certificate  of 
stock  was  delivered  to  the  county  b}^  the  railroad  company,  that  receipt 
was  turned  over  to  D.  C.  Stone.  Do  not  know  who  received  the  bonds. 
Do  not  know  whether  the  bonds  were  ever  sold.  Only  know  that  D.  C. 
Stone  and  W.  P.  Johnson  were  appointed  the  financial  agents  of  the 
company  to  go  to  New  York  to  sell  the  bonds.  Mr.  Stone  did  not  go, 
but  Mr.  Harvy  Salmon  and  W.  P.  Johnson  went  to  New  York  to  sell  the 
bonds.  I  do  not  know  whether  they  sold  them  or  not.  Mr.  Stone  told 
me  that  part  of  the  bonds  were  sold.  Judges  Mitchell  and  Johnson  and 
myself  were  the  directors  at  that  time  from  this  county.  I  was  appointed 
director  by  the  Tebo  &  Nesho  Railroad  Company.  Do  not  know  whether 
the  company  owned  any  of  the  bonds  or  not  when  I  left  the  company. 
Mr.  Stone  told  me  the  bonds  were  selling  from  eighty-three  cents 
upward.  Do  not  know  of  any  bribery  in  connection  with  the  matter. 
Do  not  know  of  any  individuals  receiving  any  pecuniary  benefits  in  con- 
nection with  the  railroad  company  other  than  salaries.  So  far  as  I  know, 
the  business  has  been  fairly  and  honestly  conducted.  William  A.  Mitch- 
ell was  not  a  member  of  the  company  when  the  bonds  were  resigned. 
Do  not  know  how  many  bonds  have  been  sold.  The  impression  that  a 
commission  was  paid  upon  the  railroad  subscription  to  an  agent  is  incor- 
rect— at  least  was  not  allowed  while  I  was  in  the  board.  When  an  agent 
was  employed  I  opposed  any  payment  of  commission  on  the  subscrip- 
tion of  St.  Clair  Countv,  and  succeeded  in  having  it  excepted  from  such 
contract.  '  R.  S.  GRAHAM. 

Thomas  J.  Monroe  being  duly  sworn,  upon  his  oath  deposes  and 
says  : 

I  was  clerk  of  the  county  court  in  1870;  was  clerk  of  tjie  county 
court  when  the  bonds  were  signed.  William  A.  Mitchell  signed  the 
bonds  as  presiding  judge  of  the   county,  and   I   countersigned  them   as 


tllSTORY   OF   ST.   CLAIR    COUNTY.  917 

county  clerk;  the  court  was  composed  of  Judges  Mitchell,  Collins  and 
Robinson.  When  I  signed  the  bonds  I  delivered  them  to  William  A. 
Mitchell.  They  were  signed  in  the  county  clerk's  office,  and  in  the  back 
room  of  my  drug  store.  The  seal  was  put  on  them  in  the  office  of  the 
county  clerk.  I  do  not  know  who  Judge  Mitchell  delivered  them  to.  I 
do  not  know  of  my  own  knowledge  who  took  the  bonds  out  of  the 
county,  but  my  own  opinion  is  that  P.  A.  LaDue  took  them  out  of  the 
county.  I  was  under  the  impression  that  one  of  the  LaDues  was  here 
when  the  bonds  were  signed.  There  was  no  inducement  offered  me  to 
sign  the  bonds.  The  bonds  were  signed  in  vacation.  Do  not  know  of 
any  bribe  being  offered  for  the  signing  of  the  bonds.  Judge  Collins 
seemed  disinclined  to  vote  for  the  bonds,  but  finally  voted  for  them. 
Judges  Mitchell  and  Robinson  favored  the  issuing  the  bonds  from  the 
beginning.  I  think  Judge  Mitchell  and  R.  S.  Graham  were  the  directors 
in  the  railroad  company  from  this  county  when  the  bonds  were  deliv- 
ered. I  opposed  the  signing  of  the  bonds,  but  finally  did  so  under  an 
order  of  the  court. 

T.  J.  MONROE. 

F.  C.  Nesbit  states  as  follows: 

On  the  trial  we  made  proof  that  Harvey  Salmon  told  Nickolay  about 
the  errors  complained  of  by  the  county,  but  the  judges  held  that  the 
testimony  was  invalid,  and  that  it  made  no  difference.  The  attorneys, 
Philip  &  Vest,  recommended  an  appeal,  and  entered  into  an  agreement 
with  the  bondholders  that  the  Henry  County  case  should  be  appealed, 
and  ours  should  be  decided  on  the  same  points. 

The  investigation  caused  considerable  excitement,  and  there  were 
several  railroad  meetings  held  in  different  parts  of  the  county,  and  all 
denounced  it  as  the  "  railroad  swindle,"  and  opposed  all  tax  levies  for 
railroad  purposes.     This  was  in  the  summer  and  fall  of  1874. 

St.  Clair  County  was  not  alone,  but  the  people  in  every  county  on 
the  line  were  aroused  to  this,  the  most  gigantic  fraud  of  modern  times, 
considering  the  amount  invested,  and  the  question  was  asked  and  great 
anxiety  expressed  over  the  reply,  "Who  is  responsible. -^ " 

The  people  were  keenly  alive  to  get  all  possible  information  and 
whether  the  road  would  ever  be  built.  Even  at  this  day  could  a  railroad 
be  constructed  from  this  point  to  Kansas  City  the  people  of  St.  Clair 
County  would  be  about  willing  to  pay  the  original  amount  of  their  sub- 
scription, but  they  are  determined  not  to  pay  the  demand  of  the  bond- 
holder if  it  costs  years  of  litigation.  Such  a  road  would  in  itself  add 
greatly  to  the  taxable  wealth  of  the  county  and  aid  materially  in  devel- 
oping its  resources;  but  to  have  given  the  money  and  having  nothing  at 
all  for  it  is  what  makes  the  burden  so  grievous.  Over  a  million  dollars 
in  bonds  have  been  subscribed  to  this  enterprise  by  the  counties  of  Jack- 
son, Cass,  Henry  and  St.  Clair,  and  have  been  sold  for  between  $800,000 
and  $900,000;  and  all  this  money  has  been  squandered  by  somebody,  if 
not  actually  stolen. 


9l8  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  i 

A  road  from  Kansas  City  to  Osceola  and  to  Springfield,  Missouri, 
was  what  the  people  wanted,  and  would  have  considered  the  money  well  j 
spent,  even   though   the  stock  was   not   worth   a  dollar,  and   the  whole 
amount  was  a  bonus  to  those  who  built  it,  as   it  would    have   been.     It  j 
would  not  only  give  a  competing  line  of  transportation,  but  would  have  j 
opened  a  direct  route  to  the  southern   market.     July  14,  1875,  Mr.  T.  M. 
Johnson  was  appointed  financial  agent  to  purchase  and  compromise  the 
outstanding  railroad  bonds.     He  made  a  few  purchases,  all  upon  a  basis 
of  about  66|  per  cent,  but  purchased  some  $1,200  in  bonds  and  coupons  . 
and  paid  $863.75,  ^"d  then  some  seven  bonds  more  at  55  per  cent. 

In  all  eleven  bonds  were  purchased,  and  two  others  were  bought  of 
local  owners,  one  being  received  from  the  proprietor  of  the  Democrat  to  \ 
cover  a  loan  of  $832.61.     The  number  of  the  one  above  was   not  given^  j 
but  the  eleven  purchased   by  Mr.  Johnson  were  numbered  3,  yS,  79,  82,  1 
188,  215,  218,  233,  234,  235  and  237,  and  that  bought  of  D.  P.  Shield  was 
numbered  241,  and  $751.58  paid  for  it.     In  1876,  they  also  tried  to  get  a 
majority  vote  to  compromise  at  fifty  cents  on  the  dollar,  in   5-20  six  per  ' 
cent,  bonds,  but  it  would  not  work.  The  same  year  a  tax  levy  of  $1.75  on 
the  one  hundred  dollars  valuation  was  made  to  pay  the  Nickolay  judgment, 
the  case  having  been  decided  against  the  county.    Two  other  judgments  j 
were  secured  against  the  county,  and  three-quarters  ot  one  per  cent,  and  j 
one-quarter  of  one  per  cent,  was  levied  in  1877,  to  pay  them.     J.  D.  Fish  ' 
and  F.  Heidelkoper  were  the  holders  of  the  judgments.     In  the  mean-  ' 
time  Mr.  Johnson's  appointment  of  1875,  had  been  withdrawn  and  noth-  j 
ing  done,  but  he  was  again  appointed  May  14,  1877,  and  revoked  again   | 
in  October  of  the  same  year.     The  people  rebelled  so  strongly  against  j 
the  purchase  of  the  bonds  at  any  price,  that  the  county  court  ordered  it  j 
stopped.  j 

^  REFUSED   TO    RATIFY. 

The  term  of  the  county  court  held  September  12,  1877,  the  follow-  ! 
ing  letter  addressed  to  T.  M.  Johnson,  is  of  record  of  that  date.  It  is  in  ] 
words  following.  j 

Osceola,  September  12,  1877.       | 
Mr.  T.  M.  Johnson:  | 

Dear  Sir — In  answer  to  yours  of  the  8th  of  August,  we  say  to  you  j 
that  it  is  the  desire  and  the  express  wish  of  the  court  that  you  enter  into  j 
no  contract  whatever  at  the  present  time,  for  either  bonds,  coupons  or  1 
judgments.  We  desire  a  full  court  when  we  act  on  this  matter,  also  an  ] 
expression  from  the  bona  fide  tax  paying  citizens  of  the  whole  county. 
Judge  Heath  is  sick  at  present  and  not  able  to  attend  We  will  write 
you  again  in  November.  Respectfully, 

THOMAS  HENLEY,  P.  J. 
WILLIAM  RICE,  A.  J.  i 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  919 

At  a  special,  or  called  term,  of  the  county  court,  held  October  2, 
1877,  it  revoked  the  appointment  of  Mr.  Johnson  as  county  agent.  The 
cause  of  this  seemed  to  be  that  the  county  clerk  presented  to  the  court 
a  letter  from  Mr.  Johnson,  dated  St.  Louis  County,  Missouri,  September 
12,  1877,  the  same  date  as  their  letter  ordering  no  further  purchases,  of 
which,  the  county  clerk  stated,  was  received  by  him  on  September  27, 
1877,  thirteen  days  after  its  date.     This  letter  was  as  follows: 

St.  Louis  County, -Missouri,  September  12,  1877. 
To  the  judges  of  the  county  court  of  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri: 

Gentlemen — Under  your  order,  and  in  conformity  with  your 
instructions,  I  succeeded  on  Monday  last  in  entering  into  a  written  con- 
tract with  a  Mr.  Foote,  of  New  York,  for  the  purchase  of  fifteen  bonds,  with 
coupons  due  July  i,  1875,  and  all  due  since  attached  at  66|  cents  on  the 
dollar,  principal  and  accrued  interest,  and  also  for  the  purchase  of  parts 
of  judgments  against  St.  Clair  County  in  favor  of  A.  H.  Nickolay  and 
J.  D.  Fisk  against  St.  Clair  County,  amounting  to  the  sum  of  $8,491.26, 
all  to  be  paid  for  in  bonds  of  St.  Clair  County,  to  run  twenty  years  with 
6  per  cent,  interest,  payable  semi-annually  at  the  State  Savings  Bank, 
St.  Louis,  Missouri.  This  is  better  than  I  expected  to  be  able  to  do 
when  I  last  wrote  you.  I  also  made  another  contract  with  Mr.  Foote 
for  such  additional  bonds,  coupons  and  judgments  as  he  might  procure 
from  time  to  time,  at  the  same  price  and  payable  in  the  same  manner. 
All  of  which  I  trust  may  be  satisfactory.  The  bonds  and  coupons  above 
mentioned  have  been  delivered  to  me  under  the  contract,  and  I  hold 
them  for  the  county.  It  will  be  necessary  for  the  court  to  take  proper 
steps  to  have  the  new  bonds  prepared.     Respectfully  yours, 

[Signed]  THOMAS.  M.  JOHNSON. 

The  court  did  not  approve  of  Mr.  Johnson's  actions  as  a  financier, 
and  made  the  following  order  in  reference  to  this  letter  and  contents: 

"And  which  being  duly  heard  and  duly  considered  by  the  court, 
and  the  terms  and  conditions  of  compromise  therein  made  being  duly 
understood,  and  the  court  being  fully  advised  in  the  premises,  doth 
refuse  to  accept  the  compromise  made  by  said  Johnson,  and  doth  fully 
and  entirely  reject  his  action  therein." 

Mr.  Egger  was  appointed  on  December  15,  1877,  and  $1,858.10 
placed  in  his  hand  by  warrant,  but  that  was  also  withdrawn,  and  the 
purchase  of  bonds  ended. 

In  November,  the  people  held  a  sort  of  indignation  meeting,  and 
passed  the  following 

resolutions. 

Resolved,  That  the  county  court  be  requested  to  order  a  special 
election  to  be  held  for  the  election  of  one  man  from  each  township,  to 
comprise  an  executive  committee  who  shall  be  empowered  to  confer 
with  the  county  court  in  the  railroad  matter,  and  that  action  shall 
be  final. 


920  HISTORY  OF    ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY. 

Resolved,  That  said  committee  shall  be  allowed  one  vote  for  each 
township. 

Resolved,  That  we  request  the  different  townships  to  make  out  poll 
books  and  hold  and  report  the  election,  free  of  charge,  to  the  county 
court;  said  election  to  be  held  on  Saturday,  November  17,  1877. 

Resolved,  That  we  request  that  the  county  court  stay  the  pro- 
ceedings by  law  to  collect  the  delinquent  railroad  tax  for  all  previous 
years. 

Resolved,  That  we  request  that  the  county  court  make  a  record 
of  repudiation  of  all  bonds  not  aecounted  for. 

Resolved,  That  the  county  court  be  requested  to  resign  from  this 
date. 

After  this  expression  of  opinion  the  meeting  adjourned.  The  peo- 
ple were  evidently  getting  their  blood  up,  and  it  was  a  well  known  fact 
that  the  people  of  St.  Clair,  when  aroused,  were  found  equal  to  the  emer- 
gency. The  heavy  assessment  to  pay  these  judgments  was  being 
opposed  by  them  in  a  determined  manner,  and  from  November,  1877,  to 
February  6,    1878,  the  opposition  grew  stronger. 

Another  meeting  was  held  at  the  county  seat,  which  gave  the  fol- 
lowing emphatic 

EXPRESSION    FROM   THE   PEOPLE. 

On  February  6,  1878,  a  railway  meeting  was  held  at  Osceola,  in  oppo- 
sition to  the  payment  of  the  railroad  tax  by  all  lawful  means.  All  was 
for  this  proposition  except  Judge  Wycoff,  who  iavored  a  compromise 
and  requested  the  meeting  not  to  tie  the  hands  of  the  county  court. 
The  meeting  was  quiet  and  orderly.  The  following  preamble  and  reso- 
lutions were  passed  : 

Whereas,  A  former  county  court  issued  bonds  to  the  amount  of 
$250,000  to  the  Clinton  &  Memphis  Branch  of  the  Tebo  &  Neosho  Rail- 
road Company,  and 

Whereas,  The  people  have  never  by  any  means  requested  the 
court  to  issue  bonds  upon  any  such  terms  as  governed  the  issue  of  said 
bonds.     And 

Whereas,  These  bonds,  interests  and  costs,  now  amount  to  more 
than  $400,000.     And 

Whereas,  With  times  hard  and  money  scarce,  even  if  we  had  the 
inclination,  we  could  not  pay  so  great  a  debt  without  reducing  many  of 
us  and  our  familes  to  a  state  of  poverty  too  grievous  to  be  born.     And 

Whereas,  We  never  have,  and  so  far  as  we  can  see,  never  will 
receive  one  cent  of  profit  from  said  bonds.     And 

Whereas,  We  believe  said  bonds  were  fraudulently  issued,  and 
therefore  null  and  void.     And 

Whereas,  We  do  not  believe  either  justice  or  honor  requires  us  to 
pay  said  bonds  or  any  of  part  of  them;  therefore  be  it 

Resolved,  That  not  because  we  think  we  owe  anything,  but  because 
we  desire  peace  and  quietude,  and  because  we  wish  to  be  law  abiding 
citizens,  we  are  willing  to  compromise  our  back  railroad  tax  with  the 
county  court  upon  the  basis  of  one  cent  on   the  dollar;  and  be  it 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  92 1 

Resolved,  further,  than  the  compromise  as  set  forth  in  resolution 
first,  we  will  not  go,  and  our  property  shall  not  be  sold  for  the  purpose  of 
paying-  said  bonds,  or  any  part  of  them;  and  be  it 

Resolved,  We  are  in  favor  of  the  strict  collection  of  all  other  taxes, 
state,  county,  school,  etc.  K.  B.  WONACOTT,  Chairman. 

Matters  again  rested  until  July,  when  the  bondholder,  though  a  Mr, 
Henderson,  a  lawyer  with  some  local  reputation  in  the  city  of  St.  Louis, 
sent  the  following  proposition: 

St.  Louis,  Mo,  July  ii,  1879. 
To  Messrs.  John  C.  Ferguson  and  J.  W.  Robinson: 

Gentlemen:  In  order  to  compromise  and  settle  the  indebtedness 
of  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  I  propose,  so  far  as  I  am  interested  per- 
sonally or  as  an  attorney,  to  accept  and  receive  in  full  of  my  claims  as 
follows,  to  wit: 

Thirty-five  per  centum  of  the  principal  and  interest  of  the  judg- 
ments against  said  county.  The  payment  on  said  judgments  to  be  in 
cash  to  the  extent  of  at  least  $20,000,  to  be  equally  and  ratably  divided 
and  paid  on  the  judgments  in  favor  of  James  D.  Fish,  dated  April  28, 
1875,  for  $16,434.44,  and  of  A.  H.  Nicholay  for  $30,150,  dated  April  22, 
1874,  and  of  Frederick  Hindchopper  for  $3,187.31,  dated  April  19,  1876, 
If  any  balance  remain  unpaid  on  said  judgments  after  using  the  said 
twenty  thousand  dollars,  I  will  accept  in  payment  of  said  balance  twenty 
y-ear  bonds  of  the  county,  being  six  per  cent  per  annum,  payable  semi- 
annually.    The  bonds  to  be  dated  July  i,  1879. 

Second,  for  all  bonds  and  coupons  held  or  in  any  manner  controlled 
by  me,  I  will  accept  in  full  payment  thereof,  new  bonds  of  the  county, 
to  bear  six  per  cent,  interest,  payable  semi-annually,  and  to  run  twenty 
years,  to  be  dated  July  i,  1879,  The  new  bonds  to  be  equal  in  amount 
to  33^  per  cent,  of  the  principal  and  interest  of  the  old  bonds  and  cou- 
pon.s  thus  surrendered. 

If  the  county  prefer  making  the  new  bonds  bear  ten  per  cent,  semi- 
annual interest,  instead  of  six  per  cent.,  I  will  then  take  new  bonds,  such 
as  I  have  described,  bearing  ten  per  cent.,  equal  in  amount  to  twenty- 
three  per  cent,  of  the  balance  due  on  the  judgments,  bonds  and  coupons 
so  surrendered. 

This  proposition  is  open  for  acceptance  until  the  loth  day  of  Sep- 
tember, 1879.  J-  B.  HENDERSON. 

August  4,  1879,  the  following  was  sent  Mr.  Henderson.  The  reso- 
lutions were  drawn  up,  submitted,  and  were  unanimously  adopted  and 
read: 

Whereas,  It  is  exceedingly  desirable  that  the  present  depreciation 
in  value  of  real  estate  and  the  attendant  depression  of  the  business 
enterprise  and  activity  of  the  citizens  of  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri, 
should  be  relieved  by  a  judicious  settlement  of  our  railroad  bond  indebt- 
edness;  and. 

Whereas,  Certain  propositions  have  been  submitted  the  county 
court  by  Hon.  John  B.  Henderson  to  compromise  said  indebtedness  on 
a  basis  of  23  and  33^  per  cent  of  the  bond  debt,  and  the  cash  payment 
of  the  judgments  on  a  basis  of  35  per  cent  thereof;  and. 


922  HISTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

Whereas,  It  is  now  believed  (and  we  think  can  readily  be  estab- 
lished by  competent  proof)  that  said  entire  indebtedness  could  have 
been  settled  by  renewal  bonds,  runninjy  twenty  years,  at  six  per  cent 
interest,  redeemable  at  the  pleasure  of  the  county;  therefore,  be  it 
resolved: 

First — That  we  are  unalterably  opposed  to  any  settlement  of  the 
judgments  at  any  basis,  unless  the  whole  debt  is  settled  and  adjusted. 

Second — That  we  respectfully  decline  the  propositions  submitted  by 
Mr.  Henderson  for  the  reason  that  said  entire  debt  can  be  adjusted  and 
settled  at  much  lower  figures  and  thousands  of  dollars  saved  the  people 
of  this  county. 

Third — That  any  settlement  of  this  railroad  debt  or  any  part  thereof 
by  our  county  court  itself,  without  first  submitting  the  matter  to  a  vote 
by  the  people,  would  be  regarded  by  the  people  as  a  criminal  violation 
of  the  duty  the  court  owes  the  people  and  of  the  trust  reposed  in  them. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

J.  WADE  GARDNER, 
A.  C.  MARQUIS, 
JOHN  P.  LOVE, 
J.  D.  GLENN, 

Committee. 

The  next  move  was  in  the  shape  of  a  mandamus  in  the  Stewart  suit, 
and  the  county  court  made  the  following  entry  in  the  records  of  their 
proceedings: 

MANDAMUS   VS.    REASONS. 

David  C.  Stewart  having  received  a  judgment  against  the  count}', 
and  failing  to  collect  the  same,  a  mandamus  was  served  on  the  county 
court,  April  17,  1880,  the  court  made  the  following  order  of  record,  for 
several  reasons: 

"  In  the  matter  of  David  D.  Stewart,  plaintiff,  vs.  St.  Clarr  County, 
and  the  justices  of  the  county  court  thereof,  an  alternate  writ  of  man- 
damus having  been  served  upon  the  justices  of  the  county  court  ot  St. 
Clair  County,  Missouri,  in  the  above  entitled  cause,  on  the  15th  day  of 
April,  t88o,  commanding  them  to  draw  a  warrant  on  the  treasurer  for 
the  amount  of  the  judgment  rendered  in  the  above  entitled  cause,  that 
is,  for  the  sum  of  $9,420.98  with  six  per  cent,  interest  and  costs,  amount- 
ing to  $240.35.  Said  judgment  representing  unpaid  coupons  on  railroad 
bonds,  alleged  to  have  been  issued  by  said  county.  It  is  ordered  by 
the  court  that  no  warrant  be  drawn  to  pay  said  judgment,  for  the  rea- 
son, among  other  good  and  sufficient  reasons,  that  there  is  no  money 
in  the  treasury  of  said  county  that  can  be  used  for  that  purpose,  and  no 
tax  is  ordered  to  be  levied  to  pay  said  judgment,  for  the  reasons,  with 
the  good  and  sufficient  reasons,  that  under  the  law  of  the  state  the  coun- 
ty court  is  not  authorized  to  levy  any  tax  for  any  purpose  at  this  term 
of  court." 

Those  resolutions  and  the  preamble  seemed  to  settle  things  for  a 
few  months.  Then  a  fresh  start  was  taken  by  fifty  influential  tax  payers, 
asking  an  order  for  a  vote  of  the  people  on  a  proposition   to  fund   at  20 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  923 

cents  on  the  dollar.  The  order  was  made,  a  vote  taken  October  31^ 
1879,  and  carried  by  a  large  majority  of  the  votes,  though  but  a  light 
vote,  only  about  one-third  being  polled. 

THE   VOTE   ON   COMPROMISE. 

Townships.  For.  Against. 

Osceola 61  33 

Washington 28  2 

Polk 21  2 

Taber 49  — 

Butler 21  23 

Chalk  Level 35  5 

Dallas 20  9 

Monegaw 47  2 

Doyal 41  15 

Speedwell 63  8 

Collins 18  9 

Appleton 34  31 

Roscoe 33  9 

Jackson 4  3 

Total 475  151 

Making  a  majority  of  324. 

PURCHASES. 

Mr.  A.  C.  Marquis  having  been  appointed  financial  agent,  paid  on 
the  Nickolay  &  Fish  judgments  $9,933.07,  and  purchased  five  bonds,  Nos. 
104,  126.  133,  139  and  189,  and  seventy-one  coupons,  past  due,  (the  entry 
on  record  was  seventy-two,)  for  the  sum  of  $2,920.  This  was  in  Octo- 
ber, 1880.  November  9,  188 1,  there  was  a  further  payment  of  $4,495.10 
on  these  judgments,  and  he  charged  for  his  services  a  total  of  $153.54, 
which  was  in  addition  to  the  payments  on  the  judgments.  Twelve  other 
past  due  coupons  were  purchased  for  $200,  or  33^  per  cent,  of  their  face, 
and  this  ended,  up  to  the  present  time,  all  purchases  of  bonds  or 
coupons.     The  people  stopped  it. 

Thus  matters  have  remained  up  to  the  present  time,  no  action  of 
moment  having  been  taken  on  the  twenty  cent  compromise.  There  is 
an  evident  determination  on  the  part  of  the  bondholders  to  force  things, 
the  same  lawyer,  Henderson,  coming  to  Osceola  to  instruct  the  people 
as  to  the  fiat  of  the  bondholders.  It  is  pretty  well  believed  that  the 
bondholders  would  be  willing  to  take  33^  cents  on  the  dollar,  and  it  is 
also  believed  that  this  man  Henderson  is  fighting  the  counties  on  his 
own  risk,  taking  all  over  the  above  sum  as  his  pay.  He  is  already,  if 
reports  are  true,  a  rich  man  from  the  money  he  has  made  in  this  com- 
promise business^and  it  looks  as  if  he  had  set  his  figures  to  pocket 
$50,000  out  of  the  people  of  St.  Clair.     A  settlement  at  33I  to  40  cents 


924  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

on  the  dollar  would  be  better  than  further  litigation;  but  when  the  bond- 
holders ask  more,  they  should  be  compelled  to  fight  for  it,  and  their 
agent  or  agents  entitled  to  anything  from  a  cold  ducking  in  the  healing 
waters  of  the  Osage  River,  to  a  coat  of  tar  and  feathers. 

At  the  March  term,  1883,  the  county  court  caused  the  following  to 
be  entered  of  record: 

To  the  people  of  Si.  Clair  County: 

Ordered,  that  in  the  matter  of  the  railroad  indebtedness: 

Whereas,  Judgments  for  a  large  amount  have  already  been  ren- 
dered against  the  county  on  the  railroad  bonded  indebtedness,  and  man- 
damus proceedings  are  being  continually  served  on  the  county  court, 
commanding  them  to  levy  taxes  sufficient  to  pay  said  judgments;  and 

Whereas,  The  entire  bonded  debt  of  the  county,  issued  for  railroad 
purposes  is  now  due,  and  suits  are  being  brought  to  recover  judgments 
thereon;  and 

Whereas,  It  is  the  belief  of  the  judges  of  this  court  that  a  fair  and 
reasonable  compromise  of  said  indebtedness  can  be  obtained  by  the  peo- 
ple of  the  county;  and 

Whereas,  We  believe  that  an  effort  to  that  end  should  be  made  by 
the  people  in  conjunction  with  the  county  court;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  it  is  hereby  recommended  to  the  people  of  the 
county,  that  they  meet  in  their  respective  townships  on  Saturday,  the 
5th  day  of  May,  1883,  and  when  so  assembled,  that  they  appoint  and 
select  five  delegates  in  each  township,  belonging  to  different  political 
parties,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  convene  in  the  court  house  in  Osceola, 
on  the  7th  day  of  May,  1883,  and  consult  among  themselves  and  with 
the  creditors  of  the  county,  with  a  view  of  agreeing,  if  possible,  on  some 
terms  of  compromise  of  said  indebtedness,  that  may  be  satisfactory  to 
the  people  and  acceptable  to  the  creditors. 

And  here  it  ends.  The  May  meeting  will  come  too  late  for  this 
work,  but  the  writer  trusts  that  the  long  vexed  bond  question  will  be 
amicably  and  justly  settled. 


Js^5!^» 


CHAPTER  XL 


MEN'S  PASSIONS  HAVING  FULL  SWAY— CRIMES  AND  CAS- 
UALTIES. 

THE  PISTOL-SHOT  DOWN  IN  COLD  BLOOD- THE  MURDER  OF  HIS  VICTIM-DEATH  OF 
HUGHES— THE  KILLING  OF  JOHN  D.  BAUCOM— JOHN  BERRY  DECLARED  NOT  GUILTY 
—MURDER  ANU  SUICIDE— COLONEL  CHARLES  SIMS  AND  WIFE— JEALOUSY  AND 
INSANITY— THE  NOTED  TRAIN  ROBBERS  AND  OUTLAWS— THE  YOUN'JER  BROTHERS 
—THE  GREAT  BATTLE,  AND  DEATH  OF  J(JHN  YOUNGER-LOCAL  DETECTIVES  A  FAIL- 
URE—THE VIGILANTS-FATE  OF  F.  J.  FRANCE. 

CRIMES   AND   CASUALTY. 

To  tell  of  the  crimes  and  casualties  of  the  county  from  its  incep- 
tion to  thf  present  time  would  be  superfluous.  Many  accidents  and 
and  crimes  of  minor  importance  have  transpired,  more  of  personal  than 
of  an  historical  nature,  an(3  need  not  be  again  revived  or  brought  to  the 
memory  of  the  people.  Of  those^which,  from  their  brutality,  or  from 
the  prominence  of  the  parties  in  social  life,  a  few  of  the  most  important 
are  given,  and  the  record  is  extended  enough,  and  dark  enough  to  sat- 
isfy history,  while  the  remainder  can  well  be  left  to  that  oblivion  in 
which  they  are  buried. 

SHOT   DOWN   IN   COLD   BLOOD. 

One  of  those  terrible  crimes  for  which  human  nature  can  scarcely 
understand,  and  which  causes  a  shudder  of  horror  to  pass  through  the 
frame,  was  the  murder  of  John  Hughes  by  the  hands  of  Jacob  Fleming- 
The  following  description  of  both  the  murderer  and  his  victim  is  victim 
is  taken  from  the  local  paper: 

THE   VICTIM. 

James  Hughes,  the  deceased,  was  a  cripple,  ex-Union  soldier, 
severely  wounded  in  the  battle  of  Stone  River,  and  a  hard  working,  quiet 
and  inoffensive  man.  He  came  to  this  county  from  Ohio,  where  he 
leaves  a  wife  and  two  children,  whom  he  had  made  preparations  to  bring 
here  at  an  early  day.  Ordinarily  he  was  a  sober  man  and  not  a  fre- 
quenter of  saloons;  but   on   this  occasion,    yielding  to  some  unknown 


926  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

influence,  he  entered  the  Arcade,  and  became  sonnevvhat  under  the  influ- 
ence of  liquor,  but  not  boisterous  or  quarrelsome. 

THE    MURDERER. 

Jacob  Fleming,  the  murderer,  though  comparatively  young  in  years, 
is  a  notorious  desperado— one  whose  hands,  we  are  told,  have  frequently 
been  imbrued  in  the  blood  of  fellow  mortals.  He  developed  into  man- 
hood during  the  late  war,  and  entering  the  Missouri  Militia,  thirsting 
for  revenge  on  account  of  real  or  imaginary  wrongs,  gave  uncontrolled 
license  to  his  passions  in  this  direction,  and  numerous  murders,  house- 
burnings,  etc.,  are  attributed  to  his  agency  and  the  encouragement  of 
others.  On  a  former  occasion  he  took  the  life  of  a  man  in  Osceola,  shot 
at  another  in  Roscoe,  and  generally  conducted  himself  in  such  a  man- 
ner as  tc  be  a  terror  to  all  law-abiding  citizens.  He  is  a  married  man» 
and  the  father  of  two  interesting  children,  happily  too  young  at  present 
to  realize  the  depth  of  disgrace  into  which  they  have  been  plunged  by 
their  reckless  father.  His  wife  is  said  to  be  an  estimable  woman,  and 
has  made  constant  efforts  to  reform  him,  but  to  no  purpose.  There  was 
serious  talk  of  lynching  him,  but  we  are  pleased  to  know  that  wise 
counsel  prevailed,  and  those  who  were  rash  enough  to  engage  in  such  an 
act  dissuaded  from  their  purpose.  He  is  now  in  the  hands  of  the  law, 
and  although  he  has  succeeded  in  obtaining  a'change  of  venue  from  this 
county,  which  it  was  perfectly  natural  for  his  counsel  to  apply  for,  we 
feel  assured  he  will  have  a  fair  and  impartial  trial,  and  justice  done  in 
the  premises. 

The  belief  of  the  editor  was  not  carried  out  and  Jacob  Fleming 
suffered  for  his  crime  at  the  hands  of  Judge  Lynch:  The  change  of 
venue  was  probably  the  cause  o{  this  sudden  action,  for  it  was  known 
only  to  the  participators  until  the  time  for  action  had  arrived  as  laid 
down  in  their  programme. 

THE   INQUESl. 

The  coroner's  inquest  on  the  body  of  James  Hughes  was  as  follows: 

We  find  that  the  said  James  Hughes  came  to  his  death  by  two  pis- 
tol shots,  fired  on  the  17th 'day  of  June,  1871,  by  the  hands  of  Jacob 
Fleming,  on. the  evening  of  said  day,  in  the  saloon  of  John  D.Ander- 
son, in  the  town  of  Osceola. 

The  jury  was  Messrs.  Dooley,  Gardner,  Prock,  Hanks,  Cole  and 
Mitchell,  and  the  coroner,  Mr.  Daniels.  Twelve  days  after,  on  the  night 
of  June  29,  1871,  a  vigilant  committee  numbering  nearly  100  men,  rode 
up  to  jail  and  demanded  the  keys.  Of  course  this  was  refused.  The 
vigilants,  however,  came  on  business.  They  promptly  forced  the  door 
with  a  heavy  hammer  brought  for  the  purpose,  proceeded  quietly  to  the 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY.  927 

cell,  which  door  they  also  broke  down,  and  took  out  their  prisoner.  No 
words  were  spoken.  All  had  been  arranged  beforehand,  and  the  work 
was  systematically  carried  out.  With  the  prisoner  in  their  possession, 
they  took  up  their  march  for  the  old  brick  yard,  and  without  words 
quickly  strung  him  up.  The  prisoner  was  stoically  silent,  and  took  his 
fate  bravely.  He  made  no  appeal,  but  went  to  his  doom  quietly,  for  he 
was  wise  enough  to  know  he  was  then  beyond  human  help.  The  vigi- 
lants  surrounded  the  gallows  and  remained  until  one  of  their  number 
stepped  forward,  examined  the  body  ana  pronounced  him  dead.  They 
then  turned,  sought  their  horses  and  retired.  They  were  effectually 
disguised. 

On  June  24,  1875,  J.  L.  Hicks,  living  in  Osceola,  was  killed  by  the 
town  marshal,  John  E.  Cole.  Hicks  was  on  a  drunken  spree,  disturbing 
the  peace,  and  Cole  undertook  to  quiet  him,  failing  in  which,  he 
attempted  to  arrest  him.  This  Hicks  resented  by  striking  Cole  with  a 
hickory  stick.  The  marshal  shot  twice  at  him,  and  wounded  him  in  the 
head  and  arm. 

Hicks  was  then  taken  into  a  store,  but  a  few  minutes  after  he 
attacked  Cole  with  a  heavy  chair,  when  Cole  again  shot  him  twice 
through  the  body,  killing  him.  Hicks  was  a  very  powerful  man  and  very 
desperate  when  drunk.     Cole's  action  was  sustained  by  the  citizens. 

THE    KILLING   OF  JOHN   D.  BAUCOM. 

The  killing  of  John  D.  Baucom  occurred  on  the  19th  day  of  July, 
1875,  near  Johnson  City,  in  Monegaw  Township.  He  was  shot  by  John 
Berry,  who  claimed  that  Baucom  had  broken  up  the  peace  of  his  family, 
and  in  a  manner  that  only  blood  could  atone.  Before  the  coroner's 
jury  the  following  evidence  was  taken  on  the  day  of  the  murder  : 

Mrs.  Lucy  Berry  being  duly  sworn  testifies,  that  she  recognizes  the 
body  as  that  of  John  Baucom.  I  did  not  see  John  Berry  shoot  at  John 
Baucom,  I  did  not  see  Baucom  pass  when  the  gun  was  fired.  I  did  not 
see  John  Berry  take  the  gun  out  of  the  house.  I  heard  the  report  of  the 
gun,  it  being  out  of  the  house.  I  suppose  he  (Berry)  had  shot  Baucom. 
John  Berry  was  out  of  doors  when  the  gun  was  fired,  there  being  two 
shots  fired.  Berry  came  back  in  the  house  with  the  gun.  L.  J.  Berry 
said  for  me  to  go  to  E.  C.  Berry's  and  stay.  John  Berry  did  not  go  to 
E.  C.  Berry's  with  me,  he  came  afterwards;  I  don't  know  where  he  went. 

LUCY  J.  BERRY. 

E.  C.  Berry  being  duly  sworn,  testified  :  I  recognize  the  body  as 
that  of  John  Baucom.  I  suppose  John  Berry  shot  him.  He  told  me 
that  he  shot  John  Baucom.  I  did  not  know  whether  he  hit  Baucom  or 
not,  but  suppose  he  did.  It  happened  at  John  Berry's  house.  The  last 
time  I  saw  John  Berry  he  was  at  my  house.  E.  C.  BERRY. 

Dr.  J.  W.  Wheeler,  W.  W.  Washburn  and  H.  Lear,  being  sworn, 
testified: 


928  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

We  recognized  the  body  as  that  of  John  Baucom.  We  naade  the 
examination  and  found  three  wounds  upon  his  body,  one  taking  effect  in 
the  mouth,  knocking  out  five  teeth,— four  below  and  one  above, — also 
cutting  the  tip  of  his  tongue;  another  shot  taking  effect  on  the  breast 
above  the  region  of  the  left  clavical;  the  third  shot  taking  effect  about 
two  inches  below  and  about  the  same  distance  in  front  of  the  axila,  passing 
between  the  first  and  second  ribs,  and  ranging  upwards  and  backwards. 
We  suppose  it  severed  the  arterv. 

DR.  J.  W.  WHEELER. 

DR.  W.  W.  WASHBURN. 

DR.  H.  LEAR. 

The  following  is  the  verdict  of  the  coroner's  jury: 

We,  the  jury,  being  householders  in  Monegaw  Township,  in  the 
county  of  St.  Clair,  and  state  of  Missouri,  summoned  to  view  the  dead 
body  of  John  Baucom,  find  that  he  came  to  his  death  by  a  gun  shot 
wound  received  at  the  hands  of  John  Berry. 

J.  B.  BURR.  Foreman. 

JAMES  McH.  LEDBETTER,  Coroner. 

This  verdict  required  the  arrest  of  John  Berry,  but  he  immediately 
fled  the  country,  going  in  turn  to  Iowa,  Minnesota,  Illinois,  Arkansas 
and  Texas,  finally  going  back  to  Illinois.  The  governor  of  Missouri 
offered  a  reward  of  $300  for  his  apprehension,  to  which  was  added  $100 
each  by  the  father  and  wife  of  the  deceased.  These  rewards  were  suf- 
ficient to  place  persons  on  the  lookout,  and  in  1877  he  was  arrested  in 
Illinois  and  brought  back  to  this  county  and  placed  in  jail  to  await  trial. 

The  trial  was  docketed  for  the  September  term  of  the  circuit  court, 
in  1877,  but  the  defense  asked  a  continuance,  and  it  was  carried  over 
to  the  March  term,  1878.  On  the  7th  of  March  the  state  and  the 
defense  being  both  ready  for  trial,  the  case  was  opened  and  the  jury 
selected  as  follows:  W.  T.  Anderson,  William  Wynkoop,  William  Gash, 
William  E.  Short,  James  P.  Skillman,  Thomas  W.  Wright,  Samuel  Cul- 
bertson,  E.  S.  Knowles,  James  Anderson,  G.  L.  Burch,  Charles  Wilker- 
son,  H.  M.  Cotton. 

The  state  at  once  opened  the  case  wMth  J.  W.  Silsby  and  E.  J. 
Smith  conducting  the  prosecution,  while  Nesbit  &  Ferguson,  W.  P.  Shel- 
don and  Waldo  P.  Johnson  appeared  for  the  defendant.  Some-  twenty- 
five  witnesses  were  examined,  taking  testimony  occupying  the  court 
until  Saturday  noon. 

On  the  opening  of  the  court  after  dinner.  Mr.  Silsby  opened  in  a 
sixty-minute  speech,  followed  by  Waldo  P.  Johnson  for  the  defense. 
John  C.  Ferguson  and  F.  C.  Nesbit  each  spoke  in  turn,  and  the  case 
was  closed  by  E.  J.  Smith  for  the  state.  The  ability  of  the  lawyers  in 
the  case  and  the  stubbornness  of  the  defense  had  attracted  a  large  num- 
ber of  citizens  of  the  county,  and  the  court  room  was  crowded.  Intense 
interest  was  felt  in  the  case,  and  it  was  evident  that  the  public  leaned  to 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   CLAIR   COUNTY.  929 

the  side  of  the  accused.  If  a  man  could  not  defend  the  honor  of  his 
family  when  assailed  without  being  given  years  of  penal  servitude,  what 
could  be  expected  of  the  law  in  any  case?  Such  were  the  comments 
freely  spoken  outside  of  the  court  room. 

The  case  was  given  to  the  jury  about  ten  o'clock  Saturday  night, 
and  after  being  out  only  half  an  hour,  they  returned  with  a  verdict  of 
not  guilty. 

Thus  ended  a  trial  that  during  its  progress  had  created  intense 
interest  and  which  was  generally  regarded  as  a  just  verdict. 

MURDER   AND   SUICIDE. 

Scarcely  had  the  excitement  died  out  of  the  killing  of  John  D.  Bau- 
com  when  the  people  of  St.  Clair  were  startled  with  the  reported  mur- 
der of  Colonel  Charles  Sims  and  his  wife,  a  wealthy  and  prominent  citi- 
zen of  the  county,  living  about  a  mile  from  the  celebrated  Monegaw 
Springs.  The  rumor,  unfortunately,  proved  true  that  Colonel  Sims  and 
his  wife  were  dead,  but  the  tragic  affair  was  the  result  of  jealousy,  and 
Colonel  Sims  had  first  killed  his  wife  and  then  deliberately  killed  him- 
self He  was  the  victim  of  jealousy,  which  brought  on  at  times  tem- 
porary insanity.     The  local  report  as  gathered  was  published  as  follows: 

DEATH   OF   COLONEL   SIMS   AND   WIFE. 

Colonel  Charles  Sims,  a  prominent  and  wealthy  citizen  of  this 
county,  living  about  one  mile  from  Monegaw  Springs,  shot  his  wife  twice 
and  then  shot  himself,  on  last  Friday  morning.  The  following  particu- 
lars we  have  learned:  Colonel  Sims  and  his  wife  had  some  angry  words 
on  Thursday  of  last  week,  and  again  on  Thursday  night,  which  caused 
Mrs.  Sims  to  leave  the  room  in  which  Colonel  Sims  slept,  and  go  into 
the  room  with  the  servant  girl,  where  she  slept  that  night.  Early  the 
next  morning  Colonel  Sims  went  to  the  room  in  which  his  wife  and  the 
servant  girl  slept,  and  called  to  them  to  get  up,  which  they  did.  When 
the  girl  left  the  room  Mrs.  Sims  was  putting  on  her  shoes.  When  out  milk- 
ing near  the  house,  the  girl  heard  some  loud  talking  and  angry  words, 
and  then  two  pistol  shots  in  quick  succession.  After  the  lapse  of  a  few 
monents  she  heard  the  third  shot.  The  hired  man  and  the  girl  went  at 
once  to  the  house,  where  they  found  both  lying  on  the  floor  dead.  We 
also  learn  that  Colonel  Sims  had  been  up  the  whole  night,  and  wrote  his 
will,  dividing  his  property  between  different  parties,  leaving  but  a  por- 
tion to  his  two  children,  daughters.  Jealousy  seems  to  have  been  the 
real  cause  of  this  terrible  crime.  Those  who  were  acquainted  with  Mrs. 
Sims  feel  confident  there  were  no  grounds  for  the  surmises  of  Colonel 

Sims. 

59 


930  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR  COUNTY. 

The  coroner's  jury  found  nothing  to  controvert  the  above,  and  it 
seems  to  be  the  true  solution  of  the  terrible  affair.  Another  report  pub- 
lished was  the  same  in  substance.     It  reads: 

Colonel  Sims  was  a  partner  with  Waldo  P.  Johnson  in  the  Monegaw 
Sprines,  and  it  appears  that  he  wanted  to  sell  the  same,  but  his  wife 
refused  to  Bign  the  papers.  Lately  he  came  in  from  the  west,  and  was 
stopping  with  his  wife  at  the  Widow  McBride's,  near  the  springs.  All 
along  he  had  complained  of  a  pain  in  his  head,  and  it  has  been  thought 
by  some  that  he  was  partially  deranged.  Last  Friday  parties  heard  pis- 
tol shots  near  the  house,  and  they  went  to  the  spot  and  found  him  and 
his  wife  dead.  He  first  killed  her,  and  then  shot  himself  through  the 
heart. 

The  affair  took  place  on  the  morning  of  July  23,  1875,  and  will  long 
be  remembered  by  the  citizens  of  the  county,  because  of  the  tragic  death 
and  the  high  and  prominent  position  of  the  parties  in  the  social  world. 

NOTED    OUTLAWS. 

In  the  annals  of  crime,  or  in  the  exhibition  of  courage  that  was 
absolutely  without  fear,  the  James  and  Younger  brothers  perhaps  had 
few  equals,  and  as  a  desperate  band  of  outlaws  their  career  has  been 
unexampled  in  the  history  of  any  age  or  country.  They  are  now  no 
more,  so  far  as  daring  deeds  is  concerned.  Some  are  dead,  others  living, 
but  the  latter  are  suffering  punishment  for  their  crimes.  They  may  have 
had,  and  probably  did  have,  full  cause  during  the  late  war  for  carrying 
out  a  spirit  of  revenge  for  the  murder  and  abuse  of  their  families,  but  in 
the  robbing  of  banks  and  railroad  trains,  they  well  knew  they  were  out- 
side of  the  law,  and  in  becoming  outlaws  as  they  did,  choosing  that 
mode  of  life,  it  is  safe  to  say  they  knew  its  penalties,  and  were  prepared 
to  submit  to  them  if  caught.  They  have  been  caught  and  are  now  serv- 
ing out  their  punishment,  but  they  have  never  complained.  To  the 
Younger  brothers,  who  have  made  history  in  extended  years  of  crime, 
St.  Clair  County  is  beholded  for  some  exciting  scenes,  and  part  of  that 
history  is  a  part  of  the  record  of  St.  Clair  County.  From  the  Osceola 
Democrat  is  given  an  episode  in  the  life  of  these  outlaws,  which  took 
place  within  the  county,  and  therefore  belongs  here,  and  the  closing 
chapter  in  their  career,  which  took  place  at  Fairbault,  Minnesota,  Novem- 
ber 20,  1876,  when  three  of  these  brothers  pleaded  guilty  to  crime,  and 
were  given  a  life  sentence  in  the  penitentiary  of  that  state.  The  follow- 
ing are  the  articles  from  the  Democrat : 

THE   GREAT   BATTLE. 

The  whole  community  was  thrown  into  excitement  on  Wednesday 
morning  by  the  report  reaching  town  that  a  desperate  and  bloody  bat- 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  93 1 

tie  had  been  fouglit  near  Monegaw,  on  the  road  leading  from  Roscoe  to 
Chalk  Level,  about  three  miles  from  Roscoe,  and  near  the  farm  of  Mr. 
Theodrick  Snuffer,  between  a  couple  of  United  States  detectives  and 
John  and  James  Younger,  the  defectives  having  along  with  them  as 
guide,  Mr.  Ed.  B.  Daniels,  a  young  man  of  Osceola.  One  of  the  detec- 
tives, named  Wright,  made  his  escape  back  to  Osceola,  and  was  unable 
to  give  full  particulars  of  the  fight  and  its  results,  but  gavTe  it  as  his 
opinion  that  his  partner  and  Daniels  had  surrendered  and  would  be 
killed.  Friends  of  Young  Daniels  at  once  crossed  the  river  and  went  a 
few  miles  to  ascertain  what  was  the  result,  and  soon  returned  with  the 
information  that  Ed.  Daniels  and  John  Younger  had  been  killed  and  the 
detective,  Allen,  mortally  wounded,  when  a  hack  was  procured  and  sent 
over  to  bring  the  body  of  Ed.  Daniels  to  town,  as  also  the  wounded 
detective.  The  excitement  grew  high  and  Sheriff  Johnson  thought  it 
best  to  send  out  his  deputy,  Simpson  Beckley,  with  a  posse  of  men,  and 
prevent,  if  possible,  (in  case  there  should  be  anything  like  a  mob  visit 
the  scene  of  the  battlefield)  any  disturbance.  Some  half  dozen  men 
were  at  once  summoned,  but  before  starting  information  was  received 
that  the  wounded  detective  had  been  taken  to  Roscoe.  The  sheriff's 
posse  then  proceeded  to  Roscoe,  and  our  special  reporter  accompanied 
them  with  a  view  to  ascertaining  full  and  authentic  information  of  the 
whole  affray. 

Roscoe  was  reached  about  five  o'clock  in  the  evening,  where  we  found 
the  wounded  Detective  Allen,  at  the  Roscoe  House,  under  charge  of 
Dr.  A.  C.  Marquis.  We  found  Mr.  Allen  suffering  considerably  from  his 
wounds,  which  consisted  of  a  broken  left  arm,  with  several  buckshot  in 
it,  and  a  pistol  shot  through  the  left  lung,  the  ball  entering  in  front  and 
passing  through  the  body,  the  wound  having  been  caused  by  being  dis- 
charged from  a  large  sized  navy  revolver.  In  our  interview  with  him., 
he  stated  the  same  in  substance  as  his  evidence  before  the  coroner's 
jury,  which  will  be  found  below. 

The  shooting  occurred  about  three  o'clock  on  Tuesday  afternoon, 
the  17th  instant,  and  word  was  sent  to  Roscoe  the  same  evening,  when 
some  of  the  citizens  of  that  place  went  out  and  staid  with  the  wounded 
and  dead  men  until  Wednesday  morning,  when  Justice  St.  Clair,  of  Ros- 
coe summoned  a  jury  and  an  inquest  was  lield  over  the  dead  bodies, 
which  is  here  reported  in  full.  The  body  of  Ed.  Daniel  was  taken  to 
Osceola  and  that  of  John  Younger  was  buried  in  the  afternoon. 

We  went  from  Roscoe  to  the  residence  of  Mr.  Snuffer  and  there 
learned  that  the  Younger  boys,  John  and  James,  had  come  to  his  resi- 
dence about  one  half  hour  previous  to  the  appearance  of  the  detectives 
and  young  Daniel,  they,  the  Youngers,  eating  dinner  at  the  time  they 
passed.  After  eating  their  dinner,  John  Younger  remarked  to  his 
brother  James  that  they  would  follow  those  men  and  see  who  they  were, 
stating  at  the  time  that  he  supposed  they  were  detectives,  and  when 
they  caught  up  with  them  the  battle  commenced,  as  reported  below. 

We  passed  over  the  battle  ground,  and  must  confess  we  were  sur- 
prised to  find  it  the  place  it  is,  as,  from  the  reports,  as  well  as  from  the 
evidence  of  both  detectives  as  to  having  been  taken  by  surprise,  we  are 
at  a  loss  to  see  how  such  a  thing  was  possible.  It  is  to  be  presumed 
that  the  detectives  were  on  the  watch,  as  they  certainly  knew  the  char- 
acter of  the  men  they  were   after.     The   ground    is   a   beautiful  grove, 


>932  HISTORY    OV   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

thinly  studded  with  small  trees,  without  underbrush  or  leaves  on  the 
trees,  and  any  one  approaching  could  readily  be  seen  for  three  or  four 
hundred  yards. 

Mr.  Alva  Wycoff,  of  Appleton  City,  a  q-entleman  of  prominence 
and  highly  respected,  went  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Snuffer  on  Wednesday 
night  and  learned  all  the  particulars,  and  when  we  met  him  on  Thursday 
morning  he  assured  us  that  there  need  be  no  fears  of  mobbing,  so  far  as 
the  citizens  of  that  portion  of  the  county  were  concerned,  as  it  would 
be  left  to  the  detectives,  in  whom  they  had  full  confidence. 

The  body  of  Ed.  Daniel  was  deposited  in  its  last  resting  place,  in 
the  cemetery,  this  (Friday)  morning. 

Dr.  Marquis  thinks  there  is  a  probability  that  the  detective,  Allen, 
will  recover  from  his  wounds,  although  they  are  severe.  The  citizens  of 
Roscoe  are  giving  the  wounded  man  every  attention  possible.  A  dis- 
patch was  sent  to  Chicago  on  Thursday  for  his  wife  to  come  on. 

The  following  is  the  evidence  before  the  coroner's  inquest,  held  on 
the  bodies  of  Edward  Daniel  and  John  Younger: 

W.  J.  Allen,  being  duly  sworn,  testified  as  follows: 

Yesterday  about  half  past  two  o'clock,  the  17th  day  of  March,  1874, 
E.  B.  Daniels  and  myself  were  riding  along  the  road  from  Roscoe  to 
'Chalk  Level,  which  road  runs  past  the  house  of  one  Theodoric  Snuffer, 
and  about  three  miles  from  the  town  of  Roscoe,  and  in  St.  Clair  County, 
Missouri.  Daniels  and  myself  were  riding  side  by  side,  and  Wright  a 
short  distance  ahead  of  us;  some  noise  behind  us  attracted  our  atten- 
tion, and  we  looked  back  and  saw  two  men  on  horseback  coming 
toward  us,  and  one  was  armed  with  a  double-barrel  shotgun,  the  other 
with  revolvers;  don't  know  if  the  other  had  shotgun  or  not;  the  one  had 
the  shotgun  cocked,  both  barrels,  and  ordered  us  to  halt;  Wright  drew 
his  pistol  and  put  spurs  to  his  horse  and  rode  off;  they  ordered  him  to 
halt,  and  shot  at  him  and  shot  off  his  hat,  but  he  kept  on  riding.  Dan- 
iels and  myself  stopped,  standing  across  the  road  on  our  horses;  they 
rode  up  to  us  and  ordered  us  to  take  off  our  pistols  and  drop  them  in 
the  road,  the  one  with  the  gun  covering  me  all  the  tim.e  with  the  gun. 
We  dropped  our  pistols  on  the  ground,  and  one  of  the  men  told  the  other 
to  follow  Wright  and  bring  him  back,  but  he  refused  to  go,  saying  he 
would  stay  with  him;  one  of  the  men  picked  up  the  revolvers  we  had 
dropped,  and  looking  at  them,  remarked  they  were  damn  fine  pistols, 
and  they  must  make  them  a  present  of  them;  one  of  them  then  asked 
me  where  we  came  from,  and  I  said  from  Osceola;  he  then  wanted  to 
know  what  we  were  doing  in  this  part  of  the  country;  I  replied,  ramb- 
ling around.  One  of  them  then  said,  you  were  up  here  one  day  before; 
I  replied  that  we  were  not;  he  then  said  we  had  been  at  the  Springs;  I 
replied  that  we  had  been  at  the  Springs,  but  had  not  been  inquiring  for 
them,  that  we  did  not  know  them,  and  they  said  detectives  had  been 
up  there  hunting  for  them  all  the  time,  and  they  were  going  to  stop  it. 
Daniels  then  said,  "I  am  no  detective;  I  can  show  you  who  I  am  and 
where  I  belong;"  and  one  of  them  said  he  knew  him,  and 
then  turned  to  me  and  said,  "what  in  in  hell  are  you  rid- 
ing around  here  with  all  them  pistols  on  for.^  and  I  said: 
"Good  God!  is  not  every  man  wearing  them  that  is  traveling  and 
have  I  not  as  much  right  to  wear  them  as  any  one  else  .'*"  and  the  one  that 
had  the  shot  gun  said,  "  Hold  on,  young  man,  we  don't  want  any  of  that," 


HI3T0RV   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  933 

and  then  lowered  the  gun,  cocked,  in  a  threatening  manner;  then  Dan- 
iels had  some  talk  with  them,  and  one  of  them  got  off  his  horse  and 
picked  up  the  pistols;  two  of  them  were  mine  and  one  was  Daniels';  the 
one  mounted  had  the  gun  drawn  on  me,  and  I  concluded  that  they 
intended  to  kill  us.  I  reached  my  hand  behind  me  and  drew  a  No.  2 
Smith  &  Wesson  pistol  and  cocked  it  and  fired  at  the  one  on  horseback, 
and  my  horse  frightened  at  the  report  of  the  pistol  and  turned  to  run, 
I  heard  two  shots  and  my  left  arm  fell,  and  then  I  had  no  control  over 
my  horse,  and  he  jumped  into  the  bushes  and  the  trees  and  checked  his 
speed,  and  I  tried  to  get  hold  of  the  rein  with  my  right  hand  to  bring 
him  into  the  road;  one  of  the  men  rode  by  me  and  fired  two  shots  at  me, 
one  of  which  took  effect  in  my  left  side,  and  I  lost  all  control  of  my  horse 
and  he  turned  into  the  brush  and  a  small  tree  struck  me  and  knocked  me 
out  of  the  saddle.  I  then  got  up  and  staggered  across  the  road  and  lay 
down  until  I  was  found.  No  one  else  was  present.  W.  J.  ALLEN. 
Subscribed  and  sworn  to,  before  me,  this   i8th  day  of  March,  1874. 

JAMES  ST.  CLAIR. 

TESTIMONY   OF   JOHN   M'FARRIN. 

I  heard  a  shot  a  couple  of  hundred  yards  from  my  house,  and  I  found 
out  after  the  first  shot  that  it  was  John  and  James  Younger;  after  the 
first  shot  they  ceased  firing  for  some  time,  and  then  commenced  again, 
but  I  had  not  seen  any  of  the  parties;  but  after  several  shots  had  been 
fired,  another  man,  who  I  did  not  know,  come  down  the  road,  and  I  think 
they  were  both  shooting  at  one-another;  I  am  certain  that  John  Younger 
was  shooting  at  the  other  man;  he  continued  to  run  down  the  road  east 
of  here;  I  think  John  Younger  passed  the  man  on  the  grey  here;  about 
the  time  John  Younger  passed  him  I  saw  him  sink  on  his  hcrse,  as  if 
going  to  fall;  don't  know  what  become  of  him  afterwards;  then  Younger 
turned  to  come  west  and  began  to  sink,  and  then  fell  of^  his  horse;  then 
James  Younger  came  down  here  a  foot  to  where  John  Younger  was  lay- 
ing and  the  horse  that  John  Younger  was  riding,  and  that  was  the  last  I 
saw  of  James  Younger.  JOHN  McFARRIN.         X. 

Subscribed  and  sworn  to  before  me,  this  18th  day  of  March,  1874. 

JAMES  ST.  CLAIR,  J.  P. 

TESTIMONY   OF  JOHN    R.  M'FARRIN. 

The  testimony  of  John  R.  McFarrin  was  corroborative  of  that  of 
John  McFarrin,  both  of  whom  were  together. 

TESTIMONY   OF   THEODRICK   SNUFFER. 

The  men  came  to  my  house  and  inquired  the  way  to  Mrs.  Sims;  the 
third  man  came  along  afterwards  and  overtook  them;  the  two  Youngers, 
John  and  James,  after  they  had  passed,  followed  them;  I  saw  James 
Younger  after  the  fight;  he  told  me  that  John  Younger  was  dead;  that 
they  had  killed  one  of  the  men  and  that  one  other  had  been  wounded 
and  got  awav;  that  they  had  wounded  Allen;  that  Allen  had  a  pistol 
secreted  and  fired  the  first  shot.  THEODRICK  SNUFFER. 

Subscribed  and  sworn  to  before  me,  this  i8th  day  of  ?vlarch,  1874. 

JAMES  ST.  CLAIR,  J.  P. 


934  HISTORY  OF  st.  clair  county. 

TESTIMONY   OF   G.  \Y.    M'DONALD. 

John  Younger  fell  from  his  horse;  James  Younger  came  running  up 
to  where  John  had  fallen  and  called  me  to  him;  he  then  turned  him 
(John  Younger)  over  and  took  some  revolvers  off  of  him,  and  a  watch 
and  something  else  out  of  his  pockets;  I  do  not  know  what  else;  I  saw 
John  Younger  and  another  man  shooting  at  each  other  when  the  first 
firing  commenced;  I  think  James  Younger  took  four  revolvers  off  of 
John  Younger,  his  brother;  he  threw  one  over  the  fence  and  told  me  to 
keep  it;  he  then  told  me  to  catch  a  horse  and  go  down  and  tell  Snuffer's 

folks.  G.  w.  Mcdonald. 

Sworn  to  and  subscribed  before  me,  the  i8th  day  of  March,  1874. 

JAMES  ST.  CLAIR,  J.  P. 

TESTIMONY   OF   DRS.  MARQUIS   AND   LEWIS. 

All  we  know  concerning  the  death  of  the  two  men,  being  the  same 
that  the  inquest  is  being  held  over,  is  that  the  one,  John  Younger,  came 
to  his  death  from  the  effects  of  a  gunshot  wound,  which  entered  the 
right  side  of  his  neck,  touching  the  clavical  bone  on  the  upper  side,  and 
about  two  inches  from  the  meredian,  went  nearly  straight  through  the 
neck;  the  orifice  is  small,  indicating  that  he  was  shot  with  a  small  ball 
The  other  man,  Edwin  B.  Daniels,  came  to  his  death  from  the  effect  of 
a  gunshot  wound,  which  entered  the  left  side  of  the  neck,  about  one 
inch  from  the  meredian  line,  and  about  midway  of  the  neck,  opposite 
the  cxsophagus,  and  as  per  examination,  went  nearly  straight  through 
the  neck,  striking  the  bone;  the  orifice  was  pretty  large,  indicating  that 
the  ball  was  of  a  pretty  large  size.  A.  C.  MAROUIS,  M.  D. 

L,  LEWIS,  M.  D. 

Subscribed  and  sworn  to  before  me,  this  iSth  day  of  March,  1874. 

JAMES  ST.  CLAIR,  J.  P. 

The  following  names  comprise  the  coroner's  jury,  with  A.  Ray  as 
foreman:  A.  Ray,  G.  W.  Cox,  J.  Davis,  W.  Holmes.  R.  C.  Gill  and  H. 
Greason. 

The  verdict  of  the  jury  was  as  follows: 

We,  the  jur}',  find  that  John  Younger  came  to  his  death  by  a  pistol 
shot,  supposed  to  be  in  the  hands  of  W.  J.  Allen. 

A.  RAY,  Foreman. 

We,  the  jury,  find  that  Edward  B.  Daniel  came  to  his  death  b}'  a 
pistol  shot,  supposed  to  have  been  fired  by  the  hand  of  James  Younger. 

A.  RAY,  Foreman. 

LOCAL   DETECTIVES — HOW   THEY    DIDN'T   CAPTURE   THE   OUTLAWS. 

Some  three  months  previous  to  the  above  exciting  battle  and  its 
terrible  result,  some  few  men  at  Appleton  City  concluded  to  capture 
the  outlaws  and  secure  the  large  reward  which  had  been  offered  for 
them,  besides  throwing  a  halo  around  their  own   head  and   making  the 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  935 

State  echo  with  the  glory  of  their  great  achievement.  Just  where  the 
glory  comes  in  will  be  found  in  the  following  narrative,  which  is  both 
truthful  and  interesting: 

THE   YOUNGERS   ARE   HUNTED   AND   CAPTURE   THEIR   PURSUERS. 

Upon  the  morning  of  December  7,  1873,  Mr.  Joseph  Morrow,  of 
Chalk  Level  Township,  upon  starting  from  his  residence  to  mount  his 
horse,  which  was  hitched  at  the  front  gate,  he  noticed  a  party  of  six 
men  approaching.  Paying  little  attention  he  mounted  his  horse  and 
started  for  a  neighbor's  house.  By  this  time  the  advancing  party 
attracted  his  attention  by  two  pistol  shots,  at  the  same  time  calling  on 
him  to  halt,  but  Mr.  Morrow  put   spurs   to  his  horse   and  dashed  away. 

Some  of  the  Younger  boys,  as  it  happened,  were  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, and  a  friend  of  the  boys  met  the  six  doubly  armed  men.  Ot  him 
the  party  inquired  for  certain  ones  of  the  Youngers,  stating  that  one  of 
the  Youngers  was  riding  a  horse  that  had  been  stolen  in  Clay  Count}-, 
Missouri,  and  that  they  (the  party)  were  upon  the  hunt  tor  the  Youngers. 

Learning  that  a  party  were  in  search  of  them,  the  Youngers  started 
on  the  war  trail,  in  search  of  the  himtittg  party.  The  six  men  extended 
their  search  to  Roscoe,  which  place  they  reached  on  the  morning  of  the 
8th  instant.  They  next  scoured  the  Osage  Hills,  going  in  the  direction 
of  Chalk  Level,  but  after  traveling  the  Chalk  Level  road  some  three 
miles,  they  filed  off  to  the  left  in  the  direction  of  Monegaw  Springs. 
The  Younger  boys  being  in  search  of  the  hunting  party  all  the  while, 
came  upon  and  captured  the  party,  or  four  of  them  at  the  Monegaw 
Springs.  Two  of  the  party  having  gone  on  to  Chalk  Level,  of  course 
were  not  captured. 

The  Youngers,  after  disarming  their  prisoners,  took  them  to  Mr.  Wil- 
son's hotel,  and  had  a  good  breakfast  prepared  for  them,  but  the  poor 
fellows  felt  so  cheap  that  their  appetites  entirely  failed  them,  and  all, 
with  the  exception  ot  Mr.  Cobb,  of  Appleton  City,  ate  sparingly,  and 
Mr.  Wycoff  could  not  relish  any  of  the  delicacies  which  were  so  bounti- 
fully set  before  them. 

After  breakfast  was  over,  one  of  the  Younger  boys  stated  to  the 
prisoners:  "  Now,  gentlemen,  we  have  you  in  our  possession,  and  can 
do  with  you  as  we  wish;  and  if  you  (the  hunting  party)  had  me  and  my 
brothers  in  your  power,  beyond  a  doubt  you  would  kill  every  one  of  us. 
But  zue  are  men — men^possessing  too  much  brave  blood  to  be  guilty  of 
such  cruel  butchery." 

The  Youngers  further  stated  that  were  certain  parties  whose 
political  views  were  different  from  theirs  at  the  breaking  out  of  the 
war  in  1861,  and  certain  men  of  that  party  had  murdered  their  dear 
old  father,  who,  at  that  time  was  living  in  Jackson  County,  Missouri, 


936  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

a  peaceable  citizen,  and  all  for  the  purpose  of  robbing  him  of  a  few 
hundred  dollars  in  cash.  The  most  damnable  act  beiiic^  to  strip  their 
widowed  mother  of  all  stock  and  provisions  of  every  kind;  burning 
her  house  over  her  head,  thus  turning  her  penniless  out  in  the  cold 
storms  of  winter — the  snow  six  inches  deep— and  her  and  the  younger 
children  did  not  have  enough  clothes  to  protect  them  from  the  win- 
try blasts.  She  was  then  compelled  to  call  upon  friend  and  stranger 
for  assistance — for  clothes  enough  to  keep  her  and  her  little  children 
from  freezing.  She  was  drove  from  place  to  place,  and  finally  brought  to 
an  untimely  grave,  caused  by  exposure,  and  the  wretched  treatment 
she  received  at  the  hands  of  the  Federals.  Humanity  shudders  at  the 
thought! 

"  There  are  a  few  of  the  d — d  party  here  who  had  a  hand  in  that  first 
hellish  act,  and  you  are  still  trying  to  implicate  me  and  my  brothers  in 
every  crime  committed  in  Missouri,  or  any  other  state.  Now,  gentle- 
men, we  set  you  at  liberty,  go  to  your  homes  and  stay  there.  We  want 
to  stay  the  hand  of  blood,  if  possible,  but  if  we  can't  be  permitted  to  live 
as  peaceable  citizens,  the  blame  will  rest  upon  other  men's  shoulders, 
and  not  upon  ours.     This  we  disdain. 

You  know  that  my  brother.  Cole  Younger,  was  accused  of  being  one 
of  the  party  who  robbed,  or  had  a  hand  in  the  robbery  of  the  railroad  in 
Iowa,  which  was  committed  some  time  ago.  At  that  time  I  and  my 
brother  were  in  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri.  This  we  can  prove  by  the 
very  best  citizens  of  the  county,  men  whose  word  is  always  acceptable. 
When  a  certain  party  found  out  that  we  could  prove  our  innocence,  in 
regard  to  the  Iowa  railroad  robbery,  then  we  were  horse  thieves,  insist- 
ing that  we  had  stolen  horses.  As  we  can  prove  a  good  title  to  every 
horse  we  have  had  in  our  possession  since  the  war,  the  d — d  fool  party, 
who  differs  with  us  politically,  has  called  upon  Governor  Woodson,  of 
Missouri,  to  hunt  us  out  of  St.  Clair  County,  as  if  we  were  thieves  and  rob- 
bers. But  I  do  hope  that  Governor  Woodson  has  too  much  intelligence 
to  believe  any  such  radical  lies,  told  by  men  whose  hands  are  still  red 
with  the  blood  of  our  innocent  old  father,  who  was  most  brutally  mur- 
dered during  the  war.  They  committed  this  and  other  damnable  acts, 
and  try  to  conceal  their  crimes  by  shouting  '  murder '  at  the  back  of  other 
people.  And  why  ?  They  would  rejoice  in  the  destruction  of  me  and 
my  brothers  simply  because  they  fear  some  vengeance  at  our  hands — a 
just  retribution.  This  we  also  disdain,  and  all  we  pray  for  is  to  be  let 
alone  to  enjoy  ourselves  in  peace.  The  war  is  long  since  past,  and  as 
we  know  there  is  a  just  God,  who  will  punish  the  crimes  of  all  wrong 
doers,  with  Him  we  are  willing  to  let  the  matter  rest. 

"  Now  mount  your  horses,  gentlemen,  and  go  back  to  Appleton  City 
and  stay  there.  We  don't  want  to  hurt  you,  and  don't  drive  us  to  kill 
any  of  you,  for  such  is  a  very  unpleasant  task.     We  wish  you  a  safe  and 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  937 

pleasant  journey  home,  but  under  no  circumstances  must  you  come  back. 
Good  bye." 

Our  correspondent  says  that  after  the  speech  was  finished,  the 
Younger  boys  each  bid  the  party  "  God-speed,"  thus  showing  that  they 
bear  no* ill  will  toward  any  of  them.  We  learn  further  that  the  four 
brave,  stalwart  men,  who  could  not  bag  their  game,  mounted  their  horses, 
and  it  is  safe  to  conclude  that  in  the  future  they  will  attend  to  their  own 
business. 

These  were  the  only  incidents  of  importance  which  transpired 
within  the  county,  of  these  noted  outlaws. 

There  have  been  many  other  crimes  and  casualties.  Marcellus  Har- 
ris killed  Dr.  James  Smith  at  Osceola;  and  it  was  said  to  have  been  a 
plain  case  of  murder.  He  was  cleared  by  the  law,  only  to  be  waylaid 
and  assassinated  about  a  year  after,  1861,  not  over  one-fourth  of  a  mile 
from  the  court  house. 

John  McMahon  killed  Elisha  Ellis,  which,  of  course,  he  denied. 
Then  came  the  murderers,  Smith,  Park,  Pierce  and  Gilbert,  the  three 
former  who  took  passage  across  the  "  dark  river "  by  the  courtesy  of 
Judge  Lynch.  There  was  some  trouble  about  this,  and  Governor  Phelps 
proposed  to  give  Judge  Lynch  a  specimen  of  his  legal  power,  but  it  did 
not  succeed  very  well.  It,  however,  made  the  judge's  representatives 
considerably  excited,  and  they  came  resolutely  to  the  front  and  stood  up 
for  their  acts  in  the  following  specimen  of  lynch  law  literature,  stating 
their  position,  and  the  why  and  the  wherefore  of  Judge  Lynch's  pro- 
ceedings.    Here  is  the  document  in  full: 

LETTER     FROM     THE     MODERATORS — PROCEEDINGS     OF     THE     HANGING 

AFFRAY. 

Osceola,  Missouri,  May  19,  1880. 

We,  the  moderators  of  St.  Clair,  have  hung  Smith,  Parks  and  Pierce, 
and  we  wanted  Gilbert,  but  Parks  and  Pierce  said  that  Gilbert  was  gone 
off  on  trial.  He  was  hid  back  in  the  corner,  and  they  denied  his  being 
there  until  we  got  in  about  fifty  steps  of  where  we  hung  them,  when  Parks 
said,  "  boys  I  won't  lie  about  it,"  and  said  that  Gilbert  was  back  in  the 
jail  in  the  corner  of  the  cell.  It  was  too  late  to  go  bacic  and  catch  him, 
for  he  was  out  and  gone.  He  was  not  seen  by  any  of  the  crowd  that 
night,  for  we  wanted  him  as  bad  as  we  did  the  rest  of  them.  The  rea- 
son we  shot  Smith  was  because  he  had  a  knife  and  tried  to  fight,  when 
they  shot  him,  and  he  started  to  run,  when  they  shot  him  with  a  gun. 
We  expect  it  was  a  lucky  thing  for  Tom  Emerson  that  he  was  shot,  for 
Smith  would  have  tried  him  and  may  be  killed  him  and  got  away.  We  have 
understood  that  Smith's  wife  brought  him  a  pair  of  trousers  which  had 
the  knife  concealed  in  them. 

We  have  done  the  work  and  we  did  it  for  the  benefit  of  the  honest 
people  of  St.  Clair  County,  that  try  to  make  an  honest  living  for  their 
families.     Criminals  can  be  tried  by  the  law  and  a  decision  given,  and 


938  HISTORY   OF    ST.   Ct.AIR   COUNTY. 

then  run  at  large  after  costing  the  county  three  or  four  thousand  dol- 
lars, at  the  peojjle's  expense,  and  then  the  guilty  go  unpunished.  We 
don't  want  to  hurt  or  damage  anybody  only  the  ones  that  we  think  are 
guilty.  Our  unjust  demands  are  more  than  we  can  stand  without  heap- 
ing an  overload  on  us.  This  county  has  been  imposed  upon  by  a  cer- 
tain class  of  men,  and  they  are  mostly  lawyers,  and  we  are  getting  tired 
of  it;  the  law  is  not  any  account  and  propose  trying  mob  law. 

MODERATORS. 

Perhaps  the  saddest  case  of  all  was  that  of  F,  J.  France,  which  had 
been  written  up  for  this  work  in  full,  but  the  following  comments  and 
•condensation  of  the  case  from  the  Osceola  Sun  of  March  15,  1883, 
gives  all  that  is  necessary,  and  the  unfortunate  close.  An  attempt  will 
be  made  to  have  him  pardoned,  and  it  is  the  wish  of  all  those  who  know 
the  man  and  the  circumstances  that  the  pardon  may  be  granted.  The 
Sun  says: 

We  are  sorry  to  say  that  the  supreme  court  has  approved  the  verdict 
of  the  lower  court,  and  F.  J.  France  is  now  an  inmate  of  the  Missouri 
Penitentiary.  About  five  years  ago  France  killed  a  young  man  by  the 
name  of  Dickey  for  the  alleged  crime  of  seducing  his  (France's)  wife. 
He  was  arrested  and  lodged  in  jail  at  Osceola,  where  he  remained  for 
nearly  a  year,  and  at  the  trial  of  his  case  in  1879  the  jury  found  him 
guilty  of  murder  and  assessed  his  punishment  at  forty  years  in  the  pen- 
itentiary. An  appeal  was  taken  to  the  supreme  court,  and  pending  a 
hearing  of  the  cause,  France  succeeded  in  giving  bonds,  and  was  a  free 
man  up  to  last  Tuesday.  Something  out  of  the  ordinary  run  of  affairs 
was  used  to  his  disadvantage,  and  his  troubles  since  that  date  have  been 
enough  to  set  a  stronger  man  crazy. 

In  1881  his  wife  filed  divorce  proceedings,  and  while  her  prayer  was 
granted,  so  gallant  a  fight  was  made  by  his  lawyers  that  he  was  made 
equal  owner  of  his  minor  children — they  spending  the  winter  with  their 
father  and  summer  with  their  mother.  In  1882  the  grand  jury  found  an 
indictment  against  him  for  the  murder  of  a  young  man  by  the  name  of 
Johnson,  several  years  since.  Three  other  parties  were  also  indicted  for 
this  latter  murder,  but  France  was  hurried  off  to  Jefferson  City  before 
the  case  had  been  tried.  Concerning  the  former  life  of  France  the  Sun 
knows  nothing,  but  during  the  past  four  years  he  has  been  closely 
watched  by  us,  and  has  governed  himself  in  an  honest,  straightforward 
and  gentlemanly  way.  Being  always  at  work,  ever  ready  to  turn  his 
hand  to  his  trade  (carpentering)  or  anything  else  that  promised  him  a 
■dollar,  drinking  nothing  save  water,  he  has  endeavored  to  atone  for  his 
past  acts,  and  we  but  voice  the  public  sentiment  when  we  wish  that  his 
trial  had  resulted  otherwise. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

COUNTY  OFFICIALS  AND  COUNTY  POLITICS. 

COUNTY  SEAT  COMMISSIONERS— JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE,  1840  AND  1841— COUNTY  OFFI- 
CIALS FROM  COUNTY  JUSTICES  TO  CIRCUIT  JUDGES— RESOLUTIONS  OF  RESPECT- 
POLITICAL— THE  VOTE  FROM  1870  TO  1S76,  AND  COMPARED— SENATORIAL— THE 
ELECTION  OF  1882-THE  STATUS  OF  PARTIES. 

JUSTICES   OF   THE   PEACE. 

1840  and  1841,  William  Carter,  H.  W.  Crow,  William  Gash,  L.  R. 
Ashworth,  James  Simrall,  George  Trotter,  John  G.  Gray,  Samuel  P. 
Hedges,  William  M.  Cox,  A.  D.  Moore,  George  Lewis. 

COMMISSIONERS   TO   LOCATE   COUNTY   SEAT. 

1841 — Joseph  Montgomery,  Calvin  Waldo,  Thomas  F.  Wright. 

COUNTY   JUDGES. 

1841— Joseph  Montgomery,  presiding;  William  Gash,  Hugh  Bar- 
nett,  Sr.,  resigned. 

1844 — Joseph  Montgomery,  resigned,  William  Gash,  Thomas  F. 
Wright,  appointed. 

1846 — Thomas  F.  Wright,  appointed.  Judge  Smith,  Edmund 
Nance. 

1848 — Judge  Smith,  presiding;  Edmund  Nance,  Thomas  F. 
Wright. 

1850 — James  T.  Gray,  presiding;  Harlem  Hayes,  Calvin  Waldo. 

1852 — Calvin  Waldo,  presiding;  Harlem  Hayes,  James  D.  Gray. 

1854 — Calvin  Waldo,  presiding;  Anthony  N.  Hester,  James  H.  Green, 
died  November,  1855. 

1856 — Calvin  Waldo,  presiding;  Anthony  N.  Hester,  Joshua  Rick- 
man,  appointed. 

1858 — Joshua  Rickman,  presiding;  William  Rice,  Uriah  L.  Suther- 
land. 


940  HISTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

1865 — William  A.  Mitchell,  presiding;  Elias  Disney,  resigned 
November,  1866,  Rawley  Llewellen. 

1866 — William  A.  Mitchell,  presiding;  Rawley  Llewellen,  William 
Collins,  appointed. 

1868 — William  A.  Mitchell,  presiding;  William  Collins,  Thomas  F. 
Robinson. 

1870  and  1872,  to  July — Thomas  Henly,  presiding;  William  Collins, 
Thomas  F.  Robinson. 

BOARD   OF   SUPERVISORS. 

1872 — John  p.  Low,  Jackson  Township;  William  Barnett,  Butler 
Township;  Joshua  Rickman,  Chalk  Level  Township;  Scott  Nesbit,  Mon- 
egaw  Township;  Christopher  Shoe,  Appleton  Township;  Asahael  Heath, 
Taber  Township;  Thales  H.  Wright,  Osceola  Township;  William  H. 
Moore,  Polk  Township;  J.  J.  C.  Wolfe,  Dallas  Township;  Hugh  L.  M. 
Doyal,  Doyal  Township;  John  Breeden,  Roscoe  Township;  William  A. 
Long,  Speedwell  Township;  Cyrus  Baker,  R.  R.  Moore,  Washington 
Township;  John  W.  Plumblee,  Collins  Township. 

A   BENCH   OF   FIVE   JUDGES. 


1873 — Asahael  Heath,  presiding;  John  P.  Love,  Thomas  F.  Younger,.    '■ 
Thomas  Henley,  John  Breeden.  * 

1875 — ^Asahael  Hiath,  presiding;  John  P.  Love,  T.  J.  Younger,  Wil- 
liam Barnett,  John  Breeden.  ] 

1877 — William  Rice,  presiding;   William  Barnett,  A.  F.  Wycoff,  T.    j 
M.  Cover,  John  Breeden.  | 

REDUCED   TO   THREE.    • 

I 

1877 — Thomas  Henly,  presiding;  Ashael  Hiath,  William  Rice.  , 

1878 — R.  R.  Moore,  John  T.  Tandy,  Thomas  J.  Younger,  presiding,      j 
1879 — R-  R-  Mopre,  presiding;  J.  W.  Robinson,  J.  T.  Tandy. 
1880— R.  R.  Mo'ore,  Phillip  VanAllen,  Jasper  Grimes. 
1882— J.  C.  Phillips,  E.  L.  Harper,  Mayfield  Hoshaw. 

DEATH   OF   CALVIN   WALDO. 

The  death  of  Judge  Calvin   Waldo,   occurred   February    17,    1858, 
while  presiding  justice  of  the  St.  Clair  County  Court,  which  position  he    ] 
had  held  some  eight  years.     His  death  was  mourned  by  a  large  circle  of    j 
friends  and  relatives.     He  was  a   prominent  and  at  the  same  time  was    I 
one  of  the  oldest  and  most  honored  citizens  of  the  county. 

The  county  court  met  after  his  death,   March  10,  passed  the  follow-    ; 
ing  resolutions  and  adjourned  court  : 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   CLAIR   COUNTY.  94I 

Whereas,  Since  the  adjournment  of  the  February  term  of  this 
court,  in  the  dispensation  of  his  Providence,  it  has  pleased  our  All  Wise 
Creator  to  remove  from  us  Judge  Calvin  Waldo,  the  worthy  presiding 
justice  of  this  court,  who  died  at  his  residence  on  the  17th  of  February, 
1858,  therefore 

Resolved,  That  we  feel  the  afflictive  hand  thus  laid  upon  us,  doubt- 
less for  our  good,  and  endeavor  humbly  to  submit  to  His  divine  will,  and 
that  we  feel  admonished  that  we  too,  with  the  rapidity  of  time,  are  pass- 
ing away. 

Resolved,  That  we  tender  to  the  widow,  family  and  relatives  of  the 
deceased  the  tenderest  sympathies  of  our  nature. 

Resolved,  That  the  foregoing  preamble  and  resolutions  be  entered 
upon  the  records  of  this  court,  and  that  a  copy  of  the  same  be  furnished 
the  widow  and  family  of  the  deceased. 

RESOLUTIONS   OF    REGARD. 

At  the  April  term  of  the  county  court,  1877,  Asahel  Heath,  who 
had  been  presiding  justice  of  the  county  court  for  four  years,  retired, 
and  William  Price  took  his  place.  But  his  co-laborers  could  not  let  him 
retire  without  an  expression  of  regard  for  one  who  had  so  ably  and 
so  impartially  presided  over  their  deliberations.  The  court  made  the 
following  preamble  and  resolutions  a  matter  of  record,  and  they  read: 

JUDGE   ASAHEL    HEATH. 

Whereas,  It  has  come  to  pass  in  the  revolution  of  human  events 
that  we  are  about  to  sever  our  official  connection  with  Asahel  Heath,  the 
presiding  justice  of  the  county  court,  and 

Whereas,  During  the  four  years  that  he  has  presided  over  us, 
questions  of  grave  moment  have  arisen,  and  a  very  critical  period  in  the 
history  of  the  county  court  has  passed;  and 

Whereas,  It  is  meet  and  htting  that  in  parting  officially  with  one 
in  whom  we  have  been  so  pleasantly  associated,  as  well  during  times 
that  tried  men's  nerves  as  during  the  smoother  and  more  even  course  of 
official  duty;  therefore,  be  it  •* 

Resolved,  That  the  members  of  the  court  sincerely  regret  the  sever- 
ance of  official  connection  which  is  about  to  take  place  between  them- 
selves and  Judge  Heath. 

Resolved,  That  in  his  fearless  and  faithful  performance  of  difficult 
duties  during  a  critical  period  in  the  history  of  St.  Clair  County,  he  has 
deserved  the  just  praise  of  all  true  citizens. 

Resolved,  That  we  desire  here  to  express  our  admiration  of  that 
strict  impartiality,  strong  common  sense  and  unswerving  integrity 
which  has  always  governed  him  in  the  performance  of  the  duties  of  his 
position. 

Resolved,  That  in  Judge  Heath  the  people  have  always  found  a 
willing  and  faithful  servant,  and  that  in  his  retirement  from  the  bench 
he  takes  \\\\.\\  him  to  the  peace  and  quiet  of  domestic  life,  the  deep 
regret  of  his  associates  and  the   universal   esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens. 


942  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

Resolved,  That  these  resolutions  be  spread  upon  the  record  of  the 
court,  and  that  a  certified  copy  of  them  be  presented  to  Judge  Heath 
by  the  Clerk. 

(Signed)  JOHN  BREEDEN, 

A.  F.  WYCOFF, 
L.  M.  COVER, 
WILLIAM  BARNETT, 
Associate  Justices  of  St.  Clair  County  Court. 

JAMES  H.  LINNEY,  Clerk. 
WILLIAM  M.  COX,  Sheriff 
LAWRENCE  LEWIS,  Treasurer. 
DANIEL  P.   MORGAN,  Deputy  Sheriff. 
L.  B.  CHURCH,  Deputy  Clerk.' 
G.  N.  LILLY,  Deputy  Treasurer. 

COQNTY   SEAT   COMMISSIONERS. 
1841,  Simeon  Poston;    1854,  William  A.  McCIain. 

BRIDGE   COMMISSIONERS. 
1854,  John  T.  McClain;   1859,  Aurelius  B.  Harris. 

SWAMP   LAND   COMMISSIONERS. 

185 1,  Robert  H.  SprouU;   1870,  Albert  G.  Clarke. 

CLAIM   AGENT. 
1864,  John  Dawson. 

SUPERVISORS   OF    REGISTRATION. 

1866,  Jacob  Pugh;   1870,   Lindsay  Barnes. 

ROAD   COMMISSIONERS. 

1867,  C.  C.  Owens;   1870,  Ralph  C.  Bowles. 

COUNTY   CLERKS, 

1841,  Charles  P.  Bullock;  1850,  James  W.  Beck;  1859,  Daniel  P. 
Morgan;  1862,  John  J.  Scott,  appointed;  1862,  John  Dawson,  elected; 
1864,  Lindsay  Barnes;  1866,  William  O.  Mead,  resigned;  1870,  Thomas 
J.  Monroe,  appointed;  1870,  George  M.  Outhwaite,  elected  unexpired 
term;  1870,  James  H.  Linney;  1878,  William  M.  Cox;  1882,  Thomas  D. 
Hicks,  present  incumbent. 

SHERIFF  AND   CO1.LECTORS. 

1841,  John  Smarr,  died  1844;  1844,  John  L.  Trahem;  1846,  Zacha- 
riah  Lilley;   1850,  George  Preston;   1854,  Daniel  P.  Morgan;   1858,  Rob- 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY.  943. 

ert  p.  Cocke;  1863,  Broadus  G.  Roberts,  resigned  November,  1866;  1866, 
Elias  Disney,  removed  May  11,  1868;  1868,  J.  Wade  Gardner,  acting 
sheriff;  1868,  Thomas  B.  Sutherland,  appointed;  1868,  William  William- 
son, elected;  1870,  Samuel  H.  Donovan;  1872,  James  R.  Johnston;  1876, 
William  M.  Cox;  1S7S.  John  P.  Gordon;  18S2,  A.  D.  Jones,  present  incum- 
bent. 

COUNTY   TREASURERS. 

1841,  William  H.  McCullough;  1848,  Waldo  P.  Johnson;  1852,  John 
F.  Weidmeyer;  1862,  John  F.  Mitchell,  resigned;  1864,  John  Dawson;; 
i860,  John  W.  Dooley;  1874,  Lawrence  Lewis;  1878,  Kenerly  B.  Won- 
acott;   1880,  James  K  Wilkinson;   1882,  Ignatius  M.  Woodall. 

COLLECTORS. 

1878,  William  M.  Llewellen;  1882,  John  P.  Gordon. 

COUNTY   ASSESSORS. 

1850,  J.  M.  Barding;  1845,  Abram  Miller;  1858,  district  No.  i,  town- 
ships 39,  38  and  37,  range  24,  Abram  Miller;  district  No.  2,  townships  39,  38 
and  'i)'j,  range  25,  Merrill  G.  Phillips;  district  No.  3,  township  39,  38,  and 
37,  range  26,  John  Burch;  district  No.  4,  townships  39,  38,  and  37,  range 
27,  all  of  township  36  that  lies  in  range  27,  Thomas  F.  Wright;  district 
No.  5,  townships  39,  38  and  37,  range  28.  and  all  of  township  36  that  lies 
in  range  28,  Lafayette  F.  Willingham;  district  No.  6,  all  of  ranges  24,  25, 
and  26,  that  lie  in  township  36  in  St.  Clair  County,  Urich  L.  Sutherland; 
1S59,  district  No.  I,  Thomas  F.  Wright,  district  No.  2,  Marcellus  J.  Har- 
ris; district  No.  3,  John  F.  Metcalf;  district  No.  4,  William  L.  Browning; 
district  No.  5,  William  F.  Beard;  district  No.  6,  William  L.  King. 

BY   THE   COUNTY. 

i860,  Abram  Miller;  1864,  John  Wheeler;  1866,  Hugh  B.  Cole;  1867, 
S.  D.  Whitten;  1869,  Jacob  Pugh;  1870,  S-.  D.  Whitten;  1872,  township 
organization  law;  1877,  Thad.  M.  Gardner;  1878,  Daniel  Williams;  1880, 
A.  H.  Butler;  1882,  John  J.  Hawkins. 

CIRCUIT   CLERKS   AND   RECORDERS. 

i860,  James  W.  Beck;  1865,  C.  B.  Starkey;  1866,  William  D.  Gra- 
ham. 

CIRCUIT   CLERKS. 

1874 — James  M.  Pugh,  present  incumbent.. 


944  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

RECORDERS. 

1874,  Daniel  P.  Morgan;  1878,  W.  U.  Townsend;  1882,  Daniel  P. 
Morgan. 

JUDGES   OF   PROBATE. 

1867,  William  A.  Mitchell;  1870,  G.  W.  Shields;  1872,  T.  Johnson 
and  Charles  H.  Sweeney;  1874,  Alex  Walker,  died  in  effice;  1876,  John 
P.  Love,  present  incumbent. 

PUBLIC   ADMINISTRATORS. 

1865,  Henry  Denny;  1870,  J.  L.  Ross;  1874,  Thomas  Tucker;  1876, 
John  T.  Harper. 

COUNTY   SURVEYORS. 

1841,  R.  Sanders  Nance,  to  1862;  1866,  John  J.  Scott;  1868,  I.  N. 
Graham;   1872,  Ralph  C.  Bowles,  present  incumbent. 

SCHOOL   COMMISSIONERS. 

1851,  E.  C.  Davis;  1853,  William  F.  Carter;  i860,  Cortes  Tincher; 
1864,  Lindsay  Barnes;  1866,  William  O.  Mead;  1867,  John  W.  Coen, 
1870,  —  Hill;  1872,  William  Rice;  1876,  W.  W.  Warren,  resigned  Jan- 
uary, 1879;   1879,  F-  H.  Miller;   i88r,  John  S.  Smith. 

COUNTY   LAND   COMMISSIONERS. 

1859,  Samuel  P.  Hedges;  1865,  William  C.  Reader,  resigned;  1866, 
Samuel  C.  Chumbly;  1867,  Thomas  J.  Monroe,  resigned;  1869,  E.  T. 
Daniel;  1873,  Frank  C.  Nesbit;  1876,  Thomas  M.  Johnson;  1877,  Frank 
P.  Hosteller;   1880,  Eli  W.  Cooley;   1883,  W.  W.  Stiaffner. 

CORONERS. 

1856,  Columbus  Kahn;  1865,  A.  G.  Clarke;  1866,  J.  Wade  Gardner; 
1870,  William  B.  Sharpe;  1872,  David  McDowell;  1874,  J.  V.  Miller; 
1876,  A.  C.  Davidson;  1878,  A.  C.  Marquis;  1880,  A.  C.  Davidson,  pres- 
ent incumbent. 

COUNTY    PHYSICIANS. 

1868,  A.  C.  Marquis;  1869,  B.  L.  Dozier;  1870,  B.  F.  Stevens;  1874, 
B.  L.  Dozier;  1875,  Hamilton  Kibbie;  1876,  J.  Wade  Gardner;  1877,  N. 
P.Wright;  1878,  Cally  Hamblin;  1879,  T.  H.  Wright;  1881,  Cally  Hamb- 
lin,  present  incumbent. 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   CLAIR    COUNTY.  945 

MANAGERS   POOR   FARM. 

1871,  William  P.  Welsh;  1873,  Jacob  Longan;  1878,  R.  W.  Perren; 
1879,  Daniel  P.  Morgan;  1880,  Frank  Hannah;  1881,  A.  Canady;  1882, 
W.  J.  Perrin. 

REPRESENTATIVES. 

1842,  Nathaniel  Bell;  1844,  Hugh  Barnett;  1846,  Waldo  P.  Johnson 
1848,  John  T.  Crenshaw;  1850,  Alex  McClain;  1856,  George  Preston 
1858,  Dr.  P.  M.  Cox;  i860,  Dr.  William  Trollinger;  1862,  B.  F.  Cook 
1864,  George  Preston;  1866,  John  Whittaker;  1868,  John  L.  Vickers 
1870,  C.  A.  Schooley;  1872,  John  C.  Furguson;  1874,  John  T.  Metcalf: 
1876,  Frank  C.  Nesbit;  1878,  T.  Jeff  Younger;  1880,  John  W.  Wright 
1882,  M.  B.  Strickland,  present  incumbent. 

COUNTY   ATTORNEYS. 

1866,  Shield  Brothers;  1868,  G.  W.  Shield;  1869,  Albert  G.  Clarke; 
1870,  John  C.  Ferguson;  1872,  James  A.Ramsey,  resigned;  1872,  Frank 
C.  Nesbit;  1873,  T.  H.  Wells;  1875,  T.  M.  Johnson;  1877,  J.  W.  Silsby; 
1879,  J-  B.  Jennings;  1880.  William  P.  Sheldon;  1882,  Albert  E.  Ross, 
present  incumbent. 

CIRCUIT  JUDGES. 

1841,  Foster  P.  Wright;  185 1,  Waldo  P.  Johnson;  1854,  Dewitt  C. 
Ballou;  1858,  Foster  P.  Wright;  1865,  Burr  H.  Emerson;  1868,  David 
McGaughay,  resigned  1872;  1872,  John  D.  Parkinson,  unexpired  term; 
1874,  John  D.  Parkinson;   1880,  Charles  G.  Burton,  present  incumbent. 

TWENTY-FIFTH   JUDICIAL   CIRCUIT. 

St.  Clair,  Vernon,  Barton,  Cedar  and  Dade  Counties,  1883. 

CIRCUIT   ATTORNEYS. 

1841,  George  Dixon;  i84"4,  Thomas  Ruffin;  1848,  Waldo  P.  John- 
son; 185 1,  Burr  H.  Emerson;  1858,  Thomas  W.  Freeman;  1865,  David 
P.  Shields;  1867,  Samuel  S.  Burdett;  1868,  William  S.  Shirk;  1869, 
William  N.  Pickerill;   1872,  Charles  G.  Burton.     Office  vacated. 

POLITICAL — VOTE. 

St.  Clair  County  was,  before  the  war,  a  little  more  inclined  to  Dem- 
ocracy than  what  at  that  day  was  called  the  Whig  party.  It  was  not 
until  the  war  that  a  change  took  place,  and  from  i860  to  1870,  the 
Republican  party  held  power.     The  election  that  year   made   a   change, 


946  HISTORY    O]"   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY 

or  partly  so,  and  the  Democrats  came  into  power.  The  vote  of  1870  ia 
given  so  that  it  can  be  compared  with  later  years,  and  the  political 
status  of  the  county  known  for  comparison  with  future  elections. 
Before  the  war,  while  sometimes  political  feelings  ran  high,  there  was 
no  ill  will  engendered,  except  for  the  moment,  and  sectional  strife  was 
unknown.  Of  later  years  too  much  of  this  feeling  has  been  carried  into 
politics  and  a  bad  spirit  excited,  which  has  done  much  local  harm,  as 
well  as  in  a  general  way  to  imperil  the  spirit  of  unity  among  the  sister- 
hood of  states.  The  gospel  of  hate  is  dying  out,  and  those  who  would 
carry  it  into  social  or  political  life  are  rapidly  crossing  the  "  dark  rirer," 
and  it  is  well.  A  union  of  hearts  and  a  union  of  hands,  which  none  can 
sever,  must  be  the  future  of  the  states. 

THE   VOTE   OF   NOVEMBER   8,    187O. 

Representative — 

Graham 490 

Schooley 62 1 

Sheriff— 

Rothgeb 460 

Donovan 65 1 

Circuit  Clerk — 

Graham 555 

Pugh 527 

County  Clerk — 

Johnston 478 

Linney 625 

County  Justice — 

Vestal 469 

Henley 636 

Treasurer — 

McNeil 484 

Dooley 609 

Public  Administrator — 

Vaughan 486 

Ross 581 

Assessor — 

Foote 466 

Whitten 634 

Coroner — 

Clark 494 

Sharp 598 

Superintendent  of  Schools — 

Barber 455 

Hill 628 

Superintendent  Registration — 

Thomas 506 

Barnes 542 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY,  947 

NOVEMBER   3,    1 874. 

For  Judge  Twenty-fifth  Judicial  Circuit — 

John   D.  Parkinson* 1 541 

For  Representative — 

Thomas  J.  Younger* 802 

John  T.  Metcalf 878 

For  Treasurer  and  Collector — 

Dr.  Lawrence  Lewis* .  .    863 

R.  R.  Moore 85s 

For  Clerk  of  County  Court — 

John  R.  Hopkins* 736 

James  H.  Linney 883 

For  Prosecuting  Attorney — 

Thomas  M.  Johnson* 842 

R.  S.  Emmons ,    822 

For  Clerk  of  Circuit  Court — 

John  R.  Jenkins* 711 

James  M.  Pugh 970 

For  Recorder  of  Deeds — 

Daniel  P.  Morgan* 941 

W.  W.  Warren 742 

For  Probate  Judge — 

William  M.  Cox* 797 

Alex.  Walker 904 

For  Sheriff — 

James  R.  Johnston* * 926 

James  A.  Sisler 77 1 

For  Public  Administrator — 

John  T.  Harper* : 848 

Thomas  Tucker 851 

For  Coroner — 

Dr.  N.  P.  Wright* 841 

J.  V.  Miller  . 845 

For  Constitutional  Amendment — 

Yes 1319 

No 36 

For  Convention — 

Yes 588 

No 706 

1876. 

Legislature — 

Frank  C.  Nesbit* 1,227 

Emerson  Barber 868 

Treasurer  and  Collector — 

Lawrence  Lewis* 1,184 

L.  L.  H.  Cherrington 913 

Sheriff- 
William  M.  Cox* 1,1 19 

Perry  C.  Hoshaw 95^ 

*Dem'jcrats. 


948  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

Prosecuting  Attorney — 

James  W.  Silsby* i,i34 

David  P.  Shield 93^ 

Judge  of  Probate — 

John  P.  Love* i,i49 

Edwin  Mason 929 

Public  Administrator — 

John  T.  Harper* 1,158 

W.  V.  Bridges 950 

Surveyor — 

Ralph  C.  Bowles* ...    i  ,096 

Coroner — 

A.  C.  Davidson*    2,048 

These  tables  give  the  political  complexion  of  the  county.  The  democ- 
racy seemed  to  have  gradually  gained  ground  for  the  preceding  six  years. 
This  did  not  hold    good,  however,  two  years   after,  when  the  Greenback 
party  came  to  the  front  and  elected  their   men.     This   party  was  some- 
thing of  the  nature  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  had  high  aims  and  an 
honest  purpose,  but  it  fell  before  the  blighting  influence  of  demagogues   : 
and   political    adventurers,  who,  with   adamantine   cheek  and  desperate  1 
resolves,  determined  to  rule  or  ruin  the  party.   "  They  had  been  in  a  num- 
ber of  cases,  in  party  parlance,  "  kicked  out  of  th'e  ranks,"  and  they  sought    I 
other  fields  for  power  and  pelf  They  succeeded,  and  with  a  few  "  imprac-    j 
ticables,"  became  the  leaders  of  the  new  party,  and  it  insured  the  down- 
fall of  a  splendid  organization,  with  "  people's  rights  "  as  their  platform. 
It    should   never,   that   is  "  hardly   ever,"  have  sought   an  extended  or 
national  issue.     County  organization  and  state  ought  to  have  satisfied 
it,  while  it  was  in  its  infancy  and  cutting  its  teeth,  but  in  grasping  after 
the  infinite  it  lost  its  state  and  local  power,  which  alone  could  result  in   , 
benefit  to  the  people.     It   is  a  heavy  contract  to  overpower  the  policy  ,j 
and  strength  of  a  party  in  a  nation,  but  county  organizations  kept  up  for  j 
a  few  years,  would  have  been  strong  enough  to  demand  state  reform,  and  ^ 
could  have  won.     To-day  the  true  principles  of  the  Greenback  party  are 
right,  as  they  were  eight  years  ago,  but  they  want  like  the  Grange,  to  ■ 
dissolve  their  national  and  even  state  organizations,  and  return  to  county 
affairs,  taking  men  for  their  honesty,  ability  and  business  capacity,  elect-  4 
ing  them,  and    letting   party,  and  "Oh,  he's  a  good   fellow,"  be  sat  down 
upon.  I 

Brains,  energy  and  enterprise  to  the  front,  voters  of  St.  Clair,  and  \ 
let  that  alone  become  the  battle  cry  of  your  party.  Progress  will  then  1 
find  an  abiding  place  within  your  border,  and  material  prosperity  will  , 
be  found  in  every  household.  That  should  be  the  spirit  of  Democracy 
as  against  centralization,  and  the  Greenback  party  might  well  join  the  ' 
throng.     The  year  1878  brought  the  Greenbackers,  as  above  remarked,  ' 

*Dciii  ,-cials.  , 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  949 

to  the  front,  and  the  following   is  the  county  vote,  of  the  three   parties 
in  the  election  of  that  year: 

GREENBACK   TICKET. 

1.  R.  R.  Moore 1218 

2.  James    M.  Pugh 1 188 

3.  T.  J.  Younger 1 143 

4.  William  Lewellan 1098 

5.  Daniel  Williams 1085 

6.  A.  C.  Marquis 108 1 

7.  A.  L.  Gilstrap 1073 

8.  William  M.  Cox 1070 

9.  A.  W.  St.  John 1070 

10.  F.  H.  Richards 1067 

11.  M.  H.  Ritchey 1061 

12.  K.  B.  Wannacott 1057 

13.  J.  P.  Gordon 1046 

DEMOCRATIC   TICKET. 

Mr.  D.  A.  Armond  led  this  ticket  with  a  majority  vote  of 941 

J.  M.  Woodall 881 

D.  P  Morgan 819 

J.  R.  Johnston 811 

A.  C.  Davidson 782 

W.  E.  Shelton  . • 773 

R.  D.  Shannon 756 

J.  R.  WaddiU    696 

E.  H.  Norton 692 

J.  E.  McHenry 688 

A.  M.  Sevier 678 

William  Griffeth 6^7 

R.  H.  Sproul 672 


REPUBLICAN   TICKET, 


1.  James  H.  Linney -. 763 

2.  A.  F.  Wyckoff 759 

3.  W.  P.  Sheldon 714 

4.  W.  C.  Holsapple 67 1 

5.  Joseph  M.  Baker •  639 

6.  Roderic  Baldwin 638 

7.  Frank  Kimsey 632 

8.  C.  G.  Burton 628 

9.  E.  F.  Denney    627 

10.  John  P   Tracy .  .      61Q 

11.  Thomas   Anderson 618 

12.  John   E.  Abbe 607 

13.  Daniel  Gilson 605 

Total  vote  in  St.  Clair  County  for  constitutional  amendment 14 

Against 2265 


950  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

TOTAL   VOTE   POLLED   IN   EACH   TOWNSHIP. 

Appleton 467 

Butler 201 

Chalk  Level 1 36 

Collins 126 

Dallas 95 

Doyal 146 

Jackson   103 

Monegaw 336 

Osceola 226 

Pclk 109 

Roscoe 210 

Speedwell 188 

Taber 178 

Washington 67 

Total  polled ; 2408 

SENATORIAL. 

Henry  and  St.  Clair  Counties  in  early  days  belonged  to  the  same 
state  senatorial  district.  The  first  district  formed  after  St.  Clair  was 
organized  was  in  1845,  when  it  was  changed,  or  other  counties  added  to 
it.  The  district  in  1845  was  formed  of  Bates,  Henry,  St.  Clair,  Cedar 
and  Dade.  In  1855,  this  district  was  changed  and  called  the  Twenty- 
third  Senatorial  District,  and  the  counties  of  Benton,  Pettis,  Henry,  St. 
Clair  and  Hickory  composed  it.  It  was  connected  with  Henry  up  to 
1876,  its  last  senator  being  LaDue,  who  ran  against  Blodgett,  with  the 
following  result: 

LaDue.  Blodgett. 

Benton 818  934 

Johnson 2,565  2,349 

St.  Clair i .  1 74  i .047 

Henry,  majority 461 


Total 5,018  4,330 

LaDue's  majority,  688. 

It  was  then  known  as  the  Fifteenth  Senatorial  District.  After  the 
new  constitution  was  accepted  it  became  the  Twentieth  Senatorial  Dis- 
trict, and  formed  by  uniting  the  counties  of  Polk,  Hickory,  St.  Clair,  Dal- 
las, Dade  and  Cedar. 

The  broken  term  or  two  years,  from  1876  to  1878,  was  represented 
by  W.  Q.  Paxson,  succeeded  by  the  Hon.  D.  A.  Armond  of  Dade 
County  in  1878.  The  nomination  of  1882  was  given  to  E.  P.  Baldwin,  of 
Hickory  County,  who  was  elected  and  will  hold  until  1886. 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  95 1 

THE   ELECTION   OF    1882, 

in  detail,  is  given  below,  showing  the  vote  of  the  three  contending 
parties,  Democrat,  Greenback  and  Republican,  in  order  of  their  relative 
strength.  The  county  is  now  believed  to  be  reliably  Democratic  in  its 
political  outlook. 

The  first  named   are   Democrats,  the   second  Greenback   and   the 
third  Republican.     The  result: 

Congress — 

Morgan 987 

Spring 849 

Terrill 746 

Collector — 

Cocke 1 ,076 

Gordon i ,  1 30 

Denney 556 

County  clerk — 

Hicks 1,103 

Younger i  .03 1 

Reese 611 

Treasurer — 

Woodall 1,052 

Yoast 895 

Metzer 826 

Assessor — 

Hawkins 1,022 

Williams 986 

Butler .     764 

Attorneys — 

Ross 1,078 

Warden 954 

Sheldon 720 

Representatives — 

Strickland 917 

Falcon 854 

Grantley 799 

Sheriff- 
Jones  1 138 

Hill 891 

Wright    736 

Probate  Judge — 

Love 1029 

Tandy 967 

Hodkins 753 

Circuit  Clerk — 

Evans 1012 

Pugh 1 1 17 

Pyatt 246 

Coroner — 

Davidson 1058 


952 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   CLAIR   COUNTY. 


Coroner — 

Marquis 942 

McNeill 771 

Recorder — 

Morgan 1083 

Dade   878 

Daniels 795 

Presiding  Judge — 

Phillips   1 135 

Grimes 977 

Hillegas 547 

First  District — 

Harper 1 543 

Pvatt 322 

Houk 532 

Second  District —  m^^M 

Blalock  '377 

Hoshaw 1 502 

Wingfield 347 


CHAPTER   Xlll. 

ODDS  AND  ENDS. 

THE  GOLD  FEVER— CAPTAIN  WALDO'S  COMPANY— WHAT  BECAME  OF  THEM— PATRONS 
OF  HUSBANDRY-RISE  AND  DECLINE— NUMBER  OF  GRANGES— A  FEW  REMARKS  — 
THE  MILLING  INTEREST— MILLS,  WHEN  AND  WHERE  BUILT-SOME  SUGGESTIONS— 
THE  GRASSHOPPER-THE  LOSS  AND  THE  RELIEF— ROSCOE  EXPRESSES  THANKS- 
FIRST   DEED  OF  R ECO !iD -SWAMP  LANDS— POPULATION 

THE   GOLD   FEVER. 

St.  Clair  County  did  not  escape  the  excitement  which  rolled  over 
the  country  like  a  huge  wave,  carrying  all  before  it,  in  the  year  1849. 
The  discovery  of  gold  in  California  seemed  fairly  to  electrify  the  nation, 
and  the  people  swarmed  every  outlet  that  led  to  the  Western  Eldorado, 
By  sea.  around  the  Horn,  or  across  the  Isthmus,  or  the  arid  plains,  on 
foot  even,  on  horseback  and  in  wagons,  cattle,  horses  and  mules  for 
transportation, — it  was  the  wildest  and  most  impetuous  hegira  of  mod- 
ern times.  It  was  not  exactly  a  "  craze,"  but  it  was  a  consuming  fever 
which,  when  once  struck  in,  was  impossible  to  cure  except  by  going  to 
the  far-off  land.  It  did  not  take  long  for  the  states  to  pour  a  hundred 
thousand  able-bodied  men  into  the  gold  fields  of  California,  besides 
leaving  the  bones  of  a  few  thousand  more  to  mark  the  route  for  those 
behind,  to  bleach  and  rot  upon  the  plains  and  desert  places,  which  were 
found  far  too  numerous  in  their  pathway. 

The  fever  took  a  virulent  hold  of  a  good  many  citizens  of  St.  Clair 
County.  As  it  spread  it  took  a  business  shape  and  a  company  arrange- 
ment was  effected  whereby  they  could,  in  modern  parlance,  "  pool  their 
issues  "  for  a  trip  to  the  Pacific  coast.  This  was  effected  and  William 
Waldo  was  elected  captain  of  the  company,  and  Ervin  Thomas  in  charge 
of  transportation.  Under  this  arrangement  a  company  of  nearly  fifty 
men  was  formed,  the  names  of  forty-two  being  here  appended. 

FOR   THE   LAND   OF   GOLD. 

List  of  those  who  crossed  the  plains  in  1849: 

Captain  William  Waldo,  Steve  Hodgin, 

Robert  Foster,  William  Hodgin, 

Thomas  Elkins,  John  Reed, 


954 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 


Stephen  Elkins, 
George  Weir, 
Jonathan  Culbertson, 
James  Curry, 
William  Curry, 
James  Culbertson, 
William  Marlow, 
James  McMinn, 
John  Abb, 
Oliver  Culbertson, 
John  Wamsley, 
Harrison  Dent, 
Henry  Dent, 
Albert  Gardner, 
Jeff  Gardner, 
William  Smarr, 


Henry  Roberts, 
Simpson  Morgan, 
Russell  Keller, 
John  Wright, 
Richard  Fuell, 
Mayfield  Hoshaw, 
John  Robinson,. 
George  Robinson, 
Wash  Robinson, 
Tigner  Bailey, 
John  Johnston, 
Joseph  Burke, 
Alec  Ray, 
Ervin  Thomas, 


William  Rice, 

John  Waldo,  wife  &  Nathan  (colored) 

with  twenty-four  wagons  and  two  hundred  head  of  stock,  cattle,  mules 
and  horses. 

The  train  crossed  the  Osage  at  Osceola,  April  24,  1849,  reaching  the 
diggings  in  five  months  and  seventeen  days.  One  man,  John  Reed, 
died  on  the  head  waters  of  the  Humboldt  River,  and  John  Waldo,  John 
Wamsley  and  Alec  Ray  died  shortly  after  reaching  California. 

There  were  a  few  persons  who  left  St.  Clair  County  for  California 
on  their  own  hook,  as  it  were,  going  alone  to  take  their  chances  in  the 
struggle  for  wealth,  but  the  names  above  are  all  that  could  be  remem- 
bered. The  company  under  Waldo  reached  as  high  as  sixty  wagons 
before  they  reached  California,  by  others  joining  them,  and  they  got 
through  with  no  serious  trouble,  yet  suffered  much  from  the  fatigue  of 
the  trip.  Some  returned,  others  made  California  their  home,  but  it  is 
doubtful  if  the  wealth  taken  out  of  the  county  to  pay  the  expenses  of 
the  trip  and  the  outfit  was  ever  returned. 

California  soon  became  a  state  from  the  flood  of  immigration  which 
so  suddenly  overwhelmed  her,  and  in  the  language  of  "lodge"  resolu- 
tions, what  was  our  loss  was  her  gain.  So  another  state  was  added  and 
another  star  placed  upon  the  banner  of  the  free,  and  with  this  accom- 
plished let  us  be  content.  The  trials  and  sufferings  are  passed,  and 
past,  let  them  be  forgotten,  remembering  only  the  good  and  the  grand 
achievement  in  the  building  up  of  a  powerful  state. 


PATRONS   OF   HUSBANDRY. 


This  order  flourished  here  in  St.  Clair  County  as  it  did  in  all  other 
parts  of  the  country  from  1873  to  1875.  It  then  commenced  to  droop, 
and  at  this  date,  1883,  it  is  virtually  at  an  end  so  far  as  any  outside  influ- 


HISTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  955 

€nce  is  concerned.  The  order  is  still  in  existence.  It  has  its  national 
and  state  organization,  but  locally  it  is  done,  and  yet  it  was  the  county 
organization  which  gave  it  power,  and  which  caused  monopolists  to 
tremble,  railway  kings  to  bow  in  submision  to  their  will,  and  the  only 
instance  in  the  years  of  practiced  arrogance  and  haughty  power,  which 
they  had  exercised,  they  ever  admitted  any  other  power  master.  But 
they  tumbled  before  the  banded  yeomanry  of  the  land,  and  their  knees 
shook  with  apprehension  when  Grangers  demanded  their  rights. 

The  granges  in  this  county  reached  the  number  of  sixteen  up  to 
September,  1873,  and  their  names,  all  but  two,  were  Bear  Creek,  Menoa. 
Concord,  Monegaw,  Fidelity,  Pomona,  Liberty,  Pleasant  View,  Morning 
Star,  Rosebud,  Magnolia,  Weaubleau,  Mt.  Carmel,  Union. 

There  may  have  been  others,  but  no  record  of  them  was  given  us. 
They  established  a  county  council  in  1877,  and  for  a  few  years  ruled  in 
politics. 

ITS   DECADENCE. 

It  has  still  an  organization  in  the  county,  and  some  few  are  still 
active,  but  the  tremendous  power  wielded  from  1873  to  1876  is  gone, 
and  to  the  monopolists  and  railway  magnates  it  is  only  remembered  as 
a  frightful  visage,  the  terrible  fabric  of  a  dream.  The  Patrons  of  Hus- 
bandry wielded  a  great  power  for  good,  and  it  is  somewhat  strange  that 
this  power  so  quickly  passed  away.  Men  got  in  the  lead  who  could  not 
grasp  the  great  incentive  that  moved  the  people  to  action,  and  weak  in 
intellect,  the  power  which  was  placed  in  their  hands  was  allowed  to  slip 
away.  These  men  have  still  managed  to  remain  as  its  almoners,  though 
powerless  in  ability  to  distribute  among  the  Grangers  of  the  country  the 
gift  of  independence  from  the  thraldom  of  monopolies,  yet  pensioners 
•upon  the  bounty  of  the  agricultural  world,  held  in  bondage  by  consoli- 
dated power  and  immense  financial  resources  of  their  enslavers.  If  the 
power  of  1875  is  ever  again  wielded  by  the  farmers  and  working  men  of 
the  country,  they  must  remove  from  place  every  man  connected  with 
the  State  and  National  Granges.  Organize  by  counties,  and  instead  of 
passing  over  that  power  in  the  hands  of  a  select  few,  wield  it  at  home — in 
every  county  of  the  state — then  when  the  power  of  this  local  organization 
is  gathered  together  it  will  be  found  that  it  is  as  of  other  years,  irresistible. 

There  would  be  no  harm  in  a  state  convention  of  representative 
men  to  compare  notes,  but  do  not  delegate  your  power  to  a  central  few, 
who  will  wield  it  honestly  perhaps,  but  if  lacking  in  intellect  or  in  nerve, 
may  control  that  power,  as  before,  to  your  ruin.  There  are  not  over  a 
half  dozen  counties  in  the  state  that  the  farmers  cannot  control  if  they 
will,  and  to-day  their  enslavement  is  the  result  of  their  own  want  of 
■energy  and  the  delegation  of  their  power  to  others,  at  the  dictate  of 
part}'  leaders  or  whippers-in,  instead  of  wielding  it  themselves. 


956  HISTORY   OF    ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY. 

The  principles  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry  are  right,  but  a  hundred 
thousand  dollar  building,  erected  at  the  expense  of  the  farmers,  for  a 
few  so-called  heads  of  the  order  to  rest  in  luxurious  ease,  was  about  as 
lamentable  a  piece  of  folly  as  could  be  conceived  on  the  part  of  the 
farmers,  but  a  splendid  financial  trick  and  scheme  for  those  who  live  in 
this  costly  building,  and  are  living  at  the  expense  of  many  a  farmer  who 
has  but  a  cabin  to  cover  him.  Shut  down  on  your  National  Grange,, 
farmers  of  St.  Clair,  and  look  to  your  local  interests. 

GRIST   AND   SAW   MILLS. 

Among  the  first  things  the  old  pioneer  found  to  be  a  great  necessity 
was  a  mill.  Among  all  their  trials,  "going  to  mill"  was  the  equal  of 
any,  if  not  the  greatest.  Going  from  forty  to  sixty  miles,  a  bag  of  corn 
across  the  horse's  back,  and  compelled  to  walk  and  lead  it,  was  some- 
thing they  dreaded,  and  which  they  contrived  several  ways  to  avoid. 
First  was  the  hole  burned  in  the  end  of  a  log,  and  with  the  iron  wedge 
used  to  split  logs  and  rails,  fastened  on  to  a  handle,  was  the  pestle  and 
mortar  used  in  those  days.  Then  came  the  hand  mill  fastened  up  to  a 
tree,  and  that  was  a  decided  improvement  over  pestle  and  mortar.  Then- 
came  the  horse  mill,  or  the  band  mill,  as  some  would  call,  and  that 
seemed  to  be  a  thing  of  perfection  and  a  joy  to  those  who  had  prac- 
ticed a  year  or  two  on  the  two  first  named. 

But  even  that  was  slow  work.  It  is  said  that  a  sharp  boy  being 
sent  to  mill  and  being  very  tired  of  waiting,  blurted  out  to  the  proprie- 
tor of  one  of  these  mills  that  "he  could  eat  that  corn  ineal  as  fast  as  he 
ground  it."  The  miller  looked  up  and  asked  the  fretted  boy  how  long 
he  could  do  it,  and  he  replied,  "until  I  starved."  Undoubtedly  they 
were  slow  to  work  for  fifteen  bushels  was  considered  a  big  day's  work. 
However,  there  was  no  reason  why  the  old  settlers  of  St.  Clair  County 
should  remain  long  practicing  these  primitive  modes,  when  nature  had 
given  it  a  power  that  need  only  to  be  guided  by  the  genius  of  man  to 
furnish  all  with  food.  Hardly  a  county  in  the  state  has  the  grand  water 
power  of  St.  Clair  County.  The  Osage^  and  Sac  Rivers  are  a  veritable 
mine  of  wealth  in  a  manufacturing  point  of  view,  while  other  streams 
like  the  Big  Monegaw,  the  Weaubleau  and  Brush  Creek  can  be  tound, 
capable  of  a  power,  which  if  utilized  to  its  full  capacity,  would  prove  of 
inestimable  value. 

THE    FIRST    MILL. 

The  first  water  mill  was  put  up  in  i84i,onthe  Sac  River,  southwest 
from  Osceola  about  ten  miles.  It  was  krfown  for  miles  around  by  the 
name  of  the  "Ritchie  Mill."  It  was  with  one  exception  the  only  mill 
of  the  kind  in  the  county  for  several  years.  It  had  two  run  of  burrs  and 
did  a  good  business. 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY.  957 

The  next  mill  that  is  remembered  was  put  up  in  1845.  James  Gard- 
ner, one  of  the  first  justices  of  the  peace  in  the  county,  erected  a  mill  on 
Weaubleau  Creek;  in  Polk  Township.  It  was  a  grist  and  saw  mill,  and 
had  an  extensive  patronage,  especially  east  and  south.  The  mill  stood 
for  about  ten  year.';,  when  high  water  carried  it  off.  There  was  another 
mill  put  up  on  the  Weaubleau,  an  account  of  which  will  be  found  further 
along  in  this  article.  There  were  but  three  mills  running  in  the  year 
1861.  From  that  time  to  1867,  very  little  was  added  to  the  milling  prop- 
erty of  the  county.  In  the  latter  year  a  practical  mechanic  and  miller 
by  the  name  of  A.  M.  Fuqua,  settled  in  the  county,  and  gave  his  whole 
time  and  attention  to  the  milling  business,  both  in  the  erecting  and 
management  of  them.  He  had  a  fine  field  to  display  his  ability.  He  was 
the  builder  of  nearly  every  mill  in  the  county  from  that  day  to  this.  He 
is  now  a  prominent  citizen  of  Osceola,  and  the  proprietor  of  one,  and 
joint  proprietor  with  his  son  in  the  two  mills  located  at  the  county  seat. 
The  Wagner  mill  was  built  in  1867,  with  two  run  of  burrs,  and  a  Mr. 
Brown  erected  a  saw  mill  the  same  year  on  the  Osage,  near  where  the 
present  flouring  mills  stand,  or  nearly  directly  in  the  rear  of  the  resi- 
dence of  James  H.  Linney,  but  down  on  the  river.  It  was  taken  down 
and  moved  to  the  Sac  to  saw  the  lumber  for  the  $6,000  bridge  across 
that  historic  stream,  and  from  there  it  started  on  a  trip  to  Vernon 
County,  then  back  to  the  Sac,  and  finally  found  a  resting  place  at  Osce- 
ola, as  the  property  of  Mr.  Fuqua,  A  saw  and  grist  mill  was  put  up  in 
1869,  with  two  run  of  burrs,  which  was  finished  in  the  winter  of  1869-70. 
One  of  these  mills  before  the  war  was  owned  by  James  Tally,  on  the 
Osage,  at  Tally's  Bend. 

Samuel  Martin  put  up  a  mill  on  the  Weaubleau  in  1873  in  the  cor- 
ner of  Doyal  Township,  and  it  was  kept  running  for  four  years.  It  was 
then  sold  and  taken  to  Roscoe  where  it  is  yet  doing  effective  duty. 

The  Taberville  Mill  remained  a  while  at  that  point,  being  the  first 
put  up  there,  but  was  subsequently  removed  to  Appleton  City  and  was 
the  first  mill  in  that  lively  little  city  and  is  yet  part  of  the  extensive 
milling  and  flour  manufacturing  establishment  of  C.  Shoe  &  Son. 

A  grist  and  saw  mill  was  erected  at  what  was  called  "  Looney's 
Springs,"  in  February,  1S78,  which  done  some  excellent  work.  These  are 
the  principal  mills  of  note  in  the  county,  or  that  have  ever  been  erected. 
There  have  been  some  others,  both  saw  and  grist,  but  not  of  much  force. 
To-day  there  is  room  for  manufacturing  establishments,  for  water  power 
is  abundant,  but  until  St.  Clair  yields  a  greater  amount  of  grain  her 
present  milling  interest  will  be  able  to  do  the  work. 

GRASSHOPPERS. 

Grasshopper  year  was  the  year  1875  and  it  is  as  prominent  and  as  well 
remembered  as  the  centennial  year,  1876.     St.  Clair  County  was  not  as 


958  IIISTORV    OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

heavily  afflicted  as  some  but  it  made  havoc  with  the  northern  and  west-  i 
ern  townships,  and  from  Butler  to  Speedwell  they  proved  a  sad  reality  i 
in  the  destruction  of  the  growing  crops.  Committees  of  relief  were  | 
formed  and  aid  asked  for  those  who  were  unable,  from  their  own  i 
resources,  to  meet  the  tide  of  destruction  or  recuperate  from  the  blow.  \ 

The  relief  committee  at  Appleton  City  was  organized  June  lO,  1875, 
with  A.  F.    Wyckoff,  chairman;   A.  Luchsinger,  treasurer;   W.  D.  Clark,  ' 
superintendent   of  distribution;  R.    S.    Emmons,   secretary,  who   kept  a  ' 
correct  record  of  the  proceedings  of  the  committee. 

Thus  the  committee  on  relief  was  systematically  organized  for  busi- 
ness, with  a  knowledge  of   their   responsibilities   and   with   an    eye   to 
prompt  relief  for  the  sufferers.     The  next  move  was  to  appoint  an  active  , 
and    responsible   committeeman   in   each  of  the  suffering   townships,  to  ' 
become  the  connecting  link  between  those  needing  help  and  the  depot  ! 
of  supplies,  which  was  at  Appleton  City.  I 

The  gentleman  so  appointed   was  to  give  the  order  from  his  town- 
ship to  those  who  needed  assistance,  and  his  endorsement  of  the  voucher  j 
was  sufficient.  I 

The  following  gentlemen  were  appointed  in  their  respective  town-  ! 
ships  to  give  the  necessary  vouchers  to  applicants  for  aid  who  are  resi-  ] 
dents  of  said  townships:  Osceola  Township,  Scott  Nesbit;  Monegaw 
Township,  Charles  Nesbit;  Chalk  Level  Township,  L.  S.  Cherington  and  [ 
G.  M.  Gabbert;  Butler  Township,  William  Hook;  Tabor  Township,  John  1 
Hill.  Other  townships  needing  aid  applied  through  their  township  trus-  j 
tees,  except  those  in  Appleton  Township,  who  went  direct  to  the  super-  1 
intendent  of  distribution. 

There  were   three   other   townships    contiguous   to  Appleton    City 
which  received  their  assistance  from  that  point,  and    the  following   per-  1 
sons  were  appointed  to  act  for  the  sufferers  in  those  townships:  Thomas 
S.  Long;  Deepwater  Township,  Henry  County,  William  Earhart;  Deep-  : 
water  Township,  Bates   County,  S.  C.  Sturtevant;    Hudson   Township,  | 
Bates  County,  J.  B.  Wells.  ! 

At  the  time  this  committee  was  formed,  some  supplies  had  come  to  \ 
ha^.  One  car  load,  mostly  corn, had  reached  Appleton  City,  and  more  j 
wa?'telegraphed  as  being  on  the  way.  Of  course,  only  to  those  unable  \ 
to  purchase  were  supplies  furnished  free.  Seed  was  furnished  at  a 
nominal  cost  to  those  able  to  pay.  Potatoes,  white  beans  and  corn  for  j 
seed,  as  well  as  to  eat  were  divided  out.  The  principal  sufferers  were  j 
north  and  west  of  St.  Clair  and  were  relieved  from  the  supply  depot  at  | 
Appleton  City.  j 

Everything  that  a  generous  public  could  do  was  done,  and  those  ' 
living  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  state  were  not  slow  in  contributing  to  1 
the  relief  of  their  sorrowing  neighbors  in  the  western  part. 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  959 

The  labor  and  living  of  a  year  was  gone  within  ten  days,  and  it  was 
not  to  be  wondered  at  that  blank  despair  seized  upon  the  minds  of  many 
which  even  the  relief  offered  seemed  but  a  mocking,  when  viewed  by  a 
mind  dazed  and  a  sorrowing  heart.  But  it  is  past,  and  if  not  forgotten, 
as  it  cannot  be,  yet  it  now  seems  as  but  a  frightful  dream,  once  realized, 
but  now  gone,  may  it  be  hoped,  forever. 

THE  OLDEST  DEED  OF  RECORD. 

This  indenture,  made  and  entered  into  on  the  i6th  day  of  March, 
1839,  between  Henry  W.  Crow  and  Virginia  I.,  his  wife,  Phillip  Crow 
and  Maria  F.,  his  wife,  and  Richard  P.  Crutchfield  and  Matilda  M.,  his 
wife,  of  the  county  of  Rives  and  state  of  Missouri,  of  the  one  part,  and 
Joseph  W.  Cox,  of  the  county  and  state  aforesaid,  of  the  other  part. 
Witnesseth,  that  the  said  H.  W.  Crow  and  Virginia  I.,  his  wife,  P.  Crow 
and  Maria  F.,  his  wife,  and  R.  P.  Crutchfield  and  Matilda  M.,  his  wife, 
for  and  in  consideration  of  the  sum  of  $50,  to  them  in  hand  paid,  the 
receipt  whereof  is  hereby  acknowledged,,  do  hereby  grant,  bargain,  sell,, 
convey  and  confirm  unto  the  said  J.  W.  Cox,  his  heirs  and  assigns  for- 
ever, one  certain  lot  in  the  town  of  Osceola,  county  of  Rives  and  state 
of  Missouri,  known  as  lot  No.  3,  in  block  No.  24,  together  with  all  and 
singular,  the  appurtenances  thereunto  belonging,  or  in  anywise  apper- 
taining, to  have  and  to  hold  the  above  described  premises,  unto  the 
said  J.  W.  Cox,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  forever,  and  we  will  warrant  and' 
defend  the  same  against  the  claim  of  ourselves,  our  heirs  and  assigns, 
and  against  the  claims  of  all  other  persons  whatsoever.  As  witness  our 
hands  and  seals  this  day  and  date  above  written. 

H.  W.  CROW.  [SEAL.] 

P.  CROW.  [SEAL.] 

VIRGINIA  I.  CROW.  [seal.] 

MARIA  F.  CROW.  [seal.] 

R.  P.  CRUTCHFIELD.  [seal.] 

M.  P.  CRUTCHFIELD.  [seal.] 

State  of  Missouri,      ) 

Rives  County,  j"  "  ' 

I,  William  F.  Carter,  an  acting  justice  of  the  peace  for  the  county 
and  state  aforesaid,  do  hereby  certify  that  the  above  named  W.  H.  Crow 
and  Virginia  I.,  his  wife,  P.  Crow  and  Maria  F.,  his  wife,  and  R.  P. 
Crutchfield  and  Matilda  M.,  his  wife,  have  duly  acknowledged  this  deed 
according  to  law.  I  further  certify  that  the  said  H.  W.  Crow  and  Vir- 
ginia I.  are  man  and  wife,  that  P.  Crow  and  Maria  F.  are  man  and  wife,, 
and  that  R.  P.  Crutchfield  and  Matilda  M.  are  man  and  wife.  I  also  cer- 
tify that  I  have  examined  Virginia  I.  Crow,  Maria  F.  Crow  and  Matilda 
M.  Crutchfield  privately  and  apart  from  their  respective  husbands,  and 
they  say  that  they  have  freely  relinquished  all  their  right  and  title  tc 
the  within  mentioned  property,  without  compulsion  or  undue  influenc 
of  their  husbands. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  this  30th  day  of  March,  1839. 

WILLIAM  F.  CARTER.         [seal.] 


\ 

I 

960  history  of  st.  clair  county.  i 

State  of  Missouri, 


County  of  Rives,  f  ^^"  ! 

I,  F.  A.  Pinnell,  recorder,  within  and  for  the  county  aforesaid,  do  ' 
hereby  certify  that  the  foregoing  instrument  of  writing  was  recorded  in  ; 
book  C,  pages  108  and  109.  j 

Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  of  court,  at  office,  this  30th  day  of  i 
October,  A.  D.  184.0.  F.  A.  PINNELL,  Clerk. 

Filed  for  record  October  2,  1844,  and  recorded  January  7,  1845. 

SWAMP    LANDS.  | 

The  swamp  lands  of  St.  Clair  County  were  selected  by  Robert  H.  [ 
SprouU,  and  amounted  to  26,034  50-100  acres,  patented  to  the  county  in 
1855.  The  first  sale  ot  swamp  lands  took  place  at  the  county  seat  in  1 
September,  1855,  and  Daniel  P.  Morgan  made  his  report  to  the  October  | 
term  of  the  court.  It  sold  at  $1.25  per  acre,  and  the  court  at  that  term  | 
ordered  the  sheriff  to  continue  the  sale,  both  public  and  private,  at  the  , 
same  price  per  acre.  On  the  completion  of  that  first  sale  $506.17  was  1 
paid  Mr.  Sproull  for  selecting  the  land.  i 

In  1856  the  lands  were  withdrawn  from  sale  and  advertised  in  the  , 
Independent  for  a  public  sale,  October  i,  1856.  The  sale  came  off  as  did  ] 
several  others  at  a  later  date,  and  these  sales  were  not  reported  until  ' 
1859.     The  largest  sales  during  that  period  were  as  follows: 

John  Sifford,  3,662  98-100  acres,  at  $2.38  7-10  per  acre,  $8,743.11. 

Waldo  P.  Johnson,  4,801    53-100  acres,   at  93   cents  per    acre,    $4,-  ] 

465.41.  , 

Sundry  persons,  1,495  49-100  acres,  at  $2.67  1-7  per  acre,  $3,995.10.  | 

Sundry  persons,  3,783  6-100  acres,  at  75  cents  per  acre,  $2,837.30.       i 

Sundry  persons,  548  68-100  acres,  at  $1.25  per  acre,  $685.85.  I 

Later,  John  McMurtry  bought  2,284  23-100  acres  and  paid  $3,220.92;  | 

Waldo  P.  Johnson,  205  28-100  acres  and  paid  $408.60.  | 

There  were  other  small   sales   added,    which  and   the  total    is   here  ' 

given: 

Amount  patented  to  county,  acres 26,034  50-100  1 

Gross  sales,  acres 21,813  52-100  > 

Acres  remaining 4.220  98-100 

The  loss  to  the  school   fund  of  this   money  loaned   amounted   to  a  ! 

good  many  thousand  dollars  on  account  of  the   war,   and    caused    many 

law  suits  and  much  trouble. 

The  next  sale   of  note   was  to   Gabriel   S.    Masky,   who  purchased  I 

517  63-100  acres. 

GETTING   AT   THE   SITUATION.  ■ 

Nothing  had  been  seriously  done  after  the  war  to  trace  out  the  ' 
unsold  land,  or  iro  into  the   examination  of  the   tracts  which  had  been  ! 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  961 

default,  until  1869,  Then  the  county  court,  which  should  have  sooner 
looked  to  the  interests  of  the  schools  of  the  county,  appointed  Albert 
G.  Clarke  agent.  He  was  to  go  back  to  the  first  sale  and  tract  of  land 
and  purchasers,  see  who  had  paid  and  who  had  defaulted,  and  he  was 
given  full  power  to  unravel  the  matter,  and  when  satisfied  to  advertise 
the  land  belonging  to  the  county,  notify  unpaid  holders  to  come  forward 
and  pay'up,  and  all  who  failed  to  advertise  their  lands  also.  In  the 
meantime,  the  county  court,  November  6,  1869,  appointed  Thomas  B. 
Sutherland  and  R.  H.  SprouU  to  show  the  selected  swamp  lands  of  the 
county  as  a  basis  for  Mr.  Clarke's  work.  They  reported  to  the  court  two 
months  afterward,  or  in  January,  1870,  and  reported  also  their  account 
of  $564  for  the  two  months'  work,  which  was  paid. 

Mr.  Clarke  was  ready  by  fall,  and  he  advertised  a  sale  September 
21,  and  another  November  10,  1870.     The  September  sale  amounted  to: 

3,433  49-100  acres  and  brought $14,395  25 

The  November  sale  501  4-100  acres  and  brought 1,267  50 

Total  sale $ 1 5,662  75 

For  the  remaining  land  there  were  no  bidders. 

The  county  yet  owns  sixteen  sections  of  swamp  lands,  which  will 
probably  be  of  great  value  in  a  few  years,  and  with  the  forfeited  land, 
the  school  fund  will  not  be  a  loser  to  exceed  $5,000  by  the  losses  of  the 
war.  There  is  probably  not  a  county  in  the  state  that  sold  its  swamp 
lands  for  the  prices  reached  by  St.  Clair,  or  lost  less  outside  the  losses 
of  the  war. 

POPULATION   OF   ST.  CLAIR   COUNTY. 

The  county  of  St.  Clair  having  been  organized  in  1841,  the  first 
enumeration  was  the  census  of  1850.  St.  Clair,  however,  was  settled  in 
1833,  but  being  a  part  of  and  attached  to  Rives  (now  Henry)  County, 
until  1841,  her  population  in  1840  can  only  be  approximately  given,  but 
will  be  found  to  have  been,  in  round  numbers,  about  2,300.  Therefore, 
the  population  is  here  given  by  decade,  up  to  and  including  i860,  for  the 
county  in  the  aggregate. 

White.     Col'd.     Total. 

Population  of  1840 2,200 

Pupulation  of  1850 3,107         449         3,556 

Population  of  i860 6,229         5^3         6,812 

CENSUS   OF    1870. 

The  census  of  1870  is  here  given  by  townships,  as  previous  to  this 
changes  in  the  municipal  divisions  and  in  boundaries  have  been  so  great 
as  to  preclude  the  giving  of  correct  figures  for  these  divisions.  The 
townships,  with  the  white  and  colored  population,  is  as  follows: 

61 


962  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

White.  Col'd.  Total.^ 

Butler  Township 640  6  646I 

Chalk  Level  Township 840  11  85 1| 

Jackson  Township 410  I  41 1| 

Monejraw  Township 1,433  i  i,434' 

Osceola  Township 882  y^  957J 

Polk  Township      316  31^ 

Roscoc  Township 873  49-  922! 

Speedwell  Township 603  3  6o6| 

Washington  Township 593  6  5991 

.1 

6,590          152         6,742, 

White.  Col'd.  Total.j 

Osceola  (town) 286  45  331; 

Roscoe  (town) 302  .  .  302; 

Taberville  (town)    157  3  i6oi 

This  is  not  a  flattering  showing,  in  fact  it  is  a  very  bad  exhibit,  the; 
loss  in  population  in  the  aggregate  being  seventy;  that  is,  there  was: 
seventy  more  population  in  i860  than  in  1870.  This  loss,  however,  wasj 
exclusively  among  the  colored  people.  The  gain  of  white  population 
during  the  decade  was  361,  and  the  loss  of  the  colored  population  431, 
or  seventy  more  than  the  gain  of  the  whites,  thus  reducing  the  aggregate 
just  that  number.  The  colored  population  in  i860  was  583;  in  1850, 
449, — a  gain  of  134;  but  in  1870  there  were  but  152  colored  people  in 
the  county.     What  caused  this  exodus  is  not  explained. 

IHE   CENSUS   OF    1880. 

The  new  township  organization  law  of  1872,  called  forth  in  St.  Clair  i 
County,  as  in  others,  a  revisions  of  the  municipal   divisions,  increasingi 
their  number,  and  rearranging  the  boundaries.     Instead  of  nine  town- 
ships, as  in  1870,  there  were  in  1880  no  less  than  fourteen.     During  the 
decade  Appleton  City  was  founded  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  county, 
and  Taberville  seems  to  have  died.  The  growth  of  the  county,  however, 
was  a  source  of  pride  for  the  census  of  1880,  as   much  so  as  the  census 
return  of  1870  was  mortifying.     It   is  hardly  to  be  believed  that  this  lat-  ' 
ter  census   was   correct.     The  mistakes  and    blunders  of  the   census   of  i 
1870  is  beyond  all  comprehension. 

THE  INCREASE. 

I 

The  growth  of  St.  Clair  County  is  here  summarized,  and  its  percent, 
of  gain  or  loss,  leaving  out  fractions,  shown  for  each  ten  years,  or  decade  1 
of  its  existence:  ! 

Population,  1840 — 2,200.  i 

1850 —  3,556.     Gain  of  62  per  cent. 


HISTORY    OF    ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY.  963 

i860 —  6,812.     Gain  of  92  per  cent. 
1870 —  6,742.     Loss  of  I  per  cent. 
1880 — 14,125.     Gain  of  no  per  cent. 

This  was  a  splendid  increase,  of  which  few  counties  can  boast  of  the 
decade  past  and  the  future  is  certainly  bright  for  continued  prosperity- 

POPULATION   BY   TOWNSHIPS. 

Appleton 1,983 

Butler 1,399 

Chalk  Level 861 

Collins 863 

Dallas 635 

Doyal 838 

Jackson 775 

Monegaw 1,321 

Osceola 1,162 

Polk 605 

Roscoe 1,253 

Speedwell I.I33 

Taber • 95 1 

Washington •  346 

14,125 
POPULATION   OF   TOWNS. 

Appleton  City 1,034 

Osceola 373 

Roscoe .^ 172 

1,579 

Agricultural  population 12,546 

In  cities  and  towns i»579 

Total  County 14,125 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

WAR  RECORD-PRESS— EARLY  BAR. 

FROM    1 86 1    TO    1865. 

5 
The  troubles,  trials  and,  we  add,  the  crimes  of  this  eventful  period' 

is  not  a  pleasant  theme  to  dwell  upon,  even  after  nearly  two  decades  of; 

time   has   softened   the  memory  of  those  who  still  live,  or  has  lessened  i 

the  sorrow  for  those  who  gave  up  life  to  a  cause   they  believed   to  be  1 

right. 

When  war's  first  alarm  had  echoed  through  the  hills  and  valleys  of: 
the  Osage  the  people  awoke,  and,  while  for  peace  and  union,  were  mostly 
Southern  in  their  ideas  and  views.  A  small  minority  joined  the  Federal 
cause,  and  had  not  the  Kansas  Jayhawkers  destroyed  Osceola  many 
more  would  have  joined  the  Federal  forces,  but  Lane  and  his  murderous  i 
followers  of  thieves  and  assassins  came  near  driving  out  all  Union  sen- 
timent from  the  hearts  of  the  people. 

How  Osceola  was  pillage'd  and  destroyed,  and  how  fearfully  and  ter-; 
ribly  avenged  will  be  found  in  the  history  of  Osceola  in  this  work.  What  < 
is  known  of  Confederate  sympathy  for  the  cause  of  the  South  is  gath-  | 
ered  from  the  volunteers,  who  numbered  between  800  and  900  men,  who 
joined  that  cause  from  St.  Clair  County.     But  their  record  is  not  found  j 
here.     The  Confederate  muster  rolls  were  seldom  kept,  but  doubtless  in 
the  Confederate  archives,  captured  or  found  and  taken  to  Washington, 
would  reveal  much  of  what  is  now  only  known  to  the  participants  of  the  ^ 
struggle,  and  they  are  fast  passing  the  river  of  death  to  the  mysterious 
beyond.  1 

The  destruction  of  Osceola  was  so  far  in  advance  of  any  other  act  | 
of  vandalism  in  the  county  that  little  else  that  occurred  was  worthy  of 
history. 

When  the  muttering  of  the  storm  was  first  heard  and  the  Osage  j 
hills  began  to  re-echo  the  approach  of  it,  the  leading  citizens  of  Osceola] 
called  a  meeting  and  issued  an  address  to  the  people  of  St.  Clair  County. ; 
It  is  here  given  in  full,  and  will  be  found  of  interest  to  those  who  are 
yet  living  and  gave  their  names  and  influence  to  this  address,  and  to  the  ; 
present  and  future  as  a  part  of  that  history  which  has  left  a  dark  blot ' 
upon  its  pages,  and  which,  as  time  presses  on,  future  generations  will  j 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   CLAIR   COUNTY.  965 

wonder  why  the  people  in  those  days  gave  way  to  passion  and  engaged 
in  the  murderous  strife  of  a  civil  war. 

The  names  marked  with  a  star  {^)  are  those  of  parties  who  are  now 
dead. 

To  our  fellow  citizens,  friends  and  acquaintances  in  this  section  of  the 

state. 

We  are  in  the  midst  of  an  excitement  unparalleled  in  our  history, 
but  it  should  be  remembered  and  born  in  mind  by  all  good  citizens,  that 
the  state  of  Missouri  is  yet  a  member  of  the  Federal  Union.  The  peo- 
ple are  still  under  the  broad  aegis  of  the  constitution  and  laws  which 
guarantee  to  every  citizen  protection  to  his  person  and  property,  and 
the  free  enjoyment  of  his  opinions.  And  while  we  stand  by  the  consti- 
tutional and  proper  authorities  of  our  state,  and  will  cheerfully  obey  its 
mandates,  yet  we  would  invoke  our  fellow  citizens,  by  every  consider- 
ation dear  to  the  rights  of  men,  to  abstain  from  all  violence  whatever, 
upon  citizens  in  your  midst,  on  account  of  differences  of  political  views. 
Let  them  be  permitted  to  enjoy  them,  at  their  usual  places  of  abode, 
free  and  unmolested.  We  exhort  you  to  use  no  violence,  in  word  or 
deed,  to  their  persons  or  property — for  all  should  remember  that  any 
such  rash  conduct  will  never  prosper  a.  Just  cause. 

Hastily,  in  conclusion,  we  invoke  you  to  keep  the  peace  in  your 
neighborhoods,  and  let  every  man's  person  or  property  be  kept  invio- 
late, under  the  constitution  and  laws  of  the  state. 

"William  J.  Mayo,  *Samuel  C.  Harrison, 

Waldo  P.  Johnson.  *W.  Dorrell, 

*William  A.  McClain,  Samuel  Moore, 

^George  H.  Vaughan,  *Thomas  B.  Johnson, 

J.  F.  Weidmeyer,  *Aaron  Trippitt, 

D.  P.  Morgan,  *James  W.  Beck, 

*John  T.  Crenshaw,  Thomas  R.  Vaughan, 

*W.  L.  Vaughan,  *Joseph  W.  Cox, 

■=^M.  J.  Harris,  *William  Rice, 

R.  C  Vaughan,  P.  M.  Cox, 

R.  R.  Cocke,  T.  N.  Henly, 

*T.  W.  Mitchell,  S.  C.  Bruce, 

"John  T.  McClain,  John  J.  Yeater, 

*E.  D.  Murphy. 
Osceola,  Missouri,  May  18,  1861. 

A  few  months  after  that  Jim  Lane  convinced  them  that  they  were, 
instead  of  being  protected,  wholly  unprotected  in  their  person  and  prop- 
erty. 

FEDERAL   TROOPS. 

The  first  company  raised  for  the  northern  army  was  Company  D,  of 
the  Sixteenth  Regiment  of  Enrolled  Missouri  Militia,  of  whom  Ben- 
jamin F.  Cook  was  chosen  captain. 

The  company  was  organized  August  2,  1861,  and  through  the  kind- 
ness of  Captain  Cook,  who  is  still  a  resident  of  St.  Clair  County,  we 


966 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 


came  in  possession  of  the  muster  roll  of  his  company,  and  give  the 
names  in  full.  On  the  date  above  mentioned  sixty-nine  ofificers  and 
men  joined  and  formed  the  company,  and  the  remainder  connected 
themselves  soon  after. 

The  following  is  the  muster  roll  referred  to: 

MUSTER   ROLL   OF   CAPTAIN   COOK'S   COMPANY,   AUGUST   2,    1 86 1. 


Benjamin  F.  Cook,  captain, 

John  Wheeler,  ist  lieutenant, 

Joseph  Whitaker,  2d  lieutenant, 

John  Whitaker,  orderly  sergeant, 

Hugh  B.  Cole,  sergeant, 

Mark  Renfro 

John  M.  Martin,    " 

Jacob  Thompson,  " 

William  B.  Robertson,  sergeant, 

James  Gilbert,  corporal, 

Francis  M.  Cole,  corporal, 

Robert  H.Fisher,       " 

James  Cauthon,  " 

Washington  V.  Bridges,  corporal, 

Broadus  G.  Roberts,  " 

Richard  D.  Deer, 

Isaac  Tucker,  " 

William  C.  Holesapple, 

William  J.  Hutton, 

James  A.  Hicks, 

George  W.  Casey, 

Robert  M.  Leonard, 

Robert  A,  Leonard, 

James  M.  Lord, 

Robert  Lawler, 

Joseph  H,  Martin, 

John  C.  Miller, 

Caloway  Melton, 

George  E.  Marlow. 

Benjamin  F.  Roberts. 

Joseph  Roberts. 

Isaac  Robinson. 

Stephen  J.  Renfro. 

James  T.  Reynolds. 

John  Saunders. 

Robert  D.  Sheeks. 


John  O.  Bristow, 
William  Bristow, 
Albert  G.  Clements, 
Sterling  Cooper, 
Franklin  Choice, 
Joseph  L.  DeLozier, 
Jacob  Ernest, 
Seth  H.  Fisher, 
James  French, 
William  D.  Gamblin, 
John  Higgins, 
William  T.  Higgins, 
Jacob  Higgins, 
Francis  N.  Higgins, 
Joseph  L.  Higgins, 
Filmore  R.  Higgins, 
Henry  Hall, 
John  J.  Hawkins, 
John  B.  Hutton, 
John  Hubbs, 
John  T.  Keton, 
George  W.  Leonard, 
Richard  Lennox, 
Thomas  Lord, 
William  O.  Martin, 
Robert  C.  Martin, 
Daniel  Miller, 
Jacob  Swank. 
George  Walker. 
John  Witt. 
Benjamin  F.  Weir. 
George  W.  Wyatt. 
William  H.  Burchett. 
William  Belisle. 
James  Boswell. 
Robert  P.  Cole. 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 


967 


Austin  Sheeks. 
Bethnell  Hendricks. 
Isaac  Hendricks. 
Parish  Brown. 
Henry  Snyder. 
William  F.  Thompson. 
Ewing  E,  Thompson. 
Thomas  J.  Tucker. 
Thomas  Tucker. 
William  Todd. 


George  Chapman. 
Gabriel  Cove. 
Charles  DeShazo. 
Thomas  H.  Fletcher. 
Oliver  P.  Fletcher. 
George  Eskridge. 
Robert  J.  Meredith. 
Oliver  B.  Copeland. 
Thomas  R.  Parsons. 
John  O.  Smith. 


The  company  was  organized  by  Captain  Chase,  of  the  First  Iowa 
Cavalry.  Captain  Burdette  also  raised  a  company,  or  battalion,  and 
joined  Colonel  Hays'  regiment.  The  First  Iowa  Cavalry,  above  spoken 
of,  was  quartered  in  Osceola  after  it  was  destroyed. 

There  were  quite  a  number  more  who  joined  the  Federal  forces,  and 
although  all  the  names  have  not  been  remembered,  most  of  them  have 
been  gathered  and  are  here  appended.  Other  muster  rolls  were  not  be 
had,  but  the  following  were  volunteers  from  St.  Clair  County  during  the 
war,  and  are  in  addition  to  Captain  Cook's  company: 


Jacob  Pugh. 
David  Pugh. 
James  M.  Pugh. 
Anderson  Morton. 
Ralph  C.  Bowles. 
James  T.  Cole. 
Francis  M.  Ayres. 
Frank  Graham. 
John  T.  Campbell, 
William  V.  Fisher. 
W.W.Robinson. 
William  Price. 
John  W.  Price. 
Charles  Burton. 
Thomas  Burton. 
William  W.  Lord. 
J.  J.  Delozier. 
W.  H.  Wyatt. 
Thomas  Wyatt. 
John  Casey. 
N.  T.  Casey. 
W.  W.  Walters . 
John  Dawson.     • 
Elias  Disney. 
James  J.  Reavis. 


Joseph  Zohrenger. 
Otto  Zohrenger. 
William  Thomas. 
W.  P.  Sheldon. 
Thomas  Roberts. 
John  E.  Mc Williams. 
R.  W.  Perrin. 
William  James  Perrin. 
John  T.  Redman. 
Littleton  Clarkson. 
Teff  Higgins. 
J.  J.  Sheeks. 
Jesse  Fowler. 
Jacob  Fleming. 
Bass  Summers. 
T.  W.  Miller. 
John  R.  Bradshaw. 
S.  B.  Hodges. 
McCloud  Benson. 
C.  L.  Ayres. 
J.  C.  Hartley. 
Daniel  Shippey. 
David  McGee. 
John  Upton. 


968  HISTORY    OF   ST.    CI. AIR   COUNTY. 

There  were  some  local  deeds  committed  that  may  well  be  forgotten, 
many  that  oblivion  should  cover  and  memory  fail  to  record,  but  these 
were  among  those  who  were  too  cowardly  to  meet  as  brave  men  should, 
face  to  face  upon  the  field  of  battle.  But  the  war  ceased  after  four  years 
of  a  desperate  struggle,  which  has  few  parallels  in  the  annals  of  history. 
The  blue  and  the  gray  fought,  as  brave  men  always  do,  for  the  cause 
they  believed  to  be  just,  and  in  courage  and  endurance  they  proved 
themselves  noble  sons  of  the  patriots  of  1776,  who  in  years  agone  were 
famous  in  song  and  story,  whose  deeds  of  daring  are  recorded  among 
the  bravest  of  brave  men  in  the  annals  of  our  country's  history,  and 
whose  heroic  self-sacrificing  lives  will  ever  adorn  the  pages  of  that 
immortal  record  which  flashed  to  the  world  a  nation  born  and  liberty 
triumphant. 

THE   PRESS   OF   ST.  CLAIR   COUNTY. 

To  give  a  history  of  the  press  of  St.  Clair  County  would  fill  a  vol- 
ume, for  it  has  been  a  sort  of  graveyard  for  many  years  for  the  fourth 
estate.     A  recoKl  of  the  rise  and  fall  from  year  to  year  will  be  sufficient . 
to  show  that  the  newspaper  has  not  flourished  in  St.  Clair  County. 

The  first  paper  published  in  the  county  was  at  Osceola,  the  county 
seat,  in  1853.  William  H.  Mayo  was  the  publisher,  and  an  able,  but 
erratic  genius,  named  Edward  C.  Davis  was  the  editor.  He  became  state 
superintendent  of  schools,  a  forger,  jail  bird  and  drunkard,  but  was  unde- 
niably the  ablest  writer  that  ever  graced  the  tripod  in  St.  Clair  County. 

In  1854  Mayo  &  Lamkin  were  publishers.  This  paper  was  called 
the  Osceola  Independent.  Later  Richard  (Dick)  Divens  was  publisher 
up  to  as  late  as  i860.  This  was  the  only  paper  which  flourished  in  ante- 
belhiiii  days. 

The  first  paper  after  the  war  was  the  Osceola  Herald,  by  the  Gra- 
ham Bros.,  started  in  1866  and  died  June  4,  1874.  November  29,  1872, 
the  Graham  Bros,  sold  the  paper  to  Thomas  D.  Hicks  and  Louis  M. 
Reese. 

They  continued  until  July  24,  1873,  when  Hicks  stopped  and  the 
Graham  Bros,  with  Reese,  entered  upon  its  publication.  It  continued 
until  January  27,  1874,  when  it  suspended  for  six  weeks  and- then  started 
up  again  with  the  old  proprietors,  Robert  S.  and  William  D.  Graham, 
and  continued  until  June  4,  1874,  as  above  stated,  and  died.  Politically 
it  was  Republican. 

There  was  a  Missouri  Democrat  in  1866,  but  who  run  it  was  not 
stated.  The  first  paper  that  came  under  the  name  of  a  Democratic 
paper  was  the  Osage  Valley,  J.  Wade  Gardner,  publisher.  It  changed 
its  name  to  Democrat,  and  this  is  probably  the  paper  referred  to  above, 
and  the  Osage  Valley  was  the  first  started,  the  same  year  as  the  Herald. 
The  change   from  the  above  name  to  Osceola  Democrat,  occurred  July 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  969 

I,  1871,  Mr.  Gardner's  valeditory  and  Mr.  T.  C.  Davis'  salutatory 
appearing  in  the  paper  of  that  date,  John  W.  Dooley,  publisher.  This 
was  a  ten  day  arrangement,  for  on  July  10,  1871,  Thad  M.  Gardner 
became  publisher,  Mr.  Davis  retaining  the  editorship.  Mr.  Davis  con- 
tinued until  May  25,  1872,  when  he  retired  from  the  editorial  position, 
and  Mr.  Gardner  tried  it  alone  until  July  20,  1872,  when  he  sold  out  and 
A.  C.  Appier  assumed  control  at  that  date.  June  13,  1873,  the  Democrat 
suspended.  However,  it  started  up  again  and  A.  C.  Appier  &  Co.  con- 
tinued until  June  25,  1874,  when  A.  C.  Appier  quit,  and  on  July  2  the 
paper  came  out  under  the  auspices  of  H.  P.  Appier  &  Co.  as  publishers. 
Then  July  23  A.  C.  Appier  and  Charles  H.  Lucas  assumed  control  of  the 
paper,  the  former  as  publisher  and  the  latter  as  editor.  This  was  the 
situation  for  the  political  campaign,  after  which,  November  24,  1874,  the 
paper  again  suspended,  and  Messrs.  Appier  &  Lucas  retired. 

After  a  two  weeks'  rest,  a  brave  citizen  of  the  county  purchased  the 
office.  His  name  was  John  R.  Hopkins,  and  the  paper  was  still  called 
the  Democrat,  xvith  John  R.  Hopkins  &  Co.  publishers.  This»occurred 
December  10,  1874,  and  an  editorial  head  was  added  February  18,  1875, 
in  the  person  of  F.  M.  Woodbury.  After  three  months  of  labor,  Mr. 
Woodbury  said: 

Farewell.- — With  this  issue  our  connection  as  editor  of  the  Dem- 
ocrat ceases.     To  all  we  bid  adieu.  F.  H.  WOODBURY. 

May  27,  1875,  the  above  was  published,  and  the  next  issue,  June  3, 
1875,  A.  C.  Appier  serenely  came  to  the  front  and  announced  that  he 
would  be,  henceforth,  editor.  This  continued  up  to  August  12,  1875, 
when  that  horror  of  horrors,  an  opposition  Democratic  paper,  sounded 
its  note  of  defiance,  and  claiming  to  be  the  only  original  "  simon  pure," 
placed  at  once  that  original  legend  at  the  head  of  its  editorial  columns, 
double-leaded  and  in  black-faced  type:    "  We  have  come  to  stay." 

Before  going  on  with  the  recital  of  this  interesting  drama,  it  may 
be  well  to  remark  that  from  the  ashes  of  the  dead  Herald  arose  a  bloom- 
ing flower,  and  as  the  Grange  business  at  that  time  assumed  consider- 
able importance,  the  flower  was  christened  the 

farmers'  friend. 

Wade  W.  Shaffner  assumed  the  paternity  of  this  exotic,  while  the 
Graham  Brothers,  manfully  backed  by  their  party,  stood  sponsors  for  the 
innocent.  However,  it  blossomed  out  more  like  a  sunflower  than  a  lily, 
and  as  Mr.  Shaffner  was  pretty  well  stocked  with  brains  it  made  a  gal- 
lant fight.  It  started  April  4,  1874,  with  its  first  issue,  but  it  blossomed 
a  little  ahead  of  time,  and  to  recuperate  waited  until  May  9th  for  its 
next  issue.     Then   it   continued  until  June  4th,  when  it  accomplished 


970  HISTORY   OF    ST.    CT.AIR   COUNTY. 

the  unparalleled  feat  of  swallowing  the  Herald.     As  a  business  transac-     j 
tion  this  was  a  grand  suceess,   but   when    it   was  required  of  the  genial     ' 
Shaffner  that  he  was,  on   general   principles,  to  also  swallow  the  entire 
Republican   party  of  St.    Clair  County,  the   melancholly    fact    is  here     I 
recorded  that  his  stomach  rebelled,   and — but   in    saying  farewell  let  us 
drop  a  tear.     The  golden  stairs  were  reached  in  November,  1874. 

HOW   LONG   IT  STAYED. 

The  advent  of  the  Osceola  Sentinel  seemed  to  impress  Mr.  Hopkins 
that  perhaps  the  rising  commercial  metropolis  of  the  county  would  sup-  ' 
port  a  Democratic  paper,  and  he  therefore  removed  the  Democrat  office 
to  'Appleton  City  and  issued  his  first  number  November  2,  1875,  T.  C. 
Davis  editor.  He  had  suspended  his  paper  a  few  weeks  preparing  for 
his  removal  from  Osceola.  The  Sentinel  had  started  out  with  T.  C.  Davis 
as  editor,  but  he  withdrew  and  went  to  Appleton  City  with  the  Demo-  1 
crat.  H§  only  remained  two  months  on  that  paper,  when  F.  H.  Wood- 
bury took  charge,  January  5,  1876.  j 

Dr.  H.  C.  Kibber  took  the  helm  of  the  Sentinel  after  Mr.  Davis,  in 
August,  1876,  and  held  the  position  some  months.     Dr.  Kibber  brought     ' 
his  journalistic  experience  from  Roscoe. 

Time  passed  on  and  time  generally  brings  changes,  and  there  was 
no  exception  in  the  year  1876.  Mr.  John  Hopkins  had  got  enough  of  the 
newspaper  business  in  Appleton  City,  from  a  Democratic  standpoint, 
and  promptly  came  to  the  front  and  Osceola,  by  purchasing  in  May, 
1876,  the  Osceola  Sentinel  and  consolidated  it  with  the  Appleton  City, 
formerly  Osceola  Democrat,  and  removed  his  material  from  Appleton 
City  to  Osceola.  His  last  issue  of  the  Democrat  in  the  former  city  was  1 
June  I,  1876. 

SENTINEL-DEMOCRAT. 

The  first  issue  of  the  consolidated  paper  called  the  Sentinel-Demo- 
crat was  on  June  15,  1876,  F.  H.  Woodbury,  editor,  and  John  R.  Hopkins, 
publisher.  For  two  years  and  six  months  this  paper  was  the  organ  of 
the  Democratic  party,  or  until  January  i,  1878. 

THE   OSCEOLA   SUN. 

January  3,  1878,  the  Sentinel-Democrat  was  sold,  the  purchaser 
being  Thad.  M.  Gardner,  who  changed  the  name  to  the  Osceola  Sun. 
Mr.  Gardner  and  Thomas  C.  Davis  being  the  editors.  Mr.  Gardner 
retained  control  until  September  12, 1878,  when  F.  H.  Woodbury  became 
publisher,  and  Mr.  Davis  continuing  its  editor.  This  continued  for 
two  months,  when  on  November  i,  1878,  Davis  retires  and  Rufus  P. 
Woodbury  was  made  editor. 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  97 1 

March  6,  1879,  R-  P-  Woodbury  says  farewell,  and  Lewis  M.  Reese 
takes  charge  as  editor  and  proprietor.  This  was  to  continue  but  a  short 
time,  for  Thad.  M.  Gardner  took  the  helm  again,  April,  1880.  Ill  health 
caused  Mr.  Gardner  to  retire  from  journalism  in  188 1,  and  Charles  H. 
Lucas  &  Co.  became  proprietors,  C.  H.  Lucas,  editor.  It  is  still  owned 
by  them  and  is  the  acknowledged  organ  of  the  Democratic  party  of  St. 
Clair  County.  It  is  well  and  ably  edited  and  is  in  a  sound  financial  con- 
dition.    The  present  spring  has  been  added  a  power  press,  new  type,  etc. 

THE  VOICE, 

a  greenback  paper  in  sentiment,  was  first  established  in  Appleton  City, 
but  as  that  was  known  to  be  the  graveyard  of  any  paper  not  strictly 
Republican  in  sentiment,  the  Voice,  having  been  purchased  by  Mr. 
Llewellen,  or  a  controlling  interest,  was  removed  to  Osceola  before 
death  could  claim  it  as  its  own.  The  paper  was  removed  in  March, 
1881.  Mr.  F.  Chamberlain  first  started  it,  but  on  removal  to  Osceola 
was  in  the  editorial  charge  of  T.  S.  Smith.  The  latter  person  is  still 
editor  and  the  owners  are  Marquis  &  Smith.  It  is  also  provided  with  a 
power  press,  and  has  been  successful  since  its  advent  into  Osceola. 

THE   PLATONIST 

was  a  venture  of  T.  M.  Johnson.  The  Banner  of  Truth,  by  W.  M.  Love, 
January,  i,  1882,  and  the  Prohibition  Call,  started  August  i,  1882,  by  J. 
F.  Watkins,  the  latter  edited  with  somewhat  more  zeal  than  discretion, 
are  now,  with  the  exception  of  the  former,  still  issued  occasionally. 

ROSCOE   GAZETTE 

was  published  in  Roscoe  Village  in  1870,  and  ceased  to  exist  in  1871,  its 
material  being  removed  to  Osceola.     Dr.  Kibber  had  been  its  editor. 

TEMPERANCE   STANDARD 

was  the  work  of  F.  H.  Woodbury,  and  was  started  in  1878  or  1879,  ^"d 
.was  published   at  Lowry  City.     These   were   the   only  papers  published 
outside  of  the  cities  of  Osceola  and  Appleton  City  in  the  county. 

PRESS   OF   APPLETON   CITY. 

Like  Osceola,  the  press  of  this  city  have  met  with  sorrow,  disap- 
pointment and  changes  in  the  past;  but  like  the  latter  city,  its  solitary 
press  is  now  on  a  pretty  solid  foundation.  Appleton  City,  with  its  pop- 
ulation of  1,500,  is  not  a  reading  or  a  paper  sustaining  community.     It 


972  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY. 

has  but  one  paper,  while  Osceola,  with  only  one-third  its  population, 
fairly  supports  two.  This  may  not  be  altogether  the  fault  of  the  people. 
They  were  deluged  with  an  article  scarcely  to  be  called  mediocre,  but 
they  did  have  a  few  good  papers  started,  which  they  gave  no  better  sup- 
port than  those  which  proved  more  of  a  curse  than  a  blessing. 

THE   NEWS 

was  the  first  paper  published  in  Appleton  City,  and  its  first  issue  was 
May  4,  1871.  Bancroft  &  Coston,  editors  and  publishers.  It  was  a  five 
column  folio,  and  devoted  to  real  estate  as  its  principal  feature. 

GAZETTE. 

This  was  the  next  venture,  and  came  out  March  15,  1873;  Cobb  & 
Emmons,  proprietors,  and  the  latter,  R.  S.  Emmons,  editor.  D.  C. 
Meyers  became  publisher. 

It  then  changed  to  Meyers  &  Stone.  It  was  published  about  one 
and  a  half  years,  and  the  office  was  then  unfortunately  burned  out.  It 
was  also  the  property  of  J.  B.  Egger  and  H.  C.  Donohue,  with  John 
Henderson  as  business  manager,  which  was  after  the  fire.  These  gen- 
tlemen sold  the  Gazette  to  T.  W.  Cobb  &  Bro.  July  22,  1875.  Dr.  T.  C. 
Murray,  their  editor,  retiring  April  22,  1875.  On  August  16,  1875,  the 
Cobbs  changed  the  name  to  the  Appleton  City 

PILOT. 

The  paper  continued  until  July  12,  1877,  as  T.  W.  Cobb  &  Bro.  pro- 
prietors, but  at  this  last  mentioned  date,  Dell  Cobb  assumed  control 
until  July  26,  just  two  weeks,  when  he  sold  out  to  C.  F.  Meyer  &  Co.  as 
editors  and  publishers,  the  firm  being  C.  F,  Meyers  and  D.  C.  Meyers. 
In  the  meantime  the  Appleton  City  Democrat  had  come  and  gone,  as 
will  be  seen  in  the  article  "  Osceola  Press." 

The  Messrs.  Meyers  employed,  October  13,  1877,  Will  D.  Graham 
and  that  winter  or  following  spring  changed  its  name  to  the  Voice  of 
the  People,  and,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  Osceola  article,  it  was  removed 
to  Osceola  and  is  still  living,  and  successfully,  too. 

THE   LEADER. 

The  next  venture  was  the  Leader,  by  Reese  &  Cobb,  in  the  spring 
of  1878.  This  continued  until  August  i,  same  year,  when  Mr.  Reese 
retired  and  the  Cobb  Bros,  took  charge.  On  November  6,  1879,  the 
Cobb  Bros,  sold  out  to  Mr.  E.  Krom,  who  proved  a  competent  journal- 
ist,  and  changing  the  name  to  Courier,  made   it  one  of  the  brightest 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  973 

papers  issued  in  Southwest  Missouri.  This  continued  until  January  i, 
i88i,  when  Mr.  Krom  closed  his  journalist  career,  and  entered  into 
another  business.  He  is  now  assistant  postmaster  of  Appleton  City, 
has  charge  of  the  office  and  is  an  esteemed  resident  of  that  city. 

PANTAGRAPH. 

The  irrepressible  Cobb  Bros,  again  came  to  the  front  and  brought 
the  next  week,  January  8,  i88i,  the  Pantagraph,  a  successor  to  the 
Courier,  or  the  firm  was  Dell  Cobb  &  Co. 

The  following  August  a  company  calling  themselves  the  Journal 
Company,  bought  out  the  Pantagraph,  and  the  first  issue  of  the  Appleton 
City  Journal  was  on  August  i8,  1881.  All  of  these  papers  flew  the 
Republican  banner.  March  16,  1882,  Mr.  B.  F.  Terry  was  editor  and 
proprietor  of  the  Journal,  and  in  November,  1882,  Charles  Hilton  suc- 
ceeded to  the  establishment,  as  editor  and  publisher.  He  is  a  hardwork- 
ing journalist,  and  is  on  the  high  road  to  success,  and  his  paper  is  the 
pride  of  the  city. 

THE   EARLY   BAR. 

The  early  bar  of  St.  Clair  County,  those  who  practiced  in  the  courts 
and  rode  the  circuit  were,  in  legal  parlance,  a  brainy  set  of  men,  and 
many  of  them  have  since  become  noted  in  the  forum,  in  the  field  and  in 
the  political  arena. 

Thomas  Ruffin  was  circuit  attorney,  then  a  member  of  congress  from 
North  Carolina,  resigned  his  seat,  raised  a  regiment  and  fell  in  the  cause 
of  the  Confederacy.  He  was  one  of  the  brightest  stars  in  the  galaxy  of 
legal  lights,  a  giant  among  men  of  intellect. 

Of  Judge  Waldo  P.Johnson,  whose  home  was  here  for  somany  years, 
few  words  need  be  said,  for  he  ranks  with  the  noblest  in  the  state,  and 
his  history  is  a  household  story  in  St.  Clair  County.  Judges  Ballou, 
Wright  and  Emerson  rose  to  the  bench,  and  wore  the  ermine  with  grace, 
dignity  and  ability. 

Many  others  played  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  legal  arena  of  their 
times,  and  are  worthy  of  a  prominent  place  in  the  history  of  the  bench 
and  bar  of  the  state. 

The  following  names  and  date  they  commenced  practicing  at  the 
bar  in  this  county  may  be  of  interest  to  the  legal  fraternity:  Benjamin 
P.  Major,  November  30,  1841;  George  Dixon,  first  circuit  attorney,  1841; 
J.  W.  Davis,  November  30,  1841;  Felix  Hunton,  Robert  Stewart  and 
James  Winston,  August,  1841;  Messrs.  Major  and  Stewart  acted  as  cir- 
cuit attorneys  pro  tevt.  for  a  short  time;  E.  C.  Davis,  1842;  A.  M.  Tutt, 
John  T.  Crenshaw,  R.  P.  Clark,  William  S.  Mayo  and  William  H.  Ollee, 
1843;  Thomas  Ruffin,  July  3,  1843;  L.  Abney,  December  4,  1843;  C.  C. 


974 


HISTORY    OF    ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY. 


Smith,  April  i,  1844;  Waldo  P.  Johnson,  September  30,  1844;  R.  A. 
Bout^han,  October  8,  1845;  W.  A.  C.  Ballou,  April  7,  1846;  Burr  H.  Emer- 
son, 1846;  S.  M.  Grant,  April  23,  1848;  Thomas  P.  Engle,  May  3,  1853; 
O.  C.  Hall,  October  28,  1855;  Thomas  W.  Freeman,  M.  L.  Means,  Foster 
P.  Wright  and  William  A.  McClain,  October  29,  1855;  S.  Chandler,  May 
6,  1856;  A.  B.  Whipple,  December  9,  1856;  Allison  Wamsley,  1857;  T. 
H.  Richardson,  March  10,  1859;  James  D.  Perkins,  March  8,  i860;  Thomas 
B.  Johnson,  September  3,  i860;  George  H.  Vaughan,  September  4,  i860; 
John  F.  Snyder,  i860. 

These  were  the  principal  names  who  practiced  in  this  judicial  cir- 
cuit up  to  i860.  Since  that  time  many  of  the  ablest  lawyers  in  the 
state  have  practiced  in  the  courts  here.  There  were  J.  P.  Tracy,  R.  T. 
Butler  and  James  Masters,  of  Stockton,  Hickory  County;  Sidney  Wil- 
son. Amos  S.  Smith,  Charles  Kroff  and  W.  O.  Paxton,  all  of  Hermitage, 
Missouri;  William  N.  Pickerill,  M.  A.  Fike  and  Banton  G.  Boone,  Clin- 
ton, Missouri;  Governor  John  S.  Phelps,  Hon.  T.  A.  Sherwood,  Spring- 
field, Missouri;  George  G.  Vest,  Sedalia;  Colonel  M.  W.  Johnson, 
Linn  Creek;  T.  M.  Johnson,  Nevada;  T.  H.  Well. 

On  March  21,  1871,  H.  S.  Douglas,  of  Osceola,  was  admitted  to  the 
bar,  and  C.  A.  Sweeney,  of  Roscoe,  Judge  McGaughey  on  the  bench. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

OSCEOLA  TOWNSHIP— SOME  ASTOUNDING  FACTS  PLAINLY 

STATED. 

POPULATION— STOCK— VINEYARDS— METES  AND  BOUNDS-THE  PIONEER,  AND  WHEN  HE 
CAME— TOWN  OF  OSCEOLA— ITS  RISE,  PROGRESS  AND  DESTRUCTION-THE  NEW 
CITY  OF  OSCEOLA— WHAT  SHE  WAS,  AND  IS,  AND  WILL  BE. 

SOME   WORDS   FITLY   SPOKEN. 

This  is  one  of  the  central  townships  of  the  county,  and  time  will  de- 
velop it  as  one  of  the  richest.  The  Osage  River  passes  through  it  from 
southwest  to  northeast,  making  it  one  of  the  grandest  in  the  bold  out- 
lines of  its  rugged  cliff,  the  density  of  its  woodlands  and  the  windings  of  its 
beautiful  river,  whose  high  bluffs,  magnificent  caves  and  its  valleys  and 
ravines,  gives  it  a  most  weird  and  fanciful  appearance.  All  those  who 
have  traversed  its  sinuous  course  have  exclaimed,  "How  grand  the 
sight."  Nature  has  indeed  been  lavish  of  her  gifts,  and  the  swiftly  glid- 
ing waters  of  the  Osage  River  sings  a  soft  low  lullaby,  as  they  pass  on 
to  the  murmuring  sea.  And  in  those  bluffs  lie  countless  millions  of 
wealth.  They  are  one  vast  bed  of  coal,  lead,  cement,  rock  and  mineral 
paint.  All  these  and  other  metals  have  been  found,  and  when  art  has 
exposed  this  hidden  wealth,  and  nature  given  up  the  countless  millions 
now  within  her  bosom,  then  will  the  people  wonder  at  the  sight.  And 
this  is  the  future  of  Osceola  Township,  for  man's  energy  will  not  be 
daunted  or  relaxed  until  this  vast  wealth  has  been  uncovered,  and  the 
richness  of  nature's  secret  gifts  exposed  to  view, 

What  this  township  may  become  in  the  near  future  is  not  hard  to 
discern.  With  coal  within  its  limits  and  iron  on  its  border,  with  the 
Osage  River  navigable  to  its  door  and  railroad  transportation  certain  in 
the  near  future,  and  will  undoubtedly  become  a  large  and  prosperous 
manufacturing  point,  a  veritable  second  Pittsburg,  situated  upon  its 
hundred  hills.  When  the  tremendous  water  power  of  her  river  is  util- 
ized, and  the  steam  engine  exerts  its  power,  it  will  make  music  for 
countless  thousands,  who  will  then  find  homes  and  pleasures  here.  A 
climate  unsurpassed  for  its  health  giving  properties.  The  richness  of 
its  soil,  the  mineral  wealth  of  hills  and  bluffs.  Nature  has  scarcely  ever 
made  a  more  desirable  place  for  man's  habitation  than  this  portion  of 
St.  Clair  County. 


976  HISTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY. 

SOMETHING   OF   A    LOCAL   NATURE. 

Osceola  Township  was  first  settled  in  1833,  and  the  present  city  of 
Osceola  in  1834.  The  Osage  River  runs  diagonally  through  the  town- 
ship, dividing  it  into  nearly  two  equal  parts.  The  Weaubleau  flows  into 
the  Osage  from  the  south,  touching  its  eastern  border  and  northeastern. 
Little  Brush  Creek,  a  small  stream,  is  also  south  of  the  Osage,  and  runs 
north  through  the  central  portion  of  the  township  and  empties  into  it. 
Gallinipper  Creek  is  the  principal  stream  north  of  the  river,  and  extends 
over  a  considerable  amount  of  territory  before  mingling  its  waters  with 
those  of  the  Osage,  The  township  has  considerable  more  of  timber  than 
prairie;  in  fact,  with  the  exception  of  about  seven  sections  south  of  the 
river  and  central  in  the  township,  and  five  sections  in  the  northwest 
corner,  the  remainder  can  be  mostly  designated  as  timber  land,  with 
here  and  there  a  patch  of  prairie.  The  bottom  lands  lying  along  the 
Osage  are  among  the  richest  lands  to  be  found  in  the  county,  the  soil 
being  a  fine  alluvial,  from  three  to  six  feet  in  depth,  and  simply  inex- 
haustible. The  prairie  land  and  the  timbered  upland  are  good  agricul- 
tural lands,  fertile  to  a  high  degree,  while  south  of  the  Osage  River  the 
country,  especially  along  its  banks,  is  broken  and  hilly,  but  away  from 
the  river  is  of  the  same  general  nature  of  the  prairies  and  woodland 
north  of  it. 

TIMBER. 

South  of  the  Osage  River  and  along  the  banks  of  its  numerous 
tributaries  timber  grows  to  perfection.  There  are  walnut,  hickory,  beach, 
ash,  and  nearly  every  other  kind  that  could  be  enumerated.  All  this 
timber  is  rapidly  becoming  valuable. 

AREA   AND   POPULATION. 

Osceola  Township  is  six  miles  north  and  south  by  eight  miles  east 
and  west,  and  in  round  numbers  has  48  sections,  or  an  area  of  30,720 
acres.  This  number  of  acres  is  probably  exceeded  by  nearly  or  quite 
1 50  from  the  irregular  lines  of  its  southwestern  border,  formed  by  the 
Osage  River,  which  enters  the  township  from  that  point,  and  is  made  a 
part  of  its  boundary,  gaining,  however,  as  above  shown,  somewhat  more 
than  it  loses. 

It  is  one  of  the  six  original  townships  formed  by  the  first  county 
court,  in  May,  1841.  When  it  became  a  part  of  Rives  County  in  1834, 
the  county  court  of  that  county  at  first  gave  the  county  of  St.  Clair  the 
name  of  St.  Clair  Township,  but  in  November,  1835,  changed  it  into  two 
townships,  calling  them  Monegaw  and  Weaubleau.  Osceola  was  then 
Weaubleau  Township,  or  a  part  thereof,  and  its  west  line,  now  as   then, 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY.  977 

was  the  west  line  of  the  township.  The  original  size  of  Osceola  Town- 
ship was  its  present  width,  but  extended  three  miles  further  south,  and 
then  north  to  the  Henry  County  line.  It  was  between  1867  and  1870 
that  she  was  shorn  of  her  territory,  south,  and  it  was  in  1867  that  Butler 
was  taken  from  the  northern  portion  of  her  limits.  The  township  is  yet 
of  fair  proportion,  being  one  and  a  third  of  a  congressional  township  in 
size.  Here,  then,  we  have  a  township  rich  in  agricultural  and  mineral 
lands,  rich  in  cement  rock  and  mineral  paint;  rich  in  coal,  building 
stone  and  forests  of  timber;  a  water  power  that  could  turn  the  mills  of 
a  Lowell,  and  a  climate  that  brings  the  hue  of  health  to  the  cheek,  the 
fullness  of  life  to  the  footsteps,  and  activity  to  the  brain.  This  is  what 
has  made  Osceola  in  former  years  the  pride  of  southwest  Missouri,  and 
which  the  civil  war,  led  by  a  band  of  Kansas  jayhawkers,  and  all  that 
name  implies,  was  turned  into  a  wilderness  and  kept  thus  for  years. 
But  the  dawn  of  a  brighter  and  more  glorious  day  is  at  hand,  and  Osce- 
ola, township  and  city,  are  moving  with  buoyant  steps  and  hope  in  the 
ascendant,  to  meet  the  good  time  coming. 

STOCK   RAISING. 

• 

There  is  not  a  country  in  the  world  better  adapted  to  stock  raising 
than  St.  Clair  County,  and  Osceola  Township  is  one  of  the  most  favored 
portions  of  it.  The  farmers  are  rapidly  improving  their  stock  by  the 
adding  of  new  blood.  Cattle,  sheep,  hogs,  etc.,  require  little  care  dur- 
ing the  winter,  two  months  being  the  estimated  time  of  feeding. 

VINEYARDS 

would  pay  well.  The  country  is  adapted  to  the  raising  of  all  kinds  of 
fruits  and  berries,  and  a  wine  press,  backed  by  a  good  vineyard,  would 
pay  a  good  profit  on  the  investment.  Fruit  raising  of  all  kinds  is  profit- 
able. 

POPULATION. 

The  population  of  the  township  in  i860  was  2,077,  of  which  1,794 
were  whites  and  283  colored.  Then  the  war  came  on,  and  the  census  of 
1870  gave  Osceola  957,  of  whom  921  were  whites  and  36  were  colored. 
Add  to  this  population  that  of  Butler,  646,  and  there  was  still  a  falling 
off  during  that  decade  of  474,  of  which  over  half,  or  247,  were  colored. 

Many  have  supposed  that  recuperation  commenced  when  the  war 
ended,  but  this  was  not  so.  The  devastations  brought-  on  by  the  con- 
flict were  not  effaced  for  years,  and  while  the  people  struggled  from  the 
outset  to  recover  from  the  blighting  and  disastrous  effects  of  that  period, 
the  light  of  hope  gave  no  color  to  their  cheeks  until  at  least  a  half 
decade   had  been   passed.     It  was  not  until  1870  that  the  promise  of  a 


978  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

brighter  future  gave  any  token  of  dawning  upon  a  country  who  had  once 
known  Lane,  the  Kansas  Jayhawker.  From  1870  to  1880  progress  was 
slow,  but  it  was  nevertheless  sure. 

In  1876  the  state  census  showed  a  population  of  1,094,  and  that  of 
1880,  1,162.  This  of  course  is  not  a  rapid  growth;  neither  have  the  past 
three  years  become  more  so,  but  the  township  is  growing  slowly,  yet 
surely,  and  at  this  time  has  about  1,350,  with  a  decided  promise  at  this 
time  of  a  much  more  rapid  growth  than  at  any  other  time  in  her  past 
history. 

METES  AND  BOUNDS.  ^ 

Her  metes  and  bounds,  as  given  from  the  map,  would  be  on  the 
north  Butler  Township;  east,  Polk;  south,  Doyal,  and  west.  Chalk  Level 
and  a  portion  of  the  Osage  River.  Her  boundary,  as  recorded  upon 
the  county  records,  so  made  in  1872,  is  described  below:  Commencing 
at  the  southeast  corner  of  township  38,  range  25,  thence  running  north 
along  the  township  line  to  the  northeast  corner  of  said  township;  thence 
running  west  along  the  township  line  to  the  northwest  corner  of  section 
2  in  township  38,  range  26;  thence  running  south  along  the  section  line 
to  the  center  ot  the  main  channel  of  the  Osage  River;  thence  along  said 
main  channel  to  the  place  where  the  Sac  River  empties  into  said  Osage 
River;  thence  up  the  center  of  the  main  channel  of  said  Sac  River  to  a 
point  where  the  section  line  between  sections  6  and  7,  in  township  37 
of  range  25  crosses  said  river;  thence  east  along  said  section  line  to  the 
southwest  corner  of  section  5  in  said  township;  thence  running  north 
along  the  section  line  to  the  northwest  corner  of  said  section  5;  thence 
running  east  along  the  township  line  to  place  of  beginning. 

THE   PIONEER,  AND  WHEN   HE   CAME. 

Among  the  early  pioneers  who  settled  in  Osceola  Township,  it  is 
rather  hard  to  tell  who  really  came  first.  Daniel  Perrin,  who  came  in 
1835,  and  settled  on  section  23,  east  of  the  town  site  of  Osceola,  was 
among  the  first.  Jonas  Musgrove,  northeast  of  the  town,  on  the  Osage 
River,  came  the  same  year.  Fowler,  of  whom  Fowler's  Bend  is  named 
after,  came  soon  after,  but  he  was  in  Jackson  or  Polk  Township.  Philip 
Crow  came  from  Kentucky  in  the  winter  of  1835,  and  so  did  Reuben  S. 
Nance,  familiarly  known  as  Sanders  Nance,  who  for  twenty  years  was 
surveyor  of  the  county  from  1841  to  1861.  Nance  and  Philip  Crow  had 
a  row,  and  the  timber  which  Nance  had  hauled  on  the  ground  to  build  a 
cabin,  and  the  first  where  the  town  of  Osceola  now  stands,  was  given  up 
by  Nance,  and  Crow  took  possession.  This  was  in  the  winter  of  1835-6. 
The  store  of  Crow  &  Crutchfield  was  opened  in  March,  1836,  and  was 
the  first  store  in  St.  Clair  County,  Richard  P.  Crutchfield,  from  Kentuck}', 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  979 

joining  Crow  that  winter.  Ashby  Peebly  was  another  early  settler,  who 
came  in  1835.  In  1836,  in  April,  Dr.  Pleasant  M.  Cox,  from  Tennessee, 
arrived  and  settled  on  section  20,  the  same  that  Philip  Crow  was  on. 
With  the  doctor  came  his  brothers.  William  and  Joseph,  the  former  set- 
tling on  section  21.  Charles  Bowmar  was  another  early  arrival,  and 
belongs  to  the  pioneers  of  1836,  and  to  him  may  be  added  Washington 
and  Henry  Whitlow.  They  also  done  business  in  Osceola,  and  the  sec- 
ond in  the  town.  They,  however,  settled  first  south  of  town  a  short  dis- 
tance. Bowmar  lived  north  of  the  river,  and  his  neighbors,  in  1837, 
were  Joseph  Coslow  and  Zachariah  Lilly,  who  settled  on  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  20.  South  of  the  river,  in  the  central  and  southern 
portions  of  the  township,  were  Rodney  Walker,  Samuel  Wyatt,  Joel 
Starkey,  Joel  Rodman,  James  Boatman  and  John  W.  Ritchie.  Starkey 
settled  on  section  32,  Wyatt  on  28,  and  the  others  as  neighbors. 

Littleton  Lunsford,  a  Hardshell  Baptist,  also  settled  near  the  above, 
on  29.  He  was  a  specimen  of  the  Lorenzo  Dow  style  of  preaching,  and 
his  description  of  Satan's  kingdom  was  enough  to  make  every  particu- 
lar hair  upon  a  man's  head  stand  right  up.  He  was  thoroughly  Calvin- 
istic  in  doctrine,  and  he  preached  with  all  the  fervor  of  his  nature,  and 
with  an  eloquence  which  at  this  day  is  scarcely  found  among  the  clergy, 
even  at  the  salary  of  $10,000  a  year.  His  education  was  limited,  but  his 
native  genius  and  oratory  was  a  theme  of  wonder  in  all  that  region 
round  about.  There  are  a  few  of  the  old  settlers  yet  living  who  remem- 
ber this  gladiator  of  the  pulpit,  and  who  shudder  to  this  day  while 
thinking  of  Lunsford  as  he  hurled  his  thunderbolts  of  wrath  upon  their 
devoted  heads. 

Where  a  portion  of  the  Lilly  farm  now  lies,  was  owned  in  1836  by 
Alexander  and  Henry  Hoover,  neighbors  also  of  Charles  Bowmar;  and 
Jonas  Caton  settled  the  Walker  place,  near  the  ford  of  the  Osage  by 
that  name.  James  Clayton,  George  W.  McFarland  and  Major  Harris, 
a  son-in-law  of  Dr.  P.  M.  Cox,  all  settled  in  this  township,  although  the 
Harris  place  is  now  in  Doyal. 

John  Thompson  came  in  1840,  and  settled  on  section  28,  and  was 
from  Tennessee.  He  located  on  the  south  part  of  the  southwest  quarter. 
McFarland,  above  mentioned,  staked  his  claim  on  section  36,  in  the 
southeast  corner  of  the  township. 

It  is  stated  that  Phillip  Crow  started,  in  1838,  the  first  mill  in  Cedar 
County,  on  Bear  Creek.  It  was  located  about  three  miles  northeast  of 
where  the  town  of  Stockton  is  now  located,  and  was  for  quite  a  long 
time  the  only  mill  in  that  section  of  country. 

James  Gardner,  who  made  his  home  at  the  county  seat,  was  for  a 
while  a  resident  of  Polk  Township.  John  W.  Bridges,  Rev.  David  Ware 
and  Elder  Keeney,  Stephen  Noel,  David  Corbin  and  son  and  William  C. 
Thompson,  were  all  settlers  in   and   near  Osceola   in    1838.     Charles  P. 


9S0  HISTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

Bullock,  SO  long  county  and  circuit  clerk,  and  the  first  lawyer  in  St.  Clair 
County,  settled  east  of  town,  on  section  15.  Mr.  Bullock,  it  is  said,  still 
lives,  and  is  a  resident  of  Pineville,  McDonald  County. 

Very  few  of  those  whose  names  are  given  above  are  now  living,  but 
one  who  still  maintains  an  erect  bearing  with  a  mind  clear  and  a  mem- 
ory that  is  remarkable,  is  Dr.  P.  M.  Cox.  From  him  we  gathered  much 
valuable  information,  and  the  thanks  of  the  writer  of  this  history  is  here 
earnestly  given. 

MELANGE. 

The  first  white  child  born  in  the  county  was  a  girl,  in  1837,  the 
daughter  of  William  Cox. 

The  first  white  male  child  born  in  the  county  was  George  M.  Cox,  a 
few  months  later,  in  1837. 

The  first  resident  physician  in  the  county  was  Dr.  Pleasant  M.  Cox, 
in  1836. 

The  first  justice  of  the  peace  was  James  Gardner  in  1835. 

The  first  colored  child  born  in  the  county  was  called  Willie  Cox,  his 
mother  being  owned  by  Mr.  William  Cox.     This  child  was  born  in  1837. 

The  first  blacksmith  shop  in  the  county  was  started  by  John  W. 
Bridges  in  1836  or  '37. 

The  first  store  in  the  county  was  Crow  &  Crutchfield's  in  March, 
1836. 

The  first  attorney  was  Charles  P,  Bullock. 

The  first  resident  mininster  was  Littleton  Lunsford. 

The  first  election  held  in  Osceola  Township  was  at  Crow  &  Crutch- 
field's  in  Angust,  1838.  There  had  been  other  elections  but  the  polling 
places  were  in  Doyal  at  Gash's. 

James  Gardner  taught  the  first  school  in  Osceola  Township. 

The  first  horse  mill  was  in  1837,  and  was  the  property  of  Dr.  P.  M. 
Cox. 

The  first  frame  house,  lumber  whip-sawed,  was  put  up  in  1839. 

John  G.  Wright  was  killed  May  3,  1872,  by  a  piece  of  rock  crushing 
his  skull,  from  a  blast  let  off  by  men,  while  working  in  the  cut  north  of 
town  for  the  Memphis  railroad. 

Two  men,  while  on  a  hunt  in  November,  1872,  found  a  tin  can  in  a 
hollow  tree  with  $3,000  in  gold  inclosed.     They  divided. 

The  churches  of  the  township  are  located  at  the  county  seat,  and 
will  be  found  in  that  part  of  this  work.  Schools  outside  of  the  city  of 
Osceola  number  5,  and  each  district  has  a  school  house,  frame,  amply 
provided  with  all  necessary  conveniences. 

The  state  school  fund  for  St.  Clair  County  to  be  distributed  in  May, 
1883,  amounts  to  $4,200.65.  The  same  for  Henry  County  (not  received 
in  time  and  therefore  entered  here)  is  the  sum  of  $6,002.45.     There  are 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  98 1 

in  St.  Clair  County  ninety-eight  school  districts  and  ninety-four  school 
houses.  The  report  of  the  county  superintendent  of  schools  for  1882, 
though  promised  and  repeatedly  called  for,  which  would  have  been  of 
interest  here,  was  withheld.  For  what  reason  cannot  be  by  this  writer 
explained.  The  value  of  school  property  in  1881,  last  report,  was  $32,- 
370,  and  the  school  fund,  county  and  township,  $36,183,50. 

OSCEOLA   TOWNSHIP   OFFICERS. 

1874 — Zach.  Lilly,  trustee;  John  Butcher,  collector;  H.  L.  Luttrel, 
assessor;  C.  J.  Harrison,  clerk. 

1875 — Zacheriah  Lilly,  trustee;  J.  Wade  Gardner,  collector;  C.  C. 
Dorrell,  clerk;  J.  R.  Hopkins  and  J.  W.  Silsby,  justices  of  peace;  P.  M. 
Cox,  assessor;  John  Satterwhite,  constable. 

While  the  future  of  the  township  is  now  bright  and  promising,  it 
will  require  much  from  those  already  living  within  its  borders  to  let  its 
advantages  be  known.  It  is  to  the  developing  of  its  mineral  resources 
and  utilizing  of  its  splendid  water  power  that  will  give  it  material  pro- 
gress. It  has  not  the  extended  field  for  agriculturalists  that  some  of  the 
other  townships  possess,  but  its  location,  commanding,  as  it  will,  both 
railroad  and  water  transportation,  gives  it  a  greater  and  earlier  promise 
of  advanced  prosperity  than  almost  any  other  township  in  the  county. 
Its  people  should  be  up  and  doing  and  its  vast  resources  advertised  to 
the  world.  It  needs  capital  to  develop  these;  therefore  let  it  not  hide 
its  light  under  a  bushel  measure. 

ST.  CLAIR   COUNTY   SEAT. 

Osceola,  the  county  seat,  is  situated  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Osage 
River.  The  surroundings  for  several  miles  are  rich  in  mineral,  particu- 
larly iron  ore.  Men  familiar  with  the  Pennsylvania  iron  region  and  the 
iron  mountains  of  Missouri  say  that  the  hematite  in  this  county,  and 
particularly  in  Jackson  and  Monegaw  Townships,  is  far  superior  to  any- 
thing they  had  ever  seen. 

Manufactories  are  the  chief  need  of  the  town,  and  owing  to  the  tim- 
ber, mineral  and  water  here,  are  a  sure  thing  in  the  near  future.  The 
Osage  River  furnishes  plenty  of  water  to  turn  wheels  and  supply  manu- 
factories for  all  purposes.  Sac  River  empties  into  the  Osage  nearly  in 
sight  of  the  town,  and  the  latter  is  nearly  as  large  as  the  Osage  itself. 
The  Osage  River  is  navigable  to  this  point  several  months  of  the  year, 
and  with  a  small  outlay  by  the  government  large  boats  could  run  to  this 
city  fhe  whole  year  round. 

Before  the  advent  of  railroads  Osceola  was  considered  as  the  head 
of  navigation  of  the  Osage  River,  and  all  Southwest  Missouri  and  a  por- 


982  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUN'IV. 

tion  of  Arkansas  came  here  for  their  goods.  A  city  of  1,500  souls  stood 
here,  one  of  the  liveliest  towns  in  the  state,  but  Jim  Lane  laid  the  place 
in  ashes  and  left  not  even  a  house  to  mark  the  point  where  it  stood. 

ITS  BIRTH. 

The  first  house  built  upon  the  site  of  the  city  of  Osceola  was  built 
in  the  winter  of  1835-36.  Sanders  Nance  and  his  colored  man,  Martin, 
cut  the  logs  and  hauled  them  to  the  bluff  back  of  the  residence  of 
James  H.  Linney,  Trouble  as  to  who  staked  out  the  claim  arose 
between  Nance  and  Phillip  Crow,  and  the  former  vacated  the  ground, 
giving  Crow  possession.  Phillip  Crow  put  up  the  house  and  also  a  store, 
of  poles.  He  was  joined  by  Richard  P.  Crutchfield,  and  in  March,  or 
about  April  ist,  1836,  the  first  store  within  the  limits  of  St.  Clair  Coun- 
ty was  started  on  the  banks  of  Osage  River.  It  was  known  as  the 
"crossing  of  the  Osage  at  Crow  &  Crutchfield's,"  for  several  years,  and 
the  name,  "  Osceola,"  was  given  it  after  the  celebrated  Indian  chief  of 
that  name.  Crow  &  Crutchfield  were  soon  joined  by  others,  and  Dr. 
P.  M.  Cox,  Joseph  Cox  and  William  Cox,  all  brothers,  came  in  May, 
1836.  Dr.  Cox  purchased  the  land  adjoining  Crow's.  Finding  it  a 
good  trading  point,  Messrs.  Cox  and  Crow  decided  to  lay  out  a  town, 
and  they  located  the  same  mostly  on  section  20.  Soon  after  the  store 
and  house  of  poles,  which  was  the  liquid  refreshment  establishment  of 
the  embryo  city,  Phillip  Crow  started  to  build  him  a  residence.  He  did 
so,  on  the  point  where  the  present  lumber  yard  stands,  near  Mr.  F. 
R.  James's  brick  residence.  Dr.  Cox  first  built  on  the  point  just  this 
side  of  the  railroad,  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  20,  and  after- 
ward staked  his  claim  on  section  17.  The  Cox  brothers,  Dr.  P.  M., 
William  and  Joseph,  opened  the  second  store  in  Osceola,  in  the   spring 

of  1837- 

James  Gardner  opened  the  first  hotel,  a  double  log  with  a  passage 
way  between.  Bridges  &  Dudley  run  a  blacksmith  shop,  Dr.  Cox  healed 
the  sick,  and  the  ministers  were  of  the  circuit  riding  class. 

Steven  Noel  started  the  first  saloon  in  the  place,  and  was  the  first 
road  overseer  in  the  county,  having  been  appointed  by  the  Rives 
County  Court  in  1836. 

William  C.  Thompson  started  a  saddler's  shop  in  1838. 

In  1839  David  Corbin  and  son  built  the  first  frame  house  put  up  in 
the  town.  When  completed  it  was  occupied  as  a  tailor  shop  b}'  a 
Frenchman  named  Ernest  Leming.  The  lumber  used  was  whipsawed 
by  the  old  man  Corbin  and  his  sons,  in  the  old  style  of  whipsawing  of 
that  day.  The  next  house,  which  the  owner's  extravagance  led  to  fine 
lumber  instead  of  logs  for  floors,  etc.,  was  that  of  Lawrence  Lewis.  The 
joists  and  planks  in  his  house  and  the   floor   of  his  barn   were  sawed  by 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  983 

hand,  and  the  plank  floor  of  his  residence  was  the  second  laid  down  in 
the  county. 

By  this  time  Osceola  began  to  show  signs  of  permanent  improve- 
ments, and  for  the  next  two  years  grew  steadily.  In  1840  the  popula- 
tion had  reached  the  number  of  about  fifty  to  sixty,  and  Crow  and 
Crutchfield  had  a  portion  of  their  land  platted.  The  first  sale  of  lots, 
of  which  the  deed  was  made  of  record,  was  two  lots  sold  for  $25  each, 
by  the  above  named  parties,  to  James  Dudley  and  Washington  Whitlow 
on  February  21,  1840,  and  was  recorded  the  following  year  after  the 
organization  of  St.  Clair  County.  The  lots  were  lot  i,  in  block  20,  and 
lot  I,  in  block  21,  filed  for  record  March  2Q,  and  recorded  April  10  1841. 

The  first  lot  sold  by  the  county  seat  commissioner,  was  lot  number 
5,  block  16,  for  $13.12^,  on  March  14,  1842,  in  three  installments  of  six 
months  each. 

The  growth  of  the  town,  and  the  near  approach  of  an  independent 
organization  of  the  county,  caused  the  Osceoleans  to  be  on  their  metal, 
for  they  wanted  to  secure  for  themselves  the  county  seat.  So,  taking  in 
the  situation  early,  they  prepared  for  the  struggle  and  won. 

ATTRACTING     ATTENTION. 

The  beautiful  valley  of  the  Osage  and  the  magnificent  region  of 
country  which  lined  its  banks,  extending  back  for  miles,  began  to  attract 
the  attention  of  those  seeking  homes,  in  at  that  time  called  the  region 
of  the  setting  sun.  Osceola  from  its  commanding  situation,  its  magnifi- 
cent surroundings,  comprising  the  valley  and  the  uplands,  the  hills  and 
prairies  of  Southwest  Missouri  became  the  Mecca,  which  brought  its 
devotees  from  not  only  its  own  state,  but  from  Arkansas  and  the  Indian 
Territory. 

WHY   IT   BECAME   NOTED. 

It  was  one  of  the  first  trading  posts  estabished  in  the  interior  of 
Missouri,  and  at  an  early  day  steamboats  navigated  the  Osage,  making 
the  town  the  headwaters  of  navigation.  Yes,  situated  in  the  heart  of 
Southwest  Missouri,  in  the  rich  and  fertile  valley  of  the  Osage,  and  has 
within  easy  and  convenient  access,  an  abundance  of  superior  coal,  lead, 
copper  and  iron;  the  celebrated  Monegaw  Springs,  which  possess  supe- 
rior medicinal  qualities,  and  will  some  day  be  the  great  summer  resort 
of  the  south  and  west,  is  it  any  wonder  that  she  grew  and  prospered, 
and  became  a  city  of  1,500  to  2,000  people.  Then  look  at  her  productive 
capacity.  If  it  is  true  that  water,  wood,  stone  and  coal  are  requisites  for 
a  number  one  location  for  a  town  or  city,  all  these  are  here.  Water  runs 
by  the  town  in  such  quantity  as  to  float  steamboats  six  months  in  the 
year,  and  all  who  have  lived  or  traveled  in  this  country  know  that  the 


984  HISTORY    OF   ST.   CLAIR   COUNTY. 

Osage  water  is  pure.  Of  wood,  the  finest  bodies  of  hard  timber  in  the 
west  are  found.  On  the  Sac  River,  which  empties  into  the  Osage  two 
miles  above  Osceola,  are  also  some  of  the  finest  bodies  of  timber  to  be 
found  anywhere. 

Coal  is  everywhere,  all  around  and  probably  under  the  city,  nearly 
crowded  out  by  an  inexhaustible  supply  of  water   lime  rock  for  manu- 
facturing cement.       Of  this  there  are   two  different,  independent  strat- 
ums,   a  strata  of  at  least  twenty-four  feet  in  thickness,  which  has  an 
exposed  front  on  the  river  bank  from  which  the  rock  can  be  obtained  for 
years  without  blasting,  and  is  pronounced  equal  in  every  respect  to  that      j 
of  the  celebrated  Louisville  cement.     Here  are  both  the  fosiliferous  and      ; 
non-fosiliferous  formations.     Another  very  important  feature  in  this  con- 
nection, is  the  fact  that  no  other  locality  in  the  country  possesses  advan-      1 
tages  over  this,  so  far  as  cheapness  is  concerned  in  its  manufacture,  wood 
and  coal  in  abundance  and   with   an   outlet  to  market  by  means  of  the      | 
Osage  River.     Any  amount  that  can  be  required  of  fine  building  stone,      j 
either  sand  or  lime  stone,  lies  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  town,      i 
Some  of  the  very  best  of  lime  is  that  made  from  this  limestone,  while 
right  adjoining  Osceola  is  some  as  fine  brick  clay  as  is  to  be  found  west      I 
of  St.  Louis, 

In  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Monegaw  Springs,  eight  miles  up  the  \ 
Osage  River  from  the  city,  there  is  a  large  and  valuable  deposit  of  iron,  ■ 
which  can  easily  be  brought  down  the  river  and  smelted  in  the  furnaces  ' 
builded  and  operated  here. 

Such  was  Osceola  and  her  surrounding  up  to  the  commencement  of 
the  civil  war.  She  commanded  the  trade  of  an  extensive  circle  of  coun-  ! 
try.  Her  merchants  kept  stocks  of  all  kinds  of  goods,  exceeding  hun-  1 
dreds  of  thousands  of  dollars  in  value.  Osceola,  then  the  pride  of  all  i 
Southwest  Missouri  and  portions  of  Arkansas,  was  razed  to  the  ground,  I 
not  a  house  being  left  to  mark  the  spot  where  a  few  hours  previously  had  ' 
teemed  and  toiled  nearly  2,000  souls.  1 

From  a  correspondent  of  the  Osceola  Sun  we  extract  the  following,  ' 
giving  a  vivid  description  of  the  destruction  of  this  important  town  and  | 
trading  post: 

THE   BURNING   OF   OSCEOLA   BY  JIM   LANE.  ! 

The  "  Border  War  "  was  know  all  over  the  United  States  long  before 
the  first  cannon  boomed  at  Sumpter,  and  grew  out  of  the  questions  that 
had  long  been  agitated,  whether  Kansas  should  be  a  free  or  slave  state, 
and  it  culminated  in  the  election,  the  freesoilers  carrying  the  day  by  a      : 
small  majority.     Jim  Lane  and  others  of  less  notoriety  began  a  warfare      1 
all  along  the  frontier  counties  in  Missouri,  bordering  on  Kansas.     This      I 
grew  more  bitter  when  Missouri  began   retaliation,  crossing  the  border      j 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUN'JV.  985 

into  Kansas  and  committing  many  depradations  in  revenge  for  deeds 
that  had  been  committed  in  their  state. 

It  was  these  bands  that  afterwards  became  noted  as  the  Missouri 
and  Kansas  guerillas.  .Jim  Lane,  long  before  1861,  had  threatened  to 
make  a  raid  on  Osceola,  for  the  purpose  of  robbing  the  bank  at  this 
point.  Osceola,  at  that  time  was  the  great  metropolis  of  southwest 
Missouri,  and  in  fact,  it  was  the  greatest  commercial  city  west  of  Jeffer- 
son City  or  southwest  of  Boonville.  The  people  of  St.  Clair  County  had 
nothing  to  do  with  casting  illegal  votes  in  the  Kansas  election,  nor  had 
they  taken  any  part  in  the  border  war.  About  the  first  of  December, 
i860,  Jim  Lane  collected  together  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  of  his 
followers  and  started  for  Osceola.  After  moving  his  band  as  far  east  as 
Papinville,  he  retraced  his  steps  back  across  the  border  line,  and  his 
band  disbanded,  subject  to  the  call  of  their  leader.  The  cause  of  his 
sudden  change  of  mind  was  that  the  citizens  of  St.  Clair  County  had 
been  informed  of  the  object  of  his  visit,  and  had  collected  in  force  for 
the  defense  of  their  beautiful  county  seat.  Fully  five  hundred  well 
armed  men  were  ready  to  met  him  and  they  remained  on"  guard  till  all 
danger  was  over.  Lane  kept  up  his  agitation  of  a  raid  on  Osceola,  and 
pictured  to  his  followers  in  glowing  colors  the  vast  amount  of  wealth 
that  would  be  secured  from  the  town  and  bank,  but  they  well  knew  that 
the  old  pioneers  would  never  give  their  consent,  and  that  the  streams 
would  be  dyed  with  blood  as  long  as  the  old  Virginians  and  Kentuckians, 
by  whom  the  county  was  populated,  had  strength  enough  to  level  the 
ever  ready  and  never  failing  rifle.  Soon  after  this  futile  attempt  of  Lane's 
the  thunder  of  battle  sounded  along  Columbia's  southern  shore. 

Fort  Sumpter  fell,  star  after  star  shot  from  the  cluster  of  states,  and 
southern  blood  and  valor  were  at  fever  heat  and  rallying  to  arms. 
1 86 1  was  here,  and  war  was  inaugurated.  The  blaze  of  battle  began 
to  scorch  the  fair  fields  of  the  sunny  south,  and  the  great  commonwealth 
of  Missouri  was  suffering  terribly  from  invading  armies  on  three  sides 
of  her,  she  being  almost  a  desolate  daughter  of  the  Southern  Confed- 
eracy. Illinois  joined  with  Kansas  and  sent  untold  numbers  of  plunder- 
ers into  the  richest  districts  of  Missouri.  Banks  were  robbed,  the 
wealthiest  citizens  plundered,  stock  driven  off,  and  wagons  and  teams 
stolen  and  loaded  with  the  goods  taken  from  the  people,  and  wearing 
apparel  and  jewelry  of  every  description  was  taken  from  the  ladies. 
There  never  was  a  richer  field  for  plunder  than  Missouri  in  1861.  The 
people  flew  to  arms.  Old  men  and  boys  alike,  regardless  of  age,  form- 
ed themselves  into  home  guards  for  protection  against  the  numerous 
bands  of  outlaws  that  overran  the  state.  Guerilla  bands  were  organized 
all  along  the  bloody  border,  and  a  jayhawker  and  guerilla  war  began  in 
earnest.  Old  men  and  boys  were  murdered  by  the  jayhawker  bands 
for  opinions'  sake,  and  "blood  for  blood  "  became  the  rallying  cry;  and, 


986  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

to  give  a  more  bitter  aspect  to  the  feeling,  black  flags  were  unfurled  by 
both  parties,  and  the  glare  of  the  burning  houses  served  to  show  where 
the  human  monsters  had  left  their  prey. 

As  men  were  now  hurrying  off  to  join  the  regular  army  the  Mis- 
souri border  was  left  pretty  much  unprotected,  and  the  Jayhawkers 
widened  their  field  of  operations.  In  September,  1861,  while  General 
Price's  army  was  at  Lexington,  and  no  Confederate  soldiers  in  St.  Clair 
County,  except  a  few  stragglers  and  recruiting  officers,  Lane  considered 
his  chance  for  carrying  out  his  long  neglected  threat  of  burning  and 
sacking  Osceola.  It  stands  on  the  right  or  south  bank  of  the  Osage 
River,  and  is  one  of  the  healthiest  towns  in  the  West,  being  situated 
upon  a  beautiful  elevation  200  feet  above  the  river  bed  and  surrounded 
by  beautiful,  rolling  ridges,  at  the  foot  of  which  gush  forth  springs  of 
sparkling  water  of  the  finest  quality  and  taste.  St.  Clair  County  was 
settled  up  by  a  thrifty  and  enterprising  people,  who  turned  their  atten- 
tion largely  to  stock  raising,  and  a  majority  of  them  had  grown  wealthy 
before  hostilities  began.  Men  of  wealth  and  enterprise  bought  property 
in  Osceola  and  went  into  business.  The  town  is  considered  at  the  head 
of  navigation,  although  the  boats  have  ascended  as  far  up  the  beautiful 
stream  as  Taberville,  at  or  near  the  western  boundary  of  the  county. 
Boats  ascended  the  river  as  far  as  Osceola  regularly  before  the  breaking 
out  of  the  war,  and  the  town  became  the  great  shipping  point  for  eleven 
counties  in  the  Southwest,  and  goods  were  also  hauled  from  this  point  to 
Benton  County,  Arkansas. 

The  town  had  grown  to  large  proportions,  and  was  a  mine  of  wealth 
to  the  citizens  of  the  county.  To  show  the  flourishing  condition  of  our 
county  in  i860,  it  is  only  necessary  to  say  we  had  a  common  school  fund 
of  $98,000.  There  were  twelve  or  fifteen  business  houses  in  town,  and 
several  did  wholesale  as  well  as  retail  business.  Prominent  among  the 
business  men  we  may  mention  Johnson  &  Vaughn,  John  F.  Weidemeyer 
&  Son,  dry  goods;  John  Yeater,  dry  goods  and  groceries;  Sterns  & 
Baker,  saddlery,  and  Sterns  also  had  a  shoe  shop;  Dorchester,  hardware; 
Clark  Vaughn,  hardware;  Dr.  Dorrell,  drugs;  Henry  Pollard  and  Richard 
Fuell,  hotels  and  livery.  Besides  these  we  had  one  furniture  store,  sev- 
eral saloons  and  blacksmith  shops,  several  church  houses,  a  carding  fac- 
tory, tan  yard  and  several  other  businesses,  including  a  bank  and  news- 
paper office.  The  newspaper  was  owned  by  Richard  (Dick)  Devin,  who 
died  not  long  since.  The  bank  was  contolled  and  principally  owned  by 
Messrs.  Johnson,  Vaughn  and  Weidmeyer.  The  court  house  was  a  fine 
brick  structure  which  had  been  built  at  a  cost  of  $15,000  to  the  county. 
Johnson  &  Vaughn  and  John  F.  Weidmeyer  &  Son  did  wholesale  busi- 
ness, and  at  times  as  many  as  a  hundred  wagons  from  the  southwest 
counties  were  on  the  streets  or  backyards  waiting  for  loading  at  these 
two  business  houses.     The  place  had  long  been  the  "  apple  in  the  eye" 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  987 

of  Jim  Lane  as  the  richest  strike  in  the  southwest,  and  on  the  22d  day 
of  September,  1861,  he  collected  together  about  two  hundred  of  his  band 
and  from  a  point  near  Fort  Scott  made  a  bee  line  for  the  town. 

The  bank  deposits,  amounting  to  about  $150,000,  had  been  removed 
to  other  cities  for  better  security,  as  the  directors  knew  the  exposed  con- 
dition of  the  place,  and  Lane's  desire  to  raid  the  town.  The  line  of 
march  of  the  Jayhawkers  led  down  the  south  side  of  the  Osage  River 
from  Fort  Scott  to  Osceola,  a  distance  of  about  sixty  miles.  They  crossed 
Sac  River  at  the  Waldo  Ford.  Sac  River  is  a  small  stream  that  empties 
into  the  Osage  two  miles  above  Osceola.  On  the  23d  day  of  September, 
1861,  about  eight  o'clock  P.  M.,  Lane  and  his  band  entered  the  town  with 
torches  in  hand  and  two  pieces  of  artillery.  No  Confederate  soldiers 
were  occupying  the  town  at  the  time  of  their  entrance,  but  Captain  John 
M.  Weidemeyer  and  fortj'  men  chanced  to  be  in  the  vicinity,  and  as  Lane 
entered  the  town  they  fired  upon  him  from  the  brush,  and  then  slowly 
retreated  in  the  direction  of  Warsaw.  Weidemeyer  has  since  often  been 
heard  to  say  that  if  he  could  have  pictured  the  scene  which  a  short 
twenty-four  hours  was  to  bring  forth,  he  and  his  men  would  have  died 
in  their  tracks  before  deserting  the  doomed  city.  The  pillage  soon 
began.  Instead  of  pursuing  Weidemeyer  the  Jayhawkers  burst  open  the 
doors  of  the  bank  and  removed  the  safe  that  had  contained  the  money, 
and  blew  it  open,  but  only  a  (e\v  private  papers  of  no  value  to  any  one 
except  the  owners  rewarded  them  for  their  trouble.  Finding  himself 
balked,  Lane  flew  into  a  towering  rage,  and  swore  the  whole  town  should 
suffer  the  consequences,  and  be  burned  and  pillaged.  The  clan  were 
ordered  to  search  the  town  for  anything  of  value.  No  citizens  from  the 
country  were  allowed  to  pass  the  pickets  under  any  circumstances  while 
the  pillage  was  going  on. 

The  morning  of  the  24th,  Dr.  John  Trollinger  and  three  others 
wished  to  cross  the  river  into  town,  not  knowing  that  it  was  infested  by 
Lane  and  his  band.  They  arrived  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  and 
hallooed  for  a  skiff  to  bring  them  over.  This  was  done,  but  no  sooner 
were  they  safely  landed  than  they  were  fired  upon  by  fifty  or  sixty  out- 
laws. The  doctor  received  eleven  buckshot  wounds,  though  not  of  a 
serious  character,  and  one  of  his  friends,  named  Summers,  was  shot  in 
the  mouth  with  a  minnie  ball,  which  carried  away  a  part  of  his  jawbone 
and  injured  him  for  life.  The  other  two  managed  to  escape,  leaving 
their  horses  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 

As  Zachariah  Lilley,  one  of  the  old  pioneers  of  the  county,  and  a 
man  greatly  beloved  by  all  who  know  him,  was  fording  the  river  on 
horseback,  aiming  to  come  to  town,  he  was  fired  on  by  the  guard,  and 
the  gentleman  had  to  wheel  his  horse  and  dash  into  the  timber  to  save 
his  life,  the  bullets  whistling  around  him  in  a  very  unpleasant  manner, 
but  fortunately  he  escaped  unscathed. 


988  HISTORY    or   ST.   CLAIR   COUNTY 

] 

In  this  manner  they  fired  on  everyone  who   dared   to   approach   the  j 
town.     By  night  the  pillage  was  over,  and  a  large  wagon  train  had  been ; 
loaded  with  the  spoils.     Negroes   swarmed   to  Lane  like  flies  around  a 
carcass,  and  were  permitted    to  load  themselves   down   with  goods   of 
every  description.     What  was  considered  of  little  value  or  too  bulky  for  j 
easy    removal    was    thrown   into  the    streets.      Hundreds  of    barrels  of 
whisky  had  their  heads  knocked  out,  and  the  contents  formed  little  rivu- 
lets and  ran  into  the  river.     The   court   house  was  broken  open  and  the  j 
county  records  destroyed.     And  now  Lane   ordered   his   men  to  scatter 
and  apply  the  torch  to  every  house  in   town.     The   band   went  to  work,  | 
and  soon  the  business  portion  of  the  town  was  a  seething  mass  of  flames.] 

The  fire  leaped  from  house  to  house.   The  flames  and  smoke  seemed  ] 
to  have  reached  their  element,  but  still  the  storm  raged  on.  The  county  i 
buildings   were   soon   enveloped   by   the  devouring   fiend,   but  still   the  ' 
flames  went  up      It  was  not  long  before  the  entire  city  of  magnificence  ■ 
and  wealth — the  pride  of  the  entire    people  of  Southwest  Missouri,  was 
a   smoking  mass   of  ruins.     Even  the   women   and   children   were    not 
allowed  to  move  anything  from  their  burning  houses,  and  much  suffer- 
ing was  the  result.     Soon  the  work  of  destruction    was  finished.     Lane  ' 
and  his  men  started  with  their  plunder  for  Kansas,  leaving  old  age  and  j 
helpless  innocence  to  keep  vigil  over  the  dead  and  wounded,  and  water; 
with  tears  the  spot  which  only  a  few  short  hours  before  had  been  peace-  i 
ful,  contented,  happy   homes.     In    Lane's   official   report  to  the  govern- 1 
ment  he  said  he   had  taken  $  1, 000,000  worth   of  goods  away  with  him,  I 
and  it  could  not  have  fallen  short  of  that  amount,  and  it  is  safe  to  say  he  ' 
destroyed  a  great  deal  more  than  he  carried  away.  , 

But  the  city  of  Osceola  was  fearfully  avenged  when  Lawrence,  j 
Kansas,  was  razed  to  the  ground,  and  the    inhabitants   scattered  to  the  \ 

four  winds  of  heaven. 

I 
THE   NEW   LIFE.  I 

I 

The  war  ended,  as  all  wars  do  in  time,  and  Osceola  arose  to  a 
new  life.  The  destruction  of  the  old  town  had  been  complete,  and  ai 
new  city  on  the  banks  of  the  beautiful  Osage  was  to  be  raised  upon  its! 
ruins.  All  was  not  lost.  The  land  was  there,  some  of  the  owners  still! 
lived,  and  the  spot  nature  had  marked  out  for  the  homes  of  a  generous 
and  hospitable  people  was  to  be  restored,  and  where  all  was  ruin  and  ' 
desolation,  a  glorious  city  was  to  arise,  and  a  cultured  and  refined  peo-  ! 
pie  would  make  of  it  bright  and  beautiful  homes,  and  for  true  and  j 
generous  hospitality,  an  abiding  place.  1 

So  new  Osceola  commenced  life,  not  rapidly  but  steadily,  and  where  1 
but  a  (qw  years  since  was  ruin,  now  stands  an  embryo  city  .of"  some  1 
550  inhabitants,  with  a  future  before  it  unsurpassed  in  all  the  length  i 
and    breadth    of    this    land.       All  her    wealth  of  timber  and    mineral  ' 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY.  989 

resources  are  still  left  her,  the  boundless  prairies,  the  rich  upland  and 
imperishable  bottom  lands  are  still  there  to  give  up  annually  the 
richness  of  their  inexhaustible  nature,  her  water  power  and  the  enter- 
prise of  her  citizens  will  yet  place  her  in  an  enviable  position  before 
her  sister  cities. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  a  new  order  of  things  were  inaugurated  and 
the  town  soon  took  a  reasonable  start  and  grew,  not  so  fast  as  could  be 
wished  for,  but  steadily  and  solidly.  The  want  of  railroad  facilities  were 
a  drawback,  for  the  road  north  of  her  and  one  south  drew  the  travel 
away,  but  a  brighter  day  is  dawning,  and  before  the  present  decade  has 
passed  two  railroads  will  be  at  her  door,  bringing  and  receiving  wealth 
as  they  pass.  Her  growth  required  the  incorporation  of  the  village  into 
a  town,  and  to  this  end  a  petition  was  circulated,  with  the  following 
result. 

OSCEOLA   INCORPORATED. 

The  people  of  Osceola  concluded,  like  Roscoe,  to  become  a  body 
politic;  so  they  also  came  before  the  county  court  to  have  their  village 
raised  to  the  dignity  of  a  town.  The  petition  was  presented  to  the 
county  court  for  action  August  6,  1868,  and  reads  as  follows: 

Whereas,  The  petition  of  W.  O.  Mead,  J.  W.  Ramsey,  E.  J.  Smith, 
Thomas  J.  Monroe,  Wm.  D.  Graham,  J.  Wade  Gardner,  Lindsey  Barnes, 
Thomas  D.  Hicks,  Alfred  G.  Clarke,  T.  B.  Sutherland,  F.  W.  Johnston, 
E.  B.  Daniel,  Charles  E.  Spedden,  W.  S.  Terry,  Joseph  P.  Landes,  R.  S. 
Graham,  E.  P.  Bartlett,  W.  P.  Sheldon,  William  H.  Scoby,  G.  W.  Shields, 
E.  T.  Daniel,  William  Williamson  and  Henry  Florsheim  has  this  day 
been  filed,  praying  that  they  may  be  incorporated  in  the  following  metes 
and  bounds,  to  wit:  As  the  same  is  laid  out  and  described  in  the  ori- 
ginal town  plat  of  said  town  of  Osceola  drawn  by  Phillip  Crow  and  R. 
P.  Crutchfield,  and  now  remains  on  file  in  the  office  of  the  clerk  of  the 
circuit  court  and  recorder  of  said  county  of  St.  Clair,  and  also  described 
and  set  out  in  the  plat  of  Cole's  addition  to  the  said  town  of  Oscola  be, 
and  the  court  being  satisfied  that  two-thirds  of  the  inhabitants  of  said 
town  be  incorporated  within  the  boundsabove  mentioned,  and  they  shall 
be  known  as  the  "  Inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Osceola,"  and  the  court 
appoints  as  trustees  William  O.  Mead,  T.  B.  Sutherland,  William  Wil- 
liamson, Charles  E.  Spedden  and  Henry  Florsheim  until  legal  termina- 
tion. 

The  above  named  trustees  failed  to  qualify  in  the  time  prescribed  by 
law,  and  their  appointment  was  revoked,  and  on  December  14,  1868,  E. 
T.  Daniels,  William  Williamson,  Thomas  B.  Sutherland,  J.  Wade  Gard- 
ner and  William  O.  Mead  were  appointed  as  trustees  upon  the  same 
condition  as  the  others,  "until  legal  termination  thereof"  The  same 
year,  1868,  Cole's  addition  was  added,  but  before  the  date  of  incorpora- 
tion. 


990  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY,  { 

There  was  very  little  to  change  the  steady  progress  of  the  city  for 
several  years.  The  hope  of  a  railroad  enthused  the  people  for  awhile, 
but  it  turned  to  ashes  on  their  lips  and  fraud  triumphed.  The  Hopkin- 
son  Mill  was  started  in  1870  and  completed  June  15,  187 1.  It  was  a  good 
mill,  with  all  the  modern  jflouring  machinery  in  use  at  that  date.  It  was 
named  the  "Eclipse  Mill,"  and  had  three  run  of  burrs,  while  the  building 
itself  on  a  solid  rock  foundation  was  30x40  feet  in  size,  two  and  one -half 
stories  high.  The  expected  advent  of  a  railroad  started  the  citizens  into 
activity,  and  the  improvements  during  the  year  were  many.  Among 
these  improvements  the  following  property  holders  put  up  one  or  more 
buildings:  T.  Amrine,  J.  Baldwin,  E.  P.  Bartlett,  D.  N.  Batchelor,  J. 
Bowers,  Lewis  Conant,  G.  Culley,  F.  Daniel,  E.  T.  Daniels,  S.  G.  Dis- 
brow,  J.  W.  Dooley,  S.  H.  Donovan,  S.  Faurot,  J.  C.  Ferguson,  W.  Fuqua, 
J.  L.  Hicks,  J.  T.  Hopkinson,  G.  Jones,  H.  Kibbie,  P.  Knipe,  D.  C. 
McNeil,  L.  A.  Mentzer  &  Co.  (post  office),  G.  S.  Monroe,  A.  J.  Moore, 
W.  Moore,  J.  L.  Osborn  &  Co.,  W.  H.  Osborn,  A.  B.  Brock,  J.  P.  Ryan, 
W.  P.  Sheldon,  D.  P.  Shield,  A.  S.  Stewart,  trustees  M.  E.  Church,  W. 
Williamson,  W.  F.  Wynkoop.  Mr.  John  Hancock  also  erected  a  fine 
residence. 

This,  however,  did  not  include  all,  while  in  many  cases  repairs  and 
additions  would  foot  up  to  considerable  sums. 

STAGE    LINES. 

A  daily  line  of  coaches  to  Clinton,  started  in  1871,  making  close 
connections  with  trains  east  and  west  on  the  Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas 
Railroad.  A  tri-weekly  line  to  Bolivar  was  also  started,  affording  the 
means  of  transit  to  that  point,  from  which  stages  left  for  Springfield, 
Lebanon  and  other  parts  of  the  southwest. 

There  were  seventeen  business  houses  in  the  city  in  1875,  besides 
six  lawyers,  five  physicians,  one  saloon,  two  hotels,  one  dentist,  three 
carpenters,  one  steam  saw  and  grist  mill,  one  cooper,  one  blacksmith 
and  one  paint  shop,  two  livery  stables,  two  banks  and  one  newspaper. 
This  was  not  much  improved  until  1880  the  town  remaining  almost  sta- 
tionary in  its  growth.  The  trouble  with  the  railroad  debt  caused  gen- 
eral stagnation. 

INCIDENTS   OCCURRING. 

Osceola  Cornet  Band  flourished  in  1870,     It  "  petered  "  out. 
The  weather  in  the  summer  of  1870  was   extremely  warm  at  spells, 
and  a  record  was  kept  for  two  weeks,  that  from  June  23,  at  12,  as  below: 

dgs  above 
zere. 

June  23    95 

June  24 94 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  991 

dgs  above 
zero. 

June  25 94 

June  26 84 

June  27 94 

June  28 97 

June  29 98 

Then  again  in  July,  1870,  as  follows: 

July    14 91 

July  15 92 

July  16 92 

July  17 100 

July  18 95 

July  19 94 

July  20 , 94 

An  average  of  94  degrees  above  zero  for  seven  consecutive  days, 
each. 

SEVERE   STORMS. 

The  most  remarkable  snow  storm  ever  passed  over  Osceola,  occur- 
red January  5,  1871.  Starting  in  with  a  rain  storm,  the  thermome- 
ter standing  at  65  degrees,  and  then  within  an  hour  turning  first  to 
sleet  and  then  to  snow,  continuing  almost  constantly  from'  Thursdayr 
at  9  p.  m.,  to  Sunday  morning,  when  the  snow  lay  on  the  ground  to 
the  depth  of  about  14  inches.  Nothing  was  like  it  according  to  the 
report  of  the  "oldest  inhabitant,"  though  something  of  the  kind,  but 
not  so  severe,  happened  in    1863. 

William  Sanders,  a  desperate  character,  was  shot  and  killed  by 
Marshal  John  P.  Wilson,  in  trying  to  secure  his  arrest,  September  27, 
1872. 

The  Osceola  Savings  Bank  opened  for  business,  September  2, 
1872.     John   Hancock,  president;  W.  O.   Mead,  cashier. 

A  fire  occurred  on  the  night  of  December  7,  1872,  destroying  a 
barn  and  contents,  valued  at  $500.  L.  A.  Mentzer  lost  a  valuable 
horse  at  the  same  time. 

A  hack  line  was  established  in  January,  1872,  between  Osceola 
and  Appleton  City. 

The  Osage  Literary  Club  was  in  existence  in  1872  and  1873,  and  a 
Philosophic-Literary  club  was  again  started  in  1879;  They  are  of  the 
past. 

An  Archery  Club  was  organized  which  attained  considerable  skill. 
In  a  trial  of  skill  between  opposing  sides  the  following  were  the  win- 
ners: Capt.  J.  H.  Linney,  Miss  Sallie  Harris,  Mrs.  E.  L.  Landes,  Miss 
Lizzie  Lilley,  Mrs.  J.  H.  Linney,.  Mrs.  J.  H.  Lucas,  Will  Lilley,  L.  Con- 
ant,  Miss  Ella  Amrine. 


\^ 


992  HISTORY  OF    ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY. 

JUDGE    LYNCH. 


One  of  the  most  exciting  incidents  in  the  record  of  the  town  of 
Osceola  took  place  on  the  night  of  May  12,  1880.  Murders  had  been 
committed,  and  somehow  while  the  victims  perished,  the  perpetrators 
always  managed  to  escape.  This  got  to  be  very  trying  to  the  people, 
for  it  made  crifqinals  bolder  and  men's  lives  were  constantly  in  jeop- 
ardy. At  last,  when  some  three  or  four  murderers  were  confined  in  jail, 
the  vigilants,  under  Judge  Lynch,  decided  to  take  matters  in  their 
own  hands,  and  they  did. 

On  the  night  above  mentioned  about  150  men  marched  up  to  the 
jail  and  ordering  the  sheriff  not  to  interfere,  coolly  broke  the  locks  and 
took  out  Smith,  who  was  confined  for  killing  Triplett;  Parks  and  Pierce, 
who  had  been  confined  for  some  time  for  the  killing  of  Bohan,  and  delib- 
erately hung  all  three.  They  were  well  armed  and  thoroughly  disguised 
but  left  word  that  hereafter  murderers  would  suffer  the  penalties  of  their 
crimes  and  lawyers  would  not  be  allowed  to  clear  them.  The  bodies 
were  left  hanging  until  daylight  and  then  taken  down  and  brought  to 
the  court  house.  A  coroner's  jury  decided  that  Judge  Lynch  had  ordered 
the  execution  of  the  criminals,  but  could  not  lay  their  hands  on  this 
important  personage,  and  this  ended  the  horror. 

MAKING   A   SQUARE. 

The  people  of  Osceola  did  not  wish  exactly  to  square  the  circle  but 
they  did  wish  that  the  boundary  of  the  town  of  Osceola  should  not  have 
angular  lines,  but  to  have  square  corners  and  right  angles  and  this  was 
effected  in  May.  1882,  as  follows: 

BOUNDARY   OF   OSCEOLA. 

On  the  4th  day  of  May,  1882,  the  town  of  Osceola  petitioned  to 
have  her  boundary  enlarged,  and  produced  a  plat  which  was  filed,  of 
land  adjoining  the  town  of  Osceola.  Some  of  this  land  platted  was 
subdivided  into  lots  and  streets  and  the  other  lands  contained  in  the 
boundary  set  forth  below  with  that  portion  already  subdivided,  is  neces- 
sary to  make  Osceola  even  and  with  regular  boundar\-  lines.  These 
lands  added  and  included  in  the  plat  filed  are  described  as  follows: 

Beginning  at  meander  post  6,  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Osage  River, 
at  a  point  where  the  line  between  fractional  sections  19  and  20,  in  town- 
ship 38,  of  range  25,  enters  the  Osage  River  on  the  south  side,  also  the 
initial  descriptive  point  from  whence  the  town  of  Osceola  was  originally 
laid  out;  thence  south  on  line  between  sections  19  and  20,  32  chains  and 
14  links,  according  to  the  L^nited  States  survey,  to  the  southwest  corner 
of  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  20;  thence 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   CLAIR   COUNTY.  993 

east  on  the  line  between  the  north  and  south  half  of  the  south  half  of 
section  20,  60  chains,  more  or  less,  according  to  the  United  States  sur- 
vey, to  the  center  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  said  section  20;  thence 
north  80  chains,  more  or  less,  according  to  the  United  States  survey,  to 
the  center  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  17;  thence  west  on  the 
line  between  the  north  and  south  half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  said 
section  17,  20  chains,  more  or  less,  according  to  the  United  States  sur- 
vey, to  the  quarter  section  line  running  north  and  south  through  the 
center  of  said  section  17;  thence  north  on  said  quarter  section  line  14 
chains  and  60  links,  more  or  less,  to  the  Osage  River;  thence  follovv^ing 
the  meanderings  of  the  Osage  River  up  the  river  on  the  right  bank  to 
meander  post  6.  the  place  of  beginning. 

The  court  further  finds  that  the  foregoing  boundary  and  description 
of  the  corporation,  as  aforesaid,  is  inclusive  of  the  original  boundary  of 
the  town  of  Osceola,  Missouri,  and  that  the  said  description  compre- 
hends the  addition  to  the  town  of  Osceola  according  to  the  plat  of  survey. 

Therefore,  be  it  ordered,  adjudged  and  decreed  that  the  land 
described  as  aforesaid,  be  added  to  and  incorporated  within  the  corpor- 
ation of  the  town  of  Osceola,  Missouri,  and  that  this  order  be  spread 
on  the  records  of  the  court. 

POSTMASTERS. 

The  first  postmaster  of  Osceola  was  Philip  Crow,  in  1838.  In  1862, 
Daniel  H.  Webster  became  postmaster,  and  in  1870,  L.  A.  Mentzer,  a 
very  popular  gentleman,  became  postmaster,  and  is  still  in  charge  of  the 
ofifice. 

CHURCHES   OF   OSCEOLA — PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

On  the  first  Sabbath  in  March,  1842,  a  number  of  the  citizens 
belonging  to  the  above  denomination  decided  upon  the  organization  of 
a  church,  and  the  following  named  persons  were  the  original  members: 
Samuel  W.  Harris,  Robert  Osborn,  Lawrence  Lewis,  Elizabeth  Cox, 
Melissa  Osborn,  Samuel  S.  Moore,  Dooey  Osborn,  Elizabeth  Osborn. 
The  Revs.  Amasa  Jones  and  E.  P.  Nod  organized  the  church.  The  Rev. 
Amasa  Jones  was  one  of  the  first  preachers  and  teachers  at  Harmony 
Mission,  going  there  in  the  year  1820,  and  from  there  removing  to  or 
near  a  place  called  Germantown,  in  the  year  1838.  The  congregation 
had  no  regular  pastor  up  to  1855,  and  at  this  time  its  communicants 
numbered  twenty-two.  The  elders  of  the  church  were  Samuel  W.  Har- 
ris and  Robert  Osborn.  Up  to  1859  the  church  was  supplied  by  the 
Rev.  Amasa  Jones,  Rev.  G.  W.  Harlan  and  Rev.  J.  V.  Barks.  In  Feb- 
ruary of  the  latter  year,  the  Rev.  J.  V.  Barks  was  unanimously  invited 
to  act  as  stated  supply  for  that  year,  which  he  did,  and  this  ended  the 
proceedings  of  the  church  of  ante  bellum  days. 

When  peace  had  come,  and  prosperity  or  the  hope  of  prasperity 
had  begun  to  dawn  in  the  minds  of  the  people,  the  old  members  of  the 
church  once  more  thought  of  its  reorganization,  and  in  September,  1867, 


994  HISTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

this  was  accomplished  by  the  Rev.  J.  M.  Brown,  with  the  following  list 
of  members:  G.  W.  Shield,  Thomas  J.  Monroe,  T.  B.  Ney,  Miss  A.  E. 
Wise,  Miss  L.  Hicks,  E.  P.  Bartlett,  Miss  J.  A.  Scobey  and  J.  P.  Landes. 

The  church  was  named  the  "  Presbyterian  Church  of  Osceola."  On 
November  28,  1868,  the  Rev.  D.  C.  Milner,  who  had  been  called  to  the 
pastorate,  preached  his  first  sermon  and  remained  in  charge  three  years, 
and  proved  himself  an  earnest  and  faithful  embassador  for  Christ. 

A  church  building  was  needed,  and  in  the  winter  of  1870-1  prepara- 
tions were  made  to  erect  a  brick  church  ample  in  accommodation  for  all 
who  wish  to  come,  and  this  was  done.  The  church,  a  fine  brick  building, 
was  completed  ready  for  occupancy  in  1871,  and  was  and  is  one  of  the 
most  imposing  brick  structures  in  the  city.  It  was  then  to  be  dedicated, 
and  this  occurred  soon  after,  and  a  description  of  the  ceremony  is  here 
given,  with  a  short  history  of  the  church. 

The  dedication  was  by  the  Rev.  C.  H.  Dunlap,  of  Sedalia,  whose 
eloquence  and  impressive  manners  caused  deep  feeling  throughout  the 
ceremony.  He  took  the  following  for  his  text,  being  the  first  verse  of 
the  I22d  Psalm:  "And  I  was  glad  when  they  said  unto  me,  'Let  us  go 
up  into  the  house  of  the  Lord.'" 

Some  items  concerning  the  "rise  and  progress"  of  this  building 
may  not  prove  uninteresting  to  our  readers.  The  subscription  paper 
was  first  started  by  the  Rev.  J.  M.  Brown,  now  of  Neosho,  over  three 
years  since.  Two  lots  were  kindly  donated  by  the  Hon.  Waldo  P.  John- 
son, three  lots  purchased  by  extra  subscription  and  the  corner  stone  of 
the  building  was  laid  in  1870.  The  original  cost  of  the  building,  which 
is  38x56,  together  with  the  current  value  of  the  lots,  makes  the  entire 
church  property  worth  about  $4,500. 

This  building  was  the  first  church  edifice  completed  since  the  war. 
Its  interior  arrangements  are  comfortable  and  pleasant,  and  its  exterior 
neat  and  attractive. 

In  1872  the  Rev.  G.  W.  McMillen  began  his  labors  for  the  church, 
and  severed  his  connection  in  1873.  In  addition,  from  1874  to  1879,  the 
following  named  pastors  officiated,  in  the  order  named:  Rev.  William 
P.  Baker,  (now  dead)  Rev.  William  M.  Reed  and  Rev.  S.  W.  Mitchell. 
From  the  latter  date  to  the  present  time,  with  but  short  intervals,  the 
Rev.  J.  F.  Watkins  has  ministered  to  the  church.  It  has  prospered 
greatly  under  his  administration.  It  has  now  a  membership  of  sixty. 
Present  session  of  church,  Hugh  R.  McAllister,  Scott  Nesbit  and  W.  E. 
Lilley. 

M.    E.    CHURCH,   SOUTH. 

Tljis  church  was  organized  before  the  war,  and  had  a  fine  church 
building,  which  was  destroyed  by  fire  with  Osceola's  destruction.  The 
church  was   re-organized   in    1871,  with  the  tollowing  members:     Mrs. 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   CLAIR   COUNTY.  995 

Augusta  Baldwin,  Dr.  Doyal  and  wife,  and  Mrs.  James  Hicks  and  two 
others,  names  forc^otten.  Their  present  membership  is  thirty-one. 
Rev.  Mr.  Prottsman  was  the  presiding  elder  and  organized  the  church. 
The  pastors  have  been  Rev.  Briggs,  Rev.  Armstrong,  Rev.  Bruding 
Rev.  Doner,  Rev.  Hultz,  Rev.  James  Baughrenburg,  Rev.  Stewart,  and 
the  present  pastor.  Rev.  James  Proctor.  The  society  built  a  very  neat 
church  (frame)  in  i88i,  costing  $8oo.  The  Sunday  School  has  sixty-five 
scholars,  I.  M.  Woodall  superintendent.  The  school  is  in  a  prosperous 
condition,  as  is  also  the  church. 

CHRISTIAN   CHURCH. 

This  church  was  organized  in  1871,  by  Elder  W.  J.  Burge,  of  Henry 
County,  with' sixty  members,  the  following  names  only  being  given: 
Dr.  Hamilton  and  wife,  Mrs.  Sutherland,  James  R.  Johnston  and  wife, 
James  M.  Pugh  and  W.  W.  Warren.  Since  its  organization  Elder  War- 
ren has  been  its  pastor.     Its  members  now  number  thirty. 

REMARKS. 

The  writer  failed  to  receive,  though  often  asked  for,  the  report  of 
the  Baptist,  and  many  churches  returned  but  skeleton  remarks.  The 
only  full  and  satisfactory  report  came  from  the  Presbyterian  Church  and 
is  given  in  full.  All  others  would  have  been  as  well  treated  had  reports 
been  sent  in  as  requested. 

M.    E.   CHURCH. 

After  the  close  of  the  war,  in  1865,  this  church  was  organized  with 
Thomas  M  Johnson,  Mrs.  Anna  Johnson,  E.  J.  Smith,  Dr.  D.  C.  McNiel, 
William  W.  Johnson,  Mary  Gardner,  E.  M.  Westfall,  Susan  Reese,  G.  H. 
Whitaker  and  wife,  L.  N.  Davis  and  wife,  Pauline  J.  Landes,  John  Stock- 
man, Mary  J.  Landes,  Bidkah  Jones  and  wife,  George  Outhwaight  and 
wife,  and  Mary  F.  and  Susan  A.  Outhwaight  as  its  original  members. 

The  present  membership  is  forty,  and  the  pastors  have  officiated  in 
the  order  here  given:  Rev.  D.  C.  McNiel,  Rev.  A.  R.  Nichols,  Rev.  Gas- 
corn,  Rev.  A.  Y.  Graham,  Rev.  F.  M.  W.  Smith,  Rev.  C.  H.  Wooley  and 
Rev.  E.  J.  Hunt.  The  Rev.  C.  H.  Wooley  died  in  the  third  year  of  his 
pastorate,  and  on  April  28,  1879. 

They  erected  a  very  handsome  frame  church  at  a  cost  of  $2,500,  but 
the  year  was  not  stated. 

The  Sabbath  School  has  about  100  pupils,  a  union  school  and  about 
equally  divided,  under  the  superintendency  of  Levi  A.  Mentzer,  and  is 
in  a  very  flourishing  condition  under  his  able  management.  The  pas- 
tors have  been   earnest   and   efficient   in  the  discharge  of  their  duties. 


996  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUN'n'. 

The  ladies  of  the  church  purchased  two  lots,  paying  $225  each,  through 
their  own  exertions,  and  deserve  credit  for  their  unselfish  work. 

GEM   LODGE,  NO.  1 55,  A.  O.  U.  W. 

This  lodge  was  instituted  by  W.  R.  Sheen,  D.  D.  G.  M.  W.,  August 
29,  1879.  Drs.  D.  C.  McNeil  and  N.  P.  Wright  were  appointed  as  medical 
examiners. 

The  charter  members  were  Robert  Latz,  Oscar  Q.  McNeil,  W.  W. 
Warren,  Jacob  H.  Donovan,  W.  M.  Cox,  James  H.  Linney,  A.  S.  Stewart, 
L.  Conants,  N.  P.  Wright,  Francis  P.  Daniels  and  Joseph  P.  Landes. 

The  first  officers  were  :  Robert  Latz,  M.  W.;  W.  W.  Warren,  P.  M. 
W.;  Jacob  Donovan,  G.  F.;  A.  S.  Stewart,  O.;  F.  P.  Daniels,  G.;  Oscar  Q. 
McNeil,  R.;  L.  Conant,  Fin.;  Joseph  P.  Landes,  Receiver;  W.  M.  Cox,  I. 
W.;  N.  P.  Wright,  O.  W.;  N.  P.  Wright.  Examining  Surgeon. 

Number  of  members  37.  Two  members  have  died  within  thirty 
days,  and  their  families  received  their  beneficiary  of  $2,000. 

The  present  officers  are:  T.  H.  Wright,  P.  M.  W. ;  J.  Wade  Gardner,  M. 
W.;  W.  O.  Mead,  G.  F.;  W.C.  Holsapple,  O.;  O.  Q.  McNeil,  Recorder;  Jacob 
H.  Donovan,  G.;  D.  D.  K.  Holly,  Fin.;  Joseph  L.  English,  Receiver;  L. 
Samuels,  L  W.;  Charles  Gaubatz,  O.  W.;  John  Seevers,  Med.  Ex. 

The  lodge  is  in  a  flourishing  condition  and  contemplate  the  erection 
of  a  hall  the  present  year. 

OSCEOLA   LODGE    NO.  65,  L  O.  O.  F., 

was  first  instituted  October  2r,  1853.  Its  hall  and  papers  were  destroyed 
by  fire  in  1861,  when  Osceola  was  burned,  and  the  charter  reclaimed 
July  2,  1867.  The  charter  members  were  Lawrence  Lewis,  W.  B.  Mur- 
ray, John  J.  Scott,  William  M.  Cox,  William  H.  Scobey,  Francis  M.  Coe. 
The  first  officers  were:  John  J.  Scott,  N.  G.;  William  H.  Scobey,  V.  G.; 
William  M.  Cox,  Secretary;  and  L.  Lewis,  Treasurer.  The  present 
membership  is  thirty, and  the  officers  are:  W.  C.  Holsapple,  N.  G.;  John 
Severs,  V.  G.;  W.  A,  Daniels,  Secretary;  and  Joseph  L.  English, 
Treasurer. 

HOREB   CHAPTER  NO.  47,  R.  A.  M., 

Osceola,  Missouri,  was  organized  April  3,  1868,  under  dispensation,  and 
instituted  by  Dr.  D.  C.  McNeil,  P.  H.  P.,  by  authority  of  G.  H.  P.  of 
Missouri.  The  following  were  the  officers  and  members:  E.  P.  Bartlett, 
M.  E.  H.  P.;  T.  B.  Sutherland,  E.  K.;  J.  W.  Gardner.  E.  S.;  S.  S.  Burdett, 
C.  H.;  W.  D.  Grayham,  P.  S.;  EHas  Disney,  R.  A.  C;  J.  H.  Thomas,  M. 
3d  v.;  W.  M.  Cox,  M.  2d  V.;  J.  P.  Landes,  M.  ist  V.;  W.  O.  Mead,  Sec- 
retary; B.  L.  Dawson,  Guard.  Since  this  chapter  has  been  formed,  two 
others  have  been  formed,  in  part  of  the  members  belonging  here,  so  that 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY,  997 

the  membership  is  yet  small,  numbering  at  this  time  sixteen.  The 
chapter  is  composed  of  the  leading  men  of  the  city,  and  is  in  good 
working  order. 

The  present  officers  are  as  follows:  John  H.  Lucas,  H.  P.;  W.  M. 
Cox,  K, ;  A.  G.  Cornelius,  S.;  D.  K.  Holly,  Treasurer;  Jacob  Donovan, 
Secretary;  James  H.  Linney,  C.  H.;  Robert  Latz,  P.  S.;  J.  Wade  Gard- 
ner, R.  A.  C;  T.  H.  Wright,  M.  T.  V.;  T.  D.  Hicks,  M.  S.  V.;  J.  P.  Lan- 
des,  M.  F.  v.;  Thomas  Amrin,  G. 

.ST.  CLAIR   LODGE,  NO.  273,  A.  F.  &   A.  M. 

This  lodge  was  organized  at  the  city  of  Osceola  December,  1867, 
and  the  following  were  its  officers:  Samuel  S.  Burdette,  W.  M.;  Elias 
Disney,  S.  W.;  John  H.  Thomas,  Jr.,  J.  W.;  Thomas  B.  Sutherland,  Treas- 
urer; William  D.  Graham,  Secretary;  William  O.  Mead,  S.  D.;  E.  P. 
Bartlett,  J.  D.;  D.  P.  Shield,  T.;  William  M.  Cox  and  T.  B.  Nay,  Stew- 
ards. 

In  1872  they  built  a  handsome  lodge  room  over  the  Hancock  store 
at  a  cost  of  $2,000,  and  this  sum  is  now,  with  interest,  nearly  all  paid. 

The  hall  was  dedicated  with  impressive  ceremony,  on  St.  John's 
day,  June  24,  1873.  The  books  of  the  lodge  show  a  membership  of  130. 
Deaths,  (4)  removals,  etc.,  have  reduced  this  number,  but  there  are  still 
some  fifty  active  members. 

The  officers  are:  C.  J.  Harrison,  W.  M.;  William  C.  Holsapple,  S. 
W.;  D.  K.  Holly,  J.  W.;  J.  H.  Lucas,  S.  D.;  Dr.  J.  W^ade  Gardner,  J.  D.; 
Franc  P.  Daniel,  Treasurer;  B.  B.  Bennett,  Secretary;  Levi  A.  Mentzer, 
and  Scott  Nesbit,  Stewards;  John  M.  Renfro,  Tyler. 

POPULATION   OF   OSCEOLA. 

The  population  of  the  city  is,  after  much  research,  given  at  the 
the  dates  mentioned,  and  will  be  found  as  the  only  correct  record: 

Population  in  1840 50 

Population  in  1850 477 

Population  in  1855 1062 

Population  in  i860 1523 

AFTER   THE   WAR. 

Population  in  1865 183 

Population  in  1870 331 

Population  in  1880 373 

Population  in  1883 562 

The  town  proper  is  like  the  county,  out  of  debt,  the  railroad  bond 
debt  of  the  latter  excepted. 


998  HISTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

TO\VN    OFFICIALS. 

1874— W.  T.  Johnson,  W.  O.  Mead,  F.  C.  Nesbit,  L.  A.  Mentzer 
and  W.  D.  Lowder,  trustees. 

1878 — William  T.  Johnson,  Robert  Latz,  Franz  Daniel,  L.  A.  Ment- 
zer, F.  P.  Hostetter,  board  of  trustees;  W.  T.  Johnson,  mayor;  Louis 
M.  Reese,  clerk;  G.  W.  Shield,  attorney;  John  E.  Cole,  marshal;  John 
E.  Cole,  assessor  and  collector. 

The  city,  in  1883,  having  the  necessary  population  to  become  a  city 
of  the  fourth  class,  it  voted  March  27,  1883,  upon  the  question  and  was 
carried  by  sixty  majority.  The  first  election  for  town  officers,  April  3, 
1S83,  gave  the  following  result: 

For  Mayor — 

Thomas  M.  Johnson 66 

Dr.  J.  Wade  Gardner 50 

For  Marshal- 
Henry  T.  Calvird 75 

Wesley  G.  Shepherd 26 

B.  F.  Jones 13 

Aldermen,  First  ward — 

John  P.  Gordon 45 

Joel  Y.  Wilson 21 

T.  H.  Wright S 

John    Seevers 33 

Aldermen,  Second  ward — 

John  C.  Whaley 50 

John  R.  Hamblin 48 

John    Hancock 3 

Walter  Dunn i 

Capt.  James i 

The  vote  for  commissioner  of  schools  in  this  district  is  as  follows: 

John  S.  Smith 69 

T.  M.  Johnson 46 

Joel  Mvers ' 14 

W.  W.  Mallory ; i 

The  vote  as  far  as  heard  from,  is  as  follows: 

John  S.  Smith 315 

T.  M.  Johnson 103 

Joel   Myers 103 

W.  W.  Mallory 79 

M.  Roderick 25 

BUSINESS  OF   1883. 

4  dry  goods  and  general  stores.         2  hardware  and  stove  stores. 
2  agricultural  implement  stores.         i  grocery  and  furniture  store. 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 


999 


I  furniture  store. 
I  variety  store. 

1  boot  and  shoe  store. 

2  lumber  yards. 

2  printing  and  job  ofifices. 

1  steam  saw  mill. 

2  meat  markets. 

3  boarding  houses. 

2  feed  yards  and  stables. 
2  barbers. 


1  millinery  store. 

2  drug  stores. 

2  harness  stores. 

1  bank. 

2  steam  flouring  mills. 

2  blacksmith  and  wagon  shops. 

3  hotels. 

1  livery  and  sale  stable. 

2  carpenters  and  builders. 
I  saloon. 


PROFESSIONS. 

4  physicians.  5  churches. 

9  lawyers. 

Biographies  of  all  the  leading  lawyers  will  be  found  under  that  head. 

ST.  CLAIR  COUNTY  BANK 

was  organized  as  a  state  bank  in  1870,  with  a  capital  of  $50,000,  its  pres- 
ident being  William  W.  Sanford,  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri;  vice  president, 
John  C.  Nesbit,  and  cashier,  Joseph  P.  Landis.  The  stockholders  organ- 
izing the  bank  were:  "William  W.  Sanford,  John  C.  Nesbit,  Joseph  P. 
Landes,  Frank  C.  Nesbit,  E.  I.  Smith,  John  C.  Ferguson,  Waldo  P.John- 
son and  Scott  Nesbit. 

In  March,  1874,  Scott  Nesbit  removed  to  Osceola  from  his  farm  and 
took  the  position  of  assistant  cashier,  which  position  he  has  occupied 
ever  since.  William  W.  Sanford  died  in  the  city  of  St.  Louis  in  Febru- 
ary, 1882.  The  present  officers  are  L.  A.  Mentzer,  president;  John  C. 
Nesbit,  vice  president;  Joseph  P.  Landes,  cashier;  Scott  Nesbit,  assist- 
ant cashier. 

This  institution  has  done  much  to  develop  the  business  of  the  county, 
and  has  in  the  course  of  its  thirteen  years  of  business  accumulated  a  fine 
surplus  "fund  in  addition  to  its  original  capital.  It  was  f he  first  bank 
organized  in  the  county  after  the  war. 

There  is  nothing  now  to  stop  the  onward  progress  of  the  city  ot 
Osceola.  She  has  secured  a  healthy  growth,  and  having  doffed  the 
habiliments  of  youth,  will  now  progress  from  manhood's  stage.  She  has 
within  and  around  her  all  the  elements  of  solid  prosperity.  She  has  a 
generous,  cultured,  refined  and  hospitable  people;  she  is  a  growing  town 
in  the  most  prosperous  state  in  the  Union,  and  therefore  her  progress 
and  material  prosperity  is  as  assured  as  the  rising  and  setting  of  the 
sun  in  its  diurnal  course,  and  let  us  believe  that  her  people  are  well 
worthy  the  bright  future  in  store  for  them 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

APPLETON  TOWNSHIP. 

ITS  BOUNDS-WATER,  TIMBER  AND  AREA-POPULATION-PRODUCTION-PIONEERS  AND 
PROGRESS-APPLETON  CITY-ARLINGTON-INCORPORATED- ITS  FIRST  SETTLERS- 
APPLETON  CITY  ON  JANUARY  i,  1883-MANUFACTURES-ITS  RAILROAD  SHIPMENTS- 
DISTRICT  FAIR. 

APPLETON   TOWNSHIP. 

This  was  the  last  township  organized  in  St.  Clair,  and  this  was  in 
1880.  The  township  was  taken  from  the  west  side  of  Monegaw,  and  the 
growth  of  Appleton  City  in  the  northwest  corner,  which  had  become 
the  commercial  metropolis  of  the  county,  demanded  better  and  nearer 
township  facilities. 

This  arrangement  was  effected  by  petition  to  the  county  court, 
when  Appleton  City  became  satisfied  that,  although  the  commercial 
metropolis  of  the  county  as  aforesaid,  she  was  not  St.  Clair  County  by 
several  townships.  The  township  is  bounded  in  the  north  by  Henry 
County,  on  the  east  by  Monegaw  Township,  on  the  south  by  Taber 
Township,  and  on  the  west  by  Bates  County.  For  beauty  of  landscape, 
the  fruitfulness  of  its  soil,  in  the  variety  of  its  productive  capacity,  Ap- 
pleton Township  has  no  superior  in  Southwest  Missouri.  The  county 
court  gave  its  description  as  follows : 

BOUNDED. 

"Established  and  being  bounded  by  the  congressional  lines  of  town- 
ship number  39.  of  range  28," — June  5,  1872. 

WATER,  TIMBER,  AND  AREA. 

The  township  is  fairly  watered,  the  Big  Monegaw  Creek  entering 
the  township  on  the  north  side  near  the  center  and  running  west  of 
south  some  six  miles,  turns  thence  in  a  southeasterly  direction  to  the 
southeast  corner  of  the  county,  flowing  into  the  Osage  River.  The  Little 
Monegaw  rises  in  the  north,  and  running  south  on  the  east  side  of  the 
township,  empties  into  the  Big  Monegaw,  about  one-half  mile  from  the 
southern  line  of  the  township.     These  are  the  principal  streams  and  with 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  lOOI 

their  branches,  makes  the  north,  central  and  eastern  part  of  the  town- 
ship vvell  watered.  Timber  is  only  found  on  the  Monegaw,  and  the 
township  is  a  prairie  with  a  rolling  surface,  splendid  drainage  and  unsur- 
passed for  grapes,  cereals  or  vegetables. 

It  is  this  quality  of  the  soil  and  its  varied  productiveness,  combined 
with  the  facility  of  railroad  transportation,  which  has  made  the  prosper- 
ous city  of  Appleton,  with  its  commanding  position  of  wealth  and  enter- 
prise. 

The  township,  owing  to  the  fraction  addition  to  congressional  town- 
ship 39  on  its  northern  border,  is  seven  and  a  half  miles  north  and 
south  by  SIX  (the  regular  width)  east  and  west,  containing  about  forty-five 
sections  of  land,  or  28,800  acres. 

GROWTH   AND   POPULATION. 

The  growth  of  the  township  has  not  kept  pace  with  the  city,  but 
that  is  not  to  be  expected.  The  city  draws  both  from  Henry  and  Bates 
County  much  sustenance  and  is  not  a  town  of  local  township  import- 
ance, but  is  the  financial  and  commercial  center  of  a  large  scope  of 
country. 

Its  population  in  1876  was 1.354 

Its  population  in  1880  was 1.983 

A  gain  in  four  years  of 629 

Of  this  the  township  is  given  949.  The  total  increase  shows  a  gain 
of  fifty  per  cent  in  four  years,  which  ought  to  satisfy  the  people. 

The  assessor's  returns  for  1876  gave  the  following  statement  of  the 
township's  productiveness  in  stock  and  cereals,  with  a  probable  town- 
ship or  farming  population  of  700,  and  ranks  with  other  townships  as 
follows: 

HOW   IT   STOOD. 

In  horses  it  was  fourth  and  had  472  head. 
In  cattle  it  was  third  and  had  1,700  head. 
In  sheep  it  was  sixth  and  had  889  head. 
In  hogs  it  was  tenth  and  had  1,097  head. 
In  corn  it  was  sixth  and  had  118,860  bushels. 
In  oats  it  was  sixth  and  had  5,980  bushels. 
In  hay  it  was  second  and  had  3,609  tons. 
In  the  valuation  of  real  estate  it  was  second. 

While  this  is  a  very  small  showing  for  the  capability  of  the  town- 
ship, it  is  an  exceedingly  good  one  when  the  population  is  considered. 

What  Appleton  Township  needs  is  a  few  thousand  immigrants  to 
give  substantial  bottom   to  her  capital  cit)%  and  to  develop  her  great 


1002  HISTORY   OF    ST.    CI.AIR   COUNTY. 

agricultural  and  mineral  resources.  Of  the  latter,  strictly  speaking,  she 
has  none,  but  of  coal  she  has  an  abundance;  and  those  resources  would 
have  been  spoken  of  more  extensively  had  our  request  for  information 
been  granted.  "Self"  is  being  guarded  with  scrupulous  care,  while 
"  public  spirit"  goes  a  begging.  This  is  not  productive  of  general  pros- 
perity, whatever  it  may  do  to  advance  an  individual  one.  There  is  no 
question  but  what  a  public  spirit  is  the  foundation  stone  of  general  pros- 
perity, while  a  selfish  spirit,  born  of  personal  interest  alone,  is  the  curse 
of  every  enterprise  of  a  public  nature,  and  finally  reacts  upon  those  who 
practice  it, — if  not  always  financially,  it  never  fails  socially.  Their 
standing  is  only  sustained  by  money,  and  generallyonly  tolerated  then  ; 
by  the  public.  j 

THE   PIONEERS.  I 

The  township  of  Appleton,  as  now  known,  was  a  part  of  Monegaw,  j 
and  Monegaw  Township  was  organized    by  the    Rives    County  Court,  , 
November,  1835.     When  St.  Clair  itself  took  on  the  robe  of  independ- 
ence, the   name   Monegaw   was  not  changed,  but  its   dimensions   were  i 
curtailed. 

Appleton  Township  was  not  settled  as  early  as  many  others,  because 

of  its  vast  prairies.     The  pioneer  preferred  to  be  near  water  and  wood-  j 
land,  and  as  this  was  found  in  the  southeast  corner  of    the    township, 

there  was  its  first  settlement.     On   the   Big   Monegaw,  or  near  it,  James  ! 

Carroll  settled  in  1839,  and  his  wife  is  still  living.  . 

John   and  Franklin  Dittee  came  and  settled  within  about  two  miles  j 

of  the  Yonces,  neighbors,  in   Monegaw.      Mrs.  Carroll's  settlement  was  j 

known  as  the  "  English  Settlement."      All  these  came   in    1838.     A.  C.  ! 

Dittee  at  this  time  lives  on  the  old  homestead  on  section  26,  and  they  all  j 

came  from  Tennessee.  i 

Phillip  Ruby  settled  near  where  Appleton  City  now  stands  or  south  | 

of  it,  on  section  8.      A.  Buskirk  owns   the  place,  and   this  was  the  most  | 

northerly  settlement  in  the  township.     Ruby  came  in  1840  and  was  also  i 

from  Tennessee.      Then   Henry  Ruby,  John   Norton   and   Aaron    Davis  j 
came  the  same  summer  or  early  in  the  fall  of  1840,  and  settled  on  section 

21,  some  two  miles  east  of  south  from  Phillip.     The  settlers  all  followed  \ 

up  the  bank  of  the  big  Monegaw  from  the  starting  point,  which  was  the  j 

"  English  Settlement."     There  were  no  roads,  no  mills,  and,  as  Mrs.  Car-  • 

roll  expressed  it,  "  no  nothing,"  when  they  came  except  the  land,  tim-  \ 

ber  and  water  and  the  wild  animals  of  the  forests.  j 

Jesse  Ridgway,  who  settled  on  section  34,  may  be  called  the  oldest  'i 

settler  of  the  township.     He  is  still   living  and  is  a  man  of  good  mem-  • 

ory  and  enjoys  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  the  country  and  looks  back  i 

with  a  vivid  interest  on  the  times  and  trials  of  his  early  daj's.     He  set-  i 

tied  on  his  present  homestead  in  1837.     James  Carroll,  above  spoken  of,  ■ 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  IOO3 

may  have  come  first  and  Ridgway  followed,  but  there  was  but  a  few 
weeks  apart  in  their  arrival.  James  Dittee  came  in  1839  ^'id  settled  on 
section  35.  The  Rev.  William  Browning,  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  was 
among  the  early  arrivals,  as  early  as  1838,  and  was  the  first  preacher  in 
that  part  of  the  country.  He  settled  on  section  23.  Rev.  L.  R.  Ash- 
worth,  mentioned  in  Roscoe  and  other  townships,  a  Baptist,  preached 
occasionally  in  that  section. 

Of  course  the  services  were  held  at  the  cabins  of  the  farmers,  for 
unless  a  neighborhood  was  sufficiently  large  to  make  a  log  school  house 
a  necessity,  none  were  put  up,  and  so  the  settlers  had  services  at  their 
own  houses  when  the  circuit  rider  came,  or  a  local  preacher  settled  in 
their  neighborhood.  The  regular  church  of  those  days  was  the  log 
school  house.  Even  at  this  day,  in  many  districts,  the  school  and 
church  are  the  public  school  buildings  of  the  neighborhood. 

THE   TRADING   POINT. 

Clinton  and  Osceola  were  the  trading  points  for  this  whole  section 
of  country.  Crow  &  Crutchfield,  at  Osceola,  and  the  Wallace  Brothers  at 
Clinton,  were  the  leading  merchants.  John  F.  Weidemyer  at  Osceola  a 
few  years  later  done  a  large  business  with  the  people  in  this  township. 
The  roads  were  through  the  open  woods  and  prairies,  and  pretty  gen- 
erally in  a  straight  line,  but  the  new  farms  fenced  in  makes  the  distance 
at  this  day  some  five  to  six  miles  greater.  The  hog  known  as  the  rail, 
or  hazel  splitter,  was  the  breed  brought  to  this  country,  and  while  being 
a  hog,  was  a  self-sustaining  one  if  there  was  a  good  crop  of  mast.  He 
had  little  of  the  nature  of  the  Poland  China  or  the  Berkshire.  He  had 
several  other  names,  but  the  old  settlers  know  the  breed,  and  some  of 
these  yet  think  that  he  has  not,  even  at  this  day,  a  superior. 

Although  the  youngest  of  the  townships,  Appleton  has  eight  school 
districts,  has  given  earnest  and  unremitting  work  to  advance  the  cause 
of  education  in  the  township,  and  to  provide  for  the  growing  youths  and 
maidens  ample  facilities  for  a  thorough  English  education.  In  this  work 
it  has  been  successful,  and  there  is  no  township  in  the  county  has  a  more 
thorough  or  perfect  system,  for  none  but  able  educators  are  employed. 

POLITICALLY. 

Politically  Appleton.  Tovvnship,  perhaps  it  would  be  better  to  say 
the  city,  is  strongly  Republican.  Its  township  officers,  elected  in  1875, 
were  as  follows:  W.  D.  Clark,  trustee;  G.  W.  Clark,  assessor;  C.  E.Smith, 
collector;  E.  Mason,  clerk;  H.  M.  Colton,  constable;  M.  S.  Davis  and  L. 
D.  Fay,  justices  of  the  peace. 

The  township  is  not  certain  to  remain  politically  in  its  present 
course,  and  may  follow  the  other  townships   in  the  county,  and  vote  the 


1004  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

Democratic  ticket.  The  county  may  be  considered  Democratic  by  a  fair 
majority  at  this  time.  The  township,  as  a  whole,  is  a  good  one  in  every- 
thing that  goes  to  enrich  an  energetic  and  thriving  population,  and  so  far 
Appleton  leads  in  the  energy  and  progressive  spirit  of  her  people.  For 
awhile  an  aggressive  spirit  was  evinced  by  her  people,  born  of  rapid 
growth,  but  it  is  now  conservative,  and  her  prospects  are  more  bright 
than  at  any  time  before  in  her  history. 

APPLETON   CITY 

dates  its  birth  but  a  short  time  in  advance  of  the  arrival  of  the  iron 
horse,  or  what  was  known  as  the  Tebo  &  Neosho  Railroad,  now  the  Mis- 
souri, Kansas  &  Texas  Division  of  the  Missouri  Pacific  Railroad.  It  is 
situated  in  the  northwest  corner  of 'St.  Clair  County,  within  one  mile  of 
the  Bates  County  line  and  one  and  a  half  from  the  southern  border  of 
Henry.  It  is  about  midway  between  Butler,  the  county  seat  of  Bates, 
and  Osceola,  the  county  seat  of  St.  Clair  County,  and  is  the  commercial 
metropolis  of  a  wide  extent  of  country,  and  is  destined  to  grow  and 
prosper  as  time  passes  on,  for  it  has  been  fortunate  in  its  location  and  in 
the  progressive  spirit  of  its  people. 

The  town  was  not  so  first  named.  In  1868  William  M.  Prier  pur- 
chased the  ground  that  is  now  embraced  within  the  ciiy  limits  of  Apple- 
ton  and  platted  a  portion  of  it  for  a  town.  He  failed  to  realize  on  it  at 
that  time. 

Then  came  a  local  paper  with  this  description  of  the  town  of  Arling- 
ton: 

Many  will  ask  where  and  how  large  the  town  of  Arlington  is.  It  is 
the  first  station  in  St.  Clair  County  on  the  Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas 
Railroad,  and  although  laid  out  but  a  couple  of  weeks  since,  is  a  town 
of  considerable  size.  From  a  gentleman  who  visited  the  town  one  day 
this  week  we  learn  that  there  are  some  thirty  good  buildings  completed 
and  under  construction,  and  double  or  treble  that  number  under  con- 
tract. So  we  are  to  have  a  live  railroad  town  in  the  northwest  corner. 
Good!  We  feel  proud  of  the  addition  of  this  young  giant  of  our  county, 
and  hope  at  no  distant  day  to  view  the  young  city  where  but  a  few  days 
ago  was  waving  corn. 

The  town  of  Arlington  above  described  was  platted,  or  rather  laid 
out,  September  22,  1870,  and  the  above  article  was  published  October  6, 
1870.  This  is  about  all  that  "Arlington"  ever  amounted  to,  but  it  is -a 
far  prettier  name  than  the  town  now  has,  and  although  gratitude  is  a 
good  thing,  it  could  have  been  expressed  without  spoiling  a  pretty 
name. 

But  the  two  attempts  to  start  a  town  was  followed  by  a  third,  and 
this  time  success  crowned  their  efforts.  From  the  columns  of  an  Apple- 
ton  City  paper,  then  edited  by  the  present  assistant  postmaster,  is  taken 
this: 


Hi:>TORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  IOO5 

RETROSPECT. 

"The  country  adjacent  to  Appleton  City  comprises  the  finest  portions 
of  the  three  great  counties  of  Bates,  Henry  and  St.  Clair,  and  is  unex- 
ceeded  in  beauty  and  fertility.  It  is  but  a  few  years  ago,  where  now 
stands  one  of  the  most  flourishing  towns  of  the  southwest,  the  buffalo 
and  deer  sported  over  its  undulating  prairie,  with  none  to  molest  save 
the  red  men  of  the  forest.  After  the  close  of  the  great  civil  conflict,  the 
surrounding  country  became  settled,  and  the  places  now  occupied  by 
residences  and  business  houses,  streets  and  alleys,  was  then  invaded  by 
the  ploughshare  of  the  husbandman,  and  converted  into  magnificent 
fields  of  waving  grain,  and  of  nutritious  grasses.     Then  came  a  change." 

A   COMMANDING   VIEW. 

The  town  is  built  on  an  elevation,  which  commands  a  view  of  the 
country  for  miles  in  every  direction.  It  is  principally  located  on  section 
5,  and  extends  northward  on  fractional  section  5,  and  part  of  fractional 
section  6  is  platted  also.  The  town  was  platted  in  October,  1870,  or  in 
the  first  week  of  November.  The  town  plat  was  the  work  of  a  Mr. 
Tracy,  and  was  acknowledged  before  J.  Trousdale,  notary  public,  and 
then  placed  upon  the  records.  Having  effected  this  the  next  move  was 
for  the  citizens  who  had  settled  there  to  get  up  a  petition  for  the  incor- 
poration of  the  town,  which  was  accomplished  and  the  petition  presented 
to  the  county  court,  and  the  following  action  taken  at  the  February  term, 
1871. 

INCORPORATION    OF   APPLETON   CITY. 

A  petition  to  this  court  having  been  filed  on  the  5th  day  of  Decem- 
ber, 1870,  in  the  office  of  the  clerk  of  this  court,  asking  for  an  order  by 
this  court  for  the  incorporation  of  the  said  town  of  Appleton  City,  and 
the  establishment  of  a  police  for  the  local  government  thereof,  the 
court  being  satisfied  that  more  than  two-thirds  of  the  taxable  inhabit- 
ants of  the  said  town  have  signed  said  petition,  and  also  that  the  prayer 
of  said  petitioners  is  reasonable,  the  court  doth  therefore  order  and 
declare  said  town  incorporated,  and  the  inhabitants  thereof  shall  be  a 
body  politic  and  corporate  by  the  name  and  style  of  the  "Inhabitants 
of  Appleton  City,"  and  by  that  name  they  and  their  successors  shall  be 
known  in  law;  have  perpetual  succession,  unless  disincorporated;  sue 
and  be  sued;  plead  and  implead;  defend  and  be  defended  in  all  courts, 
in  all  actions,  pleas  and  matters  whatsoever;  may  grant,  purchase,  hold 
and  receive  property,  real  and  personal,  withing  the  limits  of  said  town, 
and  no  other, — burial  grounds  and  cemeteries  excepted, — and  may  lease, 
sell  and  dispose  of  the  same  for  the  benefit  of  said  town;  and  may  have 
a  common  seal,  and  break  and  alter  the  same  at  pleasure;  and  said' 
inhabitants  shall  henceforth  have  and  enjoy  all  the  rights,  powers  and 
privileges  that  can  be  granted  or  conferred   to  or  on  them  by  the  order 


I006  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

of  this  court;  the  said  town  being  described  and  included  within  the 
following  described  metes  and  bounds,  to  wit: 

Commencing  at  the  southeast  corner  of  lot  No.  i,  of  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  5,  in  township  39,  of  range  28,  west  of  the  5th  princi- 
pal meridian;  thence  north  to  the  northeast  corner  of  lot 4  in  said  quar- 
ter section;  thence  west  to  the  northwest  corner  of  said  lot  No.  4,  of  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  No.  5 1  thence  south  to  the  southwest 
corner  of  said  lot  No.  4;  thence  west  to  the  northwest  corner  of  the 
east  half  of  lot  No.  3  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  No.  6,  in  the 
said  township  and  range;  thence  south  to  the  southwest  corner  of  the 
said  east  half  of  lot  No.  3;  thence  west  of  the  northwest  corner  of  lot 
2  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  said  section  No.  6;  thence  south  to  the 
southwest  corner  of  lot  i,  in  norcheast  quarter  of  section  6,  township  39, 
of  range  28;  thence  east  to  the  place  of  beginning,  being  in  all  520  acres, 
more  or  less,  in  said  town   incorporated  as  here  stated. 

It  appearing  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  court  that  there  are  less  than 
2,500  inhabitants  within  the  limits  of  said  town,  as  the  said  limits  are 
described,  the  court  doth  hereby  appoint  R.  H.  Long,  R.  S.  Emmons,  A. 
McGregor,  John  Nichols  and  Z.  Burgin  as  trustees  of  the  said  town  of 
Appleton  City,  and  it  is  ordered  that  said  trustees  appointed  as  herein 
stated,  hold  their  respective  of^ces  as  such  trustees  until  legal  termina- 
tion of  said  office. 

This  made  it  a  full  fledged  town,  and  the  citizens  were  ready  to  go  to 
work  to  malce  it  the  leading  point  for  trade  in  that  section  of  the  coun- 
try, and  how  well  they  have  worked  the  past  decade,  can  be  seen  in  the 
splendid  growth  of  the  city  and  the  commercial  advantages  it  possesses. 

In  1870  the  only  building  on  the  site  where  now  stands  the  flourish- 
ing city  of  Appleton  City  was  a  small  frame  house  belonging  to  William 
Prier.  A  post  and  slab  fence  extended  along  what  is  now  the  business 
street,  and  north  of  that  was  a  fine  field  of  corn,  while  south  of  it  was 
unfenced  prairie,  covered  with  an  unbroken  sea  of  waving  grass,  ready 
for  the  mower,  but  with  no  one  to  mow  it.  In  the  latter  part  of  Sep- 
tember Appleton  City  was  founded.  The  town  company  organized  with 
a  capital  of  $16,000.  The  corporate  limits  embraced  lots  i,  2,  3  and  4 
of  the  northwest  of  section  5,  and  lots  i  and  2  and  east  one-half  of  3  of 
the  northeast  of  section  6,  in  all  520  acres.  Lots  2  and  3  in  section  5 
were  plotted  and  recorded,  and  for  several  years  constituted  Appleton 
City. 

The  first  building  placed  upon  the  new  town  site  was  brought  from 
near  Rockville  by  Charles  Speddin,  and  placed  upon  lot  14,  block  15, 
and  occupied  as  a  store.  It  is  now  a  part  of  the  dwelling  house  in  which 
M.  Downey  lives. 

Hodkins,  King  and  R.  S.  Emmons  were  pioneers  in  the  dry  goods 
trade;  Charley  Speddin  in  groceries.  Dr.  H.  H.  Taylor  opened  the  first 
hotel  in  a  building  moved  from  Hudson.  M.  S.  Davis  opened  out  trade 
in  the  hardware  line,  and  in  a  few  weeks  was  followed  by  Luchsinger  & 
Streifl". 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  100/ 

Mrs.  Dunbar  brought  on  the  first  stock  of  millinery. 

The  railroad  was  completed  to  the  place  October  19,  1870. 

Coal  in  abundance  is  found  on  the  edge  of  the  city,  and  with  the 
shipping  facilities  of  the  M.,  K.  &  T.  railroad,  and  the  mountains  of  iron 
within  from  fifteen' to  twenty  miles,  Appleton  City  should  be  a  manufac- 
turing point  of  some  importance;  but  St.  Clair  County,  like  most  of  the 
counties  of  Missouri,  has  failed  to  advertise  its  resources  and  advant- 
ages, and  as  a  natural  consequence,  less  favored  points,  with  more  public 
enterprise,  are  far  in  advance  of  them. 

The  town  and  surrounding  country  is  filling  up  gradually,  but  con- 
sidering the  location,  climate,  soil  and  other  advantages  the  thousands 
of  acres  of  rich  prairie  lands  that  are  being  offered  at  very  low  figures, 
should  have  been  taken  up  long  ago,  and  Appleton  City  should  now 
have  a  population  of  at  least  5,000  psople,  considering  its  location. 

In  1871,  in  the  early  spring,  the  following  were  the  total  business 
houses  in  existence: 

Hodkins  &  King,  Emmons  &  Co.,  dry  goods;  David  &  Wyatt  and 
G.  R.  Pickerell,  groceries;  Parks  &  Luchsinger  and  Davis  &  Bronson, 
hardware;  Levy  &  Co.  and  J.  Dunbar,  clothing;  G.  W.  Chrisman,  Mason 
&  Commisky,  J.  L.  Barret  and  Dr.  Shirely,  drugs;  Prier,  Garth  &  Co. 
and  W.  F.  Cameron,  J.  C.  Trousdale  and  R.  S.  Emmons,  lumber;  R.  S. 
Emmons  and  J.  F.  Atkinson,  insurance;  A.  B.  Clifton,  watches  and 
jewelry. 

In  a  short  time  another  railroad  was  expected  to  cross  the  line  of 
country  in  which  Appleton  City  was  situated,  and  the  citizens  expressed 
a  desire  to  contribute  a  bonus  to  get  the  road.  They  held  an  election 
November  5,  1872,  to  decide  upon  a  subscription  of  $20,000,  on  the  con- 
dition that  the  Fort  Scott,  Jefferson  City  &  St.  Louis  railroad  would 
make  Appleton  City  a  point  and  maintain  a  depot,  and  the  road  to  be 
completed  by  October  i,  1873.  The  bonds  were  voted  but  the  road 
failed  to  realize  on  its  programme  and  was  never  built.  So  Appleton 
City  is  yet  a  town  of  one  railroad. 

The  first  paper  started  in  Appleton  City,  was  the  Argus,  by  Messrs. 
Stone  &  Meyers.  It  was  an  eight-column  folio,  and  its  first  issue  was 
September  7,  1871.  It  started  put  with  a  platform,  of  which  a  new  coun- 
ty', taken  off  of  Bates,  Henry  and  St.  Clair,  was  to  be  formed,  and  Apple- 
ton  City  to  be  the  county  seat.  It  was  an  unfortunate  mistake,  for  not 
only  did  St.  Clair  County  oppose  the  scheme,  but  Henry  and  Bates  also, 
and  it  did  more  to  retard  the  progress  of  the  city  than  all  other  causes 
combined.  It  alienated  the  people  of  its  own  county,  except  those  con- 
tiguous, and  also  got  the  opposition  of  those  in  adjoining  counties. 

For  a  few  years  its  newspapers  were  a  detriment  to  its  growth,  with 
a  few  ambitious  spirits,  whose  judgment  was  sadly  deficient.  It  has 
recovered  from  its  craze,  and  instead  of  bidding  defiance  tO'  all  mankind 


I008  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

is  anxious  and  willing  to  work  in  harmony  with  people  of  its  own  county, 
and  contend  for  trade  and  mastery  by  business  energy.  This  is  the  right 
spirit,  and  Appleton  City  has  grown  and  prospered  since  it  has  taken 
this  course.  The  county  seat  craze  made,  however,  sad  havoc  with  its 
early  prosperity.     Since  1876,  it  has  made  wonderful  progress. 

In  1878,  A.  D.  LaDue  and  A.  F.  Wyckoff,  each,  laid  out  a  part  of 
lot  I,  of  section  5,  and  in  1880,  A.  Buskirk  plotted  a  part  of  lot  2,  north- 
east quarter  of  section  5,  as  additions  to  the  city. 

Up  to  1876,  the  town  had  no  brick  buildings  within  its  limits,  in  fact, 
its  main  street  was  like  all  railroad  towns,  nearly  all  being  one  story 
buildings.  W.  D.  Clark,  that  year,  built  the  first  brick,  being  a  two  story 
business  house,  which  he  occupied  as  a  grocery  store.  On  January  i, 
1883,  there  were  seventeen  brick  and  stone  buildings  in  the  city.  That 
the  business  of  the  city  may  be  known  in  future  years,  we  give  from  the 
Journal  of  the  city,  Charles  Hilton,  editor  and  publisher,  the  following 
brief  synopsis  of  its  business  interests: 

It  says:  When  we  consider  the  fact  that  not  half  the  soil  of  the  coun- 
try tributary  to  Appleton  City  has  ever  been  under  cultivation,  the  result 
in  the  building  up  and  advanced  progress  of  Appleton  City,  has  been  a 
wonderful  success.  With  an  inexhaustible  supply  of  coal,  water  plenty, 
and  other  favorable  conditions,  we  believe  that  almost  any  branch  of 
manufacturing  would  find  this  a  good  point. 

The  first  good  grain  elevator  between  Sedalia  and  Fort  Scott  was 
built  at  this  place  by  Luchsinger  &  StreifT.  in  188 1.  It  is  now  occupied 
by  G.  W.  Johns  &  Co.  Wyckoff  &  McFarlane  have  just  completed  an 
elevator,  and  these  two  firms,  having  each  ample  warehouse  room,  are 
handling  an  immense  amount  of  grain  and  seeds. 

Fourth  Street  is  the  principal  business  street  of  the  city,  is  macad- 
amized with  the  blue  limestone  that  abounds  in  the  vicinity. 

The  pride  of  our  city  is  Durley  Hall,  built  in  188 1  by  our  towns- 
man, H.  W.  Grantley,  containing  one  of  the  finest  opera  halls  in  South- 
west Missouri,  and  is  the  pride  of  our  city.  It  is  a  magnificent  two 
story  brick,  no  feet  deep,  fifty  feet  wide  and  forty-five  feet  in  height, 
and  cost  $20,000.  It  has  a  front  and  rear  entrance,  the  former  eight  feet 
wide,  leading  to  the  hall  by  an  easy  stairway.  The  lower  story  con. 
tains  two  fine  stores,  and  the  upper  or  second  story  is  given,  with  the 
exception  of  two  front  rooms,  entirely  to  the  hall  and  its  dressing  rooms, 
etc.  The  hall  was  named  after  a  fi-iend  of  the  proprietor  who  resides  at 
Bloomington,  Illinois,  in  which  city  is  a  another  opera  house  of  the  same 
name.  The  Durley  Opera  House  stands  as  a  monument  of  business 
energy  and  enterprise  in  which  the  proprietor,  as  well  as  the  citizens 
can  feel  a  just  pride. 

From  the  first  Appleton  City  commanded  the  trade  of  a  large  extent 
of  country  and  as  the  fertile  lands  were  put  under  the  plow  and  the  natural 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  IOO9 

pastures  covered  with  herds  of  cattle,  the   shipping  of  grain  and  stock 
from  this  point  grew  to  an  immense  figure. 

More  brick  buildings  will  probably  be  built  in  1883  than  any  pre- 
ceding year.  Adams  &  Wescot  burned  a  half  million  brick  a  little 
southeast  of  town  in  1882,  and  plenty  of  good  building  stone  is  found 
just  outside  of  the  city  limits. 

The  following  account  gives  the  names  of  the  dealers  in  the  branches 
named  : 

E.  Allen,  N.  S.  Gardner,  Klein  Bros.,  J.  Schempp,  J.  D.  Hedrick,  C. 
O.  Hedrick,  House  &  Son,  and  Ellis  &  Wix,  are  the  dry  goods  firms. 

Joseph  Reid,  W.  D.  Clark,  House  &  Son,  S.  B.  Shaw,  J  Schempp, 
Stout,  Guerant  &  Yonce,  Gait  &  Henson,  Ellis  &  Wix,  Andy  Naylor,  and 
P.  S.  Cartwright  are  the  grocery  dealers. 

Luchsinger  &  Streifif,  J.  L.  Rood,  R.  Sutmiller  &  Co.  and  Clark  & 
Burns  are  the  hardware  dealers. 

Palace  Drug  House,  White  Bros,  and  J.  R.  Baugh,  drugs. 

J.  F.  Boyd  &  Co.,  and  J.  R.  Hurley  &  Co.,  are  the  lumber  men. 

E.  O.  Dierfield  and  James  Forbes,  saddles  and  harness. 

James  Forbes  is  the  hide  and  wool  merchant. 

Luchsinger  &  Streiff,  Wyckoff  &  McFarlane  are  agricultural  imple- 
ment dealers. 

Donnohue  &  Belisle,  Stephenson,  Griggs  &  Bailey,  French,  Payne, 
and  others  are  the  stock  shippers. 

Pickerill,  Hosmer,  and  Payne  &  Sons,  keep  livery  stables. 

The  Prier  House  and  the  Appleton  House  are  the  hotels. 
^      Latsch  is  the  watchmaker  and  jeweler. 

R.  Burdge  is  a  photographer. 

George  Moody  and  T.  Rainwater,  marble  works. 

Mrs.  J.  R.  Pickerill,  Mrs.  Spring,  Mrs.  W.  W.  Chapel,  fancy  dress 
goods  and  milinery. 

E.  M.  King  and  J.  M.  Wakeman,  keep  books,  toys,  notions,  etc. 

M.  H.  Wilson  deals  in  musical  instruments. 

D.  G.  Wells,  sewing  machines. 

Koopman  &  Shrout,  and  Fehrion  &  Son,  meat  market. 

C.  L.  Anderson,  VanHall  &  Son,  and  Anthony  &  Son,  each  do  their 
part  towards  keeping  the  people  well  shod. 

There  are  four  blacksmith  shops,  at  which  the  muscular  sons  of 
Vulcan  wield  the  hammer,  while  painters,  masons  and  bricklayers,  car- 
penters are  too  numerous  to  mention,  but  the  first-class  mechanical  work 
of  all  sorts  that  our  city  can  exhibit,  proves  that  we  are  lacking  nothing 
in  these  classes  of  artisans. 

J.  D.  Ballaugh,  Snyder,  VanHall,  and  Weaver  &  Kain,  keep  res- 
taurants. 

64 


lOIO  HISTORY   OF    ST.   CLAIR    COUNTY. 

There  are  two  licensed  saloons,  kept  by  B.  D.  Patrick  and  James 
McCartys.  j 

Jacob  Schempp  was  a  pioneer  in  the  grocery  trade  and  now  owns 
and  occupies  a  large  two-story  brick,  and  does  a  heavy  business  in  both 
the  dry  goods  and  grocery  line.  James  Hodkins,  A.  F.  Wyckoff,  William 
Prier,  E.  M.  King,  M.  S.  Davis,  Z.  Burgin,  J.  R.  Pickerill,  L.  Davis,  C.  M. 
Meddaugh,  John  Thorn,  R.  Sutmiller,  C.  Spedden,  W.  T.  B.  Wetherby 
and  Eli  Wells  were  among  the  pioneers  and  are  still  there. 

The  legal  fraternity  is  well  represented  by  Judge  Shields,  H.  W. 
Grantley,  Gilbreath  &  Ross  and  W.  W.  Chapel. 

All  of  these  attorneys  are  engaged  in  the  land  business,  which  is 
also  carried  on  by  George  Markey. 

The  physicians  are  W.  E.  Shelton,  P.  E.  Caimes,  M.  B.  Kinchloe,  T. 
Roten  and  C.  E.  Wing. 

A.  C.  Kincheloe,  dentist. 

James  Hodkins,  Judge  Shields,  M.  S.  Davis,  George  Markey  and  S. 
C.  Sturtevant,  insurance  agents. 

There  are  two  first-class  tonsorial  artists  in  Appleton  City — L.  A. 
Williams,  who  has  been  in  the  midst  of  the  people  during  nearly  the 
whole  history  of  the  place,  and  Mr.  Woodley  (colored)  also  has  a  barber 
shop  on  the  south  side  of  the  street. 

Mrs.  Wilson,  music  teacher. 

Journal  Office,  Charles  Hilton,  publisher. 

William  Steele,  merchant  tailor. 

Frank  Barrett,  H.  C.  Farris,  house  and  sign  painters. 

William  Lamey,  feed  stable  and  yard. 

Kellogg,  Thorne  &  Vannice,  contractors  and  builders. 

Johnson  &  Slaughter,  contractors  and  builders. 

Prier  House,  J.  A.  James,  proprietor. 

Three  boarding  houses. 

One  Masonic  hall. 

Two  public  wells,  one  with  a  force  pump  and  the  other  an  iron 
turbine  wind  mill. 

BANKS. 

The  first  bank  in  Appleton  City  was  established  in  November,  1873, 
by  F.  Egger  &  Sons,  and  on  March  20,  1882,  was  organized  as  the  First 
National  Bank,  with  an  authorized  capital  of  $200,000,  and  a  paid  up 
capital  of  $55,000.  The  present  officers  are  John  C.  Bram,  president; 
F.  Egger,  vice-president;  John  B.  Egger,  cashier.  The  directors  are 
John  C.  Bram,  F.  Egger,  John  Baldwin,  A.  Buskirk,  and  R.  F.  Guer- 
rant. 

The  Merchants'  Bank  was  organized  in  1881,  with  a  paid  up  capital 
of  $30,000. 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  lOII 

CHURCHES. 

The  first  religious  meetings  and  Sunday  Schools  in  the  place  were 
held  in  the  upper  room  of  Hodkins  &  King's  dry  goods  store,  the  build- 
ing now  occupied  by  Andy  Naylor  as  a  grocery.  The  Presbyterians  had 
a  church  at  Hudson,  and  undertook  to  move  it  to^Appleton  City.  It 
was  cut  down  through  the  middle,  one  half  .conveyed  to  its  destination 
with  oxen  and  trucks,  but  while  the  other  half  was  on  the  way,  being 
left  for  the  night,  was  set  on  fire  by  some  unknown  person  and  burned. 
The  half  remaining  was  used  in  the  construction  of  the  present  Pres- 
byterian Church,  being  the  first  in  the  place.  Rev.  Jackson  having 
recently  resigned  his  place  as  pastor  of  that  church,  they  are  just  now 
without  a  regular  pulpit  supply. 

The  Methodists  have  a  building,  with  Rev.  Hamel  pastor  in  charge. 

The  Baptists  have  a  new  building,  with  Rev.  Thompson  as  their 
stated  preacher. 

The  Christians  have  a  good  house,  also  with  Rev.  Claypool  in 
charge. 

The  German  Lutheran  Church  also  have  a  building  and  regular  ser- 
vices.    Pastor,  Rev.  U.  Sopher. 

The  colored  people  have  a  church  building,  in  which  their  school  is 
kept,  but  no  regular  preaching  at  this  time. 

The  different  churches  each  have  flourishing  Sunday  Schools. 

APPLETON   CITY   MILLS, 

C.  Shoe  &  Son,  proprietors,  is  situated  near  the  business  portion  of  the 
town,  west  of  the  depot.  The  building  is  a  two  and  a  half  story  frame, 
with  a  basement,  and  is  forty  feet  front  by  fifty  feet  deep,  with  a  two 
story  addition,  twenty  by  fifty.  There  are  four  run  of  French  burrs,  with 
a  grinding  capacity  of  seventy-five  barrels  per  day.  The  engine  is  thirty 
horse  power  and  of  good  workmanship,  and  the  quality  of  flour  unex- 
celled. Messrs.  Shoe  &  Son  bought  this  mill  at  Taberville  and  moved 
it  here  four  years  ago.  They  have  the  latest  improved  machinery,  and 
have  added  the  new  patent  process  flour  to  their  manufactures, — a  very 
important  addition.  They  have  two  burrs  on  wheat,  one  on  middlings 
and  one  on  corn.  They  purchased  and  used  in  their  mill  in  1882, 
35,000  bushels  of  wheat  and  20,000  of  corn,  making  1,400,000  pounds  of 
flour,  350,000  pounds  bran  and  70,00  pounds  shipstuff 

CHEESE   FACTORY. 

In  April,  188 1,  Mr.  O.  C.  Beach,  from  Illinois,  commenced  the  man- 
ufacture of  cheese  at  Appleton  City,  having  erected  a  building  for  that 
purpose.  His  first  year's  business  proving  highly  satisfactory,  he  again 
started  his  works  for  1882.     The  season  commences  in  April  and   ends- 


I0I2  HISTORY    OI'   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY 

in  November.  Mr.  Beach  has  two  vats  of  600  gallons  capacity,  and  his 
milk  receipts  are  1,600  pounds  per  day,  with  a  full  capacity  of  6,000 
pounds.  He  has  also  a  revolving-  churn  of  200  gallons  capacity.  The 
building  is  three  stories  high,  and  arranged  most  perfectly  for  the  busi- 
ness. It  is  a  fact  easily  proven  that  the  farmers  within  a  radius  of  five 
miles  of  his  factory  can  make  more  money  by  keeping  cows  and  pat- 
ronizing this  institution  than  in  any  other  branch  of  farming. 

Business  for  1882:  Milk  received,  201,511  pounds;  cheese  made, 
18,210  pounds;  net  proceeds,  $2,183.20. 

The  Appleton  City  planing  mill,  owned  by  Moore  Brothers,  turns 
out  sash,  doors,  blinds,  moldings,  brackets,  and  all  kinds  of  work  usually 
done  at  a  first  class  planing  mill. 

R.  M.  Raymond  carries  on  the  manufacture  of  carriages,  and  sells 
about  $3,500  worth  of  his  own  work  annually. 

Raymond  &  Moore  have  a  stock  of  factory  made  carriages. 

In  the  fall  of  1882,  Taylor  and  French  built  a  fruit  evaporator  that 
used  several  thousand  bushels  of  apples,  and  thus  made  a  market  for  the 
surplus  apples  that  were  not  suitable  for  shipping. 

SHIPMENTS   BY   RAILROAD. 

The  following  are  the  shipments  for  six  months,  ending  on  the  lOth 

of  April,  1880: 

Car  loads. 

Hogs 192 

Cattle 125 

Mules  and  horses 35 

Sheep 14 

Wheat 96 

Corn 162 

Oats 21 

Flax  seed 37 

Castor  beans 5 

Potatoes 2 

Flour     9 

Corn  meal 7 

Total 705 

There  was  in  1881  and  1882,  a  fair  advance.  Especially  will  this 
showing  be  largely  increased  the  present  year,  on  account  of  the  good 
crops  of  1882.  The  month  of  January,  a  dull  month,  showed  the  follow- 
ing heavy  shipments: 

Cars. 

Cattle 65 

Hogs 18 

Green  apples 2 

Corn 77 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  IOI3 

Flax  seed 2 

Sheep 2 

Total 166 

It  is  expected  that  over  2,500  full  cars  will  be  shipped  the  present 
year. 

A   FEW   FACTS. 

The  Appleton  City  News,  published  by  Bancroft  &  Castor,  March, 
1 87 1,  was  the  first  published  in  Appleton  City,  and  not  the  Argus,  by 
Meyers  &  Stone,  which  did  not  start  until  sometime  after.  It  was  short 
lived. 

The  first  child  born  in  the  city  was  James  Clifton,  son  of  A.  B.  Clif- 
ton, in  1871. 

In  1882,  J.  E.  Gladden  laid  out  another  addition  on  lot  3,  northeast 
of  section  5. 

The  population  of  Appleton  City  in  1880  was  1.034.  It  is  probably 
now  about  1,300,  and  expects  to  double  itself  by  1890. 

In  1880  Appleton  City  boasted  of  a  brass  band. 

The  largest  fire  Appleton  City  experienced  was  in  1872,  which 
destroyed  the  office  of  the  Appleton  City  Argus,  three  or  four  buildings,, 
a  considerable  amount  of  lumber  and  a  large  lot  of  corn. 

Appleton  City  is  sixty  miles  from  Sedalia  and  fifty-two  from  Fort 
Scott.  By  the  completion  of  the  Clinton  &  Kansas  City  Road  it  will  be 
about  TOO  miles  from  the  latter  city. 

The  Appleton  City  Savings  Bank  closed  its  doors  November  15, 
1877.  The  cashier  had  disappeared,  but  the  cash  was  in  the  safe.  The 
business  had  been  loosely  managed  and  had  by  bad  debts  absorbed  the 
capital. 

DISTRICT   FAIR. 

The  people  of  Appleton  have  secured  one  prize,  the  district  fair. 
With  such  a  country  around  these  fairs  should  be  made  the  all-important 
event  of  the  year,  and  strenuous  efforts  kept  up  to  increase  the  attrac- 
tions from  year  to  year.  In  this  the  business  men  of  Appleton  City 
should  be  open-handed  and  generous,  for  they  do  not  have  to  wait 
"  after  many  days  "  for  their  return  of  outlay.  But  the  population  of  the 
surrounding  counties  is  increasing,  and  unless  that  fair  improves  and 
grows  county  fairs  will  be  started  that  will  militate  against  its  growth 
and  success.  So  far  it  has  been  well  managed,  but  it  has  lacked  pro- 
gressiveness.  It  must  not  be  a  district  fair  only  in  name,  but  in  fact.  It 
must  be  more  than  a  county  fair;  if  not,  county  fairs  will  encroach  upon 
its  territory.  Men  only  of  enlarged  views  and  business  capacity  should 
be  given  in  charge.  A  mind  dwarfed  by  self-interest  is  not  the  one  to 
take  charge  of  a  public  enterprise. 


I0I4  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

The  receipts  and  expenditures  of  1880  are  here  given,  and  when 
those  of  1885  shall  have  been  published,  let  a  comparison  be  made,  and 
may  that  comparison  show  an  increased  progress  in  every  department 
that  will  excite  the  admiration  of  the  people. 

The  receipts  and  expenditures  of  St.  Clair,  Bates  and  Henry  Dis- 
trict Fair  Association  during  fair  week,  September  29,  30  and  October  i 

and  2,  1880,  were: 

RECEIPTS. 

Total  amount  received  at  gate $1 ,672   1 5 

Entrance  fee  on  stock 428  35 

On  stand  privileges 185  00 

Stall  rent  and  citizens'  purse 184  25 

$2,469  75 
EXPENDITURES. 

Total  amount  paid  on  premiums $1,723  90 

For  printing 46  25 

Police  and  work  on   grounds ■ 143   10 

On  indebtedness  of  association 351   80 

Freight 4  50 

Postage  and  stationery 12  50 

Material  and  repair  on  grounds 107  45 

$2,389  45 
Cash  in  treasury 80  30 


Attest:     Ave  E.  Page,  Secretary. 


$2,469  75 
J.  B.  EGGER,  Treasurer. 


The  officers  January  i,  1883,  were  H.  W.  Grantley,  president;  Rob- 
ert Stubblefield,  vice  president;  A.  E.  Page  secretary;  J.  B.  Egger, 
treasurer.  Directors— George  Clark,  Robert  Stubblefield,  J.  N.  Cham- 
bers, Charles  Nesbit,  Frank  Gilbreath,  H.  Livingstone,  E.  K.  Clark, 
Thomas  Payne,  Clark  Wix  and  H.  W.  Grantley. 

The  first  organization  of  this  fair  with  the  names  of  its  stockholders 
.and  first  officers  will  be  found  in  the  general  history. 

CITY   OFFICERS   AND   POST   OFFICE — 1882. 

Mayor — E.  Mason. 

Marshal— I.  H.  Nichols. 

Councilmen — First  Ward,  J.  R.  Baugh;  Second  Ward,  Thomas 
Strieff;  Third  Ward,  James  Messick. 

The  school  board  consists  of  H.  W.  Grantley,  W.  F.  McColley,  A. 
Luchsinger,  F.  H.  Miller. 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  IOI5 

H.  W.  Grantley,  postmaster,  was  appointed  and  took  possession  of 
the  office  February  20,  1880,  having  succeeded  C.  F.  Meyers.  The  offi- 
cial statement  and  receipts  of  the  office  for  1881,.  reported  January  i, 
1882,  is  given  below: 

Total  receipts  for   188  r $3,430  12 

Total  expended  for   1881 1,300  00 

Net  proceeds $2,130  12 

Money  orders  issued 2,184  amounting  to  $23,425   80 

Money  orders  paid 592  "  8,556   1/ 

Fees  of  money  order  office 242   10 

The  returns  for  1882  were  not  reported  in  time  for  this  work.  The 
first  postmaster  of  Appleton  City  was  J.  R.  Pickerill,  in  1871. 

CHURCHES   AND    LODGES — LUTHERAN   CHURCH. 

The  Lutheran  Church  of  Appleton  City  was  organized  May  22,  1873, 
with  the  following  original  members:  Jacob  Schempp,  James  Galles,  J. 
Sholts,  P.  Herman,  D.  Steltes,  W.  Aarimg,  John  Niltry  and  J.  A.  Schell- 
man. 

The  church  was  erected  in  1873,  at  a  cost  of  $400.  and  $150  was 
paid  for  the  lot.  It  has  a  membership  of  twenty-one,  the  Rev.  O.  Spier 
pastor.  The  pastor  is  also  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  School,  which 
is  in  a  flourishing  condition,  with  twenty-five  pupils. 

FIRST   BAPTIST   CHURCH. 

This  church  was  organized  in  1874,  and  its  first  list  of  members 
contains  the  following  names:  L.  Talbot,  F.  Browning,  C.  Howell,  W. 
D.  Walbridge,  Sidney  Talbot,  George  W.  Troup,  W.  Stout,  C.  Scott, 
Charles  Burge,  Dr.  E.  C.  Kinchelo,  Mrs.  G.  Burge,  S.  Talbot,  H.  Weth- 
erby,  S.  Rood,  E.  French,  S.  Harding,  A.  Walbridge,  J.  B.  Milburn  and 
Mrs.  H.  Harvey. 

This  was  a  good  beginning,  and  since  then  the  church  has  grown 
until  it  now  numbers  sixty-three  members.  Brother  Samuel  Victor 
served  as  pastor  three  years,  and  Brother  Israel  Tompkins  one  year, 
1882.  The  church  is  a  handsome  frame  building,  put  up  in  1880  at  a 
cost  of  $1,500.  The  Sunday  School  connected  with  this  church  is  pro- 
gressing finely,  with  an  attendance  of  fifty-five  scholars,  William  B. 
Stout  being  its  loving  and  able  superintendent. 

FIRSl    PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH, 

of  Appleton  City,  was  organized  December  28,  1867,  and  was  located  on 
the  northeast  corner  of  block  8,  in  said  city,  in  1871.     Its  original  mem- 


I0l6  HISTORY   OF   ST.   CLAIR   COUNTY. 

bers  were:  E.  S.  Chapin,  Sarah  Chapin,  Julia  Fields,  H.  H.  Peipmen  and 

A.  E.  Peipmen,  his  wife,  Mrs.  Sarah  A.  Taylor  and  Mrs.  Esther  Long. 
It  has  a  present  membership  of  sixty,  and  the  following  named  pastors 
have  officiated  as  such,  in  the  order  named: 

Rev.  Seth  G.  Clarke,  Rev.  William  M.  Newton,  Rev.  R.  H.  Jackson 
and  Rev.  A.  B.  Martin.  The  church,  a  frame  one,  was  erected  in  iSyir 
at  a  cost  of  $3,000.     The  Sabbath  school,   which   is  under  the    charge 

B.  P.  Dugan,  has  an  average  attendance  of  some  sixty  pupils,  and  is  a 
strong  auxiliary  to  the  church. 

The  church  organized  as  above,  was  in  Hudson,  Bates  County,  Mis- 
souri, but  on  the  laying  out  of  Appleton  City,  most  of  its  members 
removed  to  the  new  city  and  decided  to  move  the  church  building  also, 
which  was  done. 

APPLETON   CITY   LODGE,  NO.  412,   A.  F.    AND   A.  M. 

was  organized  May  26,  1876,  and  elected  the  following  as  its  first 
officers:  J.  C.  McFarland,  W.  M.;  James  Hodkins,  S.  W.;  R.  H.  Long, 
J.  W.;  C.  D.  Clark,  Secretary.  Its  present  officers  are:  C.  O.  Hedrick, 
W.  M.;  H.  W.  Grantley,  S.  W.;  A*  H.  Butler,  J.  W.;  Joseph  Klein, 
Secretary. 

The  lodge  is  in  good  condition,  financially  and  otherwise,  and  num- 
bers at  this  time  59  members. 

GEORGE   FRANK   GOULEY   CHAPTER,    R.  A.  M., 

was  organized  January  14,  1876.  The  first  officers  were:  W.  H.  Stone, 
H.  P.;  S.  S.  Burdett,  K.;  A.  F.  Wyckoff,  S.;  T.  B.  Sutherland,  Treasurer; 
Edwin  Mason,  Secretary;  J.  C.  McFarlane,  C.  H.;  A.  M.  Ferguson,  P.  S.; 
R.  C.  Neeley,  R.  A.  C;  W.  F.  McCalley,  G.  M.  3d  Vail;  Christopher 
Shoe,  G.  M.  2d  Vail;  W.  E.  Shelton,  G.  M.  ist  Vail;  William  M.  Prier, 
Guard.  The  present  officers  are:  W.  H.  Stone,  H.  P.;  H.  W.  Grantley, 
K.;  N.  S.  Gardner,  S.;  C.  Shoe,  Treasurer;  Joseph  Klein,  Secretary;  A. 
Naylor,  C.  H.;  William  F.  McCalley,  P.  S.;  Ezra  Clark,  R.  A.  C;  A.  H. 
Butler,  G.  M.  3d  Vail;  F.  Hoffstrom,  G.  M.  2d  Vail;  J.  C.  McFarlane,  G. 
M.  1st  Vail;  William  M.  Prier,  Guard.     Number  of  members,  35. 

ST.  CLAIR   LODGE,  NO.  IO4,  A.  O.  U.  W., 

was  organized  February  6,  1879,  with  the  following  as  charter  members 
and  first  officers:  Joseph  Reid,  P.  M.  W.;  N.  S.  Gardner,  M.  W.;  L.  A. 
Williams,  O.;  C.  F.  Myers,  Recorder;  W.  E.  Shelton,  F.;  John  F.  Boyd, 
R.;  D.  E.  Wyckoff,  G.;  M.  E.  Witter,  G.  F.;  William  Vannice,  I.  W.;  Geo. 
Markey,  O.  W.;  Dr.  W.  E.  Shelton,  M.  E. 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY.  101/ 

It  numbers  at  present  over  fifty  members,  has  had  but  two  deaths 
since  its  organization  and  is  in  fine  financial  condition. 

The  present  officers  are:  E.  Krom,  M.  W.;  A.  E.  Page,  P.  M.  W.; 
E.  M.  Pyle.  Recorder;  VV.  D.  Clark,  R. ;  E.  M.  Pyle,  F. ;  L.  A.  Williams,  O. ; 
R.  L.  Booth,  G.  F.;  James  Wyckoff.  G.;  A.  Black,  O.  W.;  Joseph  Reid,  I. 
W.;  Dr.  W.  E.  Shelton,  M.  E. 

MINNEHAHA  LODGE,  NO.  41I,  I.  O.  G.  T., 

was  organized  April  26,  1880,  by  Elder  Daniel  K.  Shields,  with  sixty^ 
charter  members.  Its  first  officers  were:  N.  B.  McNemer,  L.  D.;  Dr.  W. 
E.  Shelton.  W.  C.  T.;  Nettie  Tuttle,  W.  V.  T.;  C.  O.  Hedrick,  C;  F.  H. 
Miller,  R.S.;  Anna  Donohue,  A.  S.;  Sarah  Adams,  F.  S.;  A.  D.  Foreman, 
Treasurer;  James  Wakeman,  M.;  I.  L.  King,  D.  M.;  W.  B.  Teller,  I.  S. 
G.;  Anna  Vannice,  O.  S.  G.;  Mrs.  H.  C.  Sloss,  R.  H.  S.;  Mrs.  Fannie 
Neeley,  L.  H.  S. 

Its  present  officers,  February  i,  1883,  are:  Dr.  M.  B.  Kinchloe,  L. 
D.;  J.  A.  Moor,  W.  C.  T.;  Retta  Adams,  W.  V.  T.;  Rev.  T.  G.  Wood,  C; 
O.  C.  Beach,  R.  S.;  Mollie  Wolverton,  A.  S.;  Angie  Garner,  F.  S.;  E.  H. 
Adams,  Treasurer;  Theodore  Morgan,  M.;  Lillie  Wood,  D.  M.;  Etta 
Ingalls,  I.  S  G.;  H.  B.  Johns,  O.  S.  G.;  Eddie  Allen,  R.  H.  S.;  C.  Clark, 
L.  H.  S. 

The  present  membership  is  seventy   and  their  meetings  are  held 

weekly. 

ENCAMPMENT  NO.  86,  I.  O.  O.  F. 

Charter  was  granted  May  23,  1879.  The  following  are  its  present 
officers:  John  F.  Rooll,  C.  P.;  George  Markey,  H.  P.;  Samuel  Drake,  S. 
W. ;  Thomas  Streiff,  Treasurer;  J.  W.  Wakeman,  S. 

LODGE  NO.  366,  I.  O.  O.  F. 

Charter  was  granted  May  19,  1877,  and  was  instituted  by  George 
McKeen,  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  with  the  following  charter  members:  G. 
H.  Whitaker,  N.  G.;  Thomas  Streiff,  Secretary,  W.  O.  Mead,  T. 

The  present  officers  are:  G.  W.  John,  N.  G.;  V.  W.  Pyatt,  V.  G.;  J. 
W.  Wakeman,  Secretary;  Jasper  Talbot,  P.  S.;  J.  W.  Wakeman,  Treas- 
urer; Thomas  Streiff,  R.  S.;  W.  R.  Vannice,  L.  S.;  J.  B.  Nuckles,  W.;  E. 
M.  Pyle,  C;  George  Markey,  R.  S.  S.;  J.  B.  Egger,  L.  S.  S. 

Amount  paid  for  charitable  purposes,  $1,000;  cash  on  hand,  in  bonds- 
and  securities  and  paraphernalia,  $i,ioo.    Present  membership,  fifty-six. 

PUBLIC    SCHOOL. 

In  1871,  a  substantial  and  commodious  brick  school  house  was- 
erected  upon  a  rise  of  ground  west  of  the  railroad  at  a  cost  of  over 
$16,000,  and  was  for  years  the  most  conspicuous  building  in  the  place.. 


10 1 8 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   CLAIR   COUNTY. 


The  growth  of  the  city  has  been  such  that  the  school  for  the  year 
1882  became  so  crowded  that  in  the  fall  of  that  year  an  additional  room 
room  was  provided  and  five  teachers  are  employed.  Prof  A.  E 
iHart,  of  Indiana,  is  principal  and  is  seconded  by  S.  C.  Sturtevant  and 
Misses  Sarah  Gault,  Mollie  Wolverton  and  Angle  Garnar. 

These  educational  facilities  are  supplemented  by  the  Star  Academy, 
with  Professor  J.  R.  McFarren,  as  principal,  and  Mrs.  R.  M.  Sharp,  assist- 
ant. Pupils  are  prepared  for  college;  penmanship,  bookkeeping,  and 
drawing  are  specialties,  and  a  more  skillful  penman  than  the  professor 
is  not  to  be  found.  The  Germans  have  been  having  an  excellent  private 
school  carried  on  in  their  church  by  a  Mr.  Herter,  and  will  be  continued 
by  Rev.  O.  Spher,  the  pastor  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church.  The 
interests  of  the  colored  children  are  also  looked  after  by  the  school 
-board.  School  is  in  operation  in  their  church  building,  where  the  dusky 
•sons  and  daughters  of  Africa  have  the  opportunity  of  qualifying  them- 
selves for  future  usefulness. 

The  number  of  pupils  in  1877,  was  173;  number  enrolled,  144;  num- 
iber  of  pupils  in  1878,  198;  number  enrolled,  162;  number  of  pupils  in 
.1879,  232;  number  enrolled,  205;  number  enrolled  in  1882,  318. 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

MONEGAW  AND  CHALK   LEVEL  TOWNSHIPS. 

MON  EG  AW— METES    AND    BOUND:;— TOPOGRAPHICAL— PIONEER    DAYS— SETTLED    AND    BY 
WHOM— JOHNSON    CI  lY -CHURCHES-OHIO  POST  OFFICE-SCHOOLS    AND    POPULA- 
TION—CHALK    LEVEL-BOUNDARY  -  POPULATION     AND     PRODUCTION— CHURCk- 
CHALK    LEVEL    VILLAGE- MONEGAW    SPRINGS-OSAGE    BLUFF   AND   CAVES. 

AN   ORIGINAL   TOWNSHIP. 

This  was  one  of  the  original  townships,  and  was  first  organized  in 
1841.  Its  boundaries  were  then  defined  by  the  county  court  at  the  May 
term,  and  included  within  its  limits  the  present  townships  of  Appleton, 
Taber  and  Chalk  Level,  as  well  as  its  own  territory  as  now  defined.  As 
the  population  of  the  county  increased,  it  was  from  time  to  time  shorn 
of  its  fair  domain,  giving  life  and  independence  to  other  municipalities. 
It  is  in  size  a  pretty  fair  township  yet,  and  is  second  in  size  in  the  county, 
only  being  excelled  by  Speedwell,  whose  children  become  famous  hunt- 
ers as  soon  as  they  are  able  to  carry  a  rifle.  But  while  this  last  sentence 
is  a  fact,  it  is  a  digression,  and  therefore  return  to  our  subject. 

Monegaw  has  an  acreage  in  round  numbers  of  41,280  acres.  The 
map  shows  that  it  is  bounded*  on  the  north  by  Henry  County,  east  by 
Chalk  Level  Township,  south  by  Taber  and  west  by  Taber  and  Apple- 
ton  Townships.  In  the  last  reorganization  of  townships  its  metes  and 
bounds  were  thus  described  : 

MONEGAW  TOWNSHIP. 

"  Established  and  bounded  as  follows  :  Commencing  at  the  south- 
east corner  of  section  13,  of  township  38,  of  range  27;  thence  running 
north  along  the  township  line  to  the  northern  boundary  line  of  the 
county;  thence  west  along  said  boundary  line  to  the  northwest  corner  of 
township  39,  of  range  27;  thence  south  along  the  township  line  to  the 
southwest  corner  of  section  18,  in  township  38,  of  range  27;  thence  run- 
ning east  along  the  section  line  to  the  place  of  beginning." 

ITS   PHYSICAL   FEATURES. 

Monegaw  possesses  in  beauty  of  landscape,  in  the  depth  and  rich- 
ness of  its  soil,  as  fine  a  body  of  prairie  land   as   can   be  found  in  either 


1020  HISTORV    OF   ST.   CLAIR   COUNTY. 

this  or  any  other  county  sufficiently  undulating  for  thorough  drainage. 
It  is  in  all  respects  a  perfect  agricultural  township,  and  when  these  vast 
and  fertile  lands  shall  be  put  under  cultivation  her  productive  resources 
will  astonish  those  who  are  unacquainted  with  the  extraordinary  pro- 
ductiveness of  these  lands.  It  is  extremely  doubtful  if  more  corn  was 
raised  in  any  township  in  the  state  of  Missouri,  in  the  proportion  to 
population  than  Monegaw  raised  in  1876.  With  a  total  population  of 
1,055  men,  women  and  children  she  raised  256,600  bushels  of  corn. 

In  the  county  that  year  Monegaw  was  first  in  corn,  as  above;  first 
in  cattle,  2,333  head;  first  in  hay,  5,130  tons;  second  in  mules;  third  in 
horses,  493;  sheep,  1,049;  hogs,  1,835,  and  in  the  value  of  her  real  estate; 
fourth  in  population,  1,025;  and  fifth  in  oats,  6,995.  What  she  turned  out 
in  the  great  yield  of  the  year  1879  is  not  of  record.  The  one-third  of 
the  township  lying  in  the  southern  part  contains  immense  coal  fields, 
probably  far  in  excess  in  quantity,  as  it  is  superior  in  quality,  of  the  cel- 
ebrated coal  beds  of  Bates  County.  Southern  Monegaw  is  one  vast  coal 
field.  Other  minerals  are  also  found,  but  coal  is  everywhere  from  two 
feet  to  twelve  feet  in  thickness.  It  will  not  be  long  ere  this  wealth, 
almost  limitless,  will  be  brought  to  the  surface,  and  the  coal  fields  of 
Monegaw  noted  the  country  over.  It  will  turn  out  a  wonderful  amount 
of  productive  mineral  wealth  some  day.  Springs  and  water,  found  in 
wells  from  fifteen  to  fifty  feet  in  depth,  furnishes  water  for  the  northern 
and  central  portion,  and  the  Little  Monegaw  waters  the  southeastern 
section  of  the  township.  The  Big  Monegaw  invades  about  three  miles 
of  its  territory  in  the  southwest,  and  a  branch  leads  out,  bearing  north, 
but  is  only  sufficient  for  stock  purposes.  When  its  resources  are  fully 
developed,  in  coal,  minerals,  cereals  and  stock,  Monegaw  Township  will 
unfold  such  enormous  wealth  as  to  cause  intense  astonishment  to  the 
people  of  the  county  and  state. 

The  pioneers  of  Monegaw  settled  mostly  in  the  southern  part  along 
the  Little  and  Big  Monegaw  and  their  branches.  The  wide,  open 
expanse  of  prairie  lying  to  the  north,  so  beautiful  to  the  eye,  found  no 
reponse  from  the  pioneer,  and  he  placed  his  affections  upon  the  forests 
and  timber,  upon  the  crystal  streams  whose  rippling  water  slaked  their 
thirst  and  made  the  irrigation  of  their  fields  unnecessary.  Here  in  the 
south,  less  than  a  mile  from  where  Johnson  City  now  stands,  the  English 
settlement,  so-called,  made  a  start  and  four  families  a  home.  Joseph  Car- 
roll came  in  1837  and  put  up  the  first  cabin,  and  James  Rickey,  Bunkem 
Anderson,  John  Hodgson  and  Joseph  Herndon  all  settled  in  the  south- 
west corner  of  Monegaw  Township.  The  former  came  in  1838,  but  Mr. 
Herndon  not  until  1843.  The  Widow  Colthaid,  with  her  sons,  John 
Thomas,  Jacob,  Joseph  and  Adam,  made  the  wood  ring  with  the 
sound  of  their  axes,  south  of  Johnson  City,  settling  on  sections  32  and 
35.     Andrew  Younce  settled  on  the  north  one-half  of  the  southeast  one- 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY.  I02I 

quarter  of  section  30,  and  Robert  Allison  on  section  32.  Adam  Boots 
settled  on  section  30,  all  in  1839-40.  On  the  east  side  were  James 
Terry  and  Peter  Terry,  the  son  of  James.  They  settled  on  section  25, 
39,  27.  So  did  Irason  Taylor,  John  R.  Llewellen  on  section  26,  Henry 
Ledbetter  on  section  24,  Ira  Ledbetter  and  Harrison  Underwood  on 
section  13,  and  a  Mr.  Zuck  on  section  23.  These  were  the  settlers  who 
came  previous  to  1845.  There  are  a  few  of  those  old  pioneers  still  liv- 
ing, and  the  descendants  of  others  now  occupy  the  fair  fields  and  homes, 
and  Monegaw  can  boast  of  some  enterprising  people. 

"  Bunkem  "  Anderson,  so-called,  started  the  first  horse  mill,  down 
on  or  near  the  creek,  in  1839,  southwest  of  Johnson  City. 

The  first  school  was  taught  in  an  old  log  cabin,  put  up  for  school 
purpose,  at  Coperas  Springs,  in  1846.  That  was  the  first  school  house 
erected,  but  several  years  before  that  a  Dr.  Trotter  taught  a  school, 
about  1843,  and  the  cabin  he  taught  in  was  burned  down  by  the  boys. 
They  got  tired  of  their  teacher,  and  brought  the  winter  term  to  a  sud- 
den end. 

At  the  August  term  of  the  county  court  of  St.  Clair  County,  John 
Hodgson  and  Ernest  Laney,  at  the  November  term  ot  the  same  year, 
petitioned  to  be  admitted  to  citizens  and  received  certificates  of  appli- 
cation. Their  five  years'  term  of  probation  ended  in  1846,  and  at  the 
April  term  of  the  circuit  court,  John  Hodgson  was  admitted  to  full  citi- 
zenship. Laney  was  probably  admitted  also,  if  alive,  but  the  records 
fail  to  state  it. 

On  Reid's  Creek,  in  1857,  there  was  a  grist  mill  and  a  saw  mill  put 
up.  It  had  two  runs  of  stone  and  called  the  Monegaw  Mills.  It  disap- 
peared during  the  troubles. 

JOHNSON   CITY. 

This  village  came  into  being  at  the  close  of  the  war,  A.  J.  Crigler 
building  and  opening  the  first  store,  soon  followed  by  William  Hodg- 
son. Then  Joseph  Herndon  built  the  first  blacksmith  shop  and  rented 
it  to  G.  W.  Stephens  for  three  years.  This  gave  the  town  a  local  habi- 
tation, and  the  name  given  it  was  in  honor  of  Andrew  Johnson,  then 
president  of  the  United  States. 

The  land  was  owned  by  James  E.  Patterson  and  William  Hodg- 
son, and  lies  on  sections  29  and  30,  in  the  southeast  corner  ot  30,  and 
the  southwest  of  29. 

Away  back  in  1844  or  '45,  Joseph  Herndon  became  the  postmaster 
of  Monegaw  Post  Office,  and  held  the  same  for  nine  years.  His  house 
and  his  hat  generally  constituted  the  post  office,  being  about  equally 
divided  according  to  circumstances.  If  there  was  a  logging  bee  or  a 
"  raisin',"  and  he  attended,  the  post  office  would  be  found  in  his  hat. 
After  him  came  John  Reid,  and  he  held  on  until  the  office  was  abolished. 


I022  HISTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY. 

and  Johnson  City,  the  capital  of  Monegaw  Township,  started  intO'  being. 
From  1865  to  1873  the  postmasters  of  Johnson  City  were  in  the  order 
named,  the  first  being  J.  L.  Ross,  then  W.  W.  Rider,  J.  W.  Peck.  J.  \V. 
Wheeler,  Hiram  Wells  and  the  present  one,  P.  Wheeler. 

The  merchants  of  the  city  were,  first,  A.  J.  Crigler,  then  Hodgson 
&  Crigler,  Blakely  &  Ross,  W.  W.  Rider,  A.  J.  Cobb,  John  Hodgson, 
William  Hodgson,  J.  W.  Wheeler  and  P.  Wheeler.  The  three  last  are 
doing  business  in  1883. 

John  B.  Englert  has  an  extensive  wagon,  and  blacksmithing  estab- 
lishment, turning  out  a  good  wagon  complete.  Freeman  Flat  has  a 
blacksmith  and  wagon  repair  shop. 

Elias  Disney,  ex-sheriff,  carpenter. 

There  is  a  good,  substantial  frame  school  house,  which  is  also  used" 
as  a  union  church,  erected  in  1879.  The  denominations  using  this 
building  are  Cumberland  Presbyterian,  Christian,  M.  E.  Church  and 
Baptist. 

Orion  Post  Office  was  started  in  May,  1871,  and  C.  J.  Baldwin  was 
postmaster.  There  is  no  such  office  now,  and  probably  Ohio  Post  Office 
has  taken  its  place. 

PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

The  Westfield  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  in  1873,  with 
eleven  members,  including  the  minister  The  names  of  the  members 
were  George  Burk  and  wife,  J.  T.  Nesbit  and  wife,  James  Parsley  and 
wife,  C.  W.  Nesbit  and  wife,  Mrs.  Barbara  Warner,  and  Mrs.  Gardner. 
From  this  small  beginning  this  church  has  grown  and  spread  until  it  now 
numbers  something  upwards  of  eighty  members,  is  in  a  flourishing  con- 
dition, and  disseminate  a  wide  spread  influence  for  good.  In  the  year 
1881.  a  new  church  edifice  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $1,350,  substantial  in 
its  building,  and  neatly  though  plainly  furnished,  and  capable  of  seating 
a  large  congregation  in  a  comfortable  manner,  being  in  size  46x32  feet. 
The  first  preacher  after  the  organization  was  the  Rev.  W.  M.  Newton. 
The  church,  costing  some  $1,500,  was  completed  in  June  of  1881,  and 
dedicated  the  same  month,  the  Rev.  William  M.  Newton  officiating. 
The  first  preacher  in  the  new  church  was  the  Rev.  R.  H.  Jackson,  and  he 
still  retains  his  pastorship,  and  is  doing  loving  work  in  his  Master's 
cause.  In  connection  with  the  church  is  a  hve  acre  lot  to  be  used  as  a 
cemetery,  and  no  pains  or  expense  will  be  spared  to  make  this  sacred 
spot  a  beautiful  "city  of  the  dead." 

OHIO   rOSTOFFICE 

was  established  in  1878,  v/ith  Robert  McGauthey  as  postmaster.  It  was 
located  about  one  and  a  half  miles  west  of  its   present   location.     It  is 


HISTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  IO23; 

now  on  the  northwest  corner  of  section  13,  township  39,  range  27.  The 
office  was  first  offered  to  John  G.  Warner,  who  declined  it  in  January,. 
1878,  and  it  therefore  did  not  open  until  March,  and  a  new  postmaster 
found.  It  was  moved  to  its  present  site  November  15,  1882,  and  S.  G. 
Craig  appointed  postmaster.  The  latter  gentleman  opened  a  store,  now 
Ohio,  in  July,  1882,  and  the  office  was  turned  over  to  him  at  the  above 
date,  his  appointment  dating  from  October,  a  month  previous. 

SCHOOLS. 

In  the  number  of  her  school  districts,  Monegaw  Township  exceeds- 
all  others  in  the  county,  having  eleven,  all  with  good  substantial  school 
buildings,  and  the  people  of  the  township  are  priding  themselves  with 
the  belief,  that  in  school  facilities,  and  in  the  educational  advancement  of 
the  children  of  school  age  in  the  township,  they  are  in  the  lead.  This  is 
something  they  may  well  take  pride  in,  for  culture  and  refinement  and 
material  progress  go  hand  in  hand.  If  the  past  and  present  is  only  ant 
incentive  to  the  future,  all  will  be  well. 

The  local  officers  in  this  township;  selected  in  1875,  were  for 

Trustee — William  Llewellen. 

Clerk — M.  Yeoman. 

Collector— W.  H.  Wheeler. 

Assessor — C.  Thornbury. 

Constable — C.  F.  Younger. 

Justices  of  the  Peace — E.  C.  Berry,  C.  J.  Baldwin. 

September  6,  1882,  Monegaw  Township  was  divided  into  two  voting 
precincts,  one  to  be  at  John.son  City,  the  other  at  the  Ohio  Schoolhouse. 

Population,  1870 i,434^ 

1876 — two  townships  taken  off 1,02c. 

1880 1,321 

CHALK   LEVEL  TOWNSHIP, 

was  originally  a  part  of  Monegaw  Township,  when  that  township  and 
Weaubleau  composed  the  municipal  divisions  of  St.  Clair,  while  under 
the  civil  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 
portion  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.     It   is-  the  "beanpole"  township   of  the  county 


1024  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

being  a  trifle  over  thirteen  and  a  half  miles  north  and  south  by  a  width 
of  just  four  miles.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Henry  County,  east 
by  Butler,  Osceola  and  a  portion  of  Roscoe,  south  by  the  latter  town- 
ship and  the  Osage  River,  and  west  by  Taber  and  Monegaw,  and  has  an 
area  in  acres  of  about  34,000,  the  north  two  thirds  being  splendid  prairie 
land,  gently  undulating  and  rich  in  every  productive  quality.  The  south 
third  is  broken,  rough,  stony  and  hilly,  with  bold  bluffs  jutting  out 
from  the  banks  of  the  Osage,  with  only  about  one  fourth  fit  for  cultiva- 
tion and  the  rest  excellent  grass  and  grazing  lands.  This  land  could  be 
purchased  cheap  and  it  is  the  home  of  the  sheep.  But  what  this 
portion  of  the  township  lacks  in  agricultural  wealth  and  resources  is 
more  than  made  up  by  coal  and  lead.  The  former  is  found  nearly  in 
every  part  of  it,  and  lead  indications  are  more  numerous  than  in  any 
■other  section  of  the  county,  although  both  Collins  and  Doyal  claim  to 
possess  this  metal  in  large  quantities.  In  this  portion  of  the  township 
are  the  famous  Monegaw  Springs,  whose  wealth  of  mineral  and  healing 
waters  will  yet  make  it  a  Mecca  for  the  invalids  of  the  states.  These 
springs  will  be  more  particularly  described  a  few  pages  ahead.  Some 
three  miles  east  of  these  springs  is  a  white  sulphur  spring  of  great  med- 
ical quality,  and  one  of  the  most  pleasant  to  the  taste  of  any  of  the 
medical  waters  in  the  county.  This  spring  is  found  on  the  northwest 
quarter  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  27,  township  38,  range  26, 
and  is  called  the  Salt  Creek  Springs.  John  C.  Looney  was  the  first 
owner  of  these  springs.  Dr.  John  Elliott  settled  near  these  springs  in 
1850,  opened  a  general  store  near  them  and  tried  to  get  up  a  summer 
resort,  but  failed  simply  because  transportation  was  not  to  be  found 
.except  on  horseback  and  in  wagons  for  twenty-five  or  thirty  miles. 

THE   OLD    SETTLERS. 

The  early  settlers  of  the  county  much  preferred  the  broken  in  the 
southern  than  the  rolling  prairies  of  the  north,  and  the  first  settlers  of 
what  is  now  Chalk  Level  Township  settled  mostly  in  the  southern  por- 
tion of  it. 

Those  who  settled  previous  to  and  during  the  3'ear  1838  were  John 
I.  Wood,  from  Virginia,  who  settled  on  fractional  section  3 1  in  the  south- 
west corner  of  the  township,  on  the  Osage  River,  in  1837;  Robert  Ander- 
son lived  north  him,  the  same  year,  at  Monegaw  Springs;  Simeon  C. 
Bruce  settled  on  section  4,  township  38,  range  26;  John  C.  Looney,  sec- 
tion 27,  same  township  and  range;  Paris  Sims  on  section  21,  same  town-  t 
ship  and  range;  Alexander  Hoover  on  section  7,  same  township  and 
range;  M.  C.  David  on  section  5,  township  39,  range  26,  and  Noah  Win- 
ston on  section  32,  township  39,  range  26.  These  were  all  early  settlers. 
The   Alexander    Hoover   above    mentioned    was   the   son  of  Alexander 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   CLAIR   COUNTY.  IO25 

Hoover,  of  Taber  Township.  Theoderic  Snuffer,  from  Montgomery- 
County,  Virginia,  settled  on  the  south  half  of  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 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  i§40  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,  1^^  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  $r,8oo,  but  that 
was  the  last  his  family  or  friends  have  ever  heard  from  him.  He  prob- 
ably 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  por- 
tion  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: 

CHALK    LEVEL. 

Established  and  bounded  as  follows,  to  wit:  Commencing  at  the 
center  of  the  main  channel  of  the  Osage  River,  where  the  section  line  be- 
tween 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  1:he  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. 


1026  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY, 

On  the  re-organization  of  the  township,  local  officers  were  elected 
for  several  j^ears,  and  in  1875  the  following  were  chosen  the  township 
officers:  George  Lyon,  Trustee;  L.  L.  Cherington,  Collector;  William 
M.  Cox,  Assessor;  J.  M.  Rickman,  Clerk;  T.  O.  Dark,  Constable;  George 
Withrow  and  E.  H.  French,  Justices  of  the  Peace. 

SCHOOLS. 

Probably  the  first  school  house  in  the  township  was  erected  in  1845, 
made  of  logs,  and  a  subscription  school  and  was  taught  by  Robert 
Smarr,  a  son  of  John  Smarr,  the  first  sheriff.  The  Smarrs  came  from 
Virginia.  Another  school  was  taught  in  that,  or  southern  part  of  the 
township,  a  select  school,  by  Henry  J.  Speed,  in  1858.  Then  Theoderic 
Snuffer,  a  few  years  later,  donated  an  acre  of  land  for  a  school  house, 
and  it  was  built  on  the  land,  being  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  the  north- 
east quarter  of  section  32,  38,  26.  These  were  all  the  early  schools,  but 
from  the  foundation  of  that 'log  school  house  erected  in  1845,  there  have 
arisen  no  less  than  ten  full  school  districts,  and  one  other  in  connection 
with  a  fractional  district  with  Butler  Township.  The  most  of  those 
school  buildings  are  frame  with  all  the  modern  conveniences,  and  there 
is  no  township  in  the  county  where  better  educational  advantages  can 
be  found.  There  has  not  been  much  progress  in  the  growth  of  Chalk 
Level,  in  population  or  wealth,  but  she  is  in  the  advance  of  all  others  in 
proportion  to  population,  in  the  cause  of  education.  To  this  will  soon 
be  added  a  more  energetic  work  in  the  cause  of  material  progress,  and 
when  that  day  is  reached  it  will  be  a  happy  one  for  her  people. 

POPULATION   AND    PRODUCTION. 

Among  the  townships.  Chalk  Level  alone  has  remained  at  a  stand- 
still during  the  past  decade,  and  in  fact  may  be  said  to  have  retrogaded, 
for  her  gain  of  only  ten  in  ten  years  falls  far  short  of  a  natural  increase. 

The  population  in    1870  was 851 

The  population  in    1880  was 861 

This  is  not  a  flattering  exhibit.  The  outcome  of  her  cereal  and 
stock  production  is  also  below  what  it  should  be  according  to  population. 
In  1876,  Chalk  Level  was  seventh  in  the  number  of  horses  and  corn  yield, 
sixth  in  that  of  cattle  and  real  estate,  and  fourth  in  mules,  which  gave 
her  a  few  mules  ahead,  but  her  people  should  not  feel  mulish  in  reading 
the  paragraph.  They  should  wake  up  and  not  allow  other  townships, 
no  richer  in  agricultural  resources,  no  greater  in  the  wealth  of  their  min- 
eral deposits,  to  exceed  her  in  material  progress.  There  is  that  within 
Chalk  Level  Township  that  can  make  her,  in  spite  of  all  opposition,  the 
equal  of  any  of  her  sister  townships,  and  her  citizens  must  respond  to- 
the  demand  of  an  enlightened  and  progressive  era. 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  IO27 

CHURCHES. 

There  is  a  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  on  section  32,  township 
39,  range  26.  Thfe  Baptists  have  just  completed  a  church  edifice  on  sec- 
tion 28,  to\vnship  3Q,  range  26.  Methodists  have  a  log  church  building 
on  section  5,  township  38,  range  26.  The  Campbellites  and  other  denom- 
inations use  the  school  house  at  Chalk  Level  Village. 

The  Christian  Church,  organized  last  October  (1882),  use  the  union 
church  building  last  mentioned,  in  section  5,  township  38,  range  26.  The 
original  members  were  W.  T.  Robinson  and  wife,  Mary  E.  and  Frances 
Lewis,  M..  B.  Hall  and  wife,  J.  F.  Alexander,  wife  and  daughter,  Mary 
Rickman,  N.  L.  and  J.  T.  Rickman.  They  have  a  membership  of  thirty- 
five,  and  the  Rev.  William  Burge  is  their  pastor. 

The  first  preachers  in  the  township  were  the  Rev.  John  Neely,  and 
the  Rev.  William  Browning,  both  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

VILLAGE  OF  CHALK  LEVEL. 

This  village  was  first  started  in  1866,  and  Mr.  Ab.  Simmons,  built 
the  first  store,  and  was  its  first  merchant.  Hackett  &  Casey  opened  the 
first  blacksmith  shop;  George  Lyons,  the  first  carpenter,  and  Dr.  E.  H. 
French,  its  first  physician.  The  first  postmaster  was  probably  Abraham 
Simmons,  as  he  had  the  first  store.  But  away  back  between  1840  and 
1850,  a  post  office  was  kept  by  William  Browning  at  his  residence  on  his 
farm.  J.  Truesdale  was  the  second  postmaster,  Ab.  Simmons,  the  third, 
Mac.  Wilson,  the  fourth,  in  1874,  Gabriel  Waldron,  in  1875,  A.  D.  John- 
son, in  1876,  G.  B.  Atkinson,  in  1877,  A.  A.  Cleveland,  1878,  and  the 
present  postmaster  is  W.  T.  Robinson. 

The  oldest  settler  now  living  in  the  township  is  S.  C.  Bruce,  an 
honored  citizen  of  the  county. 

W.  T.  Robinson  keeps  a  general  store.  Dr.  John  S.  Wilson,  a  drug 
and  grocery  store  combined.  Samuel  Brundon  has  the  only  blacksmith 
shop,  and  Dr.  E.  H.  French  still  occupies  his  position  in  the  healing  art 
he  has  so  long  and  so  successfully  held. 

It  is  not  a  large  town,  but  for  a  country  village  has  quite  an  exten- 
sive trade.  It  has  beautiful  scenery  north,  east  and  west  of  it,  with 
many  thriving  farmers,  and  the  village  has  not  by  any  means  reached 
its  growth.  It  will  never  be  very  large,  but  it  will  be  a  great  convenience 
to  the  people  around  who  are  likely  to  sustain  it,  because  it  is  a  neces- 
sity. 

MONEGAW   SPRINGS. 

These  famous  springs  take  their  name  from  the  equally  famous 
Indian  chief,  "  Monegaw,"  who  was  for  many  years  the  moving  spirit  of 
the  Osage  tribe  of  Indians,  as  well  as  their  chief,     A  nobler  Indian,  or  a 


1028  HISTORY    OF    ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY. 

better  specimen  of  physical  manhood  than  the  celebrated  chief,  nevei 
led  a  band  of  warriors  into  mortal  combat.  Tall,  straight  as  an  arrow, 
and  of  great  strength,  he  led  even  where  none  but  the  most  reckless 
dare  to  follow,  and  combined  with  this  was  a  native  intellect  that  had 
few  equals  outside  of  those  celebrated  chiefs,  Black  Hawk  and  Tecum- 
seh.  He  was  in  looks  and  bearing  and  in  ability,  a  counterpart  of  the 
latter  chief,  a  spirit  which  would  not  brook  restraint,  or  be  subject  to 
control.  Such  was  Monegaw,  and  when  the  pale  faces  became  at  last  as 
leaves  of  the  forest  in  number,  and  when  his  band  of  braves  had  been 
reduced  to  but  a  handful  in  number,  though  their  proud  spirits  were  yet 
unbroken,  Monegaw  saw  the  hopelessness  of  the  struggle,  and  calling 
his  few  noble  braves,  told  them  that  the  homes  and  hunting  grounds  of 
the  fathers  were  no  longer  theirs,  and  that  their  home  was  toward  the 
setting  sun.  "  Go,"  he  sadly  said,  "  but  Monegaw  is  your  chief  no  longer. 
My  hunting  ground  has  been  taken  from  me.  My  home  on  the  Osage 
and  the  Sac  is  now  in  the  hands  of  the  white  man,  and  that  which  has 
been  my  home  shall  be  my  burial  place,  and  I  will  leave  here  only  to  go 
to  the  happy  hunting  ground  beyond  the  skies."  He  ceased  speaking, 
all  was  silent  a  few  moments,  then  one  by  one  his  few  braves  silently  left 
him,  giving  him  a  sad  look  of  farewell. 

This  party  was  at  the  cave  near  the  springs,  and  in  that  cave  "  Mon- 
egaw," the  greatest  and  bravest  of  the  Osage  Indians,  starved  himself 
to  death.  His  proud  spirit  was  broken,  and  this  beautiful  country  with 
it  rugged  grandeur,  became,  as  he  said,  the  spot  where  his  spirit  should 
go  to  the  "  Great  Father  "  and  there  find  rest. 

His  stronghold  was  the  frowning  cliffs  of  the  Osage  and  those  bold 
and  rugged  bluffs  which  extend  from  the  mouth  of  the  Little  Monegaw 
to  that  of  the  Big  Monegaw,  and  the  beautiful  caves  there  found  was  his 
refuge  when  he  returned  from  the  war  path  or  from  raids  upon  the  white 
man.  These  bluffs  are  about  two  miles  in  length.  It  is  so  rough  and 
cragged  that  a  person  can  only  look  upon  it  with  a  shudder,  and  in  many 
places  the  top  of  the  bluff  extends  or  projects  over  the  river  many  feet. 
In  other  places  there  are  to  be  found  rock  houses  or  caves  which  are 
very  large  and  roomy.  The  upper,  or  west  end  of  this  irregular  bluff  is 
hemmed  in  by  a  heavy  forest  foliage,  which  extend  their  branches  close 
over  the  rocky  walls,  and  would  afford  protection  or  concealment  to 
any  band  or  body  of  robbers,  murderers,  or  demons,  who  might  infest 
the  country.  This  high  bluff  rises  in  some  places  a  thousand  feet  above 
the  bed  of  the  river  In  some  of  the  rock  houses  are  to  be  seen  various 
inscriptions  which  will  call  one's  mind  back  for  hundreds  of  years — when 
this  fair  land,  now  dotted  over  with  magnificent  farms,  towns,  cities  and 
happy  homes,  was  a  vast  wilderness,  inhabited  by  various  bands  of  sav- 
ages and  every  species  of  beasts  of  prey.  At  the  mouth  of  one  of  the 
caves  lies  large  sand  rocks,  which  have  large  and  deep  furrows  or  grooves 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY,  IO29 

cut  in  them.  There  is  no  doubt  but  that  the  cutting  was  done  by  the 
Indians  in  whetting  or  dressing  up  the  points  of  their  spikes,  spears  and 
arrows,  preparatory  to  going  on  a  hunt  or  to  take  the  war  trail;  near  the 
front  or  entrance  on  the  side  of  one  of  these  caves  can  be  seen  a  cutting 
representing  three  warriors,  dressed  in  war  paint  and  feathers,  upon  the 
line  of  march,  one  following  the  other.  On  entering  the  room  and  look- 
ing at  the  rocky  ceiling  one  will  behold  many  inscriptions  of  various 
things.  There  are  turtles  swimming  in  all  directions,  warriors  swim- 
ming the  river,  some  leading  ponies,  while  others  are  carrying  their 
spears,  bows  and  arrows,  and  in  the  background  can  be  seen  what 
appears  to  be  a  living  Indian  wrapped  in  a  blanket. 

Let  it  be  said,  however,  that  the  palefaces,  on  finding  his  remains  in 
the  cave,  gave  them  a  decent  burial,  and  the  trappings  found  by  his  side 
and  which  proved  his  identity  were  placed  in  his  grave  that  he  might 
find  them  in  the  happy  hunting  ground  beyond.  Farewell,  old  Chief 
"  Monegaw,"  farewell!  And  from  him  these  springs  take  their  name. 
Lindsay  and  Charles  Applegate  were  the  first  to  settle  at  or  by  these 
springs,  and  they  put  up  a  cabin  there  in  1833  or  early  in  1834.  They 
had  put  up  also  a  little  water  mill,  the  first  in  the  county,  but  small.  In 
1835  James  Anderson  bought  the  Applegates'  claim  and  lived  there  for 
several  years.  The  Andersons  came  from  Virginia.  The  forty  acres 
lying  directly  south  of  the  springs  is  where  Anderson  raised  his  log 
cabin.  The  healing  qualities  of  these  waters  were  well  known  to  them, 
and  the  place  was  called  by  the  French  trappers  who  passed  through  the 
county  "  Stinking  Waters,"  and  there  are  evidences  that  many  Indians 
of  other  tribes  besides  the  Osages  came  to  these  springs  to  recuperate 
their  health.  The  old  settler  had  great  confidence  in  ^e  healthfulness 
of  the  waters  of  these  springs,  but  it  was  not  until  about  1850  that  their 
great  medical  qualities  became  known  and  circulated. 

It  was  in  1850  or  1851  that  congress  sent  out  a  board  of  medical 
experts  to  examine  the  water  of  these  springs,  for  there  are  nearly  100 
in  all,  and  other  medical  waters  found,  and  their  report  was  to  the  effect 
that  they  were  the  best  black  sulphur  spring  water  and  containing  greater 
medical  properties  than  any  other  to  be  found  in  the  United  States. 
Springs  are  numerous  and  found  in  different  portions  of  the  county. 
The  salt  springs  situated  about  five  miles  southwest  from  Osceola  before 
referred  to,  sulphur  springs  at  Taberville  and  on  Salt  Creek,  and  numer- 
ous chalybeate  springs  in  other  parts  of  the  county  have  attained  more 
or  less  fame;  but  the  greatest  of  those  which  have  excited  the  most  curi- 
osity as  well  as  containing  the  greatest  medical  properties  are  the  famous 

MONEGAW   SPRINGS, 

situated  in    Monegaw  Township,  one    mile   north   of   the   Osage   River, 
seven  miles  from  the  county  seat,  and  sixteen  miles  from  Appleton  City. 


I030  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

These  springs  are  contained  within  a  distance  of  about  200  feet,  and  are 
102  in  number,  each  spring  being  different  from  all  the  others.  Some 
have  different  properties;  some  are  more  strongly  impregnated  with 
sulphur  than  others;  some  of  the  springs  are  more  or  less  salt,  and  one 
at  least  is  the  purest,  clear  fresh  water  to  be  found  in  the  county.  The 
springs  are  black,  white  and  yellow  sulphur,  chalybeate  and  pure  water. 
Many  chronic  cases  of  long  standing,  which  had  been  pronounced 
incurable  by  leading  physicians,  have  been  cured  by  the  use  of  these 
springs.  The  neighbors  tell  of  several  cases  of  rheumatism  and  dys- 
pepsia of  years'  standing  that  were  cured  in  a  short  time. 

Monegaw  Cave,  situated  about  a  half  mile  from  the  springs,  has 
been  explored  nearly  a  mile.  In  some  places  the  roof  is  forty  feet  high, 
and  adorned  by  nature  in  a  wonderful  manner.  One  could  well  imagine 
themselves  in  "  Alladin's  cave,"  while  gazing  on  the  quartz  crystal  and 
other  curiosities  with  which  this  wonderful  cave  is  adorned.  Specimens 
of  silver  ore  have  been  discovered  here,  apparently  rich;  but  as  no  assay 
has  been  had,  their  value  is  unknown.  In  sight  of  this  cave,  and  cover- 
ing a  surface  of  at  least  forty  acres,  we  traveled  over  thousands  of  "  red 
hematite,"  the  richest  iron  ore  known  in  this  or  any  other  country.  In 
other  places  we  found  the  blue  specular  in  immense  quantities,  and  con- 
venient to  both  is  coal  and  timber,  capable  of  furnishing  coke  and  char- 
coal to  be  used  in  utilizing  these  wonderful  mountains  of  ore. 

MONEGAW   CITY. 

As  a  town  it  was  rather  slow  to  grow,  but  a  Mr.  Houck  seems  first 
to  have  made_more  extensively  known  the  famous  medical  properties  of 
the  waters.  He  was  the  first  to  start  the  embryo  city  of  Monegaw,  and 
started  in  as  the  first  merchant.  He  worked  hard  to  let  the  virtues  of 
the  springs  become  known,  and  by  1856  and  1857,  the  city  of  Monegaw 
had  a  population  of  some  400.  It  was  not,  however,  very  easy  of  access, 
and  the  war  ended  the  town,  for  it  has  since  then  ceased  to  exist.  A 
good  hotel  building  is  there,  and  the  famous  springs  still  bubble  up  and 
run  over  with  their  crystal  waters,  but  that  is  all  that  is  now  left.  The 
future  of  these  springs  is,  however,  now  bright.  A  company  has  been 
formed  to  resurrect  the  dead  city  and  to  open  up  a  m.eans  of  ingress  and 
egress,  that  it  will  become  a  pleasure  to  visit  the  springs,  instead  of  seri- 
ous annoyance  and  trouble.  It  is  in  fact  to  be  made  a  summer  resort, 
with  all  the  modern  appliances  of  convenience  and  comfort,  while  enjoy- 
ing its  life  and  health  sustaining  waters. 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

BUTLER,  JACKSON  AND  POLK  TOWNSHIPS. 

BUTLER  TOWNSHIP-THE  FIRST  BREAK— ONE  OF  SEVEN— TOPOGRAPHY  AND  AREA— PRO- 
DUCTION AND  POPULATION— WATER  AND  .TIMBER— SETTLED  AND  BY  WHOM— 
GEORGE  W.  PENN— LOWRY  CITY— CHURCHES,  SCHOOLS,  LODGES  AND  BUSINESS- 
JACKSON  TOWNSHIP-MINERAL  NOT  AGRICULTURAL-METES  AND  BOUNDS-WHITE 
SULPHUR  SPRINGS-CHURCHES,  POST  OFFICES  AND  SCHOOLS-POLK  TOWNSHIP- 
BORDER  TOWNSHIP- BOUNDS- A  SINGULAR  SPRING— PIONEERS— WATER,  TIMBER 
AND  SOME  ROCK-POPULATION  — PRODUCnON— CHURCHES  AND  SCHOOLS— ITS 
GENERAL  FEATURES 

BUTLER,  ONE   OF   SEVEN. 

This  township  was  the  first  new  township  made  out  of  the  original 
six,  which  constituted  the  municipal  divisions  of  the  county.  Its  first 
boundaries  will  be  found  in  the  general  history,  but  the  present  is  here 
given,  taken  from  the  records.  It  is  nearly  eight  and  a  half  miles  north 
and  south  by  seven  and  a  half  miles  east  and  west,  covering  an  area  in 
round  numbers  of  about  38,000  acres.  The  Osage  River  being  its  prin- 
cipal eastern  boundary,  it  has  a  large  number  of  fractional  sections. 
Geographically  it  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Henry  County,  east  by  the 
Osage  River,  except  a  strip  in  the  northeast  corner,  which  is  divided 
from  Jackson  Township  by  range  line  between  ranges  24  and  25;  on  the 
south  by  Osceola,  and  on  the  west  by  Chalk  Level  Township.  On  the 
new  divisions  organized  in  1872,  the  township  boundaries  were  placed 
upon  the  records  as  then  made.  This  record,  as  regards  this  township, 
reads: 

TOWNSHIP   OF   BUTLER 

is  bounded  as  follows:  "Commencing  in  the  center  of  the  main  channel 
of  the  Osage  River,  at  a  point  where  the  south  line  of  township  39,  of 
range  25  crosses  said  river;  thence  down  the  main  channel  of  said  river 
to  a  point  where  the  east  line  of  said  township  crosses  said  river;  thence 
running  north  to  the  boundary  line  of  the  county;  thence  west  along 
said  boundary  line  to  a  point  where  the  section  line  between  sections  2 
and  3  in  township  39,  of  range  26,  intersects  said  boundary  line;  thence 
running  south  along  said  section  line  to  the  southwest  corner  of  section 
35  in  said  township;  thence  east  along  the  township  line  to  the  center 
of  the  main  channel  of  the  Osage  River;  thence  down  the  main  channel 
of  said  river  to  the  place  of  beginning." 


I032  HISTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

PHYSICAL   FEATURES. 

Butler  Township  is  fully  four-fifths  prairie  land,  and  it  is  admitted 
by  competent  judges  to  be  the  equal  of  any  in  the  county.  For  beauty 
of  landscape,  richness  of  soil  and  wealth  of  production,  Butler  Town- 
ship, if  not  first,  will  rank  as  such  before  many  years.  With  the  advent 
of  the  Clinton  &  Osceola  Railroad  through  its  center,  from  north  to 
south,  it  will  be  one  of  the  most  desirable  homes  for  immigrants  to  be 
found.  This  will  be  accomplished  within  a  few  short  months,  and  But- 
ler will  rank  as  one  of  the  wealthiest  townships  in  the  county.  Its  pop- 
ulation in  1880  was  1,399,  ^"<^  is  probably  now  1,500.  It  is  the  largest 
population  of  any  township  excepting  Appleton,  and  far  exceeds  that 
township  in  agricultural  population.  In  1870  it  was  less  in  population 
than  Chalk  Level,  but  now  exceeds  it.  Its  gain  during  the  past  decade 
is  as  follows: 

Population  in   1880 i,399 

Population  in    1870 646 

Gain 753 

or  a  trifle  over  115  per  cent.     This  was  more  rapid  than  any  other  town- 
ship in  the  county. 

WATER   AND   TIMBER. 

The  Osage  River  on  its  eastern  border  is  its  resource  for  water, 
with  the  exception  of  two  small  branches,  which  empty  into  the  Osage, 
and  Gallinipper  Creek,  which  touches  a  portion  of  its  southern  and 
western  border.  There  are  a  few  springs  within  the  township,  and  water 
is  easy  to  obtain  by  sinking  wells  from  twelve  to  forty  feet. 

The  timber  lies  along  the  bank  of  the  Osage  River,  on  the  eastern 
side,  and  is  of  value.  In  minerals,  the  township  is  rather  bare,  though 
it  is  believed  that  lead  exists  in  the  southeastern  partj  on  and  near  the 
river. 

THE   EARLY   SETTLERS. 

Among  the  earliest  settlers  in  the  township  was  Hugh  Barnett,  who 
settled  on  section  24,  and  came  in  the  year  1838.  Two  sons,  John  and 
William,  came  with  him.  John  settled  on  section  23.  James  Addington 
settled  on  section  14;  John  C.  Greenwell  on  section  13,  near  the  river, 
the  same  year.  Christopher  Greenup,  James,  William,  John  and  Daniel 
Bunch  all  came  in  1839,  ^^^  settled  on  sections  2,  3  and  11.  J.  G.  Wil- 
liams and  William  Crowley  came  in  1837,  and  were  viewers  of  a  road  in 
May,  1838,  being  appointed  by  the  Henry  County  Court.  Williams  is 
now,  if  living,  a  resident  of  Colorado.  William  Snell  also  lived  on  sec- 
tion 14,  and  came  about  1839.     These  settlers   were   leading  citizens  of 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  IO33; 

the  county  for  many  years,  and  have  left  the  impress  of  their  energy  of 
character  upon  the  township.     These  were  all  in  township  39,  range  25. 

In  1840,  there  came  Eli  Oden,  who  settled  on  section  35,  as  alsa 
did  C.  G.  Browning,  township  39,  of  range  26.  Hiram  and  Horatio 
Short  came  the  same  year  and  made  section  26  their  home,  same  township 
and  range.  Clifton  Browning  and  a  Dr.  Browning  and  Dr.  Giles  came 
also  in  1840.  C.  G.  Browning  bought  the  southeast  quarter  of  northeast 
quarter  of  section  35,  of  James  V.  Garnett,  an  early  settler  who  came 
in  1837.  Besides  the  few  names  here  mentioned,  there  were  very  few 
settlers  on  the  west  side  of  thfe  township  as  early  as  1840.  They  clus- 
tered near  the  river  and  along  its  banks  for  miles,  but  no  settler  was 
hardy  enough  in  those  days  to  settle  upon  the  open  prairie,  miles  from 
running  water  and  timbered  land. 

One  of  the  first  camping  grounds  in  St.  Clair  County,  was  the  Meth- 
odist camping  grounds,  located  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section 
25,  township  39,  of  range  26.  This  ground  was  used  as  such  as  early 
as  1845,  and  people  were  known  to  come  from  twenty  to  thirty  miles  to- 
attend  the  meetings.  Each  brought  their  provisions  along,  and  it  was  a 
regular  camping  out,  the  meetings  holding  as  long  as  the  provisions 
held  out.  This  was  the  Lord's  work,  resting  upon  the  endurance  of  the 
settlers  to  stand  the  short  rations.  So  far  as  the  early  settlers  of  Butler 
are  concerned,  they  were  in  pretty  good  circumstances  on  their  arrival. 
Not  much  wealth  as  rated  at  this  day,  but  enough  to  purchase  their  lands 
and  give  them  a  start  without  enduring  the  troubles  of  a  debt  hanging 
over  them.  The  Bunches,  Barnetts,  Greenwells,  all  came  prepared  to- 
secure  homes,  and  only  their  living  to  work  for.  They  and  their  descen- 
dents  have  prospered. 

The  people  of  Butler  have  looked  for  many  years  for  railroad  trans- 
portation through  their  township.  High  hopes  or  great  expectations 
had  taken  hold  of  their  minds,  and  they  had  even  gone  so  far  as  to  lay 
out  a  city  of  metropolitan  proportions  to  meet  their  new  view  of  life 
when  the  outside  world  could  be  reached  with  the  iron  horse  as  the  mode 
of  travel.  There  are  bright  hopes  now  for  this  long  deferred  railroad 
being  completed,  and  when  it  is  the  citizens  of  Butler  will  have  cause 
for  rejoicing.     It  will  not  only  be  a  convenience  but  a  source  of  wealth. 

A   PROMINENT   CITIZEN. 

In  1841  George  W.  Penn  came  to  St.  Clair  County  and  settled  in 
Butler  Township.  He  was  born  on  the  9th  day  of  December,  1813,  in 
Caswell  County,  North  Carolina.  For  thirty  years  Butler  Township  had 
no  more  active  and  enterprising  a  citizen.  He  died  September  18,  1871,. 
at  the  age  of  fifty-eight  years.  When  the  town  of  Lowry  was  laid  out 
he  was  one  of  its  first  merchants  as  well  as  its  first  hotel  keeper.     These 


1034  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

he  opened  in  May.  187 1,  and  lived  but  four  months  afterward.  He  belonged 
to  the  M.  K.  Church,  South,  and  when  the  death  of  George  W.  Penn  was 
announced  not  only  Lowry  City  and  Hutler  Township  mourned  but  St. 
Clair  County  had  reason   to  weep  for  her  loss. 

Under  the  new  township  law  the  following  local  officers  were  elected 
in  the  spring  election  of  1875:  John  Walker,  trustee;  D.  B.  Scobey, 
collector;  R.  W.  Wright,  clerk;  Daniel  Williams,  assessor;  S.  M.  Gracey 
and  Jonathan  Cooley,  justices  of  the  peace,  and  H.  H.  Sn\'der,  con- 
stable. 

LOWRY   CItV. 

The  Pride  of  the  Prairie  is  located  on  section  13,  township  39,  range 
26,  with  as  handsome  a  surrounding  as  the  eye  would  wish  to  dwell  upon. 
Those  grassy  slopes,  dotted  here  and  there  with  neat  farm  houses,  well- 
stocked  barns  and  herds  of  graded  cattle  tell  of  thrift  and  plenty,  and 
in  the  midst  of  this,  on  rising  ground  bathed  in  the  sunlight,  stands  the 
"  Pride  of  the  Prarie,"  great  in  the  promise  of  a  glorious  future.  It  lies 
about  seven  and  a  half  miles  a  little  north  and  west  of  Osceola,  and 
about  eighteen  and  a  half  miles  from  Applcton  City,  a  little  south  of 
west,  and  is  directly  on  the  line  of  the  railroad  now  in  process  of  con- 
struction between  Clinton  and  Osceola,  some  twent}'  miles  from  the  lat- 
ter place.  The  city  is  regularlarly  laid  out;  all  thoroughfares  running 
north  and  south  are  avenues,  while  the  streets  cross  these  at  right  angles, 
thus  combining  beauty  and  symmetry.  It  is  on  the  high  divide  between 
the  Osage  and  Grand  Rivers,  and  the  country  to  the  north,  south  and 
west  can  be  seen    for  miles. 

WHEN    LAID   OUT. 


I 


Early  in  March,  1871,  the  then  proposed  railroad  between  Osceola 
and  Clinton  having  assured  John  Hancock  that  his  offer  was  accepted,  a 
plat  of  the  town  was  drawn  and  a  lithograph  of  the  plat  executed.  Of 
course  the  new  town  became  the  absorbing  theme  in  that  section,  and  a 
number  of  the  people  were  ready  to  purchase  lots  and  take  their  chances 
for  prosperity  and  wealth  in  the  embryo  city.  In  May,  1871,  John  Han- 
cock named  this  new  town  "  Lowry  City,"  in  honor  of  a  wealthy  resident 
of  Evansville,  Indiana,  for  whom  he  formerly  clerked  j-ears  ago.  The 
town  soon  gave  evidence  of  rapid  growth,  and  in  the  year  of  its  birth 
made  a  vigorous  and  healthy  progress. 

G.  W.  &  J.  P.  Wright  put  up  the  first  store  or  business  house,  and 
were  the  first  merchants.  Dr.  J.  P.  Wright  was  the  first  physician;  D. 
M.  Reid  started  the  first  blacksmith  shop;  R.  Wright  was  the  first  car- 
penter, and  C.  F.  Huebner  the  first  shoemaker;  and  these  settled  all  in 
the  spring  of  1871.     The  business  firms  then  were: 


I 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  IO35 

J.  P.  Wright  and  Co.,  general  store. 

G.  W.  Wright,  drugs,  groceries,  boots  and  shoes. 

G.  W.  Houx,  hardware. 

C.  F.  Huebner,  harness  and  boots  and  shoes. 

The  first  postmaster  was  J.  P.  Wright,  and  he  was  succeeded  by  J. 
il.  Hopkins.  The  third  was  William  Hook;  fourth,  John  B.  Bell,  and 
;he  present  postmaster,  J.  H.  Trissel. 

Physicians,  Dr.  J.  P.  Wright  and  Dr.  Joseph  A.  Mee. 

Dentists,  E.  J.  Deringer  and  A.  S.  Wright. 

Tinner,  Joseph  R.  Barnett. 

Blacksmith,  W.  D.  Poindexter. 

Wagon  manufacturer,  —  Vemiller. 

Wright  House,  G.  W.  Wright,  proprietor. 

Hotel  Penn,  Mrs.  Penn. 

Carpenters,  J.  H.  Trissell  and  Mr.  Fields. 

Grange  Store,  Phillip  H.  Clear. 

Drugs  and  groceries,  W.  G.  Browning. 

Millinery,  Mrs.  Y.  U.  Poindexter. 

Dry  Goods,  H.  Tutloch. 

Billiard  Hall,  James  Cardwell. 

On  May  8,  1872,  Lowry  City  became  a  voting  precinct,  the  polling 
Dlace  being  removed  from  Walker's  School  House.  The  public  sale  of 
ots  took  place  November  20,  1871,  in  which  some  forty  odd  lots  were 
iold,  ranging  in  price  from  $26  to  $145,  and  had  the  railroad  been  built, 
IS  was  expected,  Lowry  City  to-day  would  have  been  the  second  city  in 
;ize  in  the  county,  if  not  the  first. 

LOWRY   CITY    LODGE   NO.   403    A.    F.    &   A.    M., 

,vas  organized  in  October,  1873.  Its  first  officers  were:  A.  M.  Head,  W. 
VI.;  James  Mahan,  S.  W.;  William  Cox,  J.  W.;  George  M.  Gobbert,  Sec- 
retary; John  Cash,  Treasurer;  J.  R.  Jenkins,  S.  D.;  R.  W.  Garnett,  J. 
D.;  John  Barnett,  T. 

Its  present  officers,  1883,  are  J.  R.  Barnett,  W.  M.;  W.  W.  Gass,  S. 
W.;  Dr.  James  M.  Mee,  J.  W.;  David  Chinn,  Secretary. 

Original  members,  A.  M.  Mead,  William  M.  Cox,  Joseph  Mahan, 
fohn  Cash,  George  M.  Gobbert,  John  R.  Jenkins,  R.  W.  Garnett  and 
[ohn  Barnett. 

The  order  is  in  good  condition  and  has  grown  steadily.  It  now 
numbers  thirty-three  members,  and  a  neat  hall  of  their  own. 

LOWRY    LODGE   NO.   407,    I.    O.    O.    F., 

was  organized  May  19,  1881,  with  the  following  charter  members:  John 
H.  Trissel,  C.  F.  Huebner,  W.  P.  Snyder,  C.  W.  Wright,  Thomas  R.  But- 


1036  HISTORY   OF    ST.    Cl.AIR   COUNTY. 

ler,  Joseph  Barter,  Newton  Dowers,  P.  H.  Clear,  S.  J.  Duvall,  William 
Conner,  J.  C.  Stockman,  H.  Denny,  Thomas  Dean  and  D.  Tucker. 

The  first  officers  were  elected  and  installed  as  follows:  J.  C.  Stock- 
man, N.  G,;  M.  C.  Mowbray,  V.  G.;  C.  F.  Huebner,  Secretary.  v 

Second  officers:  C.  F.  Huebner,  N.  G.;  M.  F.  Davis,  V.  G.;  M.  ci 
Mowbray,  Secretary. 

Third  officers:  M.  C.  Mowbray,  N.  G.;  N.  Dowers,  V.  G.;  F.  D.'- 
Lacost,  Secretary. 

Fourth  officers:  P.  H.  Clear,  N.  G.;  Jonas  Rathgib,  V.  G.;  A.  C. 
Winters,  Secretary. 

The  lodge  is  progressing  finely,  and  has  a  membership  of  twenty- 
two. 

PLEASANT   VIEW   GRANGE,  NO.  1 526, 

was  organized  at  Lowry  City,  January  20,  1874,  by  Deputy  M.  V.  B. 
Page,  of  Vernon  County,  Missouri,  with  the  following  named  persons  as 
charter  members: 

J.  C.  Waldron  and  wife.  Jonathan  Cooley,  H.  W.  Sale,  J.  K.  Wilkin- 
son, Robert  McF'arlin,  Jr.,  and  wife,  W.  H.  Sparks  and  wife,  Jonathan 
Hearn,  A.  M.  Dyke,  J.  M.  Francis,  R.  F.  Lyon,  Joseph  Hannah  and  wife, 
E.  E.  Hall  and  wife,  Isaac  Hearn,  Henry  Hearn,  Mrs.  Evaline  Cooper- 
son,  James  H.  Walters,  L.  C.  Walters,  James  Reasoner,  O.  P.  Duvall. 

The  first  officers  were,  J.  C.  Waldron,  Master;  Jonathan  Cooley, 
Secretary.     Term  of  office  expired  January  i,  1875. 

J.  M.  Francis  was  elected  Master,  and  E.  E.  Hall,  Secretary.  Term  of 
office  expired  January  i,  1876. 

Jonathan  Cooley  was  elected  Master,  and  Robert  McFarlin,  Secre- 
tary,    Term  of  office  expired  January  i,  1877. 

H.  W.  Sale  was  elected  Master,  and  R.  McFarlin  re-elected  Secre- 
tary,    They  held  their  offices  until  March,  1878. 

Jonathan  Cooley  was  elected  Master,  and  P.  H.  Clear,  Secretary. 
During  this  year  the  Grange  became  dormant,  and  did  not  meet  regu- 
lar until  August  2,  1879,  when  it  met  and  reorganized,  with  Jonathan 
Cooley,  Master,  and  P.  H.  Clear,  Secretary. 

January  i,  P.  H.  Clear  was  chosen  Master,  and  F.  W.  Sale,  Secre- 
tary.    Term  of  office  expired  January  i,  1881. 

P.  H.  Clear  was  re-elected  Master,  and  H.  W.  Sale  re-elected  Sec- 
retary.    Term  of  office  expired  January  i,  18S2. 

P.  H.  Clear  was  re-elected  Master,  and  J.  M.  Francis,  Secretary. 
Term  of  office  expired  January  i,  1883. 

Daniel  Williams  was  chosen  Master,  and  J.  M.  Francis  re-elected 
Secretary. 

Present  number  of  members,  males,  41;   females,  17.     Total,  58. 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY,  IO37 

The  members  of  this  Grange  are  owners  of  a  large  two  story  frame 
building  20x60  feet  in  size,  with  store  room  below  and  hall  above,  and 
are  out  of  debt. 

M.  E.  CHURCH. 

The  M.  E.  Church,  now  of  Lowry  City  was  organized  in  1865,  by  a 
few  earnest  people.  They  were  William  Hook,  B  .  H  .  Woodbury,  George 
W.  Houk  and  Henry  Houk.  The  present  membership  is  fifty.  The 
church  was  built  in  1878,  frame  in  construction  and  cost  $900,  Since 
1870  the  pastors  have  been  the  same  as  the  Osceola  M.  E.  Church;  this 
church  being  in  the  same  circuit.  There  is  a  Union  Sunday  School 
In  a  flourishing  condition  numbering  seventy-five  pupils,  with  B.  H. 
Woodbury  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  superintendent, 

FIRST   BAPTIST   CHURCH 

is  comparatively  a  new  organization,  it  being  first  called  together  March 
24,  1882,  the  folio wii^rf^med  members  effecting  its  organization: 

C.  Brom  and 'wife,  R.  D.  Lawlor  and  wife,  Sarah  F.  Penn,  Taxanna 

F.  Smith,  G.  H.  Matthew  and  wife,  John  G.  Baynhan   and   wife,   Morgan 
Wright  and  wife,  A.  S.  Wright,    Missouri   Poindexter,  J.  P.  Wright  and 

G.  W.  Mahan.     Its  first  pastor  was  the  Rev.  R.  D.  Lawler. 

The  church  has  a  promising  future,  with  an  extended  influence  for 
good. 

SCHOOLS. 

They  have  nine  school  districts  in  Butler  Township,  besides  another 
in  connection  with  Chalk  Level  Township,  about  one  half  of  the  terri- 
tory lying  in  each  township.  These  schools  average  six  months  each, 
have  a  full  average  attendance,  and  have  the  past  few  years  advanced 
rapidly.  This  is  accounted  for  by  the  fact  that  good  teachers  have  been 
employed,  the  qualifications  of  the  man  being  taken  into  considera- 
tion and  not  wages.  The  demands  of  the  people  for  educational  facili- 
ties have  been  advantageously  met. 

JACKSON   TOWNSHIP. 

As  an  agricultural  township  Jackson  cannot  be  called  first-class, 
although  there  are  some  prairie  and  bottom  lands  within  her  border 
equal  to  the  best.  But  her  wealth  lies  in  her  immense  iron  bed  which 
covers  nearly,  if  not  quite,  one  third  of  her  area.  Central  Jackson  is 
simply  a  bed  of  iron  ore  and  covers  some  twelve  sections  of  land.  This 
is  wealth  if  communication  with  the  outside  world  becomes  a  living 
reality.  Iron  furnaces,  with  coal  all  around,  would  build  up  the  waste 
places  in  the  township.      The  northern  portion  of  the  west  along  the 


1038  HISTORY    OK   ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY. 

Osat:^e  River  and  a  strip  along  its  southern  border  are  as  good  agricul- 
tural lands  as  are  to  be  found.  This  land  has  been  appreciated  for  in 
the  last  decade  Jackson  Count)'  has  gained  rapidly  in  population. 

The  population  in  18S0  was 775 

The  population  in  1870  was 411 

334 

This  is  a  gain  of  about  eighty  per  cent,  and  above  the  average  gain 
of  the  townships. 

The  Osage  River  makes  her  western  boundary  very  irregular  and 
the  same  can  be  said  of  its  northern  boundary  in  part,  for  the  meandering 
of  that  stream  waters  its  northern  part  and  then  forms  a  portion  of  its 
northern  boundary.  This  makes  at  least  half  of  tiie  township  well 
wooded  and  watered,  and  to  this  may  be  credited  her  surprising  growth 
when  taken  into  consideration  that  one-third  of  her  territory  can  not  be 
cultivated  for  agricultural  purposes.  There  is  no  better  stock  country 
than  that  to  be  found  in  the  northern  and  western  part  of  this  town- 
ship. 

IRON   ORE. 

When  the  wealth  of  her  mineral  shall  be  brought  to  the  surface 
and  utilized  as  it  should  be,  Jackson.  Township  will  not  be  lacking  in 
the  essentials  of  prosperity.  Those  iron  beds  will  not  be  exhausted  for 
years,  and  when  her  mineral  wealth  shall  have  been  developed,  combin- 
ed with  her  agricultural  and  stock  resources,  Jackson  will  not  need  to  take 
a  back  seat  in  either  wealth  or  population. 

METES   AND    BOUNDS. 

Jackson  Township  lies  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the  county,  Henry 
County  being  on  the  north,  Benton  on  the  east,  Polk  Township  on  the 
south  and  Butler  Township  on  the  west.  She  is  more  partiularly 
described  by  the  order  of  the  county  court: 

JACKSON. 

Established  and  bounded  as  follows,  to  wit:  Commencing  at  the 
southeast  corner  of  township  thirty-nine,  range  twenty-four,  thence  run- 
ning north  along  the  township  line  to  the  northeast  corner  of  said  town- 
ship, taking  in  all  of  township  forty,  range  twenty-three  and  twenty-four, 
that  is  in  St.  Clair  County,  thence  running  along  the  northern  boundary 
of  the  county  to  the  northwest  corner  of  said  township  thirty-nine,  range 
twenty-four,  thence  south  along  the  township  line  to  the  center  of  the 
main  channel  of  the  Osage  River,  thence  up  the  center  of  said  main 
channel  to  a  point  where  the  south  line  of  said  township  crosses  said 
river,  thence  east  to  the  place  of  beginning. 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  IO39 

Excepting  the  Osage  River,  there  are  no  streams  of  importance  in 
the  township.  A  few  minor  branches  flow  into  the  above  named  river, 
but  with  the  exception  of  giving  plenty  of  stock  water  are  but  of  little 
consequence.  The  Osage,  however,  makes  several  deep  bends  into  the 
township,  watering  nearly  its  entire  north  half. 

WHITE   SULPHUR. 

In  the  northeast  corner  of  the  township,  on  fractional  section  i,  is 
to  be  found  one  of  the  finest  springs  of  white  sulphur  water  to  be  seen 
in  the  state.  It  was  first  discovered  by  John  E.  Bouldin  in  1837,  and  is- 
highly  prized  to  this  day.  The  windings  of  the  Osage  make  numerous 
important  bends,  and  on  the  ridges  from  the  top  down  on  both  sides  to 
the  river  is  found  splendid  land  and  cattle  ranges.  The  Horsehoe  Bend 
in  the  south  corner  makes  a  very  pretty  horseshoe  in  shape,  and  reaches 
some  two  miles  into  Jackson  Township  and  the  land  in  the  bend  belong- 
ing to  Butler  Township.  On  the  north  we  have  Tally's  Bend,  Waldo 
Bend  and  Dawson  Bend. 

AREA. 

In  area  Jackson  Township  is  eight  and  a  half  miles  north  and  south 
b)'  an  average  of  about  six  and  a  half  miles  east  and  west,  and  in  round 
numbers  has  about  30,000  acres  of  land,  not  all,  as  was  before  remarked, 
good  agricultural  or  farming  land,  but  such  a  splendid  combination  of 
mineral  wealth  and  productive  soil  as  to  give  a  promise  of  a  bright 
future. 

WHEN   SETTLED. 

This  township  may  be  considered  to  have  been  settled  from  1836  to 
1840;  that  is,  the  old  pioneers  who  blazed  the  way  for  civilization  and 
progress,  settled  there  during  those  years  and  left  their  impress  for  all 
time.  Within  what  is  now  the  present  boundary  of  Jackson  Township^ 
settled  quite  a  number  who  became  prominent  in  those  early  days  in 
the  history  of  the  county.  J.  E.  Bouldin  came  in  1836;  one  of  the  Daw- 
sons  in  1837.  The  first  settled  on  fractional  section  i,  and  the  latter  on 
fractional  section  2.  John  Waldo  was  on  fractional  sections  3  and  4,  the 
same  year;  then  there  was  Thomas  F.  Wright,  from  Kentucky,  in  1837, 
who  settled  on  fractional  sections  5  and  6;  John  Tally,  from  Alabama, 
on  the  same  section  6;  James  Foster  on  5.  Wright  was  a  justice  of  the 
peace  and  a  county  judge,  succeeding  Judge  Barnett  in  1842.  There 
came  from  Tennessee,  in  1837' and  1838,  several  settlers,  among  whom 
were  Thomas  Copenhaver,  who  drove  his  stake  on  section  26;  John 
Thompson  on  section  23;  L.  Gover,  section  26;  also  E.  L.  Harper;  then 
A.  Miller,  on   section   24;    Gideon   W.  Smith  on  section  2,  and  Neshack 


I 


1040   .  IIISTORV   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

Tipton  on  section  35.  or  fractional  section  i,  township  40.  range  24. 
Jesse  Lovney  first  settled  on  section  ?3.  and  he  too.  like  Tally,  came 
from  Alabama.  James  Tally  came  in  1837,  and  with  his  brother  John 
settled  in  the  bend  which  goes  by  their  name.  Josiah  Dent  settled  on 
section  5,  and  William  Brown  on  fractional  section  4;  and  these  com- 
plete the  list  of  most  of  the  early  settlers  of  Jackson  Township. 

BAKER   AND    ICONIUM. 

There  are  two  post  offices  within  the  township,  one  known  as  Baker, 
on  fractional  section  4,  opened  in  1869,  Elijah  Smith,  postmaster,  until 
1872,  and  since  that  time  Elder  W.  M.  Love  has  acted,  and  the  office 
called  Iconium,  which  was  opened  in  March,  1879,  with  a  weekly  mail  to 
both  places.  At  Iconium.  Mr.  C.  W,  Wright  i"  postmaster,  and  also 
a  merchant,  keeping  a  general  store. 

Mr.  Armstrong  runs  the  only  blacksmith  shop. 

Mr.  James  L.  Bernard  is  now  erecting  a  store  building,  intending  to 
open  another  store  at  that  place. 

There  is  a  good  country  around  Iconium,  and  there  is  no  reason 
why  it  should  not  become  a  flourishing  country  town.  Iconium  is  located 
on  section  26,  in  the  southwest  portion  of  the  township. 

Under  the  new  township  organization  law,  the  following  persons 
were  elected  at  the  April  election  in  1874:  Hiram  Gray,  trustee;  A. 
Miller,  clerk;  Silas  R.  Miller,  assessor;  Levi  M.  Gover,  collector;  A.  G. 
Wood,  constable,  (to  fill  vacanc}');  John  Copenhaver,  Ben.  Brake,  L.  C. 
Mathews  and  John  J.  Smith,  road  overseers. 

At  the  election  1882,  the  township  organization  law  was  again 
adopted,  it  having  been  annulled  in  1878. 

THE    PRAIRIE   GROVE    BAPTIST   CHURCH 

was  organized  on  the  fourth  Sunday  in  April,  1868,  and  is  located  on  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  4.  north  of  the  Osage  River.  Its  organiza- 
tion was  effected  by  Revs.  Thomas  Briggs  and  W.  P.  Wright,  the  fol- 
lowing being  the  names  of  the  original  members:  W.  H.  Sibley,  M. 
Wright,  Sydney  Kirtley,  Samuel  Garwood,  S.  J.  Smith,  Hugh  Ingram, 
R.  Eversole,  William  Parker,  Henry  Hollace,  Catharine  Wright,  Ann 
Evarett,  Nancy  Parker,  Lavisa  Dent  and  Martha  Copenhaver. 

The  present  membership  is  fifty-two.  The  pastors  who  have  offici- 
ated are  as  follows:  PLlder  R.  D.  Lawler.  Elder  W.  P.  Wright,  Elder  J. 
H.  Sands,  Elder  W.  M.  Love,  the  present  pastor,  who  has  labored  as 
such  for  the  past  seven  years.  M.  Wright  is  clerk.  The  church's  first 
and  present  place  of  worship  is  the  school  building  erected  for  both  pur- 
poses, a  neat  frame  building  costing  the  sum  of  $800.     The\-  ha\'e  also  a 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   CLAIR   COUNTY.  I04r 

flourishing  Sunday  School  connected  with  the  church  with  an  attend- 
ance of  thirty-five  scholars.  Its  superintendent  is  S.  B.  Davidson,  who 
has  made  it  a  success. 

WRIGHT'S   CREEK   BAPTIST   CHURCH, 

was  organized  in  February,  1866,  by  the  Rev.  William  P.  Wright,  and 
Rev.  C.  V.  Maddox.  It  is  located  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  6. 
The  first  house  of  worship  erected  was  in  1872,  size  22x30,  and  of  logs. 
This  building  was  accidently  burned  a  month  after  its  completion.  The 
present  church  was  built  in  1877,  and  is  a  handsome  and  substantial 
frame  structure,  in  size  22x32,  neatly  finished  and  furnished  and  at  a  cost 
of  $650. 

Its  members  who  united  in  the  organization  were  Rev.  William  H. 
Sibley  and  wife,  James  Foster  and  wife,  James  M.  Lane  and  wife, 
Thomas  Wright  and  wife,  Morgan  Wright  and  wife,  Lucinda  Commons, 
Lavisa  Dent,  C.  R.  Fields  and  wife,  Rev.  C.  V.  Maddox  and  wife,  and 
Lucinda  Dent,  (colored). 

The  church  has  grown  and  prospered,  and  now  has  a  membership  of 
seventy-one.  A  very  pleasant  Sabbath  School  under  the  superinten- 
dency  of  Mr.  A.  C.  Tally  is  connected  with  the  church  and  has  a  regu- 
lar attendance  of  some  twenty-five  pupils,  Its  present  pastor  is  the 
Rev.  William  P.  Wright. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  schools  of  this  township  are  well  attended  and  number  five. 
The  school  and  church  on  section  6,  is  a  fine  building  costing  some  $800. 
Take  it  altogether  and  the  cause  of  education  is  receiving  all  care  and 
attention,  and  the  future  is  bright  with  promise. 

*  POLK    TOWNSHIP, 

lies  upon  the  eastern  border  of  the  county,  being  bounded  on  the  north 
by  Jackson  Township,  east  by  Hickor)^  County,  south  by  Dallas  and 
west  by  Osceola  Township.  It  was  one  of  the  six  original  townships  of 
1841.  In  old  times  Dallas  was  a  part  of  this  township,  and  at  one  time 
Jackson  was  also  added  to  it,  and  remained  so  some  seven  months,  when 
Jackson  was  again  taken  off,  and  made  a  separate  township.  At  the 
passage  of  the  new  organization  law,  the  boundaries  of  Polk  Township 
were  defined  and  made  of  record  as  follows: 

Commencing  at  the  southeast  corner  of  township  38,  range  24; 
thence  running  north  along  the  township  line  to  the  northeast  corner 
of  said  township:  thence  running  west  along  the  township  line  to  the 
center  of  the  main  channel  of  the  Osage  River;  thence  up  said  main 
channel  to  a   point  where   the  township   line  between    township   39,  of 

66 


1042  HISTORY    01"   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY 

range  24.  and  township  39,  of  ranf^c  25,  crosses  said  river;  thence  south 
along  said  township  line  to  the  southwest  corner  of  township  38,  of  range 
24;  thence  east  along  the  township  line  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

The  central  and  northern  part  of  this  township  is  good  tillable  land, 
the  south  part  is  stony  and  broken,  and  while  there  is  some  good  land, 
the  most  of  it  is  of  light  soil.  This  township,  like  Jackson,  has  a  large 
amount  of  iron  ore  within  its  limits,  while  it  has  numerous  springs  which 
give  rise  to  Bear  Creek  and  another  small  stream  north  of  it. 

One  of  the  curiotities  of  the  township  is  a  spring  in  the  southeast 
corner  of  section  16,  near  the  residence  of  John  Poling.  The  water  in 
this  spring  in  the  winter  is  rather  warm  in  temperature,  while  in  the 
summer  it  is  nearly  ice  cold,  being  a  change  of  some  twenty  degrees  in 
temperature  between  the  cold  of  summer  and  the  heat  or  warmth  of 
winter.     It  of  course  never  freezes  over. 

James  Gardner,  Simeon  Poston,  Ash  Peebly  and  Matt.  Hoover  all 
came  way  back  in  1833  or  1834.  James  Gardner  was  elected  a  justice  of 
the  peace  December  10,  1835,  the  county  then  being  named  Rives. 
Simeon  Poston  was  the  first  county  seat  commissioner  and  held  it  for 
twelve  years.  The  records  of  the  Rives  County  Court  show  that  James 
Gardner  was  elected  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  "  VVablaw  "  Township. 
This  is  the  way  the  name  was  spelled  in  those  days.  Peebly  was  from 
Howard  County  and  Hoover  from  North  Carolina. 

All  along  the  banks  of  Weaubleau  Creek  on  the  east  and  west  sides 
settlers  built  their  cabins,  and  along  in  1S34  to  1837  came  William 
Clarkson,  George  McFarland,  Henry  Earl,  Jonas  Musgrove  (the  ford 
across  the  Osage  being  named  after  him),  Elijah  Puckett  and  William  C. 
Marlow,  the  latter  settling  on  the  east  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of 
section  6.  Anthony  Hester,  who  was  county  judge  in  1854  and  now 
lives  in  Butler  Township,  first  settled  on  section  19,  and  above  him  on 
Weaubleau  Creek,  on  the  east  side  about  one  mile,  Edmond  Nance  set- 
tled. On  the  same  side  of  the  stream  and  three-quarters  of  a  mile 
above  Nance  was  the  claim  and  cabin  of  Richard  Crenshaw.  Just  down 
the  creek  a  half  mile  Joseph  Benum  settled,  but  he  was  just  over  the 
line  in  what  is  now  Osceola  Township. 

In  May,  1841,  Richard  Crenshaw  purchased  of  Fielding  A.  Pinnel, 
of  Henry  County,  clerk  of  that  county  for  sixteen  years,  the  east  half  of 
the  southeast  quarter  of  section  18,  township  n,  range  24,  now  Dallas 
Township.  Albom  D.  Ashton,  William  Gardner  and  Joseph  Bolinger, 
all  came  before  1840,  and  the  latter  owned  a  mill  site  on  Weaubleau 
Creek.  It  was  the  northwest  fractional  quarter  of  section  19,  township 
38,  range  24.  On  this  same  site  a  mill  was  built  in  1845,  by  Mr.  James 
Gardner.  It  was  a  grist  and  saw  mill,  the  former  having  two  runs  of 
burrs,  and  was  probably  the  second  mill  erected  in  the  county.  It  stood 
for  ten  years  and    then    the   booming   waters  of  the   muddy   WV-aubleau 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    Ci>AIR   COUNTY.  IO43 

took  it  into  an  affectionate  embrace  and  delivered  it  to  the  swelling  bosom 
of  the  beautiful  Osage. 

WATER   AND   TIMBER. 

The  Osage  touches  its  northwest  corner  as  it  makes  its  curve  for  the 
Horseshoe  Bend.  Bear  Creek  empties  into  the  Osage  at  the  bend,  and 
this  stream  rises  in  the  southeast,  has  numerous  heads  or  branches  and 
then  forming  one  stream  about  one  mile  southeast  from  the  center  of  the 
township,  and  then  running  northeast  finds  its  way  in  the  Osage  as 
above.  The  bottom  land  along  Bear  Creek  is  very  rich  and  productive, 
but  the  township,  taken  altogether,  is  hilly  and  broken.  On  Bear  Creek 
and  in  the  northern  part  lies  the  best  of  the  agricultural  lands.  Silver 
and  lead,  as  well  as  iron  is  said  to  exist  in  the  township,  but  the  latter 
is  certain  and  destined  to  be  a  valuable  adjunct  to  its  wealth. 

Its  timber  covers  over  two-thirds  of  the  township,  and  while  there 
is  much  small  and  scraggy,  there  is  also  on  Bear  Creek  and  on  the  bend 
ot  the  Osage,  much  valuable  timber.  The  township  will  always,  or  for 
years  to  come,  have  good  stock  ranges,  and  it  is  a  good  stock  township. 

AREA   AND   POPULATION. 

Polk  Township  in  size  is  a  congressional  township  of  six  miles 
square,  and  would  have  had,  but  for  a  strip  in  the  Horse  Shoe  bend  of 
the  Osage.  23,040  acres.  That  strip  is  about  lOO  acres,  which  gives  it 
22,940  acres. 

Population  in  1880 605 

Population  in  1870 316 

Gain 289 

Not  quite,  but  very  nearly  doubling  its  population  the  past  decade. 
Take  the  amount  of  unproductive  soil  and  this  is  a  remarkable  increase. 
When  you  take  the  character  of  the  country  into  consideration  it  is  a 
little  surprising  that  the  increase  per  cent,  the  past  decade  is  greater  in 
the  eastern  than  in  the  western  portion.  The  township  in  population  is 
next  to  the  smallest,  Washington  Township  alone  having  a  less  popula- 
tion. The  stock  ranges  is  probably  one  of  the  causes  for  much  of  the 
mineral  lands,  so-called,  are  good  grass  lands. 

In  the  agricultural  resources  of  the  county  will  be  found  the  assessed 
valuation  of  the  township  in  1876.  That  of  1874  is  here  given,  as  fol- 
lows: ♦ 

Value. 

Horses 239         $8,132 

Mules 55  1.973 

Cattle 578  5,866 

Sheep 638  784 


I044  HISTORY   OF    ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY. 

Value. 

Hogs 1.057  I  431 

Moneys I.I33 

All  other  property 24.536 

Total  value  personal  property $43-855 

In  1871  there  was  a  talk  of  a  layout  of  a  town  on  what  is  called 
"  Thousand  Acre  Prairie,"  but  it  did  not  succeed.  This  was  in  the 
northern  and  eastern  part  of  the  township.  Polk  Township  has  no  post 
office  within  its  bounds. 

BETHEL   CHURCH. 

The  Bethel  Baptist  Church  of  Polk  Township  is  one  of  the  oldest, 
if  not  the  oldest,  church  organization  in  the  county,  and  was  for  years 
the  only  church  for  many  miles  around. 

It  was  first  organized  on  April  29.  1837,  by  Rev.  Elijah  Williams  and 
Rev.  Hiram  Savage.  It  is  located  in  the  northern  part  of  the  township, 
and  had  an  old  log  cabin  as  its  first  place  of  worship,  outside  of  the 
cabins  of  the  members.  The  original  members  of  this  church  were: 
William  Owsley,  Enoch  Cyrus,  Rebecca  Cyrus,  Harvey  Harper,  Francis 
Owsley,  Abraham  C.  Nowell,  John  M.  Harper,  Nancy  Harper,  Mary  Carr, 
Sarah  Perkins,  Bird  Estes,  Mary  Estes,  Elizabeth  Commons,  Joseph 
Harrison,  Prenilla  Harrison,  Sarah  Powell,  Benjamin  Barnett,  Sarah 
Harris,  Hannah  Barnett,  Hannah  Roberts,  PLlizabeth  Reeves,  Eliza 
Donaught,  Samuel  Bishop. 

Its  first  pastor  was  the  Rev.  Littleton  Lunsford,  in  1837,  and  he  was 
followed  by  Revs.  William  Owsley,  James  Richardson,  H.  P.  Parker,  M. 
Monroe,  M.  Walker  and  John  Hatfield. 

Their  first  church  was  built  of  logs,  by  a  portion  of  the  members,  in 
1845.  The  second  church,  of  the  same  material,  was  erected  in  1850, 
and  the  last,  also  erected  of  hewn  logs,  was  put  up  in  1870,  at  a  cost  of 
$200,  subscription  raised  of  the  members  of  the  church. 

Mr.  Harvey  G.  Harper  has  been  most  of  the  time  officiating  as  the 
church  clerk  at  their  meetings.  The  church  has  a  regular  pastor,  and 
holds  its  covenant  meetings  on  the  fourth  Saturday  and  Sunday  follow- 
ing.    Its  present  membership  is  eighteen,  and  its  congregation  large. 

The  schools  of  Polk  Township,  number  4,  and  each  have  a  good 
house.  The  attendance  is  fully  up  to  the  average,  being  about  seventy 
per  cent,  of  those  of  school  age. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

DALLAS,  COLLINS,  DOYAL  AND  WASHINGTON  TOWNSHIPS, 

DALLAS  TOWNSHIP-WHEN,  WHERK  AND  HOW  MUCH-THEY  CAME— SETTLED-AMONG 
OTHER  THIN'GS-THE  OLD  LOG  CHURCH-KING'S  PRAIRIE-POLITICAL  AND  OTHER- 
WISE—COLLINS  TOWNSHIP,  AND  A  VOLUME  OF  FACTS— THE  NAME— 1830  TO  1840— 
THE  LOOM-THE  GOOD  WORD-DOYAL  TOWNSHIP— WAS  THE  CREATION  OF 
1872— THE  ADVANCE  GUARD-COON  CKEEK-ITS  EARLY  ARRlVALS-POPUl  ATION 
AND  AREA— DOYAL'S  BOUNDS-HER  CHUReHES  AND  SCHOOLS— ELECTION  OF  1874— 
WASHINGTON  TOWNSHIP,  ONE  OF  THE  ORIGINAL  SIX— METES  AND  BOUNDS-THE 
SAC  RIVER  AND  BRUSH  CREEK- THE  ADVENT  OF  JACOB  COONCE-GAME  AND 
OIHER  SETTLERS-ITS  SCHOOLS,  ETC.— IN  MEMORIAL. 

DALLAS   TOWNSHIP. 

This  township  lies  in  the  southeast  corner  of  the  county,  being^ 
bound  on  the  north  by  Polk  Township,  east  by  Hickory  County,  south 
by  Hickory  County  and  Collins  Township  and  West  by  Doyal  Town- 
ship. It  is  congressional  township  in  size  and  was  placed  upon  the 
record  June  5,  1872,  with  its  metes  and  bounds  described  as  follows: 

Established  and  being  the  congressional  township  number  37,  of 
range  number  24. 

Originally,  and  for  a  great  number  of  years,  Dallas  Township,  as 
now  known,  was  a  part  of  Polk,  in  fact  Polk  Township  covered  this  ter- 
ritory up  to  the  above  date. 

AREA   AND  TIMBER. 

Its  area  as  described  gives  it  23,040  acres  of  land,  about  four-fifths 
timber  and  one-fifth  prairie.  The  Weaubleau  Creek  rises  just  over  the 
border  in  Hickory  County,  enters  the  township  in  the  southeast  corner, 
and  then  passes  diagonally  across  the  township,  and  then  north  on  its 
wester  border,  and  leaves  the  township  in  the  northwest  corner.  Weau- 
bleau Creek  is  a  stream  large  enough  and  water  enough  for  milling  pur- 
poses, and  waters  with  its  branches  a  large  portion  of  the  township.  It 
is  rich  in  minerals,  both  lead  and  iron  are  known  to  exist,  and  capital 
alone  is  needed  to  develop  this  important  addition  to  her  wealth.  Tim- 
ber of  a  good  quality  is  found  on  the  Weaubleau,  water  in  springs  and 
creeks  plentiful,  and  the  bottoms  on   the  Weaubleau   rich,  with  a  deep, 


1046  HISTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

rich  and  alluvial  soil.  As  a  stock  raisinj^  township  it  has  no  superior 
in  the  county.  Its  surface,  however,  is  broken  and  hilly,  and  in  some 
places  considerable  rock  is  found.  Iron  is  found  from  the  center  of  the 
township  west  and  nortiiwest  to  Doyal,  and  that  township  is  also  well 
supplied  with  a  larjje  amount  of  this  ore.  Limestone  is  plenty,  the  low 
lands  are  rich,  and  the  red  land  excellent  for  wheat.  Before  the  war 
Dallas,  then  Polk,  was  a  good  tobacco  township,  and  for  that  crop  it  has 
some  excellent  land.  The  lead  ore  is  found  in  several  places,  and  quite 
an  excitement  was  raised  a  few  years  since,  in  1873,  when  lead  was  found 
on  section  27,  near  Wolfe's  Mill,  not  a  half  mile  from  James  Doyal's. 
When  this  mineral  shall  be  developed,  it  will  bring  a  new  era  of  pros- 
perity to  the  township. 

THE   OLD    SETTLERS. 

Elijah  Rice  may  be  said  to  be  among  the  earliest  settlers  in  this 
township.  He  came  in  1837,  and  settled  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 7.  Thomas  Hester  and  Robert  Hester  came  soon  after  as  did 
Anthony  Hester,  of  Polk  Township.  Robert  Hester  settled  on  the  south 
half  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  ID,  and  the  Widow  Nancy  Slo- 
cum  now  owns  the  same  property.  Richard  Crenshaw,  as  stated  in  Polk 
Township  history,  was  there  in  1841,  but  came  a  few  years  sooner. 
Thomas  Hester  settled  what  is  now  the  Stiles  land,  being  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  7.  In  1840,  W.  R.  Cauthon,  who  came  from  Tennessee, 
located  on  section  29  of  the  west  half  of  the  southwest  quarter.  Thomas 
Chilton  the  next  year  purchased  the  southeast  half  of  the  southeast 
quarter,  and  the  southeast  quarter  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section 
8.  The  Wares  came  in  1836,  and  they  located  on  sections  21  and  22, 
and  took  up  nearly  the  whole  of  it.  There  were  Thompson  Emmons  and 
Jackson  Ware,  and  came  from  Virginia.  They  moved  away  many  years 
ago  and  the  land  they  cultivated  is  now  a  forest. 

James  Cauthon  came  in  the  winter  of  1841-2,  and  settled  on  section 
14,  and  John  J.  C.  Wolfe  came  the  same  year  and  settled  on  section  22. 
John  D.  Sims  settled  on  section  21.  and  Edward  DeLozier,  on  section 
20,  now  the  W.  B.  Robinson  place.  These  all  came  in  1842.  These 
were  the  men  that  followed  the  star  of  empire,  and  made  civilization  a 
success. 

The  settlers  when  they  first  located  followed  the  banks  of  Weaubleau 
Creek,  in  that  they  secured  water,  fuel  and  game.  Deer,  turkey,  wild 
cats,  foxes  and  wolves  were  plentiful,  while  now  and  then  a  bear  would 
raise  his  shaggy  head,  from  his  lair  in  the  thick  brush.  Hunting  was 
sometimes  a  pastime,  but  other  times  it  meant  work  for  the  winter's 
meat. 

Then  the  logging  bee  was  something  that  meant  hard  work 
but  it  helped  a  neighbor  out,  and  a  "  raisin  "  was  another  of  those  neigh- 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   CLAIR    COUNTY.  IO47 

borly  traits  that  made  all  old  settlers  brothers.  R.  Eads  and  Francis 
Yoast  built  the  first  water  mill  in  the  township  in  1844  and  sold  it  to 
John  J.  C.  Wolfe.  William  Morrison  had  a  blacksmith  shop  and  the  first 
one  as  early  as  1837.  He  settled  on  section  24.  This  township  in  an 
early  day  was  somewhat  infested  with  snakes,  and  the  gentle  rattle- 
snake, the  familiar  blacksnake  and  the  innocent  striped  or  garter  snake 
could  generally  be  found  without  much  seeking. 

AMONG   OTHER   THINGS. 

The  first  school  house  was  erected  in  1840  and  on  the  west  half  of 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  19.  It  was  on  Richard  Crenshaw's  land. 
It  was  a  subscription  school,  built  of  nice  logs  all  rounded  as  nature 
made  them,  with  no  door  and  a  mud  chimney.  It  was  in  this  classic 
hall  of  education  that  the  present  popular  and  able  county  treasurer  of 
St.  Clair  County  received  his  first  rudiments  of  learning,  where  he 
received  those  impressive  lessons  of  which  the  hickory  limb  formed  so 
essential  a  part,  the  down  stroke  being  heavy  and  the  up  stroke  light.  Of 
course  he  is  a  Democrat  of  the  Jacksonian  stripe. 

Of  these  educational  facilities  Dallas  Township  has  four,  and  there 
is  a  fractional  district  united  with  Doyal.  The  school  buildings  of  this 
day  are  comfortable  with  all  the  necessary  articles  for  a  thorough  course 
of  a  common  school  education. 

There  was  another  old  log  school  house  on  section  8  on  the  north 
half  of  the  west  half  of  the  southwest  quarter.  This  was  on  what  was 
called  the  old  Wilkinson  place. 

THE    LOG   CHURCH. 

Then  there  was  a  log  church  building  erected  especially  for  religious 
services  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  29. 
This  was  probably  the  first  exclusive  church  building  erected  in  the 
county  outside  of  Osceola.  There  was  an  earlier  church  organization  in 
the  county,  but  not  a  church. 

The  first  ministers  to  hold  religious  services  in  the  township  were 
the  Rev.  Marcus  Monroe,  Baptist,  and  the  Rev.  Daniel  Murphy.  These 
earnest  men  and  doers  of  the  Lord's  work  preached  throughout  the 
whole  eastern  part  of  the  country  from  Henry  to  Hickory,  Benton  and 
Polk  Counties.  No  churches  then,  but  the  cabin  of  the  settler,  became 
the  sanctuary  of  the  Lord. 

The  first  resident  minister  was  the  Rev.  Christopher  Woodall,  of 
the  Baptist  denomination,  father  of  the  present  county  treasurer,  who 
came  in  the  year  1840.  They  have  no  church  building  in  the  township 
of  note,  but  several  organizations. 


1048  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COJNTY. 

Dallas  Township,  taken  together,  may  be  said  to  be  a  good  stock 
raising  and  cereal  growing  township.  There  is  quite  a  large  portion 
broken  land,  somewhat  hilly  and  rough,  but  still  excellent  stock  ranges. 
Her  red  land  is  good  wheat  land  and  her  bottom  lands  none  better  for 
corn.     It  is  mostly  timbered,  very  little  prairie  in  proportion. 

Sandstone,  excellent  for  building  purpose,  is  found,  perhaps  too 
much  of  it.  The  limestone  soil  is  strong,  and  some  flint  is  found.  The 
township  may  be  said  to  be  rolling,  as  a  general  thing. 

In  1880,  Dallas  Township  had  a  population  of  635,  this  being  its 
first  census  recorded  except  in  1876,  when  its  population  was  548.  This 
would  show  that  it  had  received  little  or  no  immigration. 

The  King  Prairie,  so  called,  is  the  most  noted  in  the  township,  cov- 
ering some  three  sections.  The  Kings  came  in  1834  or '35,  and  owned 
some  400  acres,  and  from  them  it  took  its  name,  and  is  as  pretty  a  piece 
of  land  as  can  be  found  anywhere.  Rolling  enough  to  have  good  drain- 
age, the  soil  deep,  rich  and  fruitful,  it  is  looked  upon  as  the  garden 
spot  of  Dallas  Township. 

One  curious  thing  in  connection  with  this  township  is  that  a  few 
deer  and  wild  turkeys  are  yet  found  within  its  limits,  but  this  probably 
arises  from  its  close  proximity  to  Hickory  County,  which  may  be  con- 
sidered one  of  the  finest  counties  in  the  state  for  the  home  of  wild 
animals. 

LONG   RIDGE   CHURCH. 

The  organization  known  as  the  Long  Ridge  Church  was  formed 
by  the  united  efforts  of  a  few  earnest  people,  in  the  year  1-869.  Among 
those  who  joined  in  this  praiseworthy  work  were:  William  Tucker, 
wife  and  family,  Mrs.  Strickland,  Jesse  Bullard,  the  organization  being 
conducted  by  the  Rev.  Armstrong,  who  was  its  first  pastor.  He  was 
succeed  by  the  following  pastors  in  the  order  named:  Revs.  Breeding, 
Danner,  Woodward,  Herndon,  Hultz,  Logan,  Banberg,  and  the  Rev. 
Proctor,  present  pastor.  They  have  no  church  building,  but  hold  ser- 
vices at  the  Stiles  School  House.  The  membership  is  nearly  thirty. 
The  class  has  been  for  some  time  principally  presided  over  by  William 
Tucker.  He  was  appointed  in  1869  steward,  and  has  served  since  that  date. 

Politically,  Dallas  Township  was  Republican  from  the  close  of  the 
war  until  1880,  when  the  Democrats  claimed  her  redemption.  She  was 
generally  about  two-thirds  to  three-fourths  Republican,  as  will  be  seen 
by  the  election  tables  of  1870-4-6.  The  last  election,  in  the  fall  of  1882, 
she  went,  for  the  first  time,  Democratic  in  many  years. 

The  local  election  for  township  officers  in  1875  gave  the  following: 
G.  W.  Martin,  Trustee;  E.  M.  Kimsey,  Assessor;  John  Stark,  Collector; 
W.  G.  Cauthon,  Constable;  James  Cauthon  and  John  V.  Miller,  Justices 
of  the  Peace. 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  104^ 

COLLINS   TOWNSHIP. 

This  is  the  southeast  township  of  St.  Clair  County,  and  consists  of 
about  equal  parts  of  prairie  and  wooded  land.  The  magnificent  prairie 
valleys  formed  by  the  erodings  of  the  past;  the  beautifully  clear,  crystal 
waters;  its  richly  diversified  growth  of  forest  of  fine  timber,  and  the 
bold  outlines  of  the  jutting  cliffs  found  here  and  there  along  the  banks 
of  the  beautiful  streams,  all  tend  to  render  Collins  one  of  the  most  pic- 
turesque townships  in  the  county.  This  justly  called  magnificent  town- 
ship embraces  within  its  limits  23,040  acres,  nearly  all  of  which  is  tilla- 
ble land,  rich  in  undeveloped  resources.  You  may  ask  why  is  this  land 
valuable. 

Picture  to  yourself  a  forest  filled  with  babbling  brooks  and  grasses 
fine,  a  pasture  for  herds  of  cattle  that  none  could  want  better,  and  filled 
with  such  timber  as  the  oak,  walnut,  hickory,  sugar  maple,  elm  and  other 
varieties.  Such  is  Collins  Township  in  all  of  its  real  and  natural  beauty, 
and  as  such  adds  much  to  its  wealth.  In  this  township  are  found  val- 
leys of  the  richest  alluvial  soil  and  undulating  upland  that  for  purposes 
of  cultivation  cannot  be  surpassed  in  the  county.  These  are  all  sources 
of  wealth  to  Collins  Township. 

This  is  not  all  that  tends  to  make  its  lands  valuable.  Along  Brush 
Creek  in  the  southern  part,  and  the  "Little  Weaubleau  "  in  the  north- 
ern, are  found  some  of  the  best  quarries  of  sand  and  lime  stone,  suitable 
alike  for  rubble  work  or  brown  stone  front.  These  quarries,  with  the 
rich  coal  and  mineral  deposits  along  Coon  Creek,  add  still  other  sources 
of  wealth,  which  summed  up  make  fine  forests  of  fine  timber,  fine  val- 
leys of  fine  land,  beautiful  uplands  with  rich  and  succulent  grasses,  fine 
stones  created  from  fine  sand.  What  township  could  ask  more  or  greater 
wealth  from  nature.-*     The  record  of  township  boundaries  in  1872  gave 

COLLINS, 

bounded  as  follows:  "Commencing  at  the  southeast  corner  of  section  4, 
township  36,  of  range  24;  running  thence  west  on  the  township  line  to 
the  northwest  corner  of  section  3,  township  36,  of  range  25;  thence 
south  on  the  section  line  to  the  southern  boundary  of  the  county;  thence 
east  to  the  southeast  corner  of  section  33,  of  township  36,  of  range  24,-; 
thence  north  along  the  county  line  to  the  place  of  beginning." 
June  5,  1872. 

Collins  was  originally  a  part  of  Washington,  one  of  the  original 
townships  formed  when  the  county  was  organized  in  1841,  and  remained 
a  part  of  that  township  until  1872,  when  it  became  the  present  Collins 
Township. 

Collins  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Doyal  and  Dallas  Townships,  on 
the  east  by  Hickory  County,  on  the  south  by  Polk  and  Cedar  Counties^ 
and  on  the  west  by  Washington. 


1050  HISTORV    OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

THE    NAME    "COLLINS." 

The  county  court  of  St.  Clair  County  in  1872  complying  with  the 
provision  of  what  is  known  as  the  "  new  township  law,"  cut  old  Wash- 
ington asunder  and  from  it  constructed  two  townships,  one  to  retain 
the  name  of  the  "  father  of  our  country,"  and  one  to  yet  receive  a  name. 
The  citizens  of  the  new  township  came  forward  at  this  time,  and  with 
great  appreciation  for  the  services  of  one  of  the  judges  of  the  county 
court,  asked  that  it  might  be  named  in  honor  of  Judge  William  Collins. 
Accordingly  the  county  court  complied  with  the  request  and  named  the 
new  township  "  Collins." 

The  people  of  this  township  equal  in  energy  and  thrift  the  citizens 
of  any  township  in  the  county.  They  have  worked  hard  to  make  them- 
selves and  families  homes.  Many  well  cultivated  farms  and  comfortable 
residences  give  evidence  that  their  labor  has  not  been  in  vain.  As  a 
township  Collins,  since  her  formation,  has  steadily  improved  and  emi- 
gration has  kept  pace  with  her  improvements. 

THE   EARlY    pioneers. 

Perhaps  the  first  settlement  ever  made  in  Collins  Township  by  the 
pale  faces,  was  made  by  Daniel  Molder,  of  Tennessee,  who,  in  1831, 
came  to  Collins  and  located  on  section  21,  of  township  34,  range  24.  Mr. 
Molder,  who  seems  to  dispute  the  first  settler  with  Jacob  Coonce,  with 
characteristic  energy  built  him  a  log  hut,  and  proceeded  to  establish 
himself  a  permanent  home  in  the  then  wilderness.  His  nearest  neigh- 
bor was  some  miles  distant.  But  this  was  not  to  last  long,  for  in  the 
spring  of  1832,  James  Francis,  of  Tennessee,  settled  near  him,  and  estab- 
lished neighborly  intercourse.  Another  neighbor  made  his  appearance 
in  this  district  in  1833.  Isaac  Culbertson  cast  his  lot  with  his  brother 
pioneers  in  Collins  Township.  The  immigration  of  1834,  brought  such 
pioneers  as  Albion  Ayres,  Isaac  Rogers,  William  Allen,  Richard  Deshazo, 
A.  M.  McMiner  and  L.  R.  Ashworth,  who  lived  in  Roscoe,  a  minister  of 
God's  word,  who,  while  attending  to  the  duties  of  his  little  patch  of  corn, 
would  on  Sunday  mornings  visit  some  near  neighbor,  who  lived  not  more 
than  three,  four  or  five  miles  distant,  and  by  preaching  the  good  word 
cheered  the  hearts  of  many  downcast  spirits  to  renewed  exertions. 

After  this,  followed  Peter  Francis  in  1835,  Francis  Yoast  in  1836, 
Samuel  H.  Martin  in  1837,  Robert  Gardner  in  1839,  and  William  King 
the  following  fall. 

Of  the  old  pioneers,  there  now  remain  but  two.  These  are  Mr. 
Yoast  and  Mr.  Peter  P>ancis.  Mrs.  Dolly  Martin,  the  wife  of  Samuel 
Martin,  is  still  living,  and  enjoys  the  friendship,  esteem  and  love  of  all 
with  whom  she  is  acquainted. 


i 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  IO5  I 

The  first  school  in  the  township  was  taught  by  a  man  named  Wayne. 
He  charged  for  his  services  $2.50  per  scholar  for  a  term  of  three  months, 
and  received  in  pay,  as  legal  tender,  coonskins  and  corn.  He  taught  in 
the  neighbors'  houses,  and  "  traveled  around."  From  this  time  the  edu- 
cational interests  of  Collins  Township  was  one  of  the  chief  interests, 
and  to-day  this  township  ranks  second  to  none  in  educational    facilities. 

THE    LOOM. 

This  first  manufacturer  that  ever  trod  the  soil  of  St.  Clair  County, 
was  Samuel  Martin.  In  1836,  Mr.  Martin's  family  were  nearly  out  of  the 
necessary  wearing  apparel,  and  as  there  were  no  ready  made  clothing  to  be 
found  closer  than  St.  Louis,  it  devolved  upon  him  to  furnish  a  means  for 
manufacturing  the  necessary  goods  from  which  to  make  it.  Therefore, 
in  July,  he  commenced  work.  None  knew  what  he  was  constructing, 
but  while  looking  at  the  great  beams,  some  fourteen  feet  long,  swung  to 
the  roof  of  a  log  kitchen,  some  surmised  what  would  be  the  result  of  so 
much  patient  labor. 

They  were  correct  in  their  surmises,  for  after  three  months  of  hard 
work  Mr.  Martin  produced  a  full  grown  loom.  His  wife  was  the  first  to 
use  it,  finishing  on  the  13th  day  ot  September  a  piece  of  jeans  seven  yards 
in  length.  This  was  the  first  piece  of  cloth  ever  made  in  St.  Clair  County, 
one  yard,  of  which  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Mrs.  Dolly  Martin,  the  lady 
who  wove  it. 

It  is  not  known  to  a  certainty  who  was  the  first  child  born  in  the  town- 
ship, but  perhaps  John  R.,  a  son  of  Daniel  Molder,  born  in  1838.  The  first 
death  was  in  the  month  of  July  in  1834,  and  was  a  son  of  Mr.  Isaac  Cul- 
bertson. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  first  school  house  of  which  we  could  receive  any  information 
was  located  in  section  12,  and  was  built  of  logs;  dimensions,  twenty  by 
fourteen  feet.  After  this,  several  such  buildings  were  put  up,  but  all 
have  been  replaced  by  structures  more  commodious. 

THE   GOOD   \YORD. 

The  first  sermon  preached  in  Collins  Township  was  by  the  Rev.  L. 
R.  Ashworth,  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Culbertson. 

COON   CREEK   BAPTIST   CHURCH 

is  4nost  beautifully  located  on  a  rising  eminence  in  the  midst  of  what  is 
known  as  Allen's  Prairie,  on  section  ii,  in  one  of  the  finest  agricultural 
and  best  cultivated  sections  of  the  county.     It  is  also  one  of  the  oldest 


1052  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNIY. 

churches,  having  been  organized  in  the  year  1842,  and  from  its  position 
commands  one  of  the  most  extensive  and  pleasing  views  to  be  found 
any  where  in  this  section  of  the  country.  The  original  members  of  this 
church  were  :  Evan  Lollery  and  wife,  William  Culbertson  and  wife, 
Garner  Phillips  and  wife,  L.  R.  Ashworth  and  wife.  Rev.  L.  R.  Ash- 
worth  and  Rev.  D.  R.  Murphy  organized  the  church  in  the  year  above 
mentioned,  the  former  being  its  first  pastor. 

The  new  church  was  erected  in  August,  1872,  at  a  cost  of  some  $Coo, 
and  is  a  neat  frame  structure,  plainly  but  substantially  built  and  finished. 
The  first  pastor  to  succeed  the  Rev.  L.  R.  Ashworth  was  Rev.  James 
Wheeler,  followed  by  Rev.  V.  Burge,  Rev.  J.  T.  Metcalf,  Rev.  W.  F. 
Shackelford  and  the  present  pastor,  the  Rev.  J.  M.  Freeman.  The  pas- 
tors have  all  remained  quite  a  number  of  years;  the  Rev.  J.  T.  Metcalf 
officiating  for  fourteen  years,  and  none  less  than  four.  They  have  con- 
nected with  the  church  a  Sunday  School  whose  pupils  number  sixty-five 
and  very  ably  and  successfully  conducted  by  T.  J.  Browning. 

DOYAL   TOWNSHIP 

is  the  creation  of  the  new  organization  law  of  1872,  but  its  territory  has 
been  there  all  the  time.  It  is  in  fact  about  the  oldest  settled  township 
in  the  county,  and  can  date  back  to  1832  and  1833.  The  first  election 
ever  held  in  St.  Clair  County  was  held  in  this  township,  October  24,  1835, 
and  was  for  a  justice  of  the  peace.  The  election  was  held  at  the  house 
of  Daniel  Waldo,  on  section  8.  Waldo  owned  on  s'ections  12  and  13, 
across  Sac  River,  but  his  cabin  was  in  Doyal,  on  section  8,  as  above. 

THE   ADVANCE   GUARD. 

The  Waldos,  Gashs  and  Culbertsons  came  in  1832-3.  They  were 
followed  by  Reuben  S.  Nance,  the  first  surveyor  of  the  county  in  1835,  in 
the  spring  of  that  year.  Mr.  Nance  started  the  second  or  third  store  in 
this  county  in  1836,  whether  before  Calvin  Waldo's  or  not,  is  hard  to  say. 
Waldo  was  in  full  blast  in  June,  1836,  and  Nance  purchased  two  bills  of 
goods  in  St.  Louis,  one  on  April  4,  1836,  and  one  on  April  5,  the  follow- 
ing day,  and  he  opened  a  store  on  Coon  Creek  on  the  arrival  of  these 
goods.  The  time  of  travel  is  not  known.  The  bills  above  spoken  of 
were  in  the  hands  of  the  writers.  Clardy  clerked  it  for  him  the  same 
year,  for  in  November,  1836,  Clardy  went  to  St.  Louis,  and  there  settled 
or  paid  all  of  Nance's  purchases  up  to  that  date.  In  1837  it  became 
Nance  &  Clardy,  and  continued  until  1839.     Nance  settled  on  section  34. 

COON   CREEK. 

In  the  Coon  Creek  Settlement  were  Joseph  P^benezer,  William 
Gash  and  Thomas  Piper,    in    1834,   Joseph    Isaac    Culbertson    in  1835,  P. 


HISTOR\"'   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  IO53 

DeLozier,  wife  and  three  children,  in  1834.  Joe  Culbertson  settled  on  sec- 
tion 15,  and  Thomas  Piper  on  section  26.  Daniel  Brandt,  Ben  Sams, 
and  Nicholas  Miner.  Brandt  settled  on  section  32.  Burdet  same  on 
same  section,  William  Culbertson  on  section  33.  Nance  first  on  section 
28,  and  others  on  section  32,  and  John  A.  Culbertson  on  section  27,  the 
latter,  however,  did  not  come  until  1837,  and  his  father,  William,  came 
with  him. 

The  Culbertsons  came  from  Marion  County,  Missouri.  Eb  Gash's 
place,  on  section  22,  who  came  in  1833,  is  now  owned  by  James  Elliott. 
John  Goots  came  in  1837  and  made  section  20  his  home,  and  James 
Gardner,  from  Virginia,  settled  on  section  29,  in  1838.  William  Gash 
first  settled  on  section  36,  and  remained  one  year,  and  then  settled  on 
section  in  1834.  It  was  on  this  section  that  the  first  county  and  cir- 
cuit court  was  held  in  St.  Clair  County.  The  Waldos  settled  on  the 
Sac  River.  James  A.  Eads  and  Filmore  Thompson  came  in  1840,  the 
former  settling  on  section  17  and  the  latter  on  30. 

These  were  the  early  settlers  of  Doyal,  and  quite  a  number  of  them 
have  made  history. 

ITEMS. 

John  Goots  started  a  horse  mill  about  a  mile  from  Coon  Creek,  on 
section  20,  soon  after  he  came. 

The  first  preacher  was  Littleton  Lunsford  a  Hard  Shell  Baptist. 

The  first  school  house  was  put  up  on  section  33,  and  John  Able  was 
the  first  teacher.  This  was'in  1837,  and  the  building,  or  cabin,  was  on 
the  banks  of  Coon  Creek.     This  was  also  the  first  church. 

Eb  Gash's  wife  died  in  1840. 

Selina  Gash  and  Washington  Whitlow  was  the  first  marriage,  and 
in  1841. 

Dr.  P.  M.  Cox,  now  living  hale  and  hearty  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
three  years,  was  the  first  physician.  He  came  in  1836  and  commenced 
practice  at  once. 

Dr.  Lawrence  was  the  second  physician.  They  practiced  over  an 
extensive  scope  of  country. 

The  Rev.  Even  Loler,  a  Missionary  Baptist,  settled  in  the  Coon 
Creek  Valley.  Three  of  his  sons  are  now  living,  and  all  are  preachers, 
one  in  this  county,  one  in  Henry  County,  and  one  in  the  state  of 
Nebraska.     The  old  man  finally  lost  his  reason  and  died  in  1867. 

In  1870,  a  post  office  was  established  in  the  township  and  called 
Doyleston.  It  was  on  the  Bolivar  road,  some  seven  miles  south  of  Osce- 
ola, and  got  started  in  December.  H.  L.  M.  Doyal  was  postmaster.  It  has 
been  closed.  The  next  post  office,  by  courtesy,  was  on  the  Humanville 
road,  at  the  house  of  John  A.  Culbertson.     It  being  about  twelve  miles 


1054  IIISTOKV   0¥   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

to  a  post  office  they  were  dropped  off  there  for  a  number  of  years,  com- 
mencing about  1850. 

TOrOGRAI'IIV. 

Doyal  Township  is  about  equally  divided  between  prairie  and  tim- 
ber. The  township  is  rather  rolling,  but  not  too  much  so,  except  on  the 
Sac  River,  where  it  is  somewhat  broken.  There  are  some  very  fine 
stretches  of  prairie  that  are  as  rich  in  soil  and  productive  capacity  as 
they  are  beautiful  to  look  at.  Along  Coon  Creek  the  land  is  exceed- 
ingly fruitful,  and  some  of  the  finest  farms  in  the  county  can  be  found 
on  this  creek.  The  western  portion  is  the  most  broken.  Cook  Creek 
rises  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  township,  and  running  northwest, 
empties  into  the  Sac  River  about  three  miles  from  the  northern  bound- 
ary of  the  township.  Sac  River  is  its  western  border,  the  Weaubleau 
touches  its  northeast  corner,  and  Little  Brush  Creek  reaches  it,  or  takes 
its  rise  in  the  central  part,  running  north,  and  emptying  its  waters  in 
the  Osage.  The  timber  is  good,  the  soil  rich,  and  in  mineral  production 
Doyal  is  well  supplied. 

Iron  ore  is  plenty,  and  lead  is  believed  to  exist  in  large  quantities, 
and  a  few  years  ago  quite  an  excitement  was  raised  by  finding  some 
nearly  pure  galena  near  the  Sac  River.  There  also  is  coal  said  to  exist, 
but  it  has  not  yet  been  found.  In  fact,  no  search  has  ever  to  any  great 
extent  been  made  for  mineral  or  coal  in  St.  Clair  County;  all  that  is 
known  has  been  stumbled  on  by  accident.  But  so  much  has  thus  been 
discovered  that  the  matter  of  vast  mineral  and  coal  deposits  is  an  estab- 
lished fact. 

The  agricultural  productions  of  the  township  cover  the  whole  range 
of  cereals  and  tobacco.  The  land  is  suited  to  all.  and  the  grasses  grow 
luxuriantly.  Stock  finds  good  grazing  land  and  long  ranges,  and  this 
line  of  farming  could  be  profitably  carried  on. 

POPULATION    AND   AREA. 

In  area  Doyal  is  somewhat  larger  than  a  congressional  township, 
having  about  forty  and  a  half  sections  of  land  or  25,920  acres.  The  Sac 
River  causes  many  fractional  sections.  Her  municipal  boundary  is  given 
as  follows  on  the  records: 

Established  and  being  all  of  congressional  township  37  of  range  25, 
and  township  37  of  range  26  east  of  Sac  River,  excepting  section  No.  6, 
township  37  of  range  25. 

June  5,  1872. 

This  is  on  the  north  by  Osceola,  on  the  east  by  Dallas,  south  by  Wash- 
ington and  west  by  Roscoe  Townships,  striking  the  Sac  River  at  section 
6,  township  37,  range  25,  which  divides  it  from  Roscoe. 


,  ,  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  1055 

Doyal  Township's  first  census  was  taken  under  state  auspices  in 
1876,. which  gave  her  a  population  ot  756.  Four  years  after,  1880,  she 
had  gained  82,  or  a  total  of  838.  This  was  not  more  than  a  natural 
increase,  and  therefore  cannot  be  said  to  be  gaining  very  fast;  yet  there 
is  room  for  greater  exertion  and  energy  on  the  part  of  her  people. 

SCHOOLS. 

Her  school  districts  number  five  and  a  half  and  a  fraction,  and  her 
school  year  has  averaged  four  months.  The  schools  have,  the  past  year, 
been  well  kept,  with  a  higher  grade  of  teachers. 

The  school  house  on  section  36  is  used  by  the  Christian  Church 
denomination,  they  having  no  church  building  of  their  own. 

PLEASANT    HILL   CHURCH,  DISCIPLES   OF   CHRIST, 

was  organized  in  1852,  on  section  36,  township  37,  range  26.  The  orig- 
inal members  were  William  Dudley  and  wife,  James  Dudley  and  wife, 
Thomas  Piper  and  wife,  Mrs.  McMinn,  S.  S.  Stearnes  and  wife,  George 
Preston  and  wife,  Mrs.  Stewart  and  Thomas  Hester  and  wife.  The  pres- 
ent membership  numbers  fifty,  and  the  church  is  growing  gradually.  A 
church  was  built  in  1861,  frame,  at  a  cost  of  $400. 

Its  pastors  have  been  Revs.  H.  A.  Speed,  B.  D.  Smith,  See  Byba,  E. 
P.  Belshe,  G.  W.  Phillips,  W.  W.  Warren.  Elder  Cropper  and  Rev.  W.  C. 
Blalock.  The  present  pastor  is  the  Rev.  W.  W.  Warren,  who  has 
officiated  the  past  ten  years,  with  the  exception  of  eighteen  months, 
when  the  pulpit  was  filled  by  the  Rev.  W.  C.  Blalock  and  Elder  Cropper, 

ELECTION. 

The  township  officers  elected  in  1874  were:  Trustee,  William  J. 
Horn;  Collector,  James  S.  Nance;  Assessor,  Thomas  F.  Heffern;  Clerk, 
Almon  Miner. 

WASHINQTON   TOWNSHIP. 

This  is  the  south  central  township  of  the  county,  being  bounded  on 
the  north  by  Roscoe  and  Doyal  Townships,  east  by  Collins  Township, 
south  by  Hickory  County  and  west  by  Hickory  County  and  Roscoe 
Township,  and  in  size  is  a  trifle  less  than  a  congressional  township,  hav- 
ing 35  J  sections,  or,  in  round  numbers,  22,720  acres  of  pretty  well  assort- 
ed land,  from  good  to  indifferent. 

In  1872,  the  following  was  made  its  boundaries: 

TOWNSHIP   BOUNDARY. 

Established  and  bounded  as  follows:  Commencing  at  the  north- 
east corner  of  section  4,  township  36,  of  range    25;  thence    west   to   Sac 


1056  HISTORY    OK   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

River;  thence  followinj^  the  meanderings  of  said  river  to  the  northwest 
corner  of  section  16.  townsliip  36.  of  ranire  26,  crossing  the  river  to  the 
Cedar  County  line;  thence  south  along  the  Cedar  Count)'  line  to  the 
south  line  of  the  county;  thence  east  along  the  county  line  to  the  south- 
east corner  of  section  33.  township  36,  of  range  25;  thence  north  to  the 
place  of  beginning. 
June   5.  1872. 

Topographically  speaking,  W'ashington  Township  has  a  very 
uneven,  rolling  and  broken  surface,  and  has  less  good  agricultural  lands 
ofanyinthe  county.  It  is,  however,  a  splendid  stock  township,  for 
grasses  grow  finely  and  even  luxuriantl\-,  while  water  is  abundant. 
There  is  a  wealth  of  timber  in  the  township,  some  may  be  small,  but 
there  are  some  strips  well  filled  with  a  heavy  growth  of  forest.  The 
Sac  River  and  Brush  Creek  and  Turke}'  Creek,  furnishes  an  abundant 
supply  of  water,  and  the  principal   business  should  be  stock  raising. 

Brush  Creek  comes  in  in  the  southeast  corner  of  the  township  and 
flows  northwest,  emptying  its  waters  into  the  Sac  River.  Turkey  Creek 
is  on  its  southwest  and  runs  almost  due  north  and  falls  also  into  the 
Sac,  and  the  township  is  interlaced  with  branches  flowing  into  these 
streams. 

THE  ARRIVALS. 

Washington  Township  can  claim  as  being  the  home  of  the  first  set- 
tler in  St.  Clair  County,  Jacob  Coonce.  Although  Mr.  Coonce  lived  one 
year  in  Roscoe  Township,  he  moved  to  Washington  in  1832,  and  ever 
afterward  made  it  his  home.  The  Gibsons  made  it  their  home  in  1836, 
settling  on  section  15,  township  36,  range  25;  John  Haney  and  Rich- 
ard Haney  on  section  16,  John  Snell  on  section  33,  and  John  Denson  on 
section  14.  These  pioneers  came  in  1S37  and  1838.  Elisha  Wamsley, 
Peter  Francis  and  Richard  DeShazo  all  came  in  1835,  and  William  Allen 
in  1836,  and  settled  on  section  6;  Alfred  Burks  in  1837,  and  James 
Stams  in  1839,  settling  on  the  Sac  River.  Jacob  Rowe  settled  on  sec- 
tion 28,  in  the  southwest  corner,  in  1842.  This  covers  most  of  the  early 
settlers  of  Washington;  then  one  of  the  Gash  family  and  one  of  the  Cul- 
bertson's  settled  in  this  township  in  1834,  but  their  precise  location  or 
section  was  hard  to  find  and  being  ver}'  near  the  Doyal  line  have  prob- 
ably been  credited  to  that  toW^nship,  but  the\-  undoubtedly  settled  in 
Washington. 

POPULATION,  ETC. 

In  1870  Washington,  then  including  Collins  Township,  had  a  popu- 
lation of  599.  In  1876,  after  being  despoiled  of  Collins  Township,  it 
had  but  a  population  of  301,  and  in  1880  it  had  only  increased  to  346. 

Washington  is  not  a  good  cereal  township,  yet  there  are  some  splen- 
did lands  on  Brush  Creek,  and  some  excellent  bottom  land  on  Sac  River. 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY.  IO57 

But  stock  men  need  not  go  to  Texas  for  cheap  land  or  extended  ranges 
if  they  but  new  the  value  of  this  township  for  stock  raising,  and  its 
proximity  to  markets. 

CHURCHES   AND   SCHOOLS. 

Its  church  facilities  are  found  at  the  school  houses  of  the  township, 
of  which  there  are  three  full  districts  and  one  half  district,  connected 
with  Collins. 

IN   MEMORIAL. 

This  sketch  is  closed  with  an  obituary  of  Jacob  Coonce,  the  oldest 
settler  in  the  county,  taken  fron  the  Osceola  Sun,  and  no  more  worthy 
subject  has  yet  been  found  to  have  his  memory  embalmed  in  the  hearts 
of  the  rising  generation.     Here  is  the  article: 

Death  has  again  laid  his  remorseless  hand  upon  one  of  the  citizens 
of  St.  Clair,  the  victim  being  one  of  the  early  pioneers  and  most  estim- 
able men  of  the  county,  whose  residence  here  dates  back  more  than 
half  a  century. 

Jacob  Coonce  breathed  his  last  at  his  old  homestead  in  Washington 
Township  on  Sunday,  April  21,  1878. 

Uncle  Jake,  as  he  was  familiarly  called,  was,  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
nearly  seventy-five  years  of  age.  He  was  born  and  reared  in  St.  Louis 
County,  Missouri.  When  just  entering  the  threshold  of  manhood  he 
went  to  the  mountains  in  the  northwest,  remaining  there  for  several 
years,  after  which  he  visited  the  British  colonies,  under  the  leadership 
of  General  Dodge.  His  first  visit  to  the  portion  of  Missouri  now  com- 
prising St.  Clair  County  was  made  in  1827,  coming  into  this  region  on  a 
hunting  and  trapping  tour,  and  making  his  headquarters  near  where  now 
stands  Howard's,  or  Ritchie's  Mill,  on  Sac  River.  He  then  ranged  from 
Gasconade  up  to  the  above  named  point. 

An  Indian  trading  post  was  situated  upon  Sac  River  on  what  is  now 
known  as  the  "  Captain  Harris  Farm,"  and  was  kept  by  a  man  named 
Hogle.  Mr.  Coonce  permanently  settled  in  St.  Clair  County  in  183 1, 
locating  on  the  farm  where  his  death  occurred  forty-seven  years  later. 
Having  previously  obtained  permission  of  the  agent  of  the  Osage  Indi- 
ans to  make  his  home  where  he  did,  and  being  naturally  of  a  kind  and 
peaceable  disposition,  his  residence  during  the  stay  of  the  red  man  in 
his  vicinity  was  never  marred  by  any  trouble.  His  first  neighbors  were 
Daniel  Waldo,  Daniel  Brant,  Nick  McMinn,  Ebenezer  Gash  and  the 
father  of  Albert  G.  Gardner,  all  of  whom  have  years  ago  passed  into  the 
valley  of  death. 

In  1847  Mr.  Coonce  enlisted  for  service  in  the  war  of  the  United 
States  with  Mexico,  joining  Captain  Smithton's  company  under  General 
Sterling  Price.  He  served  .in  this  war  until  its  termination  in  1848,  when 
he  returned  to  his  farm  in  this  county. 

Uncle  Jake  and  Missouri's  famous  scout,  Kit  Carson,  were  personal 
friends,  and  were  comrades  and  fellow- sufferers  in  some  of  the  western 
exploring  expeditions  headed  and  guided  by  Carson. 

When  the  rebellion  arose  Mr.  Coonce  naturally  sympathized  with 
the  cause  of  the  South,  but  never  took  up  arms  against  the  government. 

67 


1058 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 


In  1863,  when  the  unsettled  state  of  affairs  in  Southwest  Missouri  made 
it  impossible  for  even  a  man  of  his  years  to  remain  at  home  in  safety,  he 
removed  to  Boone  County,  and  passed  the  next  four  years  at  his  old 
occupation  of  farming.  Peace  being  restored  he  returned  to  his  farm 
in  Washington  Township,  twelve  miles  south  of  Osceola,  where  he  has 
since  resided. 

Like  the  true  pioneer.  Uncle  Jake  possessed  a  most  kind  and  chari- 
table disposition,  and  was  always  ready  to  assist  a  fellow-being  in  dis- 
tress; generous  in  all  his  transactions,  he  had  few  enemies  and  counted 
his  iriends  by  the  score.  The  weight  of  many  years  had  caused  his  once 
vigorous  step  to  totter  in  feebleness  and  dimmed  his  sight,  but  the  warm 
impulses  of  the  true  man  were  as  strong  within  him  as  ever,  and  deep 
sorrow  for  his  loss  mantles  the  neighborhood  wherein  he  died. 


CHAPTER    XX. 

ROSCOE,  SPEEDWELL  AND  TABER  TOWNSHIPS. 

ROSCOE  TOWNSHIP— WHAT  IT  WAS  IN  1872— WHEN  SETTLED— RELIGION  AND  EDUCATION 
—THE  VILLAGE  OF  ROSCOE— WHEN  INCORPORATED— 1870  TO  1880— GAZETTE-BUSI- 
NESS—SPEEDWELL  TOWNSHIP-POPULATION,  AREA  AND  BOUNDS-PIONEERS  AND 
HUNTERS-WATER,  TIMBER,  STOCK  AND  CEREALS— FAMOUS  HUNTERS— TIFFIN -ITS 
SETTLEMENT,  SCHOOLS,  ETC.— TAKER  TOWNSHIP— WHEN  SETTLED  AND  BY  WHOM 
—VILLAGE  OF  TABERVILLE-ITS  DESTRUCTION- AFTER  THE  WAR— HEAD  OF  NAVI- 
GATION—CHURCHES  AND  SCHOOL— ADDITION  AND  PARK. 

ROSCOE    TOWNSHIP 

is  probably  the  most  hilly,  mountainous,  broken  and  stony  township  in 
this  county,  excepting  Washington.  For  quarries  of  fine  building  stone 
it  has  no  superior,  and  some  day  the  wealth  of  her  granite  rock  may  be 
utilized.  Now  it  is  of  little  value.  After  leaving  the  Osage  River  on 
her  north  border,  the  west  and  southwest  one-third  of  the  township  is 
fine  prairie  land,  and  there  is  another  strip  in  the  northeast,  covering 
some  six  sections,  which  is  rich  in  soil  and  of  great  productive  capacity. 
Its  land  is  strong,  and  the  bottom  land  of  the  Osage  and  Sac  Rivers  is 
of  very  deep  alluvial  soil,  and  one  of  the  best  tobacco  and  corn  growing 
bodies  of  land  to  be  found  in  the  county. 

GEOGRAPHICALLY   AND   OTHERWISE. 

Roscoe  Township  has  considerable  more  miles  of  border  than  any 
other  township,  and  about  as  winding  and  tortuous  an  one  as  can  well 
be  imagined.  The  Osage  gives  it  nearly  all  its  northern  border,  while 
the  Sac  makes  its  eastern  line. 

ROSCOE. 

Established  and  bounded  as  follows,  to  wit:  "Commencing  at  a 
point  where  Sac  River  empties  into  the  Osage  River,  in  section  31, 
township  38,  range  25;  thence  west,  meandering  with  said  Osage  River 
to  a  point  where  said  river  crosses  the  township  line  between  tovvnship 
38,  range  26,  and  township  37,  range  26,  crossing  the  river;  thence  west 
on  said  township  line  to  where  it  again  strikes  said  river,  thence  with 
the  river  to  the  section  line,  where  the  river  crosses,  between  sections  3 
and  4,  township  37,  range  27;  thence  south   to  the  county  line;  thence 


I060  HISTORY    OK   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

east  to  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  i6.  township  36,  range  26; 
thence  following^  the  meanderings  of  Sac  River  to  the  point  of  be- 
ginning. " 

Its  position  on  the  map  gives  its  boundaries  in  connection  with  other 
townships  as  follows:  North  the  Osage  River,  vvhich  separates  it  from 
Taber,  and  parts  of  Chalk  Level  and  Osceola.  On  the  east  the  Sac  River 
separates  fromOsceola.  Do)'al  and  Washington;  south,  Doyal  Township 
and  Cedar  Count}-,  and  west  by  Speedwell  Township.  It  is  in  size  the 
third  township  in  the  count)-,  being  only  exceeded  by  Monegaw  and 
Speedwell.  In  round  numbers  it  has  62  sections  of  land,  or  an  acreage 
of  39,680  acres.  It  has  an  abundance  of  coal  in  the  northern  part,  and 
doubtless  every  kind  of  mineral  that  is  found  in  the  count}-.  Its 
lead  blossoms  are  rich,  giving  ever}'  indication  of  large  quantities  of 
this  metal,  and  when  you  combine  all  the  advantages,  the  wealth  that 
lies  under  its  surface,  its  fine  quaries  of  many  varieties  of  stone  and  mar- 
ble, the  richness  of  its  bottom  land  and  its  wealth  of  timber  and  agri- 
cultural resources,  Roscoe  Township  has  a  fine  field  for  future  develop- 
ment and  surprising  growth  in  productive  wealth. 

In  the  state  census  of  1876,  the  production  of  a  county  was  given 
by  townships.  In  St.  Clair  Count}',  Roscoe  held  her  own.  She  was 
first  in  the  yield  of  tobacco,  14,500;  first  in  hogs,  2,339;  first  in  oats,  11,- 
434  bushels;  second  in  horses,  522;  third  in  mules,  119;  third  in  the 
yield  of  corn,  136,756  bushels,  and  seventh  in  cattle  and  sheep,  having 
1,534  of  the  former  and  684  of  the  latter,  and  at  this  da}'  these  figures 
are  more  than  doubled.  There  are  no  more  enterprising  and  hard 
working  farmers,  and  none  more  progressive  than  those  who  claim  Ros- 
coe Township  as  their  home. 

WHEN   SETTLED. 

Roscoe  Township  has  the  honor  of  having  the  first  cabin  erected 
within  the  limits  of  St.  Clair  County,  within  her  border.  The  noted 
hunter  and  trapper,  Jacob  Coonce,  put  up  the  first  cabin,  and  located  it 
on  section  ii,  in  the  spring  of  183 1,  and  the  first  corn  ever  raised  in  the 
county  was  planted  b}-  him  around  that  cabin.  In  the  following  year, 
1832,  Jacob  Coonce  moved  to  Washington  Township  and  settled  on 
Brush  Creek. 

The  Kelsos  were  about  the  next  that  settled  in  the  township,  and 
Samuel  Kelso  settled  on  what  has  since  been  known  as  Huffman's  Ferr}- 
and  Bend.  In  1838,  David  Huffman  purchased  his  claim.  The  Kelsos 
then  moved  to  section  5,  Taber  Township,  and  soon  John  Smarr,  the  first 
sheriff  of  St.  Clair  County,  bought  them  out,  and  they  then  started  up 
the  river,  and  managed  to  drop  down  on  section  32,  of  the  same  town- 
ship, Taber. 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  IO61 

Colonel  Beal  came  to  this  section  with  a  large  family,  and  liking  the 
location,  purchased  their  claim  and  they  moved  still  on.  This  last  sale 
was  made  in  1839. 

Huffman  came  from  Virginia, .and  first  settled  in  1836,  on"  section 
32,  Chalk  Level  Township,  near  the  Roscoe  line,  and  now  owned  by  N. 
B.  Greene.  It  was  Thomas  Kelso  who  owned  the  bend  and  David  set- 
tled on  section  6. 

The  Rives  County  Court  granted  a  license  to  Huffman  at  the 
December  term,  1839,  to  run  a  ferry  at  that  point,  it  being  the  second 
ferry  across  the  Osage  River. 

Nathaniel  Bell,  the  first  representative  from  the  new  county  of  St. 
Clair,  settled  on  section  33,  Lemuel  Huffman  on  the  same  section,  Nich- 
olas Ganter  on  section  22,  John  Burch  on  section  23  and  James  Wilson 
on  section  9.     Most  of  these  came  early  in  the  thirties. 

Wright  Hill  had  a  horse  mill  in  1837,  and  this  was  patronized  far 
and  near.  Abram  Copenhaver  settled  on  section  17  and  owned  the  land 
on  which  the  town  of  Roscoe  now  stands,  and  John  Smith,  of  peach 
brandy  fame,  lived  on  section  19,  and  to  this  latter  may  be  attributed  in 
early  times  the  old  pioneers'  love  for  old  Roscoe,  or  then  known  as 
Speedwell,  or  rather  might  be  said  Monegaw  Township.  John  Smith's 
peach  and  honey  was  considered  worth  a  few  miles'  travel,  and  not  a  few 
of  the  old  pioneers  made  it  a  business  to  do  some  traveling.  John  and 
Sabe  Cringer  lived  near  Copenhaver  and  were  his  neighbors. 

Ervin  Thomas  settled  on  section  10  in  1837,  and  Joseph  Montgom- 
ery on  section  6,  west  side  of  the  Osage,  in  1837.  He  probably  located 
his  claim  in  1836,  but  he  was  at  that  time  judge  of  the  Rives  County 
Court.  He  came  from  Virginia,  and  died  at  his  home  on  section  6  in 
1854.  John  Armingtrout  settled  on  section  5  and  John  Perry  on  section 
4.     Both  came  from  Virginia  and  in  the  year  1837. 

Wyatt's  Grove  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  northeast  quarter 
was  the  location  of  the  county  seat  for  two  terms,  and  it  was  just  north 
of  this  line,  on  section  9,  that  the  fight  was  made  for  the  location  of  the 
county  seat  in  1841.  William  Moore  settled  on  section  10,  and  Horace 
McDaniels  on  section  28.  These  came  in  1838.  Henry  Arterbury  came 
in  1838  also  and  lived  near  McDaniel,  and  was  among  the  first  sons-in- 
law  in  the  county,  and  the  first  in  Roscoe  Township.  He  married  Miss 
McDaniel  in  1839,  and  Jesse  Applegate,  justice  ot  the  peace,  officiated. 
They  removed  after  their  marriage  to  Osceola  Township,  and  settled  on 
section  6.  A  Mr.  Ward  located  the  claim  on  the  Roscoe  side  of  the  Sac 
River,  upon  which  in  1841  the  Howard  &  Ritchie  mill  was  built,  the  first 
water  mill  in  the  county.  He  came  in  1837.  John  Howard  came  from 
Kentucky,  and  lived  a  while  in  Polk  Township,  and  then  moved  in  1840 
to  the  Ward  place,  and  in  the  following  year  erected  the  mill.  There 
was  also  a  saw  mill  at  the  same  place. 


I06j  history   of    ST.    CI.AIR   COUNTY. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  hist  school  was  a  subscription  school,  and  an  old  log  cabin 
stood  for  years,  which  had  been  erected  in  the  fall  of  183S  by  the  neigh- 
bors for  school  purposes.  James  Hrady  taught  the  first  school  and  he 
was  succeeded  in  the  winter  of  1S39  40  t)y  Joseph  Waldo.  This  was 
several  }-ears  before  the  organization  of  school  district.  After  St.  Clair 
became  a  county,  Lewis  R.  Ashworth  also  taught  a  school  in  1839,  and 
was  tlie  first  preacher  in  the  township.  That  old  school  house  also 
became  the  first  place  of  worship  in  the  township.  The  present  educa- 
tional facilities  of  Roscoe  are  good. 

There  are  eight  public  school  buildings  besides  a  school  district 
formed  of  a  part  of  Speedwell  and  a  part  in  Roscoe.  These  schools  are 
well  provided  with  all  the  necessary  paraphernalia  for  a  good  common 
school  education.  In  this  the  people  of  Roscoe  have  exercised  wise  fore- 
thought, v'hich  will  reap  them  a  glorious  harvest  ere  many  years. 

The  Rev.  A.  R.  Ashworth  was  a  minister  of  the  Christian  Church. 
There  is  now  the  Pleasant  Grove  Baptist  Church  on  the  western  border 
of  the  township,  which  is  in  a  flourishing  condition,  and  there  is  situ- 
ated near  Roscoe  village  the  "  Roscoe  Congregation  of  Disciples  of 
Christ,"  which  was  organized  in  1871.  The  names  of  the  original  mem- 
bers of  this  church  were:  Mayfield  Hoshaw  and  wife,  Valentine  Ruck- 
man,  Martha  Ruckman,  Rebecca  Burch,  J.  M.  Quinley,  Charles  Bedell. 
Julia  Moore,  George  Hendricks,  Malinda  Jenkins  (colored),  Susan  Bedell 
and  Nancy  Thomas.  The  church  has  grown  with  the  growth  of  the  sur- 
rounding country  and  has  now  a  membership  of  fifty.  The  pastors  are 
Rev.  W.  W.  Warren  and  Rev.  W.  C.  Blalock.  The  latter  was  pastor  but 
one  year,  and  the  former,  with  that  exception,  since  the  church  was 
organized  and  is  its   present  pastor,  earnest  and   faithful  to   his  charge. 

The  first  store  kept  in  the  township  was  by  Patrick  Shields  who 
opened  up  near  the  ferry,  and  at  the  same  time  and  place  a  blacksmith 
shop  went  into  operation  by  the  strong  arms  of  John  Iredell,  and  this  was 
in  the  spring  of  1840.  Up  the  river  in  1840  Ebenezer  Ball  located  near 
where  Chalk  Level  joins  Roscoe,  about  three  miles  from  Huffman's 
Ferry. 

WHEN   IT   BECAME   ROSCOE. 

Roscoe  Township  came  into  being  Februar)-  ii,  1870.  The  petition 
was  drawn  up  and  circulated  in  October,  1869,  asking  for  the  division  of 
Speedwell  Township.  This  was  numerously  signed  by  the  "  east  side  " 
people  and  presented  to  the  county  court  in  November  follo\ving.  It 
then  was  laid  over  to  the  February  term,  1870,  and  the  j)ra)-er  of  the 
petitioners  granted  on  the  day  above  named.  In  1872  her  boundaries,  as 
found  in  the  first  part  of  this  chapter,  were  defined  and  placed  upon  the 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  IO63 

records.  In  1875  the  follovving  township  officers  were  elected,  at  the 
spring  election:  J.  Burch,  Collector;  J.  Dale,  Clerk;  W.  Shackleford, 
Assessor;  C.  Breeden,  Constable;  A.  Freeman  and  J.  St.  Clair,  Justices 
of  the  Peace. 

It  is  said  the  original  village  was  located  on  the  river  near  the  ferry, 
and  that  not  until  after  the  war  was  it  carried  to  the  bluff,  its  present 
location.  The  land  was  owned  by  William  Goetz.  It  was  then  quite  a 
flourishing  village,  and  for  many  years  was,  in  fact,  the  largest  town  in 
the  county,  numbering  at  one  time  about  600  in  population.  It  was  on 
the  southwest  trail  from  Sedalia,  in  the  days  of  wagons  and  stage 
coaches,  to  the  southwest  and  grew  and  flourished.  The  hotel  was  kept 
by  Matilda  Hart,  and  was  erected  in  1867.  The  Missouri,  Kansas  & 
Texas  Road  having  been  completed  from  Sedalia  to  Fort  Scott  in  1869, 
or  at  least  through  Henry  County,  caused  the  rapid  decline  of  Roscoe 
and  the  building  up  of  Appleton  City.  In  1870  it  had  fallen  off  nearly 
one-half  and  had  a  population  of  302,  within  twenty-nine  even  then  of 
being  equal  in  size  to  Osceola. 

INCORPORATION   OF   THE   TOWN   OF    ROSCOE. 

It  being  one  of  the  oldest  settled  towns  or  villages  in  the  county,  it 
was  among  the  first  to  aspire  to  the  dignity  of  an  incorporated  town. 
On  August  3,  1868,  a  petition  was  presented  to  the  county  asking  for  an 
order  of  incorporation  of  the  town  of  Roscoe,  and  that  petition  was  in 
words  following: 

Whereas,  The  petition  of  Thomas  Riggs,  G.  W.  Chrisman,  Solo- 
mon Daniel,  James  F.  Atkinson,  Isaac  Crowder,  F.  H.  J.  Ligon,  G.  W. 
Burges,  A.  S.  Hart,  James  St.  Clair,  A.  F.  Edger,  S.  G.  Disbrow,  Willet 
Gardner,  Charles  W.  Gardner,  A.  C.  Shears,  D.  T.  Bartley,  R.  M.  Servis, 
G.  W.  Cox,  F.  Stewart,  A.  Edwinten,  Samuel  E.  Hoover,  Charles  J.  Shel- 
lenberger,  Jacob  Kephart,  John  Morris,  R.  C.  Gill,  M.  R.  Wilson,  B.  R. 
T.  Copenhaver,  Alonzo  Ray.  S.  K.  Marbovey,  John  H.  Simmey,  W.  W, 
Dickey,  L.  W.  Folsom,  Isaac  Bain,  Daniel  Hackey,  L.  H.  Brown,  J.  P. 
Smith,  D.  P.  Shippey  and  S.  H.  Duffey  has  this  day  been  filed,  praying 
this  court  to  incorporate  the  village  of  Roscoe  in  the  county  of  St.  Clair 
and  state  of  Missouri,  in  pursuance  of  section  i,  chapter  41  of  general 
statutes,  it  is  therefore  ordered,  adjudged  and  decreed  by  the  court  that 
the  inhabitants  of  all  that  district  of  country,  situated  in  the  county  of 
St.  Clair  embraced  within  the  limits  hereinafter  prescribed,  and  the 
inhabitants  within  such  bounds  shall  be  a  body  politic  and  corporate  by 
the  name  and  style  of  "The  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Roscoe,"  and 
by  that  name  they  and  their  successors  shall  be  known  in  law,  have  per- 
petual succession  unless  disincorporated,  sue  and  be  sued,  plead  and  be  . 
impleaded,  defend  and  be  defended  in  all  courts,  and  in  all  actions,  pleas 
and  matters  whatsoever;  may  grant,  purchase,  hold  and  receive  prop- 
erty, real  and  personal,  within  such  town  and  no  other  (burial  grounds 
and  cemeteries  excepted),  and  may  lease,  sell  and  dispose  of  the  same 


1064  HISTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

for  the  benefit  of  the  town;  may  have  a  common  seal,  and  may  break 
and  alter  the  same  at  pleasure.  The  corporate  power  and  duties  of  said 
town  shall  be  vested  in  a  board  of  trustees,  to  consist  of  five  members. 

The  first  board  of  trustees  shall  be  appointed  by  the  county  court, 
and  shall  continue  in  office  until  successors  are  elected  and  qualified,  and 
such  successors  shall  be  chosen  by  the  qualified  electors  residing  in  said 
town,  on  the  first  Monday  in  April  in  every  year,  and  such  trustees  shall 
have  such  powers  as  is  contemplated  by  the  act  authorizing  the  county 
court  to  incorporate  towns. 

The  corporate  limits  of  said  town  shall  comprise  all  that  district  of 
country  situated  in  the  county  of  St.  Clair,  to  wit:  Commencing  at  the 
southeast  corner  of  section  17;  thence  running  north  along  the  section 
line  to  the  center  of  the  main  channel  of  the  Osage  River;  thence  up  said 
channel  to  a  point  where  the  section  line  between  section  7  and  section 
8  crosses  the  river;  thence  south  along  said  line  to  the  southwest  corner 
of  section  17;  thence  east  to  the  place  of  beginning.  All  in  township 
37,  of  range  26. 

The  trustees  appointed  were  William  H.  Mannering.  Jacob  Kephart 
George  W.  Burgess,  Alonzo  Ray  and  James  F.  Atkinson,  and  they  were 
to  hold  their  office  until  their  successors  were  elected  and  qualified. 

1870  TO   1880. 

From  1870  to  1880,  Roscoe  still  felt  the  blighting  effects  of  a  rail- 
road town,  and  was  reduced  to  a  population  of  172.  That  was  its  lowest 
ebb,  and  it  has  now  about  250,  and  will  grow  as  the  country  settles,  and 
will  probably  by  the  next  United  States  census  reach  her  old  status. 

Roscoe  lies  about  ten  miles  southwest  of  Osceola,  and  has  school 
facilities  equal  to  Appleton  City,  and  superior  to  that  of  the  county  seat. 
Its  public  school  is  a  fine  two  story  brick  building.  In  1869,  Roscoe 
aspired  to  a  newspaper,  and  one  was  started  by  I.  B.  Boyle,  and  called 
the  Roscoe  Gazette.  Boyle  was  somewhat  given  to  intemperance,  and 
after  quite  a  protracted  spree  at  Kansas  City,  on  recovering  suffered 
considerable  pain  and  took  morphine  to  relieve  it.  He  took  an  overdose 
and  died  from  its  effects  September  7,  1870. 

Charles  Daniel  had  become  the  publisher  and  Dr.  Kibber  the  editor, 
about  January  7,  1870,  and  was  continued  several  months,  when  it  was 
finally  removed  to  Osceola,  the  same  year.  That  was  the  first  and  last 
paper  published  within  its  classic  precincts. 

Where  the  present  village  of  Roscoe  stands,  Abraham  Copenhaver 
lived  and  erected  the  first  house  on  its  site,  but  it  was  then  his  farm,  but 
moving  the  town  back  and  over  the  bluff,  placed  it  on  his  land. 

The  first  house  was  erected  by  H.  Burch,  in  1867.  It  was  a  business 
house,  and  he  was  the  first  merchant.  Dr.  G.  Selsby  was  the  first  phy- 
sician, Jacob  Kehart  made  music  from  his  anvils,  and  E.  M.  Lutz,  in  a 
minor  key,  added  that  of  the  hammer  and  saw;  these  were  the  first  in 
their  respective  departments. 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  IO65 

The  postmasters  have  been:  William  H.  Manning,  Charles  Gard- 
ner,—  Parks,  Henry  Swan,  Alonzo  Ray,  Joseph  St.  Clair,  Miss  Shucker, 
Miss  Jessie  Allen,  Miss  Perry  Pepper,  Frank  S.  Oyer. 

The  M.  E.  Church,  of  which  Rev.  Proctor  is  pastor,  hold  services  on 
every  first  Sabbath,  and  on  Saturday  night  previous.  The  Sabbath 
school  meets  every  Sunday  morning  at  nine  A,  M. 

Roscoe  Lodge  No.  342,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  meets  on  Thursday  night  on 
or  before  the  full  moon  in  each  month.  W.  W.  Warren  is  the  present 
W.  M.,  and  G.  P.  Brown  is  Secretary. 

Rosebud  Grange.  No.  817,  meets  every  second  and  fourth  Saturday, 
at  two  o'clock,  in  their  hall.  The  present  officers  are:  J.  S.  Lewellen, 
W.  M.;  V.  Ruckman,  Lecturer;  George  P.  Brown,  Secretary. 

BUSINESS   DIRECTORY. 

Perry  Pepper,  Roscoe  House. 

Metcalf  &  Burch,  general  merchandise. 

J.  E.  Wells,  hardware. 

Thomas  Houston,  harness. 

William  Butler,  general  merchandise. 

A.  Waymire,  blacksmith. 
M.  Baker,  blacksmith. 

B.  F.  Pepper,  wagon  maker. 

A.  C.  Marquis,  M.  D.,  physician. 
Thomas  Anderson,  M.  D.,  physician. 
Roddy  &  Addams,  millers. 
Mrs.  Lucy  Hoshaw,  millinery. 

PLEASANT    SPRING   CHURCH. 

Pleasant  Spring  Baptist  Church  was  organized  in  1847,  on  section 
14,  some  three  miles  west  of  Roscoe  village.  The  names  are  not  all 
given  of  the  original  members,  but  those  who  joined  in  organizing  the 
church  were:  O.  Smith,  B.  T.  Morris  and  wife,  Snoden  T.  Morris  and 
Nancy  Morris.  The  church  has  grown  until  it  now  has  ninety-eight 
members.  Its  church  building  was  erected  in  i860,  but  was  destroyed 
during  the  late  war,  and  not  since  rebuilt.  Its  pastors  have  been  as 
follows:  Revs.  O.  Smith,  John  Ford,  J.  B.  Box,  John  C.  Brasher,  John  T. 
Metcalf,  Harvey  Smith,  Elder  Birdsong,  W.  B.  Belisle  and  perhaps  oth- 
ers. The  Sabbath  school  is  well  attended,  has  sixty  pupils  on  its  roll 
and  is  ably  conducted  by  W.  B.  Belisle. 

M.    E.    CHURCH,    SOUTH. 

This  church  was  organized  in  1870,  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
township,  by  J.  H.  Pyles,  Jacob  Smith  and  wife,  Mrs.   Kirkland,  Mrs. 


I066  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

Jane  Pyles,  William  Robertson,  Sr.  and  wife,  William  Robertson,  Jr.  and 
wife,  Richard  Robertson  and  wife  and  J.  C.  McDonald  and  wife.  From 
this  small  beginning  the  church  has  grovvm  and  prospered,  and  has  now 
a  membership  of  ninety.  They  built  a  neat  frame  church  in  the  spring 
of  1881,  costing  $500.  The  names  of  the  pastors  who  officiated  as  such, 
are  here  given  in  their  order:  Revs.  Armstrong,  Joseph  Breeding,  W. 
T.  Banner,  R.  W.  Reynolds,  J.  N.  Anthony,  —  Barrenburg,  W.  D.  Stew- 
art and  J.  M.  Proctor.  Connected  with  the  church  is  a  Sunday  school  of 
sixty  scholars,  under  the  the  superintendenc}'  of  Richard  P)'les. 

SPEEDWELL   TO\YNSHIP 

is  celebrated  in  song  and  story  for  her  renowned  hunters  of  pioneer  days. 
Speedwell  Township  is  one  of  the  six  original  townships,  and 
included  within  her  borders  the  present  territory  of  Roscoe.  It  was  of 
course  laid  out  at  the  May  term  of  the  county  court  in  1841.  The  present 
township  is  divided  about  equally  between  prairie  and  timber,  and  is  a 
good  cereal  and  stock  township.  It  has,  since  1870,  been  steadily  grow- 
ing, and  adding  during  the  last  decade  about  90  per  cent  to  its  popula- 
tion has  done  it  by  a  general  average  each  year  or  each  five  years. 

In  1870  her  population  was 606 

1875 882 

1880 1,133 

This  was  a  gain  of  276  in  the  first  five  years,  and  251  the  last  half 
of  the  decade,  or  527  for  the  entire  decade.  This  is  not  quite  up  to  the 
average  of  the  entire  county,  but  it  will  do. 

AREA   AND   BOUNDS. 

This  township  is  the  largest  in  the  county  and  will  average  about 
seven  and  a  half  miles  north  and  south,  by  nine  miles  in  width,  east  and 
west.  The  Osage  River  which  constitutes  her  northern  boundary  line  is 
not  altogether  straight  in  its  course,  and  it  would  require  the  count  of 
her  fractional  sections  to  give  her  exact  area  in  acres,  but  in  round  num- 
bers she  has  some  44,000,  and  perhaps  a  few  acres  over.  Her  general 
boundary  can  be  described  as  follows:  On  the  north  by  the  Osage  River^ 
east  by  Roscoe  Township,  south  by  Cedar  County,  and  west  by  Vernon 
County.  In  1872  the  several  municipal  boundaries  of  the  county  were 
made  a  matter  of  record,  and  in  the  following  will  be  found  the  congres- 
sional township  and  range,  which  gives  her  geographical  boundaries. 

SPEED\YELL. 

Established  and  bounded  as  follows,  to  wit:  Commencing  at  that 
point  between  sections  3  and  4,  in  township   37,  range  27,  where  the 


HISTORY    OF    ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  IO67 

Osage  River  crosses  the  line  between  said  sections,  thence  following  the 
meanderings  of  said  river  to  the  west  line  of  the  county,  thence  south  on 
county  line  to  the  south  line  of  the  county,  thence  east  to  the  southeast 
corner  of  section  9,  township  36,  range  27,  thence  north  to  the  place  of 
beginning. 

THE   ARRIVAL   OF   PIONEERS. 

Among  those  who  came  in  the  last  half  of  the  thirties  were  Allen 
Phillips,  who  settled  on  section  8,  township  36,  range  28,  almost  in  the 
southwest  corner  of  the  township.  James  Anderson  about  the  same 
time  settled  on  section  11,  township  37,  range  28.  They  were  probably 
the  first  but  were  not  left  long  the  monarchs  of  all  they  surveyed.  Uncle 
John  Whitley,  always  called  so  by  the  early  settlers,  and  John  R.  Whit- 
ley, a  son,  James  Breckenridge,  Ben  Burch  and  a  few  other  followed  the 
first  named  closely.  Uncle  John  settled  on  section  8,  town  37,  range  27; 
Breckenridge  on  section  22,  same  township  and  range;  and  Benjamin 
Burch  on  section  4,  in  same  township  and  range.  There  were  William 
Bacon  section  18;  Hamilton  Morris,  Benjamin  T.  and  Snowdon  Morris, 
all  brothers;  the  first  settling  on  se'ction  28.  Benjamin  on  section  14  and 
the  latter  on  section  11;  James  S.  McKinley  on  section  16  In  town- 
ship 37,  range  28,  came  Uriah  Sutherland,  a  prominent  citizen  of  the 
county;  James  Breckenridge,  one  of  the  noted  hunters,  settling  on  sec- 
tion 22;  William  and  Frank  Roark,  also  famous;  and  Benjamin  F.  Sny- 
der on  section  24,  who  well  remembers  the  perils  of  the  early  days. 

WATER,   TIMBER   AND   PRODUCTION. 

Those  who  lived  in  Speedwell  Township  are  not  deficient  in  love 
and  belief  in  the  superior  attractions  of  that  township,  and  to  hear  some 
of  them  talk  a  belief  in  a  sort  of  heaven  upon  earth  would  creep  unsus- 
pectingly into  the  mind  of  the  hearer.  Clear  Creek,  which  takes  its 
name  from  its  clear  and  sparkling  water,  enters  the  township  in  the 
southwest  corner,  runs  north  in  a  very  crooked  and  tortuous  manner  to 
near  the  center  of  the  township  and  then,  as  serpentine  in  its  course  as 
a  stream  can  well  be,  crosses  the  township  in  a  northeasterly  direction 
and  empties  in  the  Osage. 

The  rippling  waters  of  the  Little  Clear  Creek  rises  in  the  central 
southern  part  of  the  township,  running  north  discharges  its  waters  in 
its  larger  namesake.  These  beautiful  streams  and  their  branches  water 
the  entire  township,  and  its  wooded  hills  and  ravines  and  its  beautiful 
undulating  prairies  makes  it  indeed  a  fair  land  to  look  upon,  and  per- 
haps her  enthusiastic  citizens  are  not  far  out  of  the  way  in  claiming  for 
it  something  of  the  nature  of  the  promised  land. 


I068  HISTORY   OF   ST.   CLAIR   COUNTY. 

STOCK   AND   CEREALS. 

Speedwell  Township  in  its  productions  stood,  in  1876,  first  in  sheep, 
having  1,349  head;  second  in  cattle,  with  1,968;  third  in  horses,  with 
459;  fourth  in  corn,  with  131,9150  bushels,  and  fifth  in  hogs,  with  1,563 
head,  in  the  list  of  municipal  townships. 

BAND   OF   FAMOUS    HUNTERS. 

There  are  many  incidents  in  all  parts  of  the  country  of  the  life  of 
the  early  settlers,  pioneers  who  came  west  before  the  era  of  steamboats, 
railroads  and  telegraph,  and  of  which  they  knew  nothing  for  many  after 
years,  except  from  transient  travelers,  or  some  item  from  a  stray  news- 
paper which  had  found  its  way  to  their  cabin. 

This  want  of  knowledge  of  the  result  of  man's  genius  was  the  occa- 
sion of  one  of  the  most  ludicrous  episodes  that  ever  happened  in  this  or 
any  other  county.  It  was  the  trip  of  the  first  steamboat  on  the  Osage 
River  as  far  up  as  St.  Clair  County,  whose  whistle  had  a  most  unearthly 
screech  and  roar,  more  like  that  of  "an  infuriated  wild  beast  of  the  jun- 
gles than  that  of  a  steam  whistle.  The  facts  and  incidents  of  this  strange 
theme  will  be  found  in  the  "  Old  Settlers."  the  opening  of  St.  Clair 
County  history,  but  the  band  of  hunters  who  made  themselves  famous 
belong  to  Speedwell  Township,  and  therefore  she  is  not  only  entitled  to 
being  a  land  of  promise,  but  of  having  the  most  noted  and  famous  band 
of  hunters  who  ever  drew  a  bead  upon  a  denizen  of  the  forest,  whose 
names  will  ever  remain  high  on  the  roll  of  fame  among  the  noted  hunt- 
ers of  pioneers  days.  Their  names  are  here  given  to  history,  as  well  as 
to  the  memory  of  those  who  were  their  neighbors  and  friends. 

NAMES. 

John  Whitley,  James  Breckenridge,  Benj.  Burch,  William  Roark, 
Frank  Roark,  Benjamin  F.  Snyder,  Hamilton  Morris,  Benjamin  T.  Mor- 
ris, James  Anderson,  Snowden  Morris,  John  R.  Whitley  and  William 
Bacon. 

It  is  reported  that  William  Randolph,  who  settled  on  section  22 
near  James  Breckenridge,  was  also  one  of  the  band,  but  not  his  brother 
Joseph,  who  settled  on  section  9,  both  in  township  37  of  range  28. 

ROCK    HOUSE. 

This  is  the  name  of  a  cave  in  the  bluffs  which  overlooks  the  Osage 
River  at  what  is  called  "  Whitley's  Bend."  It  is  a  beautiful  cave,  with 
an  entrance  wide  enough  for  a  man  to  pass  through  on  horseback,  and 
the  rocks  around  and  high  up  the  mountain  bluff  have  quaint  figures  cut 
into  them  and  names  which  few  can  understand. 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   CLAIR   COUNTY.  I069 

It  was  the  rendezvous  of  the  Indians  for  ages.  No  doubt  with  care- 
ful examination  this  cave  could  be  found  far  more  extensive  than  is  now 
even  supposed. 

Not  far  beyond  is  another  and  smaller  cave,  which  connects  by  a 
narrow  passage  with  the  larger  one.  The  grown  men  of  the  neighbor- 
hood know  little  of  these  caves,  but  their  children  (boys)  can  give  some 
wonderful  accounts  of  the  numerous  passages  to  be  found  leading  from 
both  the  large  and  smaller  cave. 

These  caves  are  found  all  along  the  banks  of  the  Osage,  but  excite 
but  little  interest  or  curiosity  among  the  people;  some  living  close  by 
for  years  have  never  yet  seen  them.  They  are  well  worth  scientific 
exploration,  which  would  develop  undoubtedly  much  that  would  be 
found  valuable  in  regard  to  the  mineral  resources  of  the  county,  as  well 
as  food  for  the  curious  in  the  geological  formation  of  the  country. 

WHEN   DISMEMBERED. 

In  February,  1870,  Roscoe  Township,  as  now  formed,  was  taken 
from  the  territory  of  Speedwell,  leaving  her  boundaries  as  here  described. 

The  same  year,  the  farmers,  or  a  portion  of  them,  associated  them- 
selves with  a  few  farmers  of  Bacon  Township,  in  Vernon  County,  joining, 
and  organized  a  farmers'  club.  This  was  on  April  9,  1870,  and  the  fol- 
lowing officers  were  elected:  Joseph  Lewis,  President;  Dr.  William 
Long,  Vice-President;  B.  Robinson,  Secretary;  J.  A.  Purinton,  Corres- 
ponding Secretary. 

It  was  called  the  Osage  Farmers'  Association,  and  held  its  organi- 
zation until  1873,  when  it  was  united  to  or  swallowed  up  by  the  Patrons 
of  Husbandry,  or  Granges.  These  latter  continued  until  the  Greenback- 
ers  took  possession  of  the  township  in  1878. 

ITS   CAPITAL. 

Speedwell  maybe  called  exclusively  an  agricultural  and  stock  town- 
ship, with  cotton  rock  and  sandstone  sufificient  for  building  purposes, 
but  it  has  no  large  town,  or  very  much  of  a  village  within  its  limits. 

TIFFIN. 

This  little  village  is  the  capital  of  Speedwell  Township,  and  is  the 
only  village,  as  well  as  post  office  within  its  limits.  Tiffin  is  located  on 
section  13,  in  township  37,  of  range  28,  but  close  to  range  27,  and  at  the 
confluence  of  Little  Clear  Creek  with  Big  Clear  Creek.  It  has  a  hand- 
some location,  a  rich  country  around  it,  and  will  prove  a  village  of  no 
small  importance  in  the  coming  years.  Clear  Creek  is  quite  a  large 
stream  here,  and  a  mill  was  put  up  a  few  years  ago  known  as  Pape's  Mill. 


I070  HISTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY. 

Gideon  Pape  owned  the  land,  and  put  up  the  first  store  in  connection 
with  his  mill,  in  1876.  In  July  of  the  same  year,  the  first  post  office  in 
Speedwell  Township  was  given  it,  with  Gideon  Pape  postmaster,  keeping 
the  place  at  his  store.  Gideon  Pape  is  still  postmaster,  and  keeps  a 
general  store.  Theodore  Wemley,  drug  store;  William  H.  Pollet,  phy- 
sician and  surgeon;  Mr.  Seby,  blacksmith,  and  Henry  Lockliter,  wagon 
maker. 

The  ferry  across  Big  Clear  Creek  is  in  charge  of  John  E.  Vogel. 
The  saw  mill,  which  had  been  running  so  many  years  closed  out  a  few 
months  since. 

The  town  was  surveyed  and  platted  in  April,  1878,  Ralph  C  Bowles, 
county  surveyor,  surveyed  and  laid  out  the  town  that  year  and  month. 
Tiffin  will  grow  and  Speedwell  Township  will  increase  in  population 
and  prosper,  because  she  has  a  soil  and  climate,  which  is  all  that  need 
be  demanded,  and  an  enterprising  and  industrious  people.  That  is  the 
reason,  and  it  is  all  sufficient. 

SCHOOL. 

Her  educational  facilities  are  first  class,  having  no  less  than  eight 
school  districts,  besides  one  divided  between  her  and  Roscoe.  There  is 
not  a  child  within  the  township  but  has  the  opportunity  to  receive  a 
good  common  school  education,  and  they  have  done  it  for  the  people 
have  organized  these  number  of  schools  for  the  express  purpose  of  seeing 
that  their  children  have  not  the  want  of  learning,  as  was  the  fate  of  the 
old  pioneers. 

TABER   TO^VNSHIP. 

This  township  lies  on  the  western  border  of  the  county  with  Apple- 
ton  and  Monegaw  Townships  on  the  north,  Monegaw  and  Chalk  Level 
on  the  east,  with  the  bend  of  the  Osage.  That  river  on  the  south,  sep- 
arating it  from  Roscoe,  Speedwell  and  Bates  County  on  the  west.  It  is 
a  large  township,  something  in  the  shape  of  a  shoe,  being  some  twelve 
miles  wide  on  the  south  side,  extending  across  to  congressional  township 
No.  3,  and  an  average  of  six  and  a  half  miles,  north  and  south  in  range  28. 

In  round  numbers  its  area  is  about  38,000  acres  of  land,  and  four- 
fifths  of  it  as  rich  and  inviting  prairie  land  as  the  eye  need  dwell  upon. 
Its  water  supply  is  the  Osage  River  on  the  south,  in  the  northeast  the 
Big  Monegaw,  and  upon  these  streams  will  be  found  about  all  the  timber 
in  the  township.  The  eastern  portion  lying  south  of  Monegaw  Town- 
ship has  a  considerable  growth  of  young  oaks,  which  covers  some  ten 
or  twelve  sections  of  land.  In  its  coal  area  it  is  the  third  township  in 
the  county,  the  whole  northeast  being  underlaid  with  it,  the  veins  being 
from  two  to  six  and  a  half  feet  in  thickness.  Monegaw  and  Appleton 
Townships  may  have  more  coal  than  Tabor,  and  Chalk  Level  comes  in 


i 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  lO/B 

as  fourth.  Some  day  there  will  be  immense  wealth  taken  out  of  the 
bowels  of  the  earth  in  this  and  adjoining  townships.  The  coal  is  supe- 
rior to  the  Rich  Hill  coal,  and  is,  to  a  great  extent,  the  quality  known 
as  gas  coal.  It  is  superior  to  that  used  for  heating  and  cooking  pur- 
poses, called  steam  coal. 

FIRST   SETTLERS. 


They  came  in  the  year  1836,  and  a  few  may  have  been  scattered 
here  and  there  a  year  or  two  sooner.  There  was  a  cabin  erected  on  the 
northwest  corner  of  section  36,  the  fractional  part  lying  in  Taber  and 
west  of  the  river  bend.  It  was  put  up  in  1835.  It  was  called  the  Green 
farm,  or  place,  but  little  is  known  of  the  man,  when  he  really  came,  or 
where  from,  or  where  he  went  to. 

Robert  H.  Sproull,  of  Virginia,  came  in  1836  and  settled  on  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  12,  township  38,  range  28.  He  was  a  con- 
nection of  Joseph  Montgomery,  and  came  the  same  time,  the  latter, 
however,  locating  on  section  6,  Roscoe  Township,  on  the  west  side  of 
the  river  and  bend.  Mr.  Sproull  was  followed  by  John  Smarr,  in  1836, 
who  bought  out  David  Kelso's  claim  on  section  6,  township  37,  of  range 
27.  Kelso  moved  further  west,  settling  on  32,  same  township,  but  in 
range  28,  and  in  1838,  the  Beal  family  arrived  and  bought  out  Kelso- 
again.  The  Beals  all  came  from  Virginia,  and  there  were  a  good  many 
of  them,  Charles  was  the  old  man,  and  Robert,  William,  Jordan,  George 
and  two  or  three  more,  and  two  of  the  same  name,  Samuel  and 
James  Beal,  but  they  belonged  to  another  family.  William  P.  Burck" 
was  a  son-in-law  of  Beal's,  and  settled  on  section  35.  He,  also,  came 
from  Virginia.  Martin  McFerran,  well  and  widely  known  in  those 
days,  settled  on  the  same  section.  Cyrus  V.  Robinson  joined  him 
on  section  34,  38,  27,  in  1838.  McFerran  came  in  1837.  Robert  Shortess- 
came  also  in  1837,  and  was  a  neighbor  of  Robinson's,  settling  on  the 
same  section,  34.  He  came  from  Ohio.  James  Masterson  came  soon 
after.  These  were  the  principal  early  settlers,  and  all  came  prior  to  the 
year  1839.  The  Younces  also  settled  in  this  township  in  1838,  though 
some  have  located  them  in  Monegaw  and  others  in  the  southeast  corner 
of  Appleton.  A  very  complete  history  of  this  family  and  three  or  four 
neighbors,  is  given  in  the  third  chapter  of  St.  Clair  County  history.  The 
first  birth  in  the  township  was  a  daughter  of  Mrs.  Younce,  and  the  first 
death,  also,  fell  to  her  lot  in  the  loss  of  a  little  two  year  old  daughter,, 
the  first  year  they  came. 

WHEN   FORMED. 

Taber  Township  kept  pace  with  the  general  population  of  the  coun- 
ty, not  as  rapid  growth  in  early  days,  but  steady. 


1072  IIISTORV   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

It  was  then  a  part  of  Monegaw  Township  and  did  not  come  into 
existence  until  1870,  and  then  too  late  to  reap  the  Denefit  of  the  census 
of  that  year.  Monegaw  was  then  the  largest  township  and  had  the 
largest  population. 

At  the  August  term  of  the  county  court  in  1870  Taber  Township 
was  formed  and  her  boundary  described  as  follows: 

Is  composed  of  all  that  part  of  Monegaw  Township  south  of  the 
township  line  between  township  38  of  range  28  and  township  39  of 
range  28,  and  west  of  the  west  line  of  Chalk  Level  Township. 

The  township  thus  remained  for  two  years,  when,  under  the  new 
township  organization  law,  Taber's 

METES   AM)    BOUNDS 
were  given  as  follows: 

Established  and  bounded  as  follows,  to  wit:  Commencing  at  the 
center  of  the  main  channel  of  the  Osage  River  where  the  township  line 
between  township  38,  range  26,  and  township  38,  range  27,  where  said 
line  crosses  said  Osage  River;  thence  north  with  said  township  line  to 
the  northeast  corner  of  section  24  in  township  38;  range  27;  thence  west 
along  the  section  line  to  the  southwest  corner  of  section  18,  said  town- 
ship and  range;  thence  north  to  the  northeast  corner  of  township  38, 
range  28;  thence  west  along  the  township  line  to  the  northwest  corner 
of  said  township;  thence  south  along  the  township  line  to  the  center  of 
the  main  channel  of  the  Osage  River;  thence  along  the  main  channel  of 
the  river  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

The  people  of  Taber  have  not  been  as  energetic  it  would  seem  as 
some  other  portions  of  the  county;  has  been  more  inclined  to  take 
things  as  they  came  than  to  make  any  extraordinary  attempt  in  pro- 
gressive work.  Yet  Taber  is  a  fine  field  for  the  agriculturist,  and  if 
there  is  any  virtue  in  good  land  easy  of  tillage  Taber  ought  to  advance, 
and  that  rapidly. 

Perhaps  the  soil  is  too  rich,  and  a  living  comes  with  so  little  exer- 
tion, that  indolence  instead  of  energy  has  got  the  upper  hand.  Not  all 
are  so,  but  take  the  township  together  and  it  is  not  noted  for  energy  or 
much  progress.  It  will,  however,  be  easy  to  inaugurate  an  era  of  prog- 
ress, for  there  is  nothing  wanted  but  energy,  and  but  little  of  that  if 
perseverance  is  added. 

As  before  stated,  Taber  Township  was  organized  too  late  for  the 
census  of  1870,  but  in  1880  her  population  numbered  951  souls,  being 
the  seventh  in  that  line  in  the  county.  In  1876  her  population  was  an 
even  700,  so  that  the  gain  since  then  has  been  fair — something  like  35 
per  cent,  in  four  years,  or  about  ninety  per  cent,  for  the  decade.  It 
should  more  than  double  itself  the  present  decade. 

In  stock  and  cereal  it  is  up  to  the  average,  and  in  flax  leads  all 
other  townships.  If  its  advantages  were  onl}-  known,  Taber  Township 
vwould  come  to  the  front  rapidly. 


HISTORY   OF   ST.   CLAIR   COUNTY.  IO73 

VILLAGE   OF   TABERVILLE. 

The  village  of  Taberyille  was  laid  out  in  the  year  1859,  and  was  sur- 
veyed and  platted  by  Robert  H.  Sproull.  The  land  upon  which  the 
village  rested  belonged  to  Dr.  Taber.  He  formed  a  company  and  had 
the  village  platted  as  above  stated.  They  included  some  twenty-five 
acres  in  the  town  plat.  Dr.  Taber,  who  was  at  the  head  of  the  town 
company,  built  the  first  house,  a  store  building,  and  opened  the  first 
store,  keeping  a  general  stock,  suited  for  country  trade.  A  blacksmith 
shop  was  also  started. 

The  first  physician  was  Dr.  James  Smith,  who  had  practiced  several 
years  previous  in  the  township  and  in  Speedwell.  It  finally  reached  a 
population  of  about  250  to  300  people.  In  the  winter  of  1862-3,  the  Fed- 
eral troops  took  possession,  the  town  being  held  alternately  by  the  mili- 
tia and  the  state  troops.  The  latter  had  possession  in  the  summer  of 
1863.  After  holding  possession  some  eight  or  nine  months,  the  troops 
left,  and  the  bushwhackers  made  a  descent  upon  it  as  a  Federal  post, 
and  destroyed  all  the  business  houses,  leaving  the  dwelling  houses  all 
standing,  and  doing  no  futher  damage.  A  Mr.  Roundtree  kept  store 
also.  It  was  the  second  store  in  the  place.  A  Mr.  Purienton  kept  a 
store  there  for  about  five  years,  and  boasts  of  a  large  trade,  for  he  is  still 
in  the  business,  a  good  portion  coming  from  Bates  County.  The  hotel 
was  kept  by  Brown  Hill.  Dr.  Taber  started  the  first  ferry  across  the 
Osage  at  that  point,  in  1858,  and  then  he  was  followed  some  years  later 
by  Milton  Heath,  and  was  called  Heath's  Ferry.  In  1871,  it  had  a  good 
grist  and  saw  mill,  and  in  1875,  a  woolen  mill  flourished,  owned  by  Dr. 
Long  and  others.  The  flouring  mill  was  owned  by  Messrs.  Rycroft  & 
Moore,  and  was  called  the  Taberville  Mill.  It  is  now  doing  duty  at 
Appleton  City. 

After  the  war  Captain  Cornelius,  the  efficient  and  popular  deputy 
county  clerk,  opened  a  store  in  Taberville,  and  continued  business  for 
some  time.  His  forte,  however,  is  looking  after  the  county  affairs 
through  his  spectacles  in  the  clerk's  office.  The  town  has  seen  its  worst 
days,  has  touched  the  bottom  round  of  the  ladder,  and  will  now  and 
henceforth  rise.  Slowly  it  may  be,  but  the  opening  is  upward  and  it 
must  ascend. 

THE   HEAD   OF   NAVIGATION. 

The  town  of  Taberville  may  be  considered  to  be  at  the  head  of  nav- 
igation on  the  Osage  River.  In  high  water  boats  have  ascended  the 
river  to  Papinville,  in  Bates  C-ounty,  but  there  are  too  many  bars  and 
shoal  places  above  it  to  make  it  safe  for  boating.  It  is  beautifully  situ- 
ated on  the  north  bank  of  the  Osage,  and  has  a  splendid  view  of  the 
magni£cent  prairies  which  surround  it  on  every  side — a  country  that  is 


1074  HISTORY    OF   ST.   CLAIR   COUNTY. 

rich  in  productiveness  and   ought  to  sustain  a  village  ten  times  the  size 

of  the  capital  city  of  Taber  Township.     Just  what  the  population    is  at 

this  time  is  hard  to  state.     In    1870  the   census   gave  it   a  population  of 

160,  and  in  1880  it  was  not  thought  large   enough   to   be  mentioned,  yet 

it  must  have  nearly  a  hundred  citizens  living  in  or  near  it.    The  Whitley 

prairies  lie  to  the  north  and  east  and  all  around  it  is  plain  to  be  seen  an 

agricultural  garden,  and  as  the  oldest  town  in  the  county  with  the  equal, 

if  not  the  superior,  of  any  in  the  county  in  its  surroundings,  there  is  no 

reason  why  Taberville  should  not  become,  in  a  few  years,  a  city  at  least 

of  the  fourth  class.     But  she  cannot  sleep  for  four  or  five   years    if  she 

expects  to  grow. 

CHURCH   AND   SCHOOL. 

A  very  laudable  enterprise  has  been  started  the  past  year,  that  of 
building  up  a  church  and  an  educational  institute  of  the  first  class.  The 
beauty  and  healthfulness  of  the  location  commends  it  to  all,  and  there 
is  no  reason  why  a  flourishing  educational  institute  should  not  be  sus- 
tained when  it  becomes  known. 

Quite  a  large  number  of  citizens  donated  land  to  the  church  for  the 
purpose  above  mentioned.  Mr.  John  Hill  donated  twenty-five  acres  to 
the  church  adjoining  the  town  of  Taberville.  Milton  Heath  gave  five 
acres,  with  several  fine  sulphur  springs  upon  it.  Waldo  P.  Johnson  con- 
tributed ten  acres,  and  R.  A.  Gregory  donated  timber  for  the  church 
building.  It  is  a  M.  E.  Church,  and  the  school,  etc.  will  be  under  its 
care.  On  the  twenty-five  acres  donated  by  Mr.  Hill,  it  is  proposed  to 
plat  a  town  and  call  it  Mount  Taber,  and  will  be  an  addition  to  the  old 
town.  The  five  acres  contributed  by  Mr.  Heath,  is  reserved  for  a  park 
and  pleasure  ground,  and  the  very  valuable  sulphur  springs  are  taken 
care  of.  This  five  acres  has  a  splendid  grove  of  forest  trees,  and  upon 
this  beautiful  spot  in  August,  1882,  a  camp  meeting  was  held.  The 
present  year  (1883),  it  is  expected  that  both  church  and  school  buildings 
will  be  erected,  and  a  school  term  opened  the  coming  fall.  The  park 
ground  is  all  fenced. 

MOUNT   TABER   CHRISTIAN   CHURCH 

was  organized  March  4,  1882,  in  the  Burns  Schoolhouse,  with  the  follow- 
ing members:  H.  L.  Pheris  and  wife,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Tremain,  Langhorn 
Dade  and  wife,  Mrs.  Sarah  Willis,  Nancy  Cockrell,  William  H.  Boatman, 
Alonzo  Jennings,  Mrs.  Eunice  Binns,  Mrs.  Tabitha  Binns,  and  Mrs.  Mol- 
lie  Pingrey.  The  present  membership  is  twenty-two.  Arrangements 
have  been  made  to  erect  a  church  building  on  section  27,  township  38, 
range  27,  which  is  one  of  the  finest  locations  in  the  township,  or  even  in 
the  county.  The  church  building  is  to  be  completed  the  present  yearr 
188:1. 


HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  IO73, 

In  addition,  there  is  in  the  township  of  Taber  an  M.  E.  church,  sit- 
uated on  section  19,  township  38,  range  27,  a  neat  frame  building,'  put 
up  at  a  cost  of  $750,  in  1880.  There  are  also  eight  public  school  districts 
in  the  townships,  all  well  fitted  up  for  the  educational  advancement  of 
the  pupils  attending,  and  in  this  respect  Taber  Township  has  kept  fully 
to  the  front  in  educational  interests  and  progress.  With  all  her  advant- 
ages, energy,  on  the  part  of  her  people,  will  make  her  future  one  of 
great  promise. 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 


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«     b-   i» — i' — ^  6  '^^ — -I — e) 


OSCEOLA    TOWNSHIP. 


WILLIAM  E.  BELL,  M.  D., 

was  born  in  Polk  County,  Missouri,  in  1847,  and  is  the  son  of  Robert  H. 
Bell,  M.  D.,  a  native  of  Lexington,  Kentucky,  born  in  18 19.  He  studied 
medicine  in  Lexington,  and  graduated  at  the  Transylvania  college  in 
that  city.  Coming  to  Missouri,  he  settled  in  Polk  County,  practicing 
there  and  in  Benton  County  for  fifteen  years,  and  then  removed  to  Pet- 
tis County,  where  he  is  now  a  prominent  physician.  William's  mother 
was  formerly  Sarah  M.  Ferguson,  a  Kentuckian  by  birth.  He  was  the 
oldest  of  five  children.  While  young,  he  fitted  himself  for  the  practice  of 
medicine,  studying  with  his  father  as  percepter.  He  received  a  good 
acedemic  education,  and  after  a  thorough  preparation  he  practiced  in 
Polk  County  two  years,  and  for  two  years  in  Benton  and  Hickor}- 
Counties.  He  attended  two  full  courses  of  lectures  at  the  medical  col- 
lege in  St.  Louis,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1879.  I"  September,  1880, 
he  came  to  Osceola,  where  he  secured  a  good  practice.  He  is  making 
the  diseases  of  women  and  children  a  specialty,  and  when  not  otherwise 
engaged,  his  time  is  taken  up  in  the  investigation  of  diseases,  and  keep- 
ing up  with  the  new  complications  and  their  remedies.  Few  men  of  his 
age  have  made  a  more  enviable  reputation  than  Dr.  Bell. 

PARIS  BROWN, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  27,  was  born  in  Washington  County, 
Kentucky,  August  12,  1838,  and  was  the  son  of  Wesley  Brown,  of  Ken- 
tucky, who  died  in  1846.  His  mother,  Elizabeth  (Peters)  Brown,  with 
her  family  came  to  Washington  County,  Missouri,  in  1848,  and  was  there 
married  to  Thomas  Calvird,  who  died  in  1868,  his  widow  dying  in  1879. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  IO77 

Of  the  first  family  of  six  children  Paris  was  the  third.  By  the  second 
marriage  there  were  five  children.  Paris  was  reared  principally  in  this 
county,  and  with  the  habits  of  industry  instilled  in  his  youth  he  has  been 
successful  in  securing  a  valuable  farm  of  480  acres,  and  he  is  recognized 
as  one  of  St.-  Clair  County's  prominent  farmers.  Mr.  Brown  married 
Mary  Jane  Peebly  July  11,  1855.  She  died  June  10,  1862,  leaving  one 
child,  James  H.  He  afterward  married  Mary  Ann  Wilkerson.  She 
died  in  1868,  and  left  one  child,  Mary  Ida.  Mr.  B.  married  Mrs.  Lucinda, 
widow  of  John  Flemming,  in  1870.  They  have  five  children:  Wesley, 
Mary  Ann,  Silas  H.,  and  Charles  and  William,  (twins).  Politically  he 
is  a  Republican.     He  belongs  to  the  M.  E.  Church,  South. 

ALONZO  A.  CLEVELAND, 

farmer,  stock  raiser  and  dealer,  section  13,  was  born  in  Randolph  County, 
Indiana,  December  i,  1853,  and  was  the  son  of  Morgan  H.  Cleveland,  of 
New  York,  who  married  Miss  Lucinda  Brandon,  of  Ohio,  a  daughter  of 
John  Brandon,  originally  from  Ireland.  They  had  nine  children.  Mor- 
gan Cleveland  was  a  merchant  for  thirty-five  years  in  one  town  in 
Indiana.  He  went  to  California  in  1849,  ^'"'d  remained  long  enough* to 
acquire  quite  a  fortune,  and  on  his  return  he  bought  1,600  acress  of  land. 
He  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  in  1865,  and  died  in  1870.  Alonzo 
A.  received  a  good  education  in  youth,  and  had  advantages  of  a  thor- 
ough business  training  in  his  father's  store.  At  the  age  of  eighteen,  he 
commenced  teaching  school,  and  followed  it  at  intervals  for  several 
years.  In  1878  he  started  a  store  in  Chalk  Level,  and  after  conducting 
it  four  years,  sold  out  and  bought  his  present  farm  of  140  acres.  Polit- 
ically he  is  a  very  active  Greenbacker,  having  done  much  in  organizing 
the  party. 

LEWIS  CONAUT, 

dealer  in  general  merchandise,  was  born  in  Androscoggin  County, 
Maine,  in  May,  1830,  being  the  son  of  Benjamin  Conaut,  of  Bridgewa.ter, 
Massachusetts,  who  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  18 12.  His  father,  Lott 
Conaut,  was  also  born  in  Massachusetts  and  participated  in  the  revolu- 
tionary war.  Benjamin's  wife,  formerly  E.  Staples,  was  born  in  Maine. 
Lewis  was  the  eighth  child  of  a  family  of  ten  children.  In  1853  he  emi- 
grated to  VanWert  County,  Ohio,  and  after  several  business  ventures 
engaged  in  the  grocery  and  provision  trade  and  as  agent  for  the  Ameri- 
can Encyclopedia,  in  which  he  was  satisfactorily  successful.  He  enlisted 
during  the  war  and  served  four  months.  In  1866  he  came  to  St.  Clair 
County,  Missouri,  and  in  1870  engaged  in  his  present  business  with  W. 
A.  Dale  as  partner,  and  after  two  years  he  bought  Mr.  Dale's  interest. 
He  is  the  oldest   merchant   in  the  city.     John  Butcher  was  with  him  for 


1 078  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

eleven  months  and  James  H.  Linney  was  his  partner  fifteen  months.  In 
1882  he  put  in  operation  an  apple  evaporator,  and  in  the  fruit  season  did 
a  successful  business.  He  was  married  January  i,  1862,  to  Miss  Ange- 
lina S.  Williamson,  daui^hter  of  John  W.  Williamson,  a  native  of  New 
Jersey.  They  have  three  children:  Lewis  H.,  Arthur  B.  and  Albert  E. 
Mr.  C.  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  his  religious  belief  is  with  the 
Universalists.  He  is  a  Mason  and  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  fra- 
ternity. 

CAPTAIN  BENJAMIN  F.  COOK 

was  born  in  Franklin  County,  Virginia,  August  31,  18 16.  His  father, 
John  Cook,  who  was  born  in  Franklin  County,  Virginia,  was  the  son  of 
Captain  James  Cook,  of  the  same  state,  who  was  killed  at  Sansbury, 
South  Carolina,  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  The  family  are  of  English 
descent  and  are  from  the  same  locality  as  was  Captain  Cook  the  navi- 
gator. The  mother  of  Benjamin  was  formerly  Aura  Belcher,  of  Vir- 
ginia, and  of  French  ancestry.  Their  family  consisted  of  nine  children 
of  whom  Benjamin  was  the  sixth.  He  was  reared  there  and  learned  the 
trade  of  tobacconist,  working  at  that  employment  forty-four  years.  In 
18^8  he  came  to  Missouri  and  settled  in  St.  Clair  County  on  a  farm.  In 
1862  he  organized  a  company  of  Union  troops  for  the  Sixtieth  Regi- 
ment Enrolled  Missouri  Militia  and  was  elected  captain.  Afterwards 
Company  H,  of  the  Provisional  Regiment  was  raised  and  he  was  put  in 
command.  In  the  spring  of  1864  he  organized  a  company  of  volunteer 
mounted  militia  whose  duty  it  was  to  keep  track  of  marauding  parties, 
in  which  capacity  he  acted  until  the  close  of  the  war.  In  1863  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  state  legislature,  performing  the  duties  of  that 
position  with  much  ability.  Mr.  Cook  married  Miss  Julia  A.  F.  Mitchell 
in  September,  1842.  She  died  in  1849,  leaving  three  children:  William 
B.,  Mary  E.  and  Lafayette.  In  1850  he  married  Susan  A.  F.  Meridith, 
daughter  of  James  Meridith,  of  Virginia.  They  have  seven  children  : 
Sarah  V.,  Eliza  D.,  Susan  E.,  James  H.,  John  Rives,  Mirand  A.  and 
William  R.  Politically  Mr.  C.  is  a  Republican.  He  is  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Grange. 

ALFRED  GRIFFITH  CORNELIUS, 

deputy  county  clerk,  was  born  in  Carlisle,  Pennsylvania,  in  1825,  and  is 
the  son  of  James  Cornelius,  of  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania,  who  was  mar- 
ried in  1820  to  Elizabeth  PLUiott.  Her  father,  James  Elliott,  came  from 
Ireland.  In  1837  the  family  moved  to  Morgan  County,  Ohio,  where  Mr. 
C.  was  engaged  in  business  for  many  years.  Mrs.  Cornelius  died  in 
1872,  and  her  husband  in  1880.  Alfred  G.  received  a  good  primar}-  edu- 
cation   at   home,   and    then   entered    Granville   College,   remaining   two 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  IO79 

years  and  qualifying  himself  for  teaching  school,  which  profession  he 
followed  for  some  time.  In  the  spring  of  1853  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  his  father  in  the  drug  trade  in  Morgan  County,  which  he  continued 
for  two  years.  Selling  out  he  embarked  in  general  merchandising,  in 
1857,  but  soon  after  was  burned  out.  In  i8S9he  opened  a  grocery  store 
and  continued  the  business  until  1861.  In  July  of  the  same  year  he 
enlisted  in  the  Twenty-fifth  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  Com- 
pany H,  and  was  appointed  orderly  sergeant.  His  regiment  partici- 
pated in  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run  and  he  was  also  in  many  of  the 
engagements  of  the  Potomac.  For  meritorious  conduct  he  was  pro- 
moted to  lieutenant,  and  then  to  captain,  and  made  a  capable  and  effi- 
cient officer.  After  returning  home,  in  October,  1865,  he  came  to  Mis- 
souri and  farmed  in  Johnson  County  until  1869,  when  he  resumed  gen- 
eral merchandising,  this  time  in  Taberville.  In  1878  he  sold  out.  In 
the  spring  of  1879  he  was  appointed  deputy  county  elerk,  and  served 
three  years.  In  the  spring  of  1883  he  was  again  appointed  deputy 
county  clerk.  Mr.  C.  married  Miss  Emaline  Miller,  of  Pennsylvania,  in 
1854.  They  have  three  children:  A.  Branch,  Edward  M.  and  Kate  M. 
The  latter  married  Mr.  Thomas  David,  of  this  city.  Politically  he  is  a 
Democrat,  and  he  is  a  Royal  Arch  Mason. 

FRANZ  POWELL  DANIEL,  " 

harness  and  saddle  manufacturer,  was  born  in  Poland,  Prussia,  February 
19,  1836,  his  parents  being  John  and  Hannah  W.  Daniel.  He  learned 
the  harness  trade,  commencing  when  fourteen  years  of  age,  and  in  Octo- 
ber, 1857,  he  enlisted  in  the  German  army,  in  the  cavalry  service,  and 
was  detailed  as  saddlemaker  of  the  regiment.  June  28,  1866,  he  emi- 
grated to  America,  and  settled  in  Chicago,  Illinois,  where  he  worked  at 
his  trade.  He  came  to  Osceola,  Missouri,  December  28,  1868,  and  in 
April  of  the  next  year  he  opened  a  harness  shop,  and  is  now  proprietor 
of  the  oldest  establishment  in  town,  and  he  is  having  a  prosperous  trade. 
Mr.  Daniel  married  Miss  Antonia  Dierfield,  of  Germany,  in  January, 
1863.  She  died  in  Chicago  June,  1867,  leaving  one  son,  Powell.  His 
second  wife  was  Bertha  Dierfield  (sister  of  his  first  wife).  By  this  mar- 
riage they  have  four  children:  George.  Agatha,  Tell  and  Anna.  Mr. 
D.,  politically,  is  a  Democrat,  and  he  is  also  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U. 
W.  and  Masonic  fraternity. 

THOMAS  ADDISON  EMERSON, 

blacksmith  and  wagonmaker,  was  born  in  Cumberland  County,  Ken- 
tucky, in  1849.  His  father,  Samuel  R.  Emerson  was  born  in  Green 
County,  Kentucky,  in  1801.  His  grandfather  came  from  Ireland.  Thomas' 
mother,  Elizabeth   H.  Bledsoe  was  born  in  Cumberland  County,  Ken- 


lOSo  HISTORY   OF    ST.   CLAIR    COUNTY. 

tucky.  Her  father  was  Benjamin  B,  Bledsoe,  of  England.  Samuel 
Emerson  came  to  Missouri,  and  settled  in  Georgetown,  Pettis  County,  in 
185 1,  making  a  claim  on  the  land  where  Sedalia  now  stands.  He  was  an 
attorney  for  many  years,  and  after  living  in  Taney,  Benton,  and  John- 
son Counties,  he  finally  located  in  Bolivar,  Polk  County,  and  bought  a 
farm,  and  for  a  while  divided  his  time  between  farming  and  his  profes- 
sion. He  subsequently  devoted  his  time  to  the  farm  until  his  death  in 
1865.  His  widow  died  in  1871.  He  was  the  third  son  of  a  family  of 
seven,  all  of  whom  were  attorneys.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the 
eighth  of  nine  children,  of  whom  but  three  sons  survive:  Samuel  P.,  W. 
B..  and  Thomas  A.,  and  all  are  blacksmiths.  In  1869,  Mr.  E.  came  to 
this  city,  and  is  now  doing  a  good  business  at  his  trade.  He  married 
Miss  Sally  E.  Prock,  October  26,  1874.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Ambrose 
Prock.  They  have  two  children:  Ralph,  and  Rosa  Bell.  Politically  he 
is  a  Greenbacker.  He  was  deputy  sheriff  of  this  county  and  jailor  for 
five  years. 

JOSEPH  L.  ENGLISH, 

was  born  in  St.  Louis,  February  12,  1830.  His  father,  E.  English,  who 
was  born  in  Norfolk,  Virginia,  in  1788,  was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and 
came  to  St.  Louis  in  1816.  He  married  Miss  Catherine  Foulks,  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  March  18,  1800.  Her  father  was  Christopher  Foulks, 
originally  from  Germany,  and  a  tobacconist  by  calling.  Mr.  English 
died  in  St.  Louis,  August  14,  1866,  and  his  wife  died  Novem.ber  28,  1882. 
They  raised  a  family  of  twenty-one  children,  twelve  boys  and  nine  girls, 
Joseph  L.  being  the  seventh.  He  learned  the  tinner's  trade  at  his  birth 
place,  and  when  twenty-one  years  of  age  went  to  Chester,  Illinois,  and 
open  a  tin  and  stove  store.  In  one  year  he  sold  out,  and  returned  to  St. 
Louis,  and  commenced  the  brewing  business,  which  he  continued  for 
four  years.  In  1853,  he  came  to  Warsaw,  and  resumed  the  tin  and  stove 
business.  In  i860,  he  came  to  Osceola,  and  conducted  a  drug  business 
with  Washington  Dorrell.  In  1862,  Osceola  was  burned,  and  his  stock 
shared  the  fate  of  the  city.  After  remaining  here  for  a  year,  he  returned 
to  St.  Louis,  entering  into  work  for  the  government  at  his  trade,  and 
continuing  it  until  the  close  of  the  war.  After  one  year's  residence  in 
Sedalia,  he  came  to  Osceola,  and  in  1867,  formed  a  partnership  with 
William  Shelton,  and  they  built  the  first  tin  and  stove  store  in  town,  and 
one  of  the  first  buildings  erected  in  the  town.  Since  1870,  he  has  been 
alone,  doing  a  very  successful  business.  In  1883,  on  account  of  poor 
health,  he  disposed  of  his  stock  of  goods  and  stoves  and  retired  from 
business.  In  1855,  he  married  Miss  Mary  Dorrell,  the  daughter  of  Dr. 
W.  Dorrell.  She  died  in  1870,  leaving  two  children,  Alonzo  and  Lillie. 
His  second  wife  was  Sarah  M.  Stovall,  of  Franklin  County,  whom  he 
married  in  1873.    Her  father  was  Thomas  Stovall.  They  have  two  child- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  lOSl 

ren,  Thomas  and  Maud.  Mr.  English  votes  the  Democratic  ticket.  Mrs. 
E.  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  He  belongs  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 
and  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  fraternities. 

JOHN  NATHANIEL  EVERETT 

was  born  in  Henry  County,  Missouri,  February  28,  1858,  his  parents 
being  Simeon  and  Ann  Rebecca  (Thornton)  Everett,  Virginians  by 
birth.  The  father  of  the  former  was  Nathaniel  Everett,  also  of  Vir- 
ginia, his  wife  being  a  daughter  of  J.  T.  Thornton,  of  Virginia,  born  in 
1800.  Simeon  Everett  came  to  Missouri  and  settled  in  Henry  County 
in  1842,  John  T.  Thornton  having  located  there  in  1839.  ^^  owned  the 
ferry  across  Grand  River  in  Osage  Township.  Mr.  Thornton  is  now 
eighty-three  years  of  age  and  has  been  deaf  for  thirty  years.  He  now 
lives  with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  A.  R.  Everett,  in  Brownington.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  worked  hard  on  the  farm  from  the  time  he  was  a 
small  boy  until  1870,  when  the  family  moved  to  Clinton,  and  he  entered 
the  Democrat  office  and  learned  the  printer's  trade.  He  worked  in  that 
office  eleven  years.  He  came  to  this  city  in  October,  1882,  and  is  now 
foreman  of  the  Voice  printing  office.  Mr.  Everett  married  Miss  Maggie 
Schrewsberry  April  3,  188 1.  They  have  one  child,  Nellie  May,  born 
September  14,  1882.  Politically,  he  is  a  Democrat.  He  belongs  to  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 

JOHN  C.  FERGUSON. 

"Died  at  his  residence  at  Osceola,  Missouri,  November  15,  1881, 
John  C.  Ferguson,  in  the  thirty-seventh  year  of  his  age."  This  brief 
notice  tells  of  the  closing  of  the  life  of  one  of  the  most  brilliant,  accom- 
plished-and  rising  young  men  in  the  state.  He  came  to  Osceola  in  the 
year  1868,  commenced  the  practice  of  law,  and  it  was  not  long  ere  his 
mental  strength  manifested  itself.  In  1870  he  was  appointed  prosecut- 
ing attorney  for  St.  Clair  County,  and  in  1872  was  elected  to  the  lower 
house  of  the  general  assembly,  where  he  became,  by  his  ability,  one  of 
the  leading  members  of  that  body,  although  one  of  its  youngest.  Public 
attention  was  attracted  to  him  by  the  able  and  vigorous  manner  in 
which  he  advocated  and  defended  the  celebrated  "Assumption  Bill."' 
He  was  chosen  presidential  elector  for  this  district  in  1876  and  made  a 
brilliant  canvass.  But  in  no  sphere  was  labor  so  congenial  or  his  repu- 
tation greater  than  in  his  chosen  profession.  As  a  lawyer  he  was  learned 
and  able,  a  safe  and  judicious  counsellor,  a  bright  and  polished  orator; 
he  stood  throughout  the  southwest  with  but  few  equals  and  no  superior. 
As  a  citizen  he  was  ever  ready  to  aid  and  assist  in  every  movement  to 
advance  the  interests  of  his  county  and   her  people.     As  a  man  he  was 


I082  HISTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTV. 

modest  and  retiring,  generous  to  a  fault,  scorned  a  mean  act  and  had  a 
contempt  for  shams.  Ever  kind  and  considerate  to  the  poor,  his  very 
last  act  while  on  his  bed  of  sickness  was  one  of  charity.  He  was  ever 
tender  to  the  weak,  only  defiant  to  the  strong.  He  was  married  in  1873 
to  Miss  Mary  F.  Outhwait,  who,  with  two  children,  a  boy  and  girl,  sur- 
cive  him. 

ANDREW  MONROE  FUOUA, 

proprietor  of  the  Leveta  Mills,  was  born  in  Fleming  County,  Kentucky, 
in  1823,  and  was  the  son  of  Colonel  Washington  Fuqua,  of  Virginia, 
who  moved  to  Kentucky  in  an  early  day.  In  185 1  he  went  to  Edgar 
County  Illinois,  where  he  lived  until  his  death  in  1879.  Andrew's 
mother  was  formerly  Rebecca  Wilson,  a  Kentuckian  by  birth,  and  of 
Irish  descent.  She  died  in  1875.  They  had  a  familj'  of  fourteen  child- 
ren of  whom  Andrew  M.  was  the  fourth  child.  He  worked  while  a  bo\- 
with  his  father  at  the  carpenter  trade,  and  when  seventeen  years  old 
he  went  to  milling,  building  and  repairing  mills,  etc.  In  185  i  he  moved 
to  Coles  Counly,  Illinois,  and  settled  on  a  farm,  and  fitted  up  a  horse- 
power saw  mill  which  he  operated  winters.  He  afterwards  built  a  steam 
saw  and  grist  mill.  In  1867  he  came  to  Missouri  and  settled  in  Osceola. 
He  first  repaired  a  mill  on  Ogle  Creek,  in  Hickory  Cou..ty.  He  then 
bought  and  repaired  one  on  Weaubleau  Creek.  Purchasing  an  old  mill 
at  Warsaw,  he  set  it  up  at  Taberville,  but  subsequently  disposed  of  it 
and  came  to  Osceola  in  187 1,  erecting  the  first  grist  mill  in  the  place. 
He  is  a  half  owner  of  the  Eclipse  Mills,  of  this  city  which  his  son  runs, 
and  also  owns  and  conducts  the  Leveta  Mills  besides  a  fine  saw  mill.  He 
has  owned  and  operated  seven  different  mills  in  the  county.  Mr. 
Fuqua  married  Miss  Ellen  Saunders,  in  1845.  She  died  in  1847,  leaving 
one  child,  Marion.  He  married  for  his  second  wife,  Malina  Grose  in  1847. 
They  have  four  sons:  James  E.,  David  P.,  Joseph  N.  and  Rile\'  F.,  all 
millers.  One  son,  William,  while  at  work  on  a  railroad  was  killed  by 
the  cars,  and  another  son,  John,  died  in  Illinois. 

JAMES  E.  FUQUA 

was  born  in  Fleming  County,  Kentucky,  June  23,  1850.  He  came  to 
Missouri  with  his  father  in  1867  and  settled  in  Taberville,  St.  Clair 
County,  where  he  remained  for  some  time.  James  E.  has  been  educated 
to  the  milling  business,  and  in  connection  with  his  father  who  owns  one- 
half  of  the  Eclipse  Mills,  he  has  operated  and  owned  more  saw  and  grist 
mills  in  St.  Clair  County  than  any  other  man  in  the  county.  Mr.  Fuqua 
married  Miss  Anna  E.  Shields  October  20,  1873.  They  have  four  child- 
ren: Laura,  Beeta,  Edmond  and  John.  Crickett  died  September  5, 
1882.     Politically  he  is  a  Democrat. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  IO83 

J.  WADE  GARDNER,  M.  D. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  last  century,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
emigrated  from  Scotland  to  America,  settling  in  Virginia,  where  he 
farmed  until  his  death.  His  son,  Robert  F.  Gardner,  was  born  August 
7,  1805,  in  Campbell  County,  Virginia.  He  located  in  Marshall  County, 
Tennessee,  in  1838,  and  in  1841  settled  in  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri, 
where  he  died  when  fifty-six  years  old,  in  October,  1861.  J.  Wade 
Gardner,  the  eldest  of  five  children  of  Robert  T.  and  Susan  B.  (Beck) 
Gardner,  was  born  in  Marshall  County,  Tennessee,  May  10,  1839,  and 
when  but  two  years  old  was  brought  by  his  parents  to  St.  Clair  County, 
where  they  gave  him  his  early  education  in  the  schools  of  Osceola.  In 
his  eighteenth  year  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  under  Dr.  G.  W. 
DoUel,  with  whom  he  remained  three  years.  In  1859  ^^  located  in  Dal- 
las, Texas,  but  after  remaining  a  short  time  he  returned  to  Missouri,  and 
entered  upon  the  practice  of  medicine,  and  connected  with  it  the  drug 
business  in  Wellsville,  Dade  County.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  in 
1861,  he  removed  to  Neosho,  and  was  in  charge  of  a  hospital  under 
General  Rains'  command  until  January,  1862,  when  he  went  to  Arkansas- 
The  following  June,  on  his  return  to  Pineville,  McDonald  County,  Mis- 
souri, he  was  taken  prisoner,  but  was  released  upon  taking  the  oath  of 
allegiance  to  the  United  States'  government,  and  in  July,  1862,  returned 
to  Osceola.  He  remained  on  his  father's  farm,  practicing  medicine  in 
the  neighborhood  until  the  fall  of  1864,  when  he  moved  to  St.  Louis,  but 
only  stayed  there  one  year,  when  he  came  back  to  Osceola,  and  was 
appointed  deputy  clerk,  which  position  he  held  until  January  i,  1867. 
From  that  time  until  January  i,  1871,  he  was  engaged  in  the  real  estate 
agency  and  mercantile  business,  and  aLo  practiced  his  profession.  He 
was  then  reappointed  deputy  clerk  and  held  the  position  six  months, 
when  he  was  obliged  to  resign,  having  on  the  first  day  of  July,  1871, 
established  the  Osage  Valley,  a  Democratic  paper.  The  duties  of  his 
new  calling  demanding  all  his  time.  But  in  a  short  time  he  disposed  of 
his  newspaper  office  and  again  turned  his  attention  to  the  real  estate 
business  in  connection  with  the  practice  of  medicine,  which  he  has  con- 
tinued to  the  present  time.  In  1876  he  was  the  county  physician.  Dr. 
Gardner  has  always  taken  an  active  part  in  politics.  In  i860  he  was 
appointed  elector  on  the  Bell  and  Everett  presidential  ticket  and  in  1864, 
to  the  same  position  on  the  McClellan  ticket.  During  Governor  Brown's 
administration  he  was  elected  clerk  of  the  senate  committee  on  appor- 
tionment or  redistricting  the  state  into  representative  senatorial  and 
congressional  districts.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  Democratic  State 
Convention  of  1862,  1873,  and  1874,  and  also  held  various  positions  of 
importance  in  his  county.  The  Doctor  took  a  very  active  part  in  oppos- 
ing the  payment  of  county  bonds  issued  for  railroad  purposes  in  advance 


1084  HISTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

of  the  completion  of  the  roads,  and  has  taken  a  leading  part  in  the 
endeavor  to  compromise  the  county  indebtedness  for  the  encouragement 
of  immigration.  He  is  a  member  of  Horeb  Royal  Arch  Chapter  No. 
47,  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  September  7,  1859  ^^^  was  married  to 
Miss  Mary  R.  Devin,  daughter  of  Judge  William  R.  and  Rebecca  (Oliver) 
Devin,  of  Polk  County,  Missouri,  but  orginally  from  Virginia.  By  her 
he  has  one  child:   Rosanna,  born  June  21,  1867. 

JOHN  PARKS  GORDON 

was  born  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  December  16,  1837,  and  was  the  son  of 
Preston  Gordon,  who  was  born  and  raised  in  Mercer  County,  Kentucky, 
and  who  settled  in  St.  Louis  when  it  was  a  village.  After  living  there 
for  about  twenty-five  years,  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County  in  1855,  where 
he  purchased  1,000  acres  of  land.  He  died  in  1875.  The  mother  of 
John,  formerly  Julia  Ann  Baker,  was  born  in  St.  Louis  County,  Missouri, 
and  died  December  7,  1861.  They  had  eight  children  of  whom  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  is  the  eldest.  He  worked  on  his  father's  farm,  making 
the  raising  of  stock  a  leading  feature,  and  very  soon  grew  into  promi- 
nence as  a  stock  dealer.  In  1861  he  entered  in  the  Missouri  State 
Guards  for  six  months,  then  entered  the  regular  service,  and  served  in 
the  trans- Mississippi  district.  He  was  engaged  in  many  hard  battles^ 
and  in  a  skirmish  in  Cedar  County  he  received  a  severe  wound,  the  ball 
entering  near  his  left  shoulder,  passing  through  his  body  and  coming 
out  at  his  right  hip.  After  his  recovery  in  nine  months  he  joined  the 
regiment  with  which  he  remained  until  the  close  of  the  war  in  1865.  In 
1868  he  went  to  Texas  and  engaged  in  raising  cotton  and  farming. 
Returning  in  1876  he  was  elected  sheriff  and  was  re-elected  in  1880, 
faithfully  discharging  the  duties  of  this  position  for  two  terms.  In  1882 
he  was  elected  county  collector.  Mr.  Gordon  married  in  1872  Mary 
Ann  Glass  Dickson,  daughter  of  John  M.  Dickson,  of  Grayson  County, 
Texas.  She  died  in  1876.  He  married  for  his  second  wife  Miss  Ida 
Patterson  in  i88r.  She  is  the  daughter  of  William  N.  Patterson.  They 
have  one  child,  William  Henry.  Politically  he  is  a  Greenbacker,  and 
religiously  a  Baptist,  and  he  belongs  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  fraternity. 

DR.  C.  M.  HAMBLIN 

was  born  in  Franklin  County,  Virginia,  March  4,  1824.  His  father, 
Thomas  Hamblin,  was  a  native  of  Giles  County,  Virginia,  and  his  grand- 
father, M.  Hamblin,  came  with  his  wife  from  P2ngland.  The  former  died 
in  Kentucky,  in  1847,  his  widow  surviving  until  1858.  They  had  seven 
children.  C.  M.  grew  up  on  a  farm,  and  by  study  at  home  and  attend- 
ing the  common  schools,  obtained  a  good  education.    The  family  moved 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  IO85 

to  Kentucky  in  1833.  In  1856,  he  came  to  Missouri  and  settled  in  Ver- 
non County,  entering  900  acres  of  land,  which  he  commenced  to  improve. 
When  the  war  broke  out  he  joined  the  Fifteenth  Missouri  Cavalry,  was 
appointed  hospital  steward,  and  acted  as  assistant  surgeon  with  Surgeon 
Maynard.  He  had  studied  medicine  previous  to  entering  the  army,  and 
he  was  necessarily  obliged  to  prescribe  for  the  sick.  Having  the  advice 
of  the  surgeon,  and  assisting  in  many  surgical  operations,  it  proved  a 
good  school,  of  which  he  at  once  took  advantage.  At  the  close  of  the 
war  he  returned  to  Kentucky,  where  he  remained  until  1872,  then  came 
to  Osceola,  and  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine.  He  has  had  charge 
of  the  sick  at  the  poor  farm  for  five  years  by  appointment,  and  is  the 
present  county  physician.  Dr.  H.  married  Miss  Lucinda  Sutherland  in 
1846.  She  was  the  daughter  of  David  Sutherland,  of  Kentucky,  origin- 
ally from  Scotland.  They  have  five  children  living:  John  Robert,  Dan- 
iel, Mollie,  Callahan  and  Minnis.  The  doctor  is  a  Republican.  He  has 
belonged  to  the  Christian  Church  for  thirty  years,  and  he  is  a  Mason. 

John  R.  Hamblin,  of  the  firm  of  Hamblin  Brothers,  proprietors  of 
livery  and  feed  stable,  is  a  son  of  Dr.  C.  M.  Hamblin,  and  was  born  in 
1850,  in  Logan  County,  Kentucky.  He  moved  to  Missouri  with  his 
father,  and  settled  in  Vernon  County  in  1856,  and  in  1861,  he  went  to 
Humanville.  In  1872,  he  came  to  Osceola,  from  Kentucky,  and  has  here 
been  engaged  in  business  of  various  kinds,  operating  an  engine  for  some 
three  years.  In  1878,  he  was  one  of  a  company  who  took  contracts  for 
carrying  the  United  States  mails  to  different  points,  one  route  being  to 
Appleton  City,  &c.  In  1880,  he  bought  with  his  brother  the  livery  barn, 
where  he  is  also  doing  a  large  feed  business.  Mr.  Hamblin  married  Miss 
Martha  Smith,  in  1872.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Edvvard  Smith,  of  Logan 
County,  Kentucky.  They  have  two  children,  Robert  and  Claudius. 
Politically  he  is  a  Republican.  He  belongs  to  the  Christian  Church,  and 
is  also  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  A.  O.  U.  W.  fraternities.  He  is 
one  of  the  city  councilmen. 

CHARLES  J.  HARRISON. 

attorney  at  law,  was  born  in  Monroe  County,  Missouri,  January  i,  1850. 
His  father,  Francis  M.  Harrison,  was  born  in  Kentucky  and  cam.e  with 
his  father,  Charles  Harrison,  to  Missouri  about,  the  year  1830.  The 
mother  was  also  born  in  Kentucky,  her  maiden  name  being  Nancy  Mil- 
dred Collins.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  second  of  seven  child- 
ren, and  his  early  years  were  passed  upon  a  farm.  He  received  such 
education  as  the  public  schools  afforded  until  at  the  age  of  nineteen, 
when  he  entered  the  Shelbyville  Academy,  where  he  remained  one  year. 
The  following  year  he  entered  the  University  at  Lexington,  Kentucky, 
for  a  thorough  course,  but  owing  to  reverses   in   his   father's  fortune  he 


I0.S6  rilSTORV    OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

was  compelled  to  abandon  that  idea  and  return  home  before  the  end  of 
the  first  year.  In  1871  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  and 
engaged  in  the  real  estate  business  at  Appleton  City,  where  he  remained 
until  the  fall  of  1872.  Then  entering  the  office  of  Hurdette  &  Smith,  at 
Osceola,  he  began  the  study  of  law.  By  hard  study,  and  aided  by  the 
firm  of  Hurdett  &  Smith,  he  was  enabled  at  the  September  term,  1873, 
of  the  St.  Clair  Count)'  Circuit  Court,  to  pass  a  satisfactory  examinatiort 
and  be  admitted  to  the  bar.  On  being  admitted  to  the  bar  he  was  taken 
in  as  a  partner  by  the  firm,  under  whom  he  read,  the  firm  name  being 
Burdett,  Smith  &  Harrison.  In  1874  the  senior  member  of  the  firm 
received  the  appointment  of  commissioner  of  the  general  land  office  at 
Washington,  District  of  Columbia,  and  removed  to  that  city.  Messrs. 
Smith  &  Harrison  continued  in  business  in  Osceola  until  1875,  when 
they  removed  to  Sedalia,  Missouri,  where  Mr.  H.  lived  one  year,  and 
then  returned  to  St.  Clair  County  and  was  occupied  in  other  business 
than  the  law  until  the  year  1878,  when  he  again  resumed  the  practice  of 
law.  In  1880  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Hon.  John  C.  Ferguson  and 
Hon.  F.  C.  Nesbit,  which  continued  until  the  fall  of  1881,  when  the  death 
of  Mr.  Ferguson  dissolved  the  firm.  He  subsequently  united  with  Judge 
John  D.  Parkinson,  under  the  firm  name  of  Parkinson  &  Harrison,  which 
still  continues.  Mr.  Harrison  was  married  May  18,  1876,  to  Miss  Lulu 
Constable,  and  by  this  union  they  have  two  children,  Elma  and  Thomas. 
Mr.  H.  is  not  a  member  of  any  church,  is  a  Democrat  and  a  Mason. 

Mc.  HERNDON 

was  born  April  22,  1852,  in  Ozark  County,  Missouri,  his  parents  being 
Rev.  H.  W.  and  Martha  A.  C.  (Piland)  Herndon,  who  were  married 
December  2,  1847.  The  former,  a  physician  and  surgeon  by  profession, 
was  born  in  East  Tennessee,  while  the  latter,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Martha  Piland,  was  born  November  22,  1830,  in  Hartford  County,  North 
Carolina.  Tothem  were  born  six  sons  and  three  daughters.  One  son, 
Joseph  S.,  who  was  born  September  28  ,1848,  was  an  honored  student  of 
the  Medical  College  at  Salem,  Oregon,  and  graduated  at  the  head  of  a 
class  of  100  pupils,  taking  the  prize  offered  that  year.  He  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  medicine  at  Salem,  and  is  now  the  principal  physician 
and  surgeon  at  the  penitentiary  in  Olympia,  Washington  Territory,  and 
is  also  the  surgeon  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad.  He  married  Miss 
Mary  E,  Turner,  of  Linn  County,  Oregon.  One  daughter,  Mary  A.,  born 
August  15,  1850,  married  L.  H.  Gist,  of  this  county.  Mc.  married  Miss 
Mary  E.  Bair,  of  Jasper  County,  Missouri,  January  10,  1875,  and  by  this 
union  there  are  three  daughters:  Celia  L.,  born  November  5,  1875;  Nora, 
born  April  26,  1878,  and  Lillie  A.,  born  November  12,  1880.  The  next 
daughter,  Macy,  who  was  born  January  24,  1854,  married  Charles  C.  Din- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  lOS/ 

ney,  of  Oliver,  born  March  4,  1856,  died  August  21  of  the  same  year. 
Martha  J.,  born  June  II,  1857,  married  William  Cleveland.  Jasper  N., 
born  March  30,  1859,  married  Lydia  J.  McConnell.  Samuel  F.  and  James 
H.  were  born  October  9,  1865.  The  Rev.  H.  W.  Herndon  died  several 
years  ago.  His  widow  now  resides  with  one  of  her  sons.  Mc.  lives  not 
far  from  the  old  homestead,  and  is  actively  engaged  in  farming  and  the 
raising  of  stock.  Politically,  he  is  a  Greenbacker.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Missionary  Baptist  Church. 

THOMAS  DAWSON  HICKS 

was  born  in  Wilson  County,  Tennessee,  January  5,  1847.  His  father, 
James  L.  Hicks,  was  also  born  in  that  couniy,  December  20,  1820,  and 
he  was  the  son  of  Thomas  M.  Hicks,  born  at  Greenfield  Court  House, 
North  Carolina.  The  mother  of  Thomas,  formerly  Miss  L.  J.  Hancock, 
of  the  same  county,  as  her  husband,  was  born  in  1825.  They  moved  to- 
Missouri  and  settled  in  Hickory  County  in  1852,  coming  to  this  county 
in  1865,  and  locating  in  Osceola.  He  was  shot  on  the  street  and  killed 
June  23,  1875,  by  the  city  marshal.  Mrs.  Hicks  died  July  26,  1871.  They 
left  three  children,  of  whom  Thom.as  D.  is  the  oldest.  He  learned  the 
printers'  trade  in  this  city  at  which  he  worked  for  seven  years.  In  1873,  in 
company  with  Louis  M.  Reese,  they  published  the  Osceola  Herald  for  one 
year.  In  1875  he  was  occupied  in  clerical  work  in  the  county  offices. 
In  1878  he  was  appointed  deputy  county  collector,  and  performed  his 
official  duties  very  satisfactorily.  In  1882  he  was  elected  county  clerk. 
Mr.  Hicks  married  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Hubbs,  November  9,  1873.  She  was 
the  daughter  of  Andrew  J.  Strain,  of  this  county.  They  have  one  child, 
Mabel  Burleigh.  Mr.  Hicks  is  a  staunch  Democrat.  He  belongs  to  the 
M.  E.  Church  and  is  a  Royal  Arch  Mason  and  is  also  connected  with  the 
I.  O.  O.  F.  and  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  fraternities.  James  L.  Hicks,  the  father 
of  Thomas  D.,  enlisted  in  the  Eleventh  Volunteer  Cavalry  in  the  spring 
of  1863  and  served  in  the  states  of  Arkansas,  Louisiana,  Texas  and 
Missouri,  and  in  1865  he  received  an  honorable  discharge.  His  daugh- 
ter, Nancy  Hicks,  married  Mr.  James  M.  Pugh,  circuit  clerk. 

DANIEL  K.  HOLLY, 

druggist,  etc.,  was  born  in  Montgomery  County,  Ohio,  in  185 1,  his  par- 
ents being  Daniel  and  Catherine  Holly,  both  natives  of  Germany.  The 
former  came  to  this  country  in  183 1  and  settled  in  Butler  County,  Ohio, 
moving  thence  to  Montgomery  County,  and  later  to  McLean  County, 
Illinois.  In  1838  he  came  to  Missouri  and  settled  in  St.  Clair  County 
on  a  farm.  In  the  spring  of  1868  he  removed  to  Sedalia.  They  had  a 
family  of  thirteen  children,  eight  now  living.    Daniel  K.  was  the  young- 


I088  HISTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

est  child,  and  after  leaving  home  he  was  engaged  in  various  kinds  of 
business  with  varied  success.  In  1877  ^e  came  to  Osceola.  In  1879  ^^ 
purchased  a  stock  of  drugs,  to  which  he  has  added,  and  now  carries  a 
stock  that  would  be  a  credit  to  a  larger  city.  He  commenced  with  lim- 
ited means,  but  by  good  management  and  attention  to  business  has 
established  himself  in  a  paying  trade.  Mr.  Holly  married  Miss  Frankie 
Archibald  November  26,  1S79.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Thomas  Archi- 
bald, of  Ohio.  They  were  of  English  extraction,  but  were  brought  up 
in  New  York.  They  have  two  children,  Mabel  Alice  and  Vesta.  Poli- 
tically, he  is  a  Republican.  He  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternit}'  and 
the  A.  O.  U.  W. 

THOMAS  HENLEY, 

farmer  and  proprietor  of  the  Osceola  Ferry,  was  born  in  Herefordshire, 
England,  in  November,  1825,  his  parents  being  Mathew  and  Elizabeth 
Henley.  They  came  to  this  country  in  the  fall  of  1841,  settling  in  Law- 
rence County,  Pennsylvania,  on  a  farm.  They  had  a  family  of  seven 
children.  Thomas,  the  oldest  son,  remained  at  home  until  the  death  of 
his  father,  in  1846.  January  i,  185 1,  he  went  to  California  and  Oregon, 
but  returned  in  December,  1852,  well  paid  for  his  adventure.  Selling 
his  interest  in  the  old  homestead  to  his  brother  he  purchased  a  farm  in 
the  vicinit5^  The  oil  excitement  enhanced  the  value  of  his  land  and  he 
sold  his  farm  at  a  large  advance.  In  the  fall  of  1866  he  came  to  Osceola 
and  bought  land.  He  began  improving  and  repairing  the  damages 
incurred  during  the  war,  and  now  has  one  of  the  desirable  homes  of  the 
county.  He  was  elected  county  judge  in  1870,  and  served  one  term. 
He  was  also  appointed  judge  by  Governors  Woodson  and  Phelps.  As 
an  official  he  was  both  capable  and  honest,  and  performed  his  duties 
with  great  credit  to  himself  and  acceptably  to  the  county.  Judge  Hen- 
ley was  married  in  Pennsylvania  to  Miss  Ann  Cook  in  1850.  She  died 
in  1866,  leaving  four  children:  Mathew  C,  Thomas  J.,  William  C.  and 
Anna  V.,  now  Mrs.  William  Gallaway.  He  married  Miss  Catharine 
Cracraft  for  his  second  wife  in  1878.  They  have  one  child,  Rosa  Ella, 
born  February  7,  1880.  The  judge  votes  the  Democratic  ticket  and 
belongs  to  the  Masonic  order.  In  1866  he  bought  a  half  interest  of  the 
Osceola  Ferry  and  230  acres  of  land  belonging  to  it.  In  1881  he  bought 
the  entire  interest  and  now  owns  and  manages  the  ferry  and  farm. 

THOMAS  MOORE  JOHNSON 

was  born  in  Osceola  in  185 1,  and  is  the  son  of  the  Hon.  Waldo  P.  John- 
son, who  was  born  in  1817,  in  Harrison  Count}',  Virginia.  His  grand- 
father was  William  Johnson,  a  native  of  New  York,  and  an  uncle  of  his 
was  once   governor   of\'irginia.     Waldo    P.Johnson   came   to   Missouri 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  IO8.9 

and  settled  in  this  county  in  1842.  He  received  a  collegiate  education, 
studied  law  at  Clarksburg,  Virginia,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  at  that 
place.  Coming  west  he  located  in  St.  Clair  County.  He  first  opened 
an  office  in  Osceola,  and  has  since  been  occupied  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession.  In  1846,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  legislature  after 
having  started  with  the  army  for  the  Mexican  War,  but  he  returned  and 
occupied  his  seat.  In  1848,  he  was  elected  county  treasurer.  In  1850, 
he  was  elected  circuit  attorney,  and  in  185 1,  he  was  succeeded  by  the 
Hon.  Burr  H.  Emerson,  Mr.  J.  having  been  elected  judge  of  this  judi- 
cial district.  In  1861,  he  was  elected  United  States  Senator,  and  the 
same  year  was  chosen  one  of  the  commissioners  to  meet  in  Washington 
to  negotiate  terms  of  peace.  He  cast  his  fortune  and  influence  with  the 
Confederacy,  and  resigned  his  seat  in  the  United  States  Senate,  and 
became  a  member  of  the  Confederate  Senate.  During  the  war  he  was 
appointed  colonel  of  a  Confederate  regiment,  and  remained  with  it  until 
the  close  of  hostilities.  In  1875,  he  was  elected  a  delegate  to  the  state 
constitutional  convention,  and  was  elected  its  president.  After  remain- 
ing for  some  two  years  in  Sedalia,  he  returned  to  this  city,  and  soon  after 
removed  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  has  since  lived.  His  large  property  and 
real  estate  interests  in  this  county  and  Southwestern  Missouri  requires 
much  of  his  time  in  Osceola.  He  was  married  in  1847.  to  Miss  Emily 
Moore.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Thomas  Moore,  of  Maryland.  They 
have  a  family  of  four  sons:  William  T.,  Thomas  Moore,  St.  Clair  and 
Charles  P.  Thomas  Moore  received  a  classical  education  at  Notre  Dame 
College,  Indiana,  graduating  in  1871,  and  receiving  the  degree  of  A.  B. 
He  studied  law  with  his  father,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1872.  In 
1874,  he  was  elected  prosecuting  attorney  of  St.  Clair  County,  and  dis- 
charged the  duties  of  the  office  with  great  satisfaction.  In  1877,  he 
moved  to  St.  Louis  County,  and  opened  an  office  for  the  practice  of  law, 
and  also  edited  a  paper.  He  returned  to  St.  Clair  County  in  1879,  ^"^ 
is  now  connected  with  the  law  firm  of  Johnson  &  Lucas.  In  188 1,  he 
was  elected  mayor  of  the  city,  and  also  re-elected  in  1882.  Mr.  J.  mar- 
ried Miss  Alice  Barr,  in  May,  1881.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Rev.  C.  J. 
Barr,  of  this  county.  Mr.  Johnson  is  a  close  student,  is  well  versed  with 
all  the  leading  authors,  and  he  is  recognized  as  a  man  that  has  given 
more  attention  to  scientific  questions  than  any  one  in  the  county. 

JOHN  POPE  LOVE, 

judge  of  the  probate  court,  was  born  in  Knox  County,  Tennessee,  July 
28,  1828.  His  father,  Thomas  B.  Love,  was  born  in  Chester  County, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1794,  being  the  son  of  John  Love,  originally  from  Ire- 
land, who  went  to  East  Tennessee  in  an  early  day.  The  mother  of  John 
P.  was  formerly  Susan  Smith,  of  Tennessee.     Her  father  was  from  Eng- 

69 


lOQO  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

land.  Mrs.  Love  died  in  Tennesse  June  15,  1861,  and  her  husband  died 
in  1874.  They  had  seven  children,  of  whom  J.  P.  is  the  second  child. 
He  was  reared  on  a  farm,  but  his  early  school  training  was  somewhat 
ne<:^lected,  though  by  self-application  he  acquired  a  practical  education 
and  attained  a  prominent  social  position.  In  1850  he  moved  to  Chero- 
kee County,  North  Carolina,  where  he  farmed  three  years.  He  then 
returned  to  Tennessee,  and  in  the  spring  of  1858  came  to  Missouri  atid 
settled  in  St.  Clair  County  and  improved  a  farm.  In  1872  he  was  elected 
county  judge.  In  1876  he  was  elected  probate  judge.  He  was  re-elected 
in  1878,  1880  and  in  1882,  a  sufficient  proof  of  his  faithful  services  in 
that  important  office.  Judge  Love  was  married  in  1848  to  Miss  Narcis- 
sus N.  Niell,  who  was  the  daughter  of  John  Niell,  of  Polk  County,  Ten- 
nessee. She  died  in  1853,  leaving  three  children.  Mr.  L.  married  Miss 
Elizabeth  N.  Barker  in  1855,  daughter  of  Burrell  Barker,  of  McMinn 
County,  Tennessee.  They  have  a  family  of  twelve  children.  The  judge 
in  his  political  affiliations  is  a  Democrat,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  order.  In  June,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  Missouri  State  Guard 
and  served  eight  months.  He  was  in  the- engagements  at  Carthage, 
Springfield,  Dry  Wood  and  Lexington:  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  the  Six- 
teenth Missouri  Infantry,  Colonel  Caldwell  commanding,  and  was  elected 
lieutenant  and  promoted  to  captain.  He  served  during  the  war,  sur- 
rendering at  Shreveport. 

CHARLES  HENDERSON  LUCAS, 

editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Osceola  Sun,  owes  his  nativity  to  Danville, 
Kentucky,  having  been  born  there  May  27,  1854.  He  was  a  son  of  Wil- 
liam C.  and  Hannah  F.  Lucas.  His  grandfather  (for  whom  he  was 
named)  was  one  of  the  first  settlers,  and  among  the  first  merchants  in 
central  Kentucky.  It  was  after  him  that  one  of  the  finest  female  acad- 
emies in  the  southern  states  was  named,  Henderson  (now  Caldwell) 
Institute.  Charles  H.  Lucas  received  a  good  education  in  youth,  spend- 
ing one  year  in  Centre  College,  but  before  graduating  he  removed  to 
Roscoe,  Missouri,  in  1870.  He  subsequently  came  to  Osceola,  and  has 
since  principally  made  this  his  home  with  the  exception  of  two  or  three 
years  passed  in  seeing  the  world.  Becoming  desirous  of  familiarizing 
himself  with  the  printers'  trade,  he  entered  the  office  of  the  Osceola 
Democrat,  and  later  was  occupied  in  working  in  the  large  job  offices  of 
St.  Louis.  He  took  editorial  charge  of  the  Osceola  Democrat  for  the 
campaign  of  1874,  and  in  June  of  that  year  he  was  married  to  Miss  Lillie 
J.  Appier,  whose  parents  reside  in  St.  Louis,  where  her  father  owns  a 
large  printing  establishment,  he  being  editor  of  the  National  American 
and  owner  of  the  Personal  Rights  Advocate.  In  1876,  in  connection 
with  the  Hon.  Logan  McKce,  Mr.  Lucas  founded  the  Danville  Tribune, 


! 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  IO9I 

which  was  pronounced  the  handsomest  and  most  vigorous  paper  ir» 
Kentucky.  Returning  to  Missouri  he  accepted  the  position  of  editor  of 
the  Sedalia  Bazoo,  with  which  he  was  so  connected  for  eighteen  months. 
In  1880  he  purchased  the  Osceola  Sun,  and  has  since  continued  to  man- 
age that  paper  with  marked  success. 

BEV.  H.  McILHENNY, 

was  born  in  Bath  County,  Kentucky,  July  2,  1828,  and  is  the  son  of  John 
C.  Mcllhenny,  of  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  whose  father,  James 
Mcllhenny,  was  born  in  Edinburgh,  Scotland,  and  was  a  graduate  of  the 
university  there.  He  left  Edinburgh  on  account  of  his  republican 
principles,  and  came  to  the  United  States  in  1774,  settling  in  South  Caro- 
lina. He  enlisted  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution  and  was  with  General 
Marion  for  three  years,  was  subsequently  promoted  to  colonel,  and  then 
placed  on  the  staff  of  Washington.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned 
to  South  Carolina  and  engaged  in  farming.  In  18 15  he  moved  to  Ken- 
tucky, and  died  there  in  1840.  John  Mcllhenny  married  Mary  Young, 
of  Virginia.  Her  mother,  formerly  Mary  Brice,  came  originally  from 
Scotland.  Mr.  Mcl.'s  paternal  grandmother  was  also  born  in  Scotland, 
and  was  a  sister  of  John  C.  Calhoun.  They  had  twelve  children,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  being  the  ninth.  His  father  came  to  Jackson 
County,  Missouri,  in  1833,  and  returned  to  Kentucky  in  1840,  where  he 
died.  Bev.  H.  went  back  to  Kentucky  in  1845.  In  1847  he  enlisted  in 
the  Mexican  war,  and  was  interpreter  to  General  Thomas  Marshall.  He 
received  an  honorable  discharge  and  returned  to  Kentucky,  and  attended 
an  academy  for  two  years.  Then  he  engaged  in  merchandising  until 
1853.  In  1854,  he  returned  to  Missouri  and  settled  in  Cass  County  and 
farmed  for  three  years.  He  then  clerked  in  a  store  in  Harrisonville.  In 
1858  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  and  served  until  1861,  when  he 
removed  to  Boonville  and  was  again  elected  justice  of  the  peace,  hold- 
ing this  position  until  1866.  Going  to  Sedalia  he  engaged  in  clerking; 
and  remained  there  until  1870.  He  came  thence  to  Roscoe,  and  in  1871 
to  Osceola.  He  has  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  in  this  city  two  or 
three  terms.  Mr.  Mcllhenny,  married  Miss  Mary  Kincaid  in  1853  in 
Nicholas  County,  Kentucky.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Colonel  Samuel 
B.  Kincaid,  of  Kentucky,  who  settled  in  Cass  County  in  1854.  They 
have  eight  children:  Sarah  A.  (Mrs.  George  Monroe);  Nancy  B.  (Mrs. 
Thomas  Gordon),  John  Calhoun,  Samuel  B.,  Bev.  H.,  Mattie  A.,  Nellie 
Lee,  and  Addie  (twins). 

WILLIAM  O.  MEAD, 

attorney  at  law,  is  a  great  grandson  of  William  Mead,  who  was  a  native 
of  England,  and  who  came  to  America  before  the  war  of  independence. 
He  served  as  a  soldier  during  the  entire  struggle.     John  Mead,  his  son, 


1092  llIsrOKY    OK   ST.    CLAIR   COUN'l'V. 

was  a  captain  in  the  war  of  1812.  John  G.,  the  son  of  John  Mead,  and 
the  father  of  William  O.,  was  born  in  Virginia.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Pickel,  of  Virginia.  She  was  of  German  and  French  descent.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  is  the  oldest  of  thirteen  children,  eight  sons  and 
five  daughters.  He  came  to  Missouri  with  the  family  in  1850,  and  set- 
tled in  Polk  County,  where  they  still  live.  He  attended  the  common 
schools  for  several  years,  and  in  1859  he  commenced  a  regular  course  in 
the  Bolivar  Academy.  After  two  years  of  study  he  left  the  school  to 
take  part  in  the  war.  He  joined  the  Fifteenth  Missouri  Infantry,  (Union 
army)  and  after  six  months  enlisted  in  the  Eighth  Missouri  State  Mili- 
tia, December  18,  1861,  of  which  J.  W.  McClurg  was  colonel.  He  served 
as  orderly  sergeant  until  1863,  when  he  was  promoted  to  a  lieutenancy. 
In  September,  1864,  he  again  re-enlisted  in  the  Thirteenth  Missouri 
Cavalry,  served  as  lieutenant  until  October  23,  1864,  when  he  received  a 
severe  wound  at  the  battle  of  Big  Blue,  which  caused  him  to  resign.  He 
came  from  the  army  to  this  city  in  December,  1864.  He  had  previously 
commenced  the  study  of  law,  and  now  resumed  the  preparation  for  his 
life  work.  In  1866  he  was  elected  county  clerk.  In  the  spring  of  1867 
he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  before  B.  H.  Emerson,  circuit  judge,  and  in 
the  spring  of  1868  formed  a  partnership  with  E.  J.  Smith  and  S.  S.  Bur- 
dette.  In  1872  Mr.  M.  commenced  the  banking  business,  but  in  1877 
the  bank  closed  its  doors,  though  paying  95  cents  on  the  dollar.  In  the 
winter  of  1877  he  moved  to  Texas,  where  he  practiced  law  for  two  years. 
He  then  went  to  Dakota  Territory  for  six  months,  and  after  returning 
to  this  city  opened  a  law  office,  making  the  real  estate  law  a  specialty. 
In  July,  188 1,  George  A  Neal  became  a  partner,  and  the  firm  name  is 
now  known  as  Mead  &  Neal.  Mr.  Mead  married  Miss  Henrietta  R. 
Dawson  December  15,  1864.  She  was  the  daughter  of  John  Dawson,  of 
this  city,  and  was  born  in  Virginia.  They  have  two  children,  Julia  and 
Ethlyn.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  religiously  a  Baptist.  He 
is  a  Royal  Arch  Mason,  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  fraternity,  and 
belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  He  was  inter- 
ested in  the  railroad  enterprise  in  the  county,  and  from  1872  till  1876 
was  secretary  of  the  same. 

LEVI  AUGUSTUS  MENTZER 

was  born  in  Lancaster  County,  Pennsylvania,  August  3,  1840,  being  the 
son  of  John  Mentzer,  a  native  of  the  same  state  and  grandson  of  Simeon 
Mentzer,  originally  of  Maryland.  Levi's  mother  was  formerly  Mary 
Curry,  also  of  Pennsylvania.  They  had  si.x  children.  Of  the  three  liv- 
ing Levi  A.  is  the  second.  When  twelve  years  old  his  mother  died  and 
he  went  to  live  with  an  uncle  in  Lancaster  Count}',  in  who.ie  store  he 
was  employed  at  $3  per  month.     He  remained  there  for  ten  years,  with 


I 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  IO93 

but  little  increase  of  pay.  He  then  entered  the  employ  of  Samuel  Watts 
in  Mifflin  County  and  worked  seven  years  at  $12  per  month.  Mr.  Ment- 
zer  now  feeling  confidence  in  his  own  ability  to  start  business  for  him- 
self, rented  a  room  in  Belleville,  where  he  had  clerked  seven  years, 
bought  a  small  stock  of  goods,  and  during  the  three  years  in  which  he 
was  engaged  in  business  made  his  mark  as  a  successful  merchant.  In 
1869  he  came  to  Osceola  and  formed  a  partnership  in  business  with 
Joseph  Landes.  They  remained  together  until  1871,  when  Thomas  B. 
Sutherland  bought  the  interest  of  Mr.  Landes,  and  the  new  partnership 
existed  for  three  years.  At  this  time  Mr.  Mentzer  purchased  the  inter- 
est of  Mr.  S.  March  8,  1874,  and  since  that  time  he  has  been  doing  a 
large  trade  in  general  merchandise.  He  is  a  stockholder  in  the  bank  of 
this  city  and  in  1882  was  elected  its  president.  In  1871  Mr.  Mentzer 
was  appointed  postmaster  of  Osceola  and  has  held  the  position  since 
that  period.  In  1862  he  joined  the  T3ist  Pennsylvania  Regiment 
Volunteer  Infantry  for  nine  months,  participating  in  the  battles  of  Fred- 
ericksburg December  13,  1862.  Mr.  M.  married  Miss  Mary  E.  Goodhart 
January  1 1,  1865.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Nancy  Goodhart. 
They  have  two  children,  Bertie  and  Carrie.  Mr.  Mentzer  is  a  Republi- 
can, and  for  eighteen  years  has  been  one  of  the  prominent  and  leading 
members  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  He  also  belongs  to  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity. 

HENRY  JOSEPH  MORELLY 

was  born  January  18,  1852,  in  Kingwood,  West  Virginia.  His  father, 
Charles  Morelly,  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany.  He  learned  the  stone 
mason  and  plasterers'  trade  in  youth  and  also  received  the  excellent 
schooling  of  the  country.  He  married  Christina  Orderholt  in  Germany 
and  they  came  to  America  in  the  fall  of  185 1,  settling  in  West  Virginia, 
and  bought  a  farm  where  Mr.  M.  worked  at  his  trade.  In  1864  he 
removed  to  Coles  County,  Illinois,  remaining  there  for  two  years.  In 
1866  he  came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  and  located  in  Clinton,  where 
he  farmed  and  worked  at  his  trade.  He  also  opened  a  meat  market 
which  he  conducted  for  several  years.  In  1870  he  came  to  St.  Clair 
County,  Missouri,  purchased  a  farm  and  opened  a  market  in  Osceola. 
He  now  has  two  farms  and  lives  on  section  35.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  M.  have 
seven  children:  Henry  Joseph,  Charles,  Louisa  (wife  of  Harmon 
Weber),  Priscilla  (now  Mrs.  William  Hurst),  David,  Lowry  and  Emma. 
Henry  J.  Morelly,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  and  oldest  son  of 
Charles,  has  worked  with  his  father  and  learned  the  stone  masons'  trade 
and  butchering  business.  After  coming  to  this  city  he  opened  a  market 
with  his  father.  The  latter  giving  up  the  business,  the  son  has  continued 
and  he  is  doing  a  satisfactory  business.  Henry  J.  is  a  Baptist  and 
belongs  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  fraternity. 


I094  lllSTOKV    OF    ST.    Cl.AlR   COUNTY. 

DANIEL  P.  MORGAN,        ^ 

countv  recorder,  was  born  in  Sumner  County,  Middle  Tennessee,  Octo- 
ber 4,  1816,  and  was  the  son  of  Charles  Mori^an,  a  i^rominent  citizen  of 
his  count}',  who  held  various  offices  of  honor  and  trust,  and  who  died  in 
1S60.  Mr.  Morgan's  mother,  Sally  (Parker)  Morgan,  was  born  in  Tenn- 
essee. Daniel  P.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  the  oldest  of  a  family 
of  seven  children.  His  early  life  was  spent  in  his  father's  store,  and  in 
November,  1850,  he  came  to  Missouri,  settling  near  Osceola,  where  he 
improved  a  farm.  In  1852,  he  was  appointed  deputy  sheriff,  and  served 
for  two  years.  In  1854,  he  was  elected  sheriff,  and  was  re-elected  in  1856. 
In  i860,  he  was  elected  county  clerk,  and  was  serving  as  such  when  the 
town  was  burned  by  Jim  Lane.  Mr.  M.  lived  on  his  farm  until  1874, 
when  he  was  elected  recorder.  After  a  period  of  four  years  he  was  again 
elected  recorder,  in  1882.  He  married  Miss  Susan  M.  Thompson,  in  1838. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  William  Thompson,  of  Ohio,  who  in  an  early 
day  moved  near  Nashville,  Tennessee.  Her  mother's  maiden  name  was 
Polly  Parker,  a  sister  of  D.  P.  Morgan's  grandfather.  They  have  five 
children:  Charles,  John,  Daniel,  Kittie  and  Susan.  The  two  eldest  child- 
ren are  dead.  Mary  Jane  married  J.  W.  Barr,  who  died  leaving  two 
children,  one  since  deceased,  and  Edward  Lee,  who  now  seventeen  years 
old,  lives  with  his  grandfather.  Mr.  Morgan  is  a  Democrat,  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  M.  E.  Church  South,  and  a  Mason.  He  has  been  faithful  in 
the  discharge  of  his  official  duties  and  has  served  the  people  in  a  man- 
ner highly  satisfactory  to  all. 

SCOTT  NESBIT 

was  born  in  Mt.  Jackson,  Pennsylvania,  November  25,  1846.  He  received 
a  common  school  education,  and  like  many  America^  boj's  with  that 
slight  equipment  started  out  to  "  paddle  his  own  canoe"  in  the  general 
race.  He  first  entered  business  as  a  dealer  in  Canada  pine  lumber  until 
a  high  protective  duty  being  put  on  it  virtually  prohibited  its  importa- 
tion. A  few  months  later  he  entered  the  dry  goods  business  at  Eden- 
burg,  Pennsylvania,  succeeding  quite  well  until  failing  health  compelled 
him  to  seek  a  different  climate.  In  1870  he  removed  to  St.  Clair  County, 
Missouri,  and  opened  a  stock  farm  in  Monegaw  Township,  continuing  in 
that  business  until  March,  1874,  when  he  removed  to  Osceola,  Missouri, 
to  take  the  position  of  assistant  cashier,  a  position  he  still  occupies,  in 
the  St.  Clair  Count)'  Bank,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the  original  incor- 
porators. He  is  the  third  son  of  John  C.  and  Harriett  Nesbit,  both  of 
whom  are  still  living  in  this  count}'.  The  other  brothers  are  Charles  W. 
Nesbit,  a  farmer  of  St.  Clair  County,  who  is  well  known  as  one  of  the 
most  advanced    breeders  of  thoroughbred  stock  in  Southwest  Missouri, 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  IO95 

and  the  Hon.  Frank  C.  Nesbit,  who  represented  St.  Clair  County  in  the 
Missouri  Legislature  in  1876,  and  was  also  the  Hancock  elector  for  his 
district  in  1880,  and  has  for  two  terms  held  the  position  of  secretary  of 
the  Missouri  Senate.  Mr.  Nesbit  has  a  natural  talent  for  the  banking 
business,  and  is  looked  upon  as  one  of  the  best  financiers  in  the  state. 

GEORGE  ALFRED  NEAL 

was  born  December  17,  1856.  His  grandfather,  James  Neal,  a  native  of 
Virginia  emigrated  to  Kentucky  at  an  early  day.  Moses  W.,  the  father 
of  George,  was  born  in  Kentucky,  October  7,  1825.  He  married  Miss 
Lucretia  A.  King.  He  was  for  many  years  a  popular  hotel  man  in  Ken- 
tucky. In  1858,  he  removed  to  Indiana.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  war  he 
enlisted  in  the  Thirty-ninth  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  was  com- 
missioned first  lieutenant  on  the  31st  of  December,  1862.  He  fell  mor- 
tally wounded  at  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
is  the  oldest  of  three  living  children.  He  commenced  attending  the 
public  schools  of  Indiana,  when  five  years  of  age,  and  after  his  father's 
death  he  returned  with  his  mother  to  Kentucky.  At  the  age  of  fifteen 
he  entered  Smithfield  College  and  remained  there  until  twenty  years 
old.  He  then  entered  the  law  office  of  Benjamin  S.  Robbins,  and  read 
law  under  his  instruction  for  one  year,  soon  returning  to  Smithfield  Col- 
lege he  resumed  his  legal  studies  in  Louisville,  Kentucky,  until  March, 
1881,  when  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  In  April  of  that  year  he  came 
to  Osceola.  He  was  married  December  24,  1881,  to  Miss  Lily  Bell  High, 
of  Louisville,  Kentucky.    * 

RICHARD  W.   PERRIN 

was  born  January  ii,  1842,  in  Osceola,  Missouri,  his  lather  being  Daniel 
Perrin,  who  came  to  this  county  in  1835  from  Ohio.  He  was  a  stone 
and  brick  mason  by  trade  and  he  made  the  first  brick  in  this  county. 
He  settled  on  Brush  Creek,  east  of  the  city,  and  married  Jane  Clark- 
ston,  of  Cooper  County.  He  died  in  1879,  his  wife  having  preceded 
him  in  1859.  They  had  six  sons:  Richard  W.,  James,  Joseph  N.,  Daniel^ 
(George  W.  died  in  188 1)  and  John  Wesley.  Mr.  Perrin  married  for  his 
second  wife,  Mrs.  Sally  Redman,  and  they  had  one  son,  Andrew  Wesley, 
Richard  W.  learned  the  mason's  trade  in  youth  and  worked  at  it  more 
or  less  through  life.  In  the  spring  of  1862  he  enlisted  in  the  Elev- 
enth Missouri  Cavalry,  under  Colonel  William  D.  Woods.  They  were 
in  Missouri,  Texas,  Arkansas  and  Tennessee  and  he  took  part  in  many 
hard  fought  battles  and  skirmishes.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned 
home  and  in  1867,  August  22,  was  married  to  Miss  Nannie  Bell.     They 


1096  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

have  five  children:  Ann  E.,  Jane,  Charles  W.,  Jani«s  E.  and  Estclla 
Mr.  Perrin  has  the  contract  for  carrying  mail  from  this  city  to  Appleton- 
and  to  Quincy  and  also  to  Humansville. 

JAMES  M.  PUGH, 

circuit  clerk  and  abstractor  of  titles,  was  born  near  Columbus,  Ohio, 
September  2,  1845.  His  father  was  Andrew  J.  Pugh,  who  came  to  Mis- 
souri in  1857,  and  settled  in  St.  Clair  County.  He  served  in  the  Mexi- 
can war  and  was  wounded  at  Cerro  Gordo,  but  remained  through  the 
war  with  the  regiment  of  mounted  rifles  from  Ohio.  In  1861  he  took 
sides  with  the  Union  and  became  commander  of  Freemont's  Scouts  and 
Guides.  After  the  army  under  Freemont  were  disbanded,  Mr.  Pugh 
joined  the  Sixtieth  Regiment  of  Enrolled  Missouri  Militia,  in  which  he 
received  the  commission  of  major  in  1862.  He  served  until  the  close  of 
the  war.  He  was  soon  after  appointed  sheriff  of  St.  Clair  County  by 
Governor  Gamble,  but  immediately  resigned  in  favor  of  Mr.  Roberts, 
In  1875,  he  moved  to  Cedar  County  where  he  now  lives.  Mrs.  Pugh  died 
in  1879.  James  M.  received  but  limited  advantages  tor  acquiring  an 
education,  but  by  self  application  he  fitted  himself  for  a  teacher,  and  for 
several  terms  was  so  occupied.  He  was  later  engaged  in  clerking  in  the 
county  offices,  and  in  1870, was  appointed  deputy  clerk,  and  assisted  in 
the  circuit  clerk's  duties  until  1874,  when  he  was  elected  circuit  clerk. 
In  1879  he  was  re-elected  and  again  in  1882.  In  1879  he  purchased  a  half 
interest  of  the  Shields  Brothers  in  their  abstract  books.  In  October. 
1863  he  joined  the  Second  Kansas  Cavalry,  and  was  with  General  Steele 
in  Arkansas  for  two  years.  Mr.  Pugh  married  Miss  Nannie  Hicks,  May 
28,  1871.  She  was  the  daughter  of  J.  L.  Hicks.  They  have  three  child- 
ren: Ruth,  Addie  and  Bessie.  Politically  he  is  a  Greenbacker.  He 
belongs  to  the  Christian  Church,  and  is  also  a  Mason,  and  a  member  of 
the  I.  0.0.  F. 

LOUIS  M.  REESE, 

dealer  in  lumber,  etc.,  was  born  in  Osceola,  Missouri,  in  1850,  and  was 
the  son  of  Lewis  M.  Reese,  originally  from  Tennessee.  In  1866  Louis 
commenced  working  at  the  printing  business,  which  he  followed  as  com- 
positor, and  editor  and  publisher  until  1881,  having  been  connected 
with  the  Herald  at  Osceola,  the  Courier  at  Appleton  City,  and  the  Sun 
in  Osceola.  In  the  winter  of  1881  he  embarked  in  the  lumber  trade, 
and  he  is  now  doing  a  successful  business.  He  married  Miss  Emma  J. 
Lewis  in  1881,  a  daughter  of  Dr.  L.  Lewis,  who  was  born  in  Virginia 
December  15,  18 13.  Dr.  Lewis  was  a  son  of  Howell  Lewis  and  a  grand- 
son of  Fielding  Lewis,  who  married  Bettie  Washington,  sister  of  George 
Washington.      Dr.  Lewis  was    a  prominent    physician.      He    came  to 


BIOGRAPFIICAL.  IO97 

Osceola  in  1839,  ^♦^^  ^^^  many  years  was  county  treasurer.  Dr.  Lewis- 
died  December  20,  1878.  He  was  twice  married,  first  to  Mary  Ferguson 
February  8,  1843.  She  died  December  24,  1845.  His  second  marriage 
occurred  March  14,  1853,  to  Mary  E.  Reynolds.  Politically  Mr.  R.  is  a 
Republican.     He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  fraternity. 

JOHN  SERVERS, 

physician  and  surgeon,  was  born  in  Oskaloosa,  Mahaska  County,  Iowa, 
in  1843,  his  father  being  Alfred  Seevers,  a  native  of  Coshocton  County, 
Ohio,  he  having  emigrated  to  Iowa  in  1840.  He  was  largely  and  most 
successfully  engaged  in  the  nursery  and  fruit  business,  and  in  an  early 
day  supplied  trees  for  many  adjoining  counties.  His  fine  collection  of 
fruit  at  the  Centennial  was  admired  by  many.  The  maiden  name  of 
John's  mother  was  Maria  Bryan,  of  Pennsylvania.  His  grandfather  Seevers 
served  through  the  war  of  1812  and  his  grandfather  Bryan  came  origin- 
ally from  Ireland.  His  father  is  a  near  relative  of  Judge  Seevers,  of  the 
supreme  court  of  Iowa.  Having  determined  when  a  boy  to  be  a  phy- 
sician, John  bent  all  his  energies  in  that  direction.  In  1862  he  went  to- 
Colorado  and  spent  two  years.  On  his  return  in  1864  he  commenced 
the  study  of  medicine.  In  1865  he  attended  a  course  of  lectures  at  the 
Medical  College  at  Keokuk,  Iowa,  where  he  graduated  in  1876.  His 
professional  education  was  acquired  by  his  own  efforts,  and  he  is  deserv- 
ing the  success  that  has  attended  his  career  here.  He  came  to  Osceola 
in  1881.  Dr.  Seevers  married  Miss  Fidelia  E.  Freeborn  in  1868,  She 
was  the  daughter  of  Joseph  Freeborn,  of  Winterset,  Iowa,  formerly  from 
Ohio.  They  have  four  children:  Iowa,  Grace,  Nellie  and  Roxy.  The 
doctor  is  a  prominent  member  and  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
He  is  a  Mason  and  also  belongs  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  He  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  city  council  and  takes  an  active  part  in  the  improvements  of 
the  city. 

WADE  W.  SHAFFNER, 

attorney,  was  born  in  Harrison  County,  Virginia,  September  ii,  1848. 
He  attended  in  youth  the  common  schools,  though  the  greater  part  of 
his  education  was  obtained  at  home.  In  1859  the  family  moved  to  Penn- 
sylvania, and  in  1861  they  went  to  Sangamon  County,  Illinois.  In  1869 
Wade  Shaffner  came  to  Missouri,  settling  on  a  farm  and  divided  his  time 
between  teaching  school  in  winter  and  working  on  a  farm  in  summer 
with  his  father.  In  1874,  he  became  editor  of  the  Farmers'  Friend,  a 
paper  published  in  Osceola  in  the  interests  of  agriculture.  He  con- 
tinued teaching  until  March  9,  1878,  when  he  entered  the  law  office  of 
the  late  John  C.  Ferguson,  where,  under  his  instruction,  he  was  prepared 
for  admission  to  the  bar,   September   11,    1879,  before  Judge  John  D. 


1098  HIstOR\     OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

Parkinson.  Mr.  Shaffner  married  Miss  Josephine  O.  Clevenger  January 
1,  1880.  She  is  the  daughter  of  the  late  George  Clevenger.  They  have 
lost  one  child  Gertrude.  Politically  Mr.  Shaffner  is  a  Democrat.  He 
belongs  to  the  Piesbyterian  Church  and  is  a  Mason. 

Isaac  Shaffner,  father  of  Wade  W.,  is  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and 
now  lives  in  Chalk  Level  Township.  He  was  born  in  Dauphin  Count}-, 
Pennsylvania,  June  17,  1823,  and  was  the  son  of  Frederick  Shaffner.  His 
mother  was  formerly  Catharine  Dihler,  who  died  in  i860.  Isaac,  the 
third  of  eleven  children,  early  went  to  Virginia,  residing  there  until 
1855.  He  then  came  to  Illinois  and  remained  until  1868,  when  he 
moved  to  this  county  and  settled  where  he  now  lives.  He  married  Mel- 
vina  Leach,  December  9,  1847,  in  Fauquier  County,  Virginia.  She  is 
the  daughter  of  Thornton  K.  Leach,  of  Virginia,  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
1812.  They  have  four  children:  Wade  W.,  Mary  A.  (now  Mrs.  John 
Warner),  Jacob  M.  and  Luther  L.  Politically  he  is  a  Democrat  and  his 
religious  preferences  Presbyterian. 

WESLEY  G.  SHEPHERD, 

was  birn  in  Wells  County,  Indiana,  December  29,  1853,  ^^is  father  being 
Thomas  Shepherd,  originally  from  Ross  County,  Ohio,  who  was  one  of 
the  first  to  settle  in  Bluffton,  the  county  seat,  he  building  the  first  house 
in  the  city.  In  1857  ^'^^  went  to  Navoo,  Illinois,  remained  for  two  years, 
and  then  came  with  a  colony  to  Henry  County.  In  1874  they  moved  to 
this  county  and  settled  one  mile  from  Osceola,  on  the  old  Cox  farm. 
Wesley's  mother  was  formerly  Clarissa  Gracey,  of  Ross  County,  Ohio. 
They  have  two  children  living:  W.  G.  and  Ellen.  In  1870,  Wesley  went 
to  the  Indian  Territory,  and  was  one  of  the  parties  driven  out  by  the 
order  of  the  government,  losing  everything  he  had.  He  returned  home 
and  made  a  new  start.  He  was  then  engaged  in  various  occupations  in 
different  localities.  In  1879  ^^  opened  a  restaurant,  which  has  since 
grown  into  an  hotel,  and  he  is  doing  a  successful  business.  He  has  held 
the  office  of  city  marshal.  He  married  Miss  C.  Lyon,  November  8,  1880. 
She  was  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Lyon.  Her  grandfather,  Thomas  Shep- 
pard  served  in  the  Federal  army,  and  he  was  the  guide  of  the  hrst  com- 
pany of  United  States  soldiers  in  Henry  County. 

JOHN  S.  SMITH. 

editor  of  The  Voice  of  the  People,  is  a  native  of  Jay  County,  Indiana, 
and  was  born  March  13,  1848.  His  father,  Aaron  Smith,  was  born  in 
Ohio  and  his  grandfather,  Martin  Smith,  was  a  Virginian  by  birth.  The 
mother  of  John  S.  was  Mary  Dillman,  of  Randolph  County,  Indiana,  she 
being  a  daughter  of  William  Dillman,  whose  father  was  robbed  and 
murdered  for  his  money  in  Chester  County,  Pennsylvania,  in  1852.     The 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  IO99 

subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  oldest  of  eight  children.  His  father  removed 
to  Dallas  County,  Iowa,  while  he  was  young,  and  there  he  was  reared, 
improving  his  limited  facilities  for  acquiring  an  education  until  he  was 
qualified  for  teaching  school.  In  1 864  he  enlisted  in  the  Forty-sixth  Iowa 
Volunteer  Infantry,  and  after  some  months  spent  in  the  service  he  was 
discharged  on  account  of  disability.  After  his  return  he  attended  school 
for  a  time,  and  in  1867  went  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  and  taught 
one  term  of  school.  He  then  returned  to  Iowa,  and  the  succeeding  ten 
years  he  was  engaged  in  teaching,  and  succeeded  in  winning  an  enviable 
reputation  as  a  painstaking,  competent  and  faithful  instructor.  In  1877 
he  returned  to  St.  Clair  County  and  took  charge  of  a  school  at  Johnson 
City.  In  1879  he  took  charge  of  The  Voice  of  the  People,  and  con- 
ducted it  for  the  company  owning  it  until  1882,  when  he  purchased  it, 
and  he  has  since  associated  Dr.  A.  C.  Marquis  with  him,  and  they  are 
publishing  one  of  the  most  readable  papers  in  Southwest  Missouri.  In 
1881,  in  the  interest  of  the  Greenback  and  Reform  party,  Mr.  Smith  was 
elected  county  school  commissioner,  an  office  he  has  proved  himself 
amply  qualified  to  fill.  He  was  married  October  21,  188 1,  to  Miss  Annie 
B.  Nalley,  a  daughter  of  William  Nalley,  of  this  county,  originally  from 
Pike  County,  Missouri.  They  have  one  son,  Clyde  S.,  born  September 
I,  1882. 

JOSEPH  H.  URICH 

was  born  November  20,  1846,  in  Dauphin  County,  Pennsylvania,  while 
his  brother,  Harry  B.,  was  born  in  Blair  County  of  the  same  state.  Their 
father,  a  carpenter  by  trade  and  also  a  farmer,  was  born  December  21, 
1818,  in  York  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  now  resides  in  Cook  County, 
Illinois.  He  was  married  in  1844  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Drawbaugh,  of  Cum- 
berland County,  born  September  18,  1818.  Their  family  consisted  of 
William,  who  died  in  infancy,  John  D.,  Joseph  H.,  Harry  B.,  Martha  R. 
(now  Mrs.  E.  C.  McCloud),  Edward  O.,  and  David,  who  also  died  while 
an  infant.  Mrs.  Urich  died  March  21.  1877.  Joseph  H.  (our  subject) 
leaving  his  native  state  in  August,  1865,  settled  in  Grundy  Count}',  Illi- 
nois, where  he  remained  for  four  years.  In  August,  1869,  he  came  to 
this  county.  August  21,  1871,  he  married  Miss  Henrietta  M.  Peebly, 
daughter  of  Thomas  A.  and  Margaret  Ann  Peebly.  She  died  September 
27,  1882,  leaving  three  children:  Hamilton  W.,  born  March  10,  1872; 
Mattie  E.,  born  December  9,  1874,  and  Delia  May,  born  August  23,  1877. 
Harry  B.  Urich,  upon  removing  from  Pennsylvania  in  April,  1863,  went 
to  Morris,  Grundy  County,  Illinois,  where  he  lived  for  fourteen  years; 
then,  on  account  of  failing  health,  he  visited  Florida  for  eighteen  months 
and  returned  north  as  far  as  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri.  In  April,  1881, 
in  connection  with  his  brother,  he  erected  a  saw  mill,  and  they  are  also 
associated  toijether  in  farming  and  raising  stock.     Mrs.  H.  M.  Urich  was 


iioo  iiisroKY  or  st.  clair  county. 

a  member  of  the  Christian  Church.  Joseph  H.  Urich  is  a  Democrat, 
while  his  brother  is  Republican  in  politics.  The  former  belongs  to  the 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.  fraternity. 

Thomas  Ashford  Peebly  was  born  December  lO,  1811,  in  Knoxville, 
Tennessee,  and  in  1818  accompanied  his  parents  to  Howard  County. 
Missouri.  Moving  to  St.  Clair  County  in  1834,  he  purchased  land.  He 
owned  at  his  death  530  acres.  December  ii,  1839,  he  married  Miss  Mar- 
garet A.  Hoover.  Her  mother,  with  five  children,  came  to  this  county 
in  1835.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peebly  had  five  children:  Mary  J.,  born  July  20, 
1841,  married  Paris  Brown  July  1 1,  1861,  and  died  June  10,  1862;  Martha 
A.,  born  April  4,  1843  (wife  of  David  Tapping);  James,  born  March  15, 
1845,  died  October  ii  following;  Ellen,  born  October  28,  1847,  died 
November  7,  1847,  and  Henrietta  M.,  whose  death  is  recorded  above. 
Mr.  P.  died  F'ebruary  14,  1876,  and  his  widow  now  resides  upon  the  old 
estate. 

SAMUEL  ADAMS  WARDEN, 

attorney  at  law,  is  the  fourth  of  a  family  of  nine  children  born  to  Sam- 
uel and  Loretta  (RichardsJ  Warden,  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  Samuel 
was  born  in  Wilkesbarre,  Pennsylvania,  July  27,  1838.  He  received  a 
practical  education  in  youth  and  when  seventeen  years  of  age  was 
employed  as  a  clerk  in  a  store,  where  he  remained  two  years,  and  dur- 
ing his  leisure  hours  read  law.  He  subsequently  took  a  commercial 
course  in  bookkeeping  and  was  employed  as  a  bookkeeper  in  Chicago 
and  St.  Louis,  but  the  business  being  too  confining  he  went  to  Cooper 
County,  Missouri,  in  1866.  The  following  three  years  he  was  interested 
in  agricultural  pursuits.  Having  early  formed  a  desire  to  become  a 
lawyer,  he  resumed  the  study  of  law,  and  in  1869  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  by  Judge  Rice  in  Cooper  County.  In  1871  he  opened  an  office  in 
Sedalia  and  lived  there  ten  years.  In  May,  1881,  he  removed  to  Osce- 
ola. Mr.  W.  was  married  June  4,  1862,  in  St.  Louis  to  Miss  Virginia  E. 
Fisher,  a  daughter  of  W.  P.  Fisher,  a  native  of  Virginia.  Mrs.  Warden 
died  December  22,  1882,  leaving  two  children:  William  Fisher  and 
Beverly  S.  Mr.  W.  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Greenback  party  and 
he  started  the  Labor  Greenback  Advocate  in  Sedalia,  the  first  paper  of 
its  kind  in  the  state.  He  has  rendered  his  party  efficient  service  as  a 
forcible  and  effective  speaker.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and 
the  A.  O.  U.  W.  lodges. 

ELDER  WILLIAM  WILCOX  WARREN 

was  born  in  Boyle  County,  Kentucky,  June  25,  1837,  and  was  the  son  of 
Dr.  William  W.  Warren,  who  was  born  in  Kentucky,  in  1808,  he  being  of 
English  ancestry.      He  received    a  liberal  education,  and   was  graduated 


BIOGRAl'HICAL.  HOI 

at  the  Transylvania  University  of  Kentucky.  After  practicing  for  some 
time  he  went  to  Mississippi,  and  in  1843  came  to  Missouri  and  settled 
in  Lafayette  County.  He  died  in  1876.  He  married  Miss  Maria  S. 
Speed,  of  Kentucky,  who  was  of  Scotch  descent.  They  had  nine  child- 
ren, of  whom  William  was  the  third.  He  received  an  academic  educa- 
tion, and  in  1859,  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County  and  taught  school,  and  he 
has  been  engaged  in  this  occupation  for  many  years.  In  1867  he  com- 
menced preaching  and  in  1868,  he  was  ordained  by  the  Christian  Church 
and  since  that  date  has  been  an  active  minister.  He  owns  700  acres  of 
land  and  lives  on  section  14.  Mr.  W.  married  Miss  Mary  E.  Coonce,  in 
March,  1862.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Jacob  Coonce,  the  first  settler  to 
make  a  home  in  St.  Clair  County  in  183 1.  They  have  five  children: 
Bailey  and  Wirt  (twins),  Mary  P.,  Willis  K.,  and  Henry  Jacob.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  Democrat.  He  has  held  the  ofifice  of  county  school  commis- 
sioner.    He  is  a  Mason  and  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  fraternity. 

H.  WEBER, 

the  son  of  Anton  and  Catherine  G.  Weber,  natives  of  Baden,  Germany, 
was  born  in  Alsace,  Germany,  January  9,  1851.  He  received  a  good 
practical  education  in  his  youth,  and  learned  the  trade  of  shoemaking. 
In  1873  he  emigrated  to  the  United  States  and  settled  in  St.  Louis, 
working  at  his  trade  in  that  city  three  years.  Then  he  went  to  Clinton, 
Henry  County,  from  whence,  after  working  two  years,  he  removed  to 
Osceola  and  opened  a  shop.  He  owns  a  good  business  building,  carries 
a  complete  stock  of  goods  and  is  doing  a  successful  business.  Mr. 
Weber  married  Miss  Louisa  Morelly  March  10,  1878.  She  is  the  daugh- 
ter of.  Charles  Morelly.  They  have  two  children,  Charles  and  Florence. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  Politically  he  is  a  Republican,  and 
in  his  religious  preferences  a  Catholic. 

JOHN  CALVIN  WHALEY,  M.  D., 

comes  of  old  revolutionary  stock.  His  great  grandfather,  James  Wha- 
ley,  born  in  Virginia,  removed  to  Kentucky  at  an  early  day.  He  served 
in  the  revolutionary  war,  and  furnished  his  hired  man  with  a  horse  and 
paid  him  a  salary  for  service  in  the  same  cause.  Edward  Whaley,  the 
son  of  James,  came  to  Kentucky  with  his  father  when  thirteen  years 
old.  He  married  and  settled  in  Bouibon  County,  Kentucky.  In  1819 
he  located  lands  in  what  is  now  Marion  County,  Missouri.  He  entered 
these  lands  at  the  first  land  sales  in  St.  Louis  in  1821.  Albert  Whaley, 
the  father  of  John  C,  and  Polly  Bird  were  married  December  21,  1826. 
The  doctor's  grandfather  came  to  Missouri  with  his  family  and  slaves  in 
182 1  and  improved  the  lands  he  had  previously  located.  He  was  the 
first  county  surveyor  of  Marion  County  and  a  member  of  the  first  grand 


II02  HISTORY    OK   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY, 

jury.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Marion  County,  Missouri, 
December  i6,  1838,  and  was  the  seventh  of  a  family  of  thirteen  child- 
ren. He  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  received  a  good  practical  education 
at  McGee  and  St.  Paul  Colleges.  After  leaving  school  he  taught  for 
seven  years  in  Texas.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  the  Confederate  army  at 
the  call  of  Governor  Jackson  and  was  commissioned  a  first  lieutenant. 
After  the  battle  of  Lexington  he  was  appointed  adjutant  to  Colonel 
Franklin  with  the  rank  of  captain,  and  he  served  in  that  capacity  until 
wounded  and  captured  near  Bragg's  School  House  in  Shelby  County. 
He  was  confined  at  Palmyra,  St.  Louis  and  Alton  and  succeeded  in  mak- 
ing his  escape.  He  rejoined  Price's  army  in  Mississippi  and  became  a 
volunteer  aid  to  General  Green  in  the  luka  Springs  expedition.  He 
went  to  Texas  on  important  duty,  and  after  the  surrender  he  went  to 
New  Mexico  and  the  mountains.  In  1866  he  was  at  Waco,  where  he 
engaged  in  teaching  school  and  pursuing  his  medical  studies.  He  com- 
menced his  professional  career  in  Clernard  County.  In  1869  he  removed 
to  Arkansas,  near  Fayetteville,  and  practiced  there  until  1875.  when  he 
came  to  Osceola,  where  he  has  since  been  actively  pursuing  his  chosen 
profession.  In  connection  with  Mr.  G.  W.  O'Conner  he  is  largely  inter- 
ested in  stock  raising.  Dr.  W.  was  married  in  September,  1867,  to  Mrs. 
B.  Deckerd,  widow  of  B.  Deckerd,  who  was  killed  in  a  battle  in  the  Red 
River  expedition.  Mrs.  W.  has  three  children  by  her  former  marriage: 
Hugh,  Ben  and  Bettie.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  W.  have  one  son.  Politically,  the 
doctor  in  a  Democrat,  and  he  is  also  a  Mason. 

I.  M.  WOODALL, 

county  treasurer  and  one  of  the  most  worthy  and  popular  officials  of  St. 
Clair  County,  was  born  in  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  in  May,  1845,  and 
was  the  son  of  Christopher  Woodall,  of  Virginia,  who  came  to  this  state 
in  1840.  The  mother  of  I.  M.  was  formerly  Margaret  Simms,  who  was 
born  in  Virginia,  and  died  in  1847.  ^Ii"-  ^V.  died  in  1858.  They  left 
six  children,  of  whom  our  subject  is  the  youngest.  He  made  the  best 
use  of  his  limited  opportunities  for  acquiring  an  education  in  youth. 
He  now  owns  a  farm  of  265  acres  on  section  21,  in  Collins  Township. 
He  was  collector  under  the  township  organization,  and  has  been  a  lead- 
ing citizen  in  the  township  and  county  for  many  years.  In  1882  he  was 
elected  county  treasurer,  and  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  office  Janu- 
ary I,  1883.  He  enlisted  in  the  Fifteenth  Missouri  Cavalry,  Company 
M.  for  two  years,  and  was  mustered  out  at  Springfield,  Missouri,  July 
17,  1865.  Mr.  Woodall  married  Miss  Minnie  Fletcher  in  1867.  She  was 
the  daughter  of  Nathan  and  Sarah  (Barnctt)  Fletcher,  of  Georgia.  They 
have  four  children:  John  D.,  William,  Sarah  Margaret  and  James  F'ran- 
cis.      Mr.  W.  is  a  Democrat  and  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  II03 


APPLETO.N  TOWNSHIP. 


1 5"SE\rS^>=«rzS^(> 


JOHN  R.  BAUGH, 

dealer  in  drugs  and  druggists'  sundries,  is  a  native  of  Tippecanoe  County, 
Indiana,  and  was  born  October  23,  1841.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm  and 
received  his  education  in  the  schools  of  the  county  of  his  birth,  being 
engaged  in  farming  until  October,  1866.  He  then  came  to  Henry  County, 
Missouri,  and  embarked  in  the  drug  business  at  Leesville  where  he 
remained  until  1880,  when  he  removed  to  Appleton  City.  In  1882  he 
again  established  himself  in  the  drug  business,  having  at  that  time  built 
his  present  large  brick  business  house.  Mr.  Baugh  was  married  March 
I,  1865,  to  Miss  Eliza  J.  Campbell,  of  Ohio.  They  have  two  children: 
Mary  F.  and  Frederick  P.  Mr.  B.  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity.    In  1882  he  was  one  of  the  councilmen  of  Appleton  City. 

ROBERT  L.  BOOTH, 

of  the  firm  of  Sutmiller  &  Co.,  dealers  in  hardware,  etc.,  was  born  in 
Ann  Arbor,  Michigan,  December  13,  1847.  When  nine  years  of  age  he 
removed  with  his  family  to  Green  County,  Wisconsin,  where  he  was 
brought  up  and  educated.  When  eighteen  years  of  age  he  began  work- 
ing at  the  tinners'  trade  at  Monroe,  Wisconsin,  and  was  so  occupied  till 
August,  1869,  when  he  went  to  Ottawa,  Kansas.  Three  months  later 
he  located  in  Decatur,  Illinois,  and  after  remaining  there  six  weeks  he 
came  to  Appleton  City  and  entered  the  employ  of  Luchinger  &  Streifif^ 
with  whom  he  continued  till  1875.  Then  he  became  a  partner  in  the 
firm  of  Butler  &  Booth,  hardware  dealers,  this  relation  existing  till 
October,  1876,  when,  with  his  present  partner,  he  engaged  in  the  hard- 
ware trade  at  Schell  City,  Missouri,  in  April,  1877.  They  carried  on. 
business  there  until  removing  their  stock  to  Appleton  City  in  1880.  Mr. 
Booth  was  married  September  i,  1872,  to  Miss  Maria  J.  Belt,  of  Missouri. 
They  have  one  child,  Henley  C.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and 
A.  O.  U.  W.  fraternities.     He  also  belongs  to  the  Christian  Church. 

JOHN  BURNS, 

section  17,  originally  from  Scotland,  was  born  December  25,  1826.  His 
father,  James   Burns,   was   a   native  of  Banfshire,  Scotland,  and    was   a 


1104  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

descendant  of  the  famil}-  from  which  Robert  Burns,  the  poet  came. 
John's  mother,  formerly  Isabella  McKinzie,  was  also  born  in  Scotland. 
They  reared  a  family  of  ten  children,  of  whom  he  was  the  >'oungest. 
James  Burns  died  in  1833,  and  his  widow's  death  occurred  in  1834.  John 
was  thus  left  an  orphan  when  in  his  ninth  year.  When  but  sixteen  years 
of  age  he  enlisted  in  the  English  army,  and  served  three  years  and  four 
months,  during  which  time  he  was  over  a  large  portion  of  England,  Ire- 
land and  his  native  country..  After  his  service  in  the  English  army  he 
returned  to  Scotland,  and  was  engaged  in  tunnel  mining  till  1849,  ^vhen 
he  emigrated  to  America  and  located  in  DuPage  County,  Illinois,  farming 
there  till  November,  1869.  He  then  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri, 
and  settled  on  his  present  place  which  includes  214  acres  of  improved 
land.  Mr.  Burns  was  married  December  7,  1848,  to  Miss  Margaret 
Nesbit.  also  a  native  of  Scotland.  They  have  seven  children:  James, 
Robert,  Jennie,  William,  Thomas,  Carrie  and  Daisy.  Three  are  deceased: 
Mary,  Isabelle,  and  an  infant.  They  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church. 

ABRAM  BUSKIRK. 

P'ew  men  in  this  county  are  as  prominently  known  in  connection 
with  the  stock  business  and  farming  interests  of  this  vicinity  as  the  sub- 
ject (Tf  this  sketch.  He  is  a  native  of  Tompkins  County,  New  York, 
and  was  born  November  9,  1841.  His  parents,  George  and  Anna  (Bron- 
dyke)  Buskirk,  came  originally  from  Allegheny  County,  Pennsylvania. 
The  father  died  in  1849  and  his  mother  died  in  1811.  Abram,  left  an 
orphan  at  the  age  of  ten  years,  was  subsequently  reared  in  the  family  of 
Moses  Barker  of  that  county,  till  fifteen  years  old,  when  he  went  to 
Kendall  County,  Illinois,  there  working  at  farming  for  two  years.  In 
1858  he  too^:  a  trip  to  California,  reaching  that  state  in  January,  1869, 
and  was  occupied  in  mining  and  logging  till  July,  1877.  In  November, 
1877,  he  came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  and  in  December,  following, 
settled  in  St.  Clair  County  on  his  present  place.  His  landed  estate  con- 
sists of  1,000  acres  of  land,  220  of  which  are  the  home  place  and  upon  it 
he  has  one  of  the  finest  brick  residences  in  the  county.  March  7,  1878, 
Mr.  Buskirk  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Flora  Moore,  a  native  of 
New  York.  They  have  five  children.  Anna.  Etta,  Nellie,  Ethel  and 
Frank. 

PAUL  E.  CALMES.  M.  D., 

was  born  in  Clark  County,  Kentucky,  May  7,  1841.  His  father,  John 
W.  Calmes,  a  native  of  Woodford  County,  Kentucky,  married  Miss  Ann 
Evans,  originally  of  Clark  County.  They  reared  five  children,  Paul  E. 
being  the  oldest.  When  he  was  sixteen  \-ears  old  the  famih-  moved  to 
Lexington,  Missouri,  and  in  the  fall  of  1S59  ^t.'  began  the  stud\-  of  medi- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  IIO5 

cine  with  Dr.  Alexander  ot  that  city.  This  he  continued  until  the  sprinq- 
of  1861,  when  he  enlisted  in  Captain  Wilson's  company  of  Missouri 
State  Guard.  He  served  until  the  disbandment  of  the  company,  and 
then  he  returned  to  Lexington  and  resumed  his  studies  under  Dr.  Wil- 
liam Ruffin  until  the  fall  of  1864,  when  he  went  south  as  a  soldier  under 
General  Price.  In  the  winters  of  1866-7  and  1867-8  he  attended  lec- 
tures at  Louisville,  and  was  graduated  in  the  latter  year.  After  prac- 
ticing in  Jackson,  Lafayette  and  Bates  Counties  until  December,  1869, 
he  came  to  Appleton  City,  where  he  has  since  been  a  prominent  and 
successful  practitioner.  Dr.  Calmes  was  married  October  24,  1872,  to 
Miss  Fannie  Churchill,  of  Kentucky.  He  is  a  member  of  the  L  O.  O.  F. 
fraternity.  The  doctor  attended  the  Louisville  Medical  College  during 
terms  of  1877-8,  and  received  a  diploma  from  this  institution  in  the 
spring  of  1878. 

WILLIAM  W.  CHAPEL, 

attorney  at  law  and  notary  public,  is  a  native  of  Chenango  County,  New 
York,  and  was  born  September  i,  1839.  He  was  reared  in  the  county  of 
his  birth,  and  was  educated  at  the  academy  of  Cincinnatus,  New  York. 
In  1859  hs  attended  a  term  of  the  law  school  of  Albany,  New  York,  and 
in  September,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  late  war  in  Company  C,  157th 
New  York  Volunteer  Regiment,  remaining  in  the  service  till  mustered 
out  at  Charleston,  North  Carolina,  July  10,  1865.  .  Returning  home  he 
was  engaged  in  farming  till  November,  1867,  when  he  moved  to  Hamil- 
ton, Caldwell  County,  Missouri,  and  embarked  in  the  real  estate  business 
and  the  practice  of  law,  being  admitted  to  the  bar  of  that  county  in 
February,  1868.  In  March,  1882,  he  came  to  Appleton  City  and  has 
since  been  successfully  occupied  in  the  practice  of  law.  Mr.  Chapel  was 
married  December  13,  1865,  to  Miss  Alice  G.  Pritchard,  a  native  of  New 
York.  They  had  four  children:  Minnie,  Mary,  William  and  Frank. 
He  was  again  married  March  4,  1875,  to  Miss  Alice  Penny,  of  Missouri. 
Mr.  C.  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 

WILLIAM  D.  CLARK 

was  born  February,  18,  i8z:i4,  in  DuPage  County,  Illinois.  His  father,  David 
K.  Clark  came  from  New  York  when  a  boy,  .and  his  father  built  the  first 
frame  house  erected  in  Chicago.  His  mother's  maiden  name  was  Mary 
Jarvis,  born  in  Rochester,  New  York.  William  was  third  in  a  family  of 
five  children.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  went  to  Wausekea,  Minnesota, 
where  he  remained  three  years.  Returning,  he  enlisted  in  February, 
1862,  in  Company  F,  Fifty-third  Illinois  Volunteers,  and  in  the  battle  of 
Jackson,  Mississippi,  October  5,  1863  he  was  wounded  in  the  lower 
limb  and  for  some  time  was  in  hospital  at  Vicksburg,  and  afterwards  in 


II06  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

Chicago.  As  soon  as  able  he  was  assigned  duty  at  Camp  Douglass, 
where  he  remained  till  1865,  when  he  was  discharged.  In  1867,  Mr.  Clark- 
came  to  Missouri,  and  engaged  in  farming  in  St.  Clair  County.  In  1874  he 
embarked  in  the  grocery  business  at  Appleton  City,  which  he  has  since 
continued,  now  enjoying  about  the  finest  trade  in  the  city.  He  was  married 
November  8,  1870,  to  Miss  Matilda  Walker,  a  native  of  Madison  County, 
Indiana.  They  have  two  children  living  :  Ora  M.,  and  Ethel  E.  Mr. 
Clark  has  been  entrusted  with  some  official  position  nearly  all  the  time 
since  living  in  the  town.  He  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  fraternity 
and  is  connected  with  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

JOSEPH  CLARK. 

section  24,  was  born  November  30,  1848,  in  Macoupin  County,  Illinois, 
his  parents  being  Randall  and  Lucy  Gray)  Clark.  The  former  was  a 
native  of  South  Carolina  and  the  latter  was  a  Virginian  by  birth.  They 
moved  to  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  in  an  early  day  and  there  reared 
thirteen  children,  of  whom  Joseph  was  the  si.xth.  He  grew  up  on  a 
farm  at  his  birth  place,  and  there  remained  until  October.  1871,  when  he 
settled  in  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri.  Here  he  now  owns  a  farm  of  24O 
acres  of  land.  Mr.  Clark  was  married  August  9,  1871,  to  Miss  Jane 
Walker,  a  native  of  Illinois.  To  them  have  been  born  seven  children: 
Edgar  F.,  Theodore  E.,  Bertha,  Branton  L.,  Ethel  O.,  Valentine  and 
Katie. 

MORRIS  S.  DAVIS 

was  born  in  Yates  County,  New  York,  January  16,  18 16.  His  father, 
Malachi  Davis,  was  a  native  of  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  and  his 
mother,  formerly  Catherine  Kress,  was  born  in  the  same  state.  They 
reared  eight  children,  Morris  being  the  second.  When  he  was  eight 
years  old  the  family  removed  to  Allegany  County,  New  York,  where  he 
grew  up,  and  from  his  fifteenth  j^ear  he  was  engaged  at  the  trade  of 
cabinet  maker,  which  he  continued  three  years.  For  the  following  three 
years  he  worked  at  the  millwright  trade,  and  then  gave  his  attention  to 
carpentering  and  farming  till  1869.  Moving  to  Bates  County,  Missouri, 
remained  till  October,  1870,  then  coming  to  Appleton  City,  where  he 
embarked  in  the  hardware,  business,  opening  the  first  store  of  the  kind 
in  this  city.  He  received  the  first  bill  of  goods  which  entered  the  place, 
obtaining  them  before  the  town  was  named.  After  two  years  of  mer- 
cantile life  he  disposed  of  his  stock.  In  1872  he  was  appointed  justice 
of  the  peace,  and  in  1873  was  elected  to  the  same  position,  and  served 
by  re-election  nine  years.  During  that  time  he  was  a  notary  public  and 
still  holds  this  position.  He  is  now  a  member  of  the  city  council.  Mr. 
Davis  was  married  June  16.  1839,  to  Miss  Hester  Ketchum,  of  Allegany 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  I  lOf 

County,  New  York.  They  have  three  children:  Freeman  I.,  Latanius 
M.  and  Lavina  M.,  the  latter  two  being  twins. 

JAMES  DITTY, 

section  35.  Prominent  among-  the  pioneer  settlers  of  this  county  is 
James  Ditty,  who  was  born  June  27,  18 17,  in  Wythe  County,  West  Vir- 
ginia. His  parents  were  Abraham  and  Jennie  (Ferguson)  Ditty  and 
while  he  was  yet  in  his  infancy  they  removed  to  Tennessee  and  settled 
in  what  is  now  Putnam  County.  In  1839  James  Ditty  came  to  St.  Clair 
County  and  settled  where  he  now  resides.  He  has  been  married  three 
times,  first  to  Miss  Charlotte  Fergus,  December  8,  1842.  She  died  in 
the  following  November  and  April  14,  1850,  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
Burke,  who  died  October  26.  1862,  leaving  four  children:  John  B.,  Samuel 
H.,  Frances  J.  and  James  A.  His  present  wife  was  Miss  Susan  Sproul, 
a  native  of  Missouri.  They  were  married  November  5,  1864,  and  have 
five  children:  Francis  R.,  Pike  M.,  Dilly  A.,  Nora  and  Elizabeth.  Mn 
Ditty  has  a  farm  of  33s  acres,  300  of  which  are  well  improved.  He  is 
one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  his  section  of  the  county  and  has  done 
much  in  developing  the  interests  of  St.  Clair  County. 

ABRAM  C.  DITTY, 

section  26.  One  of  the  oldest  settlers  of  St.  Clair  County,  is  he  whose 
name  heads  this  sketch.  Mr.  Ditty  has  lived  in  this  county  nearly  half 
a  century,  having  been  brought  here  in  1838,  when  but  one  j^ear  old. 
He  was  born  in  the  adjoining  county  of  Henry  on  November  3,  1837, 
his  father  subsequently  settling  on  the  farm,  upon  which  the  son  now 
lives.  The  senior  Ditty  dying  in  1847,  the  remainder  of  the  family 
returned  to  Tennessee,  where  Abram  lived  with  his  grandfather  until 
sixteen  years  old,  when  he  again  came  to  St.  Clair  County.  In  1862  he 
served  a  short  time  in  Company  E,  Sixteenth  Regim-ent,  and  in  1864  in 
Company  A,  Wood's  Battalion  of  Price's  army,  and  was  with  the  forces 
at  the  surrender  at  Shreveport  in  May,  1865.  Spending  a  few  months  in 
Saline  County,  he  then  came  back  to  St.  Clair  in  August  of  the  same 
year,  and  on  the  22d  of  the  following  February  was  married  to  Miss 
Fannie  Yonce,  daughter  of  Andrew  Yonce.  She  was  born  in  St.  Clair 
County  October  ii,  1840.  Seven  children  have  been  born  to  them:  Wil- 
liam F.,  Robert  E.,  James  iVf.,  OUie  N.,  Charles  A.,  Wade  H.  and  Edna 
E.  Mr.  Ditty's  farm  contains  140  acres,  well  improved,  upon  which,  at 
a  cost  of  several  hundred  dollars,  he  has  built  a  commodious  house.  He 
is  prominent  in  the  educational  matters  of  this  district. 


U08  IlISTORV    OK   ST.    CLAIR    COUN'IY. 

JOSIAM   DODGE 

was  born  in  Wasliington  County,  Tennessee,  November  19.  1827.  lie 
was  there  reared  till  seventeen  years  of  age,  when  he  settled  in  Pulaski 
County,  Missouri,  engaging  in  farming.  In  184C  he  enlisted  in  the  Mexi- 
can war  under  Captain  Stein  at  Fort  Leavenworth,  Kansas,  and  served 
in  Company  D.,  First  Dragoons  of  Kentucky,  till  September  28,  1848. 
During  his  service  he  was  wounded  with  a  lance  in  the  thigh,  and  at 
Tucker's  Bayou  was  thrown  from  his  horse,  which  disabled  him  for  some 
time.  In  1848  he  returned  to  Pulaski  County,  Missouri,  where  he 
remained  till  i8;)0.  Emigrating  to  California,  he  mined  and  dealt  in 
stock  till  September,  1879.  when  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri. 
He  has  a  fine  farm  of  200  acres  under  cultivation.  Mr.  Dodge  was  mar- 
ried September  8,  1853,  to  Miss  Lucy  Willoughby.  They  had  six  child- 
ren, four  of  whom  are  living:  Ellen,  Charles,  Jefferson  and  William. 
Mrs.  Dodge's  death  occurred  in  January,  1863.  He  was  again  married 
January  18,  1864,  to  Miss  Margaret  Underwood,  of  Jackson  County,  Mis- 
souri-. They  had  one  child,  Josiah  B.  His  second  wife  died  in  August, 
1866,  and  he  was  subsequently  married  to  Elizabeth  Fames  September 
28.  1868.  His  present  wife  was  formerly  Betty  Kirby,  a  native  of  Ten- 
nessee. They  have  had  five  children:  Kirby,  Lydia,  Lucy,  Jeriel  and 
Jessie. 

FREDOLIN  EGGER, 

was  born  June  5,  1827,  in  canton  of  Glarus,  Switzerland,  being  the  oldest 
of  five  children,  born  to  John  B.  P^gger  and  his  wife,  formerh'  Anna 
Elmer.  During  the  persecution  of  the  followers  of  Martin  Luther  in 
1530,  the  Egger  family  emigrated  from  Austria  to  Switzerland,  where 
for  many  years  they  occupied  a  prominent  position  in  the  history  of  that 
country.  Fredolin  Egger,  grandfather  of  Fredolin  was  a  leading  citizen 
of  the  canton  of  Glarus,  one  of  the  first  manufacturers  of  Switzerland, 
and  very  prominent  in  the  state  until  his  accidental  death  in  18 17  in  the 
fifty-sixth  year  of  his  age.  His  son,  John  Balthasar  Egger  was  born  June 
5,  1794,  in  the  canton  of  Glarus,  where  he  was  a  manufacturer  of  paper. 
He  died  in  1870.  The  maternal  grandfather  of  Fredolin  was  John  Henry 
Elmer,  a  well  known  politician  of  Switzerland,  and  at  one  time  ambass- 
ador to  Sardinia,  and  representative  of  his  canton  in  the  Swiss  Congress. 
His  son,  Jacob  Elmer  also  represented  the  canton  of  Glarus  in  council. 
Fredolin  Egger  attended  the  high  schools  of  his  canton  until  sixteen 
years  old,  when  he  was  sent  to  the  university  of  Lausanne,  Switzerland. 
On  leaving  college  he  traveled  for  one  year  through  France.  Returning 
home  he  became  salesman  and  traveling  agent  for  his  father,  and  was 
thus  engaged  until  1850.  In  that  jear  he  came  to  America,  traveled 
through  the  Mississippi  valley,  and  located  in    the  Swiss  colony  of  New 


^ 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  IIO9 

Glarus,  Wisconsin.  At  that  place  he  was  occupied  in  merchandising 
until  1853,  when  he  returned  to  Switzerland.  In  the  spring  of  1854, 
having  been  appointed  agent  for  the  colony  he  returned  to  Wisconsin 
and  for  two  years  performed  duties  pertaining  to  his  position.  He 
received  high  commendation  from  his  employers  in  the  form  of  a  written 
certificate,  as  follows  : 

The  undersigned  emigrant  committee  certify  by  these  presents  that 
Messrs,  Fredolin  Egger  and  Frederick  Streiff,  of  New  Glarus,  Wiscon- 
sin, appointed  by  power  of  attorney,  dated  1854.  as  our  representatives, 
have  as  such  affected  a  complete  liquidation  of  the  interests  of  our 
society  in  the  colony  of  New  Glarus,  to  our  entire  satisfaction,  and  that 
we  have  found  their  accounts  with  us  in  perfect  conformity,  as  well  as 
duly  received  the  ultimate  balance  in  favor  of  this  society. 

The  undersigned  regard  it  further  as  their  duty  to  testify  their  sin- 
cere thanks  to  said  Messrs.  Egger  and  Streiff,  for  the  intelligent  and 
energetic  manner  in  which  they  have  conducted  our  affairs  in  the  colony, 
relieving  them  herewith  of  all  and  every  responsibility  in  this  matter. 

At  the  same  time,  and  in  conclusion,  the  undersigned  cannot  help 
expressing  their  deep  regret  at  the  ungrateful  behavior  on  the  part  of 
our  former  countrymen  who  have  enjoyed  our  protection  have  blamed 
themselves  by  the  continual  vexation  of  ourselves  and  of  our  said  rep- 
resentatives. 

Done  in  Schwanden,  Canton  of  Glarus,  Switzerland. 

To  the  President  of  the  Emigration  Committee. 

[SEAL]  PETER  JENNY, 

Counselor  and  Member  of  Government. 

Mr.  E.  acted  as  agent  for  the  colony  for  two  years  and  at  the  end  of 
that  time  started  in  the  mercantile  and  private  banking  business.  He 
also  served  as  postmaster  and  justice  of  the  peace  until  1874  when  not 
being  suited  with  the  condition  of  the  country  and  wishing  to  change 
his  business  he  settled  at  Appleton  City,  St.  Claii  County,  Missouri,  and 
engaged  in  the  banking  business.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Swiss  Reformed 
Church  and  also  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  was  married  April 
22,  1854,  to  Miss  Anna  Streiff,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Anna  (Elmer) 
Streiff,  of  the  Canton  of  Glarus,  of  Switzerland.  They  had  eleven  child- 
ren, six  of  whom  are  living:  John  B.,  Thomas,  Fredolin,  Catherine, 
Fannie  and  Anna.  Mrs.  Egger  died  December  21,  1865,  and  Mr.  E. 
was  married  June  10,   1866,  to  his  second  wife,  Mrs.  Catharine  (Zweife) 

Walcher. 

JACOB  J.  EYE, 

section  4,  is  a  native  of  Pendleton  County,  West  Virginia,  and  was  born 
October  20,  1840,  He  was  brought  up  in  the  occupation  of  farming,  and 
continued  it  at  his  birthplace  till  March,  1870,  when  he  came  to  Missouri, 
locating  in  Henry  County,  near  the  St.  Clair  County  line.  In  1872,  he 
settled  on  his  present  farm.  He  has  a  fine  tract  of  282  acres,  well 
improved.     Mr.  Eye  was  married    May  10,  1862,  to   Miss   T.  Davis,  who 


mo  HISTORY   OF    ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY. 

came  originally  from  West  Virginia.  They  have  eight  children:  Mar\- 
r.,  Floyd  D.,  Ulra  C,  Jacob  F.,  Robert  L.,  James  V.,  Gertie  M.,  and  an 
infant.  Mr.  E.  was  a  soldier  in  Company  K,  Twenty-fifth  Virginia  Reg- 
iment, and  served  through  the  war. 

WALTER  R.  FARNHAM 

was  born  in  Genesee  County,  New  York,  June  24,  1835.  In  1842  his 
father's  family  removed  to  Erie  County,  New  York,  where  thej-  resided 
till  1850,  in  that  year  going  to  Winnebago  County,  Illinois.  Here  Wal- 
ter farmed  till  May,  i86g,  when  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri, 
locating  on  a  farm  near  where  Appleton  City  now  stands.  Since  his 
arrival  in  this  county  he  has  improved  several  farms  and  has  done  more 
than  his  share  toward  the  improvement  of  this  township.  He  settled 
on  his  present  place,  which  consists  of  250  acres,  200  being  in  one  bod\', 
in  the  spring  of  1883.  Mr.  Farnham  was  married  February  10,  1861,  to 
Miss  Clara  A.  Mann,  a  native  of  Canada,  born  August  ii,  1832.  They 
have  three  children  living:    Etta  A.,  Helen  M.  and  Eunice  F. 

THOMAS  F.  GEORGE, 

section  7,  a  native  of  Logan  County,  Ohio,  was  born  August  23,  1833. 
When  four  years  of  age  he  accompanied  the  family  to  Madison  Count}-, 
Indiana,  where  he  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm,  there  receiving  his 
education.  In  1863  he  enlisted  in  Company  B,  134th  Indiana  Regiment, 
serving  till  October,  1865,  and  in  that  year  he  moved  to  Jackson  County. 
Missouri.  After  residing  there  three  years  he  came  to  St.  Clair  Count}-, 
settling  where  he  now  resides  in  the  spring  of  1869.  His  farm  consists 
of  eighty-two  acres.  Mr.  George  was  married  March  4,  1S54,  to  Miss 
Prudence  Cumins,  a  native  of  Ohio.  They  have  one  child,  Francis. 
They  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

HARRY  M.  GRANTLEY, 

attorney  and  notary  public,  a  leading  and  enterprising  man  of  Apple- 
ton  City,  was  born  at  Oxford,  England,  July  lO, 'iSSO,  and  is  the  seventh 
of  ten  children  of  an  old  established  English  family.  At  the  age  of 
seventeen  years  he  came  to  New  York,  where  he  remained  until  1S71, 
when,  moving  further  west,  he  located  at  Hloomington,  Illinois.  October 
2,  1872,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Susan  Dimmitt,  daughter  of 
William  Dimmitt,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Bloomington.  In  the  spring 
of  1874,  Mr.  Grantley  came  to  Missouri  and  located  at  Butler  where  he 
lived  a  short  time,  then  choosing  Appleton  Cit}-  as  a  more  desirable 
point  to  enter  into  the   jiractice   of  his   profession.      He  was  soon  after 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  IIII 

admitted  to  the  bar  of  St.  Clair  County  and  has  since  been  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  law.  He  has  shown  a  commendable  public  spiritedness 
in  promoting  the  interests  of  the  town,  and  is  the  spring  of  1881  erected, 
at  a  cost  of  $17,000,  the  Durley  Opera  House.  He  is  identified  with  the 
I.  O.  O.  F.  and  is  a  Knight  Templar.  Mr.  Grantley  and  wife  have  five 
children:     Edith  M.,  Alice  S.,  Arthur  W.,  Harry  W.  and  Grace  E. 

JOHN  D.  HEDRICK, 

dealer  in  clothing  and  gent's  furnishing  goods,  is  a  native  of  Bates 
County,  Missouri,  and  was  born  January  10,  1847.  He  was  reared  on 
his  father's  farm  till  thirteen  years  of  age,  when  he  left  home,  and  was 
engaged  in  farm  work  till  June,  1862,  then  enlisting  in  Company  D,  Ninth 
Kansas  Cavalry,  and  serving  till  July,  1865.  Going  to  St.  Clair  County, 
Illinois,  he  remained  three  months,  then  returned  to  Bates  County,  Mis- 
souri, where  he  farmed  two  years.  In  1872,  he  came  to  Appleton  City 
with  a  team  of  mules  and  a  wagon,  which  he  traded  for  a  small  stock  of 
groceries,  giving  in  addition  his  note  for  seventy-five  dollars.  By  hon- 
esty, perseverance  and  energy,  he  has  attained  the  well  merited  position 
of  being  recognized  as  one  of  the  successful  and  solid  merchants  of  this 
city.  In  1875,  he  added  a  general  stock  of  goods,  and  the  following  year 
his  brother,  C.  O.  Hedrick,  became  a  member  of  the  firm,  which  was 
known  as  Hedrick  Brothers,  till  August,  1882.  Then  John  Hedrick  took 
charge  of  the  clothing  department,  and  has  since  continued  the  same. 
He  carries  a  large  stock  of  goods,  and  is  doing  a  prosperous  business. 
Mr.  H.  was  married,  November  19,  1875,  to  Miss  Mary  M.  Compton,  of 
Bates  County,  Missouri.  They  have  five  children:  Frank  D.,  Charlie, 
Roy  C,  Lulu  and  Otto.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  the  A. 
O.  U.  W.  fraternities. 

CHARLES  HILTON 

is  the  popular  editor  of  the  Appleton  City  Journal.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  came  originally  from  Washington  County,  Virginia,  where  he 
was  born  May  11,  1856.  He  resided  in  that  vicinity  till  1868,  when  the 
family  removed  to  Marion,  Illinois.  There  he  began  learning  the  print- 
ing trade  in  1870,  which  he  continued  till  1878.  Coming  to  Appleton 
City,  he  held  a  position  on  the  Voice  of  the  People  for  two  years,  and 
worked  on  the  cases  of  the  Advocate  at  Clinton,  Missouri,  for  six 
months.  Going  to  Osceola  he  resumed  his  connection  with  the  Voice 
of  the  People,  being  its  local  editor,  for  ten  months,  when  he  accepted 
the  foremanship  of  the  Journal  office  in  this  city.  In  November,  1882, 
he  became  its  editor  and  publisher.  Mr.  Hilton  was  married  January 
22,  1882,  to  Miss  Anna  Barnes,  a  native  of  Osceola,  Missouri.  Mr.  H, 
deserves  great  credit  for  the  success  which  he   has   made   in  his  profes- 


I  I  12  HISTORY   OF   ST.   CLAIR   COUNTY. 

sion.  He  was  left  an  orphan  at  an  early  age,  and  his  efforts  to  rise  in 
life  were  made  under  many  difficulties,  and,  though  enemies  assailed  him 
on  every  point,  he  has  risen»steadily  and  received  a  well  merited  posi- 
tion. He  publishes  one  of  the  best  papers  in  the  county,  and  his  repu- 
tation as  an  honest,  upright  man  is  well  known. 

ELIAS  HINKLEY, 

section  23,  was  born  in  Dauphin  County,  Pennsylvania,  May  8,  1830. 
When  he  was  ten  years  of  age  his  father  removed  to  Richland  County, 
Ohio,  and  four  years  after  to  Noble  County,  Indiana.  About  1856  Elias 
spent  one  year  in  Wisconsin,  but  returned  to  Indiana,  where  he  resided 
until  1866.  From  that  time  until  1879,  when  he  came  to  Missouri,  he 
was  engaged  in  milling  in  Michigan  in  the  counties  of  Eaton  and  Mont- 
calm. Since  coming  to  this  state  Mr.  Hinkley  has  been  farming,  and 
now  has  a  well  improved  farm  of  eighty  acres.  He  was  married  Octo- 
ber 20,  1855,  to  Miss  Mary  J.  Warner,  a  native  of  Ohio.  They  have 
seven  children:  Corydon  D.,  Ada,  Leora,  Cassias  M.,  Harry  B.,  C.  C. 
and  Bertie  E. 

JAMES  HODKINS 

was  born  November  14,  1830,  in  Brown  County,  Ohio,  being  the  fifth  of 
seven  children  and  the  only  one  now  living.  His  father,  also  named 
James,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  was  born  near  Lexington  in  1795.  His 
mother's  maiden  name  was  Sarah  Cross,  born  about  the  same  time  as 
her  husband  in  Brown  County,  Ohio.  Their  lives  were  spent  in  Ohio, 
both  dying  some  twenty  years  ago.  Young  Hodkins  was  reared  on  the 
home  farm,  and  in  his  eighteenth  year  he  began  to  teach  school,  which 
he  followed  for  several  years.  He  had  taken  a  course  in  vocal  music  at 
the  Musical  Academy  of  Decatur,  Ohio,  and  employed  some  of  his  time 
as  instructor  of  music.  In  1855  he  began  a  mercantile  business  at  Hig- 
ginsport,  Ohio,  which  he  followed  until  1869,  when  he  located  at  Hud- 
son, Missouri,  and  in  1870  came  to  Appleton  City,  opening  the  first  store 
at  that  place.  After  remaining  here  three  years  he  went  to  the  Osage 
Iron  Works,  where  he  managed  the  company's  store  for  some  months. 
He  then  returned  and  for  three  years  had  charge  of  the  Galena  House, 
now  Appleton  House.  For  about  seven  years  Mr.  Hodkins  has  been 
bookkeeper  for  Wyckoff  &  McFarlane  and  has  repeatedly  held  the  office 
of  justice  of  the  peace,  and  being  a  prominent  school  man,  has  been 
placed  upon  the  school  board,  where  he  has  done  much  to  advance  the 
interests  of  the  public  school  of  this  city.  He  was  married  October  14, 
1S56,  to  Miss  Henrietta  Bryan,  a  native  of  the  same  state  as  himself. 
Her  death  occurred  October  i,  1876,  she  leaving  four  children:  Sallie  1^., 
Charles   E.,  living,  and    Olive    H.  and   Clarence    M.,  now   dead.     Mr.  H. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  III3 

was  again  married  April  21,  1880,  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Bryrus,  also  of  Ohio. 
They  have  one  child,  Mary  C.  Mr.  Hodkins  has  been  a  Mason  for  nearly 
thirty  years. 

JOHN  R.  HOPKINS, 

attorney,  dealer  in  real  estate  and  collecting  agent,  was  born  in  Clinton 
County  Kentucky,  February  12,  1843.  He  lived  there  till  1850,  when 
the  family  removed  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  and  here  John  was 
principally  reared,  following  the  occupation  of  farming.  In  August, 
1862,  he  enlisted  in  Company  B.,  Sixteenth  Missouri  Regiment,  Confed- 
erate States  Army,  and  served  till  parolled  at  Shreveport,  Louisiana, 
June  8,  1865.  He  then  went  to  Paris  Texas,  where  he  remained  till 
November,  1865,  when  he  returned  to  this  county.  In  the  spring  of 
1866  he  made  a  trip  to  Montana  Territory.  After  his  return  he  resumed 
•farming  until  1868,  when  he  embarked  in  the  business  at  Chalk  Level, 
there  continuing  till  September,  1870.  The  succeeding  two  years  he 
was  in  business  in  Lowry  City,  Missouri.  In  1872  he  removed  to  Osce- 
ola and  edited  the  St.  Clair  County  Democrat  for  three  years.  Coming 
to  Appleton  City,  Missouri,  he  engaged  in  the  drug  business  under  the 
firm  name  of  F.  McCrary  &  Co.,  and  afterwards  W.  G.  Browning  &  Co., 
which  in  one  year  was  changed  to  Hopkins  &  Woodberry.  They  sold 
out  in  June,  1881.  Mr.  H.  then,  with  his  former  partner,  embarked  in 
the  wholesale  cigar  and  tobacco  business  in  Kansas  City,  and  he  is  still 
interested  in  this  business.  In  May,  1882,  he  returned  to  this  city  and 
has  since  been  occupied  in  his  present  calling.  He  was  married  Octo- 
ber 31,  1867,  to  Miss  Martha  J.  Browning,  a  native  of  Missouri.  They 
have  four  children:  Susan  A.,  Emma,  Frank  and  Lizzie.  During  1866 
and  1867  he  held  the  position  of  deputy  sheriff.  Mr.  H.  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  fraternity  and  also  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 

GEORGE  W.  JOHN, 

of  the  firm  of  G.  W.  John  &  Co.,  grain  dealers,  owes  his  nativity  to 
Delaware  County,  Indiana,  where  he  was  born  March  24,  1833.  From 
his  fourteenth  year  he  was  reared  in  Wayne  County,  Indiana,  where  he 
also  received  his  education,  having  made  farming  his  occupation  from 
his  youth.  In  October,  1868,  he  emigrated  to  Missouri,  and  settled  near 
Roscoe,  St.  Clair  County,  and  was  there  engaged  in  farming  till  the  fall 
of  1872.  Locating  on  a  farm  on  Ohio  Prairie  he  followed  agricultural 
pursuits  till  June,  1878.  He  then  came  to  Appleton  City  and  embarked 
in  the  grain  business.  Mr.  John  was  married  May  18,  1853,  to  Miss 
Lucy  Goetel,  of  Pennsylvania.  They  have  five  children:  Curtis  E., 
Mary  V.,  Lincoln,  Hudson  B.  and  Elmer  E.  Mr.  J.  is  a  member  of  the 
I.  O.  O.  F.  fraternity.     He  belongs  to  the  M.  E.  Church. 


1114  HISTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

THOiMAi^W.  JUDY, 

farmer,  section  5,  a  native  of  Montgomery  County,  Kentuck)-,  was  born 
August  13,  1842,  his  parents  being  Jeremiah  V.  and  Lucelia  (Allen) 
Judy.  Kentuckians  by  birth.  The  former  died  in  April,  1862.  In  1843. 
the  family  removed  to  Cooper  County,  Missouri,  where  Thomas  grew  up 
on  a  farm.  In  1859,  he  emigrated  to  California,  and  was  there  engaged 
in  freighting  and  mining.  In  the  fall  of  1869.  he  returned  to  Cooper 
County,  Missouri,  and  the  following  spring  again  visited  California, 
embarking  in  mercantile  pursuits  at  Wheatland.  In  1879.  ^^  retraced 
his  steps  to  Missouri,  settling  in  St.  Clair  County.  He  now  has  a  fine 
farm  of  1 50  acres.  Mr.  Judy  was  married  June  28,  1874,  to  Miss  Nettie 
Kesner,  originally  from  Pennsylvania.  They  have  four  children:  Maud> 
Fred,  Murray  and  Harry.     He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  fraternit\'. 

MOSES  B.  KINCHELOE,  M.  D. 

Among  the  well  known  professional  men  of  St.  Clair  Count)'  may 
be  mentioned  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He  is  a  native  of  Spencer 
County,  Kentucky,  and  was  born  October  6,  1S45.  His  father,  Almanj'or 
Kincheloe,  was  also  born  in  that  county  P'ebruary  6,  1816,  and  his  grand- 
father, Jesse,  an  eminent  physician,  was  a  native  of  Virginia.  The 
mother  of  Moses,  formerly  Elvira  Buckner,  was  born  in  Spencer  County 
July  4,  182 1.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Moses  V.  Buckner,  who  was  born 
in  that  county  April  12,  1799.  Moses  B.  was  the  second  child  ot  a  fam- 
ily of  five  children.  His  mother's  death  occurred  in  October,  1856,  and 
his  early  life  was  spent  in  acquiring  his  primary  education  and  working 
on  a  farm.  In  1868  he  took  a  literary  course  at  the  Georgetown  College 
ot  Kentucky.  In  1869  he  taught  school  and  passed  his  leisure  hours  in 
reading  medicine  under  Dr.  H.  D.  Rodman.  He  attended  the  Medical 
University  of  Louisville,  Kentucky,  and  afterward  settled  in  Bullitt 
County,  Kentucky.  In  1873  he  attended  another  course  of  lectures  and 
was  graduated  in  the  spring  of  1874.  In  1879  he  came  to  Appleton  Cit\'. 
Missouri,  and  opened  an  office.  In  the  spring  of  1S80  he  formed  a  part- 
nership with  Dr.  W.  E.  Shelton,  this  relation  existing  till  January,  1881, 
since  which  time  he  has  been  alone.  Dr.  K.  was  united  in  marriage 
July  7,  188 1,  to  Mrs.  Nannie  Neeley,  whose  maiden  name  was  Royce,  a 
native  of  Richmond,  Kentuck\-.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity. 

RICHARD  T.  KING. 

section  2,  was  born  in  Washington  County.  Tennessee,  November  28, 
1817.  He  was  reared  in  his  native  count}'  till  twenty  years  of  age.  His 
parents,  James  and  Lydia  (Tilton)  King,  were  of  Scotch-English  descent. 


J 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  II 15 

The  death  of  the  former  occurred  in  March,  1856,  his  widow  dying  in 
June,  1859.  When  twenty  years  old  James,  with  the  family,  removed  to 
McDonough  County,  Illinois,  where  he  resided  twelve  years.  Going  to 
Warren  County,  Illinois,  he  was  prominently  occupied  in  farming,  and 
there  he  still  owns  land.  In  September,  1879,  he  came  to  St.  Clair 
County,  Missouri,  and  in  February,  1879,  bought  and  settled  where  he 
now  resides.  He  has  160  acres  of  well  irriproved  farm  land  and  is  one 
of  our  substantial  farmers.  Mr.  King  was  married  November  28,  1839, 
to  Miss  Martha  A.  Holden,  a  native  of  Ohio.  They  have  eight  children: 
Phoebe,  William,  James  M.,  Jonathan  H.,  Mirah  H.,  Isabel  L.,  Franklin 
T.  and  Charles  W.  While  a  resident  of  Wan  en  County,  Illinois,  Mr. 
K.  was  supervisor  of  Pleasant  Township  and  a  justice  of  the  peace  for 
twelve  years. 

EDWARD  M.  KING. 

dealer  in  books,  stationery,  confectionery,  toys,  etc.,  was  born  in  Brown 
County,  Ohio,  February' 7,  1846.  He  was  reared  to  manhood  in  his  native 
county  and  in  1861-2  he  attended  the  Antioch  College,  of  Yellow  Springs, 
Ohio.  During  the  terms  of  1862-3-4,  he  was  a  student  at  the  Miami 
University  at  Oxford,  Ohio,  and  in  1864-5  he  took  a  commercial  course 
at  Bryant  &  Stratton's  College,  of  Cleveland.  In  January,  1865,  he  went 
to  Thibodaux,  Louisiana,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  grocery  and  pro- 
vision business  until  the  spring  of  1868.  Returning  to  Ohio,  he  remained 
at  home  until  the  fall  of  that  year.  He  then  came  to  Missouri,  settling 
in  Hudson,  Bates  County,  where  he  was  occupied  in  trade,  till  the  fall  of 
1869,  when  he  moved  his  stock  of  goods  to  Appleton  City.  The  firm 
was  at  that  time  known  as  King  &  Hcdkins.  They  erected  one  of  the 
first  buildings  in  the  place  and  were  occupied  in  the  grocery  trade  till 
the  spring  of  1872.  In  the  spring  of  1873,  Mr.  King  embarked  in  his 
present  business,  which  he  has  made  a  great  success.  He  was  united  in 
marriage  January  28,  1880,  with  Jennie  M.  Burton,  a  native  of  Randolph 
County,  Missouri.  They  have  one  child,  an  infant.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  order,  and  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

JOSEPH   KLEIN, 

of  the  firm  of  Klein  Bros.,  merchants  at  Appleton  City,  is  a  native  of 
Austria,  and  was  born  April  18,  1848.  When  he  was  nine  years  old  the 
family  emigrated  to  America  and  settled  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  where 
he  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  that  city.  When  eighteen 
years  of  age  he  began  to  learn  the  confectionery  trade  and  was  so 
engaged  for  four  years.  P^or  eighteen  months  thereafcer  he  was  occu- 
pied in  the  rope  works  in  New  St.  Louis.  There  he  was  employed  as 
salesman  for  different  firms  until  1870  when  he  engaged   in  the  clothing 


IIl6  HISTORY   OK   ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY. 

business.  In  1S73  he  came  to  this  city  and  clerked  for  S.  Klein  &  Bros. 
In  1876  he  became  a  member  of  the  firm.  Mr.  K.  was  married  April 
II,  1880,  to  Miss  Helen  Wolman,  a  native  of  Germany.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  belongs  to  Queen  City  Lod<^e,  No.  258,  I. 
O.  H.  R.,  of  Scdalia,  Missouri. 

PHILIP  KLEIN, 

of  the  well  known  establishment  of  Klein  Bros.,  came  originally  from 
Austria,  where  he  was  born  February  27,  1850.  When  he  was  about 
seven  years  old  the  family  came  to  America  and  settled  in  St.  Louis, 
Missouri.  When  sixteen  years  old  he  became  engaged  in  the  trade  of 
baker  in  St.  Louis,  working  for  thirteen  months.  Then  for  two  and  a 
half  years  he  was  occupied  with  his  father  in  the  pottery  business.  After 
being  employed  as  a  clerk  in  a  clothing  store  until  1863,  he  started  in 
the  clothing  business  with  his  brothers  in  St.  Louis.  In  1867  he  went  to 
Vicksburg,  Mississippi.  In  March,  1870,  he  came  to  Appleton  City,  and 
with  his  brother,  S.  Klein,  established  himself  in  business.  Mr.  K.  was 
married  April  6,  188 1,  to  Miss  Sarah  Sicher,  of  St.  Louis.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Queen  City  Lodge,  No.  258,  I.  O.  B.  B. 

ELIJAH  S.  KNOWLES, 

section  16,  is  a  native  of  Gibson  County,  Indiana,  and  was  born  Decem- 
ber 18,  1834.  When  three  years  old  he  was  brought  by  the  family  to 
Logan  County,  Illinois,  where  they  resided  till  1844.  They  then  removed 
to  Menard  County,  Illinois,  and  there  our  subject  was  engaged  in  farm- 
ing with  his  father  till  the  spring  of  1856.  Going  to  McClennan  Count\\ 
Texas,  he  resided  in  that  locality  till  1864,  when  visited  Mexico.  He 
traveled  extensively  through  that  country,  and  in  November,  1864, 
returned  to  Menard  County,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  till  February, 
1866.  Coming  thence  to  Butler  County,  Missouri,  he  farmed  till  the  fall 
of  1868,  and  then,  after  a  short  residence  in  Iron  County,  Missouri,  set- 
tled in  Washington  County,  Missouri.  November  13,  1872,  he  came  to 
St.  Clair  County,  and  in  the  spring  of  1873  located  on  his  farm,  which 
consists  of  120  acres.  Mr.  K.  is  a  class  leader  in  the  M.  E.  Church,  and 
a  well  known  Sunday  School  worker.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  I.  O. 
O.  F.  fraternity.  He  was  married  November  21,  1858,  to  Miss  Mary  J. 
Taylor,  of  Illinois.  They  have  eight  children:  Charles  E.,  Robert  S., 
Albert  D.,  James  T.,  Mary  E.,  Adam,  Virgil  W.  and  Gracie. 

JOHN  W.  LQUGH, 

section  12,  a  native  of  West  Virginia,  was  born  in  "Pendleton  County 
May  12,  1835.     His  parents,  Michael  and  Phcebe  H.  Lough,  were  natives 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  HI/ 

of  that  county,  as  was  also  John  Lough,  the  grandfather  of  John  W. 
Michael  Lough  died  in  1852.  Our  subject  was  reared  and  educated  at 
his  birthplace,  and  when  seventeen  years  old  began  working  at  the  car- 
pentering trade,  which  he  continued  until  July,  1862.  Then  he  enlisted 
in  Company  K.,  Sixty-second  West  Virginia  Infantry,  Confederate  ser- 
vice. In  1865  he  returned  home  and  remained  until  October,  1869,  when 
he  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri.  His  farm  is  one  of  the  best  in 
the  county  and  contains  480  acres  Mr.  Lough  is  a  stock  feeder  and 
dealer  of  considerable  prominence.  He  was  married  November  7,  i860, 
to  Miss  Jane  Waggoner,  of  West  Virginia,  by  whom  he  had  two  child- 
ren, Robert  D.  and  Albert  L.  She  died  September  7,  1867.  He  was 
again  married  April  23,  1875,  to  Miss  Julia  Stubbs,  of  Illinois.  They 
have  one  child,  Effie  L.  Mr.  L.  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  frater- 
nity and  belongs  to  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

WILLIAM  B.  McNEMAR, 

of  the  firm  of  J.  F.  Boyd  &  Co.,  extensive  dealers  in  lumber,  was  born 
in  Hardy  County,  West  Virginia,  October  27,  1844.  His  father,  Elias 
McNemar,  was  a  native  of  Virginia  as  also  was  his  mother,  formerly 
Katherine  Hilky.  They  reared  eight  children,  of  whom  William  B.  was 
the  seventh.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  years  he  emigrated  to  McLean 
County,  Illinois,  and  there  farmed  till  1870.  He  was  then  engaged  in 
clerical  work  at  Lexington,  Illinois,  one  year,  after  which  he  became  an 
employee  of  Chasey,  Mayham  &  Co.,  grain  dealers  at  that  point,  with 
whom  he  remained  till  the  fall  of  1876.  Coming  to  Appleton  City  he 
again  gave  his  attention  to  the  grain  business  here  and  at  Montrose  till 
1878  when  he  became  manager  of  Wyatt  &  Boyd's  lumber  business.  In 
February,  1882,  he  entered  as  managing  partner  into  the  firm  which  is 
now  known  as  J.  F.  Boyd  &  Co.  Mr.  McNemar  was  married  July  3, 
1881,  to  Miss  Emma  McCorkle,  a  native  of  Iowa.  They  have  one  child, 
Mary  E.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  fraternity  and  is  a  Good 
Templar.     He  also  belongs  to  the  Christian  Church. 

GEORGE  MARKEY, 

real  estate,  loan,  and  insurance  agent,  is  a  native  of  Tuscarawas  County, 
Ohio,  and  was  born  December  6,  1847.  His  father,  James  Markey,  was 
born  in  Ohio  about  the  year  18 11,  and  his  mother,  formerly  Sarah  E. 
Norris,  was  also  a  native  of  the  same  state.  When  George  was  three 
years  old,  the  family  removed  to  Noble  County,  Ohio,  where  he  was 
reared  and  received  a  common  school  education.  In  February,  1864, 
he  enlisted  in  Company  C,  Twenty-fifth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and 
served  till  mustered  out  August  7,  1865.     Returning  to  Ohio,  he  settled 


IIl8  niSTORV   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

in  Monroe  County,  and  attended  school  for  eic^hteen  months.  He  then 
entered  the  employ  of  a  prominent  stock  dealer,  with  whom  he  remained 
till  the  spring  of  1870,  when  he  came  to  Pettis  County,  Missouri,  and 
lived  there  until  the  fall  of  1873.  ^^e  was  engaged  in  the  grocery  busi- 
ness at  Dresden,  Missouri,  until  May,  1874,  and  for  the  following  two 
years  he  sold  goods  at  Ridge  Prairie,  Saline  County.  Thence  in  Novem- 
ber, 1876,  h  •  went  to  Hughsville,  Pettis  County,  Missouri,  where  he  was 
occupied  in  trade  till  December,  1877.  He  then  came  to  Appleton 
City  and  in  the  spring  of  1878,  he  engaged  in  his  present  business. 
Mr.  M.  was  married  July  4,  1868,  to  Miss  Mary  J.  Hartline,  a  native  of 
Ohio  They  had  six  children:  Etta  S.,  Beulah  J.,  George  W.,  Gracie  H., 
Mary  D.,  William  T.  J.  His  wife's  death  occurred  January  21,  1883.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  also  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  and  belongs 
to  the  M.  E.  Church. 

CHARLES  MOORE, 

section  28,  was  born  in  Troy,  New  York,  June  15,  1829.  When  four 
years  of  age  he  was  taken  to  Richland  County,  Ohio,  where  he  grew  to 
manhood,  there  being  educated  in  the  common  schools.  He  was  engaged 
in  farming  and  stock  dealing  in  Ohio  until  1859,  when  he  removed  to 
Detroit,  Michigan,  where  his  attention  was  given  to  the  lumber  business 
for  two  years.  In  1861  he  went  to  Chicago  and  enlisted  in  Company  C, 
Twenty-third  Illinois,  in  the  famous  Milligan's  brigade.  He  was  dis- 
charged at  New  Creek,  West  Virginia,  June  15,  1864.  He  then  enlisted 
in  Company  A.  Nineteenth  Regiment,  Regular  army,  and  was  discharged 
at  Fort  Arbuckle,  Indian  Territory,  in  July,  1867.  After  this  he  went  to 
Fort  Smith,  Arkansas,  and  then  came  to  Sedalia  with  a  drove  of  cattle. 
Returning  to  Ohio  he  remained  until  September,  1873,  when  he  located 
in  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri.  He  has  since  been  engaged  in  farming, 
and  now  owns  a  fine  farm  of  420  acres.  Mr.  Moore  was  married  Novem- 
ber 19,  1871,  to  Miss  Catherine  Miller.  They  have  four  children:  Wil- 
liam C,  Katie,  John  H.  and  Laura  R. 

JOHN  A.  J.  MOORE, 

of  the  well  known  firm  of  Moore  Bros.,  proprietors  of  planing  mill  and 
contractors  and  builders,  owes  his  nativity  to  Rutland  County,  Vermont, 
where  he  was  born  March  24,  1848.  He  remained  there  till  sixteen  years 
of  age,  when  he  went  to  Wayne  County,  Michigan,  where  he  lived  till_ 
1866.  Going  thence  to  Wisconsin,  he  worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade. 
In  June,  1869,  he  came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  where  he  engaged  in 
contracting  and  building.  In  1871  he  went  to  Osceola,  and  in  April, 
1872,  became  occupied  in  mining  in  Colorado.  After  three  years  he  was 
in  San  Francisco,  California,  and    Port   Gamble,  Washington  Territory, 


BIOCxRAPHICAL.  III9 

until  December,  1876,  when  he  returned  to  Henry  County,  Missouri.  In 
May,  1877,  he  came  to  this  city  and  commenced  contracting.  From 
188 1  to  1882  he  was  in  Butler,  Missouri,  managing  a  planing  mill.  In 
March,  1882,  he  returned  and  erected  his  present  mill.  Mr.  Moore  was 
married  January  2,  1881,  to  Miss  Lillie  Childres,  of  Missouri.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  is  also  a  Good  Templar. 

ANDREW  J.  MOORE, 

also  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Moore  Brothers,  came  originally  from  Rut- 
land County,  Vermont,  having  been  born  there  June  6,  1846.  He  was 
reared  in  that  locality,  and  from  his  youth  followed  the  carpenter's  trade. 
In  September,  1868,  he  moved  to  Dunn  County,  Wisconsin,  where  he 
remained  till  June,  1869,  then  coming  to  Benton  County,  Missouri,  where 
he  resided  one  year.  In  December,  1870,  he  removed  to  Osceola,  Mis- 
souri, and  engaged  in  contracting  and  building  till  1878,  when  he  came 
to  Appleton  City.  In  the  fall  of  1880  he  went  to  Butler,  Missouri,  and 
conducted  a  planing  mill  till  March,  18S2,  when  he  returned  to  Appleton 
City.  Here  he  and  his  brother  have  since  been  occupied  in  their  present 
business.  Mr.  Moore  was  married  May  12,  1869,  to  Miss  Joanna  Ryan, 
of  Connecticut.  They  have  three  children,  Mattie  V.,  Callie  A.  and 
Alman. 

GEORGE  MOODY, 

proprietor  of  the  Appleton  City  Marble  Works,  was  born  in  Boston, 
Massachusetts,  March  28,  1853,  and  was  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Johanna 
(Drummond)  Moody,  who  were  natives  of  Scotland.  George  remained 
in  his  native  city  till  seventeen  years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  Fort  Scott, 
Kansas,  there  engaging  in  the  marble  business.  He  remained  till  1876; 
then  came  to  Appleton  and  established  his  present  business,  which  is 
perhaps  the  largest  in  his  line  in  Southwest  Missouri.  He  has  a  branch 
house  at  Lamar,  Missouri.  Mr.  Moody  was  married  August  23,  1874,  to 
Miss  Ida  Manning,  a  native  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  They  have  three 
children:  Albert,  Mabel  J.  and  an  infant.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O. 
O.  F.  fraternity. 

ANDREW  NAYLOR 

was  born  in  Highland  County,  Ohio,  November  19,  1852.  His  father,. 
James  H.  Naylor,  was  a  native  of  that  county  and  was  born  in  1818. 
His  mother,  formerly  Jane  Kincaid,  came  originally  from  the  same  state. 
They  had  seven  children,  Andrew  being  the  youngest.  When  seven 
years  of  age  the  family  moved  to  Brown  County,  Ohio,  and  lived  there 
until  1867,  when  they  settled  in  Henry  County,  Missouri,  near  Windsor. 
From  December,  1867,  to  the  spring  of  1868  he  attended  school  at  Clin- 


1 120  IIISTOKV    OK   ST.   CLAIR   COUNTV. 

ton,  Missouri.  In  1868  he  was  engaged  at  tiie  trade  of  carriage  paint- 
ing, which  he  continued  two  years.  Going  to  Hutler,  Missouri,  he  worked 
at  that  trade  till  September,  1872,  when  he  came  to  Appleton  City  and 
clerked  with  different  firms  until  January,  1883.  He  then  established 
himself  in  the  grocery  trade.  Mr.  Naylor  was  married  Januarj'  18,  187S, 
to  Miss  Sarah  B.  Hodkins,  of  Ohio,  a  daughter  of  James  Hodkins.  They 
have  one  child,  Charles  A.      He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order. 

JOHN  B.  PAYNE, 

of  the  firm  of  Payne  &  Son,  proprietors  of  livery  and  feed  stable,  was 
born  in  Upshire  County,  West  Virginia,  November  2,  1856.  He 
remained  in  the  vicinity  of  his  birthplace  until  ten  years  of  age,  when, 
with  the  family,  he  came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri.  He  was  brought 
up  there  and  received  his  education,  living  in  that  county  until,  with  his 
father,  he  established  his  present  business,  in  November,  1881.  The 
building  which  they  occupy  is  140x30  feet,  two  stories  in  height  and 
contains  a  good  stock  of  horses,  buggies,  etc.  Mr.  Payne  is  a-member 
of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  fraternity,  and  is  also  a  Good  Templar. 

JAMES  CHRISTOPHER  PHILLIPS, 

presiding  judge  of  St.  Clair  County,  was  born  in  Simpson  County,  Ken- 
tucky, September  12,  1849,  being  the  son  of  James  Phillips,  of  Georgia. 
His  mother,  formerly  Margaret  F.  Black,  was  a  Kentuckian  by  birth. 
James  Phillips  had  four  children  by  his  first  marriage  and  si'x  by  the  last. 
Of  these  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  third  child.  His  mother  died 
in  1879  while  on  a  visit  to  this  county.  His  father  is  still  living  in  Ken- 
tucky at  the  advanced  age  of  almost  eighty-two  years.  James  C.  came 
to  Missouri  in  1872  and  settled  in  Henry  Count}-,  remaining  there  five 
years.  He  then  removed  to  Appleton  Township,  this  county,  where  he 
owns  a  farm  of  240  acres  on  section  4.  He  is  one  of  the  progressive 
men  of  this  county,  keeping  well  apace  with  all  the  improvements  of 
the  day.  With  the  exception  of  a  small  sum  received  from  his  father, 
he  has  been  the  architect  of  his  own  fortune.  His  education  was 
obtained  at  the  common  schools  yet  he  had  an  enquiring  mind,  and  by 
reading  and  study  has  acquired  such  knowledge  as  has  qualified  him  for 
important  positions  in  life.  He  married  Miss  Mary  L.  Harris  in  1869. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  Eli  R.  Harris,  of  Simpson  County,  Kentucky. 
Her  mother  was  Lucinda  Bland,  daughter  of  Milton  Bland,  of  Kentucky. 
Mr.  Phillips  is  a  Democrat  and  belongs  to  the  Christian  Church.  He 
was  elected  presiding  judge  of  the  county  court  in  November,  1882. 

JOHN  R.  PICKER  ILL 

is  a  native  of  Ripley,  Brown  Count}',  Ohio,  was  born  Jul}-  26,  1843.  He 
was  brought   up  upon  his  father's  farm  and  followed  that  occupation  till 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  I  121 

the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  when  he  enlisted  in  September,  1861,  in 
Company  M,  Fifth  Ohio  Cavalry  Regiment,  serving  three  years  and 
three  months.  After  this  he  returned  home  and  in  February,  1865, 
came  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  where  he  engaged  in  farming.  In  1870 
he  came  to  Appleton  City,  and  embarked  in  the  grocery  business,  con- 
tinuing the  same  for  two  years.  In  January,  iS/r,  he  was  appointed 
postmaster  and  held  that  position  four  years,  being  the  first  postmaster 
appointed  at  Appleton.  In  1875  he  established  himself  in  the  livery 
and  stock  business,  the  former  of  which  he  now  continues.  Mr.  Pickerill 
was  married  in  August,  1874,  to  Miss  Allie  McCorkle,  a  native  of  Indi- 
ana. His  first  marriage,  however,  occurred  to  Miss  Hannah  Rice,  Octo- 
ber 27,  1865.  They  had  two  children:  George  R.,  and  Willie  S.  Mr.  P. 
was  mayor  of  Appleton  City,  from  April,  1880,  to  April,  1882. 

RANSOM  M.  RAYMOND, 

of  the  Appleton  City  Carriage  Works,  came  originally  from  Orleans 
County,  New  York,  where  he  was  born  April  30,  1838.  When  four  years 
old  he  was  taken  by  the  family  to  Benton  County,  Missouri,  where  he 
was  reared  on  his  father's  farm.  In  1858  he  moved  to  Quincy,  Hickory 
County.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  Compahy  A,  Eighth  Missouri  Cavalry, 
and  served  until  discharged,  January  25,  1865.  Returning  to  Quincy,  he 
worked  at  the  blacksmith  trade  until  1868.  when  he  went  to  Greenfield, 
Dade  County,  where  he  lived  until  1876.  Then  he  established  his  pres- 
ent business  in  Appleton  City.  Mr.  Raymond  was  married  June  i,  1865, 
to  Miss  Harriet  B.  J.  Long,  of  Dade  County,  Missouri.  Thej^  have  six 
children:  Lulu,  Ottie,  Helen,  Frank,  Alice  and  Robert.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity. 

ABRAM  W.  ROBINSON, 

was  born  in  Peoria  County,  Illinois,  October,  18,  1841.  His  father,  William 
Robinson,  was  born  in  Jefferson  County,  Virginia,  November  27,  18015. 
He  came  to  Peoria  County,  Illinois,  in  1827,  and  remained  there  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  at  his  home  in  Medina  Township,  September  14, 
1881.  He  was  married  in  1833  to  Catharine  Wiedman  who  was  born  in 
Champaign  County,  Ohio.  They  had  a  family  of  six  children,  four  sons 
and  two  daughters.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  third  son  and 
was  brought  up  on  his  father's  farm,  receiving  his  education  at  the  com- 
mon schools  during  the  winter.  He  lost  his  mother  at  the  age  of  eight 
years.  With  the  outburst  of  the  civil  strife  in  i86[,  he  responded  to 
the  nation's  call  for  troops  and  enlisted  in  the  three  months'  service, 
returning  at  the  expiration  of  that  time.  For  several  years  after  that 
he  was  employed  by  the  government  in  buying  cattle  and  shipping  them 


I  122  HISTORY    OK   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

to  the  armies  in  the  South,  until  ill  health  obliged  him  to  discontinue 
the  business.  After  the  war  he  spent  about  a  year  in  St.  Louis  and  in 
traveling.  He  then  returned  to  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  and  worked 
as  a  farm  hand.  He  then  rented  a  farm  for  awhile,  and  in  October,  1871, 
with  what  he  had  accumulated,  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County  and  bought 
160  acres  in  section  15.  The  14th  day  of  January,  1872,  he  commenced 
its  improvement,  and  by  hard  labor,  toiling  in  a  way  utterly  detrimental 
to  his  health,  earned  and  built  up  a  home.  (October  22.  1873,  he  married 
Miss  Cora  H.  Clark,  who  was  born  in  DuPage  County,  Illinois,  October 
9,  1848.  Her  father,  David  H.  Clark,  was  struck  dead  by  lightning 
March  17,  1850.  (Mr.  Robinson's  mother  died  the  next  day,  the  iSth  of 
March,  1850).  He  was  born  in  Ohio  and  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in 
Illinois.  He  married  Mary  Jarvis,  who  was  born  in  New  York.  Her 
parents  were  among  the  first  settlers  in  Illinois  and  her  father  built  the 
first  frame  house  in  Chicago.  She  died  in  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri, 
May  2,  1872.  Mr.  Robinson  bought  in  1875,  160  acres  of  land  in  section 
23.  In  1878  he  purchased  eighty  acres  more,  and  in  1879,  five  acres  in 
section  i,  also  owning  forty  acres  in  section  16.  He  was  a  great  worker 
and  a  warm  friend  to  the  poor  and  those  in  need  of  assistance.  He  was 
the  father  of  three  children:  Frank  C,  born  April  19,  1875;  Roy  D., 
born  June  25,  1876,  and  Harry  R.,  born  July  13,  1879.  The  summer  of 
1 88 1  he  bought  a  steam  threshing  machine  and  went  with  that  part  of 
the  summer  and  fall.  November  5  he  was  injured  by  slipping  from  the 
step  of  a  wagon  box  and  this  terminated  in  pneumonia  fever.  He  died 
December  i,  1881.  He  was  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  fraternity 
for  twelve  years  and  his  burial  was  conducted  by  them  the  following 
Sunday.  A  large  concourse  of  friends  followed  him  to  his  last  resting 
place — the  Appleton  cemetery. 

WILLIAM  E.  SHELTON,  M.  D. 

was  born  in  Spartanburg  District,  South  Carolina,  August  5,  1838.  His 
father,  Michael  Shelton,  was  a  native  of  Pittsylvania  County,  Virginia, 
but  was  reared  in  South  Carolina.  His  mother,  Delila  (Keller)  Shelton, 
was  born  in  South  Carolina.  Their  family  consisted  of  six  children,  our 
subject  being  the  youngest.  In  1845  they  removed  to  Lexington,  Mis- 
souri, where  Mrs.  S.  died  in  1857,  and  Mr.  S.  in  1863.  In  1858  William 
removed  to  Warrenton,  Warren  County,  Missouri,  and  the  fall  following 
(1859)  began  the  study  of  medicine  under  Dr.  C.  D.  Strother,  with  whom 
he  remained  as  a  student  until  1S61.  In  i86i-2  he  attended  the  St. 
Louis  Medical  College.  In  March,  1863,  he  enlisted  in  Company  D. 
First  Mississippi  Regiment,  Light  Artillery,  C.  S.  A.,  and  was  taken 
prisoner  in  the  rear  of  Vicksburg,  and  held  at  Camp  Morton,  Indian- 
apolis, Indiana,  till   February,  1865.     The   succeeding  three   months   he 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  II 23 

spent  in  Mississippi.  About  June,  1865,  he  returned  to  Warren  County, 
Missouri,  and  October  10,  1865,  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  and  was  act- 
ively engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  near  Johnson  City  till  1870. 
In  that  year  he  went  to  Papinville,  Bates  County,  Missouri,  and  devoted 
his  attention  to  his  profession  for  three  months.  Going  back  to  Johnson 
City  he  resided  there  till  October,  1872,  when  he  came  to  Appleton  City, 
Since  his  arrival  here  he  has  been  a  prominent  practitioner.  During  the 
term  of  188 1-2  he  attended  the  Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  College  of 
New  York,  and  graduated  from  that  institution  at  the  expiration  of  that 
term.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order  and  has  attained  to  the 
Templar  degrees.  He  also  belongs  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  is  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Good  Templars.  Dr.  Shelton  was  mayor  of  this  city  in 
1873-4-5.  and  has  been  chairman  of  the  school  board  for  the  past  eight 
years.  He  was  united  in  marriage  in  April,  1866,  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Dodgson,  a  native  of  this  county.  They  have  three  children,  Mitchell 
C,  John  D.  and  Theodocia  H. 

CHRISTOPHER  SHOE, 

proprietor  of  the  Apipleton  City  Mills,  came  originally  from  Germany, 
where  he  was  born  July  23,  1831.  When  he  was  two  and  a  half  years  old 
thefamilyemigrated  to  America,  locating  in  Richland  County,  Ohio,  which 
was  their  home  for  six  years.  Moving  thence  to  Rock  Island  County,  Illi- 
nois, they  lived  there  one  year,  and  then  farmed  in  Scott  County,  Iowa, 
until  184.9.  For  five  years  they  gave  their  attention  to  saw  milling  and 
after  this  farmed  and  operated  a  saw  mill  alternately  each  for  three  years. 
Going  to  Union  County  of  the  same  state,  Mr.  Shoe  ran  a  saw  mill  ami 
carding  factory,  which  was  destroyed  by  fire.  As  a  result  he  erected  a 
large  grist  and  saw  mill,  conducting  it  for  five  years.  In  1869  he  came 
to  St.  Clair  County  and  engaged  in  farming.  In  September,  1877,  he 
erected  his  present  large  mills.  He  is  also  a  prominent  farmer  of  the 
county,  owning  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  this  section.  Mr.  Shoe  was 
married  September  22,  1847,  to  Miss  Nancy  Forgey,  a  native  of  Indiana. 
They  have  nine  children  :  Margaret,  David,  Esther,  Mary,  John  W., 
Christopher  L.,  Sarah  E.,  William  E.,  and  Nancy  L.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  In  1873,  he  was  one  of  the  county  commis- 
sioners. 

WILLIAM  B.  STOUT, 

of  the  firm  of  Stout  &  Co.,  is  a  native  of  Harrison  County,  West  Vir- 
ginia, and  was  born  July  3,  1854.  His  father,  also  originally  of  that 
state,  was  born  November  4,  1818.  His  mother,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Amanda  Blake,  was  born  in  West  Virginia  August  5,  18 16.  They 
had  eight  children,  William  being  the  sixth  child.     His  father  died  Sep- 


1 124  HISTORY    OF    ST.    CI.AIK   COUNTY. 

tember  24,  1876.  He  resided  in  the  county  of  his  birth  until  sixteen 
years  old,  when  the  family  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  and  here 
he  farmed  for  three  years.  Then  he  eni^a^ed  in  school  teachinL,^  which 
he  continued  until  April,  1881,  when  he  embarked  in  his  present  busi- 
ness.     He  is  a  megiber  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

SAMUKL  C.  STURTEVANT, 

a  descendant  of  the  old  Puritan  stock,  traces  his  lineage  back  to  the 
Allerton  family,  who  were  on  board  the  Mayflower,  and  also  to  the  Cush- 
mans,  who,  as  the  agents  of  the  Pilgrims  in  England,  chartered  the  vessel 
for  the  first  voyage.  Samuel's  father,  Carleton  Sturtevant,  was  a  native 
of  Litchfield  County,  Connecticut,  and  in  1823  emigrated  to  Ruggles. 
then  of  Huron,  now  of  Ashland  County,  Ohio.  Our  subject  was  born 
on  July  24,  1838.  His  primary  education  was  received  in  the  common 
schools,  but  this  he  supplemented  with  an  attendance  at  Huron  Insti- 
tute, Milan,  Ohio.  In  October,  i860,  he  married  Adelaide  E.  Taylor,  a 
most  estimable  lady.  Emigrating  to  Bates  County,  Missouri,  Mr.  S.  set- 
tled in  Deepwater  Township  in  the  winter  of  1867-68,  and  devoted  his 
attention  to  farming  and  school  teaching.  He  was*R  prominent  citizen 
of  that  county  until  the  summer  of  1S82.  when  he  removed  to  Appleton 
City.  St.  Clair  County.  He  has  five  children:  Carleton  VV.  (now  in  the 
class  of  civil  engineers  at  the  State  University,  Columbia,  Missouri), 
Cora  Allerton,  Marion  Cushman,  Adelaide  K.  and  Winfield  E. 

RUDOLPH  SUTMILLER. 

a  member  of  the  extensive  establishment  of  Sutmiller  &  Co.,  dealers  in 
hardware,  stoves,  tinware,  furniture,  etc.,  is  a  native  of  Hanover.  Ger- 
many, and  was  born  July  20,  1840.  He  was  reared  in  that  country,  and 
when  fourteen  years  of  age  was  apprenticed  to  the  cabinet  maker's  trade, 
at  which  he  served  a  term  of  four  years.  Emigrating  to  America,  he 
landed  at  New  Orleans,  and  there  worked  six  weeks,  when  he  went  to 
St.  Louis,  Missouri.  He  followed  his  trade  in  that  city  and  vicinity  till 
June,  1862,  then  enlisting  in  the  United  States  army,  and  serving  one 
year.  He  soon  came  to  Warren  County,  Missouri,  and  was  engaged  in 
contracting  and  building  six  years.  He  made  his  home  in  Clinton  for 
eif^hteen  months,  after  which  he  came  to  Appleton  City  and  continued 
contracting  and  building,  and  erected  many  of  the  best  buildings  in  the 
city.  In  April,  1877,  he  with  his  present  partner,  R.  L.  Booth,  embarked 
in  the  hardware  business  at  Schcll  City,  Missouri,  where  they  had  a  good 
trade  till  1880.  They  then  removed  their  business  to  Appleton  City,  and 
now  carry  a  large  stock  in  this  line,  and  are  enjoying  a  lucrative  patron- 
age.    Mr.  Sutmiller  was  married  June  i,  1SS3,  to  Miss  Frances  C.  Haw- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  II?5 

kins,  a  native  of  Illinois.  They  have  two  children  :  Mary  E.  and  Eliza 
M.     They  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

SALATHIAL  TALBOT, 

sections  4  and  5,  originally  from  Barber  County,  West  Virginia,  was 
born  October  3,  1832.  His  parents  Robert  and  Mary  (Woodford)  Tal- 
bot, were  both  natives  of  that  connty,  and  were  there  reared  and  mar- 
ried. They  had  a  family  of  thirteen  children,  of  whom  our  subject  was 
the  seventh  child.  He  was  brought  up  on  his  father's  farm,  and  when 
nineteen  years  of  age  began  school  teaching,  which  profession  he  con- 
tinued six  years.  In  the  fall  of  1865  he  moved  to  Henry  County,  Mis- 
souri, and  resided  there  till  1872,  then  returning  home.  In  1875  he  again 
came  to  Missouri  and  located  in  St.  Clair  County  on  his  present  place. 
His  farm  contains  320  acres  of  choice  land  in  excellent  cultivation.  Mr. 
Talbot  was  married  March  i,  1854,  to  Miss  Rachel  Dickison,  of  West 
Virginia.  They  have  had  eleven  children,  eight  of  whom  are  now  liv- 
ing: Jasper  M.,  L.  D.  M.,  Demetrias  W.,  Salathial  S.,  Mary  B.,  Harriet 
L.  Rosa  G.  and  Myrtle  A.  They  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 
During  the  war  Mr.  T.  enlisted,  in  1862,  in  Company  E,  Sixty-second 
Virginia  Regiment,  and  was  acting  quartermaster  of  the  same  toward 
the  close  of  the  war,  and  at  the  surrender  of  General  Lee  he  was  com- 
misary  of  the  Twentieth  Virginia  Regiment. 

,     '  WILLIAM  L.  THOMAS 

(deceased)  was  born  in  Nicholas  County,  Kentucky,  August  9,  1809. 
He  was  there  brought  up,  following  farming  till  1850,  when  he  came  to 
Saline  County,  Missouri.  Here  he  was  engaged  in  farming  and  stock 
dealing  till  1865.  Going  to  St.  Charles  County,  Missouri,  he  continued 
to  reside  in  that  locality  till  1871,  in  which  year  he  came  to  St.  Clair 
County,  and  at  that  time  had  some  1,000  acres  of  choice  land.  Mr. 
Thomas  was  married  May  16,  1866,  to  Miss  Lizzie  McFadden,  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  McFadden,  of  Henry  County,  Kentucky.  Mr.  Thomas' 
death  occurred  May  8,  1880.  He  was  through  life  an  honest,  upright 
and  enterprising  man,  and  his  liberality,  kindness  and  benevolence  were 
well  known.  Almost  the  last  act  of  this  man  was  a  generous  one.  Mrs. 
Thomas,  since  her  husband's  death,  has  successfully  managed  the  most 
of  his  estate.     She  is  beloved  and  respected  by  all  who  know  her. 

CHARLES  M.  WHITE, 

of  the  firm  of  White  Bros.,  druggists,  is  a  native  of  Cedar  County,  Mis- 
souri, and  was  born  April  15,  1855.  When  he  was  four  years  old  the 
family  removed  to   Morgan   County,  Missouri,  where   he   was    reared   to 


1126  IIISTORV   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

manhood  there  also  receiving  his  education.  When  seventeen  years 
old  he  engaged  in  the  drug  business  as  clerk  at  Versailles,  Missouri, 
where  he  remained  one  year.  Then  he  held  a  like  position  at  Ottcr- 
ville,  Missouri,  for  two  years.  He  subsequently  went  to  Bonham,  Texas, 
and  after  residing  there  one  year,  returned  to  Missouri  and  for  two 
years  made  his  home  at  Pilot  Grove.  Then  he  embarked  in  the  drug 
trade  at  Houstonia,  where  he  carried  on  business  two  years.  The  fol- 
lowing }"ear  he  spent  as  a  commercial  traveler  for  a  Sedalia  house.  He 
removed  to  Colorado  and  was  engaged  in  mining  from  the  spring  of 
1879  to  the  spring  of  1881,  when  he  came  to  Appleton  City,  and  with 
his  brother  purchased  their  present  stock  of  drugs.  The)-  are  now  doing 
an  excellent  business. 

JOSEPH  YANCE, 

a  member  of  the  well  known  establishment  of  Stout  &  Co.,  was  born  in 
St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  November  11,  1842.  His  parents  were  among 
the  first  settlers  of  Taber  Township.  He  was  reared  to  manhood  on  his 
father's  farm  and  obtained  his  education  in  the  common  school.-;.  In 
August,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Company  I,  Colonel  Shelby's  battalion,  serv- 
ing until  paroled  at  Fort  Scott,  Kansas,  in  June,  1865.  He  then  farmed 
in  Vernon  County,  Missouri,  for  eight  months,  and  later  went  to  Platte 
Count}',  Missouri.  In  the  fall  of  1866  he  returned  to  St.  Clair  County 
and  lived  here  until  1873,  when  he  took  a  trip  to  California.  After  one 
year  he  came  back  here  and  farmed  until  1881.  Then  he  became  iden- 
tified with  the  firm  of  Stout  &  Co.  Mr.  Yance  was  married  November 
19.  1868,  to  Miss  Mary  Ketcham,  of  Indiana.  The)'  have  four  children: 
Bertha  B.,  Nona  K.  L.,  Tamer  B,  and  Louis  A. 


MONEGAW   TOWNSHIP. 


J.  M.  ALLEN, 

section  24,  is  a  native  af  P'ayette  County,  Ohio,  and  was  born  October 
3,  i835.»  His  father,  James  F.  Allen,  originally  from  Pennsylvania,  mar- 
ried Miss  Jane  DeWitt,  of  Ohio.  He  settled  in  Ohio  in  an  earl)-  da)-, 
and  subsequently  removed  to  Cedar  Count)',  Iowa,  and  lived  there  rhrec 
years,  then  returning  to  Ohio.  J.  M.  Allen  grew  to  maturity  in  his 
native  count)',  and  was  married  at  Fairvicw,  Randolph  County,  Indiana, 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  1127 

February  19,  1857,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  J.  Cleveland,  a  daughter  of  M.  H. 
Cleveland.  She  was  born  in  that  county.  They  have  ten  children: 
William  H.,  Charles  E.,  Francis  M.,  Albert  S..  Elmer  E.,  Alton  H.,  Jen- 
nie, Millie  J..  Anna  E.  and  Daisy  D.  After  living  for  three  years  in 
Fayette  County  Mr.  Allen  moved  to  Randolph  County,  where  he  resided 
three  years,  and  then  returned  to  Fayette  County.  In  the  fall  of  1865 
he  located  in  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  coming  upon  his  present  farm 
of  160  acres  in  1869. 

WILSON  ARNOLD, 

section  4,  was  born  in  Gwinnett  County,  Georgia,  June  29,  1840,  and  was 
the  son  of  Colonel  Henry  J.  Arnold,  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  Mary 
Frances  (Watley)  Arnold,  of  Georgia.  Wilson  spent  his  youth  until 
about  eighteen  years  old  on  a  farm  at  his  birthplace.  In  1856  he  came 
to  Missouri  with  his  parents  and  located  within  three  miles  of  Kansas 
City,  but  shortly  after  went  to  Kansas.  They  soon  removed  to  Bates 
County,  Missouri,  on  account  of  the  Kansas  troubles.  Wilson  Arnold 
took  a  trip  to  Texas  in  1859  ^^^  spent  two  years  in  that  state.  Return- 
ing to  Missouri  in  1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  Confederate  service  in  June 
of  that  year  under  Colonel  Payton,  but  was  afterward  transferred  to 
Shelby's  First  Missouri  Cavalry  and  served  till  the  close  of  the  war, 
when  he  surrendered  at  Shreveport.  He  participated  in  the  fights  of 
Lone  Jack,  Wilson's  Creek,  Missouri;  Prairie  Grove,  Helena,  Jenkins' 
Ferry,  Arkansas,  and  Cape  Girardeau.  He  was  wounded  at  Lexington 
and  also  at  Wilson's  Creek.  After  the  final  surrender  he  returned  to 
his  family,  who  had  removed  to  Benton  County,  where  he  farmed  for 
two  years.  In  1867  he  went  to  Henry  County  and  resided  there  ten 
years.  In  March,  1877,  Mr.  Arnold  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  locating 
on  his  present  farm  in  March,  1882.  He  has  160  acres,  all  improved. 
Mr.  Arnold  was  married  in  this  county  April  2,  1862,  to  Miss  Hannah 
F.  Hinkle,  a  native  of  Kentucky  and  a  daughter  of  D.  M.  Hinkle,  who 
was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  St.  Clair  County.  They  have  five 
children:  James  W.,  Henry  J.,  George  W.,  Ollie  Octavia  and  Joseph  M. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Arnold  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  South. 

WILLIAM  C.  BEACH, 

section  5.  was  born  in  Ashland  County,  Ohio,  November  8,  1827,  his 
parents  being  Daniel  and  Lorana  Beach  nee  Sackett,  both  natives  of 
Connecticut.  The  former,  born  in  1785,  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812, 
and  his  father  was  killed  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  eight  balls  having 
been  shot  through  him.  Daniel  Beach  died  May  21,  1862.  William  C, 
the  youngest  of  a  family  of  seven  children,  grew  to  manhood  in  his 
native  county  on   a  farm,  receiving  a  good   common   school   education, 


II2S  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

supplemented  with  two  years'  attendance  at  the  Ashland  Academy. 
After  finishing  his  studies  he  engaged  in  farming.  In  1852  he  went  to 
California  and  spent  two  years  in  the  gold  mines,  and  upon  returning 
worked  the  home  farm  in  connection  with  his  brother.  Before  settling  in 
Missouri  in  1869  he  traveled  extensively  in  Iowa,  Illinoi^  Wisconsin  and 
Texas,  but  believing  that  Missouri  had  advantages  over  those  states  for 
farming  and  stock  raising,  he  located  where  he  now  resides.  Mr.  Beach 
owns  about  800  acres  of  land,  all  under  fence  and  mostly  with  good 
hedge  of  which  he  has  over  twelve  miles,  and  the  farm  is  all  in  culti- 
vation and  pasture.  He  was  married  in  Ashland  County,  Ohio,  Decem- 
ber 15,  1868,  to  Miss  Marietta  Long,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  but  reared 
and  educated  in  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  Abram  P.  Long.  They  have 
a  family  of  four  children:      Emma   C,  Daniel    B.,  Maud   L.  and  Ettie  L- 

MARTIN  S.  BOOTS, 

section  24,  a  substantial  farmer  and  stock  feeder  of  this  county  was  born 
in  Randolph  County,  Indiana,  January  31,  1841,  being  the  son  of  Martin 
and  Susanna  (Shoemaker)  Boots,  both  natives  of  Virginia.  The  former, 
a  blacksmith  by  trade,  removed  to  Missouri  in  1853,  and  located  in  St. 
Clair  County.  Martin  S.  spent  his  youth  on  a  farm  in  the  county,  and 
in  the  spring  of  1861  he  enlisted  in  the  Confederate  service  under  Gen- 
eral Rice,  and  served  six  months  in  the  mounted  infantry,  when  he  was 
discharged.  He  re-enlisted  in  July,  1862,  in  the  Union  army,  in  Com- 
pany H.,  Thirty-ninth  Iowa  Infantry,  and  served  till  discharged  in  the 
spring  of  1865.  He  was  taken  prisoner  at  Corinth,  July  7,  1863,  and 
held  as  such  for  eight  months  and  exchanged.  While  in  the  Confederate 
service  he  participated  in  the  fights  of  Carthage,  Springfield  and  Lex- 
ington, Missouri,  and  others.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned  to 
Iowa,  where  he  spent  one  season,  and  in  the  fall  of  1865,  he  again  came 
to  St.  Clair  County,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  farming  and  the 
raising  and  feeding  of  stock.  He  has  729  acres  of  land  mostly  fenced, 
divided  into  three  farms,  upon  which  are  three  residences.  He  handles 
about  140  head  of  cattle  annually,  and  the  past  season  fed  five  carloads  of 
cattle  and  one  of  hogs.  He  is  one  of  the  most  successful  citizens  in  this 
vicinity.  Mr.  Boots  was  married  in  the  winter  of  1861,  to  Miss  Sarah 
Ann  Lewellen,  a  daughter  of  Felix  Lewellen.  She  is  a  native  of  Indi- 
ana, but  was  reared  and  educated  in  St.  Clair  County.  They  have  a 
family  of  six  children:  Mary,  Julia,  Margaret,  Marion  P.,  Ollie  and  Sam- 
uel.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boots  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  South. 

THOMAS  CAMPBELL, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  19,  was  born  in  Blount  County,  Tennes- 
see, April  18.  181 1.     William  Campbell,  his  father,  was  a  Virginian  by 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  II 29 

birth,  while  his  mother,  formerly  Margaret  Biddell,  was  born  in  Ten- 
nessee. William  Campbell  early  removed  to  Tennessee  with  his  parents 
and  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Blount  County.  Thomas  passed  his 
youth  on  a  farm,  receiving  his  education  at  the  subscription  schools.  He 
was  married  in  Humphreys  County  May  10,  1832,  to  Miss  Frances 
Prince,  of  that  county,  and  who  was  born  July  17.  1813.  She  is  a  daughter 
of  William  Prince,  Esq.,  a  pioneer  settler  of  Humphreys  County.  They 
have  nine  children.  Eliza,  (wife  of  Harvey  Douglas),  Isabelle,  (wife  of 
Bevley  Hall),  Minerva,  (wife  of  James  Moore),  Caroline,  (wife  of  John 
Horner),  Margaret,  (wife  of  J.  M.  DeHart),  Cornelia,  (wife  of  Joseph 
Hodgins),  Albert  and  Mary,  (wife  of  William  Yonce).  Mr.  Campbell 
removed  to  Illinois  in  1837  and  located  in  Pike  County.  In  the  spring 
of  1855  he  settled  in  Adair  County,  Missouri,  where  he  resided  eight 
years,  going  thence,  in  t863,  to  Davis  County,  lawa,  where  he  lived 
six  years.  In  1869  he  returned  to  Missouri  and  located  where  he  now 
resides.  He  has  120  acres  of  land,  with  eighty  acres  in  cultivation  and 
improved.     He  is  a  Mason. 

JOHN  W.  CARROLL, 

section  30,  originally  from  Roane  County,  Tennessee,  was  born  Decem- 
ber 9,  1845,  being  a  son  of  Alfred  and  Barshaba  (Miller)  Carroll,  natives 
of  South  Carolina.  In  1859  ^^e  family  removed  to  Missouri  and  settled 
in  St.  Clair  County.  John  W.,  the  fourth  son  of  a  family  of  nine  child- 
ren, grew  to  maturity  in  this  county  upon  a  farm.  He  was  married 
December  9,  1872,  to  Mrs.  Tamar  Richey,  a  widow  of  James  Richey  and 
a  daughter  of  Thomas  Coulthard.  She  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
with  her  parents  in  1829  and  settled  in  Virginia,  where  she  was  married 
the  following  year  to  Mr.  Richey,  who  came  to  Missouri  in  1838  or  1840, 
Mrs.  Carroll  has  one  daughter  by  her  former  marriage,  Mrs.  Hannah 
Slaws,  widow  of  John  F.  Slaws.  Mr.  C.  owns  1,200  acres  of  land,  with 
916  acres  in  his  home  farm  under  cultivation.  He  feeds  quite  a  number 
of  cattle  and  hogs  annually.  He  belongs  to  both  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  and 
I.  O.  O.  F.  fraternities  and  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
while  his  wife  is  connected  with  the  M.  E.  Church,  South. 

JAMES  G.  COFFIN, 

a  well  known  and  prominent  citizen  of  Monegaw  Township,  was  born  in 
Allegheny  County,  Pennsylvania,  April  23,  1848.  J.  G.  Coffin,  his  father, 
a  native  of  Massachusetts,  was  born  in  1816,  and  married  Miss  Isabella 
C.  Anderson,  a  Virginian  by  birth.  James  G.,  the  eldest  son  of  a  family 
of  seven  children,  grew  to  maturity  in  his  native  county,  his  primary 
education  having  been  given  him  by  a  private  tutor.     After  a  prepara- 


1130  HISTORY    OK   ST.    CLAIR   COu'NTV. 

tory  course  he  attended  and  graduated  at  the  Western  University  in 
1867.  Upon  completing  his  studies  he  was  engaged  in  clerking  in  the 
banking  house  of  William  H.  Williams  &  Co.,  in  Pittsburg,  one  year. 
He  then  was  employed  in  the  office  of  his  father,  who  was  the  general 
western  agent  of  the  Franklin  Fire  Insurance  Company.  Coming  west 
in  1869.  he  purchased  land  in  St.  Clair  County  and  engaged  in  handling 
stock.  In  November,  1871,  he  returned  to  Pennsylvania  and  worked  in 
the  office  with  his  father  three  years.  In  1875  he  again  came  to  St. 
Clair  County  and  commenced  farming  and  the  stock  business.  In  1878 
he  was  interested  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Appleton  City.  Mr. 
Coffin  was  married  in  this  county  November  4,  1879,  to  Miss  M.  Virginia 
Wilson,  daughter,  of  J.  W.  Wilson.  Mr.  C.  has  200  acres  of  land  with 
forty  acres  in  cultivation.  He  was  appointed  a  justice  of  the  peace  of 
his  township  in  1881.  He  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party  and  is 
well  posted  on  the  political  issues  of  the  day.  He  was  nominated  by 
his  party  and  elected  justice  at  the  election  of  1882.  Mr.  Coffin  has 
been  a  delegate  to  numerous  county  and  state  conventions. 

SAMUEL  G.  CRAIG, 

merchant  and  postmaster  at  Ohio  post  office,  was  born  in  Lawrence 
County,  Pennsylvania,  September  12,  1853.  his  parents  being  Joseph  and 
Eliza  (Kennedy)  Craig,  both  natives  of  Ireland.  They  emigrated  to  the 
United  States  in  1840  and  located  in  Pittsburg,  Pennsj'lvania.  Samuel 
G.,  the  youngest  son  and  sixth  child  of  a  family  of  seven  children,  spent 
his  youth  on  a  farm  in  his  native  county  and  received  a  good  common 
school  education,  supplemented  with  a  course  at  Copp's  Commercial 
College  at  Paynesville,  Ohio.  After  completing  his  studies  he  engaged 
in  farming  two  years.  In  January,  1877,  he  went  to  Oregon,  spent  one 
year  and  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  returned  and  located  in  St.  Clair 
County,  Missouri.  He  was  occupied  in  farming  about  four  years,  and  in 
1882,  he  embarked  in  the  mercantile  business  at  his  present  place.  He 
carries  a  good  stock  of  general  merchandise,  and  is  doing  a  fair  business. 
Mr.  Craig  was  appointed  postmaster  of  the  Ohio  post  office  in  October, 
1882.  He  was  married  February  26,  1879,  to  Miss  Emma  M.  Holden,  a 
daughter  of  Henry  Holden.  She  is  a  native  of  and  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  Illinois.  They  have  three  children:  Joseph  D.,  PIttie  T.  and 
Charles  H.    Mr.  and  Mrs.  Craig  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

CHARLES  C.  DISNEY. 

a  prominent  contractor  and  builder  at  Johnson  City,  was  born  in  Ander- 
son County,  Tennessee,  November  3,  185  i,  and  is  a  son  of  Judge  Elias 
and   Tabitha   (Lovely)    Disney,  also  natives  of  Tennessee.     In  1856  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  II3I 

family  moved  to  Missouri  and  located  in  Gasconade  County,  where  they 
resided  about  two  years,  coming-  thence  to  St.  Clair  County  in  the  spring 
of  1859.  Elias  Disney  has  since  been  elected  and  served  as  county 
judge.  He  was  also  a  lieutenant  of  a  militia  company  during  the  late 
war.  Charles  C.  was  the  third  child  of  a  family  of  three  sons  and  one 
daughter.  He  spent  his  youth  on  a  farm  and  received  a  good  education 
in  the  English  branches,  and  after  completing  his  studies  he  engaged  in 
teaching  in  the  public  schools,  and  now  ranks  as  one  of  the  best  instruct- 
ors in  the  county.  He  has  taught  the  last  three  years  in  Johnson  City. 
He  has  also  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  when  not  occupied  in 
teaching  follows  the  business  of  contractor  and  builder.  He  has  worked 
at  this  during  the  summer  seasons  for  the  last  four  years.  Mr.  Disney 
was  married  December  22,  1872,  to  Miss  Macy  Herndon,  of  Ozark 
County,  Missouri,  and  a  daughter  of  Henry  \V.  and  Martha  A.  C.  Hern- 
don. They  have  four  children:  Walter  Eugene,  Estella  Rose,  Elva  Eve- 
line and  Edgar  E.  They  lost  one  child,  Minnie  Belle,  who  died  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1879. 

CAPTAIN  DANIEL  GILLSON, 

section  10,  owes  his  nativity  to  Marion  County,  Ohio,  where  he  was  born 
July  26,  1834.  His  parents  were  D.  and  Elizabeth  (Stilwell)  Gillson, 
natives  of  Orange  County,  New  York.  The  family  removed  to  Ohio  in 
about  18 16,  and  were  among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Delaware  County, 
but  shortly  after  went  to  Marion  County.  Daniel  grew  to  manhood  on 
his  father's  farm,  and  received  a  good  education  at  the  public  schools, 
supplemented  with  a  course  at  a  commercial  college.  After  completing 
his  studies  he  was  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  about  four  years. 
In  1856  he  came  west  and  traveled  through  a  number  of  the  western 
states.  He  enlisted  in  August,  1862,  in  Company  D,  I2ist  Ohio  Vol- 
unteer Infantry,  and  served  till  discharged,  in  June  1865.  He  enlisted 
as  a  private  and  filled  the  position  of  sergeant  and  second  and  first  lieu- 
tenant, and  afterward  was  promoted  to  captain.  He  participated  in 
some  fifteen  important  engagements,  among  which  were  Perryville, 
Chickamaugua,  Atlanta,  Jonesborough,  etc.  He  was  taken  prisoner  at 
Perryville  and  held  as  such  for  four  months,  when  he  was  paroled.  After 
the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Gillson  returned  to  Ohio  and  resided  two  years 
in  Clinton  County.  He  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  in  1868  and 
farmed  about  two  years,  and  in  1870  he  was  occupied  in  conducting  a 
flouring  mill  at  Osceola,  continuing  it  for  two  years.  Li  1873  he  removed 
to  Appleton  City  and  carried  on  the  mercantile  business  about  five  years, 
when  he  sold  out  and  removed  to  his  present  farm  in  the  spring  of  1878, 
He  has  143  acres  in  cultivation  and  well  improved.  He  devotes  some 
attention  to  the  breeding  and  raising  of  thoroughbred  and  high 
craded  cattle  and  Berkshire  hogs.     Mr.  Gillson   was   married  in   Lewis- 


I  131'  HISTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  <, 

burg.  Ohio,  March  i8,  1866,   to    Miss   Emma   A.    Martin,  a  daughter   of  j 

John  Martin.     They  have  one  daughter,  Millie  M.     He  and  his  wife  are  i 

members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  ; 

MICHAEL  GORE.  j 

section  18,  was  born    in   Trigg  County,  Kentucky,  April  28,  1829.     His  ' 
father,  M.  Gore,  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  his  mother,  whose  maiden  ' 
name  was  Elizabeth   Mitchell,   was   a   Kentuckian   by  birth.      Michael  . 
spent  his  youth  on  a  farm  in  Trigg  County  and  in  1849  ^^  removed   to  j 
Illinois  and  located  in  Macoupin  County,  wherehe  purchased  land  and  i 
engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising.     In  1881  he  came  to  Missouri  and  ^ 
settled  where  he  now  resides.      He  owns  170  acres  of  land  well  improved.  , 
Mr.  Gore  held  several  local  offices  during  his  residence   in    Illinois.     He  ' 
was  commissioner  of  highways  and  bridges  for  three  years  in  Macoupin  1 
County  and  was  then  re-elected.    He  was  married  while  there,  October  i, 
1849,  to  Miss  Mouen  Maxwell,  a  daughter  of  Ered   Maxwell.     She    was 
born  in  Sangamon  County,  Illinois.     Mr.  and  Mrs   Gore  have  four  chil- 
dren:  Eliza  (wife  of  John    Allen),   James,   E.  V.  and    Ezra   A.     He   and  j 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  United  Baptist  Church,  and   he    belongs  to  j 
the  Masonic  fraternity. 

JAMES  D.  GORE,  ; 

i 
farmer  and   stock   raiser,    section    19,    owes    his    nativity    to    Macoupin 

County,  Illinois,  where  he  was  born   March  25,    1853,  being  the   son   of 

Michael  and  Mouen  (Maxwell)  Gore.     James  passed  his  boyhood  on   his 

father's  farm   and   received   a  fair  education  at  the  public  schools.      He  , 

was  married  in  his    native  county,  April  3,  1873,  to  Miss  Margaret  New,  | 

a  daughter  of  Charles  New.      She    was   born    in   Scott  County,   Illinois.  , 

They  have  one    daughter,  Lily  May,  who  was  born   May   8,  1879.     Mr.  : 

Gore  farmed  in  Illinois  until   the  fall  of  188 1   when   he  removed  to   Mis-  j 

souri,  locating  where  he   now    resides.      He  has  a  farm  of  seventy  acres,  ' 

all  in  cultivation.       Mrs.  Gore  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  ' 

GEORGE  GRAHAM,  . 

j 

section  I,  a  native  of  Fayette  County,   Pennsylvania,  was  born  in  Octo-  ^ 
ber,  1822,  his   parents    being  Thomas   and   Mary  CAlexander)    Graham. 

George   grew   to   manhood   in   Pennsylvania  on  a  farm,  and  he   married  ' 
Miss  Maria  Moore,  also  of  Pennsylvania.     Some  four  years  after  this  he 
removed  to  Kentucky  and  from  there  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Noble  County 

where  he  resided  until    1S62.     Then    he  went   to  Coles  County,  Illinois,  1 

and  farmed  about   fourteen    years.      In    March,    1876,   he   located   in    St.  ' 
Clair  County,   Missouri.      Mrs.    Graham    died   January    18,  188 1,   leaving 
three  children:   Susanna  (wife  of  L.  L.  Shafner),  J.  G.,  and  T.  P.  who  was 


BIOGRAPillCAL.  I  1 33 

married  December  15,  1881,  to  Miss  L.  B.  Leonard,  and  they  have  one 
child,  Anna  May.  Mr.  Graham  lost  two  sons,  one  W.  M.  died  in  1869 
at  the  age  of  twenty-five  years,  and  G.  W.  died  in  childhood.  Mr.  G.  is 
a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  of  the  Masonic  fraternity. 
J.  G.  Graham,  the  oldest  son  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  now  owns  the 
home  faim  which  consists  of  220  acres  under  good  cultivation  and 
improvement. 

WESLEY  GRIFFITH, 

section  i,  a  prominent  farmer  and  stock  man  of  this  county,  was  born  in 
Macon  County,  Illinois,  January  22,  1841.  His  father,  B.  Griffith,  was  a 
native  of  Ross  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  his  mother,  formerly  Leah 
Deafenbaugh,  of  Hawkins  County,  same  state.  The  former  was  one  of 
the  pioneer  settlers  of  Macon  County,  Illinois.  In  1851  he  removed  to 
DeWitt  County,  where  he  is  now  a  leading  farmer  and  stock  raiser. 
Wesley  spent  his  youth  on  his  father's  farm,  enjoying  good  common 
school  advantages.  He  came  to  Missouri  in  1869  and  located  in  St.  Clair 
County,  settling  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides.  He  has  860  acres 
of  land,  with  320  in  cultivation.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  feeding  cattle 
and  feeds  on  an  average  three  car  loads  of  steers  and  about  fifty  hogs 
annually.  Mr.  Griffith  was  married  in  Henry  County  February  18,  1876, 
to  Miss  Sarah  E.  Kirk,  a  daughter  of  James  A.  Kirk.  She  came  origin- 
ally from  Rowan  County.  Kentucky.  They  have  two  children,  Maud  M. 
and  Ida.  They  lost  one  child  in  infancy.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Griffith  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  Church. 

J.  P.  HASTAIN, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  10,  was  born  in  White  County,  Tennes- 
see, January  24,  183 1.  His  father,  D.  M.  Hastain  was  a  native  of  the 
same  state,  and  his  mother's  maiden  name  was  Anna  Green.  In  1834. 
the  family  removed  to  Missouri,  and  first  located  in  Henry  County, 
being  among  the  pioneer  settlers  there.  J.  P.  Hastain  was  reared  as  a 
farmer's  boy  and  in  1850,  when  in  his  nineteenth  year,  he  went  to  Cali- 
fornia, and  worked  in  the  gold  mines  for  fifteen  years,  returning  to  Mis- 
souri in  1865.  He  was  married  in  Henry  County,  March  21,  1867,  to 
Miss  Octavia  Hinkle,  a  daughter  of  M.  D.  Hinkle.  She  is  a  Kentuckian 
by  birth,  but  removed  to  Missouri  with  her  parents  and  was  reared  and 
educated  in  Henry  County.  They  have  a  family  of  four  children: 
Cecelia,  Eddie,  Jennie  G.  and  William  J.  Three  children  died  in  infancy, 
Mary  F.,  Lena  May,  and  T.  J.  After  farming  in  Henry  County  for  six 
years,  Mr.  Hastain  removed  to  California  in  1873,  and  spent  one  season, 
the  following  year  returning  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  where  he 
farmed  about  eight  years.     In  March,  1880,  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County 


I  I  34  HISTORY   OK   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

and  settled  on  the  farm  where  he  now  reside<>.  He  has  i6o  acres  of  land 
all  under  cultivation.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  M.  H.  Church, 
South. 

FREDERICK  HOFFSTROM, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  23,  is  a  native  of  Sweden,  and  was  born 
Auj^ust  26,  1829,  his  parents  being  Niles  F.  and  Sophia  (Hardorph) 
Hoffstrom,  also  originally  from  Sweden.  The  former  was  an  officer  in 
the  army  of  Sweden,  which  position  he  held  at  his  death  in  1846  or  1847. 
Fred  Hoffstrom  grew  to  manhood  and  received  a  good  education  in  the 
country  of  his  birth,  there  learning  the  trade  of  dyer  and  finisher.  He 
emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  1849  and  worked  at  his  trade  at  dif- 
ferent places  in  Illinois  for  three  years.  Moving  thence  to  Niagara 
Falls  he  worked  one  and  one-half  years  and  afterward  went  to  Fredonia, 
Chautauqua  County,  where  he  engaged  in  business  for  himself.  In  the 
spring  of  1853  he  took  a  trip  to  California  by  way  of  the  Isthmus,  and 
after  spending  three  years  returned  in  the  winter  of  1856.  He  then  pur- 
chased land  in  Washington  County,  Iowa,  and  farmed  three  years.  In 
the  spring  of  1869  he  returned  to  California,  going  from  there  to  Nevada, 
where  he  engaged  in  mining  at  Virginia  City.  In  nearly  four  years  he 
retraced  his  steps  to  his  family  in  the  summer  of  1863,  bringing  with 
him  a  herd  of  California  horses.  He  farmed  until  1865  when  he  sold  out 
and  came  to  Missouri,  locating  in  St.  Clair  County,  where  he  purchased 
land  and  improved  the  farm  which  he  now  occupies.  Mr.  Hoffstrom 
owns  400  acres  and  he  is  one  of  the  most  successful  farmers  and  stock 
raisers  in  the  county.  He  was  married  in  Aurora,  Illinois,  February  9, 
1 85 1,  to  Miss  Almina  Elizabeth  Morgan,  a  native  of  New  York,  and  a 
daughter  of  C.  B.  Morgan.  They  have  three  children:  Clara  S.  (wife  of 
Wilson  Hartzell),  Frank  H.  and  Lilly  Belle.  Mrs.  Hoffstrom  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Christian  Church.      Mr.  H.  is  a  Mason. 

JAMES  A.  KIRK, 

section  i,  was  born  in  Morgan  County,  Kentucky,  September  25,  1830, 
and  is  a  son  of  Alexander  and  Elizabeth  (Nickell)  Kirk,  both  Kentuck- 
ians  by  birth.  James  A.  passed  his  youth  on  a  farm,  and  was  married 
in  Rowan  County,  in  October,  1855.  to  Miss  Telitha  Clark,  a  native  of 
Fleming  County,  and  a  daughter  of  Dixon  Clark.  After  his  marriage 
Mr.  Kirk  resided  in  Rowan  County  about  eight  years  and  in  1863 
removed  to  Missouri  and  located  first  in  Linn  County,  residing  there 
some  nine  years.  Selling  out  he  went  to  Texas,  spent  one  season  then 
returned  to  Missouri  and  settled  in  St.  Clair  County.  He  came  on  his 
present  farm  in  the  spring  of  1881  and  now  has  160  acres  all  in  cultiva- 
tion.    He  makes  a  specialty  of  feeding  cattle  for  the   market.     Mr.  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  II35 

Mrs.  Kirk  have  seven  children:  Sarah  E.  (wife  of  Wesley  Griffith), 
Adella  F.,  Philip,  Dixon,  Emma,  Herbert,  and  Walter.  Mr.  Kirk  is  one 
of  the  substantial  men  of  this  locality.  He  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Christian  Church. 

J.  McH.  LEDBETTER, 

section  24,  a  native  of  Sumner  County,  Tennessee,  was  born  December 
18,  1831.  His  father,  Ira  Ledbetter,  came  originally  from  Alabama,  and 
his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Lucy  Brown,  was  born  in  Ten- 
nessee. The  former  removed  with  his  parents  to  Tennessee  when  a 
}-outh  and  there  grew  to  manhood.  In  1841  he  located  in  St.  Clair 
County,  Missouri,  and  was  among  the  early  settlers  here.  He  purchased 
a  large  tract  of  land,  was  a  substantial  man  of  the  county,  and  owned  a 
large  number  of  slaves.  J.  McH.  Ledbetter  passed  his  youth  on  his 
father's  farm.  He  was  married  in  August,  1852,  to  Miss  Mary  Henley,  a 
daughter  of  T.  N.  Henley.  She  was  also  born  in  Tennessee.  They 
have  a  family  of  three  children:  Sarah  L.  (wife  of  John  Shoemaker), 
Thomas  Ira,  and  Robert  M.  Mr.  L.  now  owns  386  acres  of  land.  280 
acres  being  under  fence  and  mostly  in  cultivation.  He  went  to  Califor- 
nia in  1850,  in  company  with  Captain  Ball  and  others  and  spent  about 
eighteen  months  in  the  gold  mines,  returning  to  Missouri  in  1852.  He 
enlisted  in  1862  in  General  Price's  Infantry  and  served  till  the  close  of 
the  war,  participating  in  a.  number  of  important  engagements,  among 
which  were  Cornith,  Grand  Gulf,  Baker's  Creek  and  Vicksburg.  After 
the  latter  fight  he  was  in  the  western  department  and  was  in  nearly  all 
of  the  engagements  of  Price's  army.  He  received  five  wounds,  one 
through  the  knee  and  one  through  the  foot  being  the  most  serious.  He 
returned  home  after  the  surrender  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  the  stock  business.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ledbetter  are  members  of 
the  M.  E.  Church,  South.  He  was  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  ten  consec- 
utive years,  and  has  filled  other  local  ofifices  being  at  present  clerk  of 
the  school  board.      He  is  a  Mason. 

FELIX  LEWELLEN, 

section  34,  is  a  Virginian  by  birth  and  was  born  November  5,  1822.  His 
parents  were  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  Lewellen,  nee  Gough,  also  natives  of 
Virginia.  About  the  year  1834  the  family  removed  to  Indiana  and  set- 
tled in  Delaware  County,  being  among  the  early  settlers  there.  They 
had  twelve  children,  of  whom  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  young- 
est. He  grew  to  maturity  in  his  native  county,  and  was  married  in  the 
spring  of  1840  to  Miss  Margaret  Tharp,  a  daughter  of  Alexander  Tharp. 
They  had  five  children:  William  M.,  ot  Osceola,  Elizabeth  (wife  of  Mr. 
Lillard),  Beersheba   (wife    of   William    Hodgins),  Sarah    (wife   of   Mart. 


I  136  HISTORY    OK    ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY. 

Boots),  and  Thomas.  Mrs.  L.  died  in  Indiana  in  the  summer  of  1849. 
Mr.  Lewellen  was  subsequently  married  to  Miss  Susanna  Hamilton. 
There  are  six  children  b}-  this  union:  Rebecca,  Samuel.  Margaret,  Jack- 
son, Timothy  and  Drusilla.  Mr.  Lewellen  lost  his  second  wife,  who  died 
in  St.  Clair  County  January  16,  1862.  He  was  married  to  his  present 
wife,  then  Mrs.  Nancy  Ann  VVeddle,  and  a  dauijhter  of  Jacob  Beaver,  in 
the  sprin^^  of  186^.  After  his  fir.-.t  marriai^e  he  resided  in  Indiana  about 
fifteen  years.  In  the  fall  of  1855  he  came  to  Missouri  and  located  on 
the  farm  where  he  now  resides,  he  having  at  this  time  460  acres.  Mr. 
Lewellen  is  a  thrifty  and  successful  farmer  and  one  of  the  leading  citi- 
zens of  the  county. 

THOMAS  LEWELLEN. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Delaware  County,  Indiana. 
December  22,  1848,  being  a  son  of  Felix  and  Margaret  (Tharp)  Lewel- 
len. In  1855,  the  family  removed  to  Missouri  and  located  in  St.  Clair 
County.  Thomas  grew  up  on  his  father's  farm  and  was  married  August 
4.  1872,  to  Miss  Sarah  Berry,  a  daughter  of  Enoch  Berry.  She  is  a  native 
of  Moultrie  County.  Illinois.  They  had  three  children:  Verna,  Wil- 
liam A.  and  Homer.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Lewellen  settled  on  a 
farm  in  this  township,  coming  on  his  present  place  in  section  14,  in 
August  1878,  and  he  now  has  560  acres.  Mr.  L.  devotes  considerable 
attention  to  the  feeding  of  cattle. 

SAMUEL  D.  LEWELLEN, 

farmer  and  stock  feeder,  section  21.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  owes 
his  nativit}'  to  Delaware  County,  Indiana,  where  he  was  born  Januar\- 
19*  ^853.  His  father,  Felix  Lewellen,  married  Miss  Susanna  Hamilton 
in  Delaware  County,  Indiana.  Samuel  removed  to  Missouri  with  his 
parents  in  1855  and  here  his  youthful  days  were  passed  in  filling  the 
soil.  He  was  married  in  this  county  June  4,  1875,  to  Miss  Mable  Wed- 
dle,  a  daughter  of  Alexander  Weddle.  She  is  a  native  of  Bates  Count>-, 
but  was  reared  in  St.  Clair.  Mr.  Lewellen  has  a  family  of  three  child- 
ren: Elmer  Lee,  Claud  E.  and  Maud.  His  farm  contains  320  acres  of 
land,  all  fenced,  with  180  acres  in  cultivation.  He  feeds  about  two  car 
loads  of  steers  yearly  and  about  fifty  hogs. 

JOHN  E.  PAGE, 

section  10,  was  born  October  17,  1844,  in  Livingston  County,  New  York, 
and  was  a  son  of  Albert  and  Abigal  Page,  both  natives  of  the  same 
state.  John  E.  was  reared  upon  a  farm,  receiving  his  education  at  the 
common  schools  and  at  the  Nunda  Academ}-.  Coming  west  in  1866,  ht 
located  first  in  Bates  County,  Missouri,  where   he   resided   about   three 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  1 1 37 

years.  He  removed  to  St.  Clair  County  in  February,  1869,  and  came  on 
his  present  farm  in  the  fall  of  1870.  This  consists  of  300  acres,  with  240 
in  his  home  place  and  sixty  acres  of  timber.  Mr.  Page  devotes  some 
attention  to  stock  feeding.  He  was  married  in  this  county  in  February, 
1871,  to  Miss  Virginia  Corbly,  a  native  of  Iowa  (where  she  was  reared 
and  educated),  and  a  daughter  of  William  Corbly.  They  have  two  child- 
ren, Mary  Octavia  and  Jessie  M. 

B.  N.  FRIER, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  24,  a  native  of  Edgar  County,  Illinois, 
was  born  April  25,  1840,  and  is  a  son  of  Edward  H.  and  Narcissia 
(Lowry)  Frier.  The  family  early  removed  to  Illinois,  and  were  among 
the  first  settlers  ot  Edgar  County.  In  1854,  they  located  in  Clark 
County,  Iowa,  coming  thence  to  Missouri  in  1870.  B.  N.  Frier  spent  his 
youth  on  the  home  farm,  and  was  married  in  Clark  County,  Iowa,  in  Jan- 
uary, 1862,  to  Miss  Agnes  Landies,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Landies,  and 
a  native  of  Greene  County,  Indiana.  They  have  four  children  :  Maggie, 
(wife  of  William  Frazee),  Samuel  E.,  Frank  L.,and  Maud  After  residing 
in  Clark  County  about  eleven  years,  Mr.  P.,  in  March,  1873,  came  to 
Missouri  and  located  in  St.  Clair  County.  He  now  has  240  acres  of 
land,  with  200  acres  in  cultivation.  In  June,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany D,  Eighteenth  Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served  till  discharged 
in  February,  1863.  He  participated  in  the  fight  at  Springfield,  Missouri, 
and  a  number  of  others. 

GEORGE  Y.  PYEATT, 

farmer  and  stock  feeder,  section  10,  was  born  in  Richland  County,  Ohio, 
on  March  6,  1834.  Jacob  Pyeatt,  his  father,  also  a  native  of  Ohio,  was 
born  in  1802,  and  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth 
Stewart,  came  originally  from  Vermont.  In  1838  the  family  removed  to 
Illinois  and  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Perry  County.  George  Y. 
passed  his  youth  on  the  farm  in  that  county,  and  was  married  there 
February  14,  1856,  to  Miss  Teresa  Wells,  a  daughter  of  Lewis  Wells,  of 
the  same  locality.  Mr.  P.  after  his  marriage  was  engaged  in  farming  in 
Perry  County  about  twenty-one  years.  In  1877  he  came  to  Missouri 
and  located  in  St.  Clair  County,  moving  on  his  present  farm  in  1880.  He 
has  120  acres  of  land,  all  improved,  and  upon  it  feeds  considerable  stock 
for  the  market.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pyeatt  have  six  children:  Virgil  W., 
Philena  F.,  (wife  of  Cyrus  H.  Hinkle),  Alverta  E.,  (wife  of  Harley  A. 
Hinkle),  Alfred  G.,  Sabra  W.,  (wife  of  Edward  J.  Allenson)  and  Her- 
schel  S.  Two  are  deceased,  Emma  F,,  died  in  1874,  at  the  age  of  four- 
teen years  and  Alice  A.,  died  in  infancy.      Mr.  Pyeatt  and  his  wife  are 


I  1 38  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY.  i 

members  of  the  Christian  Church.     He  belongs  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  lodge 
at  Osceola.  I 

JOHN  T.  RIDGWAY,  ' 

section  17,  is  a  native  of  Howard  County,  Missouri,  and  was  born  Janu- > 
ary  ii,  1838.  his   parents   being  Jesse  and  Anna  (Wiley)  Ridgway,  Ken- 
tuckians  by  birth.      The   former  came  to  Missouri  in    18 19  with  his  par- 
ents who  were  among  the  pioneer   settlers   of  Howiird    County.      Jesse 
Ridgway   removed    to   St.  Clair  County,    in    1840.       John    F.   spent    his 
youth  on  the  farm  in  this  county,  and  was  married  October  16,  1866,  to 
Miss  Ophelia  Catherine  Thompson,  a  daughter  of  John  F.  Thompson. 
She  was  born  in  this  county   and  was   here   reared.      She  died  June  2, 
1875,  leaving  three  children:      Mattie   Ann  Lee,  Robert  F.  and  Ettie  F.  j 
Mr.  Ridgway   was  then  married   August    15,  1875,  to   Mrs.  Ann    Mains,] 
widow  of  James  Mains.     She  had  two  children  by  her  former  marriage; 
William  T.  and  George  H.  Mains.     There  are  three  children  by  this  lat- 
ter union:     James  H.  H.,  John  Ed.  and   Mary   Ann.       Mr.  R.  now  owns 
240  acres  of  land,  of  which    150  are  in  good  cultivation.     He  also  owns 
160  acres  in  another  tract.     In  1862  he  enlisted  in  Company  D.,  General 
Coffey's  Regiment,  Missouri  State  Guards,  and  served  about  six  months, 
then    re-enlisting    in    the    regular  Confederate    service,   under  General  1 
Cockerel.     He  served  three  months  in  this  regiment  and  was  transferred 
to  Young's  Cavalry  Battalion  and  served  about  one  year.       He   partici-  ! 
pated  in  the  fights  of  Prairie  Grove,  Arkansas,  Springfield,  Missouri,  and  j 
others.     He  received  a   wound    below  the  knee  at   Springfield    and   was 
disabled  about  two  months.      He  was  taken  a  prisoner  at  this  time  and 
held  thirteen  months,  then  escaping.     He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity. 

EDWARD  D.  SAYLES, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  12,  was  born  in  Summit  County,  Ohio, 
August   8,  1856.     His  father,  Dr.  Dwight   Sayles,  married    Miss   Estella 
Wright,  and  they  were  also  both  natives  of  Ohio.     The  former  died  July  , 
24,  1862.     Edward  D.  was  raised  a  farmer  and   received  a  good  educa-  1 
tion  at  the  common  schools  and  the  Talmage  High  School.     After  com-  ' 
pleting  his  studies  he  was  foreman  in  a  fire  brick  establishment  for  one 
year.     In  1871  he  came  to  Missouri   and   purchased   the   land  where  he 
now  resides.     After  living  there  one  summer  he  returned  to  Ohio.     In 
1876  he  came  back  to  his  farm  in  St.  Clair  County.      He    went    to   Colo- 
rado in  the  spring  of  1880  and  spent  the  summer,  returning  to  his  farm 
in  the  fall.     He  has  eighty  acres  of   good   land,  and    is   devoting   some 
attention  to  the  breeding   and    raising  of  fine  stock.      He  has  a  flock  of 
120   graded    Cotswold  sheep  and  a  herd  of  eight  head  of  thoroughbred 
shorthorn    cattle.     Mr.  Sa}'les   was  married    February  23,  1882,  to  Miss 


BlOGRAPIllCAL.  1 1 39 

Barbara  Warner,  a  daughter  of  Abraham  Warner.  She  is  a  native  of 
and  was  reared  and  educated  in  Washtenaw  County,  Michigan. 

J.  B.  SCOTT, 

far'mer,  section  7,  was  born  in  Bucyrus,  Ohio.  June  26,  1849,  being  a  son 
of  T.  W.  and  Susan  (Kintnei)  Scott.  The  former  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  the  latter  in  Indiana.  T.  W.  Scott  early  went  to  Ohio  with 
his  parents,  who  were  among  the  first  settlers  of  Richland  and  Crawford 
Counties.  He  removed  to  DeKalb  County,  Indiana,  in  i86r,  where  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  grew  to  manhood.  He  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon and  higher  schools,  and  after  completing  his  studies  was  engaged 
in  teaching  and  taught  for  six  years  in  the  public  schools  of  Michigan 
and  Indiana.  He  has  made  the  study  of  phrenology  a  speciality,  and 
delivers  an  able  lecture  on  this  subject.  Mr.  Scott  was  married  in 
DeKalb  County,  November  5,  1874,  to  Miss  Emeline  A.  Clark,  a  daugh- 
ter of  O.  C.  Clark.  She  died  in  1877.  He  was  again  married  in  DeKalb 
County,  December  30,  1880,  to  Miss  Minnie  Wagner,  a  daughter  of 
Jacob  Wagner.  She  is  a  native  of  Michigan  but  was  reared  and  educated 
in  DeKalb  County.  Mr.  Scott  came  to  Missouri  in  the  spring  of  1882, 
and  located  on  land  which  he  had  previously  purchased  in  this  county. 
He  has  160  acres,  but  at  present  resides  on  a  tract  of  eighty  acres 
belonging  to  his  father,  which  he  is  farming. 

GEORGE  W.  SHORT, 

a  native  of  Kentucky,  was  born  June  18,  181 1,  his  parents  being  George 
and  Catharine  (Monical)  Short.  George  W.  was  the  second  son  of  six 
sons  and  five  daughters.  In  1813  the  family  removed  to  Indiana  and 
located  in  Washington  County,  where  they  were  among  the  pioneer  set- 
tlers. Our  subject  grew  to  manhood  in  Washington  County,  and  was 
married  October  13,  1831,  to  Easter  Carleton,  of  that  county.  There 
were  nine  children  by  this  marriage:  Elizabeth  (deceased),  Nancy  C, 
William  L.,  Hannah  (wife  of  C.  Minns),  George  F.  (deceased),  Samuel 
R.,  Margaret  (wife  of  John  Lewellen,  Easter  Ann  (deceased)  and  David 
W.  Mrs.  Short  died  in  the  fall  of  1862.  Mr.  S.  was  married  in  Putnam 
County,  Indiana,  January  24,  1865,  to  Mrs.  Cynthia  Ann  Hines.  a  widow 
of  John  Hines  and  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Read.  She  was  a  Kentuckian 
by  birth.  She  has  one  son  by  her  former  marriage,  Franklin  Hines. 
There  are  two  children  by  this  last  union.  General  Alonzo  Sherman  and 
Ama  Cynthia.  Mr.  Short  removed  from  Indiana  to  Missouri  in  1839  and 
first  located  in  Howard  County,  but  in  the  fall  of  1840  came  to  this 
county  and  settled  on  his  present  farm.  He  now  owns  235  acres  of  land, 
but  has  owned  800  acres,  of  which  he  has  given  the  larger  portion  to  his 


II40  IIISTOUV   OF   ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY. 

children.      lie   enlisted    in   March,  1862,  in   Company   E  of  the  Seventh; 
Missouri  Cavalry  and  served  till  discharged  in  thespring  of  1863.   After 
this  he  returned   home,  and  re-enlisted  and  served  in  the  Home  Guards 
until   the  close  of  the  war.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Short  are  members  of  the  M. 
E.  Church. 

ISAAC  SLUDER. 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  4,  was  born  in   Hendricks  County,  Indi- 
ana, August  30,  1839.      ^^^   father,   Henry  Sluder,  was  a  native  of  the, 
same  state,  and  his  mother,  whose  maiden   name   was   Nancy  Lockhart, 
came  originally  from  West  Virginia.  The  family  early  removed  to  Owen 
County,  and  from  there   to   Washington   and   then   to   Sullivan   County, 
where  Henry  Sluder  died  in  1864.     Isaac   grew  to   maturity  in   Indiana, 
and  after  removing  to  Sullivan  County  he  learned  the  shoemakers  trade, 
working  at  the  business  about  twenty  years.     He  was  married   in  Sulli-] 
van  County  April  20,  1859,  to  Miss  Nancy  Chestnut,  a  daughter  of  James  i 
Chestnut.     They  had  four  children:     Martha   E.,   (wife  of  Walter  Ken- 
nett),  Mary  F.,  (wife  of  Martin    Anderson),   Ollie   O.  and    Emma.     Mrs. 
Sluder  died  in  St.  Clair  County  February  16,  1881.     Mr.  S.  was  marriedi 
in  this  county  June  2,  1881,  to  Mrs.  Eliza  Parker,  widow  of  Elias  Parker. 
She  was  born  in  Ohio. but  moved  west  after  her  marriage  and  settled  in 
St.  Clair  County.     She  has  three  children  by   her  first  husband,  Estella 
Ann,  Frank  C.  and  Alice  J.  Parker.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sluder  have  one  child. 
John  Edward.     Mr.  S.  removed  to  Missouri  in  1880,  settling  on  the  farm 
where  he  now  resides  in  1881.     There  are  400  acres  of  excellent  land  in 
his  place. 

HON.  M.  B.  STRICKLAND. 

Among  the  prominent  men  of  St.  Clair  County  is  the  subject  of  this; 
sketch,  who  was  born  in  Franklin  County,  Missouri,  August  8,  1835.  His 
father,  E.  B.  Strickland,  was  a  native  of  Georgia,  and  his  mother,  for- 
merly Sarah  K.  Caldwell,  was  a  Kentuckian  by  birth.  E.  B.  Strickland 
was  one  of  the  early  settlers  and  leading  men  of  Franklin  County.  M. 
B.  grew  to  manhood  at  his  birth  place  on  a  farm,  receiving  a  good  com- 
mon school  education.  He  was  married  in  St.  Louis  County,  May  5,^ 
1857,  to  Miss  Mary  Conway,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Conway.  She  is  a 
native  of  St.  Louis  County.  After  this  event  Mr.  S.  resided  in  Franklin 
County  until  1877,  and  in  March  of  that  year  came  to  St.  Clair  County' 
and  purchased  the  farm  where  he  now  resides.  He  has  480  acres, 
improved,  and  makes  a  business  of  raising  and  feeding  cattle,  fattening! 
annually  about  two  car  loads  of  steers.  He  takes  a  prominent  part  in! 
the  political  issues  of  the  day,  and  was  nominated  and  elected  to  repre- 
sent his  county  in  the  legislature  at  the  general  election  of  1882.  This! 
position  he  filled  with  honorable   distinction.     Mr.  and   Mrs.  Strickland 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  1141 

have  a  family  of  five   children:      Virgil   C,   Mary,  Virginia   S.,  Ada  L. 

and  James  L.     Himself,  wife  and  oldest  daughter   are  members  of  the 

Presbvterian  Church. 

PHILIP  WARNER, 

section  ii,  a  native  of  Washtenaw  County,  Michigan,  was  born  Febru- 
ary 28,  1858,  and  is  a  son  of  Abraham  and  Barbara  (Layer)  Warner,  who 
were  natives  of  Germany.  Philip  spent  his  youth  on  the  farm  at  his 
birthplace,  receiving  a  common  school  education.  In  the  fall  of  1870  he 
came  to  Missouri  and  bought  land  and  settled  in  St.  Clair  County.  Here 
he  has  a  farm  of  eighty  acres.  Mr.  Warner  was  married  in  this  county 
September  17,  1878,  to  Mrs.  Mollie  Ruebush,  a  widow  of  Joseph  Rue- 
bush,  and  a  daughter  of  Henry  R.  Holden.  She  has  one  child  by  her 
former  marriage,  Thomas  Ruebush.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  have  two  children, 
Hirdie  B.  and  Harry  T.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyter- 
ian Church. 

DR.  J.  W.  WHEELER, 

merchant  at  Johnson  City,  was  born  in  Dearborn  County,  Indiana,  Sep- 
tember 7,  1844,  his  parents  being  Captain  Piercy  and  Jerusha  Ann 
(Holiday)  Wheeler.  In  July,  1862,  when  in  his  eighteenth  year,  J.  W. 
enlisted  in  the  Ninety-first  Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  and  after  nine 
months  service  he  re-enlisted  in  the  105th  regiment.  After  four  months 
in  this  regiment  he  again  re-enlisted  in  the  147th,  and  served  till  dis- 
charged in  June,  1865.  After  his  discharge  he  returned  home  and 
attended  school  at  Moors'  Hill  College  for  two  years  and  received  a 
good  education  in  the  English  branches.  In  the  fall  and  winter  of  1867 
and  1868  he  took  a  course  of  lectures  at  the  Cincinnati  Eclectic  Medical 
College.  Coming  to  Missouri  in  the  spring  of  1868,  he  commenced 
the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Hudson,  Bates  County.  The  fol- 
lowing year  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County  and  located  at  Johnson 
City,  and  has  since  continued  in  the  practice  at  this  place.  The  Doctor 
has  built  up  a  large  patronage  and  is  accounted  one  of  the  most  success- 
ful physicians  in  the  county.  He  engaged  in  the  drug  business  in  1S70, 
and  in  1878  he  added  a  complete  stock  of  general  merchandise.  He  is 
identified  with  the  Republican  party;  was  elected  township  collector 
and  collected  the  tax  for  two  years.  He  owns  about  1,300  acres  of  land 
in  St.  Clair  County,  about  600  acres  of  which  are  improved,  besides  con- 
siderable town  property  and  land  in  Cedar  County.  He  is  extensively 
occupied  in  feeding  cattle  and  hogs  for  the  market.  The  doctor  is  a 
man  of  good  business  habits  and  qualifications,  and  has  made  what  prop- 
erty he  owns  since  coming  to  the  county.  He  was  married  here  Decem- 
ber 8,  1870,  to  Miss  Ariadnah  Isabelle  Peck,  a  daughter  of  John  W, 
Peck,  of  Greencastle,  Indiana.  They  have  two  children:  Glennie  F. 
and  Harry  P.     He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity. 


1 142  HISTORY   OF    ST.   CLAIR    COUNTY.  | 

JOSEPHUS  WINCHESTER, 

section  4,  was  born  Auc^ust  4,  18 15,  in  Guilford  County.  North  Carolina.    I 
his  parents  being  William  and  Margaret  (Witt)')  Winchester,  natives  of 
the  same  state.     In  1830  the  family  removed  to  Kentucky  and   located    ■ 
in  Callaway  County.     Josephus,  the  second  son  of  five  sons  and  seven    I 
daughters,  spent  his  youth  on  a  farm  in  that   county,   and  was   married 
May  14.  1839,  to  Miss  Nancy   Ann   Rayburn.  a  daughter   of  John   Ray- 
burn.     She  was  a  native  of  Stewart  County,  Tennessee,  but  removed  to 
Kentucky  when  a  child  and  there  grew  to   maturity.     Mr.   Winchester, 
after  his  marriage,  resided  in  Kentucky  about  eleven  years,  coming  to 
Missouri  in  1850,  and  locating  in   St.   Clair  County.     Here   he  bought 
land  and  improved  the  farm   where  he    now  resides,   it  containing   300   , 
acres  with  about  IQO  under  fence.     He   has   nine    children:   Newton    L., 
VAlza  J.  (widow  of  S.  Hoover).  Melinda  (wife  of  C.  Weir),   Emily  (wife    j 
of  Lee  Carroll  ,  Rebecca  (wife  of  D.  L.  HerndonJ,  James  J..   Margaret 
(wife  of  C.  S.  Reding).  William  W.  and  E.  C.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Winchester    I 
are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church.     The  former  belongs  to  the  Masonic 
fraternity. 


■■«      U-    (<d — f ^  e  ^ 'I — e>    -vj      >• 


CHALK  LEVEL  TOWNSHIP. 


^S:~~^  f 


REV.  C.  J.  BARR, 

minister  and  farmer,  section  34,  was  born  in  Simpson  County,  Kentuck}', 
January  8,  1819,  being  a  son  of  Silas  and  Sarah  (Headelston)  Barr, 
natives  of  North  Carolina.  C.  J.  grew  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm, 
and  was  educated  in  Withe  College,  Tennessee.  He  was  ordained  a 
minister  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  in  1845,  and  then  was 
engaged  in  preaching  and  school  teaching  in  that  state  until  1856,  when 
he  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri.  Here  he  has  since  been  occu- 
pied in  the  ministry  and  farming.  His  farm  contains  245  acres,  2CXD  of 
which  are  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  May  ii,  1848,  Mr.  Barr  was 
married  to  Miss  Martha  A.  Scobey,  of  Tennessee.  They  have  two 
children,  Robert  F.  and  Alice  J. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  II43 

SAMUEL  BRAMNAN, 

blacksmith  at  Chalk  Level,  was  born  in  Tennessee  July  25,  1850,  his  par- 
ents being  Samuel  and  Phebe  (Killian)  Bramnan,  natives  of  Tennessee. 
When  our  subject  was  an  infant  the  family  moved  to  Arkansas,  where 
he  grew  to  manhood,  receiving  his  education  in  the  common  schools. 
He  worked  in  his  father's  blacksmith  shop  until  the  death  of  the  senior 
Bramnan,  which  occurred  in  1852.  Since  that  time  Samuel  has  followed 
his  trade  in  Arkansas,  Texas,  Iowa  and  Missouri.  In  1878  he  moved  to 
Chalk  Level,  where  he  now  has  a  good  shop  and  is  doing  a  fair  business. 
Mr.  B.  was  married  December  29,  1879,  to  Miss  Hannah  White,  of  Illi- 
nois.    They  have  two  children,  Claud  Lee  and  Sterling. 

DAVID  W.  COONCE, 

only  son  of  Jacob  Coonce,  was  born  in  Washington  Township,  this 
county,  January  2,  1850.  He  received  a  limited  education  at  home,  but 
in  1867,  went  to  the  Notre  Dame  College,  Indiana,  and  took  a  commer- 
cial course  of  two  years.  He  married  Miss  Mary  Clevenger,  of  St.  Clair 
County,  in  1880.  They  have  two  children:  James  Elmer  and  an  infant. 
Jacob  Coonce,  the  first  man  to  settle  in  the  county,  was  born  in  St. 
Charles  County,  Missouri  Territory,  February  6,  1806.  His  father,  Jacob 
Coonce  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  was  a  miller  by  trade,  and  also  a 
farmer.  Young  Jacob  left  home  when  fourteen  years  of  age  and  made 
his  way  alone  from  that  time.  The  first  money  he  ever  earned  was  a 
silver  dollar,  which  he  kept  as  long  as  he  lived,  and  now  it  is  the 
property  of  Elder  W.  W.  Warren,  his  son-in-law.  He  was  in  the  Black 
Hawk  war  with  General  Dodge  in  1833,  and  in  the  Mexican  War  under 
Colonel  Doniphan.  He  married  Mrs.  Lovina  Wamsley  in  1839,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Jedediah  Waldo,  of  Harrison  County,  Virginia.  They  had  three 
children:  Mary  E.,  now  Mrs.  W.  W.  Warren,  Elizabeth  O.,  who  married 
Thomas  Dudley,  and  died  in  187 1,  and  David  W.  Mr.  Coonce  came  to 
this  county  in  1827,  and  selected  a  site  for  a  home  near  a  large  spring  in 
the  township  of  Washington,  some  fourteen  miles  south  of  Osceola.  In 
183 1,  he  returned  to  this  county,  and  afterwards  made  his  home  near 
this  spring  during  life.  He  died  in  1878.  His  claim  embraced  720 
acres.  Mrs.  Coonce  died  in  1868.  Mr.  C.  was  a  great  hunter,  and  spent 
much  of  his  time  in  an  early  day  in  roving  o'er  hills  and  dales.  In  an 
Indian  battle  he  received  a  severe  wound  on  the  head  by  a  tomahawk, 
five  in  his  party  capturing  sixteen  Indians.  Mention  of  this  pioneer  is 
made  elsewhere  in  this  work. 

M.  L.  COOPER, 

farmer,  section  5,  was  born  in  Greene  County,  Tennessee,  July  21,  1840, 
and  was  a  son  of  John  A.  and  Sarah  (Law)  Cooper,  both  natives  of  Ten- 


I  144  HISTORY   OF   ST.   CLAIR   COUNTY. 

nessee.  When  M.  L.  was  five  years  of  age  his  parents  moved  to  West 
Virginia,  and  in  two  years  to  Clinton  County,  Missouri,  where  he  became 
grown.  March  17,  1864,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Lucy  A.  Estes,  a  native 
of  Missouri.  He  followed  farming  in  Clinton  County,  Missouri,  till  1867, 
when  he  moved  to  Ray  Countx',  and  in  1870  came  to  St.  Clair  County 
where  he  now  has  a  fine  farm  of  250  acres.  During  the  war  he  held  a 
commission  as  captain  in  Slack's  Division,  and  participated  in  many 
important  battles.  He  has  been  constable  of  his  township  for  six  years. 
He  is  now  a  member  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  and  also 
belongs  to  the  Grange.  Mr.  C.  is  the  father  of  eight  children:  Sarah  E., 
George  W.,  John  B.,  Albert  L.,  Charles  B.,  Elmer  M.,  Archibald  and 
Ann  C. 

WILLIAM  M.  COX, 

section  28,  was  born  in  Hopkins  County,  Kentucky,  May  22,  1833.  His 
father,  Howell  B.  Cox,  originally  from  North  Carolina,  was  a  son  of 
Samuel  Cox,  of  Richmond,  Virginia,  whose  father  early  came  from  Eng- 
land. William's  mother,  formerly  Henrietta  Steen,  of  Hopkins  County, 
Kentucky,  was  a  daughter  of  Nathan  Steen,  a  Kentuckian  by  birth,  and 
a  friend  and  companion  of  Daniel  Boone.  Howell  Cox  was  for  many 
years  engaged  as  pilot  on  the  Mississippi  River,  and  was  also  interested 
in  a  successful  business  in  which  he  became  very  wealthy.  But  serious 
reverses  overtook  him  and  he  lost  his  property.  He  died  in  Kentucky 
in  1849,  his  wife  having  preceded  him  in  1835.  In  1853  William  M.,  the 
only  surviving  son  of  his  parents,  went  to  California  and  was  occupied 
in  mining  a  portion  of  the  time,  also  having  an  interest  in  the  Pilot 
Creek  Canal  and  being  agent  for  the  company.  He  remained  there  for 
three  years  with  satisfactory  results;  then  returned  to  Kentucky  and 
and  attended  school  for  a  time,  when  he  came  to  Missouri,  settling  in 
St.  Clair  County.  Purchasing  a  farm,  he  commenced  its  improvement, 
and  has  since  been  largely  interested  in  raising,  handling  and  shipping 
stock.  In  1868,  the  political  parties  being  in  an  unorganized  condition, 
he  took  an  active  part  in  bringing  the  Democratic  party  back  to  its  for- 
mer status,  and  received  the  nomination  for  probate  judge.  In  1876  he 
was  elected  county  sheriff,  and  in  1878  was  elected  clerk  of  the  county, 
serving  for  four  years.  Mr.  Cox  now  has  a  fine  farm  of  785  acres  in  this 
township.  He  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South,  is  a  Royal  Arch 
Mason  and  belongs  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  fraternities. 
He  married  Miss  Phebe  H.  Cox  February  12,  1856.  She  v/as  the  daugh- 
ter of  William  M.  Cox,  of  Tennessee,  and  she  died  November  5, 
1873,  leaving  three  children:  Howell  S.,  Cargill  C,  and  Phebe  T.,  since 
deceased.  His  second  wife  was  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Palmer  Clark.  They  have 
two  children,  Eudora  and  Agnes. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  II45 

REV.  THOMAS  B.  FREEMAN, 

minister  and  farmer,  section  19,  is  a  native  of  Roane  County,  Tennessee, 
and  was  born  November  8,  1825.  His  father,  John  Freeman,  was  a  son  of 
James  Freeman,  originally  from  England  and  a  revolutionary  soldier. 
The  mother  of  our  subject,  whose  maiden  name  was  Susan  Davis,  was 
born  in  North  Carolina.  Thomas  B.  grew  to  manhood  on  the  farm  at 
his  birthplace  and  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools.  He 
was  engaged  in  trading  in  stock  in  Tennessee  until  1847,  when  he 
enlisted  in  the  Mexican  war,  remaining  in  service  until  its  close.  Then 
he  returned  to  Tennessee,  and  in  1851  moved  to  Greene  County,  Mis- 
souri, where  he  followed  farming  and  dealing  in  stock  until  1865,  at  that 
time  going  to  Howard  County.  In  1868  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County. 
Mr.  F.'s  landed  estate  consists  of  500  acres,  well  improved.  He  was 
ordained  a  minister  of  the  Baptist  Church  in  1864,  and  since  that  time 
has  been  occupied  in  the  ministry  at  different  places.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  Mr.  Freeman  was  married  March  20,  1849, 
to  Miss  Martha  Alexander,  also  of  Tennessee.  She  died  September 
2.  1877,  leaving  seven  children:  Sarah  E.,  Lulu  H.,  Samuel  H,,  Mary 
E.,  George  B.,  Marion  M.  and  Margaret  D.  He  was  again  married  June 
27,  1878,  to  Mrs.  Mary  A.  McBride,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  H.  Green.  She 
was  born  in  Tennessee  November  20,  1826.  She  was  first  married  to 
James  Carlisle  in  April,  1848.  He  died  in  1854.  They  had  one  child, 
David  W.  She  was  again  married  August  26,  i860,  to  Phillip  McBride, 
who  died  July  3,  1864.  They  had  one  child,  Arminta  J. 
>. 

E.  H.  FRENCH, 

physician  and  surgeon  at  Chalk  Level,  was  born  in  Belmont  County, 
Ohio,  August  30,  1825,  and  was  a  son  of  William  and  Mary  (Bunda) 
French,  the  former  of  Maryland  and  the  latter  of  North  Carolina  He 
grew  to  manhood  on  his-  father's  farm  in  Ohio,  receiving  a  collegiate 
education  in  the  colleges  of  Barnesville  and  Delaware.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-two  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  John  Young, 
remaining  with  him  two  years.  In  1846  he  went  to  Illinois  and  con- 
tinued his  studies  till  1848,  when  he  entered  the  Ohio  Medical  College, 
of  Cincinnati,  from  which  institution  he  was  graduated  in  1849.  Then 
he  located  in  Bloomington,  Illinois,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession  for  several  years,  and  afterwards  in  Story  County, 
Iowa.  In  1859  he  settled  in  Neosho,  Newton  County,  Missouri.  From 
1863  till  1865  he  was  surgeon  in  the  United  States  army.  In  1865  he 
located  in  Austin,  Cass  County,  and  in  1867  he  went  to  McDonald 
County.  In  1872  he  came  to  his  present  residence,  where  he  has  enjoyed 
a  lucrative    practice,  having    here   met  with   much    success.     While  in 


I  146  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

McDonald  Count}'  he  was  county  surveyor  for  five  years,  and  also  held 
other  minor  offices.  August  9,  i860.  Mr.  French  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  J.  Mason,  of  Greene  County,  Missouri.  She  died  May  15,  1865, 
leaving  one  child,  Eliza  J.  He  was  again  married  September  6,  1868, 
to  Miss  Elizabeth  Bailey,  of  Indiana.  They  have  six  children:  Charles, 
William,  Rosa,  Ella,  Albert  and  Franklin. 

DR.  R.  W.  GARNETT. 

ph/sician  and  farmer,  section  33.  was  born  in  Barren  County,  Kentucky, 
June  3,  1828,  his  parents  being  William  I.  and  Emily  (Willis)  Garnett, 
natives  of  Virginia.  R.  W.  was  the  third  of  a  family  of  five  children. 
He  grew  to  manhood  in  Kentuck}-,  receiving  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  that  state  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  began  the  study  of 
medicine  with  Dr.  John  Green  of  Barren  County.  He  read  with  him 
about  three  years  after  which  he  began  practicing  in  that  county  where 
he  remained  until  1855.  Then  he,  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri, 
where  he  has  since  practiced  his  profession  and  followed  farming.  His 
farm  contains  200  acres  and  will  average  with  any  in  this  section.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  and  belongs  to  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity. August  2,  i860.  Dr.  G.  was  married  to  Miss  Julia  A.  Ledbetter. 
She  was  born  in  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  September  9,  1842.  They 
have  eight  children:  William  I.,  Lucy  Lee,  Ed.,  Docia,  Ermine,  Bettie, 
Josia,  and  Dick. 

NICHOLAS  B.  GREEN 

was  born  in  Lafayette  County,  Missouri,  March  29.  1838.  and  was  a  son 
of  Joseph  and  Jane  G.  Green,  natives  of  Tennessee.  In  185  i  his  par- 
ents moved  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri.  He  was  reared  upon  his 
father's  farm  and  received  an  education  in  the  common  schools  of  Mis- 
souri. Mr.  G.  is  now  one  of  the  leading  farmers  in  his  township  and 
owns  a  farm  containing  605  acres,  well  improved.  Two  hundred  acres 
are  under  fence  and  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  He  is  at  present 
feeding  eighty-two  head  of  cattle.  He  received  a  wound  at  the  battle 
of  Lone  Jack  during  the  war.  May  2,  1861,  Mr.  Green  was  married  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Browning,  a  native  of  Virginia.  They  have  six  children: 
Susan.  Permela,  Isabelle,  Joseph  H.,  Robert  L.,  and  Bessie.  They  have 
lost  five  children.     He  is  a  member  of  the  Grange. 

DANIEL  B.  KIDD. 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  16.  one  of  the  representative  citizens  of 
St.  Clair  Count}-,  was  born  in  Madison  County,  Kentucky,  August  22, 
1833.     His  parents  were  Allen  and  Mildred  (Gorland)  Kidd,  both  natives 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  1 1 47 

of  Virginia.  When  Daniel  B.  was  about  one  year  old  they  moved  to 
Columbia,  Boone  County,  Missouri,  and  in  1840  to  Pettis  County.  In 
1841  Johnson  Count}'  became  their  home,  they  going  thence  in  1843  to 
Lexington,  Lafayette  County.  In  1848  they  located  in  Henry  County, 
Missouri.  Allen  Kidd  was  an  excellent  carpenter  and  worked  in  these 
various  points  on  public  buildings.  Daniel  B.,  having  learned  the  trade 
of  wool  carding  in  Henry  County,  located  at  Osceola,  St.  Clair  County, 
in  1853  and  was  engaged  in  following  that  business  for  four  years.  The 
succeeding  two  years  he  was  occupied  in  farming,  and  then  for  one 
year  gave  his  attention  to  wool  carding  at  Taberville  and  then  in  Seda- 
Ha,  where  he  was  engaged  in  manufacturing  wagons  and  speculating. 
In  1867  he  returned  to  St.  Clair  County  and  here  has  since  been  inter- 
ested in  farming  and  raising  stock.  His  landed  estate  consists  of  3,600 
acres,  his  home  farm  being  well  improved.  He  is  feeding  123  head  of 
beef  cattle  and  200  head  of  stock  cattle.  He  also  makes  a  specialty  of 
fine  blooded  stock,  having  a  superior  herd  of  short  horns.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Christian  Church  and  belongs  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  Novem- 
ber 6,  1856,  Mr.  Kidd  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Ledbetter,  a  native  of 
Tennessee.  She  was  born  December  29,  1836.  They  have  five  chil- 
dren: Christopher  C,  Daniel  B.,  Jr.,  Charles  B.,  Marion  and  Logan  C. 

GEORGE  H.  LYONS, 

farmer,  section  7,  was  born  in  Fayette  County,  Pennsylvania,  October  9, 
1826,  his  father  being  Jacob  Lyons,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  He  was  a 
son  of  William  Lyons,  who  came  originallj'  from  Germany.  The  mother 
of  George,  formerly  Ann  Hertzog,  was  born  in  Germany.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  reared  and  educated  at  his  birthplace,  there  learning 
the  trade  of  carpenter,  which  he  followed  in  his  native  state  till  1855. 
Then  he  moved  to  Linn  County,  Iowa,  and  worked  at  his  chosen  calling 
till  1867,  when  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri.  He  now  owns  a 
farm  of  240  acres  of  excellent  land.  December  27,  i860,  Mr.  Lyon  mar- 
ried Miss  Sarah  A.  Bolton,  of  Indiana.  They  have  nine  children:  Jacob 
C,  William  B.,  Margaret  R.,  John  E.,  Mary  A.,  Jennie  E.,  Anna  B., 
Abraham  W.  and  Bertha. 

P.  A.  MOTTLEY, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  20,  was  born  December  13,  1823,  in  Pitt- 
sylvania County,  Virginia,  his  parents  being  David  and  Gibia 
(Nichols)  Mottley,  Virginians  by  birth  P.  A.  remained  in  his  native 
county  until  fifteen  years  old  when  he  went  to  Tennessee,  there  follow- 
ing farming  until  1846.  Coming  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  he  settled 
on  the  farm  which  he  now  occupies.  He  has  since  lived  in  this  county, 
excepting  from  1848  to  1855,  which  time  he  spent  in  California  and  Mex- 


II4S  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

ico.  His  farm  contains  i.ioo  acres,  300  of  which  are  in  cultivation.  Mr. 
M.  was  a  soldier  in  the  Mexican  war.  He  was  treasurer  of  his  township 
during  the  township  organization.  January  8,  1863,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Zilia  Parks,  a  native  of  Missouri.  They  have  a  family  of  seven 
children:  Margaret  J.  and  James  D.,  twins,  Francis  A.,  George  L.,  Mer- 
ritt  r>.,  Wade  H.  and  Sarah. 

JOHN  VV.  PIERCE, 

farmer  and  insurance  agent,  section  22,  was  born  in  Washington  Count}', 
New  York,  January  20,  i<S29,  and  was  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Emily  (Whit- 
ney) Pierce,  the  former  a  native  of  New  York  and  the  latter  of  Vermont. 
When  our  subject  was  about  seven  years  old  his  parents  moved  to  Ohio, 
where  he  grew  to  manhood  and  received  his  education.  At  the  age  of 
nineteen  he  engaged  in  the  patent  right  business,  which  he  tollowed  for 
two  years,  afterward  becoming  occupied  in  manufacturing  linseed  oil  for 
three  years.  In  1848  he  went  to  Illinois  and  farmed  until  1859,  after 
which  he  was  again  in  the  patent  right  business  for  four  years.  In  1867 
he  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  and  now  owns  a  farm  of  160 
acres,  all  well  improved.  He  is  also  agent  for  some  of  the  leading 
insurance  companies,  and  H.  H.  Dix'  marble  works.  Mr.  P.  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  M.  E.  Church.  In  September,  1846,  he  married  Miss  Casinda 
Bird,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  They  have  six  children:  William  B., 
Maria  C,  Leander  M.,  Harriett  A.,  Julia  D.  and  Baxter  R.  They  lost 
three. 

N.  L.  RICKMAN 

is  the  son  of  Joshua  Rickman,  who  was  born  in  the  state  of  Tennessee, 
August  9,  1801.  He  came  to  St.  Clair  County.  Missouri,  in  1840,  and 
located  in  Chalk  Level  Township,  where  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
B.  Terry  in  1844.  She  was  born  in  Tennessee  November  4,  18 19.  Joshua 
Rickman  died  April  28,  1879.  N.  L.  was  born  in  St.  Clair  County,  Mis- 
souri, January  21,  1850,  and  has  since  lived  here.  He  learned  the  black- 
smiths' trade  with  his  father,  which  he  followed  till  1878,  since  which 
time  he  has  been  occupied  in  farming.  The  landed  estate  of  the  Rick- 
man family  consists  of  240  acres.  Mr.  R.  is  considered  to  be  one  of  the 
most  respected  citizens  of  Chalk  Level  and  was  township  clerk  one 
term.     He  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church. 

WILLIAM  T.  ROBINSON, 

postmaster  and  merchant  at  Chalk  Level,  was  born  in  Lawrence  County, 
Illinois,  October  i,  1839.  His  parents  were  Alexander  and  Mary  A. 
(Gibbon)   Robinson,   both   natives  of  Kentucky.       W.  T.  was   reared  in 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  1 149 

the  county  of  his  birth,  and  in  1855  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri, 
where  he  followed  farming  till  1881.  Then  he  began  his  present  busi- 
ness, in  which  he  has  met  with  good  success.  He  was  married  January 
3,  1868,  to  Miss  Elsie  J.  Landon.  They  have  one  child,  Edmond  Lan- 
don,  and  have  lost  two:  Ida  and  Eddie.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  R.  are  active 
members  of  the  Christian  Church. 

THEODORIC  SNUFFER, 

deceased,  a  pioneer  in  southwest  Missouri,  was  born  in  Henry  County, 
Virginia,  July  15,  1799,  and  traces  his  paternal  ancestry  to  Germany,  his 
grandfather,  Jacob  Snuffer,  and  his  wife,  Sally,  having  emigrated  to  the 
United  States  in  1760.  He  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  revolutionary  war, 
and  participated  in  the  battle  of  Brandywine  Station.  After  the  close  of 
the  war  he  settled  on  a  farm  east  of  the  Blue  Ridge  Mountains  in  Vir- 
ginia, where  he  spent  his  remaining  days,  attaining  the  remarkable  age 
of  no  years.  He  left  a  large  family  widely  scattered,  and  among  these 
remaining  in  Virginia  was  George,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
who  was  born  in  Virginia  and  in  1797  married  Miss  P.  Janiet,  of  Vir- 
ginia. By  this  union  there  were  four  sons  and  six  daughters.  Mr.  Snuf- 
fer died  in  the  service  of  his  country  in  the  war  of  1812.  Theodoric 
Snuffer  was  married  in  1834  to  Miss  Margaret  Baker,  a  native  of  Mont- 
gomery County,  Virginia,  and  a  daughter  of  Colonel  Josiah  Baker,  an 
officer  in  the  war  of  1776.  He  married  Miss  Sallie  Patton  in  1793.  In 
1836  Mr.  Snuffer  came  to  Missouri  and  settled  in  Henry  County  near 
the  present  site  of  Calhoun,  living  in  this  county  until  the  spring  of 
1838,  when  he  removed  to  what  is  now  St.  Clair  County,  on  the  Osage 
River.  His  first  building  was  a  cabin  ten  feet  square,  and  in  this  build- 
ing he  resided  until  July,  1839.  Then  he  built,  with  the  assistance  of 
neighbors,  a  log  house  eighteen  feet  square.  This  building  still  remains 
on  the  old  homestead.  Mr.  S.  was,  at  this  time,  in  the  prime  of  vigor- 
ous manhood.  He  commenced  farming  by  clearing  and  planting  a  few 
acres  in  Indian  corn,  and  each  year  clearing  and  breaking  a  few  more 
acres.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Snuffer  had  five  sons  and  one  daughter  born  to 
them.  Of  these  the  daughter  died  in  infancy,  the  third  son  died  when 
four  years  of  age;  Cyrus  R.,  the  fourth  son,  was  murdered  in  the  Choc- 
taw Nation  by  a  band  of  outlaws,  the  leader  of  which  was  afterward 
hanged  in  Texas;  Josiah,  the  eldest  son,  died  in  1863  at  Little  Rock, 
Arkansas,  while  a  soldier  under  General  Price.  Owen  M.  was  an  officer 
in  the  confederate  army,  and  now  resides  on  the  old  homestead.  He 
was  born  on  the  14th  day  of  February,  1837,  in  Henry  County,  Missouri. 
In  1864  he  married  Mrs.  Susan  Tunstall,  widow  of  Captain  E.  B.  Tun- 
stall,  who  fell  at  the  battle  of  Elk  Horn,  in  Arkansas,  under  General 
Price.     By  this  union   there   are   now  living   two   daughters,   Sallie  and 


II50  lIIsrORV   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTV. 

PZsie.  Mrs.  Snuffer  died  in  Arkansas  in  1876.  Mr.  Owen  Snuffer,  to 
whom  we  are  indebted  for  this  sketch,  has  written  several  articles  for 
the  press,  and  amoni^  these  contributions  are  "  The  Early  Settlers  of  the 
County"  and  "The  Sacking  and  Burning  of  Osceola  by  Jim  Lane." 
"  The  Battle  of  Lone  Jack,"  written  by  him,  is  acknowledged  to  be  a  fair 
and  impartial  history.  He  also  assisted  A.  C.  Appier  in  writing  the 
only  true  life  ever  written  of  the  Younger  Brothers. 

S.  C.  AND  R.  B.  THOMAS, 

farmers,  section  33,  are  among  the  prominent  citizens  and  early  settlers 
of  St.  Clair  County.  S.  C.  was  born  on  section  33  of  this  (Chalk  Level) 
township  February  11,  1846.  His  father,  Elisha  Thomas,  was  a  native 
of  North  Carolina  and  came  to  St.  Clair  County  in  1839.  The  mother 
of  our  subjects,  whose  maiden  name  was  Jane  W.  Goff,  came  originally 
from  Tennessee.  S.  C.  was  the  eighth  of  a  family  of  twelve  children. 
He  went  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  in  1864,  where  he  followed  farming 
for  some  time,  then  returning  to  St.  Clair  County.  R.  B.  Thomas  was 
born  June  21,  1848.  His  youth  was  spent,  like  that  of  his  brother,  on 
the  farm  in  this  county.  They  own  185  acres  of  farm  land,  100  acres  of 
which  are  in  cultivation.  The  senior  Thomas  died  May  9,  1862,  and  his 
widow  October  5,  1873. 

ROBERTSON  WHITE, 

farmer  and  stock  dealer  and  the  the  owner  of  500  acres  of  land,  was  born 
in  Sussex  County,  New  Jersey,  June  13.  1813.  He  was  the  son  of  John 
White,  of  New  Jersey,  and  his  grandfather  was  born  in  Scotland.  His 
mother  was  formerly  Jane  Robertson,  daughter  of  Robert  Robertson,  of 
New  Jersey.  John  White  was  in  the  war  of  18 12.  He  had  a  family  of 
twelve  children,  of  whom  four  sons  and  two  daughters  are  now  living. 
In  18 1 5  the  family  moved  to  Guernsey  County,  Ohio,  and  thence  to 
Muskingum  County,  where  they  remained  for  many  years.  In  1836 
Robertson  went  to  Knox  County,  Illinois,  entered  a  farm  and  improved 
160  acres.  In  1850  he  took  a  trip  to  California,  working  in  the  mines 
while  there.  In  1861  he  moved  to  California  with  his  family,  and  after 
remaining  two  years,  the  climate  not  agreeing  with  his  wife's  health,  he 
sold  out  and  returned  by  way  of  New  York,  arriving  in  Knox  County 
May  I,  1864.  In  1866  Mrs.  W.  died,  leaving  five  children:  Aaron,  Henry, 
George,  Francis  and  Hattie.  In  1867  he  married  Charlotte  Ramboe,  of 
Pennsylvania,  a  daughter  of  George  Ramboe.  By  this  union  they  have 
five  children:  John,  Stella,  Elizabeth,  Theodore  and  Stephen  A.  Douglas. 
Politically  he  is  a  Democrat.  Mrs.  White  is  a  Presbyterian.  He  is  a 
Mason.      He  now  resides  on  section  32. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  II51 

JOHN  S.  WILSON, 

dealer  in  general  merchandise  at  Chalk  Level,  was  born  in  Warsaw^ 
Benton  County,  Missouri,  January  26,  1848,  and  was  a  son  of  Dr.  Joel  Y. 
Wilson,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  whose  father,  John  D.  Wilson,  was  a  Vir- 
ginian by  birth  and  of  Irish  ancestry.  The  mother  of  John  S.  was  for- 
merly Mary  Burch,  a  native  of  Virginia.  John  S.  was  the  eldest  of  a 
family  of  six  children.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  county  and 
was  there  educated,  being  for  many  years  engaged  as  clerk  in  differ- 
ent localities.  He  was  for  three  years  conductor  on  the  Louisville  & 
Nashville  Railroad.  In  1880  he  located  in  Chalk  Level,  having  pre- 
viously been  engaged  in  business  at  Appleton  City  for  two  years. 
He  now  carries  a  stock  of  drugs  and  other  articles  of  merchandise  and 
is  doing  a  good  business.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  Mr.  Wilson 
was  first  married  to  Miss  Fannie  Campbell,  a  native  of  Missouri,  who- 
died  August  4,  1870,  leaving  two  children:  Annie  and  William  Y.  He 
was  again  married  February  8,  1873,  to  Miss  Annie  Van  Allen,  origi- 
nallv  from  New  York. 


JACKSON  TOWNSHIP. 


HENRY  G.  BOLLINGER 

was  born  March  26,  1836,  in  Camden  County,  Missouri,  and  was  the  son- 
of  Henry  and  Lucy  J.  Bollinger,  nee  Evans,  the  former  a  native  of  North 
Carolina,  born  in  1788,  and  the  latter  born  May  2,  1800,  in  East  Tennes- 
see. They  were  married  in  182 1  and  were  the  parents  of  eight  children, 
all  now  deceased  except  Henry  and  Julia  A.,  born  February  16,  1839, 
wife  of  James  B.  Slavens,  of  Camden  County,  Missouri.  In  1830,  the 
family  leaving  Tennessee,  moved  to  Camden  County,  Missouri,  Mr.  B. 
remaining  there  until  his  death,  April  7,  1845,  his  widow  dying  October 
3,  1861.  Henry  G.  Bollinger  married  Miss  Mary  E.  Eccleston,  of  the 
same  county  as  himself,  and  to  them  were  born  eleven  children,  six  of 
whom  are  living:  Lucy  J.,  born  April  30,  1864;  William  A.,  born  Jan- 
uary 15,  1867;  Julia  M.,  born  October  3,  1871;  Mary  A.,  born  February 
19,  1880;  John  Grant  and  Eleanor  V.,  twins,  born  March  28,  1883.  In 
March,  1880,  Mr.  Bollinger  settled  in  this  township  and  purchased  144. 
acres  of  land  on  section  6,  having  come  from  Camden  County,  where  he 


IK2  HISTORY   OF   ST.   CLAIR   COUNTY. 

had  held  the  office  of  sheriff  and  collector  for  four  years.  He  was  also 
county  judge  there  for  a  term  of  four  years.  During  the  war  he  held  a 
commission  as  captain.  He  is  very  unassuming  in  his  manner,  but 
is  a  most  successful  farmer.  Politically,  he  is  a  Republican.  Himself 
and  wife  arc  members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  Wright's  Creek. 

georgp:  w.  brown 

was  born  April  21,  1853,  in  Jackson  Township,  St.  Clair  County,  Mis- 
souri. His  father,  Benjamin  Brown,  a  farmer  by  occupation,  was  born 
July  31.  18 19,  in  Kentucky,  and  was  married  in  1847  to  Miss  Margaret 
Borland.  They  had  ten  children:  George  W.;  John  W.,  born  December 
16,  18S4;  Susan  J.  born  December  11,  1856;  Mary  B.  and  Minerva  (twins) 
born  May  12,  i860,  the  latter  died  May  25,  i860;  Myra,  born  July  29, 
1862,  died  February  i,  1873;  Benjamin,  born  May  20,  1866;  James  and 
Samuel  (twins),  born  February  8,  1870;  and  Parker,  born  November  ii, 
187 1.  Mr.  Benjamin  Brown,  Sr.,  died  January  7,  1872,  and  his  widow 
departed  this  life  February  7,  1873.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
married  January  13,  1876,  to  Miss  Margaret  A.  Green.  By  this  union 
there  are  two  children,  a  son  and  a  daughter:  Wilson,  born  April  20, 
1877;  and  Florence,  born  December  27,  1879.  ^r.  Brown  now  owns  106 
acres  of  excellent  farming  land,  constituting  a  portion  of  his  father's 
estate.  He  resides  upon  section  13.  In  his  political  preferences  he  is 
Democratic.  Both  himself  and  wife  are  identified  with  the  Mt.  Zion 
M.  E.  Church,  South. 

THOMAS  COPENHAVER, 

was  born  in  Kentucky,  August  2,  18 15.  His  father,  a  Virginian  by  birth, 
emigrated  to  Kentucky  in  an  early  da3^  and  after  being  married  removed 
to  Alabama.  His  wife  was  formerly  Miss  Hannah  Barrier.  They  had  a 
family  of  nine  children,  of  whom  Thomas  is  one  of  four  and  the  only 
son  now  living.  The  senior  Copenhaver  died  February  17,  1836,  and  his 
widow  in  1855.  Our  subject  was  married  February  2,  1835,  to  Miss 
Nancy  Looney,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Anna  Looney,  of  Jackson 
County,  Alabama.  Their  family  consists  of  fourteen  children,  eleven 
of  whom  still  survive.  Peggy  was  married  to  Jacob  Harper,  John 
was  married  to  Miss  Eliza  Copenhaver,  of  Lincoln  County,  Missouri. 
Sally  A.  is  the  wife  of  Benjamin  Hall;  Samuel  married  Nancy  Thomp- 
son; Hannah  is  now  Mrs.  Pleasant  A.  Jones,  of  Kansas;  Benjamin  mar- 
ried Mary  A.  Hudson;  Isam  married  Louisa  Thompson;  Nancy  J.  mar- 
ried Thomas  Wilkerson;  Mary  E.;  Thomas  married  Cynthia  Green, 
and  Caruthers  B.  married  Mary  Brown.  In  1842,  Mr.  Copenhaven  came 
to  Missouri  and  settled  in  this  county  ^nd  township.  Though  in  declin- 
ing years,  Mr.  C.  has  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  his  life  has  has  not 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  1 1  53 

been  a  failure,  and  he  has  acquired  a  comfortable  competency.  His 
son,  Thomas  N.,  is  a  blacksmith  and  farmer  by  occupation,  and  was  born 
in  this  county  March  29,  1856.  His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Granville  and 
Martha  Green,  of  this  county,  to  whom  he  was  married  September  21, 
1877.  They  have  three  children:  Armetta,  Thomas  G.  and  Delsia  M. 
Mr.  T.  N.  Copenhaver  now  has  a  farm  of  160  acres  on  section  26.  He 
does  some  work  at  his  trade,  but  attends  principally  to  his  farming- 
interests.  He  and  his  father  are  Democrats.  They  belong  to  the  Bap- 
tist Church. 

JOSEPH  F.  JOHNSON 

was  born  October  3,  1849,  in  Middle  Tennessee,  and  was  the  son  of 
William  D.  Johnson,  who  was  born  July  2,  1826.  He  married  about  the 
year  1840,  to  Miss  Lucinda  Carrington,  born  September  i,  18 12.  They  had 
five  children:  James  A.,  born  May  27,  1842,  died  December  8,  1868; 
William  W.,  born  May  20,  1844,  died  during  the  war;  Henry  J.,  born 
February  15,  1847;  Lucinda  C,  born  April  6,  1852,  and  Joseph.  In  1857, 
emigrating  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  Mr.  Johnson  purchased  a  tract 
of  land,  upon  which  he  settled  and  lived  till  his  death,  April  13,  1859. 
Mrs.  J.  died  at  Springfield,  Missouri,  May  i,  1863.  Joseph  F.  commenced 
life  for  himself  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years  as  a  cattle  driver,  but  in  a 
few  months  became  employed  by  the  government  as  post  teamster,  fol- 
lowing this  business  about  two  years.  Then  with  his  brother,  (James) 
and  sister,  he  removed  to  Olathe,  Johnson  County,  Kansas,  and  after  six 
months  he  and  his  brother,  with  others,  started  over  the  plains  to  New 
Mexico.  On  account  of  a  severe  snow  storm,  they  were  compelled  to 
abandon  the  enterprise.  Returning  to  Kansas,  he  was  engaged  in  farm- 
ing for  four  years,  when  he  went  to  Howard  County,  which  was  his  home 
for  two  years.  In  1871  he  came  to  this  county.  Mr.  Johnson  was  mar- 
ried September  14,  1873,  to  Miss  L.  Zada  J.  Rippetoe,  of  St.  Clair 
County.  They  have  had  four  children:  William  E.  C,  born  June  i, 
1874,  died  July  4,  1881;  Charles  A.,  born  December  30,  1875;  Amy  R., 
born  February  2,  1878,  and  Etta  D.,  born  October  18,  1882.  His  place 
contains  166  acres  of  valuable  land,  well  adapted  for  grazing.  He  is 
Democratic  in  his  political  views.  Himself  and  wife  are  connected  with 
the  M.  E.  Church  South. 

JOSEPHUS  W.  KNIGHT, 

a  Kentuckian  by  birth,  was  born  October  11,  1836,  his  parents  being 
William  and  Eglentine  (Winchester)  Knight,  the  former  born  in  1814  in 
North  Carolina,  and  the  latter,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  born  in  1818. 
They  were  married  in  1835,  and  of  their  family  of  four  sons  and  three 
daughters,  all  survive  but  two  sons.     In  1850  the}^  emigrated  from  Ken- 

73 


I  1 54  HISTORY   OF    ST.    CT.AIR   COUNTY. 

tucky  to  this  county,  settling  in  Chalk  Level  Township,  where  Mr. 
Knight  still  resides,  his  wife  having  died  in  January,  1851.  Four  j-ears 
later  he  married  Miss  Mary  Boots,  of  St.  Clair  County,  and  to  them 
have  been  born  five  sons  and  six  daughters.  When  twenty  years  of  age 
Josephus  W.  took  the  overland  trip  to  California,  remaining  there  for 
three  years.  July  2,  i860,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  M.  Short,  of 
this  county  and  they  had  three  children:  Emma  J.,  born  July  27,  1870; 
Jennie  Lee,  February  16,  1872;  and  Eva  E.,  born  December  21,  1874. 
Mrs.  Knight  died  December  20,  1875,  and  Mr.  K.  was  again  married 
March  22,  1877,  to  Mrs.  Servia  Sherman,  widow  of  John  H.  Sherman, 
also  of  St.  Clair  County.  She  had  by  a  former  marriage  three  sons  and 
three  daughters,  of  whom  two  sons  and  two  daughters  survive.  In  1862 
he  enlisted  in  Company  B,  Sixteenth  Regiment  Volunteer  Infantry  as  a 
private  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  when  he  was  discharged 
in  Camden  County,  Arkansas.  After  the  war  he  settled  in  Saline 
County,  Missouri,  and  four  years  later  came  to  this  county.  He  subse- 
quently took  a  trip  to  Texas,  but  upon  returning  settled  on  his  present 
place  of  86  acres.  He  is  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  fraternity  and 
in  politics  a  Democrat.  Himself  and  wife  are  connected  with  the  M.  E. 
Church,  South. 

ELDER  WILLIAM  McAMIS  LOVE, 

pastor  of  Prairie  Grove  Church,  was  born  in  McMinn  County,  Tennes- 
se«e,  in  1845,  receiving  the  greater  part  of  his  primary  education  prior  to 
his  fifteenth  year.  His  father  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  though 
the  son  worked  upon  the  home  farm  to  some  extent,  his  mind  was 
in  a  great  degree  bent  upon  his  books  and  the  means  for  obtaining 
an  education.  When  only  eighteen  years  old  he  was  called  upon  to 
join  the  Confederate  army,  but  his  principles  being  for  the  side  of  the 
Union,  he  traveled  ten  nights  to  join  the  Union  army,  enlisting  in 
December,  1863,  in  the  Fourth  Tennessee  Cavalry.  He  participated  in 
the  battles  of  Franklin  and  Nashville,  Tennessee,  and  many  others  of 
less  note,  enduring  many  hardships  and  privations  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  when  he  was  honorably  discharged.  Returning  home,  he  pursued 
his  studies  and  working  upon  the  farm  and  teaching  school  until  1869, 
when  he  came  to  Missouri,  settling  in  this  county.  Purchasing  a  farm, 
he  commenced  its  improvement,  and  now  has  a  valuable  place.  In  the 
fall  of  1865  he  united  with  the  Baptist  Church.  After  this  he  worked  on 
on  the  farm  in  summer  and  taught  during  the  winter  months  as  hereto- 
fore, being  at  the  same  time  himself  a  diligent  student.  In  1876  he  was 
ordained  a  minister  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  has  been  pastor  of  the 
Prairie  Grove  Church  since  1876,  having  also  preached  in  Benton,  Henry 
and  Hickory  Counties.  In  1882  he  traveled  2,000  miles  to  fill  his  appoint- 
ments.    Soon  after  coming  to  Missouri  Mr.  Love   commenced    bee    cul- 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 


II5S 


ture   and   has   been    unusually  successful  in  the  undertaking,  having  at 
present   perhaps   the   largest   apiary  in   the  county,  and  few  men  m  the 
state   are   better  informed  than  he  upon  the  subject  of  bee  culture.     In 
1875    believing  that  sworn  secret  societies  among  men  were  contrary 
to  the  spirit  of  God  and  of  Christianity,  he   began   writing  notices  for 
the  press  and   giving   public    lectures    against   such   orders,   especially 
against  Masonry.     In  1876  he  received   the   nomination    for   lieutenant 
cTovernor  on   the   ticket  of  the  American  party.     January  i,  1882,  he 
started   the   publication    of   the   "  Banner  of  Truth"   in  the  interests  of 
prohibition    and    anti-secrecy.     This  is  a  neat,  interesting   sheet,  and   is 
well  patronized.     Mr.  L.  married  in  1867  Miss  Sarah  J.  Pickens   daugh- 
ter of  Captain  C.  A.  Pickens,  of  McMinn  County,  Tennessee.     She  died 
in  January,  1879,  leaving   six   children:     Robert  Grant,  James  B.    Alice 
[ane  Charles  Pickens,  Cassie  Keturah  and  Ettie  Eugenia.  June  2,  1881,  he 
married  Clara  A.  Stewart,  of  Springfield,  Missouri,  her  father.  Dr.  Stew- 
art having  come  from  Indiana.     They  have  one  child,  William  Stewart. 
Mr'.  L.  is  thoroughly   honest  in  his  convictions,  and  in  his  pulpit  duties 
eloquent  and  impressive. 

BAZZEL  MYERS, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  was  born  October  16,  1841.  in  Auglaize  County, 
Ohio  His  father,  Jacob  Myers,  a  farmer  by  occupation,  was  born  Novem- 
ber 8,  1808,  in  Greene  County,  Tennessee,  and  in  May,  1832  married 
Miss  Sarah  Day,  who  was  born  December  22,  1818,  in  Maryland.  They 
had  five  children.  William,  Bazzel.  Addison,  Elizabeth  and  Jacob.  Two 
of  these  are  deceased.  Mrs.  M.  died  May  10,  185 1,  and  Mr.  M.  departed 
this  life  August  16.  1866.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  commenced  life  for 
himself  when  eleven  years  old.  He  lived  with  J.  H.  Dawson,  of 
Au-laize  County.  Ohio,  until  of  age  and  then  enlisted  in  Company  C 
Fifty-seventh  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry.  S.  R.  Mott,  captain.  He  served 
through  the  war,  receiving  an  honorable  discharge  at  Indianapolis,  Indi- 
ana October  i^  1864.  Mr.  Myers  returned  to  Ohio  and  engaged  in 
farming  and  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  I.  Huntley,  May  4,  i865,  m 
Waynesfield.  that  state.  By  this  union  they  had  nine  children  eight  of 
whom  are  now  living:  Ida  L.,  Joseph  W.  (died  May  13,  1870).  EsteUe 
M  Jacob  C,  Nora  A.,  Alfred  S.,  James  Eddison,  Kmsy  L.  and  Martha 
J  '  In  1875  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  buying  240  acres  ot 
land  in  Jackson,  Township,  on  section  10.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
I.  O.  O.  F.  fraternity  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  M.  are  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church.     Politically  he  is  a  Democrat. 

JOHN  F.  TALLY, 

farmer  and  miller,  was  born  in  St.  Clair  County.  Missouri,  November 
15,  1851,  and  was  the  son  of  George  W.  Tally,  who  was  born  December 


1156  msroK\   OK  ST.  claik  county. 

30,  1824,  in  Virginia.  His  mother,  formerly  Miss  Amanda  Kincade,  was 
born  January  21,  1829,  and  was  also  a  Virginian  b}-  birth.  They  were 
married  in  1846.  in  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  and  are  the  parents  of 
nine  children,  five  now  living.  Mr.  T.  came  to  Pike  County,  Missouri, 
in  an  early  day,  and  soon  after  moved  to  St.  Clair  County  with  his 
parents,  his  father-in-law,  Mr.  Kincade,  also  being  one  of  the  earl\- 
settlers  of  the  county.  John  F.  Tally  matried  Miss  Laura  J.  Wheeler, 
of  this  county,  August  7,  1873.  They  have  two  children  living:  Thirza 
H.  and  John  A.  George  W.  was  born  May  i,  1874,  and  died  December 
7,  1874.  Mr.  T.  erected  his  steam  saw  mill  in  1882,  and  is  now  doing  a 
good  business.  There  is  attached  to  it  a  run  of  stone  for  grinding  corn, 
which  is  well  patronized.  Politiclally  he  is  a  Democrat  and  together 
with  his  wife,  belongs  to  the  J^aptist  Church  of  Wright's  Creek. 

REV.  WILLIAM  P.  WRIGHT, 

pastor  of  the  Wright  Creek  Baptist  Church,  was  born  in  Lincoln 
County,  Missouri  December  15,  1830,  his  parents  being  William  Wright, 
originally  of  Washington  County,  Kentucky,  born  in  1808,  and  Ann 
(Thomas)  Wright,  also  a  Kentuckian  by  birth,  born  in  18 12.  They  were 
•married  in  1830,  and  have  seven  children  living:  William  P.,  Elizabeth 
P.,  Morgan,  Martin  V.,  Nancy  J.,  Milton  F.,  and  Henry  F.  One  son, 
Thomas  J.,  died  in  June,  1875.  Coming  to  Missouri  the  senior  Wright 
settled  in  Lincoln  County  in  1830,  and  after  remaining  there  four  years 
moved  to  this  county  (then  Rives)  and  located  in  Jackson  Township, 
where  he  entered  eighty  acres  of  land  from  the  government.  In  1840 
selling  out  he  bought  160  acres  in  Butler  Township,  but  disposed  of  this 
in  1849  ^^^  purchased  eighty  acres  in  this  township,  where  he 
remained  until  his  death,  February  15,  1854.  Mrs.  W^right,  after  being 
a  widow  for  two  years,  married  James  Addington,  of  this  county,  and 
died  in  1867.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  when  a  bo)'  had  limited  advan- 
tages for  acquiring  an  education,  and  being  a  great  lover  of  books  he 
was  determined  to  prepare  himself  for  a  life  of  usefulness.  While 
applying  his  mind  to  mathematics  and  somewhat  to  the  sciences,  he 
took  a  deep  interest  in  the  study  of  the  Bible,  and  later  became  well 
versed  in  its  truths  and  doctrines,  which  he  at  once  put  in  practice.  He 
was  licensed  to  preach  in  1854,  and  in  1855  was  ordained  a  Baptist 
preacher  by  Revs.  Peter  Brown  and  James  Cole,  of  this  county.  Since 
his  ordination  he  has  been  pastor  of  different  churches,  and  has  been 
occupied  in  missionary  work,  in  the  old  path  association.  His  farm  in 
section  8  contains  160  acres.  He  is  actively  engaged  in  farming  and 
has  done  much  surveying,  being  well  learned  in  the  principles  of  that 
science.  His  wife  and  five  of  his  children  are  members  of  Wright  Creek 
Church.     Mr.  W.  married  Miss   Elizabeth   Crabtrce,  of  Benton    Count}', 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  1 1  57 

December  i8,  1850.  They  have  eight  children  living:  Columbus  born 
October  24,  185 1,  and  died  August  31,  1852,  Missouri  A.,  Andrew  E., 
W.  L.  D.,  Mary  C,  Almeta  A.,  Rebecca  E  ,  Tatum  A.  and  Centennial  V. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  also  belongs  to  the  Pat- 
rons of  Husbandry.     In  his  political  views  he  is  a  Democrat. 

DR.  JOHN  W.  WRIGHT, 

was  born  December  20,  1836,  in  Washington  County,  Kentucky.  His 
father,  Nathaniel  Wright,  was  born  October  14,  1806,  and  on  October 
II,  183 1,  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Parker,  daughter  of  Richard  and  Eliz- 
abeth Parker,  she  was  born  October  ii,  1813,  in  Culpeper  County,  Vir- 
ginia. John  W.,  the  second  child  and  oldest  son  in  the  family, 
received  a  good  education  in  youth,  attending  the  Georgetown  College 
at  Georgetown,  Kentucky,  where  he  graduated  in  the  class  of  1861. 
Entering  the  Medical  College  of  Kentucky  at  Louisville,  he  graduated 
in  1863,  and  in  1864  was  a  graduate  from  the  Louisville  University,  hav- 
ing been  a  member  of  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  of  that 
institution.  He  first  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Loui&s 
ville,  but  after  remaining  there  one  year,  went  to  High  Grove  in  i8fey 
where  he  had  an  extensive  patronage  for  four  years.  April  i,  1868,  bl, 
married  Miss  Amanda  Rouse,  a  daughter  of  William  A.  and  Amandc/ 
Rouse,  of  Bullitt  County,  Kentucky,  and  they  have  two  daughterss 
Nancy  A.,  born  April  19,  1869,  and  Matilda  B.,  born  August  28,  1875. 
In  1870  Dr.  W.  purchased  a  tract  of  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Jackson 
Township,  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  and  devoted  some  attention  to 
agricultural  pursuits  and  the  raising  of  stock.  He  added,  from  time  to 
time  to  his  original  purchase  until  he  is  now  the  owner  of  1,200  acres  of 
excellent  land,  several  hundred  acres  of  which  are  under  fence  and  well 
adapted  for  fine  stock  raising  to  which  he  is  giving  considerable  interest. 
In  1880  he  represented  this  county  in  the  state  legislature  and  since  his 
return  has  resumed  his  practice,  which  is  very  extensive  and  constantly 
on  the  increase.  The  doctor  is  a  man  well  versed  in  his  profession,  kind 
and  gentle  to  the  sick  and  affable  in  his  manners.  He  belongs  to  both 
the  A.  F.  &.A.  M.  and  A.  O.  U.  W.  fraternities.  Politically  he  is  Dem- 
ocratic. 

.  C.  W.  WRIGHT, 

merchant  at  Iconium,  is  a  native  of  Washington  County,  Kentucky,  and 
was  born  August  14,  185 1,  being  the  son  of  Nathaniel  and  Elizabeth 
Wright,  who  were  married  October  ir,  1831.  The  former  was  born 
October  14,  1806,  and  the  latter  October  11,  1813,  and  they  were  the 
parents  of  twelve  children,  six  sons  and  six  daughters,  of  whom  all  but 
one  son  are  living.     C.  W.  Wright  attended  the  State  Normal  Institu- 


I15S  HISTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

tion  at  WarrciisburL[,  Jt)hMson  County,  Missouri,  where  he  received  a 
good  education,  and  after  leavini^  the  school  was  engaged  in  teaching 
for  a  few  terms.  In  1877  he  accepted  a  situation  as  salesman  at  Lo^vry 
City,  the  st}'le  of  the  firm  being  J.  V.  Wright  &  Co.,  in  which  capacity 
he  served  for  three  years.  Being  desirous  of  engaging  in  business  on 
his  own  account,  he  selected  a  site,  and  for  eighteen  months  has  been 
enjoying  a  fine  general  merchandise  trade,  in  the  southern  part  of  this 
township.  His  present  place  of  business  was  opened  January  6,  1882. 
His  stock  is  a  complete  one,  and  he  richU'  merits  the  success  which  has 
thus  far  attended  his  career.  He  is  acting  as  magistrate  and  is  very 
popular  in  this  community. 


POLK  TOWNSHIP. 


THOMAS  J.  AMLIN 

vas  born  November  17,  i84i,in  Franklin  County,  Tennessee,  his  parents 
being  John  M.  and  Mary  A.  (Childs)  Amlin,  the  former  of  Ohio,  born 
July  4,  1811,  and  the  latter  of  Tennessee,  born  July  25,  1812.  They  were 
married  in  1827  and  had  a  family  of  nine  children,  four  of  whom  sur- 
vive. In  1842  Mr.  Amlin  emigrated  to  St.  Clair  Count}-.  Missouri,  pur- 
chased 160  acres  and  was  a  resident  of  the  county  until  his  death,  Octo- 
ber 23,  1867.  His  widow  has  lived  here  for  forty-one  years.  In  1861 
Thomas  J.  enlisted  in  the  Confederate  service  for  a  few  months,  when 
he  returned  home.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Mar\'  C.  Lawson,  of  Ben- 
ton County,  Missouri,  and  to  them  have  been  born  seven  children:  Delia 
A.,  born  May  9,  1864;  John  T.,  born  August  7,  1866;  James,  born  Octo- 
ber 2,  1868,  now  deceased;  Mary  E.,  born  September  6,  1869;  Nancy  J., 
born  October  15,  1873,  died  October  25,  1875;  Missouri  A.,  born  June  5, 
1875,  and  Martha  M.,  born  May  31,  1880.  In  1871  Mr.  Amlin  purchased 
the  old  homestead,  upon  which  he  lived  for  three  years,  when,  selling  it, 
he  bought  1 1 1  acres  in  Jackson  Township.  This  was  his  home  for  seven 
years,  and  then  he  disposed  of  it  and  again  bought  160  acres  in  this 
township.  Roland  C.  Amlin,  his  brother,  was  born  April  I,  1844,  in 
Jackson  Township,  this  county,  and  was  the  fifth  son  and  seventh  child 
of  the  family.  He  was  married  April  20,  1871,  to  Miss  Paulina  Payne, 
of  St.  Clair  County,  and  they  have  five  children:  Mahala  J.,  born  Decem- 
ber 21,  1872;  John  W.,  born  December  29,  1874;  James  T.,  born   P'ebru- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  II 59 

ary  14,  1877;  Francis  C,  born  December  23,  1878,  and  Martha  H.,  born 
August  26,  1 88 1.  In  1874  Mr.  A.  purchased  the  principal  part  of  the 
homestead  property,  which  he  still  owns.  These  brothers  are  progressive 
farmers  and  quite  extensive  stock  raisers.  Politically,  they  are  Demo- 
cratic. Thomas  J.  Amlin  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church 
at  Hopewell,  while  Roland  C.  and  his  mother  are  connected  with  the 
M.  E.  Church  South. 

THOMAS  A.  COCK, 

section  6,  was  born  October  5,  1846,  in  Warsaw,  Benton  County,  Mis- 
souri. His  father  has  been  twice  married,  first  to  Miss  Mary  Bradley, 
who  subsequently  died,  leaving  thirteen  chileren,  nine  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing: Elizabeth,  George  C,  William  H.,  Martha,  Mary,  John  F.,  Susan, 
Francis  R.  and  Thomas  A.  In  February,  i860.  Miss  Sarah  Effinger,  of 
Hickory  County,  became  his  second  wife.  In  1864  they  removed  to 
Osceola  Township,  St.  Clair  County,  Mr.  C.  here  purchasing  500  acres 
of  land,  on  which  he  remained  for  about  fifteen  years.  Selling  it,  he 
located  in  Clinton,  where  he  has  since  resided.  His  second  wife  is 
deceased  and  he  now  makes  his  home  with  his  son,  William  H.  Thomas 
A.  Cock  was  married  October  25,  1876,  to  Miss  Melissa  Rice,  and  they 
are  the  parents  of  three  children:  Lena,  born  September  23,  1877;  Paul, 
born  November  3,  1880,  and  William  Archie,  born  May  27,  1882.  In  1877 
Mr.  C.  settled  upon  his  present  farm,  where  he  has  since  devoted  his 
attention  to  agricultural  pursuits  and  the  raising  of  stock.  His  religious 
preferences  are  with  the  Methodist  denomination,  to  which  church  his 
wife  belongs.     In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat. 

JAMES  FLETCHER  CORBIN, 

one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  St.  Clair  County,  was  born  December  31, 
183  I.  His  father,  David  Corbin,  a  Virginian  by  birth,  born  in  1790,  was 
married  in  1813,  to  Miss  Annie  Erwin,  originally  of  Kentucky.  Their 
family  consisted  of  eleven  children,  of  whom  James  was  the  youngest. 
In  1839  the  senior  Corbin  removed  with  his  family  to  St.  Clair  County, 
Missouri,  they  being  among  the  pioneers  here.  In  the  fall  following  his 
arrival  (1839),  he  erected  his  first  dwelling  of  round  logs,  it  being  just 
fourteen  feet  square,  and  in  this  house  of  one  room,  fifteen  persons  ate 
and  slept  for  seven  months.  The  next  spring  an  addition  was  placed 
upon  it,  which  when  completed,  measured  20x18  feet.  During  this  time 
the  meat  used  by  them  was  procured  with  the  rifle.  Mr.  Corbin  and  his 
sons  built  the  first  frame  house  erected  in  Osceola.  This  structure  was 
constructed  of  \vhipsawed  lumber,  sawed  by  them,  and  after  being  fin- 
ished it  was  occupied  by  a  Frenchman  as  a  tailor  shop.  This  was  located 
near  the  present  site  of  the   Upper  Osceola   Mill.     James   F.   Corbin 


Il6o  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

resided  with  his  father  until  1853,  when  he  was  married  to  Miss  Nancy 
O.  Beckley  of  this  county,  and  a  daughter  of  John  W.  Beckley.  They 
have  eleven  children:  Anna  L.,  David  F.,  Susan  M.,  John  H.,  James  W. 
Nancy  B.,  Carolina  B.,  Joseph  P.,  William  T.,  Leona  M.,  and  Mary  J. 
Mr.  C,  through  his  own  industry  and  good  management,  has  accumu- 
lated a  good  competency,  now  owning  a  farm  of  200  acres. 

WASHINGTON  LP:E  GILBERT, 

a  native  of  Lincoln  County.  Kentucky,  was  born  December  14,  1837, 
being  the  son  of  John  C.  Gilbert,  a  stone  mason  by  occupation,  who  was 
born  in  Amherst  County,  Virginia,  in  1784.  When  eighteen  years  of 
age,  or  in  1802,  he  removed  to  Lincoln  County,  Kentucky,  where  he  was 
married  February  14,  1835,  to  Elizabeth  Huston,  of  that  county.  They 
had  four  children,  two  of  whom  are  living:  Sarah  A.  and  Washington  L. 
Walter  H.,  who  was  born  February  3,  1836,  died  September  9,  1862,  hav- 
ing been  murdered  while  plowing,  and  William  A.,  born  December  10, 
1839,  died  October  8,  1857.  Mrs.  Gilbert  died  July  22,  1846.  In  March, 
1854,  Mr.  G.  removed  to  Johnson  County,  Missouri,  and  that  year 
entered  120  acres  of  land,  subsequently  locating  120  acres  more,  with 
land  warrants  granted  him  for  service  in  the  war  of  18 12.  He  died  Sep- 
tember 10,  1868,  after  a  residence  of  fourteen  years  in  Johnson  County. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  May  26,  1861,  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
J.  Helms,  and  they  have  been  blessed  with  six  children:  Ann  E.,  born 
May  3,  1862,  (wife  of  Thomas  L.  Harris,  of  Johnson  County);  Patsey  G., 
born  April  24,  1866;  John  H.,  born  July  i,  1867;  Clay  W.,  born  Novem- 
ber 23,  18G8;  Susan  B.,  born  October,  5,  1870,  and  Sally  L.,  born  May  9, 
1872.  August  I,  1862,  Mr.  Gilbert  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Co.  D,  Six- 
teenth Missouri  infantry,  second  brigade,  under  Captain  David  Baker 
for  three  years,  his  company  surrendering  about  that  time  at  Shreve- 
port,  Louisana.  He  reached  home  in  June,  1865,  resumed  agricultural 
pursuits,  and  remained  upon  a  portion  of  the  homestead  until  March  5, 
1881,  when  selling  the  property,  he  came  to  this  county,  settling  in  Polk 
Township,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  rais- 
ing. Mrs.  Gilbert  and  her  eldest  daughter  are  connected  with  the  Chris- 
tian Church,  of  Bear  Creek.     He  is  a  Democrat. 

HARVEY  G.  HARPER 

was  born  January  28,  1822,  in  East  Tennessee,  being  the  son  of  John  M. 
and  Nancy  (Williams)  Harper,  who  were  married  in  1818.  The  former 
a  farmer  and  blacksmith  by  occupation,  was  born  FebrAiary  28,  1794,  in 
Christian  County,  Kentucky,  and  the  latter,  originally  from  Tennessee, 
was  born  February  10,''  1798.  Of  a  family  of  seven  sons  and  two  daughters, 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  ^^^' 


6ve  sons  and  one  daughter  grew  to  years  of  n,atur,ty.     Leaving  Ten- 
nessee in  1827,  they  moved  westward,  locating  .n  Cooper  County,  from 
whence   after  two  years,  they  went  to  Pike  County.     Here  the  sen.or 
Harner  purchased    160  acres  of  land,   farmed   it  for  seven  years,  when 
selling  it  in  1835,  he  settled  in  Benton  County,  but  bought  land  just  over 
the  lit-.e  in  St.  Clair  County.     His  death  occurred  April    5,     839.  his 
widow  surviving  until  the  30th  of  March,  .869,  when  she  a  so  departed 
this  life      The  subject  of  this  sketch  first  started  in  l.fe  for  h.mself,  when 
eighteen  years  old,  as  a  farm  laborer.     December  4,  1840,  he  married 
mL  Hannah  Cover,  of  St.  Clair  County,  and  they  had  four  daughters. 
Martha  A.,  born  October  36,  ,84.,  died  in  1858   Nancy  D.,  bo-  Dece™. 
ber  4   1845   (wife  of  A.  McKinzie,  of  this  county);  Sarah  K.,  born  Decern 
be    1'.    .82   (now  Mrs.  James  Childs.  of  this  county),  and  Mary  L.,  born 
December^;,  ,858,  died  in  October,  188..     Mrs.  Harper's  death  occurred 
in  Seotember    1875.     Mr.  H.  was  again  married  December  12,   1877.  to 
Mi!s  SLcy  G.  Walker,  of  Hickory  County.     They  have  had  t^wo  ch,  d 
ren:  Bertha  M.,  born  January  .,  .878,  and  Laura  G.,  born  Apr.l  .6.  >88, 
died  April  16,  1882.     Mr.  H.  settled  upon  his  present  farm  in  1842,  and 
has  resfded  in  the  county  since  that  time.     He   devotes   much  time  and 
attention  to  stock   raising.     He  is  a  member  of  the   Primitive  Baptist 
Church,  organized  in  1836.     In  politics  he  is  a  Greenbacker. 

JAMES  RILEY  JOHNSTON 

was  born  in  Warren  County,  Missouri,  October  2^.823,  -^  -^  *e^on 
of  Joseph  Johnston,  a  Virginian  by  birth,  born  F'^bruary  16  .784,  who 
in  805  married  Miss  Rebecca  Bryan.  She  was  onginaly  from  Clark 
County,  Kentucky,  and  was  born  April  8.  17^.  They  had  nirteen  child- 
ren, of  whom  only  four  are  now  living.  In  .843  'l^^f^""' ^  "Zcl  .2 
St  Clair  County,  Missouri,  and  here  the  senior  Johnston  died  March  12, 
,850,  his  widow  surviving  until  April  5,  .875.  when  she  a  so  passed  away^ 
JaLs  R.  came  into  possession  of  the  homestead  ^^f"  the  death  o  his 
father,  but  in  ,877  exchanged  this  property  for  a  farm  of  '^o^'cresin 
Polk  Township,  moving  upon  it  in  the  spring  of  «hat  year.  In  872  he 
was  elected  sheriff  of  this  county  and  re-elected  in  >874,  and  during  his 
term  of  office  he  resided  in  Osceola.     Mr.  J.  was  married  September    5. 

856.  to  Miss  Harriet  Gist,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Margaret  Gist  of 
this  ounty.  To  them  were  born  eight  children:  Joseph  Emmett  (died 
luly  24  1865),  Ellen,  William  T.,  John  H.  (died  in  infancy),  Andrew  B, 
Eva  O  Fannie  and  Rebecca  M.  Mr.  J.  followed  farming  as  his  chief 
!ccupa  ion,  but  at  times  tau.ht  school.  In  .880  he  was  appomted  ce  - 
sus  enumerator  for  Polk  and  Dallas  Townships,  but  -  -ou^;/ 
health  was  obliged  to  give  it  up.     He  died  on  June     '■ '8«°'  ^^'^  =^"  '^'^ 

ness  of  nineteen  days,  and  having  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  lod.e 


Il6?  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

at  Osceola,  was  buried  by  that  order  in  the  familj'  cemeter)'  in  Jackson 
Township.  He  was  a  zealous  member  of  the  Christian  Church,  and 
during  his  life  was  a  man  honored  and  respected  by  all  for  his  uniform 
kindness  and  upright  daily  walk. 

WILLIAM  PAYNE. 

originall}'  from  Greene  County,  Tennessee,  was  born  July  14,  1830,  his 
parents  being  Eleazer  and  Elizabeth  (Looney)  Payne,  both  natives  of 
Hawkins  County,  Tennessee,  the  former  born  in  1808,  and  the  latter  in 
1809.  Their  marriage  occurred  in  1827,  and  to  them  were  born  ten 
children,  of  whom  but  two  daughters  and  one  son  are  living.  Emigrat- 
ing to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  in  1842,  they  remained  there  for  three 
years,  then  returning  to  Tennessee.  Mr.  Payne  died  September  18,  1845, 
and  his  widow  now  resides  with  her  only  son,  William,  in  this  township. 
In  1855  our  subject  purchased  120  acres  of  land  in  Polk  Township,  this 
county,  upon  which  he  has  since  lived.  November  12,  1848,  he  married 
Miss  Mahala  Suiter,  also  a  Tennesseean  by  birth.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  six  sons  and  five  daughters,  all  of  whom  survive  save  one 
daughter.  Mrs.  Payne  died  in  1873.  About  four  years  thereafter  Mr. 
P.  married  Mrs.  Mary  A.,  widow  of  John  W.  Ellis,  of  this  county.  They 
have  had  three  children,  two  daughters  and  one  son.  Mrs.  Payne  has 
three  daughters  by  her  former  marriage.  Mi.  P.  is  one  of  the  most 
enterprising  agriculturists  in  the  township  in  which  he  resides.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  Greenbacker.  Himself  and  wife  are  identified  with  the 
Methodist  Protestant  Church. 

JOHN  POLING 

was  born  in  Randolph  Count)',  Virginia,  September  8,  1816,  his  parents, 
John  and  Margaret  Poling,  nee  Gainer,  also  being  natives  of  the  same 
county.  The  former,  born  in  1796,  died  while  our  subject  was  an  infant, 
and  the  latter  was  born  in  1799.  Their  marriage  occurred  in  18 14.  One 
year  after  the  death  of  her  husband,  Mrs.  Poling  married  Abner  Schoon- 
over,  of  the  same  county,  and  with  him  emigrated  to  Macon  County, 
Missouri.  They  had  nine  children,  and  of  these  three  daughters  only 
are  living.  Mr.  S.  died  March  i,  1862.  He  was  a  celebrated  fifer,  and 
was  fife-major  of  the  Eleventh  regiment,  Missouri  State  militia.  His 
widow  also  died  in  1862.  John  Poling,  the  only  child  in  his  father's 
family,  was  brought  up  by  his  stepfather,  and  was  married  to  Miss  Emily 
Palon,  of  Barbour  County,  Virginia.  To  them  were  born  three  children: 
Edith  M.,  Arch  E.  and  Luther  G.  Mrs.  P.  died  August  9,  1874.  He 
was  afterwards  married  to  Mrs.  Sarah  Bernard,  w^dow  of  James  Bernard, 
of  St.  Clair  County,  who  has  five  children  living,  and  all  residents  of  this 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  I163 

county.  Mr.  Poling  now  resides  on  section  9,  of  this  township,  where  he 
owns  160  acres.  He  also  owns  a  farm  in  the  central  portion  of  the  town- 
ship, upon  which  is  a  celebrated  spring,  known  as  the  Poling  Spring. 
He  has  been  very  successful  in  the  cultivation  and  raising  of  wheat,  and 
one  year  from  three  bushels  of  seed  sown  on  less  than  three  acres  of  land 
realized  105  bushels,  an  average  of  nearly  thirty-five  bushels  per  acre. 
He  also  raises  considerable  corn.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
and  politically  is  Democratic. 

ALEXANDER  M.  RICE 

is  a  native  of  Sumner  County,  Tennessee,  and  was  born  July  30,  1845. 
His  parents,  William  and  Lena  Rice,  nee  Cotton,  were  born  in  the  same 
county,  and  they  had  a  family  of  six  daughters  and  four  sons,  of  whom 
there  are  now  living  Henry  S.,  Mary  M.,  Sassandre  Alice,  and  Alexan- 
der M.  Rice.  The  latter  was  married  in  1865  to  Miss  Ellen  Hooper, 
daughter  of  Claybourne  and  Mary  Hooper,  of  this  county.  They  have 
had  eight  children,  but  only  five  survive:  James  A.,  Mary  M.,  Anna, 
William  E.  and  Estella.  Mr.  Rice  commenced  life  for  himself  at  the  age 
of  eighteen  years,  and  in  1880  he  purchased  his  first  farm,  of  lOO  acres, 
located  on  section  8  of  this  township,  about  eight  or  nine  miles  north- 
east of  Osceola.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  improving  this  place. 
He  is  very  industrious  and  energetic,  and  is  rapidly  assuming  a  place 
among  the  enterprising  agriculturists  of  the  vicinity.  His  farm  is  well 
adapted  for  stock  raising.  Mr.  Rice  and  his  wife  are  identified  with  the 
M.  E.  Church,  which  meets  at  Sheldon's  school  house,  this  township. 
His  political  views  are  Democratic. 

ALBERT  B.  SHELDON 

was  born  December  27,  18 16,  near  Hartford,  Connecticut,  his  parents 
being  Pardon  and  Nancy  Sheldon,  ncc  Mann,  both  of  whom  were  born 
near  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  in  the  year  1780.  They  had  three  sons 
and  three  daughters.  Pardon  died  June  18,  1822,  in  Connecticut,  and 
his  widow  departed  this  life  in  1836  in  Rhode  Island.  In  1837,  leaving 
the  state  of  his  birth,  Albert  B.  Sheldon  went  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and 
was  occupied  for  a  time  in  traveling  through  Missouri,  Illinois,  Arkansas 
and  the  Cherokee  Nation  in  the  interest  of  a  clock  business.  Subse- 
quently, with  Nicholas  Campbell,  he  purchased  a  stock  of  general  mer- 
chandise and  took  it  as  far  as  Boonville,  then  going  in  search  of  a  suita- 
ble location.  Upon  reaching  Fairfield,  in  Benton  County,  they  opened 
up  a  business  in  a  log  structure  erected  for  the  purpose  on  August  20, 
1837.  In  December  of  that  year  Mr.  S.  received  an  appointment  as 
postmaster.     He  continued  this  trade  for  three  years,  and  on  December 


I  164  IITSTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

25,  1839,  Miss  Eliza  Gardner,  of  St.  Clair  County,  who  was  born  Sep- 
tember 10,  1822.  in  Marion  County,  Missouri,  became  his  wife.  Her 
father,  James  Gardner,  was  among  the  oldest  pioneers  of  this  county. 
He  was  originally  from  Georgia,  but  emigrated  to  Tennessee  in  an  early 
day,  going  thence  to  Marion  County,  Missouri,  and  later  to  this  county 
in  1833,  before  it  was  organized.  He,  together  with  Crow  and  Crutch- 
field,  located  the  town  of  Osceola,  erecting  the  first  store  above  the  gov- 
ernment trading  post,  conducted  by  Bishop  and  Hogle.  Mr.  and  Mrs, 
Sheldon  have  had  nine  children,  six  sons  and  three  daughters,  of  whom 
there  are  living:  William  P.,  married  a  Miss  Seaby,  of  Osceola;  Luther 
W.,  married  Anna  White,  of  Monroe  City;  Thomas  J.,  born  September 
15,  1853,  ^^^  Marietta,  born  December  15,  1855,  (wife  of  Dr.  Nathaniel 
Wright,  of  this  county.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  S.  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  land  on  King's  Prairie,  but  eight  years  later  sold  it  and  bought 
120  acres  in  Polk  Township.  He  has  since  then  been  a  large  land  owner, 
but  now  has  only  160  acres,  upon  which  he  resides.  He  and  his  wife 
have  been  members  of  the  Christian  Church  for  thirty-five  years.  His 
political  views  are  Democratic  and  he  has  served  as  magistrate  in  this 
township. 

LUTHER  W.  SHELDON 

was  born  January  23,  1845,  in  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  and  was  the 
son  of  Albert  B.  and  Eliza  (Gardner)  Sheldon,  who  had  been  married 
December  25,  1839.  The  former  was  born  near  Hartford,  Connecticut, 
December  27,  18 16,  and  the  latter  was  born  December  10,  1822,  and  of 
the  original  family  of  nine  chidren — six  sons  and  three  daughters — four 
children  survive:  William  P.,  Thomas  J.,  Marietta  and  Luther  W.  The 
last  named  son  married  Miss  Anna  E.  White,  of  Marion  County,  Mis- 
souri and  they  have  had  five  children.  William  Albert,  born  September 
9.  1871;  Shelby  W.,  born  January  9,  1873;  Bessie  and  Byron  (twins),  born 
September  2,  1877,  (both  died  in  early  infancy);  and  Hattie  May,  born 
May  14,  1879.  I"  1868  M^"-  Sheldon  purchased  seventy-five  acres  of 
land  on  section  8,  of  this  township,  and  subsequently  bought  eighty 
acres  adjoining.  He  has  since  been  actively  engaged  in  farming  and 
stock  raising  and  is  one  of  the  model  farmers  of  Polk  Township.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  L  O.  O.  F.  fraternity  at  Osceola  and  is  also  connected 
with  the  M.  E.  Church,  South,  while  his  wife  belongs  to  the  Missionary 
Baptist  Church,  at  Osceola.     Politically  he  is  a  Democrat. 

JOHN  A.  WISNER 

was  born  May  3,  1837,  and  was  a  native  of  Canton  Basel,  Switzerland, 
where  his  parents,  Adam  and  Catharine  Wisner,  were  also  born,  the 
former  in  October,  181 1,  and  the  latter  March  23,  18 17.  They  were  mar- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  II65 

ried  April  6,  1836,  and  had  seven  sons  and  six  daughters,  and  of  this 
number  two  sons  and  three  daughters  have  died.  Emigrating  to  America 
in  1843,  they  first  settled  in  Virginia,  purchasing  lOO  acres  of  land  and 
remaining  upon  it  for  four  years.  In  1847  Mr.  W.  sold  this  property, 
went  to  Sciota  County,  Ohio,  and  three  years  la+^er  removed  to  Van 
Buren  County,  Iowa,  where  he  bought  a  forty  acre  tract.  After  resid- 
ing in  Iowa  about  six  years,  he  came  to  Cooper  County,  Missouri,  in  the 
spring  of  1859,  ^"^  '^^  1S60  to  St.  Clair  County.  He  bought  160  acres  of 
land  in  this  township,  but  in  two  years  exchanging  places,  secured  one 
ol  170  acres  in  Osceola  Township,  where  he  lived  until  his  death,  July 
30,  1871.  His  widow  now  resides  with  one  of  her  sons  in  this  township. 
John  A.  Wisner,  our  subject,  was  married  April  i,  i860,  to  Miss  Lora 
Clark,  of  Van  Buren  County,  Iowa.  They  have  eight  children:  Joseph, 
born  January  29,  1861;  Sarah,  born  September  i,  1862,  (wife  of  George 
W.  Garrison,  of  this  county);  Martha  A.,  born  March  20,  1864;  Laura 
and  Lora,  (twins)  born  April  29,  1867;  Jessie,  born  December  17,  1869; 
Jeremiah,  born  May  16,  1872,  and  Adam  Clark,  born  January  30,  1875. 
In  1866  Mr.  Wisner  purchased  a  farm  of  eighty-two  acres  in  Polk  Town- 
ship, upon  which  he  still  resides.  In  1876  he  was  nominated  and  elected 
to  the  position  of  magistrate,  and  was  re-elected  in  1878  and  again  in 
1880,  still  holding  that  office.  Mrs.  W.  and  five  children  are  members 
of  the  M.  E.  Church.     He  is  a  Democrat. 

NATHANIEL  P.  WRIGHT,  M.  D., 

a  native  of  Washington  County,  Kentucky,  was  born  May  i,  1849,  and 
was  the  son  of  Nathaniel  Wright  of  the  same  county,  born  October  14, 
1806,  who  on  October  11,  1831,  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Parker,  who  was 
born  in  Culpeper  County,  Virginia,  October  ii,  1813.  Of  their  original 
family  of  twelve  children  eleven  are  now  living:  Elizabeth  V.,  John  W., 
Amanda  P.,  Missouri,  James  K.  P.,  Kitty  H.,  C.  W.,  Alice  A.,  Anna  E., 
Albert  S.,  and  of  this  number  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  fifth  son 
and  eighth  child.  One  son,  Thomas  J.,  a  graduate  of  the  medical  col- 
lege at  Louisville,  died  in  his  native  state.  Nathaniel  P.,  was  educated 
at  his  birthplace,  and  also  an  attended  the  medical  college  at  Louisville, 
where  he  graduated  in  the  class  of  1875-76.  In  1868  the  senior  Wright, 
with  his  family,  emigrated  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  settling  first  in 
Jackson  and  later  in  Polk  Township.  The  Doctor  was  married  Novem- 
ber I,  1876,  to  Marietta  Sheldon,  daughter  of  Albert  B.  and  Eliza 
CGardner)  Sheldon,  of  this  township,  They  have  three  children:  Leo 
S.,  born  December  6,  1877;  Julia,  born  August  27,  1879;  and  Ethel,  born 
January  9,  1882.  Though  commencing  his  practice  against  a  strong  and 
well  established  competition,  Dr.  Wright  has  met  with  flattering  success, 
and  to  a  patronage  which  he  richly  deserves,  it  extending   beyond    the 


Il66  fllSrOKV    OF   ST.    CLAIR    COUN  TV. 

limits  of  St.  Clair  County,  into  Hickory  and  Benton.  The  first  mill  in 
this  locality  was  erected  on  a  part  of  his  present  farm.  He  owns  350 
acres  of  land  and  has  had  great  success  in  the  raising  of  wheat.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Mt.  Olivet  Baptist  Church,  Henry  County,  and  also 
belongs  to  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  A.  O.  U.  W.  fraternities.  Politically 
he  is  a  Democrat.  His  wife  is  connected  with  the  M.  E.  Church,  South, 
of  Bear  Creek. 


DALLAS  TOWNSHIP. 


MILLARD  FILLMORE  ALLEN. 

a  native  of  Allen  County,  Kentucky,  was  born  in  1850,  and  was  the  son 
of  Lee  Allen,  a  Kentuckian  by  birth,  born  in  1825,  who,  in  1848,  was 
married  to  Elizabeth  Russell,  of  the  same  state.  In  1853,  the  family 
leaving  the  state  of  their  birth,  went  to  Arkansas,  from  whence,  after 
living  there  three  years,  they  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  locat- 
ing where  Millard  F.  now  resides.  In  1872  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Samantha  Myers,  a  daughter  of  Daniel  Myers,  of  this  county.  They 
have  had  five  children:  Loge,  Bird,  Nola,  Bert  and  Delia.  Four  of  these 
are  living.  Mr.  Allen  is  the  owner  of  a  beautiful  tarm  of  240  acres,  sit- 
uated in  a  valley  on  one  of  the  confluences  of  Weaubleau  Creek,  and 
for  agricultural  purposes  this  is  unsurpassed  in  the  township.  Politically 
he  is  a  Democrat. 

GEORGE  W.  BAZZILL, 

originally  from  Delaware  County,  Indiana,  was  born  August  3,  1S37. 
His  father,  Ezekiel  Bazzill,  was  born  in  1792  in  Virginia,  and  in  that 
state  learned  his  trade  of  boot  and  shoe  makinr.  After  following  that 
occupation  some  time  he  married  during  the  s  immer  of  1816,  Miss 
Tamor  Massie,  and  to  them  were  born  eleven  children,  of  whom  George 
W.  is  the  seventh.  While  he  was  a  small  boy  his  father  removed  to 
Cooper  County,  Missouri,  thence  to  Johnson  County,  and  finally  to  Col- 
orado in  1859.  Returning  from  that  state  Mr.  B.  stopped  at  Platte  City, 
and  until  about  the  year  1865  was  engaged  in  car  building.  In  1861  he 
was  married  to  Miss  lona  Buck,  who  subsequently  died,  leaving  one 
child,  Mary  lona.  His  second  marriage  occurred  in  1869  to  Miss  Mary 
M.  Nolan,  and  by  this  union  there  arc  two  children  now  living:     Sidney 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  I167 

C.  and  Tamor  E.  She  also  died  and  Mr.  B.  was  again  married  in  1880, 
the  maiden  name  of  his  third  wife  being  Malinda  L.  Duegan.  They 
have  one  child,  Lexey  May.  He  is  the  owner  of  160  acres  of  excellent 
land  in  section  5.  and  also  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  on  section  6,  of  this 
township.  His  residence  is  situated  on  an  elevation  commanding  an 
extensive  view  ot  the  surrounding  country.  Mr.  Brazzill  is  a  member  of 
Long  Ridge  Church. 

MITCHELL  Y.  CAUTHON 

was  born  on  the  21st  of  December.  185 1,  in  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri. 
James  Cauthon,  his  father,  a  carpenter  by  trade  and  a  native  of  Mis- 
souri, was  born  in  1824,  and  in  1849  married  Miss  Eliza  Burse,  of  this 
county  and  a  daughter  of  Zach.  Burse,  Esq.  To  them  were  born  thir- 
teen children,  of  whom  Mitchell  Y.  was  the  second  child.  He  resided 
on  the  home  place  until  his  marriage,  in  1867,  to  Miss  Penelope  Dodson, 
and  they  have  had  four  children:  James  E.,  William  R.,  George  M.  and 
Izona.  Politically,  Mr.  C.  is  a  staunch  Republican  and  always  has  been 
such.  He  owns  eighty  acres  of  land,  and  besides  farming  is  interested 
in  stock  raising  to  some  extent. 

JAMES  R.  CARR, 

a  prominent  young  farmer  of  this  township,  was  born  in  Monroe  County, 
Illinois,  in  1857.  His  parents,  Jonathan  and  Maria  (Parker)  Carr,  were 
both  natives  of  Illinois,  the  former  having  been  born  in  1833.  They 
were  married  in  1854.  James  R.  remained  at  home  until  1874,  when  he 
came  to  Missouri  and  commenced  work  as  a  farm  hand.  In  1877  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Harriet  Renfro,  daughter  of  Markis  Renfro,  of  Dallas 
Township.     They  have  two  bright  children,  Bertie  and  William  K. 

JOHN  T.  CARVER 

was  born  in  Carter  County,  Kentucky,  on  November  4,  1830,  his  parents 
being  Morgan  and  Harriet  Carver,  nee  Pierce.  The  former  was  born  in 
Albermarle  County,  Virginia,  in  1755,  and  was  a  farmer  by  occupation. 
Shortly  after  his  marriage  he  emigrated  to  Kentucky  in  1828,  and  ir* 
1863  died  in  Carter  County  at  the  advanced  age  of  108  years.  John  T. 
was  the  fourth  child  of  a  family  of  fourteen.  In  i860  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Ameseta  Peters,  of  Virginia  birth.  Just  previous  to 
the  late  civil  war  he  came  to  this  county,  and  during  that  conflict,  on 
account  of  his  party  principles,  which  were  Democratic,  he  was  twice 
threatened  with  lynch  law.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carver  have  had  sixteen 
children:  Alice  Gertrude,  Fannie  Belle,  George,  Ella,  John  Morgan, 
Emma  Dora,  William  Worth,  James  T.,  Emma  Sarah,  Charles  Edward, 


Il68  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COaNTV. 

Laura  Elizabeth,  Harry,  Sylva,  Thomas  F.,  Joseph  D.  and  Ameseta. 
Two  of  these  died  while  \-ouni^.  Mr.  C.  is  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethern  Church,  of  Mt.  Carmel.  He  owns  i68  acres  of  land  on  King's 
Prairie,  and  is  extensively  engage  in  the  raising  of  stock. 

WILLIAM  COWIN, 

farmer,  came  originally  from  East  Tennessee,  where  he  was  born  in  1833. 
His  parents  were  George  and  Lydia  (Thornton)  Cowin,  the  former  born 
in  July,  1800,  and  the  latter  on  the  first  day  of  the  first  year  of  the  nine- 
teenth century.  Their  m  arriage  occurred  in  1823,  and  to  them  were 
born  eight  children,  of  whom  William  was  the  youngest.  He  lived  in 
his  native  state  until  1836,  when  he  accompanied  his  father  to  Missouri, 
settling  in  Saline  County.  There  he  was  reared  upon  a  farm  and  enjoy- 
ed the  advantages  of  attending  the  schools  of  the  locality,  gladly  avail- 
ing himself  of  such  opportunities.  In  1870  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Fizer,  of  Saline  County,  a  daughter  of  Henry  Fizer,  Mr. 
Cowin  now  owns  a  fine  farm  of  200  acres.  Politically  he  is  a  Democrat. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

JAMES  MADISON  DELOZIER 

owes  his  nativity  to  South  Carolina,  where  he  was  born  in  1813.  Edward 
H.  Delozier,  his  father,  born  in  Maryland  in  1779,  was  married  in  1812 
to  Miss  Frances  Dyre,  a  Virginian  by  birth,  who  was  born  in  1784. 
James  M.  Delozier  is  recognized  as  being  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of 
this  county,  having  come  here  while  it  was  in  its  unimproved  state,  and 
after  years  of  toil  and  privations,  encountering  many  difficulties,  has 
succeeded  in  securing  a  landed  estate  of  140  acres  on  King's  Prairie, 
situated  out  of  the  line  of  bluffs  bordering  Weaubleau  Creek.  In  1847 
he  was  married  to  Melissa  Jane  Todd,  daughter  of  John  B.  Todd,  of  this 
county.  They  have  had  fourteen  children:  George  W..,  Joseph  J.,  Mary 
C,  James  E.,  William  J.,  Martha  J.,  Rebecca  F.,  John  A.,  Francis  M., 
Henry,  Robert,  John  W.,  Margaret  and  Lucy  A.  Politically,  he  is  a 
Republican  of  the  strongest  type.  During  the  late  war  he  served  in  the 
Eighth  Missouri  under  Colonel  McClurg. 

JAMES  W.  AND  JOHN  C.  GREEN 

are  sons  of  Elziphaniah  Green,  who  was  born  in  Bath  Count}',  Kentucky, 
December  15,  1815.  In  1840,  while  in  Nicholas  County,  he  met  Miss 
Sarah  J.  Bell,  to  whom  he  was  united  in  marriage  the  following  spring. 
They  had  a  family  of  ten  children,  James  being  the  oldest  and  John  C. 
the  sixth  child.     The  former  was  born  in    Nicholas  County  in  1842,  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  1  169 

in  1858  accompanied  his  parents  to  Missouri,  they  settling  in  Cooper 
County.  In  1877  J,  W.  Green  was  married  to  Miss  Martha  A.  Hatfield, 
and  to  them  were  born  three  children:  John  W.,  Peter  E.  and  Joseph 
Francis.  The  oldest  son  is  dead.  John  C.  Green  was  born  in  1858,  and 
•continued  to  reside  with  the  family  on  the  old  homestead  until  1876, 
when  he  married  Miss  Lucy  J.  Wyatt,  daughter  of  George  Wyatt.  They 
have  had  two  children,  Elizabeth  A.  and  Ella  S.  These  brothers  now 
own  and  reside  upon  the  land  formerly  occupied  by  their  father,  consist- 
ing of  254  acres,  in  section  3.  They  are  farmers  possessed  with  a  most 
energetic  will. 

JAMES  R.  STILES 

was  born  in  Johnson  County,  Missouri,  in  1847,  and  was  the  son  of  Dennis 
Stiles,  a  Kentuckian  by  birth,  born  in  1818,  who,  in  1838,  emigrated  to 
Johnson  County,  being  one  of  the  first  settlers  there.  He  was  married 
twice,  the  second  time  in  1845,  to  Miss  Tamson  Bazzill,  daughter  of 
Ezekiel  Bazzill.  They  had  seven  children,  four  sons  and  three  daughters, 
James  being  the  eldest  child.  In  1866  the  senior  Stiles  leaving  Johnson 
County,  came  to  St.  Clair  County.  A  few  years  later,  or  in  August,  1870, 
James  R.  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  M.  Jackson.  They 
had  five  children,  four  of  whom  are  living:  James  Henry,  Lizzie  S., 
Clara  B.  and  Rolla  J.  The  eldest  son,  Johnny  Lewis,  died  August  18, 
1881.  Mr.  Stiles  is  the  owner  of  a  farm  of  lOO  acres,  located  in  section 
7.  He  is  much  interested  in  stock  matters  and  gives  considerable  atten- 
tion to  fine  stock,  having  some  excellent  animals.  Formerly  he  was 
politically  a  Democrat,  but  later  began  to  be  found  in  the  ranks  of  the 
Greenback  party.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Macedonia 
and  also  belongs  to  the  Grange,  Concord  lodge.  Mr.  S.'s  mother,  a 
native  of  Virginia,  born  in  1807,  is  now  living  and  in  the  enjoyment  of 
good  health. 

THOMAS  TERRY, 

the  son  of  James  and  Nancy  P.  Terry,  was  born  in  King  William  County, 
Virginia,  on  the  25th  of  December,  1817.  His  father,  a  native  of  the 
same  county,  was  born  in  1778,  and  died  there.  In  1797  his  marriage 
occurred,  his  wife  also  being  a  Virginian  by  birth,  and  they  had  a  family 
often  children,  of  whom  Thomas  was  the  ninth  child.  In  1842,  leaving 
the  state  of  his  birth,  he  emigrated  to  St.  Louis  County,  Missouri,  and 
after  living  there  for  eight  years,  moved  to  St.  Clair  County,  which  has 
since  been  his  home.  About  the  year  1845,  he  was  married  in  Cole 
County,  Missouri,  to  Miss  Mary  J.  Walser,  a  daughter  of  Squire  P.  Wal- 
ser.  They  have  had  ten  children:  Elizabeth  A.,  Squire  Walser,  Elvira, 
Cass,  John  S.,  Eliza,  Daniel  Elias,  Magoon,  Stanton,  and  Albert  G.  In 
politics,  Mr,  Terry  is  a  Republican,  though  never  having  taken  any  active 


I  I/O  HISTORY   OK   ST.   CLAIR    COUNTY. 

part  in  political  matters.  He  is  connected  with  the  Baptist  denomina- 
tion. 

WILLIAM  TUCKER. 

a  twin  brother  of  Elizabeth  Tucker,  was  born  in  Lincoln  County,  Ken- 
tucky, in  1828,  the  eldest  of  a  family  of  eight  children,  seven  of  whom 
grew  to  maturity.  Early  Tucker,  his  father,  who  was  also  born  in  Lin- 
coln County  in  1802,  remained  there  occupied  in  farming  and  trapping 
until  1832,  when  he  emigrated  to  Johnson  (at  that  period  Lafayette) 
County,  bringing  his  entire  possessions  in  an  ox-cart,  while  the  family, 
who  were  large  enough  to  do  so,  walked  by  the  way.  After  his  arrival 
here  in  order  to  build  a  cabin  he  was  compelled  (as  elsewhere  stated)  to 
send  fourteen  miles  for  help  to  raise  the  structure.  Previous  to  this,  in 
1827,  he  had  married  Miss  Lucretia  Owsley,  of  Lincoln  County,  Ken- 
tucky, and  a  niece  of  Governor  Owsley.  William  was  brought  up  in 
this  vicinity  upon  a  farm,  and  while  school  was  held  attended  the  ses- 
sions, though  compelled  to  travel  a  distance  of  four  miles  through  a 
trackless  forest  to  the  school  house.  On  January  ii,  1846,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Amanda  Bazzill,  daughter  of  Ezekiel  Bazzill.  To  them 
were  born  six  children:  Mary  P.,  born  in  185  i;  Samuel  H.,  born  in  1853; 
James  M.,  born  in  1855;  Melvin  J.,  born  1856;  John  F.,  born  in  i860;  and 
William  P.,  born  in  1866.  Mr.  Tucker  was  brought  up  a  Whig,  afterwards 
voted  the  Democratic  ticket  and  is  now  a  Greenbacker.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  M.  E.  Church,  South,  belongs  to  the  Grange  and  also  to  the 
Masonic  fraternity.  He  is  the  owner  of  a  most  excellent  farm  in  section 
7,  and  upon  it  raises  considerable  stock,  the  quality  and  purity  of  which 
is  surpassed  by  none,  and  in  numbers  but  few  are  in  advance  of  him.  In 
1850  Mr.  Tucker's  brother  Henry,  together  with  William  Smith  and  a 
man  named  Moore,  left  Johnson  County  for  the  gold  fields  of  California. 
Within  three  years  Smith  and  Moore  died,  and  Henry  Tucker,  having 
amassed  quite  a  fortune,  began  to  make  preparations  for  his  return. 
Starting  he  got  as  far  as  Boonville,  where,  overtaken  by  robbers,  he  was 
poisoned,  stripped  of  even  his  clothes,  robbed  of  his  hard  earned  money, 
and  placed  upon  the  stage  in  an  unconscious  condition  for  Georgetown, 
where  he  arrived  but  he  never  knew  his  own  father,  who  met  him  at 
that  point.  William  Tucker  now  has  in  his  posession  the  purse  tiiat 
contained  the  money  of  his  murdered  brother. 

JOHN  T.  TUCKER 

is  a  native  of  Gasconade  County,  Missouri,  and  was  born  in  1853,  being 
the  son  of  Thomas  and  Jane  (Miller)  Tucker,  both  origin all\-  from  Ten- 
nessee, the  former  having  been  born  in  1830.  They  were  married  in 
1852.     In  1866  John  T.,  still  a  small  boy,  came  to  this  township,  and  lias 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  liyt 

since  continued  to  reside  here.  In  1874  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
Walters,  a  daughter  of  William  Walters,  and  by  this  marriage  there 
were  four  children,  three  of  whom  survive:  William  C,  Nellie  F.  and 
Efifie.  One  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  T.  is  by  occupation  a  farmer,  but  occa- 
sionally follows  the  trade  of  blacksmith,  in  which  he  is  quite  an  adept. 

JOHN  J.  C.  WOOLF 

was  born  in  Caldwell  County,  Kentucky,  on  the  20th  of  June,  18 17,  his 
father  being  Alfred  Woolf,  of  the  same  county,  born  July  26,  1784.  He 
was  married  in  i8i2,  his  wife,  a  Kentuckian  by  birth,  having  been  born 
in  1786.  John  J.  C.  Woolf  was  united  in  marriage  in  1836  Jto  Miss  Ellen 
Bigs,  a  daughter  of  Elisha  Bigs,  of  the  same  county  as  himself.  Soon 
after,  emigrating  to  Missouri,  he  located  near  Warsaw,  Benton  County, 
and  upon  living  there  for  two  or  three  years,  in  1840  came  to  St.  Clair 
County  and  settled,  where  he  now  resides,  upon  Weaubleau  Creek.  By 
his  first  marriage  he  had  one  child,  a  son,  Henry  Clay,  now  living  in 
Livingston  County.  He  was  married  a  second  time,  in  St.  Clair  County, 
to  Miss  Elizabeth  Stealy,  daughter  of  Jack  Stealy,  July  20,  1840.  His 
third  wife  was  Sealy  M.  Wade,  to  whom  he  was  married  in  1876.  In 
1856  Mr.  Woolf  purchased  a  mill  on  Weaubleau,  known  as  Woolf's  Mill, 
and  successfully  operated  it  during  the  war  and  after  for  twenty  years. 
During  the  course  of  the  civil  war  he  remained  neutral,  taking  no  part 
on  either  side,  and  by  his  uniform  courtesy  and  gentlemanly  bearing 
was  unmolested.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  1,080  acres  of  very  fine  land 
situated  in  the  bottoms  of  Weaubleau. 


COLLINS    TOWNSHIP. 

JOSEPH  P.  BUTCHER, 

a  prominent  member  of  the  Greenback  party  in  St.  Clair  County  and  an 
influential  citizen  of  this  township,  was  born  in  Murray  County,  Tennes- 
see, May  16,  1823.  His  father,  Isaac  Butcher,  who  was  born  in  1784  in 
Loudoun  County,  Virginia,  embraced  the  faith  of  Alexander  Campbell 
and  became  a  minister  in  the  Christian  Church.  In  1806  he  married 
Miss  Rebecca  Renfro,  daughter  of  Peter  Renfro,  well  known  in  the  early 
history  of  Kentucky.     To  them   were  born   thirteen  children,  of  whom' 


II72  FIISTORV    OF   ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY. 

Joseph  P.  was  the  tenth  in  number.  He  remained  in  his  native  state 
until  six  years  old,  when  (1829)  he  went  to  Illinois,  making  it  his  home 
until  1869.  At  that  time  he  came  to  this  county.  While  residing  in 
Illinois  he  took  a  prospecting  tour  to  California  in  1851,  and  returned 
with  most  satisfactory  success  in  one  }'car.  In  1S53  Mr.  Butcher  was 
married  to  Miss  Emeline  Wood,  of  Macoupin  County,  Illinois,  a  daughter 
of  Abraham  Wood  and  granddaughter  of  Edman  Wood.  They  have 
had  seven  children:  Mary  E.,  A.  W.,  Clara  E.,  Francis  L.,  Charles  F., 
(who  died  August  25,  1863)  Cora  B.  and  Francis  H.  These  children  are 
well  educated  and  possess  a  natural  fondness  for  study.  Mr.  B.  is  a  pow- 
erful advocate  of  the  Greenback  doctrine  and  a  most  agreeable  conversa- 
tionalist, while  his  hospitality  is  exceeded  by  few.  He  has  repeatedly^ 
been  offered  the  position  of  judge  and  twice  has  been  asked  to  represent 
his  county  in  the  state  legislature.  His  early  education  was  obtained 
through  his  own  efforts  at  night  by  the  light  of  the  tallow  candle,  and  he 
afterwards  fitted  himself  for  entrance  into  the  medical  fraternity  and 
studied  medicine.  This  he  discontinued  and  engaged  in  farming  and 
stock  raising.  Mr.  B.  owns  280  acres  of  land  in  Coon  Creek  Valley, 
upon  which  he  has  a  fine  residence. 

FRANKLIN  CHOICE, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  is  a  Virginian  by  birth,  and  was  born  in  1820. 
His  father,  John  Choice,  who  was  also  born  in  Virginia,  was  married  to 
Miss  Jane  Haygood  in  18 13,  and  they  had  five  children,  of  whom  Frank- 
lin was  the  youngest.  He  resided  with  his  parents  until  1842,  and  in 
that  year  was  married  to  Miss  Martha  E.  Copeland,  of  Cumberland 
County,  Virginia.  To  them  were  born  eight  children:  William  F.,  Mary, 
Laura  V.,  Augusta  M.,  Charles,  Mattie  J.,  Louisa  and  Anna.  In  1859 
Mr.  Choice,  leaving  his  native  state,  emigrated  to  Missouri  and  settled 
in  St.  Clair  County,  on  the  place  which  he  now  occupies.  He  has  eighty 
acres  in  his  farm,  it  being  very  productive  land,  and  upon  it  is  a  good 
residence.  He  is  most  thorough  in  his  transactions,  and  this  is  the 
cause  of  his  success.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  militia  under  Captain  Cook  during  the  late  war. 

JUDGE  WILLIAM  COLLINS, 

a  well  known  citizen  of  this  county  was  born  in  Pulaski  County.  Ken- 
tucky, May  17,  1819,  and  is  the  second  son  of  William  and  Sarah  Collins, 
nee  Porterfield,  both  natives  of  Washington  Count}',  Virginia.  The  for- 
mer was  born  in  1784,  and  the  latter  in  1790,  they  having  been  married 
in  1 8 10.  Young  William  remained  at  home  until  eleven  }-ears  of  age, 
■when  he  went  to  Adair  Count}-,  Kentuck}',  to  live  with  an  uncle.     Here 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  I  1 73 

he  received  his  education,  and  spent  the  rest  of  his  time  in  working  upon 
farms  there,  until  1854,  when  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  set- 
tling in  what  is  now  known  as  Collins  Township  (then  Washington).  In 
the  )'ear  1847,  he  was  married  in  Russell  County,  Kentucky,  to  Miss 
Anna  L.  Miller,  a  daughter  of  the  late  Nathaniel  Miller.  To  them  were 
born  eight  children:  Nathaniel  J.  Charles  P.,  Martha  M.,  William  S., 
Milly  A.,  John  S.,  Sallie  J.,  and  Mary  E.  Politically,  Mr.  Collins  is  a 
Republican,  and  in  1866,  was  nominated  by  that  party  for  judge  of  the 
county  court.  After  am  exciting  campaign,  in  which  the  Democrats 
exerted  themselves  nobly,  he  was  elected  and  served  faithfully  and  well, 
winning  the  approbation  of  all.  During  his  administration,  the  act 
known  as  "The  New  Township  Act,"  was  passed,  and  in  accordance 
with  its  provisions,  Washington  Township  was  divided,  one  part  retain- 
ing the  name  of  Washington.  It  becoming  necessary  to  name  the  terri- 
tory thus  taken  off,  the  name  of  him  who  had  served  so  well  and  had 
discharged  his  official  duties  with  such  good  judgment,  was  proposed 
and  so  thereafter  called.  Judge  Collins  has  now  retired  from  political 
life,  and  is  devoting  his  attention  to  the  cultivation  of  his  larm  at  the 
same  time  filling  the  position  of  postmaster  of  Collins.  He  owns  i6g 
acres  of  land. 

JOSIAII  J.  CONN, 

farmer,  section  21,  is  the  son  of  Josiah  Conn,  originally  from  Tennessee, 
who  in  1837  feft  that  state,  emigrating  to  Cooper  County,  Missouri.  After 
living  there  some  time  he  removed  first  to  Camden  County  and  thence 
to  Dallas,  where  he  died  in  1863.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  mar- 
ried in  1850  to  Miss  Evaline  Stockton,  daughter  of  Josiah  Stockton.  She 
died,  leaving  one  child,  Elizabeth.  In  1854  Mr.  C.  was  again  married; 
this  time  to  Miss  Amanda  Hendricks,  of  Dallas  County  and  a  daughter 
of  Mark  Hendricks.  They  have  been  blessed  with  a  family  of  ten  child- 
ren: John  A.,  Felix  S.,  James  L.,  William  H.,  Columbus  T.,  Mary  I.,  Vir- 
ginia T.,  Dorothy  C  ,  George  F.  and  Minnie  E.  Two  of  these  are 
deceased.  During  the  late  war  Mr.  Conn  served  in  Company  G,  Chit- 
wood's  command  of  the  Missouri  State  Volunteers,  in  the  capacity  of 
corporal.  He  is  a  Master  Mason  and  belongs  to  Modern  Lodge,  No. 
144,  of  Humansville,  Polk  County.  His  farm  embraces  200  acres  of  land. 
He  was  formerly  occupied  in  the  stock  business,  but  on  account  of  fail- 
ing health  was  obliged  to  give  it  up. 

ALFRED  L.  GASH, 

a  native  of  Marion  County,  Missouri,  was  born  September  20,  1823,  his 
parents,  William  and  Elizabeth  Gash,  having  been  among  the  earliest 
settlers  of  St.  Clair  County.      The  former   was  born   in  East  Tennessee 


1174  HISTORY   OF   ST.   CLAIR   COUNTY. 

and  in  1820,  was  married  in  Marion  Count)-,  Missouri,  to  which  locality 
he  had  moved  in  1S18.  In  1835  the  family  came  to  this  county,  locating 
al)out  one  mile  from  the  present  residence  of  Alfred  L.  Here  William 
Gash  died  in  1847,  his  wife  departing  this  life  in  1858.  In  1848  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  married  to  Miss  Lucinda  Phillips,  a  daughter  of 
Gomer  Phillips,  an  old  resident  of  this  county.  They  have  seven  child- 
ren living:  Jane  E.,  Mary  C,  William  G.,  Martha  L.,  John  T.,  James  G. 
and  Lucinda  L.  Mr.  Gash  is  at  present  living  upon  and  conducting  the 
farm  of  a  brother  who  is  in  California.  , 

GEORGE  G.  HUNT, 

originally  from  Devonshire,  England,  was  born  in  September,  1853.  His 
father,  Nicholas  Hunt,  was  a  prominent  stock  breeder  of  that  country. 
His  mother's  maiden  name  was  Jane  Gill,  and  they  were  married  in 
1843.  To  them  were  born  eight  children,  of  whom  George  G.  was  the 
fifth  child.  Leaving  his  native  country  in  1871  he  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica and  located  in  West  Virginia.  In  the  fall  of  1873  he  removed  to 
Lafayette  County,  Missouri,  and  after  making  his  home  there  for  eight 
years  came  to  his  present  place  of  residence.  He  is  the  owner  of  a  good 
farm  of  160  acres,  and  is  acknowledged  to  be  one  of  the  leaders  in  the 
stock  industry  in  Henry  County.  His  flock  of  sheep  number  480  head, 
and  other  stock  in  proportion.  He  is  possessed  of  great  thrift  and  energy 
and  is  one  of  the  most  enterprising  agriculturists  in  this  vicinity.  While 
in  England  Mr.  Hunt  was  a  Conservative  and  is  now  a  Democrat. 

WILLIAM  O.  MARTIN, 

a  son  of  one  of  the  oldest  inhabitants  of  St.  Clair  Count}-  and  a  pioneer 
of  great  ability,  was  born  in  Henry  County,  Virginia,  earh'  in  the  spring 
of  1837.  Samuel  H.  Martin,  his  father,  a  Virginian  by  birth,  was  born 
February  20,  1813,  and  in  1834  v/as  married  to  Miss  Doroth)-  B.  Allen,  of 
Henry  County,  that  state,  and  a  daughter  of  WMUiam  Allen.  She  was 
born  June  4,  18 17,  and  at  this  time  is  still  living  though  in  feeble  health. 
In  1837,  Samuel  Martin,  together  with  his  family,  removed  to  Missouri, 
and  upon  looking  around  for  a  location  finally  settled  in  Collins  Town- 
ship, St.  Clair  County.  Many  were  the  hardships  which  they  endured, 
and  in  the  erection  of  a  cabin,  Mrs.  M.  kept  off  the  savages  while  her 
husband  built  the  structure.  In  the  spring  of  1839  a  son,  John,  was  born, 
and  finally  the  family  numbered  nine  children:  Joseph  H..  twins  (not 
named),  Jane  E.  and  Letha.  After  living  upon  Brush  Creek  one  year 
Mr.  M.  moved  to  the  place  now  occupied  by  his  widow,  and  wliile  living 
entered  here  over  i.ooo  acres  of  land.  William  O.  Martin  was  married 
January  21,  1866,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Thompson,  a  daughter  of  Enos  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  II75 

Elizabeth  Thompson.  They  had  five  children:  Letha,  Remus,  William 
R..  Alice  F.  and  an  infant.  Of  these  two  only  are  living.  Mr.  M.  owns 
283  acres  of  excellent  land  in  Doyal  Township  but  is  now  living  with 
his  mother  and  conducting  the  affairs  of  her  estate.  His  wife  is  deceased. 
During  the  late  war  he  served  in  the  militia.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
I.  O.  O.  F.  and  belongs  to  lodge  No.  310  at  Humansville,  Polk  County. 

SAMUEL  D.  MINKS, 

blacksmith  and  wagon  maker,  is  a  Kentuckian  by  birth,  and  was  born 
on  April  14,  1842,  his  parents  being  Gillson  and  Susan  Minks,  nee  Car- 
penter, the  former  also  a  native  of  Kentucky.  Samuel  remained  at 
home  and  attended  school  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  civil  war,  when, 
fired  with  patriotism,  he  left  the  parental  roof  and  in  1863  enlisted  in 
Company  D,  First  Arkansas  infantry.  After  serving  for  two  years  and 
seven  months  he  was  honorably  discharged.  Upon  the  close  of  this 
struggle  Mr.  M.  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  and  was  married 
here  in  1868  to  Miss  Melvina  Burcuett.  They  had  five  children:  John 
W..  Silas  P.,  William  H.,  Cora  and  Richard  G.  His  second  marriage 
occurred  in  1879,  ^o  Miss  Martha  Cox.  Mr.  Minks  is  the  owner  of  320 
acres  of  land  in  this  township,  with  a  good  orchard,  residence,  etc. 
Upon  it  is  also  a  blacksmith  shop,  where  he  follows  his  trade. 

RILEY  OVERTON, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  was  born  in  Vego  County,  Indiana,  in  1837. 
His  father,  Matthias  Overton,  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  but  left  that 
country  when  he  was  ten  years  of  age,  coming  to  the  United  States  and 
locating  in  Switzerland  County,  North  Carolina.  After  residing  there  a 
few  years  he  moved  to  Indiana.  In  1822  he  married  Miss  Nancy  Whaley, 
of  North  Carolina,  and  to  them  were  born  eight  children.  When  Riley 
was  but  four  years  old  his  father  died,  and  he  continued  to  live  with  his 
mother  until  he  was  thirteen,  then  binding  himself  out  to  work  until  his 
seventeenth  year.  This  contract  expiring,  he  worked  at  different  places 
for  a  time,  and  was  then  married  to  Miss  Leona  Wright  Gunn,  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  Gunn,  of  Vego  County,  Indiana,  They  have  had  three  sons 
and  three  daughters:  Mary  E.,  Ella  F.,  Edgar  R.,  William  R.,  Harriet 
C,  and  Arthur  H.,  politically  Mr.  Overton  is  a  Republican.  Me  is  one 
of  the  prominent  farmers  of  this  township,  and  now  owns  319  acres  of 
valuable  land,  under  fence  and  well  improved,  upon  which  is  a  good 
vineyard,  residence  and  outbuildings. 

JAMES  B.  OWEN, 

section  29,  a  representative  citizen  of  this  township,  is  the  son  of  Josiah 
and  Sarah  Owen,  iiee  Butcher,  and  was  born  in  Gasconade  County,  Mis- 


I  176  HISTORY   OF    ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY. 

souri,  in  1833.  His  father  was  born  in  South  Carolina  in  1801,  and  in 
1824  was  married,  his  wife  having  come  originally  from  Calhoun,  Ten- 
nessee. They  had  twelve  children.  James  being  the  hfth  child.  Previous 
to  his  birth  the  senior  Owen  had  moved  to  Gasconade  County,  Missouri, 
but  when  nine  years  old  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  leaving  that  vicinity, 
went  to  Camden  County  in  1842,  to  Dade  County  in  1843,  Hickory  in 
1848,  Cooper  in  i860,  and  finally  settled  in  St.  Clair  County  in  1869.  In 
1855  Mr.  Owen  was  married  in  Hickory  County  to  Lucy  A.  Dickinson, 
and  they  are  the  parents  of  eleven  children:  Marion  J.,  William,  Med- 
ford.  Louisa  C,  James  M.,  Mary  S.,  Sarah  M.,  Nancy  R.,  Mattie  D., 
Charlie  J.  and  John  F.  Mr.  O.  is  a  leading  member  of  the  Democratic 
party,  and  has  been  a  delegate  to  conventions  at  Osceola  every  year 
since  in  the  county.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the  rebellion,  and  was 
engaged  in  forty-two  battles,  first  serving  as  lieutenant  and  then  as 
quartermaster  general.  He  received  three  severe  wounds,  and  had  three 
horses  shot  from  under  him.     His  landed  estate  embraces  240  acres. 

JOHN  W.  PLUMBLEE 

was  born  in  White  County,  Tennessee,  March  15,  1835,  his  father  bein^ 
William  Plumblee,  a  Virginian  by  birth,  born  in  August,  1800,  who, 
while  young,  left  that  state  and  accompanied  his  father  to  Tennessee. 
In  1826,  he  was  married  there  to  Miss  Sarah  Lewellen,  a  daughter  of 
Jacob  Lewellen,  of  Tennessee.  John  W.  was  the  fourth  child  in  a  family 
often  children.  When  yet  a  small  boy  (three  years  old),  he  accom- 
panied the  family  to  Newton  County,  Missouri,  but  a  short  time  after- 
wards removed  to  Berryville,  Arkansas,  at  which  time  this  place  was 
made  up  of  one  house  and  a  stable  owne^  by  the  senior  Plumblee.  Leav- 
ing there  in  1858,  he  emigrated  to  Texas,  but  in  i860,  returned  to 
Arkansas,  where  he  was  residing  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  civil  war. 
In  1862,  Mr.  P.  entered  the  United  States  service  as  a  volunteer  in  Com- 
pany E,  First  Arkansas  Cavalry  Regiment,  serving  as  such  till  June  t,0, 
1863,  when  he  was  transferred  to  the  Fourth  Arkansas  Cavalry  Regiment, 
and  mustered  in  as  a  lieutenant.  He  was  discharged  at  the  close  of' the 
war.  In  1864.  in  accordance  with  a  proclamation  of  President  Lincoln, 
made  to  fill  vacancies  in  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  state  of 
Arkansas,  he  was  elected  a  representative  and  served  until  its  adjourn- 
ment in  1865.  In  1863  his  family  had  removed  to  Greene  County,  Mis- 
souri, and  here  he  joined  them  in  1865,  soon  after  locating  on  his  present 
farm.  In  1872  he  was  elected  a  judge  of  the  county  court  of  St.  Clair, 
and  subsequently  served  as  collector  of  Collins  Township  for  about 
three  years.  In  1855  he  was  married  to  Sarah  P.  Hayter,  daughter  of 
Thomas  B.  Hayter,  of  Carroll  County,  Arkansas.  They  have  had  ten 
children:   Francis  J.,  Elizabeth  C,   Mary  C,  William  T.  (died   in  1869), 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  II77 

John  B.,  Martha  A.,  Sarah  M.,  Paulina  E.  (died  in  1870),  James  M.  and 
Anna  M.  Mr.  Plumblee  is  now  actively  engaged  in  farming  and  stock- 
raising  and  owns  a  fine  farm  of  210  acres  in  section  29. 

JOHN  R.  SINK 

is  a  native  of  Wilmington,  Delaware,  and  was  born  in  1826.  John  Sink, 
his  father,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1800,  was  married  on  the 
14th  day  of  July,  1822,  to  Miss  Sallie  A.  Peterson,  of  Wilmington,  and 
by  this  union  there  were  three  children,  of  whom  John  R.  was  the 
youngest.  He  accompanied  his  father  to  Kentucky  while  young,  and 
lived  there  until  seventeen  years  of  age,  when  he  emigrated  to  Green 
County,  Illinois,  living  there  until  1880.  Then  he  came  to  St.  Clair 
County,  Missouri,  and  has  here  gained  for  himself  an  enviable  reputation 
as  a  progressive  agriculturist  and  citizen.  In  1848  he  married  Miss  Mary 
M.  Story,  a  daughter  of  Vincent  Si:ory,  Esq.,  and  a  resident  of  Morgan 
County,  Illinois.  They  have  had  a  family  of  twelve  children:  John  Vin- 
cent, George  W.,  James  J.,  Lydia  A.,  Sallie  J.,  Mary  J.,  Nancy  H., 
Charles  M.,  Martha  E.,  Harry  A.,  Ida  E.  and  Eugene.  Two  of  these 
are  deceased.  Mr.  S.  first  came  to  this  county  during  the  fall  of  1873, 
purchasing  the  land  which  he  now  occupies,  consisting  of  288  acres. 
Politically  he  is  a  Democrat.  He  is  master  of  the  Grange  at  Mitchell, 
Greene  County,  Illinois. 

WILLIAM  H.  TILLERY 

owes  his  nativity  to  Knox  County,  Tennessee,  having  been  born  there 
September  20,  1840.  His  parents,  Sampson  and  Catharine  (Yoast)  Til- 
lery,  both  of  Knox  County,  were  married  December  23,  1840.  The  for- 
mer was  born  January  17,  1791.  William  H.  was  the  twelfth  of  a  family 
of  thirteen  children.  In  August,  1859,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Martha  E.  Parker,  of  Knox  County,  Tennessee.  In  October  fol- 
lowing, leaving  his  native  county,  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri, 
and  settled  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  J.  P.  Butcher  in  this  township. 
In  i860  their  eldest  child,  Mary  L.,  was  born,  and  since  then  they  have 
had  nine  children:  Sampson  M.,  Emily  T.,  Catharine  E.,  C.  L.,  William 
M.,  James  J.,  John  A.,  Frederick  M.  and  Lulu  G.  The  family  has  never 
experienced  a  day  of  sickness,  and  with  one  exception,  when  the  arm  of 
Emily  was  broken,  never  has  a  physician  been  in  the  house  for  the  pur- 
pose of  administering  medical  relief.  Mr.  T.  was  formerly  a  very  exten- 
sive dealer  in  mules,  and  was  the  acknowledged  leader  of  this  industry 
in  this  vicinity.  In  1880,  on  account  of  failing  health,  he  discontinued 
the  business,  and  now  devotes  his  attention  to  the  cultivation  of  his 
farm,  one  of  the  finest   in  the  township,  situated   on   Coon   Creek,  and 


J  1/8  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

vunder  <^ood  improvemeiit.s.  PoliticalU',  he  is  a  staunch  Republican.  He 
is  a  Master  Mason  and  a  prominent  member  of  the  Grange  in  this  town- 
ship. Mr.  Tillery  once  had  a  narrow  escape  from  death,  tlie  circum- 
stances of  which  were  as  follows:  "  Having  been  deputized,  in  August, 
1880,  to  serve  a  warrant  of  arrest  on  a  horse  thief  who  had  previously 
•stolen  a  horse  in  that  district,  he  started  after  the  criminal,  overtook 
and  arrested  him,  and  while  returning  to  Osceola,  his  attention  being 
•directed  to  other  parties  coming  down  the  toad,  the  thief  with  great 
rapidity  drew  his  revolver  and  fired  at  Mr.  T.,  the  ball  entering  his 
neck  just  back  of  the  jugular  vein  on  the  right  side,  and  passing 
behind  the  throttle,  came  out  on  the  left  side;  it  then  entered  the  shoul- 
der, and  glancing  back  from  the  blade,  fell  into  his  vest  pocket." 

JOHN  S.  WINGFIELD. 

•was  born  in  March,  18 16,  in  Virginia,  his  parents  being  Christopher  and 
Nancy  (Stockton)  Wingfield,  also  Virginians  b\'  birth,  who  were  married 
in  1814.  The  former  was  born  in  1788.  and  the  latter  in  1793.  John  S. 
the  eldest  of  ten  children,  was  brought  up  in  the  county  of  his  birth, 
and  lived  at  home  principally  until  his  marriage,  in  1847,  to  Miss  Har- 
riet M.  Bondurant.  They  have  had  ten  children:  Mary  F",  Christopher 
T.,  Millard  P.,  Nancy  J.,  Sarah  E.,  Susan  L.,  Charles  P.,  Harriet  M..  and 
James  M.,  and  of  this  number  three  have  died.  In  1859  Mr.  W.  came  to 
St.  Clair  County,  locating  in  Collins  Township,  where  he  has  since 
lived,  gaining  for  himself  an  enviable  reputation.  The  Republican 
party,  recognizing  his  ability,  nominated  him  for  the  position  of  county 
judge,  but  the  Democratic  party  being  in  the  majority,  he  failed  to  be 
elected.  Mr.  Wingfield's  farm,  one  of  the  best  to  be  found  in  the  east- 
•ern  part  of  the  county,  consists  of  210  acres  on  the  Weaubleau  Creek. 

FRANCIS  YOAST. 

farmer  and  stock  dealer,  section  16,  is  the  son  of  John  Yoast,  who  was 
born  in  Germany  in  1794,  emigrating  to  the  United  States  in  1808  with 
his  father — a  cooper  by  trade,  he  having  come  to  this  country  to  follow 
that  occupation.  He  first  located  in  Virginia,  and  after  living  there  one 
3'ear  went  to  Ohio,  and  in  18 10  emigrated  to  Knoxville,  Tennessee.  In 
1812  John  Yoast  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Ware,  of  Blount  County, 
Tennessee.  From  this  marriage  there  was  born  on  the  23d  day  of  Decem- 
ber, 1814,  a  son,  Francis.  The  senior  Yoast,  together  with  his  family, 
came  to  Missouri  in  1836,  locating  in  Collins  Township,  of  this  county, 
and  our  subject  has  done  much  toward  its  improvement  since  his  resi- 
dence here.  At  that  time  this  county  was  known  as  Rives,  and  he  has 
often  visited  Osceola  when   it  contained  but  one  store.     In  1838  one  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  -  II79 

the  first,  if  not  the  first  marriage  ceremonies,  was  solemnized  in  Collins 
Township.  During  the  late  war  Mr.  Yoast  was  actively  engaged  in  the 
cause  of  the  union.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church  and  polit- 
ically a  Greenbacker,  though  formerly  a  Republican.  He  owns  265  acres 
of  land. 

BUTLER  TOWNSHIP. 

WILLIAM  BARNETT, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  26,  was  born  in  Lafayette  County,  Mis- 
souri, May  15,  1828,  his  parents  being  Hugh  and  Mary  (Cummins)  Bar- 
rett, natives  of  North  Carolina.  In  1839  they  came  to  St.  Clair  County, 
Missouri,  and  settled  on  section  23,  in  Butler  Township.  William  here 
grew  to  manhood,  receiving  the  advantages  of  a  common  school  educa- 
tion. In  1850  he  went  to  California  where  he  followed  mining  two 
years,  then  returning  to  St.  Clair  County.  He  owns  240  acres  of  good 
land,  well  improved.  In  January,  1862.  he  enlisted  in  Company  E, 
Fourth  Missouri  Infantry,  was  first  lieutenant  and  participated  in  a  num- 
ber of  important  battles,  among  which  were  Pea  Ridge,  Port  Hudson, 
and  Corinth.  At  the  latter  battle  he  was  wounded  in  the  shoulder.  In 
1872  he  was  elected  one  of  the  judges  of  the  county  court  and  held  the 
office  until  1877.  February  10,  1853,  Mr.  Barnett  married  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Ledbetter,  a  native  of  Tennessee.  They  have  a  family  of  ten 
children:  Lucy,  Ira  J.,  William  L.,  James,  Mattie,  Cora,  Agnes,  Bettie, 
Johnnie  and  Richard.     They  have  lost  one  son,   Hugh. 

W.  G.  BROWNING. 

druggist  at  Lowry  City,  was  born  in  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  April  3, 
185  I,  and  is  a  son  of  C.  G.  and  Susan  (Barnett)  Browning,  the  former  a 
native  of  Tennessee  and  the  latter  of  Missouri.  They  were  among  the 
early  pioneers  of  this  county.  W.  G.  has  been  reared  and  educated  in 
the  county  of  his  birth,  making  farming  his  occupation  till  1876,  when 
he  began  in  the  drug  business  at  Appleton  City.  There  he  continued 
that  business  till  1878,  when  he  located  in  Lowry  City.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  February  22,  1876,  Mr.  Browning  married 
Sarah  E.  McCrary,  a  native  of  Indiana.  She  died  July  28,  1880.  He  was 
again  married  November  12,  1882,  to  Miss  Flora  King,  of  Illinois. 


IlSo  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

P.  H.  clp:ar 

is  the  son  of  Philip  Clear,  who  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  his  father, 
Jacob  Clear,  also  having  been  born  in  that  state.  Parmelia  Clapp  was 
the  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  P.  H.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
born  in  Randolph  County,  Indiana,  July  25,  1841.  He  grew  to  manhood 
in  his  native  county  and  there  received  the  advantages  of  the  public 
schools.  August  9,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  the  Sixty  ninth  Indiana  Volun- 
teers and  at  the  battle  of  Port  Gibson  he  received  a  wound  which  caused 
the  amputation  of  one  of  his  lower  limbs.  He  was  discharged  July  5. 
1865.  Returning  to  Indiana  he  followed  farming  in  the  summer  and 
teaching  during  the  winter  months.  In  1869  he  moved  to  Ohio,  but  in 
1872  retraced  his  steps  to  Indiana  where  he  taught  school  until  1876. 
At  that  time  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County  and  was  occupied  in  teaching 
until  1882  when  he  became  manager  of  the  Lowry  City  Association. 
They  carry  a  general  stock  of  goods  and  are  doing  a  good  business. 
Mr.  C.  owns  one  of  the  best  improved  farms  in  this  township.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Christian  Church  and  also  belongs  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 
fraternity.  January  19,  1867,  Mr.  Clear  married  Miss  Sarah  A.  Fisher,  a 
native  of  Indiana.  They  have  seven  children:  Arthur  B.,  George  W., 
Luther  E.,  Oscar,  Henry  D.,  Grace  and  Blanch. 

B.  VV.    COCK, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  23,  is  a  son  of  Robert  P.  Cock,  who  was 
born  in  Virginia  September  26,  18 14.  His  father  was  Benjamin  Cock. 
November  16,  1833,  Robert  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Pulliam,  a  Vir- 
ginian. B.  W.  was  born  in  Hanover  County,  Virginia,  January  16,  1837. 
When  only  two  years  old  his  parents  moved  to  St.  Clair  County,  Mis- 
souri, where  he  grew  up  on  his  father's  farm,  receiving  a  common  school 
education.  He  has  followed  farming  through  life,  and  now  owns  a  landed 
estate  of  520  acres.  June  i,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  Confederate  army 
and  was  captain  of  Company  B,  Sixteenth  Missouri  Infantry,  afterwards 
being  promoted  to  major.  He  was  in  many  important  battles.  May  i, 
1861,  Mr.  Cock  married  Miss  Mary  Barnett,  of  St.  Clair  County,  Mis- 
souri. They  have  a  family  of  five  children:  Mattie,  Ida,  Stella,  Delia  and 
Blanche.     They  have  lost  three:  Lemuel,  Robert  and  Hugh. 

NEWTON  DOWERS, 

section  17,  was  born  in  Riple)-  Count}-,  Indiana,  December  29,  1843,  ^^'s 
parents  being  Alexander  and  Kisiah  (Lacock)  Dowers,  natives  of 
Indiana.  Newton  was  reared  in  his  native  county,  and  was  there  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools.  About  the  year  1861  he  went  to  Edgar 
County,  Illinois,  where  he  was  employed  in  farming  until  1878.   Then  he 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  II81 

came  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri.  He  owns  a  farm  of  eighty  acres. 
Mr.  D.  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  also  belongs  to  the  I.  O. 
O.  F.  order.  December  22,  1864,  he  married  Miss  Caroline  Gilkey,  a 
native  of  Illinois.  She  died  February  13.  1878,  leaving  five  children: 
Allen  A.,  John  O.,  Erie  A.,  Emma  and  Ira  B.  August  21,  1879,  he  was 
again  married  to  Mrs.  Katie  Penrodd,  of  Texas.  They  have  three  chil- 
dren:    George  W.,  Nellie  and  Charles  W. 

D.  N.  EDWARDS, 

section  3,  was  born  in  Casey  County,  Kentucky,  March  10,  1837,  being 
the  son  of  William  and  Maria  (Bledsoe)  Edwards.  When  D.  N.  was 
about  six  years  old  his  father  moved  to  Johnson  County  Missouri,  where 
the  family  remained  four  years.  After  this  they  went  to  Benton  County, 
where  our  subject  was  reared  and  educated.  In  1854  he  settled  in  Henry 
County,  and  was  engaged  in  farming  until  i860,  when  he  came  to  St. 
Clair  County.  His  farm  contains  400  acres  of  as  good  land  as  there  is 
in  the  township.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  Company  C,  Missouri  State 
Militia,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  Mr.  E.  is  a  member  of 
the  Christian  Church.  December  3,  1859,  he  married  Miss  Mary  Roth- 
gib,  a  native  of  Ohio.  They  have  six  children:  Carrie  E.,  William  B., 
Lewis,  Laura  E.,  Elsa  and  Cora. 

S.  M.  EVANS, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  3,  was  born  in  Pickaway  County,  Ohio, 
December  11,  1834.  His  father,  James  Evans,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
married  Miss  Hulda  Morris,  who  was  born  in  New  Jersey.  When  S.  M. 
was  two  years  old  his  parents  moved  to  Hancock  County,  Illinois,  where 
he  was  brought  up  and  educated.  He  followed  farming  there  until  1857, 
when  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri.  His  present  farm  contains 
1 10  acres.  In  1874  Mr.  E.  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Christian  Church,  October  21,  1859,  he  married  Miss 
Margaret  Hilliges,  a  native  of  Ohio.  They  have  six  children:  Sarah  P., 
David  W.,  Joseph  H.,  Michael  H.,  Christina  and  Ella  May. 

JAMES  D.  FLETCHER, 

farmer,  section  28,  is  the  son  of  Oliver  Fletcher,  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
who  was  there  married  to  Miss  Jane  Harvey,  of  the  same  state.  They 
came  to  Cole  County,  Missouri,  in  1843,  where  James  D.  was  born 
December  28,  1849.  I"  1854  the  family  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  Mis- 
souri, and  here  our  subject  was  reared  and  attended  school.  He  has  since 
followed  farming  in  this  county  except  from  1869  to  1874,  which  time  he 


IlS2  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

Spent  in  Texas,  the  Indian  Nation  and  Arkansas.  He  owns  a  farm  of 
l6o  acres.  August  3,  1S79,  Mr.  Fletcher  married  Miss  S.  Lyons,  a  native 
of  Indiana.     They  have  one  chihl,  Walter  S. 

S.  M.  GRACY, 

farmer,  section  17,  was  born  in  Ross  County,  Ohio,  October  17,  1844. 
His  parents  were  Samuel  and  Rachel  (Snively)  Gracy,  the  former  a 
native  of  Ireland  and  the  latter  of  Pennsylvania.  When  S.  M  was  five 
years  old  they  moved  to  Wells  County,  Indiana,  where  he  grew  to  man- 
hood and  received  his  education.  Mr.  G.  was  employed  in  farming  and 
school  teaching  in  Indiana  until  1872,  when  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County, 
Missouri.  Here  he  has  since  followed  teaching  and  farming.  His  farm 
now  contains  100  acres.  In  1875  he  was  elected  a  justice  of  the  peace, 
and  has  since  held  that  position.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity and  of  the  Grange.  March  30,  1871,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  Scoffter,  of  Indiana.  They  have  four  children:  Jennie,  Louisa, 
Ettie  and  Charles.     They  have  lost  two:   Alfred  and  Harriet. 

T.  A.   HAWKINS. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Crawford  County,  Missouri, 
June  9,  1842.  His  parents  were  P.  E.  and  Joannah  (Music)  Hawkins,  the 
former  a  native  of  Virginia  and  the  latter  of  Missouri.  T.  A.  grew  up 
in  Maries  County,  Missouri,  and  was  there  educated  in  the  common 
schools.  He  was  engaged  in  farming  and  milling  in  that  locality  until 
1876,  when  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County.  His  farm  is  situated  in  section 
17  of  Chalk  Level  Township  and  contains  120  acres.  Mr.  H.  is  consta- 
ble of  Butler  Township.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  March 
20,  1863,  he  married  Miss  Emma  Blockham,  a  native  of  Missouri.  They 
have  seven  children:  Eliza  C,  William  T.,  James  M.,  Joseph  M.,  Mattie 
J.,  Emily  and  Charles  L. 

WILLIAM  H.  HILLEGAS, 

section  9,  was  born  May  22,  1844,  in  Montgomery  County,  Ohio.  His 
father,  Joseph  Hillegas,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  was  born  in  1805,  and 
subsequently  accompanied  his  parents  to  Ohio,  where,  in  1830  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Hannah  Reed,  who  was  also  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1810. 
Upon  leaving  Ohio,  he  removed  to  Indiana,  thence  to  Illinois,  and  later, 
in  the  fall  of  1857,  to  Henry  County,  Missouri.  He  still  resides  there, 
having  served  two  terms  as  county  judge.  Through  the  failure  of  the 
railroad  company  he  became  a  heavy  loser.  October  24,  1868,  William 
H.  Hillegas  (one  of  a  family  of  eight  children)  married  Miss  Huldah  A. 
daughter   of  J.   W.    and    Mary   Pattison,   of   Jasper    County,    Missouri. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  1 1 85 

They  have  five  children:  Charles  E.,  born  July  9,  1869;  Effie  M,,  borrj 
August  3,  1874;  Gertrude,  born  October  20,  1877;  Joseph  William,  born 
August  22,  1880;  and  Michael  E.,  born  December  8,  1883.  Mr.  H. 
became  a  resident  of  Henry  County  in  1857,  and  March  7,  1862,  he 
enlisted  in  Company  C,  Seventh  Missouri  State  Militia,  Cavalry,  as  a 
private.  He  thus  served  two  years,  was  then  made  corporal  and  served 
until  mustered  out,  March  7,  1865.  In  1868  he  purchased  160  acres  of 
his  present  farm  and  in  the  fall  of  1882  120  acres  adjoining,  and  here  he 
noiv  has  a  well  improved  place.  He  raises  cattle  to  some  extent.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  H.  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  at  Lowry  City.  Politi- 
cally he  is  a  Republican. 

F.  J.  HUBBARD, 

farmer,  section  8,  was  born  in  Arkansas  August  31,  1846,  his  parents 
being  Henry  and  Mariette  E.  (Henry)  Hubbard,  the  former  a  native  of 
New  York  and  the  latter  of  Louisiana.  F.  J.  was  the  eldest  of  a  family 
of  six  children.  When  he  was  about  one  year  old  his  parents  moved  to 
Illinois  where  they  remained  a  short  time,  then  coming  to  Missouri  and 
locating  in  Benton  County.  There  he  was  reared  and  educated.  In 
1865  he  came  to  Henry  County  and  was  engaged  in  farming  until  1871, 
at  that  period  moving  to  Clinton  where  he  remained  one  year.  After 
that  he  settled  in  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  where  he  has  been  engaged 
in  farming.  He  owns  a  farm  of  120  acres.  Mr.  H.  is  a  member  of  the 
M.  E,  Church.  In  October,  1871,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Eliza  Briden- 
stine,  a  native  of  Ohio. 

C.  F.  HUEBNER, 

manufacturer  and  dealer  in  boots,  shoes  and  harness,  was  born  in  Perry- 
County,  Ohio,  August  16,  1847,  '^"d  is  a  son  of  Charles  and  Mary  (Gre- 
mer)  Huebner,  natives  of  Germany.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  Somerset,. 
Ohio,  where  he  was  educated.  His  father  being  a  shoe  maker  by  trade, 
the  son  also  worked  with  him  till  grown.  In  1869  he  went  to  Clinton,. 
Henry  County,  Missouri,  where  he  was  employed  by  Captain  Fike  as 
clerk  till  1872,  when  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County.  Then  he  began  farm- 
ing and  continued  it  till  1880,  when  he  embarked  in  business  at  Lowry- 
City.  He  also  owns  a  farm  of  eighty  acres.  Mr.  Huebner  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  fraternity.  June  6,  1871,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Jennie  S.  Christman,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  They  have  a  family  of 
five  children:  Minnie,  Rosa,  Docia,  Carrie  and  an  infant. 

JAMES  R.  KELLY, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  16,  was  born  in  Cooper  County,  Missouri, 
and  was   the   son   of  William  J.  Kelly,  one  of  the  first  settlers   of  that 


I  184  '  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

county.  The  maiden  name  of  his  mother  was  Martha  Mocklin.  When 
James  was  six  years  old  his  parents  moved  to  Cole  County,  where  they 
resided  for  about  eight  years,  afterwards  locating  in  Benton  County, 
where  James  was  reared  to  manhood.  In  1857  he  went  to  California 
and  followed  teaming  until  1861,  when  he  returned  to  Benton  County 
and  farmed  until  1865.  Then  he  moved  to  Kentucky  and  was  engaged 
in  farming  until  1868,  when  he  settled  in  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri. 
He  owns  a  farm  of  100  acres,  well  improved.  Mr.  K.  was  in  the  Mis- 
souri State  militia  during  the  late  war.  September  3,  1865,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Mrs.  J.  D.  Townsland,  a  native  of  Missouri.  They  have  six  chil- 
dren:    Matilda  B.,  William  J.,  Maud,  Caroline,  Maggie  E.  and  Ore  L. 

J.  A.  MANNERING, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  5.  was  born  in  Indianapolis,  Indiana, 
March  12,  1839,  ^"d  was  the  son  of  John  and  Julia  A.  (Garwood)  Man- 
nering,  the  former  a  native  of  Delaware  and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  When  J. 
A.  was  about  eight  years  old,  his  parents  moved  to  South  Bend,  where 
they  remained  one  year,  going  thence  to  Hancock  County,  Illinois. 
There  our  subject  grew  to  manhood  and  received  his  education.  He  fol- 
lowed farming  and  stock  raising  in  Iowa  from  1856  to  1 866,  when  he  came  to 
St.  Clair  County,  Missouri.  He  now  owns  a  farm  of  200  acres,  making 
one  of  the  best  improved  farms  in  the  township.  Mr.  M.  has  held  the 
office  of  township  assessor.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church. 
February  ii,  1864,  he  married  Miss  Sussa  P.  Evans,  a  native  of  Illinois. 
They  have  seven  children:  Zella  O.,  J.  Frank,  William  H.,  Maggie, 
Christina.  Samuel  E.,  and  James  A. 

JAMES  A.  MEE, 

physician  and  surgeon,  was  born  in  Erie  Count}',  Pennsylvania,  Septem- 
ber 17,  1858.  His  father,  Joseph  Mee,  was  a  native  of  Pennsj-lvania  and 
a  son  of  William  Mee,  who  came  originally  from  England.  The  mother 
of  James  M.,  whose  maiden  name  was  Amanda  Anderson,  was  also  born 
in  Pennsylvania.  When  our  subject  was  twelve  years  of  age  his  parents 
moved  to  Osage  County,  Missouri,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated. 
At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  N.  B. 
Jones,  of  Maries  County,  Missouri,  and  June  28,  1881,  he  was  graduated 
from  the  Kentucky  School  of  Medicine  at  Louisville.  Then  he  located 
at  Lowry  City,  where  he  has  met  with  excellent  success.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  March  26,  1882,  Dr.  Mee  was  married  to 
Miss  Ella  Stovern,  a  native  of  Missouri. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  II85 

FRANK  M.  MILLER, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  6,  was  born  in  Benton  County,  Missouri, 
November  8,  1838.  His  father,  William  Miller,  was  a  Kentuckian  by 
birth,  and  a  son  of  Henry  Miller,  a  native  of  North  Carolina.  The 
maiden  name  of  his  mother  was  Levina  Williams,  of  Georgia.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  reared  in  Benton  County  and  there  received  a 
common  school  education.  He  followed  school  teaching  in  that  county 
for  about  five  years  and  then  engaged  in  merchandising  at  Warsaw  for 
five  years.  In  1873  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County  and  now  owns  a  farm 
containing  165  acres,  all  well  improved.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  the 
Enrolled  Missouri  Militia,  and  was  discharged  in  1864.  Mr.  M.  held  the 
office  of  deputy  United  States  Assessoj,  for  the  counties  of  Hickory, 
Benton  and  Camden  for  some  time.  He  was  also  postmaster  at  War- 
saw under  Lincoln.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church.  Novem- 
ber 8,  i860,  Mr.  Miller  was  married  to  Miss  C.  Gilley,  a  native  of  Ten- 
nessee. They  have  nine  children:  Alice  C,  Ida  M.,  Walter  S.,  Francis 
M.,  Willis  H.,  Nellie  C,  Clarence  A.  and  Clara  M.  (twins)  and  Alma  M. 

DAVID  SNYDER, 

farmer,  section  16,  came  originally  from  Darke  County,  Ohio,  where  he 
was  born  in  1845.  His  parents,  Pearson  and  Susan  (Hidley)  Snyder, 
moved  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  in  1857,  where  David  was  reared 
and  educated.  He  now  owns  a  fine  farm,  which  contains  165  acres,  and 
it  is  a  good  stock  farm.  He  was  married  in  1867  to  Miss  Milliard  W^oolry, 
a  jiative  of  Missouri.  They  have  three  children  living:  Pearson,  Charley 
and  John. 

JAMES  P.  SNYDER, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  17,  is  a  native  of  Ohio  and  was  born  in 
Darke  County,  May  28,  1847,  being  the  son  of  Pearson  and  Susan 
Snyder,  nee  Hidley,  natives  of  New  Jersey  and  Ohio  respectively.  James 
P.  was  the  third  of  a  family  of  six  children.  When  ten  years  old  his 
parents  came  to  St  Clair  County,  Missouri,  where  he  was  brought  up, 
attending  for  a  time  the  common  schools.  He  owns  a  farm  of  300  acres, 
most  of  which  is  under  fence  and  well  improved.  May  9,  1867,  Mr.  S. 
married  Miss  Frances  Bunch,  of  this  county.  They  have  two  children, 
Birdie  A.  and  Arvel. 

H.  H.  SNYDER, 

farmer,  section  28,  was  born  in   Darke  County,  Ohio,  November  6,  1842* 

His  father,  Pearson  Snyder,  a  native  of  New  Jeysey,  died  in  this  county 

March  13,  1862.     The   maiden  name   of  the   mother  of  our  subject  was 

Susan  Hidley,  originally  from  Ohio.     She  died  in  November,  1850.     H. 

75 


Il86  HISTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

H.  came  to  St.  Clair  County  with  his  parents  in  1857.  He  received  his 
education  in  the  schools  of  Ohio  and  Missouri.  He  has  followed  farm- 
ing in  this  county  since  his  arrival  at  manhood.  In  March,  18G3,  he 
enlisted  in  Company  B,  Eleventh  Missouri  Cavalry,  and  was  discharged 
August  II,  1865.  Mr.  S.  held  the  office  of  township  constable  six  years. 
September  6,  1866,  he  married  Miss  Hannah  J.  McKinsley.  a  native  of 
Kentucky.  They  have  four  children:  Ida  B.,  James  W.,  Effie  M.,  Eliz- 
abeth T.     They  lost  one  son,  David  E. 

JAMES  W.  TITUS, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  18,  was  born  in  Loudoun  County,  Vir- 
ginia, February  22,  1839,  his  parents,  Jeremiah  and  Susan  (Goodheart) 
Titus  having  been  Virginians  by  birth,  James  W.  was  the  oldest  of  a 
family  of  six  children.  When  sixteen  years  old  he  was  taken  by  his 
father  to  Muskingum  County,  Ohio,  where  he  grew  to  manhood.  He 
farmed  in  Ohio  until  i860,  when  he  moved  to  Coles  County,  Illinois,  con- 
tinuing his  former  occupation  until  1868,  when  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County, 
Missouri.  He  owns  a  farm  of  183  acres,  well  improved.  Mr.  T.  has  worked 
at  the  carpentering  business  for  the  last  twenty  years.  In  August,  1862, 
he  enlisted  in  Company  H,  Seventy-ninth  Illinois  Volunteers,  and  was 
discharged  December  15,  1863.  He  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church, 
and  belongs  to  both  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  the  Grange.  February 
23,  i860,  he  married  Miss  Caroline  Roberts,  of  Ohio.  They  have  seven 
children:  S.  A.,  Martha  S.,  Lydia,  Thomas  J.,  James  F.  John  H.  and  Ira 
N.    They  lost  two  children. 

JOHN  H.  TRISSEL, 

postmaster  at  Lowry  City,  was  born  in  Montgomery  County,  Ohio,  Feb- 
ruary 28,  1846,  being  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Rachael  (Garwood)  Trissel. 
His  youth  was  spent  in  Ohio  and  he  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools,  following  engineering  in  that  state  until  1889,  when  he  came  to 
St.  Clair  County,  Missouri.  Here  he  manufactured  brick  for  one  year, 
after  which  he  gave  his  attention  to  farming  and  carpentering  until 
1873.  Returning  to  Ohio  he  was  employed  as  engineer  until  1878,  when 
he  again  came  to  St.  Clair  County.  August  i,  1881,  he  was  appointed 
postmaster,  which  position  he  now  fills.  In  June,  1862,  he  enlisted  in 
Company  K,  First  Ohio  Heavy  Artillery  and  was  discharged  July  25, 
1865.  He  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  and  belongs  to  the  I.  O.  O. 
F.  fraternity.  August  25,  1868,  Mr.  Trissel  married  Miss  Elizabeth  J. 
Houk,  a  daughter  of  George  W.  and  Caroline  (Simmon)  Hauk,  the  for- 
mer a  native  of  Ohio  and  the  latter  of  Maryland.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  T.  have 
a  family  of  six  children.  Harvey  L.,  Lucy  A.,  Garlie,  Callie,  George 
and  Bessie. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  I187 

JOHN   WALKER, 

farmer,  section  21,  was  born  in  Miami  County,  Ohio,  May  12,  1834.  His 
father,  Alexander  Walker,  a  native  of  West  Virginia,  was  a  son  of  James 
Walker,  a  Virginian  by  birth  and  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  18 12.  The 
maiden  name  of  John's  mother  was  Catherine  Sheppard,  originally  from 
Maryland.  John  was  reared  in  Ohio  and  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools.  In  1856  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  where  he  has 
since  followed  farming,  now  owning  eighty  acres  of  good  land,  well 
watered,  etc.  Mr.  W.  has  held  a  number  of  township  offices,  among 
which  are  those  of  trustee  and  constable.  September  18,  1856,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Mary  Riegel,  a  native  of  Ohio.  They  have  nine  chil- 
dren: Sarah  A.,  Jacob  A.,  Nehemian,  Lydia,  John  L.,  James  M.,  Oliver 
S.,  Rudolph  and  Nellie1V[. 

DAVID  WALKER, 

farmer,  section  17,  a  native  of  Darke  County,  Ohio,  was  born  January  7, 
1842,  being  the  son  of  Alexander  and  Catherine  (Sheppard)  Walker, 
natives  of  Virginia.  David  was  the  fourth  child  of  a  family  of  ten  child- 
ren. In  1856  his  parents  moved  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  where  he 
arrived  at  manhood,  engaging  in  farming  and  stock  raising.  His  farm 
is  well  improved  and  coiitains  120  acres.  His  fine  residence  was  built 
in  188 1.  Mr.  W.  was  in  the  Missouri  State  Militia  during  the  late  war. 
February  23,  1864,  he  married  Miss  Frances  Kellerinan,  who  was  born 
in  Indiana  May  9,  1842.  They  have  seven  children:  William,  Anna  B., 
James  P.,  Mary  E.,  Charles,  Minnie  A.  and  Cora. 

T.  E.  WILKINSON, 

farmer,  section  11,  was  born  in  Warren  County,  Tennessee,  February  28. 
1836.  His  parents,  Charles  and  Malissa  (Cantrell)  Wilkinson,  were 
natives  of  South  Carolina,  and  his  great  grandfather  was  a  general  in 
the  Revolutionary  war.  When  T.  E.  was  about  two  years  old  the 
family  moved  to  Missouri  and  located  in  Crawford  County  where  they 
resided  until  he  was  sixteen  years  old,  then  going  to  Gasconade  County. 
There  he  grew  to  manhood,  receiving  his  education  in  the  common 
schools.  He  followed  farming  in  that  county  until  1870,  when  he  came 
to  St.  Clair  County.  His  present  farm  contains  170  acres  of  land.  Mr. 
W.  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  and  also  belongs  to  the  Masonic 
fraternity.  November  25,  i860,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Walton, 
a  native  of  Missouri.  They  have  five  children:  Elizabeth  M.,  George 
W.,  Mary  M.,  Eliza  B.  and  John  T.     They  have  lost  two  children. 


#l88  HISTORY    OF    ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

ALONZO  C.  WINTERS, 

plasterer  at  Lowry  City,  was  born  in  Pike  County,  Illinois,  March  20, 
1858,  and  was  the  son  of  Benjamin  H.  and  Emeline  (Cobbj  Winters,  the 
former  a  native  of  Ohio  and  the  latter  of  New  York.  Alonzo  was  reared 
in  his  native  state  and  was  there  educated.  His  father  was  a  plasterer 
by  trade  and  the  son  worked  with  him  in  Illinois  until  1877,  when  he 
eame  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 
fraternity.  March  13,  1881.  Mr.  Winters  was  married  to  Miss  LulaGracy, 
a  native  of  Indiana.  They  have  one  child,  Irving  B.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Win- 
ters belong  to  the  M.  E.  Church. 

GEORGE  W.  WRIGHT, 

merchant  at  Lowry  City,  is  a  native  of  Washington  Count}-,  Kentucky, 
and  was  born  July  4,  1844,  being  the  son  of  Morgan  Wright,  a  Ken- 
tuckian  by  birth,  whose  father,  William  P.  Wright,  was  one  of  the  pio- 
neers of  Kentucky,  and  a  revolutionary  soldier.  The  mother  of  George 
W.,  formerly  Elizabeth  Hickerson,  was  also  born  in  Kentucky.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  sixth  of  a  family  of  nine  children.  He 
grew  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm,  and  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools.  In  October,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Morgan's  company,  and  was 
rn  the  service  until  1863.  After  this  he  returned  to  Kentucky  and  fol- 
Towed  farming  until  1865,  when  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  with 
Dr.  J.  W.  Wright.  He  read  with  him  one  year,  and  then  attended  one 
course  of  lectures  at  Miami  Medical  College  at  Cincinnati.  Returning 
to  Kentucky  he  remained  until  1870,  when  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County, 
Missouri.  In  187 1  he  built  the  first  business  house  in  Lowry  City,  and 
engaged  in  trade.  He  carries  a  full  stock  of  drugs,  groceries,  etc.,  and 
is  doing  a  good  business.  He  is  also  proprietor  of  the  Wright  House, 
an  excellent  hotel.  Mr.  W.  was  township  clerk  six  years.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  fraternity.  November  21,  1872,  he  married  Miss 
Jennie  G.  Shinn.  of  this  county.  They  have  three  children,  Lillia,  Min- 
•oie  M.  and  Franklin  P. 

JAMES  POLK  WRIGHT,  M.  D., 

was  born  in  Washington  County,  Kentucky,  December  23,  1844.  His 
parents  were  Nathaniel  and  Matilda  (Moore)  Wright,  natives  of  Vir- 
ginia. James  Polk  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  county  and  there 
received  the  advantages  of  the  common  schools.  He  was  engaged  in 
farming  till  1866,  when  he  embarked  in  merchandising  in  High  Grove, 
Kentucky,  and  at  the  same  time  was  occupied  in  reading  medicine  with 
his  brother,  Dr.  J.  W.  Wright.     After  this  he  was  graduated   from  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  II89 

medical  department  of  the  University  of  Louisville,  Kentucky.  In  iS/i 
he  located  at  Lowry  City,  where  he  has  since  been  interested  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession,  and  he  is  recognized  as  being  one  of  the  lead- 
ing citizens  of  that  vicinity.  He  is  also  the  senior  member  of  the  firm  of 
J.  P.  Wright  &  Co.,  merchants  of  Lowry  City.  He  belongs  to  the  Bap- 
tist Church,  and  also  to  the  Masonic  fraternity.  December  14,  1879,  Dr. 
W.  was  married  to  Miss  Emma  Hubner,  a  native  of  Ohio.  They  have 
one  child:   Walter  E. 


DOYAL  TOWNSHIP. 


DR.  PLEASANT  M.  COX. 

No  man  in  St.  Clair  County  is  better  or  more  familiarly  known  than 
Dr.  P.  M.  Cox,  and  no  name  is  more  of  a  household  word  than  his,  he 
being  the  first  physician  in  the  county.  He  was  born  in  Daviess 
County,  Kentucky,  November  12,  1809,  and  was  the  son  of  Meredith 
Cox,  a  Virginian  by  birth,  whose  father,  Samuel  Cox,  came  originally 
from  Ireland.  Meredith  Cox  married  Miss  Margaret  McFarland,  who 
was  also  born  in  Virginia.  Pleasant,  the  fourth  of  five  sons,  accompa- 
nied his  father  to  Missouri  when  nine  years  old,  the  senior  Cox  settling 
in  Lincoln  County,  where  he  died,  in  1835.  In  the  fall  of  1836  our  sub- 
ject moved  to  Osceola,  this  county,  with  his  mother,  who  died  in  the 
following  year.  Pleasant  M.  was  deprived  in  early  life  of  such  educa- 
tional advantages  as  he  desired  but  still  devoted  his  entire  energies  to 
the  study  of  medicine.  He  read  under  the  instruction  of  Dr.  Eastern, 
of  Pike  County,  and  also  with  Dr.  Nash,  and  after  a  thorough  prepara- 
tion, attended  lectures  at  the  Transylvania  University,  at  Lexington, 
Kentucky,  in  1830-31.  He  subsequently  practiced  his  profession  in 
Lincoln  County,  Missouri,  until  1836,  when  he  came  to  this  county,  prac- 
ticing for  some  twenty  years.  In  1839  Dr.  L.  Lewis  settled  in  Osceola 
and  formed  a  partnership  with  Dr.  Cox,  which  relation  existed  for  sev- 
eral years.  The  latter  entered  portions  of  section  17,  20,  21  and  22  in 
this  township,  became  a  large  land  owner  and  a  prominent  citizen  in 
southwest  Missouri.  Building  a  residence  and  store  he  was  in  company 
with  Z.  Lilley  and  others  occupied  in  trade,  and  at  the  outbreak  of  the 
war  was  one   of  the  wealthiest  men   in  the   county.     In    1858  he   was 


IigO  IIISTOUV    OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

elected  a  member  of  the  state  legislature.  During  the  war  he  was  in 
Texas,  and  in  1865  went  to  Fayette,  Arkansas,  where  he  opened  a  drug 
store,  sending  the  children  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Dr.  Harris,  to  school. 
In  1875  he  returned  to  Osceola,  but  at  jjresent  resides  on  his  farm  known 
as  the  Dr.  Harris'  place,  which  is  managed  by  his  son,  Pleasant  M.,  who 
is  a  large  stock  raiser  and  dealer.  The  Doctor  was  married  in  October, 
1833,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  M.  McClannahan,  daughter  of  Elijah  McClanna- 
han,  of  Virginia.  They  have  two  children  living:  Margaret  A.,  widow 
of  Dr.  E.  E.  Harris,  and  Pleasant  Madison.  Edwin  Eugene  Harris,  M. 
D.,  was  born  in  Albermarle  County,  Virginia,  March  30,  1828,  his  par- 
ents being  Major  Samuel  W.  and  Sarah  Miller  (Ward)  Harris,  of  Vir- 
ginia. He  attended  school  for  ten  years  and  in  1840  came  to  Osceola, 
Missouri,  and  subsequently  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  L.  Lewis.  He 
attended  medical  lectures  at  Louisville  and  graduated  with  honor  in 
1850.  October  6,  1853,  he  married  Miss  Margaret  Cox,  daughter  of  Dr. 
P.  M.  Cox,  and  to  them  were  born  three  daughters:  Bettie  Virginia, 
Sarah  Eugenia  and  Agnes  M.  During  the  war  Dr.  Harris  entered  the 
military  service  of  the  Confederate  army  as  surgeon  in  General  Clark's 
Cavalry  Division  in  the  Trans-Mississippi  department  and  was  one  of 
the  most  faithful  and  capable  of  surgeons.  He  died  in  Arkansas  before 
the  war  closed. 

JOHN  DAWSON, 

owes  his  nativity  to  Patrick  County,  Virginia,  where  he  was  born  March 
30,  1822.  His  father,  P.lijah  Dawson,  originally  from  Maryland,  married 
Miss  Henrietta  Coble,  of  North  Carolina,  and  a  niece  of  the  Hon.  Howell 
Coble,  of  Georgia.  They  came  to  Missouri  in  1832,  and  settled  in  Craw- 
ford County.  They  reared  a  family  of  seven  children,  of  whom  John 
was  the  third  in  number.  His  education  was  obtained  at  home  and  he 
taught  school  and  also  clerked  in  a  store  for  several  years,  coming  to  this 
county  in  1848.  He  afterwards  taught  at  Pierce  City  for  eight  months. 
Mr.  D.  early  made  claims  of  land  lying  on  Weaubleau  Creek,  and 
after  improving  it  sold  the  property  and  bought  elsewhere,  and  in  this 
he  was  very  successful.  Finally  selling  out  he  came  to  Roscoe  and 
engaged  in  clerking.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  the  six  months'  service 
under  Captain  J.  J.  Tulley's  Twenty-seventh  Missouri  Mounted  Infantry, 
and  on  December  18,  1861,  he  entered  Company  A,  Eighth  Regiment, 
Missouri  State  Militia  Cavalry,  Captain  David  Stockton,  commanding. 
On  May  7,  1863,  he  was  honorabl)'  discharged  to  accept  the  appointment 
of  county  clerk  for  St.  Clair  County,  and  this  position  he  held  for  one 
\'ear,  then  resigning.  In  November,  1864.  he  was  appointed  county 
treasurer,  and  served  as  such  by  appointment  and  re-election  for  six 
years.  During  his  official  term  he  was  also  occupied  in  selling  goods, 
haviuiT  the  office  ot  treasurer   in    his  store.     Purchasing  a  farm  he  still 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  119! 

continued  business  in  the  city,  but  in  1876  moved  upon  this  place,  which 
is  in  section  3,  containing  350  acres  of  excellent  land.  Mr.  Dawson  was 
married  December  22,  1848,  to  Miss  Edna  Cole,  of  this  county,  who  died 
October  11,  1866,  leaving  one  child,  Henrietta  Ruth,  now  the  wife  of  W. 
O.  Mead.  His  second  wife  was  Miss  Narcissus  E.  Devin,  to  whom  he 
was  married  February  24,  1867.  Her  father  was  Judge  W.  R.  Devin,  of 
Polk  County,  Virginia,  and  also  of  Tennessee.  There  is  one  child  liv- 
ing by  this  marriage,  Vista  Lucetta,  born  January  4,  1872.  One  son, 
Thomas  W.  died  August  26,  1871.  This  wife  died  August  30,  1874.  Mr, 
D.  was  married  the  third  time  May  17,  1875,  to  Mary  Ann  Josephine 
George,  of  Polk  County.  Politically  he  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  In  all  positions  of  life,  Mr.  Dawson  has 
proven  himself  a  competent  and  honest  man,  both  in  and  out  of  official 
positions. 

WILLIAM  DUDLEY, 

a  native  of  Lancaster  County,  Virginia,  was  born  February  2,  1811, 
being  the  son  of  Landron  and  Mary  Dudley,  nee  Rivier,  also  Virginians 
by  birth,  and  the  former  served  in  the  war  of  18 12,  and  was  killed  in 
service.  They  had  six  children,  three  of  whom  are  living,  two  sons  and 
one  daughter.  Mrs.  D.  died  in  1813  in  Virginia.  Leaving  the  state  of 
his  birth  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  William  Dudley  moved  to  Lin- 
coln County,  Missouri,  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  and  remained 
upon  it  for  one  year.  In  1833  he  married  Miss  Almeda  Jemmerson,  of 
Lincoln  County,  who  died  there,  leaving  one  son,  David  L.  He  died 
during  the  late  war.  His  second  marriage  occurred  to  Miss  Nancy 
Stevens,  also  of  Lincoln  County.  To  them  were  born  three  sons  and 
two  daughters  of  whom  only  Almeda  (wife  of  William  J.  Horn  of  this 
township)  and  Mary  A.  (wife  of  Samuel  J.  Hurst,  of  Cedar  County)  are 
living.  In  1848,  Mr.  Dudley  came  to  St.  Clair  County  and  has  since 
lived  in  Doyal  Township.  He  first  purchased  a  half  section  of  land  and 
in  1861  owned  1,000  acres,  but  after  dividing  much  among  his  children 
only  has  now  440  acres.  He  deals  quite  extensively  in  cattle  and  other 
stock  and  his  farm  is  among  the  best  in  the  township.  Mr.  D.  was  one 
of  the  constituent  members  of  the  Christian  Church  at  Pleasant  Hill, 
this  county,  and  has  been  connected  with  the  Christian  Church  for  half 
a  century.  His  wife  and  three  daughters  belong  to  the  same  church. 
In  his  political  views  he  is  a  Greenbacker. 

J.  J.  ELGAN, 

farmer,  section  15,  was  born  in  Greene  County,  Indiana,  September  10, 
1855,  and  is  the  son  of  James  M.  and  Leah  (Guthrie)  Elgan.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  came  to  this  county  in  1876  and  now  owns  a  farm  of 


I  192  HISTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY. 

300  acres.  He  married  Miss  Rebecca  J.  Doyal  in  1878.  They  have  a 
family  of  three  children.  Mrs.  Elgan's  father  was  H.  L.  M.  Doyal,  a 
native  of  Illinois,  who  moved  to  this  county  in  1866,  and  he  became  one 
of  the  large  farmers  of  St.  Clair  County.  In  1882  he  moved  to  Texas, 
where  he  now  resides.  He  married  a  Miss  L.  Copeland,  of  Tennessee. 
To  them  were  born  seven  children. 

JAMES  ELLIOTT, 

who  for  a  period  of  twenty-five  years  has  been  a  resident  of  St.  Clair 
County,  owes  his  nativity  to  Ireland,  from  which  country  he  emigrated 
at  an  early  day  and  settled  in  Carroll  County,  Ohio.  In  1855  he  removed 
to  Linn  County,  Iowa,  and  lived  there  until  1858,  when  he  came  to  this 
county.  During  the  late  war  he  served  three  years  in  the  state  militia. 
He  owns  nearly  1,500  acres  of  land  and  is  one  of  the  large  tax  payers  of 
the  county.  His  homestead  on  section  22  is  noted  as  being  the  place 
where  the  first  county  court  was  held,  it  then  being  in  the  possession  of 
Ebenezer  Gash.  Mr.  Elliott  holds  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace.  He 
was  married  in  1855  to  Miss  Mary  Scott,  of  Linn  County,  Iowa.  By  this 
union  there  are  eleven  children  living:  Jane,  John,  Josey,  James,  Abra- 
ham L.,  Sarah,  Richard,  Scott,  Millie,  Celia  and  Rebecca.  Three  are 
deceased. 

JAMES  D.  GARDNER, 

one  cf  the  substantial  and  prosperous  farmers  of  Doyal  Township,  was 
born  in  Campbell  County,  Tennessee,  April  15,  1820.  His  father,  John 
Gardner,  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  but  was  reared  within  four  miles  of 
London,  England.  His  mother's  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Finch. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  accompanied  his  father  to  Virginia,  where  he 
lived  until  1841,  and  in  the  spring  of  1842  came  to  Missouri.  After  a 
residence  here  of  five  years,  he  returned  to  Virginia,  where  he  lived  one 
year  and  then  once  more  came  to  this  county,  which  has  since  been  his 
home.  November  13,  1865,  he  came  to  where  he  now  lives.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Charlotte  T.  Allen  February  24,  1853.  She  was  born  in  Henry 
County,  Virginia,  but  came  with  her  parents  to  this  county  in  1838. 
Their  family  consists  of  two  children:  Harriet  J.,  (now  Mrs.  T.  Wheeden) 
and  W.  F.  They  have  lost  two:  Martha  E.  and  Mary  E.  Mr.  Gardner 
is  known  as  a  man  of  excellent  judgment,  cautious  in  all  business  trans- 
actions, upright  and  honorable  in  all  his  dealings,  and  merits  the  esteem 
in  which  he  is  held  by  the  community. 

EDWARD  A.  HARE 

was  born  in  Hampshire  County,  West  Virginia,  February  28,  1845,  and 
was   the   son   of    Matthew   and    Martha   (Ruckman)    Hare,  of  the  same 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  IIQJ 

county,  the  former  born  March  9,  1800,  and  the  latter  October  28,  1809, 
They  were  married  February  24,  1842,  and  of  the  original  family  of  six 
sons  and  one  daughter  three  sons  and  the  daughter  only  survive.  In 
187 1  Mr.  Hare,  Sr.,  leaving  his  native  state,  emigrated  to  St.  Clair 
County,  Missouri,  settling  in  this  township.  He  and  his  sons,  E.  A.  and 
Paran,  purchased  287  acres  and  located  upon  it  the  same  year.  This 
land  was  divided  in  1876,  Edward  retaining  165  acres  on  section  25,  ta 
which  in  1880  he  added  twenty-nine  acres.  To  his  share  of  122  acres 
Paran  has  added  sixteen  acres.  These  constitute  excellent  farms  and 
are  well  improved.  In  November,  1880,  Matthew  Hare  died,  after  a 
short  illness,  in  his  eighty-first  year.  His  widow  still  resides  with  her 
son,  Edward.  Mr.  H.  was  a  church  member  for  over  half  a  century,  and 
Mrs.  Hare  and  her  two  sons  are  also  connected  with  the  Christian' 
Church.     Paran  Hare  belongs  to  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  fraternity. 

GEORGE  W.  HARPER 

was  born  in  Crawford  County,  Ohio,  March  9,  1836,  his  father  being 
Samuel  J.  Harper,  born  in  1805  in  Cumberland  County,  Pennsylvania. 
He  lived  there  until  1820,  and  then  removed  to  Crawford  County,  Ohio, 
going  thence  to  Lee  County,  Iowa,  in  1840.  After  living  there  until 
1875  he  came  with  his  son  George  W.  to  Doyal  Township,  St.  Clair 
County,  Missouri,  where  he  now  resides.  In  1872  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  married  to  Miss  Arlena  Morgan,  of  Polk  County,  Missouri, 
and  by  this  union  there  were  born  three  children,  Edgar,  Olive  E.  and 
Elmer  M.,  making  a  most  interesting  and  attractive  family.  In  1857" 
Mr.  Harper  went  to  California  and  remained  there,  occupied  in  minings 
for  some  time,  during  which' period  he  was  quite  successful,  and  he  is 
now  recognized  as  being  one  of  the  solid  financial  men  of  this  county. 
He  owns  150  acres  of  land  on  Coon  Creek,  and  his  beautiful  residence  is 
situated  on  section  36,  of  this  township.  He  has  never  taken  an  active 
part  in  politics,  preferring  the  quiet  of  home  life  to  the  turmoil  of  strife 
attendant  upon  a  life  of  publicity. 

W.  J.  HORN, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  sec<"ion  25,  was  born  in  Wilson  County,  Tennes- 
see, February  29,  1840.  His  father,  Dr.  S.  W.  Horn,  was  a  native  of 
Virginia  and  a  practicing  physician.  He  came  to  Cedar  County  at  an 
early  period  of  the  county's  history  and  had  a  large  and  successful  prac- 
tice in  Cedar  and  adjoining  counties,  and  though  now  well  advanced  in 
years,  is  still  able  to  respond  to  the  calls  of  many  of  his  old  friends. 
His  wife  was  formerly  Margaret  Tyree,  also  of  Virginia.  W.  J.  received 
a  good  practical  English  education.     His  early  life  was  spent  on  a  farm,. 


I  194  HISTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR   COJNTV. 

and  he  has  principally  followed  this  calling,  excepting  for  four  years, 
while  railroading.  His  farm  consists  of  i6o  acres  of  choice  land,  well 
improved.  In  educational  matters  he  has  taken  an  active  interest,  and 
has  repeatedly  served  as  school  director.  Mr.  Home  married  Miss  A. 
Dudley  September  i6,  1866.  She  was  born  in  1844  and  is  a  daughter  of 
William  and  Nancy  (Stevens)  Dudley,  natives  of  Virginia.  They  have 
a  family  of  eight  children:  Mary  L.,  Cora,  Maggie,  Ettie  F.,  James  \V., 
Martha  Virginia,  Lemuel  and  Samuel  \V.  Mr.  H.  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  order  and  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 

JOHN  MELOY 

is  one  of  the  prosperous  farmers  of  this  township.  He  was  born  in  Har- 
rison County,  Virginia,  December  14,  1826,  and  was  reared  there  on  a 
farm.  After  living  for  two  years  in  Ohio,  in  1855  he  removed  to  Clark 
County,  Illinois,  and  resided  there  until  1862  when  he  came  to  Henry 
County,  Missouri,  and  after  five  years  in  the  southern  part  of  that 
county  settled  in  St.  Clair  County.  He  owns  520  acres  of  land  and  his 
dwelling,  which  is  built  of  variegated  stone,  taken  from  the  quarries  on 
his  farm,  is  one  of  the  most  substantial  in  the  township.  He  married 
Miss  Nancy  Smith  in  1855.  She  was  born  in  Virginia.  They  have  three 
children:     Mary,  Sarah  and  Alvin. 

THOMAS  ROBERTS 

was  born  in  Rutherford  County,  Tennessee,  in  1841,  and  was  the  son  of 
Jesse  Roberts,  originally  of  South  Carolina,  born  in  1778.  About  the 
year  1798  he  was  married,  but  his  wife  subsequently  dying,  he  removed 
to  Tennessee,  where  in  1833  (or  thereabouts)  he  married  for  his  second 
wife  Miss  Rachel  McChristian,  a  Tennesseean  by  birth.  They  had  seven 
children,  of  whom  our  subject  was  the  fifth  child.  Four  years  after  the 
birth  of  Thomas  his  father,  leaving  Rutherford  County,  emigrated  to 
Kentucky,  and  four  years  later,  or  in  1849,  came  to  Missouri  and  settled 
in  Benton  County,  about  ten  miles  above  Warsaw  on  the  Osage  River. 
In  the  spring  of  1854  he  brought  his  family  to  St.  Clair  County,  locating 
at  Tyler's  Bend.  A  few  years  later  he  died,  leaving  the  tamih'  in 
straightened  circum.stances.  His  widow  dying  soon  afterwards,  the  care 
and  support  of  the  family  fell  upon  Thomas  and  his  brother  Joseph. 
They  were  equal  to  the  emergency,  however,  and  being  possessed  of  an 
indomitable  will  and  energy,  succeeded  admirably  in  their  undertaking. 
After  encountering  many  obstacles  and  privations  brought  about  by  the 
late  civil  war  they  now  own  250  acres  of  as  valuable  rolling  land  as  is 
in  the  county,  it  being  located  in  section  13.  On  September  6,  1866, 
Thomas  Roberts    was    married    to    Miss  Martha  I.  Graham,  and    they 


BIOGRAriilCAL.  I  1 95 

have  two  sons  and  three  daughters:  William,  Mary  E.,  Lucy  Belle, 
Marian  F.  and  Emily  Lucretia.  Joseph  Roberts  was  born  February  15, 
1842,  in  Rutherford  County  Tennessee,  and  also  accompanied  his  father 
to  this  county.  The  education  of  these  brothers  has  been  obtained 
entirely  through  their  own  efforts  and  by  the  light  of  the  fire  at  night, 
no  one  having  taught  them  even  the  alphabet.  They  are  both  identified 
with  the  Greenback  movement  and  are  numbered  among  the  prominent 
citizens  of  this  county. 

WILLIAM  F.  THOMPSON 

was  born  January  10,  1836,  in  Simpson  County,  Kentucky,  and  was  the 
son  of  Tillman  Thompson,  who  was  also  born  in  Kentucky  in  181 1.  He 
lived  in  that  state  until  1840,  when  he  came  to  this  county,  Lcating 
where  the  subject  of  this  sketch  now  resides.  In  1834  he  married  Miss 
Adaline  Earnest,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Lucinda  Earnest.  They  had 
twelve  children:  William  F.,  Jacob,  Monroe,  Carrol,  Ed\\in,  Matilda, 
Perry,  Ellen,  Paulina,  George,  Cornelius  and  Lomba.  William  F. 
remained  at  home  until  1858,  and  on  March  24th  of  that  year  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Leah  Culbertson,  of  St.  Clair  County,  and 
a  daughter  of  Isaac  Culbertson,  mention  of  whom  is  made  elsewhere  in 
our  history.  To  them  eleven  children  were  born:  Paulina,  born  in  1S61; 
Adaline,  born  in  1863;  Harriet,  born  in  1865;  one  unnamed,  born  in 
1867;  Julia,  born  in  1868;  Sherman,  born  in  1870;  Flora,  born  in  1872; 
Logan,  born  in  1874;  Delia,  born  in  1876;  Lulu,  born  in  1879;  "^^d  Gene- 
via,  born  in  1882.  Of  these  only  five  are  now  living.  Mr.  Thompson  is 
the  owner  of  150  acres  of  excellent  land,  and  to  some  extent  is  engaged 
in  the  stock  business.     Politically  he  is  a  Republican. 

JOHN  RYLAND  TUCKER, 

•a  native  of  Johnson  County,  Missouri,  was  born  in  1842,  being  the 
youngest  child  in  a  family  of  four  sons  and  four  daughters.  Early 
Tucker,  his  father,  was  born  in  Lincoln  County,  Kentucky.  February  4, 
1802,  and  followed  farming  there  until  1832,  when  he  removed  to  Lafay- 
ette (now  Johnson)  County,  Missouri.  Soon  after  his  settlement  there 
he  built  a  cabin,  having  to  send  fourteen  miles  for  men  to  assist  in  rais- 
ing it.  About  the  year  1827  he  was  married  to  Lucretia  Owsley,  a  niece 
of  George  Owsley  and  a  native  of  Lincoln  County,  Kentucky.  John  R. 
remained  upon  the  farm  of  his  father,  in  Johnson  County,  until  Febru- 
ary 9,  1862,  when  he  was  married  to  Jane  Richardson,  of  that  county. 
To  them  were  born  six  children,  but  three  only  survive:  Logan  M.,  Lulu 
Belle  and  Lilly  May.  Mr.  T.  was  at  one  time  a  Republican  in  his  polit- 
ical views,  but  is  now  connected  with  the  "National"  party.  His  wife 
is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  South. 


I  196  HISTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

JAMES   B.  VAUGHAN, 

a  native  of  Coffee  County,  Tennessee,  was  born  in  1840,  his  par- 
ents being  Obediah  and  Nancy  Vaughan.  The  former  was  born  in  Cul- 
peper  County,  Virginia,  in  1821,  and  early  emigrating  to  Tennessee,  was 
married  there  in  1839.  He  continued  to  live  in  that  state  until  James 
was  two  years  old,  when,  in  1842,  he  came  with  the  family  to  St.  Clair 
County,  Missouri.  He  was  a  hardy  pioneer,  and  endured  many  hard- 
ships in  his  new  home.  Being  a  great  trapper  and  hunter,  he  found 
ample  time  here  to  engage  in  this  sport.  Young  Vaughan  spent  his  early 
life  in  this  county,  tilling  the  soil  in  summer  and  hunting  during  the 
winter  months,  and  he  well  remembers  when  the  hide  of  the  deer,  wolf, 
etc.,  was  the  currency  of  the  day.  In  1858  he  married  Miss  Martha  Lord,' 
daughter  of  James  Lord,  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  of  St.  Clair  County. 
To  them  were  born  nine  children,  eight  of  whom  are  living:  Nancy  E., 
Sarah,  Mary,  Maudy,  Daisy,  Emma  and  Eddy.  Sarah  F.  died  when  two 
years  old.  Mr.  V.  i^  a  Republican  in  his  political  preferences,  and  he  is 
a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Bear  Creek. 


WASHINGTON   TOWNSHIP. 


.»   • Bj 


FRANCIS  M.  BRANSON, 

farmer,  was  born  in  1844,  and  was  the  eldest  of  a  family  of  nine  child- 
ren born  to  John  and  Julia  Ann  (Davenport)  Branson.  Francis  M.  was 
married  in  1863  to  Miss  Nancy  Hughes.  They  had  six  children:  John, 
George  W.,  Francis  M.,  Martin,  Anna,  Julia  Ann  and  William  A.  In 
1877  Mr.  B.  was  married  a  second  time  to  Miss  Lizzie  Woody.  They 
have  one  child,  Sidney  Margaret.  He  first  came  to  St.  Clair  County, 
Missouri,  in  1867,  but  has  also  been  leading  rather  an  unsettled  life,  hav- 
ing lived  in  Arkansas,  Tennessee  and  Kentucky  during  this  time. 

PERRY  MILLSAPS 

was  born  in  Wayne  County,  Kentucky,  on  the  30th  of  August,  1828, 
being  the  son  of  H.  Millsaps,  Esq.,  who  was  also  born  there  in  1802.  In 
1824  he  married  Miss  Rebecca  Hoofacre,  of  the  same  county.     Em>grat- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  II97 

iiigto  the  sparsely  settled  territory  of  Missouri  in  1829,  the  senior  Mill- 
saps  located  in  Lincoln  County,  and  in  1838  his  wife  died.  His  second 
marriage  occurred  in  1840  to  Miss  Ellen  Parsons.  Perry  lived  with  his 
father  until  1854  when  he  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Capps,  of  Lin- 
coln County.  They  had  ten  children:  Barton,  Clara  A.,  Mary,  Rebecca, 
David,  Timothy,  Washington,  Katie,  Walter  and  Josephine.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  M.  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  also  belong  to  the 
Missouri  State  Grange.  During  the  Mexican  war  of  1845-46  he  served 
as  aid-de-camp,  and  in  the  civil  war  he  enlisted  in  Henderson's  Brigade, 
September  4,  1861,  serving  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  being  promo- 
ted from  private  to  orderly  sergeant.  Politically  he  was  formerly  a 
Republican. 

JUDGE  R.  R.  MOORE, 

a  prominent  citizen  of  St,  Clair  County,  was  born  in  Kentucky,  October 
15,  1825,  his  parents  being  Jonathan  and  L.  T.  (Turpin)  Moore,  both 
Kentuckians  by  birth.  The  former  was  born  April  20,  1879,  and  died 
in  May,  1855,  while  the  latter,  who  was  born  May  18,  1783,  died  in  1873. 
They  were  married  in  1814.  R.  R.  Moore,  the  sixth  child  of  a  family  of 
eight  children,  was  an  early  settler  in  this  county,  having  come  in  1845, 
and  remained  here  since.  In  1858  he  was  married  to  Miss  T.  E.  David- 
son, and  they  have  had  five  children:  John  M.,  Rukins  R.,  Mary  E., 
Martha  J.  and  William  T.  Mr.  Moore  served  in  the  capacity  of  county 
judge  very  acceptably  for  five  years.  He  is  now  one  of  the  largest  land 
owners  in  this  county. 

JOHN  R.  PACE, 

a  native  of  Pitt  County,  Virginia,  was  born  in  183 1.  His  father,  Francis 
Pace,  originally  of  Goochland  County,  Virginia,  was  born  in  1798,  and 
first  married  Miss  Lucy  Davis.  His  second  marriage  occurred  in  1830, 
to  Miss  Maria  Griggs,  also  of  Virginia.  By  this  union  there  were  eight 
children,  John  R.  being  the  eldest.  In  1854  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  Burton,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  three  children:  James  F.,  Wil- 
liam P.  and  Martha  E.  Mr.  Pace  came  to  this  county  in  1855,  immedi- 
ately after  his  marriage,  and  now  owns  320  acres  of  valuable  land.  In 
his  political  preferences  he  is  a  Democrat. 

ROBERT  D.  SHEEKS 

was  born  in  Obion  County,  Tennessee,  in  1830,  and  was  the  son  of  Jesse 
Sheeks,  a  Kentuckian,  by  birth,  who  after  his  marriage  in  that  state, 
removed  to  Tennessee.  After  his  death  his  widow  married  again,  and 
in  1845  Robert  D.  accompanied  his  step-father  to  St.  Clair  County,  Mis- 
souri    He  was  married  in    1858   to   Miss  Nancy  Deshazo,  of  Collins 


IIQS  history   of    ST.    CI.AIR   COUNTY. 

Township,  this  county,  and  a  dau.c^hter  of  Robert  and  Elizabeth  Deshazo. 
The\- have  eight  children:  Rufus  P.,  Martha  J..  William  R.,  Cornelius, 
Benjamin  F.,  Mary  E.,  Lucy  and  Cora.  Mr.  Sheeks  is  the  owner  of  a 
good  farm  of  415  acres. 

P.  B.  WONACOTT, 

school  teacher,  was  born  in  Cass  County,  Illinois,  in  1853,  and  was  the 
son  of  K.  B.  Wonacott,  who  was  married  in  1841  to  Margaret  Bell,  of 
Virginia.  They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  of  whom  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  the  eighth  in  number.  He  remained  at  home  until 
at  the  age  of  twenty-three  years,  when  he  entered  school  at  Weaubleau 
Institute,  remaining  there  for  two  years,  and  then  left  thoroughly  pre- 
pared for  the  duties  of  teaching.  On  May  9,  1848,  Mr.  W.  married  Miss 
Nannie  J.  McConnell,  daughter'of  Joseph  McConnell.  They  have  two 
children,  Maggie  and  Lawson.  He  is  a  Greenbacker  in  his  political  faith 
and  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  He  is  at  present  teaching  school 
in  this  township. 


^t^©-^.=^T^2^=-l-^3-^^^- 


ROSCOE  TOWNSHIP. 


JOSEPH  E.  ADDAMS, 

miller,  vvas  born  in  Gallia,  County,  Ohio,  April  6,  1855,  his  parents,  Rich- 
ard and  Nancy  (Nicenhouser)  Addams,  having  been  Virginians  by  birth. 
Joseph  E.,  the  youngest  of  a  family  of  three  children,  remained  in  Ohio 
until  sixteen  years  old,  when  he  came  to  Polk  County,  Missouri,  there 
being  reared.  He  was  engaged  in  farming  in  that  county  until  1877, 
when  he  was  employed  in  a  mill  at  Humansville.  After  remaining  until 
1881,  he  became  occupied  in  the  milling  business  at  Roscoe,  with  Mr. 
Roddy.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church.  August  24,  1879, 
Mr.  Addams  vvas  married  to  Miss  Rebecca  Roddy,  a  native  of  Tennes- 
see.    They  have  two  children:  Nanty  R.  and  an  infant. 

THOMAS  ANDERSON.  M.  D., 

a  native  of  Morgan  County,  Indiana,  was  born  August  7,  1839,  ^"^  is  a 
son  of  Joel  P.  Anderson,  a  V^irginian  by  birth,  whose  father,  Eli  Ander- 
son, was  a  son  of  Joshua,  of  Puritan   blood.     Thomas'   mother,  forn'kerly 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  I  I99 

Lydia  Vass,  was  born  in  North  Carolina.  In  1848  the  family  emigrated  to 
Iowa,  where  he  was  reared,  receiving  his  education  at  the  Ashland  Sem- 
inary. He  followed  farming  till  1862,  when  he  enlisted  in  Company  E, 
Twenty-second  Iowa  regiment,  serving  till  discharged,  July  5.  1865.  At 
the  battle  of  Winchester  he  was  taken  prisoner  and  confined  in  the  Libby 
Prison  twenty  days,  then  being  exchanged.  After  his  discharge  he 
returned  to  Iowa  and  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine,  having  in 
18^8  and  1859  attended  the  Keokuk  (Iowa)  Medical  College.  He 
remained  there  till  1870,  when  he  removed  to  Polk  County,  Missouri, 
where  he  resided  till  1875.  Going  to  Lawrence  County,  Missouri,  he 
practiced  till  1877,  in  v/hich  year  he  came  to  Roscoe.  In  1880  he  was 
elected  coroner  of  this  county,  serving  one  term.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  M.  E.  Church.  Dr.  Anderson  was  united  in  marriage  October  13, 
1859,  to  Miss  Sarah  Foster,  of  Iowa.  They  have  nine  children:  Joel  P., 
Anna  J.,  John  T.,  Mary,  N.  F.  B.,  Minnie,  William  H.  and  Thomas  E. 
Joel  P.  has  obtained  an  excellent  education  by  his  own  exertion. 

M.  G.  BABB, 

carpenter,  was  born  in  Keokuk  County,  Iowa,  January  2,  1849,  ^^^  was 
the  son  of  James  and  Mary  (Hefling)  Babb,  natives  of  Kentucky.  M. 
G.  was  reared  at  his  birthplace,  and  was  there  educated  in  the  common 
schools.  He  was  engaged  in  farming  until  1866,  when  he  came  to 
Macon  County,  Missouri,  and  after  following  farming  one  year  he  worked 
at  carpentering  in  Grundy  County  until  1869.  Then  he  came  to  Roscoe. 
In  November,  1882  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  M.  E.  Church  and  belongs  to  the  I.  O.  G,  T.  May  6,  1869,  Mr. 
Babb  was  married  to  Miss  M.  Royce.  His  piesent  wife's  maiden  name 
was  Martha  Dunkle,  whom  he  married  May  2,  1876.  They  have  three 
children,  Herbert,  Rufus  E.  and  Charles. 

RALPH  C.  BOWLES, 

county  surveyor,  was  born  April  30,  1827,  in  the  southern  part  of  Maine. 
His  father,  John  C.  Bowles,  was  born  January  i,  1800,  and  received  an 
academic  education.  He  early  united  with  the  Baptist  Church  and 
about  the  year  1820  commenced  preaching.  His  ministerial  duties  call- 
ing him  into  New  York  state,  he  there  met  Miss  Phoebe  Wilson,  to  whom 
ho  was  married  September  4,  1825.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Captain 
Wilson,  of  revolutionary  fame,  a  well  known  man  who  died  at  the  Bat- 
tle of  Bridgewater,  while  in  defense  of  his  country.  During  the  next 
year  Mr.  Bowles  was  actively  engaged  in  preaching  the  gospel  and  in 
the  following  spring  his  son,  Ralph,  was  born.  It  was  the  father's  wish 
that  his  boy  should  become  a  minister  and  with  that  end  in  view  Ralph 


I?00  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

was  placed  first  in  the  public  schools  and  later  in  Springdale  Academy, 
and  having:  durinp;  the  meantime  gone  to  Michigan,  he  entered  the  State 
University  at  Ann  Arbor.  Tiring  of  so  close  application  he  left  that 
institution,  but  subsequently  again  became  a  student  therein,  this  time 
for  the  purpose  of  qualifying  himself  for  a  civil  engineer  and  land  sur- 
veyor. By  great  perseverance  and  hard  study  he  made  rapid  progress, 
graduating  in  June,  1847,  first  in  his  class  though  but  a  little  over  twenty 
years  old.  He  soon  entered  the  employ  of  the  government  as  a 
survp"'or,  and  under  this  engagement  visited  Green  Bay,  Forts  Sullivan 
and  iikato,  and  other  points  on  the  Upper  Mississippi.  He  continued 
this  tciiling  until  the  year  1859  then  locating  in  this  count\'.  In  i860 
Mr.  B.  was  married  to  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Brashears,  widow  of  Waymack 
Brashears,  and  daughter  of  Gilbert  Deer.  To  them  have  been  born  five 
children:  John  C.,  Anna  F.,  Jessie  A.,  Ervin  T.  and  R.  E.  During  the 
war  Mr.  Bowles  enlisted  in  the  Eighth  Regiment,  Missouri  Volunteers, 
Colonel  McClurg  commanding,  and  was  soon  transferred  to  the  position 
of  topographical  engineer.  In  1872  he  was  nominated  by  his  party  and 
elected  to  the  position  of  county  surveyor.  Politicalh-  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat.    He  resides  on  section  18. 

GEORGE  P.  BROWN, 

farmer  and  stock  dealer  and  proprietor  of  Hoffman's  Ferry,  was  born  in 
Carroll  County,  Maryland,  January  3,  1854.  His  parents  were  Lewis  H. 
and  Susan  (Hudson)  Brown,  natives  of  Maryland.  George  was  the 
youngest  of  a  family  of  six  children.  In  1868  he  came  to  Missouri,  but 
the  next  year  returned  to  Maryland,  where  he  was  employed  in  a  com- 
mission house  for  two  years  and  in  the  grocery  business  for  one  year. 
In  1872  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri.  In  March  of  the  same 
year  he  \vent  to  Dallas,  Texas,  where  he  was  interested  in  the  queens- 
ware  business  one  year.  He  was  then  emploj'ed  as  bookkeeper  in  a 
wholesale  drug  house  for  four  years.  In  1877  he  returned  to  St.  Clair 
■County,  Missouri,  and  in  March  of  1878  embarked  in  general  merchan- 
dising at  Roscoe.  In  January,  1879,  he  sold  out  and  commenced  deal- 
ing in  stock.  In  June,  1881,  he  became  proprietor  of  Hoffman's  Ferry, 
one  of  the  best  on  the  river.  He  owns  a  farm  of  ninety-two  acres,  well 
improved.  Mr.  Brown  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  January 
18,  1882,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Lucy  M.  Baker,  a  native  of  St.  Clair 
County,  Missouri.     They  have  one  child,  an  infant.' 

THOMAS  BURCH, 

of  the  firm  of  Metcalf  and  Burch,  merchants,  is  a  native  of  St.  Clair 
Count}-,  Missouri,  and  was  born  January  13,  1861,  being  a  son  of  Benja- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  I20I 

-min  Burch,  an  old  settler  of  this  county,  mention  of  whom  is  found 
elsewhere  in  this  work.  Thomas  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  and 
received  his  education  from  the  schools  of  this  county.  In  1882  he 
became  engaged  in  business  with  his  present  partner  at  Roscoe. 

JUDGE  MAYFIELD  HOSHAW, 

farmer,  section  9,  is  a  native  of  Ross  County,  Ohio,  and  was  born  June 
.29,  1820.  His  parents  were  Jacob  and  Jane  (Cox)  Hoshaw,  the  former  a 
Virginian  by  birth,  and  the  latter  originally  from  North  Carolina,/  lay- 
field  was  the  fourth  child  of  a  family  of  eleven  children.  Whenr..-.  was 
ten  years  old  the  family  moved  to  Indiana,  where  he  grew  to  manhood 
and  was  educated.  In  1839  he  emigrated  to  Missouri,  locating  in  Law- 
rence County,  and  was  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising  in  that  and 
Jasper  Counties,  until  going  overland  to  California.  In  185 1  he  returned 
to  Lawrence  County,  Missouri,  and  in  1861,  moved  to  Jasper  County 
where  he  remained  until  1864,  then  coming  to  St.  Clair  County.  He 
now  owns  a  farm  of  240  acres.  In  1882  he  was  elected  judge  of  the 
county  court  of  St.  Clair  County.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
Church.  January  17,  1841,  Mr.  Hoshaw  was  married  to  Miss  Frances 
Hopkins,  who  died  in  January,  1848,  leaving  two  children:  Jane  and 
Perry.  In  October,  185 1,  he  was  again  married  to  Miss  Millie  Brown. 
Her  death  occurred  in  January,  1855,  she  leaving  one  child:  Samuel. 
He  was  afterwards  married  in  November,  1855,  to  Betsie  A.  Nichols. 
She  died  in  September,  1858,  leaving  two  children:  Angelina  and  Eliza. 
August  II,  1859,  Mr.  H.  was  married  to  his  present  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Frances  Moore.  They  have  six  children:  William,  Lounta, 
Thomas,  Lucy,  Amos,  and  George  W. 

THOMAS  HUSTON, 

manufacturer  of  and  dealer  in  harness  and  saddles,  was  born  in  Fulton, 
Callaway  County,  Missouri,  April  9,  1837.  His  father,  William  Huston, 
a  saddler  by  trade,  was  a  Virginian  by  birth  and  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Missouri,  having  come  to  this  state  in  1828.  He  married  Rebecca  C. 
Huttsell,  of  Kentucky.  When  Thomas  was  eight  years  old  the  family 
removed  to  Clinton  Count3^  Missouri,  and  after  a  short  residence  there 
removed  to  Kansas  City.  In  i8t;o  he  began  learning  the  trade  he  now 
so  successfully  follows,  working  in  that  city  for  three  years.  Going  to 
Richmond,  Missouri,  he  worked  four  years,  then  returned  to  Kansas 
City  and  remained  one  year.  Thence  to  Ft.  Scott,  Kansas,  where  he 
engaged  in  the  harness  business.  In  1870  he  came  to  Roscoe.  Mr. 
Huston  was  married  August  2,  1862,  to  Miss  Martha  Dickey,  whose 
death  occurred  October  30,  1865,  she  leaving  one   child,   Harry.      He 


1202  HISTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

was  again  married  October  6,  1868,  to  Miss  Elmirah  Burch,  of  this 
county.     They  have  three  children:  Effie,  Dottie  and  Grace. 

W.  W.  MALLORY 

was  born  in  Monroe  County,  Missouri,  May  20,  1849,  ^"^  ^^as  a  son  of  J. 
R.  and  Lucecia  (Wilson)  Mallory,  natives  of  Kentucky.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  spent  his  youth  in  his  native  county,  where  he  was  afterward 
engaged  in  farming  until  1871,  then  moving  to  Hickory  County.  He 
has  been  occupied  in  teaching  in  different  parts  of  St.  Clair  County  for 
nine  years.  He  owns  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  of  land,  well  improved,  in 
section  20.  Mr.  M.  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  also 
belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity.  July  25,  1877,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Florence  Dolly,  of  Missouri.  They  have  two  children,  P>astus  E.  and 
Maggie. 

A.  C.  MARQUIS,  M.  D., 

is  a  native  of  Darke  County,  Ohio,  and  was  born  September  7,  1832,  his 
parents  being  James  and  Mary  (Casner)  Marquis,  Virginians  by  birth. 
The  former  died  in  Cedar  County,  Missouri,  March  31,  18S1.  A.  C.  was 
the  second  of  a  family  of  eleven  children.  When  he  was  about  three 
and  a  half  years  old  the  family  moved  to  Jay  County,  Indiana,  where  he 
grew  to  manhood,  there  receiving  his  education.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  years  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  with  his  father,  who  was  an 
old  and  experienced  physician.  In  1855  he  graduated  from  the  Miami 
Medical  College.  Locating  in  Adams  County,  Indiana,  he  practiced  for 
a  few  months,  but  his  health  being  poor,  he  traveled  for  about  one  year 
in  Virginia.  He  then  returned  to  Indiana  and  engaged  with  his  father 
in  practicing.  In  1858  he  came  to  Missouri,  where  he  was  occupied  in 
different  occupations  until  i860,  when  he  settled  in  Cedar  County,  Mis- 
souri. In  1 86 1  he  was  appointed  post  physician  and  in  1863  he  was 
appointed  assistant  surgeon  at  Clinton.  In  1863  he  located  one  mile 
from  Osceola,  where  he  practiced  until  1872,  when  he  moved  to  Roscoe. 
Here  he  has  since  resided.  The  doctor  is  a  large  land  owner,  his  landed 
estate  containing  over  700  acres.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
Church  and  is  connected  with  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  fraternity.  He  has  been 
twice  married,  first  to  Miss  Sarah  E.  Westfall,  of  Ohio,  December  22, 
1863.  She  died  October  18,  1873,  leaving  four  children:  James,  Adeniga, 
Mary  and  Thomas.  He  was  afterwards  married  to  Miss  Adosa  Eller.  of 
Indiana,  June  30,  1871.     They  have  four  children:    Elson,  Maude,  Claud 

and  Myrtle. 

REV.  JOHN  T.  METCALF, 

merchant  at  Roscoe,  was  born  in  F"auquier  County,  Virginia,  March  15, 
1827.     His  father,  Lewis   Metcalf,  a  native   of  Virginia,  having   been  a 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  1205 

son  of  Asa  Metcalf,  who  was  originally  of  Scotland.  Susan  St.  Clair, 
the  mother  of  John  T.,  was  also  a  Virginian  by  birth.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  the  oldest  of  five  children.  When  he  was  sixteen  years 
of  age  he  accompanied  the  family  to  Howard  County,  Missouri,  where  he 
resided  till  1850,  then  going  to  California,  where  he  was  engaged  in  min- 
ing and  merchandising  till  1853.  In  1854  he  located  in  St.  Clair  County, 
Missouri,  and  commenced  farming.  He  now  has  a  fine  farm  of  320  acres 
of  land  in  section  30,  and  for  the  past  five  years  he  has  been  a  promi- 
nent merchant  of  Roscoe.  In  1856  he  was  elected  assessor  of  the  county,.- 
serving  one  term.  In  1874  he  was  elected  representative  of  the  county 
and  served  in  the  legislature  one  term.  July  19,  1834,  Mr.  Metcalf  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Susan  C.  Marshall,  a  native  of  Virginia. 
They  have  six  children:  Lewis  H.,  Martha  A.,  Mary  S.,  William  T.,. 
Laura  and  Luther.  Mr.  M.  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order.  He 
has  been  connected  with  the  Baptist  Church  for  over  thirty  years,  and 
has  been  a  minister  of  that  faith  since  his  ordination  in  January,  i860. 

L.  W.  MILLS, 

manager  of  F.  Egger's  mercantile  house  at  Roscoe,  is  a  native  of 
Washington  County,  Arkansas,  and  was  born  April  3,  1840.  He  is  a  son 
of  Aaron  and  Millie  (Samuels)  Mills,  natives  of  Indiana.  When  he  was 
but  an  infant  the  family  removed  to  Dade  County,  Missouri,  there 
remaining  till  he  was  nine  years  of  age,  when  they  returned  to  Arkan- 
sas, settling  at  Fayetteville.  In  1861  L.  W.  went  to  Texas,  there  resid- 
ing till  1868,  when  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  fraternity,  and  belongs  to  the  M.  E.  Church.  He 
was  married  in  August,  1859,  to  Miss  Sarah  E.  Edmondson,  a  native  of 
Missouri.     They  have  one  child  living,  Lewis  A.,  born  October  4,  1875. 

WILLIAM  M.  MOORE, 

farmer,  section  10,  was  born  in  Roscoe  Township,  St.  Clair  County,  Mis- 
souri, March  i,  1848.  His  father,  William  Moore,  and  his  mother,. 
Fanny  Moore,  were  natives  of  Virginia.  They  were  among  the  first 
settlers  of  this  county.  William  was  the  fifth  of  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren. He  spent  his  youth  here  and  received  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools.  His  present  farm  contains  160  acres,  well  improved,  upon 
which  is  a  good  orchard,  etc.  Mr.  M.  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
Church,  September  19,  1876,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Eliza  Hoshaw. 
They  have  three  children:  Ida  May,  Lulu  E.  and  Laura. 

BENJ.  F.  PEPPER, 

wagon  maker,  a  native  of  Hampshire  County,  West  Virginia,  was  born- 
July  13,  1833,  his  parents  being  James  and   Catherine   (Wise)   Pepper, 


I204  HISTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY. 

originally  from  Virginia.  Benjamin  F.  was  the  eldest  of  a  family  of 
seven  children.  He  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  in  Virginia  and 
there  obtained  his  education,  remaining  at  home  until  1857,  when  he 
emigrated  to  Hancock  County,  Illinois.  There  he  followed  farming  tor 
eighteen  months.     Going  to  Alton  he   was  employed  as  salesman  for  J. 

D.  Freeman  for  three  years  when  he  acted  as  a  guard  in  the  prison  at 
that  {)lace  for  a  number  of  years,  after  which  he  worked  at  carpentering 
and  wagon  making  in  different  parts  of  Illinois  until  1871.  Then  he 
came  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  and  farmed  two  years,  soon  settling 
in  Roscoe.  He  has  since  been  occupied  in  the  manufacture  of  wagons, 
etc.,  and  also  owns  a  farm  of  180  acres.  In  December,  1858,  Mr.  Pepper, 
married  Miss  Sarah  Johnson,  a  native  of  New  Jersey.  They  have  two 
children:     Douglas  L.  and  Florence. 

J.  H.  PILES, 

farmer,  section  10,  a  native  of  Hampshire  County,  West  Virginia, 
was  born  August  27,  1832,  and  was  a  son  of  John  and  PLlizabeth  (Buck- 
man)  Piles,  Virginians  by  birth.  J.  H.  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  in 
Virginia,  and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools.  He  followed  farm- 
ing there  until  1870,  when  he  emigrated  to  Missouri  and  located  in  St. 
Clair  County.  Here  he  owns  a  farm  of  310  acres,  which  will  average 
with  any  in  the  township.  He  is  also  a  large  stock  raiser,  now  having 
about  120  head  of  cattle.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  war  he  was 
appointed  captain  of  the  114th  regiment,  Virginia  State  Militia.  In  1862 
he  enlisted  in  Stonewall  Jackson's  Brigade,  and  at  the  battle  of  Marion 
Hill  he  was  wounded  and  afterwards  was  unable  for  infantry  service. 
He  was  then  made  captain  of  Company  K,  Forty-seventh  Virginia  Cav- 
alry, and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.     He  is  a  member  of  the  M. 

E.  Church,  South.  January  17,  1856.  Mr.  Piles  was  married  to  Miss 
Jane  Robinson,  of  Virginia.  They  have  ten  children:  William  T.,  Mary 
E.,  Martha  E.,  Dora  A.,  John  R.,  Rebecca  S.,  Richard  J.,  Robert  Lee,  Ida 
May  and  Estella. 

ALONZO  RAY, 

merchant,  was  born  in  Portage  County,  Ohio,  May  10,  1823.  His  parents 
•were  John  and  Palmira  (Root)  Ray,  the  former  a  native  of  West  Virginia, 
and  the  latter  of  Vermont.  They  reared  six  children,  of  whom  Alonzo 
was  the  second  child.  He  was  brought  up  and  educated  in  his  native 
state,  and  in  1843  he  went  to  Chicago,  where  he  worked  two  years  at 
the  harness  trade.  He  then  located  at  Lafayette,  Indiana,  and  was 
occupied  at  his  chosen  calling  two  years,  and  also  at  various  places  till 
1849,  when  he  emigrated  to  California.  There  he  was  interested  in  min- 
ing till  185 1.      Returning  to  Illinois  he  remained  till  i860,  when  he  went 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  .  1205 

to  Kansas,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  till  1867.  Then  he  came 
to  Roscoe  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  merchandising.  He  has  held 
the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  for  some  years,  and  he  was  postmaster 
of  this  place  for  seven  years.  Mr.  Ray  has  been  three  times  married, 
first  to  Miss  Fannie  Eyemer,  of  New  York,  November  26,  1853.  Her 
death  occurred  June  14,  1855.  He  was  again  married  February  5,  1856, 
to  Mrs.  Caroline  Kinyon,  a  daughter  of  James  Lee.  She  died  August 
23,  1876.  He  was  married  to  his  present  wife  January  8,  1878,  her  name 
being  Mrs.  Mary  L.  Barr.  He  has  two  children  by  his  second  wife, 
Restory  and  Willis  H. 

ERVIN  THOMAS, 

farmer,  section  10,  was  born  in  Grayson  County,  Virginia,  June  16,  1812. 
His  father,  Nathan  Thomas,  born  in  North  Carolina,  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Revolutionary  war  under  General  Green,  and  was  at  the  battle  of  Guil- 
ford court  house.  North  Carolina.  Ervin's  grandparents  were  originally 
from  Wales.  His  mother,  formerly,  Rebecca  Pool,  (of  English  parent- 
age) came  from  North  Carolna.  He  was  the  ninth  of  ten  children. 
After  the  war  his  father  moved  into  Virginia,  when  he  bought  a  farm. 
Young  Ervin  remained  at  home  for  several  years,  and  for  a  time  was  in 
Florida.  In  1839  ^^  came  to  Missouri  and  settled  in  Roscoe  Township, 
near  where  he  now  lives.  In  1849  he  went  to  California  with  William 
Walters  and  others  and  remained  three  years.  He  now  has  a  finely 
improved  farm  of  120  acres.  During  the  late  war  General  Lyon's  army 
destroyed  nearly  all  his  property  while  on  their  raid  after  Price's  army, 
and  then  Mr.  Thomas  joined  Price  for  protection.  He  was  out  six 
months.  He  married  Nancy  Crider,  November  17,  1833,  i^''  Grayson 
County,  Virginia.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Henry  Crider,  of  Virginia. 
They  have  four  children  living:  Margaret  Ann  (now  Mrs.  Thomas 
Hackett,  of  Kansas  City),  Jane  (Mrs.  Thomas  J.  Sherley,  who  died  in 
188 1),  Sarah  (now  Mrs.  H.  Gest),  Susan  (wife  of  Charles  Bidell),  and 
Edwin  E.,  now  in  Colorado.  Politically  he  is  a  Democrat.  He  belongs 
to  the  Christian  Church,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order. 

ANDREW  WAYMIRE, 

blacksmith  at  Roscoe,  is  a  native  of  Warren  County,  Indiana,  and  was 
born  October  29,  1828.  He  is  a  son  of  Isaac  and  Rachel  Waymire,  who 
were  natives  of  Ohio.  Andrew  was  the  fourth  of  a  family  of  nine  child- 
ren. When  ten  years  of  age  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Buchanan 
County,  Missouri,  where  he  was  reared  to  manhood,  and  he  was  engaged 
in  farming  in  Missouri  and  Iowa  till  1859.  Then  he  worked  at  the  gun- 
smith's trade  in  Iowa  till  1868,  when  he  removed  to  Arkansas,  becoming 
occupied  at  the  trade  of  blacksmith  for  three  years.  He  worked  in  Law- 


f206  HISTORY   OK   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

rcnco  County,  Missouri,  till  1874,  when  he  came  to  Roscoe,  and  has  since 
been  interested  in  blacksmithing.  Mr.  Waymire  was  married  Decem- 
ber I,  1S46,  to  Miss  Malissa  Barrow,  of  Kentuck}-.  They  have  five  child- 
ren living:   Huldah,  Maria,  John,  Charles  and  Albert. 

JOHN  E.  WELLS, 

hardware  merchant  at  Roscoe,  was  born  in  Carroll  Count)',  Missouri, 
September  22,  1857.  His  parents  were  Daniel  W.  and  Margaret  (Cra- 
ven) Wells,  the  former  a  native  of  Illinois,  and  the  latter  of  Missouri. 
When  John  E.  was  an  infant  he  was  taken  by  his  "grandfather  to  Clay 
County,  Missouri,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated.  In  1875  he 
removed  to  Harrison  County,  Missouri,  and  clerked  in  a  store  there,  and 
then  in  Gentry  Count)-  till  1878,  when  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County, 
Missouri.  Here  he  followed  school  teaching  till  the  spring  of  1883, 
when  he  engaged  in  the  hardware  business.  He  is  a  member  of  the  M. 
E.  Church,  South,  and  belongs  to  the  I.  O.  G.  T. 


■.,^^^^,(^i^^ 


SPEEDWELL  TOWNSHIP. 


B.  F.  BURCH, 

farmer  and  stock  dealer,  section  4,  is  a  native  of  Hard)-  Count)-,  Vir- 
ginia, and  was  born  July  4,  1833.  His  parents  were  Robert  N.  and 
Rebecca  (Swisher)  Burch,  Virginians  b)-  birth.  In  1S42  this  family 
moved  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  where  B.  F.  has  since  resided.  He 
has  made  farming  and  dealing  in  stock  his  occupation  during  life,  and 
now  owns  a  landed  estate  of  over  1,000  acres.  His  home  farm  contains 
a  fine  orchard  and  is  well  improved.  In  1850  he  went  to  California, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  mining  till  the  spring  of  1855.  In  August, 
1856,  Mr.  Burch  was  married  to  Miss  Martha  A.  Metcalf,  originally  from 
Virginia.  The)-  have  eleven  children:  Emma,  Lucy  J..  Missouri  A.,  John 
T.,  James  O.,  Mary  E.,  Francis,  Edna,  Frances  M.  and  Eddie. 

OLIVER  H.  P.  BURCH. 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  10.  was  born  in  St.  Clair  Count)-.  Mis- 
souri, December  17,  1839,  ant!    has  made  this  his   home  during  life.      In 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  120/ 

1861  he  enlisted  in  the  Confederate  service  in  which  he  remained  till 
the  close  of  the  war.  March  10,  1869,  Mr.  B.  was  married  to  Miss  Ade- 
line McLain,  a  native  of  Tennessee.  They  have  four  children:  Charles 
A.,  John  P.  Austin  D.',  and  Robert  H. 

S.  G.  DAVIS, 

farmer  and  plasterer,  section  16,  was  born  in  Cole  County,  Missouri, 
July  20,  1842,  and  is  a  son  of  Peter  E.  and  Catherine  (McKinsey)  DaviS; 
who  were  natives  of  Kentucky.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared 
to  the  occupation  of  farming  and  the  trade  of  plastering,  which  his  father 
also  followed.  In  1859  they  moved  to  Benton  County,  Missouri,  where 
S.  G.  followed  his  present  business  till  1875.  He  then  went  to  Polk 
County,  Missouri,  and  one  year  later  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  where  he 
has  since  resided.  He  now  has  a  farm  of  160  acres.  February  i,  i860, 
Mr.  Davis  was  married  to  Miss  Eliza  J.  Bowman,  who  was  born  in  Ben- 
ton County,  Missouri,  September  16,  1843.  She  died  June  19,  188 1,  leav- 
ing six  children:  Eugenia,  Peter,  Jasper,  Charley,  Ella  M,.  and  Preston. 
Mr.  D.  is  a  member  of  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church. 

WILLIAM  HENRY  DOOLEY, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  is  the  owner  of  120  acres  of  land  on  section  20. 
He  was  born  in  Polk  County,  Missouri,  in  January,  1838,  being  a  son  of 
Henry  E.  Dooley,  of  Georgia,  who  was  born  in  1800.  His  mother's 
maiden  name  was  Jane  Cornelius,  of  South  Carolina.  They  came  to 
Missouri  in  1830,  and  settled  in  Greene  County,  near  Springfield,  arriv- 
ing here  before  the  Indian  title  became  extinct.  They  were  forced  to 
return  to  the  eastern  part  of  the  state,  remaining  there  until  1832,  when 
they  again  came  back  and  once  more  located  near  Springfield.  In  1836 
he  moved  to  Polk  County  and  settled  in  Bolivar,  building  the  first  house, 
which  was  afterwards  used  for  a  court  house  for  some  years.  In  1843 
they  went  into  Greene  Township,  Hickory  County,  where  Mr.  D.  bought 
several  hundred  acres  of  land  and  made  extensive  improvements.  He 
died  in  1849.  Mrs.  Dooly  is  yet  living  in  Hickory  County,  and  is  eighty- 
six  years  old.  They  had  seven  children,  of  whom  Wm.  H.  was  the  young- 
est. He  resided  with  the  family  in  Hickory  County  until  1873,  when  he 
purchased  a  farm  in  Speedwell  Township,  where  he  now  resides.  He 
married  Amanda  E.  Nance  in  1869.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Saunders 
Nance,  who  came  here  in  1835,  from  Virginia.  They  have  five  children: 
John  L.,  Leanna,  Azalin,  Henry  Emmet,  and  Ezra. 

JAMES  HARVEY  McKlNLEY, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  is  the  owner  of  lOO  acres  of  land  on  section  16. 
He  was  born  in  Russell  County,  Kentucky,  in  1834,  and  was  the  son  of 


I208  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

Solomon  McKinley,  who  was  originally  from  Kentucky.  His  grand- 
father, Michael  McKinley,  together  with  a  younger  brother,  secreted 
themselves,  when  boys,  in  a  vessel  and  left  for  America,  unknown  tc^ 
their  parents.  After  arriving  in  this  country,  in  due  time  he  joined  the 
army,  and  was  with  Washington  through  the  revolution.  In  1812  he 
was  with  General  Jackson  at  New  Orleans,  and  was  killed  on  the  cele- 
brated 8th  of  January.  James'  mother,  formerly  Ann  Cane,  was  a 
daughter  of  Charles  Cane,  of  Pennsylvania.  Her  grandfather  was  also 
in  the  revolution.  They  raised  nine  children,  of  whom  James  H.  was 
the  fifth.  He  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  in  youth,  and  in  1853  came 
to  Missouri  and  settled  in  St.  Clair  County,  near  where  he  now  lives. 
He  married  Miss  Sarah  C.  Todd  in  1857.  She  was  the  daughter  of 
Daniel  P.  Todd,  of  Kentucky.  They  have  eight  children:  William  Fil- 
more,  James  Daniel,  Thomas  Price,  Rhoda  Jane,  Samuel  Tilden,  Peter,. 
Sarah  Catharine  and  Edna.  Three  died  in  infancy.  Politically  he  is  a 
Democrat,  and  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  for  thirty 
years. 

WILLIAM  H.  P0TTP:R, 

physician  and  surgeon  at  Tiffin,  was  born  in  Genesee  County,  New 
York,  June  2,  1838,  and  is  the  son  of  John  and  Julia  A.  (Stillwellj  Pot- 
ter, natives  of  New  York.  When  William  H.  was  about  nine  years  of 
age  his  parents,  with  the  family,  moved  to  Washington  County,  Wis- 
consin, where  he  grew  to  manhood,  his  time  being  spent  on  a  farm  and 
in  a  store.  In  the  spring  of  i860  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  with 
Dr.  Hayes,  of  Boston.  In  the  spring  of  1861  he  enlisted  in  Company  K, 
Second  Wisconsin  Infantry,  and  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  the  com- 
pany was  transferred  and  known  as  Company  A.,  First  Artillery.  He 
remained  in  service  three  years,  acting  as  hospital  steward.  After  this 
he  traveled  till  1869  when  he  located  in  Saline  County,  Nebraska,  there 
commencing  the  practice  ot  medicine.  He  continued  it  till  1879  when 
he  located  in  Bates  County.  In  1882  he  came  to  Taberville,  St.  Clair 
County  and  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  took  up  his  residence  at  Tiffin. 
The  doctor  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  He  was  married 
October  11,  1868,  to  Miss  Helen  Hildreth,  a  native  of  Wisconsin. 

GIDEON  PAPE. 

dealer  in  general  merchandise  at  Tiffin,  is  a  native  of  Germany,  and  was 
born  July  21,  1846.  He  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native  country, 
and  was  there  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  till  1865,  when  he  emi- 
grated to  America,  landing  at  New  York.  After  this  he  traveled  until 
1871,  when,  coming  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  he  located  on  the 
Osage,  where   he   followed  the   milling  business   until    1876.     Then  he 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  I209 

began  in  his  present  business,  in  which  he  has  been  very  successful,  and 
he  is  now  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  the  county.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  fraternity.  Mr.  Pape  was  married  October  2,  1873, 
to  Miss  Elizabeth  M.  Bogle,  of  Niagara  County,  New  York.  They  have 
three  children:     Charlotta  A.,  Stella  A.  and  Edith  E. 

BUCKNER  RUSSELL, 

farmer  and  stock  dealer,  section  21,  was  born  in  Moniteau  County,  Mis- 
souri, May  13,  1837.  His  father,  John  Russell,  was  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
and  married  Miss  Nancy  Alley,  of  the  same  state.  They  had  nine  chil- 
dren, the  subject  of  this  sketch  being  the  fourth  child.  He  was  reared 
to  manhood  in  his  native  county,  and  was  there  educated,  also  follow- 
ing farming  in  the  locality  till  1866,  when  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County, 
Missouri.  His  landed  estate  consists  of  600  acres.  During  the  war  the 
greater  part  of  his  time  was  occupied  in  the  Confederate  service.  Mr. 
R.  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  November  8,  1866,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Matilda  Harriman,  of  Illinois.  By  this  union  they  have 
four  children:     John  W.,  Geneva,  Elsie  G.  and  Myrtie. 

T.  F.  TRUE, 

farmer,  section  20,  was  born  in  Dearborn  County,  Indiana,  October  4, 
1845,  being  a  son  of  Nelson  and  Mary  E.  (Piles)  True,  also  natives  of 
Indiana.  T.  F.  was  reared  and  educated  in  the  county  of  his  birth, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  till  1866.  Then  he  came  to  St.  Clair 
County,  Missouri,  and  now  owns  a  farm  of  220  acres.  In  1861  he 
enlisted  in  Company  G,  Fifty-seventh  Indiana,  remaining  in  service  till 
the  dose  of  the  war.  Mr.  True  was  married  July  5,  1867,  to  Miss  Fannie 
Tives,  a  native  of  Moniteau  County,  Missouri.  They  have  four  chil- 
dren: Nelson,  William  A.,  Laura  J.  and  Charles  F. 

GEORGE  WAGNER, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  17.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  one  of 
the  prominent  men  of  Speedwell  Township  and  one  worthy  of  men- 
tion in  the  history  of  this  county.  He  is  a  native  of  Germany  and 
was  born  January  28,  1826.  When  but  four  years  old  he  was  brought 
to  '  America  by  his  parents,  who  located  at  Petersburg,  Virginia. 
George  there  received  the  benefits  of  the  common  schools,  and  in 
1842  he  went  back  to  Germany,  where  he  entered  the  Heidelberg 
University  of  Baden-Baden  There  he  took  a  thorough  course  in  sur- 
veying, engineering  and  jurisprudence,  learning  the  Greek,  Latin  and 
Hebrew  languages.  He  was  graduated  from  that  institution  in  1847, 
Returning  to  Petersburg,  Virginia,  he  was  engaged  in  ornamental  gar 


12 10  HISTORY  OF    ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY. 

deniiii^,  at  which  he  accumulated  a  large  amount  of  wealth.  This  was 
all  lost  during  the  war.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  the  Confederate  service 
and  was  made  regimental  quartermaster  of  Roger  A.  Pryor's  regiment, 
and  after  a  short  time  was  promoted  to  brigade  quartermaster,  which 
position  he  filled  for  eight  months.  Alter  that  time  he  filled  the  posi- 
tion of  first  assistant  chief  quartermaster  of  General  Longstreet's  corps 
until  the  surrender  of  General  Lee.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he 
lemained  in  Petersburg,  Virginia,  for  eighteen  months,  when  he  went  to 
Kingman  County,  Kansas.  He  was  occupied  in  farming  and  raising 
stock  till  1878,  when  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri.  Here  he 
now  has  320  acres  of  land,  eighty  acres  in  Vernon  County  and  320  acres 
of  good  farming  land  in  Kansas,  and  he  is  one  of  the  most  pratical 
farmers  of  this  county.  In  1874  he  was  elected  probate  judge  of  King- 
man County,  Kansas,  which  office  he  held  four  years.  Mr.  W.  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  In  February,  1849,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Caroline  Bloom,  a  native  of  Virginia.  She  died  in  1878,  leaving 
five  children:  George,  Herman,  William,  Caroline  and  Louisa.  He  was 
married  again  in  July,  1881,  to  Mrs.  Mary  J.  Price,  of  Ohio.  Her  maiden 
name  was  Russell.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

EDWIN  WRIGHT, 

farmer  and  stock  dealer,  section  5,  was  born  in  Licking  County.  Ohio, 
June  10,  1840.  His  parents  were  William  S.  and  Samantha  (Stedman) 
Wright,  natives  of  Massachusetts.  A  colony  had  emigrated  from  Gran- 
ville, Massachusetts,  and  located  in  Licking  County,  Ohio,  when  William 
Wright  was  about  six  years  of  age,  hence  the  name  of  Granville,  Ohio. 
Edwin  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native  county,  and  there  engaged 
in  farming  till  1859,  when  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  where 
he  resided  till  1861,  then  returning  to  Ohio.  He  went  from  there  with 
a  number  of  men  and  enlisted  in  Company  D,  Thirteenth  Missouri, 
which  was  afterward  changed  to  the  Twenty-second  Ohio.  He  remained 
in  service  fourteen  months,  holding  the  position  of  corporal.  In  the 
fall  of  1863  he  went  to  Coles  County,  Illinois,  and  in  the  summer  of  1865 
came  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  where  he  has  since  followed  his 
present  occupation,  having  a  landed  estate  of  880  acres.  His  farm  is 
one  of  the  best  improved  in  this  vicinity,  and  upon  it  is  located  a  com- 
modious and  convenient  residence,  and  one  of  the  best  barns  in  the 
county.  On  his  farm  is  a  number  of  medical  springs,  equal  to  those  of 
Eldorado,  his  nearest  trading  point.  He  has  also  a  very  fine  stone  quary 
equal  to  any  in  the  state.  July  27,  1864,  Mr.  Wright  was  married  to 
Miss  Fannie  Bartlett,  a  native  of  Indiana.  She  was  born  in  Februar\-, 
1843,  being  a  daughter  of  Charles  and  P^mcline  Bartlett,  the  former  of 
New  Hampshire  and  the  latter  of  Kentuck}-.  The  family  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  W.  consists  of  three  children,  Charles  E.,  Maud  and  George  S. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  12 II 


TABER     TOWNSHIP. 


-==3)  r-CE^?=§>=J~: 


JOHN  C.  AMMONS, 

farmer,  section  5,  was  born  in  Warren  County,  Ohio,  April  23,  1833,  and 
when  eight  years  old,  he  moved  with  his  parents  to  Henry  County,  and 
four  years  later  to  Hancock  County,  Illinois,  where  he  grew  to  manhood, 
He  was  there  engaged  in  farming  until  1870,  when  he  came  to  St.  Clair 
County,  Missouri,  and  here  he  has  a  farm  of  200  acres.  January  19,  1865. 
Mr.  A.  was  married  to  Miss  Julianna  Eckles,  a  native  of  Ohio.  They 
have  five  children:  Florence  V.,  Gilbert  L.,  Ida  B.,  Eddison  S.,  and  John 
R.  William  Ammons  the  father  of  John  C.  Ammons,  was  a  son  of  Wil- 
liam and  Teressa  (Swindler)  Ammons,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of 
Pennsylvania.  William,  junior,  was  born  in  Warren  County,  Ohio, 
December  16,  181 1.  He  was  reared  in  his  native  county  on  a  farm,  and 
has  followed  farming  through  life.  He  was  married  in  Ohio  to  Miss 
Mary  Cassady,  January  7,  1832.  They  have  had  nine  children.  In  1844 
they  moved  to  Henry  County,  Indiana,  and  in  1848  to  Hancock  County, 
Illinois,  and  in  1867  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri.  Mrs.  Mary  Ammons 
was  born  in  Warren  County,  Ohio,  February  4,  18 12. 

THOMAS  V.  BISHOP, 

farmer,  section  35,  the  son  of  James  and  Rachael  (Van  Winkle)  Bishop, 
natives  of  New  Jersey,  was  born  in  Crawford  County,  Pennsylvania, 
March  28,  1820.  He  was  reared  on  his  farm  in  his  native  county,  and  in 
1S50  he  moved  to  Mercer  County,  Illinois,  and  in  1868  came  to  St.  Clair 
County,  Missouri.  He  has  followed  farming  during  life,  and  now  has  a 
farm  of  eighty-four  acres.  January  25,  1844,  Mr.  Bishop  was  married  to 
]\Iiss  Elizabeth  A.  Gallop,  of  New  York.  They  have  had  eleven  children, 
eight  of  whom  are  living:  Mary  M.,  Martha  A.,  Ruby  S.,  Martin  H., 
Julia  L.,  James  R.,  Elizabeth  A.  and  Lee  J.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  B.  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  Church. 

S.  H.  BOTHWELL, 

stock  dealer,  section  22,  is  a  native  of  Vinton  County,  Ohio,  and  was 
born  on  October  29,  1854,  his  parents  being  A.  W.  and  Julia  E.  (Potter) 
Bothwell,  the  former  of  Ohio  and  the  latter  originally  from  Pennsylva- 
nia. When  S.  H.  was  ten  years  of  age  the  family  removed  to  Clay 
County,  Illinois,  where  he  grew  to  manhood.     He  received   the  advan- 


12  I  2  HISTORY   OF   ST.   CLAIR   COUNTY. 

tages  of  the  common  schools  of  Illinois,  after  which  he  attended  the 
normal  school  of  Lebanon,  Ohio.  Mr.  Bothwell  has  ever  followed  farm- 
ing and  dealing  in  stock  during  life.  In  the  spring  of  i88o  he  came  to 
St.  Clair  County,  Missouri.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  frater- 
nit)'.  He  was  married  February  27,  1S78,  to  Miss  Bell  West,  of  Clay 
County,  Illinois.  She  was  born  June  22,  1857,  her  father,  Joseph  West, 
having  been  born  in  Pennsylvania.  Her  mother,  formerly  Mary  Came- 
ron, was  also  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.     They  have  one  child,  Jessie. 

JACOB  W.  CARROLL, 

the  owner  of  a  farm  consisting  of  200  acres,  located  in  section  19,  is  a 
native  of  Tennessee,  and  was  born  in  Roane  County,  March  6,  1844. 
When  he  was  about  ten  years  of  age  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  Mis- 
souri, where  he  has  since  resided.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  Company  I, 
Seventh  Missouri  Infantry,  of  the  Confederate  service,  and  remained  in 
active  service  until  the  close  of  the  war.  January  16,  1873,  Mr.  Carroll 
married  Miss  Lizzie  Ellis,  a  Kentuckian  by  birth.  They  have  one  child, 
Myrtie  J. 

Z.  T.  CARROLL, 

farmer,  section  t,6,  was  born  in  Roane  County,  Tennessee,  March  16, 
1849.  H^  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  ^Missouri,  with  his  parents  when  but 
a  child,  and  has  since  continued  to  make  his  home  here.  He  now  owns 
a  farm  of  100  acres.  Mr.  Carroll  married  August  25,  1870,  Miss  Mary  J., 
a  daughter  of  J.  M.  Hoover,  and  a  native  of  Missouri.  They  have  four 
children:  Samantha  Lee,  Willard  Gillmore,  Georgia  Ann  and  Dora 
Miller. 

H.  P.  COCKRELL, 

farmer,  section  12,  is  the  son  of  Peter  B.  Cockrell,  a  native  of  Bourbon 
County,  Kentucky,  who  was  married  in  Cooper  County,  Missouri,  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Sproul,  originally  of  Virginia.  H.  P.  was  born  in  Cooper 
County,  Missouri,  May  23,  1839.  About  the  year  1847  he  came  to  St. 
Clair  County,  Missouri,  where  he  now  has  a  farm  of  eighty  acres.  In 
1863  he  enlisted  in  the  Missouri  State  Militia  Cavalry,  served  two  years, 
one  month  and  two  days  and  was  mustered  out  as  sergeant.  In  Decem- 
ber, 1869,  Mr.  C.  was  married  to  Miss  Harriet  J.  Sproul,  a  native  of  St. 
Clair  County,  Missouri.  They  have  had  four  children,  three  of  whom 
are  now  living:     Margaret  G.,  Nellie  S.  and  Mollie  A.  E. 

J.  E.  CORBIN, 

farmer,  section  7,  is  a  native  of  Ohio  and  was  born  in  Licking  County 
February  9,  1836,  being  a  son  of  William  and   Sophia   (Boyer)   Corbin, 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  12  I  3 

both  Virginians  by  birth.  J.  E.  was  the  youngest  in  the  family,  which 
consisted  of  eight  children.  In  1844  he  moved  with  his  parents  to  Noble 
County,  Indiana,  where  he  grew  to  manhood,  there  completing  his  edu- 
cation. In  1856  hewent  to  LaPorte,  of  the  same  state,  and  in  1861  to 
Sangamon  County,  Illinois,  where,  from  1863  to  1867,  he  was  employed 
as  wood  workman  in  the  car  shops  of  Springfield.  In  1867  he  moved  to 
Missouri,  locating  in  Bates  County  till  1869,  when  he  came  to  St.  Clair 
County,  where  he  now  has  a  farm  of  240  acres,  which,  in  regard  to 
improvements,  is  surpassed  by  no  farm  in  the  county.  December  30, 
1863,  Mr.  Corbin  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  E.  McKinney,  by  whom  he 
has  three  children:  Oliver  E.,  William  and  Jennie  B.  Mrs.  C.  was  born 
in  Sangamon  County,  Illinois,  September  3,  1844.  She  was  reared  and 
educated  in  that  county,  where  she  resided  till  her  marriage.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Corbin  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church. 

DR.  A.  C.  DAVIDSON, 

a  prominent  physician  and  surgeon  at  Taberville.  His  father,  Alfred 
Davidson,  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  as  was  also  his  mother,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Mary  J.  Adams.  A.  C.  was  born  in  Warren  County, 
Kentucky,  October  22,  1848.  In  August,  1857,  he  moved  with  his  par- 
ents to  Shawnee  County,  Kansas,  where  they  located  on  a  farm  and 
lived  till  the  fall  of  1865.  Coming  to  Missouri  they  settled  in  Hickory 
County,  and  in  1874  our  subject  located  in  Taberville.  In  1878  he  began 
the  study  of  medicine  under  Dr.  J.  H.  Newman,  and  in  1874  commenced 
his  practice,  and  has  since  been  very  successful.  He  was  also  engaged 
in  the  drug  business  from  1874  till  September  28,  1882,  when  his  store  was 
burned.  Since  living  in  this  county  he  has  been  county  coroner  several 
terms.  Dr.  Davidson  was  married  November  12,  1876,  to  Miss  Ida  L. 
Baker,  who  was  born  in  Cooper  County,  Missouri,  March  18,  1861.  He 
died  August  19,  1880.  He  was  married  again  April  9,  1882,  to  Miss 
Rosa  Ayers,  a  native  of  Saline  County,  Missouri;  born  August  19,  1862. 
The  doctor  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 

BIRD  ESTES, 

farmer,  section  10,  was  born  in  St.  Clair  County,  Illinois,  September  6, 
1 84 1.  His  father,  Jackson  Estes,  was  a  Kentuckian  by  birth,  while  his 
mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Abigail  Jackson,  was  a  native  of  Illi- 
nois. When  Bird  was  but  a  child  his  parents  moved  to  Benton  County, 
Missouri,  where  he  grew  to  manhood,  there  being  engaged  in  farming 
till  1867,  when  he  went  to  Henry  County.  In  1869  he  came  to  St.  Clair 
County,  and  here  has  since  resided.  His  farm  contains  120  acres.  In 
August,    1862,  he  joined  the  Enrolled  Militia,  and  in  December,  1863, 


12 14  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNIY. 

he  re-enlisted  in  the  state  militia  under  Colonel  Philips,  being  mus- 
tered out  July  II,  1865,  as  sergeant.  September  3,  1865,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Lucy  A.  Bradley,  of  Henry  County,  Missouri,  born  December 
15,  1845-  They  have  four  children:  Eugenie  B.,  Nellie  D.,  Agnes  D.,  and 
Harry  C.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

ROBERT  F.  GUERRANT, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  is  a  son  of  Stephen  and  Sallie  (Harris)  Guer- 
rant,  both  natives  of  Virginia  (the  former  of  French  descent)  and  was 
born  in  Buckingham  County,  Virginia,  February  16,  1826.  He  was  there 
reared  and  educated,  and  in  1849  he  moved  to  Saline  County,  Missouri, 
and  in  1878  came  to  St.  Clair  County.  He  has  followed  the  occupation 
of  farming  during  life  and  his  farm  now  contains  176  acres,  on  which  is 
located  the  best  residence  in  Tabor  Township.  His  other  improve- 
ments are  also  above  the  average  of  those  in  the  county.  Mr.  Guerrant 
is  one  of  the  stock  holders  in  the  First  National  Bank  of  Appleton  City. 
He  has  been  twice  married.  First  March  17,  1853,  to  Miss  Zerrilda  Hill, 
of  Saline  County,  who  died  November  30,  1874,  leaving  a  family  of  five 
children:  Walter,  L.,  William  T.,  Malinda  A.,  Samuel  and  Ralph.  Miss 
Susan  M.  Hudgen,  of  Buckingham  County,  Virginia,  became  his  second 
wife,  their  marriage  occurring  February  20,  1878.  By  this  union  they 
have    one    child,    Albert    C. 

HENRY  F.  HAND, 

section  27,  was  born  in  Chittenden  County,  Vermont,  May  27,  1845,  being 
a  son  of  Francis  and  T.  (Smith)  Hand,  the  former  originally  from  Eng- 
land and  the  latter  from  Vermont.  Henry  received  his  education  in  the 
Brandon  Seminary  of  Rutland  County.  He  grew  up  on  a  farm  and  has 
principally  followed  that  occupation  during  life.  In  the  spring  of  1S65 
he  moved  to  Calhoun  County,  Michigan,  and  in  1866  to  Jackson  County, 
of  the  same  state.  In  1868  he  accepted  a  position  as  station  agent  at 
Adrian,  Michigan.,  for  the  Lake  Shore  and  Michigan  Southern  Railroad, 
which  he  held  for  one  year.  In  1870  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  Mis- 
souri, and  has  resided  here  since,  and  during  this  period  he  has  been 
the  leading  sheep  dealer  and  raiser  in  the  county.  His  farm  contains 
640  acres,  and  this  is  mostly  utilized  in  the  raising  of  sheep  and  other 
stock.  He  has  on  an  average  from  1,000  to  1,600  head,  and  at  other 
times  has  had  between  1,900  and  2,000.  Mr.  Hand  was  married  Feb- 
ruary 7,  1875,  to  Miss  Charlotte  Laskin,  a  native  of  Michigan.  They 
have  four  children:     Emma,  Freddie,  Mable  and  Frank. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  121 J 

MILTON  HEATH, 

one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  Taberville  and  owner  of  the  Taberville 
Ferry,  was  born  in  Lawrence  County,  Illinois,  November  ii,  1847.  He 
was  there  reared  and  educated,  coming  to  St.  Clair  County  in  1868.  He 
has  Followed  farming  principally  during  life,  and  has  been  owner  of  the 
Taberville  ferry  since  1874.  His  boat  in  present  use  was  built  in  1882. 
Mr.  H.  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  His  father.  Judge  A. 
Heath,  a  son  ot  Ashel  and  Aylcy  (Curens)  Heath,  natives  of  Virginia, 
was  the  twelfth  child  of  a  family  of  fourteen  children,  and  was  born  in 
Sullivan  County,  Indiana,  March  6,  1823.  When  he  was  an  infant  his 
parents  removed  to  Lawrence  County,  Illinois,  and  there  he  grew  to 
manhood  and  was  reared  to  the  occupation  of  farming,  which  he  has 
since  followed.  In  1866,  he  went  to  Hancock  County,  and  in  1868  came 
to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri.  In  1873  he  purchased  the  Taberville 
Ferry.  While  in  Lawrence  County,  Illinois,  he  served  as  one  of  the 
county  commissioners  three  terms.  In  1872  he  was  elected  by  the 
Democratic  party  as  one  of  the  county  judges  of  St.  Clair  County,  serv- 
ing four  years.  He  is  a  member  of  Star  Lodge,  No.  419,  A.  F.  &:  A.  M. 
Judge  Heath  was  married  August  19,  1844,  to  Miss  Mary  Wright  and 
they  have  eight  children  living:  Robert,  Milton,  Lafayette,  William  J. 
John  S.,  Jennie,  Holbert,  and  Sherman.  Mrs.  H.  was  born  in  Ripley 
County,  Indiana,  February  19,  1828.  Her  father  Josiah  Wright  was  a 
native  of  Kentucky,  as  also  was  her  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Martha  Hamilton. 

GEORGE  HILL,  SR., 

section  32,  son  of  John  and  Margaret  (Schineltzer)  Hill,  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania, was  born  in  Northumberland  County,  Pennsylvania,  January 
23,  18 16.  He  was  there  brought  up  and  educated  and  was  considered 
one  of  the  most  practical  farmers  of  that  state.  He  followed  this  occu- 
pation in  Northumberland  and  Lycoming  Counties  until  1880,  except 
from  1849  to  1863,  during  which  time  he  resided  in  St.  Joseph  County, 
Michigan.  In  1S80  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri.  He  and  his 
sons  now  at  home  have  a  landed  estate  of  nearly  600  acres.  He  was 
married  February  24,  1840,  to  Miss  Martha  Brown.  They  have  had  ten 
children,  nine  of  whom  are  living:  Robert  B.,  John,  William  B.,  Jane, 
George,  Jr.,  Margaret,  Martha  B.,  Charles  and  Susan  L.  Mrs.  Hill  is  the 
youngest  of  a  family  of  twelve  children,  and  was  born  in  Lycoming 
County,  Pennsylvania,  February  24,  1816.  Her  father,  William  Brown, 
was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  her  mother,  formerly  Jane  Brown,  came 
originally  from  Pennsylvania.  Jane  Brown  was  a  daughter  of  Mathew 
and  Eleaner  (Torbit)  Brown,  the  former  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  latter  of 
Scotland.    The  father  of  Mrs.  Hill  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 


I2l6  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY, 

JOHN  HILL, 

justice  of  the  peace,  notary  public  and  dealer  in  real  estate,  is  a  son  of 
George  Hill,  and  was  born  in  Lycoming  County,  Pennsylvania.  He  was 
reared  in  that  county  and  there  received  an  academic  education.  In 
the  fall  of  1864  he  went  to  Salem,  Marion  County,  Illinois,  where  he 
studied  law  with  Judge  Michael  Schaeffer,  remaining  one  3'ear.  Going 
south  he  located  in  Arkansas,  where  he  was  engaged  in  merchandising 
and  raising  cotton.  In  the  spring  of  1868  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County, 
Missouri,  and  for  the  first  two  years  taught  school,  and  in  1870  he  was 
elected  county  superintendent  of  schools,  holding  the  office  two  years. 
Since  that  time  he  has  been  occupied  in  farming  and  dealing  in  stock, 
having  at  the  present  time  a  landed  estate  of  about  1,500  acres.  March 
26,  1879,  he  was  commissioned  notary  public,  and  in  December,  1882, 
was  appointed  justice  of  the  peace  of  Taberville.  Mr.  Hill  was  married 
September  20,  1869,  to  Miss  Mary  J.  Coulthard.  of  St.  Clair  County, 
Missouri,  born  October  28,  185 1.  Her  father,  Joseph  Coulthard,  was  a 
native  of  England,  and  her  mother,  formerly  Catherine  Truxiel,  was 
born  in  Ohio.  The  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  consists  of  four  children: 
George,  Martha  B.,  Katie  M.  and  Josephine  B.  In  1863  he  enlisted  in 
the  Pennsylvania  Militia,  and  remained  in  service  during  the  Gettysburg 
raid. 

WILLIAM  BROWN  HILL 

is  proprietor  of  the  Taberville  Hotel,  and  is  also  a  dealer  in  and  feeder 
of  stock.  His  father  was  George  Hill,  Esq.  William  was  born  in 
Lycoming  County,  Pennsylvania,  March  2,  1844.  He  was  reared  there, 
except  three  years  spent  in  St.  Joseph  County,  Michigan.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  county  and  the  Wyoming 
seminary  of  the  Wyoming  Valley.  After  following  farming  till  1870  he 
engaged  in  the  grocery  business  at  Williamsport  City,  which  he  contin- 
ued four  years.  In  September,  1876,  he  went  to  Salt  Lake  City.  Utah, 
where  he  accepted  the  position  as  deputy  clerk  of  the  United  States 
district  court  of  Utah.  In  July,  1877  he  resigned  his  position  and  came 
to  St.  Clair  County,  where  he  has  since  been  dealing  in  stock.  His 
hotel  has  gained  a  good  reputation  and  is  a  credit  to  the  place.  While 
in  Pennsylvania  Mr.  H.  was  captain  in  the  Twelfth  Regiment  of  National 
Guards  of  Pennsylvania.  Since  coming  to  St.  Clair  County  he  acted  as 
deputy  sheriff  under  John  P.  Gordon.  At  the  convention  of  the  Green- 
back party,  in  September,  1882,  he  was  nominated  as  their  candidate  for 
sheriff  of  the  county.  Mr.  H.  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity, 
and  of  the  patriot  order  Sons  of  America,  belonging  to  Camp  26,  of 
Williamsport  City,  Pennsylvania.  He  was  married  the  first  time  Sep- 
tember, 19,  1872,  to  Miss  Josephine  Good,  who  was  born  in   May,  1858. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  1217 

She  died  January  16,  1878,  leaving  two  children:  Laura  G.,  born  Octo- 
ber 19,  1873,  and  Josia  G.,  born  November  12,  1877,  and  who  died 
August  12,  1878-  He  was  again  married  January  3,  1882,  to  Miss  Julia 
L.  Bishop,  of  Rock  Island  County,  Illinois,  born  May  14,  1859.  Her 
father,  Thomas  V.  Bishop  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  her  mother, 
Elizabeth  Gallop,  of  the  same  state. 

J.  M.  HOOVER,  Sr., 

farmer  and  stock  dealer,  section  32,  was  born  in  Lee  County,  Virginia, 
September  i,  1823.  He  is  a  son  of  Alexander  and  Margaret  E  (Smith) 
Hoover,  the  former  originally  of  Virginia  and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  They 
had  a  family  of  eight  children,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  being  the  third 
child.  In  the  fall  of  1835  the  Hoover  family  moved  to  St.  Clair  County, 
Missouri,  and  located  near  Osceola.  Alexander  Hoover  died  in  July, 
1865,  and  his  wife  in  October,  1880.  J.  M.  has  followed  farming  and  deal- 
ing in  stock  in  this  county  since  he  grew  to  manhood,  and  is  now  one  of 
the  leading  and  most  respected  citizens  of  his  township.  He  has  a 
landed  estate  of  388  acres.  He  served  three  years  in  the  Missouri  State 
militia.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  June  16,  1841,  he 
was  married  to  Mrs.  Mary  N.  Hembre,  a  daughter  of  Hugh  Allison.  She 
was  born  in  Warren  County,  Tennessee,  December  12,  1837.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  H.  have  had  eleven  children,  six  of  whom  are  now  living:  James 
M.,  William  S.,  Josephine,  Rebecca,  Eliza  H,  and  Lillie  M. 

JAMES  M.  HOOVER,  JR., 

is  a  farmer  on  section  31.  His  father  was  James  M.  Hoover,  a  sketch  of 
whose  life  is  elsewhere  to  be  found.  He  has  made  farming  his  occupa- 
tion during  life  in  this  county,  having  been  born  here  February  5,  1856. 
He  was  for  sometime  in  different  locations  of  Southwest  Missouri, 
working  in  the  lead  mines.  He  was  married  February  i,  1880,  to  Miss 
Sarah  D.  Suggs,  a  native  of  Moniteau  County,  Missouri,  and  a  daughter 
of  John  and  Mary  A.  (Wade)  Suggs.  Mrs.  H.  was  born  May  24,  1861. 
They  have  one  child,  Charles  W. 

ALBERT  HOYT, 

section  6.  The  paternal  great-grandfather  of  Albert  Hoyt,  Benjamin 
Hoyt,  was  born  in  England  June  7,  1702,  and  was  killed  in  the  battle  of 
Ticonderoga  during  the  French  war.  His  son,  Robert  Hoyt,  was  born 
in  England  May  6,  1753,  and  was  there  married  to  Miss  Jane  Hall.  Ben- 
jamin Hoyt,  a  son  of  Robert,  was  born  in  New  Braintree,  Massachusetts, 

March  13,  1785,  and  died  in  Illinois   August  31,   1845,  having  been  mar- 

77 


I2l8  HISTORY    OF    ST.    CLAIR    COUNTY. 

ricd  to  Miss  Dorothy   Walker   at   Richmond,   New  York,  December  31, 
1 8 10.     She  was  born  near  the  White  Mountains  of  Vermont  December 

17,  1792,  and  was  a  daughter  of  John  W.  Walker,  a  native  of  Vermont, 
and  a  descendant  of  an  old  and  noted  family  of  England.  She  died  in 
Illinois  February  4,  1873.  The  family  of  Benjamin  and  Dorothy  Hoyt 
consists  of  eleven  children,  seven  sons  and  four  daughters,  of  whom  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  forth  child.  He  was  born  in  Middlebury, 
Genesee  County,  New  York,  January  14,  18 18.  When  he  was  an  infant 
the  family  removed  to  Trumbull  County,  Ohio,  but  after  the  age  of 
twelve  years  was  reared  in  Portage  County,  learning  the  carpenter's 
trade  with  his  father.  He  followed  that  occupation  in  Portage  County 
until  1838,  afterward  working  in  different  parts  of  Iowa  and  Missouri 
until  1840,  when  he  returned  to  Lake  County,  Ohio.  There  he  was  mar- 
ried December  17,  1840,  to  Miss  Calista  Norris,  who  was  born  in  Genesee 
County,  New  York,  September  20,  1816.    She  died  in  Lake  County  June 

18,  1844,  leaving  two  children,  Julia  and  Albertus  E.  In  1845  Mr.  H. 
went  to  Adams  County,  Illinois,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  until 
1856,  then  locating  in  Lewis  County,  Missouri.  In  1874  he  returned  to 
Adams  County,  where  he  resided  until  1877.  Since  that  time  he  has 
been  a  resident  of  this  county.  December  23,  1848,  Mr.  Hoyt  was  mar- 
ried in  Adams  County  to  Miss  Samantha  Willard,  who  was  born  in 
Overton  County,  Tennessee,  July  12,  1827,  They  have  had  seven  child- 
ren, four  of  whom  are  living:  Henrietta,  Calista,  Addison  G.  and  James 
W.  In  May,  1847  he  enlisted  in  the  Mexican  war,  and  was  discharged 
November  7,  1848. 

JOHN  B.  JEFFRIES, 

farmer,  section  i,  is  a  son  of  Elijah  G.  and  Elizabeth  P.  (Winfrey)  Jef- 
fries, natives  of  Kentucky,  and  was  born  in  Carroll  County,  Missouri, 
December  5.  i853-  ^^^  i86s  he  moved,  with  his  parents  to  McDonough 
County,  Illinois,  and  in  1869  they  settled  in  Bates  County,  coming  to 
St.  Clair  County  in  1875,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  was  reared  on 
a  farm  and  has  followed  farming  during  life.  His  present  place  contains 
eighty-six  acres  and  he  also  has  forty  acres  of  timber.  Mr.  Jeffries  was 
married  February  25,  1875,  to  Miss  Sarrilda  A.  Pease.  They  have  two 
children:     Willie  B.  and  Anna  B. 

ELISHA  LANDON, 

owner  of  a  farm  containing  200  acres,  is  a  native  of  Canada,  and  was 
born  November  19,  18 15.  His  parents  were  Heman  and  Lovica 
(Edwards)  Landon,  the  former  a  native  of  New  Haven  and  the  latter  of 
Vermont.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  in  the  county  of  his 
birth,  where   he  received  a  fair  education.     In   1845   he  moved  to  Lee 


ferOGRAPHlCAL.  iii9 

County,  Iowa,  and  located  in  Nashville,  where  he  was  engaged  in  vari- 
ous occupations.  In  1850  he  settled  in  Hancock  County,  Illinois,  and 
gave  his  attention  to  farming  till  1869,  then  coming  to  St.  Clair  County, 
Missouri.  In  1881  he  moved  to  Shell  City  for  the  purpose  of  educating 
his  children  and  there  he  has  a  fine  property.  He  has  held  the  offices 
of  clerk  and  collector  of  Taber  Township,  and  was  treasurer  of  the  inde- 
pendent district  of  Taberville  for  eight  years.  October  13,  1861,  Mr. 
Landon  was  married  to  Mrs.  Louisa  Turner,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Chapman,  a  native  of  Indiana.  They  have  two  children:  Asa  C.  and 
Theodocia  L.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  L.  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church. 

ASA  LANDON, 

farmer,  section  5,  was  a  son  of  Rev.  Edmond  Landon,  a  minister  of  the 
Christian  Church,  who  was  born  in  Canada,  and  who  died  in  St.  Clair 
County,  Missouri,  in  September,  1876.  He  married  Miss  Orpha  Clark, 
also  of  Canada,  who  now  resides  on  section  6,  Taber  Township,  this 
county.  Asa  was  born  near  Toronto  December  25,  1842.  His  parents 
moved  to  Adams  County,  Illinois,  when  he  was  but  a  child  and  two 
years  later  went  to  Nashville,  Lee  County,  Iowa,  where  they  resided 
two  years.  Returning  to  Illinois  they  located  in  Hancock  County,  and 
in  the  spring  of  1857  moved  to  Bates  County,  Missouri.  In  the  follow- 
ing spring  they  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  where  he  now  has  a  farm  of 
190  acres.  Mr.  L.,  for  the  last  thirteen  years,  has  been  engaged  in 
growing  hedge  plants  and  cultivating  hedges  with  very  satisfactory 
results.  Mr.  Landon  was  married  April  22,  1869,  to  Miss  Maria  Yonce. 
Seven  children  have  been  born  to  them:  Morris  F.,  Addie  F.,  Mollie  O., 
Agnes  v.,  George  L.,  Louisa  W.,  and  Lovica  G. 

MERRITT  LARKIN, 

farmer  and  stock  dealer,  section  26,  is  a  son  of  Enos  Larkin,  who  was 
born  in  Rensellaer  County,  New  York,  October  2,  1812.  July  19,  1834, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Permelia  P.  Kemp.  She  was  born  near  Lowell, 
Massachusetts,  February  21,  1813.  In  August,  1835,  they  moved  to 
Michigan,  and  in  1866  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  where  Enos 
died  March  29,  1875.  Mrs.  L.  now  resides  with  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
who  is  one  of  a  family  of  seven  children.  He  was  born  in  Lenaway 
County,  Michigan,  March  22,  1836.  He  was  reared  and  educated  in 
Calhoun  County,  and  came  to  St.  Clair  County  with  his  father,  having  in 
i860  gone  to  California,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  and  milling 
till  1865.  He  now  has  a  farm  of  360  acres.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
A.  O.  U.  W.,  and  of  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  fraternities.  Mr.  Larkin  was 
married  June  15,  1867,  to  Miss  Jennie  Yonce,  a  native  of  Virginia.     She 


1?20  HISTORY   OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUNTY. 

died  in  March,  1868.  He  was  again  married  June  15,  1873,  to  Mrs. 
Sarah  A.  Bouland,  a  daughter  of  Calvin  Parks.  She  was  born  in  St- 
Clair  County,  Missouri,  February  10,  1853. 

JOSEPH  MOLLENKOPF, 

farmer,  section  11,  was  born  in  Marion  County,  Indiana,  October  20, 
1846.  His  father,  John  J.  Mollenkopf,  was  a  native  of  Germany,  and  his 
mother,  formerly  Julia  A.  Painter,  came  originally  from  Pennsylvania. 
Joseph  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native  county,  following  the  occu- 
pation of  farming  in  Indiana  until  1871,  when  he  came  to  Missouri, 
locating  in  Johnson  County.  There  he  resided  until  1876.  Since  that 
time  he  has  been  a  citizen  of  St.  Clair  County,  his  tarm  containing  forty- 
six  acres.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  fraternity.  Mr.  M.  was 
married  December  9,  1873,  to  Miss  Malissa  E.  Snell,  of  Stark  County, 
Illinois..  She  was  born  January  14,  1854.  They  have  two  children: 
Emanuel  W.  and  Samuel  F. 

MICHAEL  MAJORS, 

farmer,  section  14,  is  a  grandson  of  John  Majors,  a  native  of  Maryland, 
and  son  of  Elisha  Majors,  who  was  born  in  Kentucky,  and  married  Miss 
Catherine  Hufaker,  also  of  that  state,  she  being  a  daughter  of  Christo- 
pher Hufaker.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Wayne  County, 
Kentucky,  July  18,  1824.  In  the  fall  of  1837,  his  parents  moved  to  Clay 
County,  Missouri,  where  he  grew  to  manhood  on  a  farm.  He  has  made 
farming  his  principal  occupation  during  life,  yet  has  worked  some  at 
various  trades.  He  is  a  natural  mechanic,  and  was  the  architect  of  the 
buildings  on  his  farm,  which  are  above  the  average.  His  landed  estate  in 
this  county  consists  of  200  acres.  Mr.  M.  had  but  limited  advantages  to 
obtain  an  education  in  youth,  but  has  improved  his  time  in  reading  and 
has  taken  great  interest  in  educational  matters.  During  the  late  war  he 
served  in  Gen.  Joe  Shelby's  command  for  four  months.  In  1849,  (under 
the  gold  excitement)  he  went  to  California,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
mining  and  dealing  in  stock  till  the  spring  of  185 1.  He  has  been  a  citi- 
zen of  St.  Clair  County  since  1871.  He  was  married  March  3,  1852,  to 
•  Miss  Permeter  Crowley.  She  was  born  in  Clay  County,  Missouri,  Feb- 
ruary 23,  1833.  Her  father,  Samuel  Crowley,  was  a  native  of  Virginia, 
and  her  mother,  Nancy  (Lane)  Crowley,  of  Kentucky.  They  have  six 
children:  Nancy  C,  Elisha  W.  R.,  Henry  B.,  Martha  A.,  Perry  L.  E.  and 
George  S. 

A.  S.  AND  J.  R.  MASTERSON 

are  sons  of  George  W.  and  Eliza  Masterson,  who  were  natives  of  Ken- 
tucky.    The  two  sons  were  born    in    Mason    County,    Kentucky,   A.   S. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  1 22 1 

September  25,  1841,  and  J.  R.  on  August  20,  1843.  They  were  reared 
and  educated  in  Platte  County,  Missouri,  where  their  mother  now  resides 
and  where  their  father  died.  In  1862  A.  S.  Masterson  enlisted  in  the 
Confederate  service  in  which  he  served  till  the  close  of  the  war.  After 
this  he  was  engaged  in  various  occupations  in  Texas  till  1868,  when  he 
returned  to  Platte  County,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  till  1871. 
Then  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County.  April  19,  1873,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Emma  F.  Wilson,  a  native  of  Illinois.  They  have  four  children: 
Cora  M.,  Zulema  F.,  Robert  R.  and  George  E.  J.  R.  Masterson  resided 
in  Platte  County,  Missouri,  till  1869,  except  during  1863-4,  when  he  was 
freighting  on  the  plains.  In  1869  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri, 
where  he  has  since  been  occupied  in  farming.  In  1875-6  he  was  in 
Arkansas  dealing  in  stock.  Mr.  M.  was  married  November  30,  1873,  to 
Miss  M.  F.  Barnett,  a  native  of  Missouri.  They  have  one  child,  George 
W.  A.  S.  and  J.  R.  Masterson  are  both  members  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  fra- 
ternity. 

J.  A.  PURINTON. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  leading  merchant  of  Taberville, 
and  among  those  prominent  in  St.  Clair  County.  He  carries  a  stock  of 
goods  equal  to  any  firm  in  the  county,  and  also  has  a  store  at  Bain's 
Ferry.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Lois  (Felch)  Purinton,  the  former  of 
Massachusetts  and  the  latter  of  New  Hampshire.  J.  A.,  the  only  child, 
was  born  in  Meigs  County,  Ohio,  August  20,  1825.  At  the  age  of  five 
years  he  was  left  fatherless  when  he  moved  to  Lynn,  Massachusetts, 
making  his  home  with  his  uncle.  There  he  was  educated  in  the  acad- 
emy. His  uncle  being  a  manufacturer  and  wholesale  dealer  in  shoes, 
J.  A.  was  employed  in  the  factory  and  store  until  1848  when  he  went  to 
Athens,  Ohio,  where  he  was  engaged  in  merchandising  for  two  years. 
He  then  followed  the  same  business  in  St.  Paris,  Ohio,  until  1861,  when 
he  enlisted  in  Company  A.,  Sixty-sixth  Ohio,  being  mustered  in  October 
of  the  same  year,  and  assigned  to  the  commissary  department  in  which 
he  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  The  most  of  the  time  he  was  quarter- 
master. Going  to  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  he  became  buyer  and  general 
manager  for  Spousler  &  McCrery,  wholesale  dealers  in  house  furnishing 
goods  and  queensware,  remaining  with  them  for  two  years,  when  he  loca- 
ted in  Warrensburg,  Missouri,  engaging  in  the  furniture  business.  After 
three  years  he  purchased  and  entered  large  tracts  of  land  in  Vernon  and 
St.  Clair  Counties,  since  which  time  he  has  been  interested  in  the  stock 
business.  He  has  been  occupied  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Taber- 
ville since  1876.  Mr.  P.,  during  life  has  taken  great  interest  in  educa- 
tional matters  and  is  one  of  the  men  to  whom  Warrensburg  is  much 
indebted  for  having  one  of  the  finest  schools  of  the  state.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  fraternity.       Mr.  P.  was   married   November   3,  1850, 


12:^2  illStOKY   OF   St.    CLAIR   COUNTV. 

to  Miss  Lusetta  Culver,  a  native  of  Madison  County,  Ohio.  They  have 
seven  children.  John,  Frank  A.,  James  H.,  Charles  A.,  Lucius  L.,  Asa 
and  Ella. 

JOHN  W.  SHOUP, 

farmer,  section  30,  is  a  son  of  Reason  Shoup,  a  native  of  Adams  County, 
Ohio,  his  parents  having  come  originally  from  Pennsylvania.  The 
mother  of  John  W.,  whose  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Foster,  was  also 
born  in  Adams  County,  Ohio.  Her  parents  were  Virginians  by  birth. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch,  the  third  child  in  a  family  of  six  children, 
was  born  in  Adams  County,  Ohio,  August  9,  1839.  When  he  was  six 
years  old  his  parents  moved  to  Lee  County,  Iowa,  where  he  grew  to 
manhood,  spending  his  boyhood  days  on  a  farm.  He  has  made  farming 
his  occupation  during  life.  August  20,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Company  A, 
Thirteenth  United  States  Infantry,  and  remained  in  service  three  years, 
participating  in  many  important  battles,  among  which  were  Chickasau, 
Bayou,  Arkansas  Post,  sieges  of  Jackson  and  Vicksburg,  and  others. 
After  being  mustered  out  he  went  to  Putnam  County,  Missouri,  where 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Mollie  E.  Price,  after  which  he  resided  in  Put- 
nam County  till  1870.  Then  he  came  to  his  present  location,  where  he 
has  a  farm  of  no  acres.  Mrs.  S.  was  born  in  Jefferson  County,  Iowa, 
May  16,  1844.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Mary  A.  (Puffenbar- 
ger)  Price,  who  were  natives  of  Ohio.  The  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  S. 
have  numbered  eight  children,  six  of  whom  are  living:  Ostella  F.,  Cora 
L.,  George  T.,  Ef^e  A.,  James  M.  and  Fannie  A, 

J.  O.  SMITH, 

farmer,  section  5.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Crawford 
County,  Illinois,  October  15,  1836.  He  is  a  son  of  James  W.  and  P!liza- 
beth  (Watts)  Smith,  the  former  originally  from  Kentucky,  and  the  latter 
of  Illinois.  When  J.  O.  was  two  years  old,  his  father  moved  to  Wayne 
County,  Kentucky,  his  mother  having  died  in  Illinois.  Mr.  Smith  was 
reared  in  Wayne  County  and  received  an  academic  education.  In  i860, 
he  went  to  Wayne  County,  Iowa,  and  in  1862,  to  Putnam  County,  Mis- 
souri, where  he  resided  till  1867.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  a  citizen 
of  St.  Clair  County.  He  has  followed  farming  during  life  and  now  has  a 
farm  of  ninety  acres.  Mr.  S.  was  married  in  September,  1858,  to  Miss 
Sarah  A.  Huffaker,  a  native  of  Wayne  County,  Kentucky.  By  this  union 
they  have  eight  children:  Henry  S.,  James  J.,  Maggie  A.,  Rosa  B.,  Wil- 
liam, Charles  R.,  Walter  and  Lulu  E. 

D.  C.  TREMAIN,  M.  D. 

section  3,  is  a  son  of  Edwin  Tremain,  who  was  born  in  England  in  May, 
1803,  and  who  was  married  in  Ohio  to  Miss  Sarah  Hutsell,  born  in  that 


iilOGRAl'UlCAL.  1223 

State  in  February,  1804.  They  now  reside  in  Vinton  County,  Ohio. 
They  had  a  family  of  four  children,  D.  C.  being  the  second  child.  He 
was  born  in  Athens,  (now  Vinton  County)  Ohio,  March  26,  1843.  He 
was  there  reared  and  received  the  advantage  of  a  common  school  edu- 
cation, after  which  he  entered  the  Normal  School  of  Lebanon.  In  June, 
1861,  he  enlisted  in  Company  D,  Fourth  Virginia  of  the  Federal  army, 
and  remained  in  services  four  months,  when  he  was  mustered  out  as 
commissary  of  subsistence.  Returning  to  Ohio  he  continued  the  study  of 
medicine,  which  he  had  began  previous  to  the  war,  and  in  1836  was 
graduated  from  the  Ohio  Medical  College.  In  1877  he  located  in  John- 
son County,  Kansas,  having  received  the  appointment  from  the  governor 
as  physician  and  surgeon  for  the  Shawnee  Indians.  He  held  that  appoint- 
ment for  two  years,  but  continued  the  practice  of  medicine  in  that 
county  until  1876,  when  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri.  Here  he 
is  considered  to  be  one  of  the  most  prominent  in  the  profession.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  fraternity,  and  the  encampment.  Dr.  T. 
was  married  September  26,  1859,  to  Miss  Lizzie  Evans.  She  was  born 
in  Mason  County,  Kentucky,  September  24,  1850.  They  have  three 
children:     Dema,  Ralph  and  Mabel. 

GARLAND  C.  TURNER, 

farmer  and  stock  raiser,  section  17,  was  born  in  Simpson  County,  Ken- 
tucky, September  25,  1835.  His  father,  John  Turner,  was  a  native  of 
Kentucky  as  also  was  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth 
Bluette.  Garland  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native  county,  and 
there  resided  till  1870  when  he  moved  to  Henry  County,  Missouri,  and 
in  188 1  he  came  to  St.  Clair  County.  He  has  made  farming  his  occupa- 
tion during  life  and  now  has  a  well  improved  farm  of  140  acres.  During 
his  residence  in  Henry  County  he  was  assessor  for  one  term  under  the 
township  organization.  He  has  always  taken  great  interest  in  educa- 
tional matters.  Mr.  Turner  was  married  August  28,  1856,  to  Miss  Sarah 
Breedlove  who  was  born  in  Virginia,  August  28,  1836.  They  have  five 
children:  John  W.,  Sallie,  Forrest  E.,  Georgia  and  Bascar.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  F.  are  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 

P.  WALLACE, 

farmer,  section  7,  was  born  in  Hancock  County,  Indiana,  November  22, 
1850.  His  father,  John  J.  Wallace,  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Eliza  Sergeant,  of  Indiana,  who  now  lives  in  Bates  County, 
her  husband  being  deceased.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  and 
educated  in  the  county  of  his  birth.  When  about  seventeen  years  old 
he  came  to  Missouri  and  located  in  Bates  County,  where  he  lived  until 
1875,  then  coming  to  his  present  location.     Here  he  now  has  a  farm  of 


1224  HISTORY    OF   ST.    CLAIR   COUN  I'Y. 

i6o  acres.  He  was  married  February  5,  1873,  to  Miss  Naomi  F.  Fleemer, 
who  was  born  in  Monroe  County,  Indiana,  July  30,  1853.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Mary  (Hendricks)  Fleemer,  the  former  of  Indi- 
ana, and  the  latter  of  Kentucky.  The  family  of  Mr  W.  consists  of  two 
children,  Minnie  and  Eva.     They  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church. 

ANDREW  YONCE, 

one  of  the  pioneers  of  St.  Clair  County,  who  resides  on  section  12,  of 
this  township,  is  a  son  of  John  Yonce,  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  of  Ger- 
man  descent.  Andrew  was  born  in  Wythe  County,  Virginia,  April  3, 
18 10.  He  was  there  reared  and  educated  in  both  English  and  German 
schools.  November  10,  1830,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Esther  Coulthard, 
and  in  1838  they  moved  to  St.  Clair  County,  Missouri,  locating  on  Big 
Monegaw,  three  miles  northeast  of  where  he  now  resides.  He  afterwards 
entered  the  land  that  comprises  his  present  farm,  which  contains  160 
acres,  a  portion  of  which  is  underlaid  with  a  rich  vein  of  coal.  When  he 
first  settled  in  this  vicinity  his  nearest  neighbor  was  five  miles  distant  and 
the  Indians  were  more  numerous  than  the  white  men.  His  trading 
points  were  Osceola  and  Harmony  Mission,  his  post  ofifice  being  at  the 
former  place.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  and 
for  some  two  years  religious  services  were  held  at  their  residence.  Mrs. 
Yonce  was  born  in  England,  November  25,  1814.  She  was  a  daughter 
of  Thomas  and  Ester  (CraigJ  Coulthard,  who  crossed  the  sea  with  nine 
children  in  1829,  and  located  in  Wythe  County,  Virginia.  Mrs.  Y.  was 
educated  in  England.  Their  family  have  numbered  twelve  children, 
nine  of  whom  are  living.  Joseph  T.,  born  November  ii,  1842,  and  mar- 
ried November  16,  1868,  Miss  Mary  E.  Ketcham,  of  Indiana  ;  Flarvious 
J.,  born  May  4,  1844,  married  June  5,  1873,  Miss  Susanna  Burke;  William 
H.,  bor  1  July  4,  1846,  married  November  14,  1875,  Miss  Mary  E.  Camp- 
bell; JoJ  n  A.,  born  September  10,  1849,  and  married  July  19,  1875,  Miss 
Rebecca  Burke;  Frances,  born  October  11,  1840,  married  February  22, 
1866,  A.  C.  Ditty;  Maria  L.,  born  December  12,  1847,  and  married  April 
22,  1869,  A.  Lan-don;  Henrietta  E.,  born  November  6,  1853,  married 
March  13,  1873,  John  B.  Ditty;  Florence  O.,  born  August  31,  1856,  mar- 
ried February  4,  1877,  G.  L.  Woolsey;  Ad'riana  C,  born  June  21,  1858, 
married  July  4,  1878,  H.  Landon. 


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